Hui'an County.
Farmer Lin Erxiao was walking with his fellow villager Lin Dalu, carrying a load of rice.
Looking at the three bags of rice on Lin Dalu's cart, Lin Erxie couldn't help but be envious: "Your family still harvests a lot of rice."
Lin Dayu laughed loudly, full of energy: "After living for forty-three years, mother, we can push a cart and sell grain once. Yesterday, I went to the grave to talk to my father. I don't know if he believed it or not. This is the case."
Lin Erxie knew that Lin Dayu's father was sent to build ships by the Yuan Dynasty. He was beaten to death because he was tired, hungry and sick, and was slow in doing things. Lin Dayu was not yet twenty at that time.
"I said brother Erxie, you don't have too many boys in your family. Look at us. We have three children. Don't look at the third child who hasn't even grown up yet. We have plenty of strength. When we were reclaiming land last year, that boy cultivated two acres by himself. The earth is stronger than an ox, but he eats too much, which makes his mother feel distressed..."
"Haha, if you don't eat, how will you have the energy to work?"
Lin Erxie couldn't be more envious. His mother-in-law failed to live up to expectations. After giving birth to a baby, there was no movement.
"It's so lively at the city gate."
Lin Dayu was a little surprised.
Lin Erxie looked around and saw dozens of people gathered around the city gate, all looking up at something.
"There is a notice, go and take a look."
Lin Erxie and Lin Dalu quickened their pace. As they approached the crowd, they heard someone shouting from inside: "This is a notice from the government office..."
"Corvee service?"
When everyone heard this, their expressions changed drastically.
Even Lin Dalu and Lin Erxiao couldn't help but be afraid.
If taxes are like three bags of grain, then corvée is like ten bags of grain. Many ordinary people's families can actually bear the general taxes, but they cannot bear the torment of corvee labor.
Corvee work means working hard, and the court provides rations. It seems simple, but in fact it is dire straits.
Obviously, you should be given three kilograms of rations a day, but half a kilogram is good if you are given to your hands. There is not much money to eat, so who can bear it with half a kilogram of grain and working hard?
If you work slowly, you will be whipped. If you are sick, you will be whipped. If you complain a little, you will still be whipped. Some officials even take this opportunity to ask for benefits:
Want to do something easy? If you want to, you must learn to be a human being.
Don't want to?
What, you go to move rocks and dig mud, and you are not allowed to rest until you finish the work.
In previous years, the government's corvee collection was basically the same. Ever since Magistrate Gu took office, he has suppressed all corvée matters. There was no corvee collection last winter and this spring.
This is why the people love Magistrate Gu. He understands the hardships of the people and cherishes their efforts.
A commoner shouted: "I heard that Magistrate Gu went to Jinling. Who issued this document?"
"Yeah, who is it?"
"Stop yelling, this is a document issued by Magistrate Gu."
"impossible!"
"It was indeed issued by Magistrate Gu, and his name was left on it. I asked you to listen to it before you yell. No one is watching my coffin shop."
Shopkeeper Huang was very depressed. He pointed at the notice and shouted: "Notice from the government office: The imperial court has established the Quanzhou Special Zone to allow maritime trade. In order to build ports, warehouses, and residential buildings, a total of 4,300 people were requisitioned in Jinjiang, Hui'an, and Tong'an. . In order to avoid corvee harm to the people, recruitment is mainly voluntary. If there is insufficient manpower, forced recruitment will be carried out..."
"For the purpose of levying people, we will give you three kilograms of rice a day and distribute it in the morning. If the rice is not in place, you will not be allowed to work. But if you are underpaid, you can go to the magistrate's office to file a complaint. To show sympathy for the people of Quanzhou Prefecture, those who have worked for a month will be given three kilograms of cash. One hundred coins, pick the one with the most strength, five hundred coins, and give five hundred coins..."
