Feng Chengshi is a member of the Longwu Dynasty, and it is said that he is still a subject with Tao Qian. He had never been an official before he joined Zheng Chenggong, but he had heard too much about the cats in officialdom.

In contrast, his son Feng Xifan followed him into the officialdom in the curtain of Zheng Chenggong, and in the Ordnance Bureau, the Zheng family did not lack the account room, and it was very difficult to do anything in the accounts; The Ordnance Bureau was built by Chen Kai, and as soon as Chen Kai entered the door, he dealt with the corrupt and deductible factory tyrant, and his people were not interested in these little money. With it, Feng Xifan has been in such an environment for a long time, and he has been less exposed to it, and when he heard his father's words at this moment, he knew that he could still be like this in this world, and he immediately opened his eyes.

In fact, starting from the concept of taxation, collecting taxes to maintain the use of the royal family, the bureaucracy and the army, it is inevitable that the powerful people in this group will use their power for personal gain. The local gentry and ordinary people, who are responsible for paying taxes, also have tax avoidance methods such as making contributions, colluding with officials to revise fish scale books, etc., and the phenomenon of tax evasion has never been less.

This kind of thing is in line with the saying that the world is as black as a crow. This is true not only of the government and the common people, but also in China and other countries, because as long as the word profit is an ordinary person with a mortal body, it is inevitably vulgar.

Feng Chengshi did not know that in the future, there would be strange theories such as "foreigners are of high quality, will not be corrupt and will not evade taxes, and this kind of thing is caused by the inferior nature of the Chinese", and it is also impossible to imagine that many Chinese who were self-respecting and self-loving in the Ming Dynasty would be inferior to that field in a few hundred years. But as a father, he who knows always has to pass on to his son, which is the inheritance of knowledge and the transmission of father-son affection.

After talking about this, Feng Chengshi continued to use the last few mouthfuls of rice, and after saying so much, he always felt as if he was not full, so he asked his subordinates to fill another half bowl and continue to eat. In contrast, having absorbed a lot of new knowledge, Feng Xifan seemed to be full, and his mind was full of those money-related things, where could he still take care of food.

"Father, as far as the child knows, the two counties of Xinghua Prefecture, the nine counties of Fuzhou Prefecture, and Funing Prefecture are two county towns in one prefecture, while Yanping Prefecture, Nanping, Shaxian, and Yong'an seem to be seven counties. If it is said that it is calculated according to 10,000 taels, then this time 210,000 taels worth of silver and grain were levied! ”

After a trip, you can get so much silver and food, which is indeed as much money as Chen Kai said. Feng Xifan swallowed his saliva, his expression was a little strange, all of which were seen by Feng Chengshi. Seeing this, Feng Chengshi had no choice but to put down his chopsticks and continue to explain to him:

"The kickback, which is generally added up to two percent, is more than 40,000 taels of profit to those officials up and down. However, not all counties are 10,000 taels, and seeing the benefits, the second batch sent to collect some time ago, each team got back no less than 15,000 taels, and the most even reached 23,000 taels. The father doesn't know the specifics of this account, but the number will definitely not be less than the two hundred and one thousand taels! ”

Speaking of which, 210,000 taels, even if the 167,000 taels excluding the kickbacks are an astronomical amount. Feng Xifan was already speechless, and he didn't know what to say at all. Feng Chengshi was not satisfied with this, and after thinking about it, he still felt that he should let his son grow up and gain knowledge.

"The idea of levying food and wages was the first of its kind, but after the surname wrote to Chen Jingcheng, Chen Jingcheng is said to have suggested adjusting the methods in his reply. The surname of the country is now going according to Chen Jingcheng's method, in addition, this is only September, and it is said that it will be levied next month, and there will be no accident at that time, it will definitely be faster than this time. ”

………………

At the end of September, the whispers between the father and son of the Feng family in the center and left were unexpectedly fulfilled in October. Zheng Chenggong sent a note to the counties, asking them to prepare money and food for the army to be collected.

In this regard, the officials in the Fujian officialdom were overjoyed, but with Liu Qingtai and Tong Guoqi's concern about the amount of storage in the warehouse, these Qing officials, who had been in the officialdom for a long time and knew that they were well aware of Shangguan's preferences, immediately expressed their approval and support for Shangguan's insights.

"Governor Huangdu, you know, the boss of the army and the boss of the Fu army are not very happy that we use the prefecture and county storage ......."

With the last cooperation, this time, after the arrival of the envoy, the magistrate of Fuqing County quickly left the city to interview Huang Kai at the last delivery location. However, this time, Huang Kai was very unhappy, and the unruly on his face was not concealed in the slightest, and it was clearly written on his face, and it was reflected in the eyes of the magistrate.

Seeing this, without waiting for Huang Kai to speak, the magistrate hurriedly added: "But we also know that the stakes are very high, and it is not easy for Haicheng Gong's side." So, Xia Guan and some colleagues pondered, simply levy it from the people to supply the army, do you think it's good? ”

When the magistrate said this, Huang Kai's face was slightly relieved. But when asked what he thought, he only said, "This marshal doesn't care where the money and food come from, just bring it back, and don't care about anything else," so he wanted to end the meeting. However, the magistrate's words were not finished, so he had to continue to speak.

