The collection and distribution of grain were originally the functions of the imperial government office. However, the early days of the Ming Dynasty had certain historical particularities, and Zhu Yuanzhang chose the grain chief system.
Affected by successive wars, the population in many places has dropped sharply. There are not many big landowners left, and the land has become very scattered. They rely entirely on local officials to collect grain. This is a huge pressure on the county government. In order to pass on this pressure , to better complete the task of collecting grain, the grain chief system emerged.
The choice of the grain chief is very simple. In the area where tens of thousands of grains are collected, whoever pays the most grain will be ranked and the top four will be selected. Then you will be the grain chief. Then you will divide the area and each will be responsible for the two taxes and transportation of the region.
Governance in the early Ming Dynasty relied not on large landowners, but on medium and small landowners.
The design and emergence of the grain length system and the mileage length system were adapted to the land pattern, population distribution, and economic relations at that time.
It's just that the grain chief has the power to assist the court in collecting and transporting taxed grain. They will take this opportunity for personal gain, exploit the people, and line their own pockets.
Gu Zhengchen didn't know whether this was Lao Zhu's negligence or Lao Zhu's compromise.
In fact, the flaw of the grain chief system is not that the grain chief collects and transports taxed grain, but that it lacks process supervision and lacks compensation for intermediate links. Grain chiefs are small and medium-sized landowners. They are not cash machines. They can only withdraw money twice a year. It will be over if you resist. If it is raised twice a year, they will naturally find a way to charge some handling fees.
Gu Zhengchen's strength made Zhou Dalu feel very uncomfortable, but he did not dare to openly oppose Gu Zhengchen. This man in Jurong was in the limelight and won the hearts of the people.
Of course, Zhou Dalu did not dare to go to Lao Zhu to resign as grain director. If Lao Zhu went deeper, his skin would probably be hung in the Tutu Temple, and he would just forget about filing a complaint.
"We will do what the county magistrate says we should do. But if we can't treat everyone equally, haha..."
Zhou Dalu surrendered.
Gu Zhengchen looked at Luo Shao: "Inform all the grain chiefs to come to the county government to discuss matters tomorrow!"
Seeing that Gu Zhengchen was serious, Luo Shao had no choice but to agree.
Return to the county government office.
Gu Zhengchen sat in the second hall, pondered for a while, and began to write.
Zhang Pei brought the tea bowl and looked at the invested Gu Zhengchen without saying a word. He just stood aside quietly to accompany him.
It wasn't until two hours later, when the sky darkened, that I put away my pen and blew my ink.
"Master, what is this?"
Zhang Pei asked curiously.
Gu Zhengchen folded the pieces of paper together and said solemnly: "Today, when I saw the grain growing, I kicked the dendrobium with its tip, and also used tricks on the dendrobium and the scale. People in the county government took it for granted and thought it was a 'convention'. There is no need to abolish the ban. Speaking of which, the reason why the grain chief is so unscrupulous is because the county government is endorsing him and the county government is involved."
"We have no control over what happens to other prefectures, prefectures and counties. But since the emperor has entrusted Jurong to my hands, he must rectify it. Just rectifying the grain chief has no effect. We must also rectify the county officials and officials. This article " "The Governance of Jurong County, the Mingde of Subordinate Officials and Yamen Servants and the Way of the New People" aims to tell the subordinate officials and yamen servants to take a path that is good for the people, and it ends here. From then on, they are people who work for the people."
"Doing things for the people?"
Zhang Pei looked at Gu Zhengchen and whispered, "This is not good."
Gu Zhengchen felt bitter.
It is said that Lao Zhu goes to bed very late and wakes up very early every day. What is the reason for his diligent government affairs?
It is the Ming Dynasty and the people!
Lao Zhu hated corruption and killed corrupt officials for the sake of the people.
Lao Zhu is a person who sincerely works for the people. Many of his policies (but not all) reflect his friendliness to the people. The local magistrates are often called parent officials, and the local people are the children of the magistrates. Why shouldn't parents do things for their children?
Doing things for the people is something you can do in the Ming Dynasty, but you are ashamed to say it, and it seems that you lose your status when you say it.
"Qiangu", "Xingming", "education", and "public security" are all the responsibilities of the county magistrate. In addition to paying taxes in Qiangu to serve the court's finances, which one is not to serve the local people?
Punishment is for the people to redress their grievances and appease their resentment; education is for the people to learn etiquette, integrity, shame and filial piety; public security is for the people to have a stable life without being disturbed by bandits.
These are all things written on the responsibilities, why can't they be declared?
Gu Zhengchen didn't shout "Serve the people wholeheartedly", but just said "Do things for the people". This can't be said?
They asked Zhou Mao and Yang Liang to ask, and sure enough, these two guys felt that Gu Zhengchen was crazy. How could he directly say it when he was doing things for the people? It was enough that everyone knew it, but it was inappropriate to say it openly.
Ordinary people still know that if they say "making decisions for the common people", the county magistrate cannot say "do things for the people". This public opinion field is really hard to see through. Until Luo Shao said:
If you do things for the people, what will happen to those who serve as officials?
It's a slave.
We are officials, we are superior to others, not inferior. How can we shout such slogans?
Gu Zhengchen was helpless. In order to take care of the feelings of this group of people, he changed "doing things for the people" to "doing things for the people" with a stroke of a pen. Now no one objected.
Seeking welfare for the people is what officials should do. It is an official, an identity, and a status. It also reflects the official's responsibilities and sacred mission, making it look noble...
While Gu Zhengchen was reviewing the manuscript and thinking about how to conduct the first ideological and political education for county officials and government officials, Gu Cheng, Hu Hengcai and others completed the delivery of goods in Jinling.
Liu Qian'er opened the curtain and looked at the lively scene. The depression and sadness she had felt over the past few days finally eased a little.
Seeing this, Gu Cheng smiled and said, "Miss Qian'er, it won't be long before we meet Mrs. Gu and Miss Qingqing. Miss Qingqing is about the same age as you, so she can definitely tell."
Liu Qian'er said sadly: "I heard from the county magistrate that they are all excellent people, but my status will affect them..."
Regarding Liu Boqin's death, Liu Qian'er couldn't talk about her resentment towards Gu Zhengchen.
Liu Qian'er knew all kinds of irrefutable evidence and Liu Boqin's confession that he died under the laws of the court, not at the hands of Gu Zhengchen.
For those crimes, according to the imperial decree, the men should have been sent to the army and the women should have been turned into prostitutes. I don’t know what methods the county magistrate used and how much responsibility he took to protect everyone from humiliation.
Liu Boqin and Liu had no resentment towards Gu Zhengchen before they died. Even before they died, they both chose Gu Zhengchen to entrust them to them. Sun Niang is right, parents' greatest hope is to live well instead of harboring resentment.
However, Liu Qian'er didn't want her life to affect good people anymore.
Gu Cheng said quickly: "Miss Qian'er, don't think too much. Since I have made arrangements, there will definitely not be any problems again."
Liu Qian'er's heart is a little generous.
Beimen Bridge, Mufu Courtyard.
Gu, Gu Qingqing, Chen, Hu Dashan and others came out. Watching the carriage approaching and seeing Gu Cheng getting off the carriage, Gu was filled with joy.
Liu Qian'er got off the carriage, and before Gu Cheng could introduce her, Mrs. Gu stepped forward, grabbed Liu Qian'er's somewhat cold hand, and said with heartache: "Qian'er, right? Brother Zhengchen's letter has explained everything about you. From From now on, you will be the daughter of the Gu family..."