"If there is no government announcement for this recruitment, the local county government shall not forcefully recruit people. People who are willing to work for the cause should go to the west gate of Jinjiang to register at noon on April 10th until the number of people is full. Gu Zhengchen wishes three The people of the county and Quanzhou Prefecture work together to restore the glory of Quanzhou Prefecture!"
Lin Erxie looked at Lin Dalu, shocked, and asked uncertainly: "I heard you right, not only food, but also money? What is money?"
Lin Dalu's Adam's apple twitched, and he raised his hand to wipe the tip of his nose: "The money should be treasure bills and copper coins, but I haven't heard of the imperial court issuing treasure bills. This is not an important matter, mother, give me enough food and return the money." , I dare not think about it. It is said that the fields are not busy at this time, and it will take more than a month to harvest rice. If I take three boys to go there, I can make a lot of money in less than a month."
Lin Erxie couldn't believe it: "Can this be true?"
Lin Dalu bent down, lifted the cart, and said in a haphazard voice: "Gu Qingtian is back. Only Gu Qingtian loves the people so much. You didn't hear that, so go voluntarily. If it weren't for Gu Qingtian, the county government would have sent it here. Who would have done it?" I don’t care whether you live or die.”
Lin Erxie nodded heavily and looked at the notice posted on the city wall. Although he could not read the words, he learned from the people next to him that this was indeed a notice written by Magistrate Gu himself.
"As long as Magistrate Gu asks us to go, then we will go!" Lin Erxie picked up the burden and added: "Take your son with you!"
"Are you sure it's not for money?"
"roll……"
A notice shocked the three counties of Jinjiang, Tong'an, and Hui'an. The news spread wildly. Within a day, many people knew about the government's corvee recruitment. Different from the gloomy scene in previous years, many people were going from house to house, preparing to go to Jinjiang City in groups.
The news of Quanzhou's opening to the sea spread with notices in three places, and the speed was shocking.
The next afternoon.
Chen Yanxuan entered the second hall of the government office again. Unlike last time, the person opposite this time was no longer Lu Zongyi, but Gu Zhengchen!
Facing the young Magistrate Gu, Chen Yanxuan saluted respectfully.
Gu Zhengchen looked at Chen Yanxuan and said with a smile, "Are you the young master of Tingxi Kiln?"
"That's right."
Chen Yanxuan replied.
Gu Zhengchen motioned Chen Yanxuan to sit down, and then asked: "I have heard that Tingxi kiln mainly produces celadon and blue and white porcelain. Although white porcelain is also produced there, it is not as good as Dehua white porcelain. Last year, I went there After a trip to Dehua, I got a white porcelain Guanyin, which is the best."
Chen Yanxuan did not shy away and said bluntly: "I also visited the Dehua kiln two years ago. The white porcelain produced there is warm and milky white, as fat as jade. It is indeed worthy of the name of the best. It cannot be compared with the Tingxi kiln." . However, white porcelain has the beauty of white porcelain, and celadon has the beauty of celadon. The celadon and celadon porcelain produced by Tingxi kiln have also been exported to other countries."
Gu Zhengchen nodded slightly and then said: "The government wants to sell a number of shops and houses, but it's a pity that none of the businessmen here are willing to spend a lot of money to take advantage of the opportunity. You are the only one who wants the tower building. According to other businessmen He said, Tingxi Kiln has been closed down a long time ago, and the Chen family is not a wealthy gentry, so why do you want a tower building?"
Chen Yanxuan stood up, cupped his hands and said, "To be honest with the magistrate, the Chen family really has no money. They can only spend 800 guan at most. This amount of money is not enough to buy a 20,000 guan tower."
Gu Zhengchen was very satisfied with Chen Yanxuan's confession and asked, "If that's the case, why do you dare to ask for the tower?"
Chen Yanxuan said solemnly: "Because I have concluded that when Quanzhou opens to the sea, Jinjiang City will soon go from being unpopular to being popular! Therefore, no matter whether the tower is worth 20,000 guan or 30,000 guan, in terms of the grand scene after the opening of the sea, it will not exceed five In 20 years, all the loans can be paid off, and after ten years, there will be at least 30,000 yuan of wealth..."
