It is said that in the third year of the Tang Dynasty, Emperor Tang Dezong convened a conference of the Holy Hand of the National Teacher, and the two traitorous ministers of the imperial court, Zhao Zan and Pei Yanling, were instructed by Prime Minister Dong Jin to jointly write a letter asking the peasants in the counties of Chang'an Gyeonggi Prefecture to pay the poll tax.

The dog bastard emperor Tang Dezong actually agreed.

The emperor's will was delegated to Gyeonggi Province, and the envoy of Gyeonggi Province was also stunned, in ancient times, because the emperor was apportioned indiscriminately, and the rebellion of Baitiao was criticized for a long time, why did the emperor take the lead in making a mess now?

However, no one could disobey the emperor's will, and he asked his tax collectors to go to the villages under Gyeonggi Province to notify them to pay the poll tax.

The countryside near Chang'an are all ordinary peasants, I heard that the emperor wants to collect taxes, this is not the autumn harvest season, where to pay them this poll tax?

But someone went to Chang'an City and knew that Tang Dezong was going to hold a conference of the Holy Hand of the National Teacher, and there was indeed such a thing, and it was the emperor's intention to collect a poll tax, and this matter could not be run, which made many farmers in Gyeonggi Province near Chang'an complain.

There are five brothers in Woniu Village, Zhang Chengde, Zhang Chengen, Zhang Chengsi, Liu Han and Deng Chang.

After Zhang Chengde and Deng Chang had a doll kiss during the day, the five of them had become friends at this time.

There was nothing to do at night, and the five brothers sat under a big tree in the village to enjoy the shade.

Deng Chang asked Zhang Chengde, "Brother Zhang, are the three soldiers who came during the day really come to notify you to pay taxes?" ”

Zhang Chengde, "Of course, I heard my father say that in the imperial court, the emperor didn't know what kind of illness he had, and there was a minister who said that he would recruit the holy hand of the national doctor to treat him throughout the country, because there was no money to entertain them, so he set up such a tax item." These soldiers were tax collectors in Gyeonggi Province, Chang'an City. ”

Deng Chang, "Life is good, what is wrong with the emperor's brain, why do we ordinary people pay this tax?" By the way, what's the name of this tax? ”

Zhang Chengen laughed, "I don't know what the name of the tax is, the elder brother of the Deng family is talking here." ”

Zhang Chengde, "This tax is called the poll tax. ”

Liu Xi, "I tightened my belt to pay the agricultural tax last year, and this year's autumn harvest season has not arrived, and I don't have much surplus grain at home. ”

Zhang Chengde, "I heard my father say that only the people in the villages near Gyeonggi pay this poll tax. The so-called poll tax is paid according to the capitation tax, that is, babies and the elderly who cannot do farm work must pay it. This is an order from the emperor, and it is impossible not to pay it. ”

Zhang Chengsi took a stone from under the tree and threw it into the distance, "I can't live this day." ”

Liu Sheng, "But what can you do?" Do you want to go to the mountains and become a mountain king? ”

Zhang Chengsi, "Don't force me to say this, maybe because there are too many taxes, maybe I will really become the king of the mountain." ”

The other four laughed.

Zhang Chengde, "Brother loves to complain when he has nothing to do, but the emperor wants to collect a tax, and you have to go to the mountains to be the king." ”

Zhang Chengsi, "I can't compare to you, since my father died, my mother remarried, I have been living by myself, you have all married wives and children, I am an elder brother, don't laugh, if the emperor's taxes are more, maybe I really can't get by, maybe I will go to the mountains and become a king." ”

The village is quiet at night, and in the autumn and August evenings, the cool breeze blows, and the people who are blown by the wind are refreshing.

Zhang Chengen said, "My brother said that the wind was so cool and comfortable this night. If my younger brother really wants to go to the mountains to be the king of the mountain, I am afraid that such a comfortable day is too little, either the officers and soldiers pay or the peasants rush to catch up, you are not willing to be the king of the mountain on such days? ”

Zhang Chengsi, "My brother in my family, my father died when I was 14 years old, and my mother led my younger brothers and sisters to remarry, and I was the only one left in the family. You have wives and children, I am an elder brother, what am I reluctant to do? ”

Deng Chang sighed, "Now you think that the court is dark, the emperor is unkind, you can't get by, you want to be a demon." If this year is a good year and a bumper harvest year, you may not be able to go if you are asked to be the king of the mountain. ”

