Why did He Liangchang curse Qiu Hushu secretly in his heart?
Because the imperial court collected taxes based on the yellow records of households.
But the common people don't understand these methods, so they have room for manipulation.
This group of officials, together with the grain chief and Baojia, randomly ranked each household in the village.
The grain that was actually harvested was thrown to the court, as well as the official money, leg money, and leg money of various officials and white servants... a lot of miscellaneous expenses in a mess.
These are all approved by the imperial court and belong to local allocations.
After Qiu Hushu returned the money, apart from Hu County Prime Minister and the Household Secretary, he, the person in charge, took the lion's share.
In addition, he also has an important income...
Grandma Liu saw that the people in the yamen were talking and she didn't dare to say anything more.
The local li chief, armor chief, and grain chief of her hometown thought that she would not see you when she lowered her head but she still dared to say a few words.
But when she met the [official family], the fear inherent in her bones made her dare not say a word even though she was almost desperate at the moment.
Seeing that she was silent, He Lichang finally took control of it this time, so the embarrassment just now disappeared, and he turned to be a good person and said: "Ms. Wang Liu, there is nothing we can do. Who knows what the government will do this year?" If it’s more, I’ll pay a lot more myself!”
His brother He Liang gave his younger brother a blank look and urged: "Old woman, stop talking nonsense and go and hand over the food quickly."
At this time, Lu Heng, who had been standing outside the crowd because he saw Granny Liu being beaten, was about to rush in after hearing this.
Xu He pulled the impulsive guy, glared at her, and whispered: "Have you forgotten how you promised me?"
Only then did Lu Heng remember that before coming here, she had promised Xu He not to be impulsive if something unpleasant happened.
Lu Heng gritted his teeth, glared at Xu He, and whispered: "Don't you have any sympathy at all?"
Xu He smiled bitterly.
It's not that he is cold-blooded, but that this kind of thing is beyond the control of a young student like him.
This is related to the survival of all county government officials from Hu County Cheng down.
Officials in the Wei Dynasty actually had very little salary.
Huxian Cheng and Hufang's clerks are relatively good, because one of them is an official and the other is a manager, and their income can still support their families. (Jingzhili: Yamen staff who are paid by the state are not grade-level officials, but they must also be selected and issued by the Ministry of Personnel before they can take office.)
Although the Qiu household secretary in front of him is also an official, he is equivalent to the employment of the local government. The state does not give him any money, and the money given by the Yamen is also small.
The gang of white servants brought by Qiu Hushu were even worse. They were not even hired by the yamen, but helpers invited by the officials themselves. They were not even considered part of the system, let alone wages.
Therefore, going to the countryside to collect payment is a rare feast in the yamen. Many people in the yamen hope to buy rice to cook at this juncture.
Not to mention Xu He, even Chen Hua is here. If he dares to stop other people's good deeds, he will not be able to make a living as the county magistrate. The officials are all born in the same town, and there are many ways to make you, the county magistrate, feel uncomfortable!
Lu Heng, who was well-dressed and well-fed, naturally didn't understand these principles, but Xu He didn't dare to follow her around.
Otherwise, even if he is protected by the Xu family, he might be beaten while walking.
While talking, Granny Liu had already started weighing herself.
I saw two white servants holding scales in the bright sun and lazily shouting: "Wang Liu's scale is too high."
Grandma Liu wiped her tears and put the silk on the scale.
But the white servant didn't raise his name, as if he was waiting for something.
At this time, He Liangchang stepped forward, grabbed the silk, weighed it in his hand, and said with a straight face: "It's too tidal pressure, and the 20% discount should be calculated as nine taels!"
Lu Heng looked outside, and Yinya gritted his teeth and cursed: "Isn't this lying with your eyes open? I stand here and look at it, and I know that those light and fluttering threads are too tidal."
Xu He knew that this was the old rule and did not speak.
Sure enough, the onlookers all looked as if they were not surprised when they saw this. It wasn't that they didn't want to fight, it was just that they were fighting for their own good. If anyone dared to have any objections, they would simply not accept it.
When the time comes, the yamen will send people to catch up, and when they are brought to the county, they will play the board and stand on the shackles. When the time comes, this will not be the only thing they take out.
At this time, Granny Liu was still smiling as she was when she faced Xu He and the others in the morning. At this time, she was about to cry without tears, and her whole person was lifeless.
But paying taxes does not matter what state of mind or expression you have, everything will proceed as usual.
When He Liangchang grabbed another handful of silk from Granny Liu's wheelbarrow and put it on the scale, he didn't care that it had already exceeded nine taels. He only nodded with satisfaction and shouted: "The silk tax is paid!"
After handing over the silk, it was the turn of the grain.
Grandma Liu was so distraught that she moved the grain from the cart and poured it into the dendrobium with the words "Four Dou" written on it.
In the middle and lower grades, according to previous years, they have to pay three buckets and eight liters of grain.
In fact, these four buckets of dendrobium are already big.
But when everyone saw the grain being poured into the Dendrobium, it was as if it had been agreed upon, and no one raised any questions.
Over there, Granny Liu was pouring grain into the dendrobium. Over there, Chief He Liang stood aside and shouted: "Pour, pour, pour..."
He Liangchang didn't stop until the grain had piled up into a hill in Huli, and it seemed like it would overflow even if he poured another grain of rice.
Grandma Liu has been busy for a long time, and the sun is shining in the hot summer, so she is already dripping with sweat.
Lu Heng, who was outside the crowd, thought that the matter was finally over now.
But it's not that simple.
He Liang stood up with his sword across the sword, his anger sank in his Dantian, and he kicked Dendrobium on the stem.
Grandma Liu's pile of grain was suddenly kicked out of about half a bucket.
The half bucket of grain was scattered on the ground, and Granny Liu wanted to pick it up distressedly.
But He Liang grew up and shouted: "You pick it up, I think you dare to pick it up. If you pick it up, I won't take it away. Let the people from the yamen come to your house to catch up!"
When Granny Liu heard this, her gray hair trembled at her temples. Only then did people realize that the old man's whole body was shaking.
But Chief He Liang still refused to let her go, pointing at Granny Liu and saying: "Hurry up, hurry up, there are many people behind, hurry up and fill up the pile."
Granny Liu anxiously lifted up her grain basket with difficulty, and poured grain into the dendrobium until it was almost piled up, and suddenly...
Suddenly her hand loosened and she fell down next to Hu.
He Liangchang was furious when he saw this, pointed at Granny Liu and said, "Old Madam Liu, don't pretend to be dead, get up quickly!"
The old man struggled on the ground for a long time, but could not stand up.
He Liangchang and a bunch of losers all gathered around when they saw this.
None of them stepped forward to help her. Instead, they all gathered around Granny Liu and cursed her.
The white servant not far away picked up his stick and walked towards this side.
Just when the crowd was hesitant to come forward.
Suddenly a female voice shouted: "You people are bullying others too much!"
Lu Heng was seen furiously pulling out the knife close to his body and walking towards the position of He Liangchang in the crowd.
Seeing this, Xu He sighed and could only follow through the crowd and follow.
