Fortunately, the sea was banned not long ago, and the experienced boatmen who were proficient in navigation were still alive. In addition, the navy provided ships and the fortune tellers provided goods, so the preparation time for sailing was greatly shortened.
Gu Zhengchen didn't know much about navigation, so he left everything to Zhang He, Chu Xing, Chen Dahe, Wang Futu and others. If you need anything, such as grain, buckets, and coal, I'll give you money and buy it yourself.
Wait, why do you need soybeans? Eat human tofu?
Oh, eat bean sprouts.
Keep clear accounts one by one, money is not a problem, the government will take care of it.
If you want to find a "translator" general manager, go find one. If you want to find a shopkeeper who is experienced and knowledgeable, go and hire one. The government office only wants results and the process is up to you.
Gu Zhengchen asked them to free their hands and feet to prepare for the voyage, and devoted themselves wholeheartedly to the governance of the government.
The news that certain acres of reclaimed land would be exempted from autumn and summer taxes caused an uproar among the people of Quanzhou Prefecture. Countless people wanted to know whether this was true.
After being tortured for so many years, it was the first time to hear such a good thing, and no one dared to believe it easily. But when the notices from the government office and the county government were posted, the people of Quanzhou Prefecture finally became excited.
Countless people picked up hoes and shovels and rushed to the wasteland. They had no intention of cultivating wasteland on weekdays. That was because they had no motivation, no strength, and no time.
The summer grain has just been harvested and taxes have to be paid. The autumn grain has just been beaten and delivered to the house.
I finally wanted to rest, but I was forced to do hard labor. Not only did I have no money to get food, but I also had to bring food with me. If I don’t bring food, I will easily starve. If I am hungry, I will not be able to work. If I can’t work, I will be beaten easily... …
Reclamation?
Who has free time to cultivate wasteland, and who has extra energy to cultivate wasteland?
Besides, what if you cultivated wasteland, planted five acres of land, and harvested ten shi of grain? Do you think you will have more grain in your hands?
No, the government has countless ways to make you spit out the extra food.
But now, the situation is different!
Old Man Li urged his son to shovel the grass clean on the ground. He stretched out his hand and beat his lower back. He looked at the blue sky with a smile on his wrinkled face.
Quanzhou Prefecture now is different from Quanzhou Prefecture in the past.
After Magistrate Gu came, he killed many corrupt officials. Those subordinate officials and government servants who were causing trouble were kicked out, and those who should be kicked out of the government office were kicked out.
Now Magistrate Gu has announced that as long as he clears five acres of wasteland and plants food in the spring, he will not need to pay taxes this fall. As long as ten acres of land are reclaimed, taxes will be waived next summer.
This is not over yet. Magistrate Gu has issued a message that when taxes are collected next autumn, they will be collected at the rate of 30 taxes. No one is allowed to charge more. It is the amount that should be paid. There is no need to pay more than a spoonful. They also told the people that anyone who overcharged could refuse to pay taxes, and then tell the county government. If the county government didn't accept the tax, they could tell the government government, and the government government would stand up for the people.
As long as ten acres of wasteland are cleared, the autumn and summer taxes are exempted, and all the grain collected belongs to the family. Thinking about this day, I will have a head start. In the future, the taxes will be less, and there will be no more names. Life will not be a day. Have a good day?
The emperor sent a good official.
When it comes to reclaiming wasteland, it’s always okay to rake some grass and go out when you’re old and have some strength. With Magistrate Gu in Quanzhou, there is no doubt that he can hold on for another two years with his old bones.
An announcement set off a wave of land reclamation in Quanzhou Prefecture in a short period of time.
This is the best time point.
The autumn harvest has just ended, and the government and county governments have not recruited corvees. The people are worried about the autumn tax and whether they can survive the winter. Suddenly there is an opportunity to be exempted from the autumn tax. Who will not seize the opportunity?