"Huang Shuai, you have followed Haicheng Gong for many years, you must be a person with great insight, and you must have seen a lot of local anti-donation and anti-tax resistance. Xia Guan pondered, in this way, those Diao people will inevitably make trouble, and I am afraid that they will miss the big event of Haicheng Gong and Huang Shuai at that time. ”

"What does the county mean by letting Ben Shuai lead the troops to conquer?"

Huang Kai has always done the work of collecting salaries, and he is not good at fighting. Besides, before leaving, Zheng Chenggong had already instructed that all things, especially things that offended people, should be done by the Tartar government, and they were only responsible for taking money, opening bills, giving kickbacks, and then leaving, it's as simple as that. As for the rest, except for Zheng Chenggong's orders, he doesn't care about anything.

Seeing that Huang Kai's complexion was a little unpleasant, the magistrate hurriedly explained: "Of course I won't trouble Huang Shuai, I have my own local green camp to solve those people." It's just that you also know that when this army moves, you always have to give some benefits, and those green battalion officers can do their best, this kickback ......"

Eating a serving, but now I still want to continue to ask for it, the reason is that it is enough, but it is also the first time for the county to discuss with Huang Kai, and he is not very familiar with it, so he can't help but be a little restrained. Fortunately, Huang Kai seems to be a natural familiar, understands the request, and even said that he will immediately ask Zheng Chenggong for instructions. Well, that's what they need to do first.

"Don't worry, you won't let Haicheng Gong break too much, only half of the achievement is enough."

"Well, that handsome will send someone to report back first, just wait and wait for the good news."

"Thank you Huang Shuai."

Since it was a business, Huang Kai was also full of sincerity, and hurriedly sent someone to report back to the Zhongzuo Institute. Zheng Chenggong's side quickly gave instructions - for these hard-working officials and green campers, Zheng Chenggong felt that it was acceptable to add half of it. So, the instructions returned to the mouth of the Longjiang River, and after Huang Kai had a secret discussion with the magistrate, the latter soon took action.

"The levy of the levy of the levy of the levy of the levy of the levy of the soldiers, the money for raising the soldiers, one tael of silver per household, silver, copper coins, cloth, grain, porcelain, these can be used to offset it. The imperial court said that as long as the matter of appeasing Haicheng Gong is done, the war in Fujian will be eliminated, and the use of money and grain will be reduced, and you will always benefit. But if there are those who dare to resist and fail to pay taxes, there will be no forgiveness! ”

At the beginning of the Qing Dynasty, the Qing court said that it would abolish the three salaries, but in fact, what was initially abolished was only the training and suppression of salaries, and later it was restored again. And the biggest Liao, the so-called abolition is only after the abolition of the Wanli Dynasty, but the nine cents of silver before the Wanli Dynasty have been completely integrated into the Zhengfu.

In addition, the later Kang Yongqian dynasties did not mention it, only said that this Shunzhi dynasty, the Qing court had to levy taxes whenever there was a disturbance. This is no longer limited to the war, and even the reconstruction of the imperial palace burned by Li Zicheng has to be paid for by the people of the whole world.

Nowadays, such an increase in taxes in order to appease the Ming army is actually not surprising to the common people. As long as you are reluctant to give up the fields and houses in your hometown, the shops in the city and town, and the wives and children at home, you always have to tighten your belt and endure it.

Among them, the only thing that made ordinary people feel a little better was that the goods collected were no longer limited to silver and grain. If there are more categories, you can avoid the exploitation of the people by merchants since the implementation of a whip law. However, one tael of silver per household, this is definitely not a small burden. Soon, the prefectures and counties that carried out the expropriation were full of complaints.

"Last year, the levy was levied, the levy was levied this year, and the levy was levied every year, how should I live this day."

"Endure it, it's not always a way, go up the mountain, into the sea, there is always a way to live. At the very least, it's better than being so suffocated to death now! ”

Beside the little officials, the swords and guns of the green camp were very eye-catching, and some people did flee into the mountains and forests for this, but the vast majority of the people were reluctant to do that, so they had to endure and hand them over.

Supplies were quickly raised in the counties, and the officials went to the countryside to bring back a large number of goods each time. As for those Diao people who resist donations and taxes, as the county said, they have their own green camp cuisine.

On 11 October, a "Qing resistance force" composed of dozens of men, women, and children who hid in the mountains to avoid taxes had just been wiped out. The cart pulled the confiscated goods and women, the heads were hung on both sides of the war horses, and the team of the green camp strode back to Fuqing County, which had the most powerful meaning.

Back in the county seat, the magistrate no longer has to greet him in person as he did the previous times. The officers of the green battalion didn't care about this, and made a count of the children of the goods, and then went to the county office, and the county magistrate and the warden read the statistics, and then wrote the merit report.