Gu Zhengchen looked deeply at Chen Yanxuan. He had to say that this man was more courageous and adventurous than some middle-aged businessmen. He dared to ask for the tower when it was not clear whether to open the sea.
Ding ding!
Gu Zhengchen tapped the tea bowl with copper coins and said to Chen Yanxuan: "The Tazi Building can be profitable in anyone's hands, why should the government choose you? Now that the sea is set to open, the value of the Tazi Building will naturally rise."
Chen Yanxuan took a step forward and said eagerly: "Prefect Gu, there are indeed many people staring at the tower at the moment, but if you leave it to me, I will definitely beat them."
Gu Zhengchen said nothing, just picked up the tea bowl.
Chen Yanxuan quickly said: "First, I have worked in a restaurant in Tong'an. Although I am not the owner, I am also the shopkeeper and I am familiar with the restaurant business. Second, after paying off the loan, I am willing to give 20% of the net profit of the tower building to the government every year. Yamen, to promote education and help people's livelihood. As long as my lineage is not cut off, Tazilou will abide by this rule from generation to generation!"
Gu Zhengchen stared at Chen Yanxuan and shook his head: "It is not appropriate to hand over the net profits of Tazilou to the government. This is a typical collusion between government and businessmen. The government will also take care of Tazilou out of profit considerations. This will have a negative impact on other restaurants and businessmen." Unfavorable and unfair.”
Chen Yanxuan looked at Gu Zhengchen in surprise. When faced with interests, he remained highly sober, not greedy at all, but upholding justice.
Gu Zhengchen was not interested in Chen Yanxuan's conditions.
Five years later, he is no longer here. It is difficult to say whether the money entering the treasury can be used for people's livelihood education. If it is intercepted, it will be collusion between officials and businessmen. By then, Chen Yanxuan will probably become the second fortune teller.
The only relationship between businessmen and the government is:
tax relationship.
In addition to this relationship, the more complete the separation between government and business, the better.
Chen Yanxuan lowered his head and suddenly thought of something. He raised his head and said, "After repaying the loan, Tazilou will use 20% of its net profit every year to build bridges, pave roads, open affordable medicine stores, and help the government offices to provide porridge to the people in disaster years!"
Gu Zhengchen smiled, stood up and walked out, saying in a deep voice: "Thirty thousand strings!"
Chen Yanxuan clasped his hands: "Deal!"
Gu Zhengchen looked at Xiao Cheng: "Have someone get the store deed of Tazilou."
When Lin Tangchen heard that Gu Zhengchen was going to hand over the tower to Chen Yanxuan, he quickly came to try to dissuade him.
However, Gu Zhengchen shook his head and insisted on writing a new store deed document, adding a sentence in the document: "If Chen Yanxuan is unable to repay the loan, he can only extend it for half a year. If it is still not feasible, the Tower Tower will be returned to Quanzhou." The government will not reimburse the government for the part that has been repaid previously. Tazilou cannot change the deed and establish an account before the accounts are cleared."
The existence of these regulations ensured the Quanzhou government's control over the ownership of the tower.
If Chen Yanxuan can repay the loan, the ownership will belong to him.
If Chen Yanxuan cannot repay the loan, the government will take back the tower building unconditionally.
During this process, the store deed of Tazilou was not allowed to be changed, and other merchants could not buy it from Chen Yanxuan.
Gu Zhengchen picked up the new store deed and handed it to Chen Yanxuan: "Go back and think it over carefully. After three days, if there are no problems, you can go to the government office to apply for the store deed documents and loan documents. If there are any problems, just pretend that these do not exist." .”
The new store deed document does not have a seal and is not valid.
Chen Yanxuan took it, looked at it, and nodded heavily: "I will come here in three days and take away the tower!"