Isn't it just to use your strength to clear the wasteland? The common people have enough strength. Even a woman can carry hundreds of kilograms of grain. Why are you afraid that you won't be able to clear the wasteland?
Countless people are busy in the wilderness. What was originally a barren grassland by the river was reclaimed in just seven or eight days. Even the fields and ridges were cultivated. Land stakes were driven into the fields, and twisted characters were written on them as their own homes. The identification of the place.
The Jinjiang County government office was very busy, so Yang Xiu, the county magistrate, simply took people to the field. After ordering people to measure it clearly, write down the location, location and number of acres of the field. Then he asked the head of the household, wrote down three field deeds and stamped them. .
Newly cultivated acres require a new land deed, which is a document proving the ownership of the land. One copy is given to the household head, one is left with the county government, and the other is handed over to the government government. In the future, when buying and selling acres of land, the household owner will need to find someone to rewrite the land deed and ask a county official to certify to ensure that the land indeed belongs to the family and avoid sales disputes.
Yang Xiu was filled with emotion as he watched the wasteland turn into fertile farmland.
In terms of means, Magistrate Gu is still more powerful. This move will fundamentally solve the shortage of food in Quanzhou Prefecture. However, can Magistrate Gu really be able to handle the court turmoil by exempting the two taxes so blatantly?
Troubles in the court?
Gu Zhengchen didn't care at all, because the court didn't know at all...
The so-called exemption from autumn and summer taxes is only in name. The grain that should be given will be transported to the provinces in pounds. However, these grains were not brought in by Gu Zhengchen through tax collection, but by the government office opening the granary and collecting grains at market prices.
The two taxes per year are more than 40,000 taels of grain. Taking 20,000 taels out of the embezzled money to buy grain is enough to exempt the people of Quanzhou Prefecture from taxes for a year.
The autumn grain in the hands of the people has been harvested, and they always need to sell it in order to exchange for some money.
Who will buy the grain?
Before, the Bu family had a monopoly and purchased at low prices.
Nowadays, the government government has a monopoly. Whatever the price is in Fuzhou, the price in Quanzhou Prefecture will be the same.
Of course, the matter is not that simple. You need to tell Lao Zhu, the Ministry of Revenue, and the province. Otherwise, the accounts of Quanzhou Prefecture will be sent to the province one line at a time, and the province will not dare to submit it to the Ministry of Revenue. As for those long-winded censors, there is no need to know.
Over the years, Quanzhou Mansion has been ruined by successive waves of people, and Gu Zhengchen can only work hard to repair it.
Gu Zhengchen came out of the nursing home with a sad look on his face and said to Wei Jingzhi and Huang Fei: "We will write a document later and let the counties find the elderly who have no one to take care of them and have no ability to live independently, and receive money and food from the nursing home to take care of them." . Those who are under pressure from the local county government to support them can be transferred to the government government for support."
Wei Jingzhi and Huang Fei agreed repeatedly.
Gu Zhengchen went to Quanzhou to study again.
People from Quanzhou Prefecture are more accustomed to calling Quanzhou Prefecture School a Confucian Temple.
Quanzhou Fuxue was built in the late Kaiyuan period of the Tang Dynasty, and the Confucius Temple was built next to the Fuxue in the early years of Taiping and Restoration in the Northern Song Dynasty. It has a long history. The Fuxue is located in the north and faces south, with Dacheng Hall and Minglun Hall as the main ones in a "dual-axis" layout. The Fuxue is on the left and the Confucius Temple is on the right. This "school on the left and temple on the right" structure was very common in the Ming Dynasty.
This also provides convenience to the students. After studying here, they can go and greet Confucius over there. Why did he write so many articles that are difficult to memorize and understand? Confucius said, why don't you say a few words less? …
The most spectacular, largest and best building in Fuxue is not the Minglun Hall, where students can learn and answer questions, but the Dacheng Hall, which enshrines Confucius, the Four Matches, and the Twelve Philosophers. This is also the place where Confucius is worshiped.
