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Liu Zhenmin, the prefect of Huai'an, has been really annoyed recently. Pen, fun, pavilion www. biquge。 info

Since the establishment of the "United Boat Company" three months ago, the income of him and his officials has plummeted!

In the Ming Dynasty, the life of local officials was still relatively nourishing, in addition to the corruption and bribery on weekdays, there were three additional stable incomes, namely "fire consumption", "inclined grain", and "private tax"!

The so-called "fire consumption" refers to the fact that after Zhang Juzheng implemented the "one whip law", all taxes were levied on silver and handed over to the state treasury, and when the local government melted and recast the people's broken silver into silver ingots, there was also "fire consumption", and after the "fire consumption" levied at the time of taxation was greater than the actual "fire consumption", the difference was attributed to the local officials.

The so-called "oblique grain" refers to the fact that when the local officials collect the autumn tax, they will secretly use their hands and feet on the scales, and the people obviously handed over 100 catties of grain, but the scales only show 90 catties, so the people have to hand over 10 catties of grain, and this part of the extra grain is also attributed to the local officials.

As for the "private tax", it is even simpler, that is, local officials set up private tax stations to collect toll taxes from passing people and merchants, and this revenue naturally also goes to local officials.

These three incomes, coupled with the corruption and bribery on weekdays, are really a source of wealth, and in some wealthy state capitals, the so-called "100,000 snowflakes of silver in the Qing Governor's Mansion in three years" is absolutely not exaggerated!

Huai'an Mansion is the only place where the Beijing-Hangzhou Grand Canal passes, and it is naturally a rich place to choke the transportation of water, salt, river engineering, Yuguan, and the post station, and it is precisely because of the existence of the Beijing-Hangzhou Canal that Huai'an Mansion has always been the most important in the three incomes of "fire consumption", "oblique grain" and "private tax".

However, since the establishment of the "United Shipping Company", relying on the household department as the backstage, there is no longer a need to pay toll tax to the Huai'an government. Even ordinary people will choose to take the "United Ship Company" to rush by boat, so that the tax station in Huai'an Mansion can no longer collect the money on the way, and in the past three months, the private tax collected by Huai'an Mansion has been reduced by nearly seventy percent! This loss alone has cost Huai'an Mansion nearly half of its income!

Prior to this, Liu Zhenmin gave out nearly 100,000 taels of silver in order to clear the way to become the prefect of Huai'an, so that he took the door of the first assistant Shen Changmao, and finally got the fat shortage of Huai'an Mansion as he wished, but he had just sat in this position for less than half a year, and before he had time to make money to recover his losses, the financial resources were suddenly cut off by half, and they continued to decrease, so how could Liu Zhenmin not have a headache?

It's not just Liu Zhenmin who has a headache, the officials under Liu Zhenmin are also resentful of the "United Boat Company" cutting off their financial route, if there is no "United Boat Company", these small officials and officials can also share some benefits on weekdays, and naturally they live a comfortable life, but now that there is no "private tax" financial route, everyone is income halved, and naturally they will not be happy.

As the saying goes, "from thrift to luxury, from luxury to thrift"! After the income is halved, if the officials of Huai'an Mansion want to maintain the living standard of the past, I am afraid that they will soon sit on the empty mountain, if they want to reduce the standard of living, but they are unwilling, so everyone in the Huai'an Government is complaining all day long, Liu Zhenmin has only served as the prefect for half a year, and gradually he can no longer suppress the situation.

*

"Alas! How could I be so unlucky! ”

That night, in the bedroom of the back office of the official mansion, Liu Zhenmin complained again to his original wife Zhang.

This is the eighth time Liu Zhenmin has complained this evening.

After hearing Liu Zhenmin's complaint, Zhang was also a little helpless, and said: "Master, since the 'United Ship Company' is so annoying, as the prefect of Huai'an, you are the prefect of Huai'an, and you will find a way to put a few stumbling blocks on the 'United Ship Company', and after the 'United Ship Company' suffers a loss, you will naturally not dare to embarrass the master, maybe you will obediently hand over the silver!" ”

Hearing Zhang's suggestion, Liu Zhenmin said angrily: "Women, what do you know? The backstage of the 'United Ship Company' is Zhao Junchen, the head of the household! That person has always been very ruthless, and he knocked down two cabinet elders in a row, if I make it difficult for the 'United Boat Company' in private to let him target me, not to mention that the position of the Huai'an prefect cannot be saved, I am afraid that even his life will be in danger! ”

Zhang's family is indeed a woman, and he doesn't know about the major affairs of the court, so he just asked in a daze: "Sir, your backer is the first assistant Lord Shen, except for the emperor who counts him the biggest, and Lord Shen supports you, why should you be afraid of Zhao Junchen?" ”

Liu Zhenmin smiled bitterly and shook his head: "Shen Shoufu? I regret joining him now! If I had been able to join the old Zhou Ge sect, I would still have a little confidence now, but Shen Shoufu may not be Zhao Junchen's opponent! ”

"Isn't the head of the cabinet an opponent of Tobe Shoshu? And this kind of thing? Zhang asked in surprise.