Zhang Chengsi, "I love to hear what Brother Deng said, if life can go on, who will carry his head on his shoulders." It's just that I can't compare to you, I am one person who feeds the whole family and is not hungry, and I live a poor life. I have thought more than once that in a few days I will go to Chang'an City and my uncle to Shandong to sell some goods and come back to supplement the family. Turning to Deng Chang, "Brother, I often hear people say that you have also been orphaned since childhood, can you tell us your story?" ”

Deng Chang said, "I was fourteen years old, my family was plagued, and I was the only one left in the family of thirteen people who died. The year before last, I came to the capital Chang'an with the Shandong Daojiedu envoy to escort the emperor's birthday, and then I didn't go back, and then I married a girl from the Wang family in our Woniu Village. ”

Liu Yan said to Deng Chang, "Brother, I heard that in the barracks, life is not as urgent as that of our peasants. I wonder if it's true? ”

Deng Chang, "The days in the barracks are to stand guard every day, although the military salary is limited, but in the barracks, between the soldiers and the soldiers are buddies, they are not on duty in the barracks, and they drink wine and eat meat every day, and the life is not rich, but it is very refreshing." ”

Liu Yan turned his head to Zhang Chengsi, "Brother, how good it is for you to listen to what our brother Deng said, I think that being a soldier in the army is better than going to the mountains to be the king of the mountain, if life is still tight, in my opinion, you might as well go to the army." ”

Zhang Chengsi pouted, "In this era, when you go to the military camp to be a soldier, the army commander finds an excuse to deduct the soldier's salary all day long, and he has to be angry as an official, so it is better to be the king of the mountain." ”

Liu Sheng, "I think you are lazy, I asked you to be a soldier, I am good to you." ”

Zhang Chengsi, "Tell me to be a soldier, why don't you go to be a soldier?" ”

Liu Sheng, "I already have a family, what kind of soldier should I be?" ”

Liu Sheng, Zhang Chengsi bickered.

Zhang Chengde, Zhang Chengen, and Deng Chang laughed.

Although the days are poor, the peasants except for planting in the spring, weeding in the summer, and harvesting in the autumn and autumn, they are all chatting with each other in the village every day.

Deng Chang, "A few brothers, let's just get together and talk and laugh, and be farmers, although there is no heroic hero in the storytelling, but after marrying a wife and having children, life is also a rush." ”

Zhang Chengde, Zhang Chengen, Liu Xi, and Deng Chang are all family members, and they all think that what Zhang Chengsi said is a joke, and everyone laughs and goes over.

For a long time, Deng Chang patted Zhang Chengsi on the shoulder and said, "Brother, don't complain, the emperor wants to recruit poll tax, we farmers are originally peasant families, I don't believe that your family really can't survive, if you want me to see, you will pay it with a belt of trousers." ”

The five sighed.

Zhang Chengde said to Deng Chang, "Brother Deng, I have something to tell you." ”

It was already dark and there was no one in sight, and the moonlight poured on the countryside scenery.

Deng Chang was sleepy, and people were confused, "What's the matter?" ”

Zhang Chengde, "It's that I want to marry your girl as a daughter-in-law." ”

Deng Chang, "This matter, if you have to marry, I can't agree to it." ”

Zhang Chengde blinked, "You agreed to this marriage?" ”

Deng Chang nodded.

Zhang Chengde said, "Let's say this, don't regret it when the time comes, there was a saying in the past called finger belly for marriage, that is also a number, in the future my son must marry your girl." These brothers have heard it, and you should not repent when the time comes. ”

Deng Chang nodded, "Of course." ”

"A gentleman's word."

"It's hard to chase a horse."

The two high-fived.

The five of them talked for a while, and when it was too late, they dispersed and went home.

When I went home in the evening, Liu Sheng walked with Zhang Chengde and Zhang Chengen.

Liu Sheng asked Zhang Chengde, "Brother, our brothers are chatting together today, and I didn't expect you to mention the marriage again." ”

Zhang Chengde, "Brother Deng is bright, you can hear him talking to Brother Chengsi, he is a good person, there is this marriage, it is good to have such a family." ”

Liu Xi, "Did Zhang Chengsi tell you about that incident?" ”

Zhang Chengde, "What's the matter?" ”

Liu Xi, "When Miss Deng Chang was born, there was thunder in the sky, and it almost hit him. ”

Zhang Chengde was dumbfounded and stood there, "Is this true?" ”

Liu Sheng, "Of course, such a big deal, Brother Chengsi didn't tell you?" ”

Zhang Chengde, "He didn't tell me, why didn't you say this earlier?" ”