Gu Zhengchen looked at the spectacular Dacheng Hall in front of him and secretly marveled. This is a Song Dynasty double eaves verandah-style structure, seven rooms wide and five rooms deep. It is supported by forty-eight white stone pillars, eight of which are Panlong eaves pillars. . .??m
Needless to say, this is a masterpiece of the Southern Song Dynasty. It is not the imperial court of the Southern Song Dynasty, and Quanzhou Fuxue probably does not have such a great reputation...
Gu Zhengchen looked up at Confucius and sighed: "Wei Jingzhi, how many students are there in Quanzhou Fu School?"
Wei Jingzhi lowered his head: "No more."
"Where's the professor?"
"gone."
"Where's the training?"
"Leaved too."
Gu Zhengchen looked at Wei Jingzhi and pointed at the statue of Confucius: "Can Confucius and his team be the only ones guarding the huge Quanzhou Prefecture?"
Wei Jingzhi didn't dare to speak.
There is no one left in Quanzhou Fuxue. This is a tragic reality.
The emergence of this situation cannot be entirely blamed on the Fuyamen, Bu family, etc. In the final analysis, it is the sequelae caused by Lao Zhu's suspension of the imperial examination.
Quanzhou Prefecture belongs to the province of Fujian, and the education level of the entire Fujian Province is far inferior to that of Zhejiang, Jiangxi, Yingtian Prefecture and its surrounding areas. In other words, even if the imperial examination is still taken, Quanzhou Prefecture may not be able to pass a few exams. But there was still some hope, but after the imperial court suspended the imperial examination, the hope was completely shattered.
Who would memorize the Four Books and Five Classics if there is no hope of becoming an official?
Confucius and Mencius, don't care about them all, it's business to change your career and find another way out.
Due to this mentality, coupled with the government's inaction, too many local corrupt officials, long-term shortage of professors, and inaction in disciplines, all these reasons combined led to the collapse of Quanzhou Fuxue.
Well, there are still two old men left who are responsible for clearing fallen leaves and cleaning.
Gu Zhengchen had a headache and asked, "Are there any tutors from the government school in Jinjiang City?"
Wei Jingzhi thought for a while, nodded and said, "There is an instructor named Li Lie who lives near the Sunjiang Stone Pagoda outside Xinmen. However, this person has a bad temper and is extremely harsh in his teachings. He often hits the palms of the students' hands."
Gu Zhengchen sighed: "Strict teachers produce great disciples. When Confucius scolded his disciples, 'You cannot carve rotten wood, you cannot build a wall of dung soil.' It is not clear whether he hit the disciple or not, but verbal scolding is indispensable. As long as he can teach A good disciple can use it regardless of whether it is beating or scolding."
When it comes to education, Gu Zhengchen thinks that if the teacher is stricter, there will be no big problem with appropriate corporal punishment. When he was a child, he also received chalk, blackboard erasers, and rulers from the teacher. Without the strict restraint and discipline of the teacher, how could he listen to it? , can you learn it?
The most terrifying thing is that teachers dare not hit, scold, or supervise. At this point, education has basically reached a dead end with no way forward.
Gu Zhengchen was going to invite Li Lie out and find the separated students.
How can one do things in a country without a government school? Wouldn't it be shameful to say that?
Education cannot be lost. Losing education is equivalent to losing culture. If culture is lost, wouldn’t it mean that the entire Quanzhou Prefecture is full of rough people...
Culture and education are an important part of the performance evaluation of prefects. A prefect who does not pay attention to culture and education is unqualified.
Even if Lao Zhu stopped the imperial examination, the education that needs to be done still has to be carried out. Anyway, the imperial examination will not stop forever. After ten years, the road to the imperial examination will still be opened.
Just when Gu Zhengchen was planning to solve the problem of government education, one after another large fortune ships appeared off the coast of Fujian, with sails full of wind and galloping down...
