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Chapter 239 Autumn Fu IV
Zhou Botao picked up a file that had just been placed on his desk. It was made locally in Zhou Dongtian's paper factory. It was made of yellow, rough thick paper. He held it heavily and read the full text. He opened the cover, and inside were pages of personal materials, with photos attached - these were the materials of the "grain cadres" who had attended the meeting in the past few days, and the investigation of their personal situations had just been completed.
Qiu Hong's home was originally included in the surveillance scope of the Operations Department. Because there were people guarding the surroundings, it was inconvenient to install bugs. Zhou Botao did not arrange for anyone to use hawkers or other methods to get close to the surveillance area. This would be too strange and has no marketability. There were a bunch of hawkers gathered next to the country house, and everyone could tell there was a scam. He arranged to use telescopes for surveillance from a distance.
Now they have found out the list and details of the "grain gap" in Lingao County. Zhou Botao planned to take a closer look at the situation of this group of people to see if there was anything that could be exploited. Of course, he might not plan to use them, but "eliminate" them directly. It depends on what the executive committee wants.
Zhou Botao turned to the last few pages of information about Zhou Qi. He was very interested in Chen Minggang's eldest disciple, because during the investigation he learned that the master suspected that he had some unexplained relationship with his second wife. But there has been no evidence.
Zhou Botao is very interested in rumors about the relationship between men and women. According to his experience as a detective, once the relationship between men and women reaches the stage where there are rumors, the matter is probably true. Just like once a wife suspects that her husband is cheating on her husband, after investigation, most of the time it is confirmed.
He asked someone to call Wu Xiang and handed him the materials: "Go and investigate Zhou Qi."
"He is Chen Baye's apprentice" Wu Xiang showed a hint of fear.
Zhou Botao glanced dissatisfied: "Why, are you afraid of him?"
Wu Xiang swallowed: "I'm not afraid."
"That's right," Zhou Botao said, "You are one of ours now, and we are afraid that he will take advantage of you. Please find out Zhou Qi's details for me, and then keep an eye on him, every move he makes." Everyone has to report to me, and even find out when he poops and when he sleeps, do you understand?"
"Yes, I understand."
This answer is pretty standard. Looking at Wu Xiang's leaving figure, Zhou Botao gave him a look of contempt. This guy has a family feud. It turned out that he had a blood feud and hated the old society. He also showed a lot of hatred in school, but he didn't expect that he had no courage at all when it came to actual work. Seeing the people in the county government and the local tycoons, they still unconsciously showed a respectful attitude.
"It seems that hatred is not a panacea." Zhou Botao said, picked up a written order, opened it and took a look. He rang for his correspondent:
"Call the leader of the special publicity team. Yes, right away."
Chen Minggang had just visited Xiong Buyou, and after getting the other party's permission, he immediately started working on it. In addition to the usual notices issued by the county government and the distribution of "grain instructions" - reminder notices for grain collection, the disciples and disciples of his subordinates gathered together and set up counters in front of the county's official warehouse to collect grain.
The first stage of grain requisition is naturally to wait for grain households to come to pay their own taxes. The stage of going to the countryside to collect taxes will not begin until the end of the first stage. However, this year, Chen Minggang ordered all his "grain men" to go to the countryside to create a momentum for "farming land".
For a time, the news that the Australians wanted to "gain land" spread throughout the county, causing great alarm among grain farmers.
The gentry were naturally unwilling to engage in husbandry. No matter how inefficient the original system is, they have formed a harmonious relationship with it after all. As long as they pay a certain price as a "lubricant", they can do whatever they want under this system. Now a new force has come and wants to re-measure the land and register the property rights. Isn't this a bolt from the blue? The grain farmers suddenly became nervous, and then they got a definite answer from the grain collectors who went to the countryside: The Australians not only wanted to collect grain this time, but also had to land the land first, and based on the results of the land farming, the land would be collected according to the number of acres. grain.
The grain farmers quickly sent people around to inquire about the news. Sure enough, the county town and Dongmen City were abuzz with rumors about this incident, and they talked about it with all their ears and eyes. The idlers who were messing around under Chen Minggang were all arrogant. But there is also strange news coming out: saying that there is no such thing at all is completely bluffing by Chen Minggang and his gang.
Everyone quickly found Zhang Youfu and asked him to confirm whether this was the case, but they did not get any definite information from him. Zhang Youfu said that Chief Wu, who was in charge of collecting grain, was "away from home" and no one could reply. Zhang Youfu was a little surprised by the change of things, but he recalled what Wu De had said about him, and felt that there must be something fishy behind the matter, and he did not dare to talk nonsense. He went to Bairen City to see Chu Yu and reported the situation. Ichiban.