“…… There are more than 300 bandits in the Huangbari Mountain, occupying a sinister and troubled place. This time, the soldiers fought bravely, did not avoid the arrows, and finally defeated the bandits, burned the thieves' village, beheaded two out of thirty, and the rest of the people were scattered......"

After a closer look, the officers of the Green Battalion couldn't help but have a higher evaluation of the exaggerated level of educated people like Zhixian. Subsequently, the two sides discussed the matter of going out to collect grain and grass, and after it was agreed, the magistrate picked up the pen and wrote a document on the accounting of storage consumption again.

“…… This time, 200 green battalions were dispatched, and 1,000 local people were recruited. On the third day of the expedition, he carried 40 stones of grain, a number of pigs and sheep, 50 taels of silver for the purchase of vegetables, 30 stones of grain consumed, and the rest were put into storage, and the pigs and sheep were all rewarded to the soldiers......"

Yesterday went out, today will return, even if you are rich for a day's consumption; In terms of dietary standards, one pound of grain per person a day, plus pork and mutton, and silver money for the purchase of pickles, but the officers of the green battalion never let the two hundred people actually recruited in their hands have enough food, let alone meat dishes, so it is a large amount of input.

After dividing the revised accounts by two, the two sides divided the silver and sold the rich grain to the grain merchants of the county, and the silver was consciously and automatically sent to the back door of the adults' houses.

The silver entered the house, and the prepared goods were sent to Huang Kai to report the accounts. The latter counted the amounts, converted them into silver according to the market price, and then gave them a rebate of one percent and half percent, and handed them directly to the captain of the army of the Green Battalion officer and the warden of the county government, and the transaction was settled.

"My county trustee asked Huang Dudu Governor if he would come to collect food and salary next month."

"It should come, our Haicheng is just ready to be appeased by the imperial court."

"The villain understands, the villain will go to tell the county honor, and it is better to prepare grain and grass for Huang Dudu to bring back."

The warden was also overjoyed when he got a response. Not to mention, the benefits of the county magistrate have never been less than those of their subordinates, especially him, who is in charge. As long as these Ming soldiers come to collect food and wages every month, they will get it every month, wouldn't it be happy.

In this way, the warden was preparing to say goodbye to Huang Kai and go back to inform the county lord of the good news. However, Huang Kai stopped him again, saying that Zheng Chenggong knew that he had been fighting with the Qing army in Fujian for many years, and the elders in many provinces were disturbed, so he was ready to open a porridge field.

"This ......"

"Don't worry, we don't go into the city, only outside the city. I won't bring many people with me, just the men and the people who carry the rice and grain. ”

"I see, the villain immediately went back to the city to ask the county for instructions."

"In addition, our Haicheng Gong was also a scholar back then, and he knew that scholars were hard. Therefore, please arrange for the Confucian students of the county school to go out of the city as appropriate, and the marshal will issue silver money on behalf of our Haicheng Gong for the purpose of rushing for the exam. ”

"The villain understands, and the villain will go back to ask the county for instructions."

Things were quickly implemented. First, Zheng Chenggong is ready to be cared for, and it is not too much to have such a posture of whitewashing in advance; Second, eating other people's mouths is short, and taking other people's methods, don't say it's too much, even if it's excessive, sometimes it's not easy to shirk, so I had to arrange personnel and venues to open a porridge field outside the city by Huang Kai.

"Our Guogong understands the hard work of the villagers, and opens a porridge field......"

Over there, the porridge field is open, although the porridge is not as good as the chopsticks that can be held by the Ordnance Bureau earlier, but it is by no means a thin soup and little water. The people lined up to receive it, and the man who served the porridge took the trouble to preach Zheng Chenggong's virtue and politics to those people, and soon ushered in the praise of the people.

"Our Guogong used to be a prisoner, and he also entered the county school, so he knows that scholars are hard. Therefore, the special commander gave money to improve the food. With a good body, you can have the energy to study, and you can better serve the court in the future. ”

Here, in the face of these Confucian students from the county school, Huang Kai personally came on the field, and told the story according to the rhetoric he learned earlier in the Zhongzuo Institute, and he heard that those Confucian students felt that our generation was not alone, and they thanked Zheng Chenggong for his kindness.

Outside the city, on the head of the city, the magistrate and the officers of the green battalion looked far away, and the words of the man and Huang Kai drifted up to the city with the wind and into their ears.

"County Zun, it's good to buy like this, isn't it a bit too much."

The Ming army exerted favors on the gentry and common people of the county outside the city where the Qing army was stationed, and the Qing army not only watched from the city, but also helped to maintain order. Such a scene does not need to be mentioned by the officer, and the magistrate has already seen the strangeness. But he didn't care about it, and even told the officer that he didn't have to care about it.

"Then Haicheng Gong is willing to spend money, so let him spend it. As for the future, we will lose the money, and after a while, we will go to the rich land in the south of the Yangtze River to become officials, wouldn't it be better than taking responsibility here? ”

The magistrate said so, and the officer also responded with a "high view". It's just that behind the scenes, he still can't help but complain.

"I just don't know, it's Haicheng Gong or Zhangguo Gong who is willing to spend money to buy it."