Liu Zhenmin looked helpless, unwilling to explain more, just shook his head and said: "Women, I can't explain it to you!" ”

And at this time, someone suddenly reported on the door: "Master, there are two scholars outside the ya, an old man and a young scholar, who are called Li Chuanwen and Xiao Wenxuan, who claim to be the staff of Lord Zhao, the head of the household department. ”

After hearing that it was just two scholars asking to see him, seeing that it was getting late, Liu Zhenmin planned to refuse directly!

However, after hearing that these two scholars were Zhao Junchen's staff, Liu Zhenmin's face changed!

Don't look at Liu Zhenmin, who has been complaining about Zhao Junchen's "United Boat Company" cutting off his financial route, but he doesn't dare to snub Zhao Junchen's staff at all!

So, Liu Zhenmin hurriedly said: "Invite them in, I'll go see them right away!" ”

*

When Liu Zhenmin came to the mansion guest hall, he saw two Confucian students, an old man and a young man, quietly drinking tea, all of them with extraordinary bearing and calm manners.

So, Liu Zhenmin hurriedly walked in front of the two Confucian students, and arched his hand: "The two are Lord Zhao's staff in the house?" But I don't know what happened to come to this official so late? ”

After seeing Liu Zhenmin appear, Li Chuanwen and Xiao Wenxuan glanced at each other, but their expressions were completely different, Li Chuanwen smiled kindly, while Xiao Wenxuan had a cold face.

Then, the two also got up to greet Liu Zhenmin and introduced their identities.

Then, Li Chuanwen took out an account book from his sleeve with a smile, handed it to Liu Zhenmin, and said, "Lord Liu, look at this account book!" ”

Liu Zhenmin was puzzled, and hurriedly reached out to check the account book, but found that the content in the account book was extremely difficult to understand, and it seemed to be some kind of calculation.

After seeing Liu Zhenmin's expression change, Li Chuanwen said with a smile: "After my lord Zhao established the 'United Shipping Company', he also knew that he had cut off the financial route of the local government, and he was a little uneasy, so he planned to take out a part of the annual profits of the 'United Shipping Company' to subsidize the yamen in various places, and with the current profit of the 'United Shipping Company' and the status of Huai'an Mansion, he could subsidize about 100,000 taels of silver every year!" Of course, this subsidy is a private matter, and the imperial court is not aware of it. And this account book is the specific plan of this subsidy! ”

After hearing Li Chuanwen's explanation, Liu Zhenmin was overjoyed!

Unexpectedly, after Zhao Junchen monopolized the shipping business, he also planned to subsidize the local yamen for a sum of silver! Compared with the annual private tax revenue of Huai'an Mansion, these 100,000 taels of silver are much less, but it is better than getting nothing!

With this money, Liu Zhenmin can make up for the loss of his own dredging of the door, and he can also be the hearts of his officials, which is naturally a great thing!

However, before Liu Zhenmin could speak, Xiao Wenxuan, who had a cold face, also took out an account and handed it to Liu Zhenmin, and said coldly: "Lord Liu, you can take a look at this account again!" ”

Liu Zhenmin was stunned again, and once again reached out to take the account and flipped through it, this time he quickly understood the content of the account, but his face changed greatly.

In this account, all the records of corruption and bribery in the past six months are clearly recorded, and there is not a single mistake!

Then, Li Chuanwen asked with a smile: "Governor Liu, on the one hand, there is no place to turn over, on the other hand, it is glorious and rich, and it has risen step by step, which side do you think is better?" ”

Liu Zhenmin's complexion kept changing, and he quickly guessed the intention of Li Chuanwen and Xiao Wenxuan.

Then, Liu Zhenmin hesitated for a moment, but gritted his teeth fiercely and said: "This official has always admired Lord Zhao, and in the future, I will take Lord Zhao as the leader, and I will choose whichever side Lord Zhao asks me to choose!" ”

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The third update!

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