Of course, he got no response from Chu Yu. Zhang Youfu stood in his house, looking at the "grain" that had just been delivered by the grain delivery man. He frowned for a few minutes and suddenly understood something.
Liu Youren was sitting on a bamboo couch under the steps of his main courtyard, smoking a dry cigarette, with streams of green smoke curling up. There is a teapot and tea cups on a bamboo table, as well as a piece of rough-edged paper. This is the "food source".
Liangyou is a notice to urge grains. The government originally did not have such a thing, only grain strings - grain receipt vouchers. This is a set made by the yamen itself. It is a very thick rough-edged paper with a format printed with a wooden stamp. It is left blank and the grain clerk fills in the name of the grain household and the amount of rice receivable. After receiving the order, grain households must go to the county to pay on time. The time limit is divided into first limit, second limit and third limit. Once the third limit is passed, it enters the chasing stage. The households who owe food are immediately taken to the Yamen to catch up with the walking stick every three to five days. Some people also show the shackles to the public.
But this is just talk. Those who would be spanked by the county government and put on the shackles were ordinary small grain farmers who were isolated and helpless - just like Zhang Xingjiao back then. Generally speaking, government officials would not dare to do this to grain farmers who had some influence on the ground. Some grain households are local rogues. Although they have little political power, they are still willing to fight and kill. If they are not willing to pay the grain in full, they will send strong men to pretend to be household heads to take the blame, and then bribe the yamen servants with a little bribery. , cheating and sneaking through when playing the board game. By the end of the Lunar New Year, the year will be considered complete. Grain farmers who are ahead of the competition can negotiate terms with grain dealers and bookstore offices, and bargain over the amount of rice they consume. No matter how powerful the master is, he will not pay anything except the full amount. As for the powerful gentry, most of them concealed a large amount of land and simply handed over nothing. Even if the yamen knew about it, they had no choice but to turn a blind eye.
The Liu family used to be wealthy in Calais. After Liu Youren donated a prisoner to his body, he became a "gentleman". The registered land of his family is less than 400 acres, but in fact it is nearly 2,000 acres. The land "Guiji" under his family's name is more than 3,000 acres.
In addition to hiring long-term workers to cultivate these lands, the Liu family charges land rent for all of them. But except for the 400 acres of registered paddy fields, the grain tax of a grain of rice is never paid on other land.
In the past, Liu Youren used the same strategy towards the Australians as he used to deal with the bandits: on the one hand, he built a stronghold and practiced local bravery to protect himself; This place has been like this since his ancestors anyway.
But after going to the Political Consultative Conference and seeing the strength of the thief, his mind changed. Liu Youren realized that he would suffer a loss if he just dealt with bandits the way he had dealt with bandits in the past. The strength and various actions of the Australians show that they have great ambitions. This ambition is unlikely to be satisfied in Lingao.
Of course, such an ambition is not something that a rural rich like him can stop with his arms. If Liujiazhai wants to survive in Lingao and not end up like Goujiazhuang, it must be more proactive. This way you can at least protect yourself.
Therefore, although he rarely goes to Dongmen City, he actually pays attention to every move of the Australians. He joined the Tiandi Society as soon as it was established. His move initially surprised the elders of the Liu family. They all expressed their objections - how can their background be exposed to the Australians? Although they report according to the number of acres of land they start teaching, Australian agricultural technicians are not fools. They go to the countryside more often to provide "technical guidance" The trouble will always be clear.
But Liu Youren patiently persuaded them: Even if he didn't participate, wouldn't the Australians know how much land Liujiazhai has? This is not a secret at all in the county. Naturally, there are attentive people reporting to the Australians. Rather than waiting for others to come to you, it is better to deal with them first to make it easier to deal with them.
After joining the Tiandihui, "agricultural technicians" came from the Tiandihui to help him compost, deliver seedlings, and guide the long-term workers in farming. They worked very hard. This was beyond Liu Youren's expectation - he didn't understand why Australians did this. If it is just to earn a few "service fees" and give an order to the liaison officer, which village dares not to pay, why bother to do such a laborious and troublesome task.
Just when he couldn't figure it out, the matter of taking over the grain and tax this time made him feel foggy again, and he felt that he couldn't understand the Australians' thoughts at all.
His eyes fell on the grain package again. The amount and rice consumption figure were not filled in. The "grain messenger" who sent it said that according to the order of the Australian master, this grain requisition would be carried out by "farming land". Each family must report the number of fields before the first limit, and grain will be collected based on the new number of acres.
"Eighth Master said that this is the first time that Australian gentlemen have taken over the grain tax in the county. It is best for each family to help and report the number of acres of their own land more accurately - so as not to annoy them." "It's bad," he said with a smile on his face, "This way everyone can get along, and we who are doing errands can also have an explanation."
