Zhou Cong has been really unhappy recently. Five of the six counties in the Shanzhou region were harassed by the barbarians, and only their own upper counties remained. However, after arriving in the county, I found that the county guard was vacant, and I had to act as the county guard.

The first characteristic of this place in Shangjun is that it is poor, and the landlords are so poor that they are not willing to spend money on it. After he came, the squires of the county gave themselves a pick-up, all of them wore old robes, and the meal was mostly freshly hunted game, and there were very few domestic ones. On the first day of his appointment, he opened the treasury and took inventory, which was only enough for basic office expenses. I had no choice but to send a report to Zhongshuge requesting a one-year tax reduction, and Gongsun Linggong approved it, but added a "You are difficult and I am difficult" instructions, and it was obvious that his requirements were not in line with the rules.

The upper counties are mostly ravines and ravines, and they are distributed over long distances. Farmers work small flat plots of land in the mountains, and almost every household works part-time as a hunter in order to supplement their families. Whether it is the official records or the personal verification, the large landlords with more than 700 mu in Shangjun do not exceed 10 percent of the total number of household registrations. It was not that the landlords of this place did not have the desire to expand, but that they pointed to the upward path of development to join the army and fight in war, and to be rewarded for meritorious service - and finally moved away.

Therefore, Shangjun has another nickname - Weijun. It means to be an officer, a fierce general. In this place where the people are fierce, he was too guarded, and the trick of cutting people and shocking people in Chunhua County back then was absolutely unplayable.

In the end, he decided that this year's tax reduction and exemption for the upper county would be handled according to the principle of three or seven points. That is to say, this year, only 30% of the people's taxes will be collected as the office expenses of the upper county, and 70% will be given to the people of the upper county as the grace of the Son of Heaven.

"I, Shi Zhoucong, the magistrate of Shangjun, am acting in charge of Shangjun because of the vacancy. The Son of Heaven caress the people with tenderness, and remembers that the livelihood of the people in Shangjun is difficult, so he exempts the county from paying tribute and supports the people with kindness. Zhou Cong is not talented, unable to maintain, but there is a monarch in front of the example, although Cong is difficult, he also should be the heart of the monarch's father, solve the worries of the people, and then reduce two percent to the people. Zhou Cong finished reading the tax reduction order, and then explained to the people, "The above is the tax reduction order of the upper county." Let me explain: In the next week, Satoshi is now the head of the upper county, and of course I will temporarily manage the upper county during the vacancy of the Taishou. Our king remembered that it was difficult for us to go to the county, and exempted half of the taxes to be handed over to the court, which is the king's grace, and this year's fifty percent of the taxes will not have to be paid. All right, everyone follow me to thank His Majesty. ”

Then Zhou Cong led the county officials, county orders, county squires, and local people to kneel and thank Wang En together on the dragon card offering "Long live Your Majesty the king, long live, long live".

He stood up again and continued: "Originally, the king understood everyone's difficulties, and as a long history, he should also reduce some of them, but the treasury is insufficient, so he can only reduce or reduce 20% for everyone. Together, a total of 70% of this year's taxes will be reduced, and only 30% of this year's taxes will be collected. It's Zhou Cong who can't live with the old folks in Shangjun, here, Zhou Cong makes amends to everyone. After saying that, he really knelt down and kowtowed to the crowd.

Although the squires scolded Zhou Cong in their hearts, they still persuaded with a very hypocritical smile: "Zhou Changshi has tormented the people of Shangjun, and the treasury still has expenses, so Zhou Changshi is embarrassed." Then they knelt down and saluted back.

The ordinary poor people were divided into two groups, and one said, "Will it be reduced?" ”

"You can't lie, do you? Isn't it time for the king to reduce taxes and collect them? ”

"I think this circumference is sick, right? Don't you just kick up the money and don't give it to the king in the capital? Why bother to make fun of us poor? ”

Another part of the people did not consider whether it would be reduced, but scolded Zhou Cong for being hypocritical and shameless: "If you want to be exempted, you will be exempted, and some will be reduced." ”

"That is, if you Zhou Cong exempt our taxes completely, we will say hello. What about you minus a part of the brush stupid boy?! ”

"This circumference history will not deceive anyone."

What about the officials? I think Zhou Cong is simply a stupid hat - look at the squires below who are smiling or not, and see how the people curse you. Only 30%? Barely enough for office use, where can we find the money for corruption?

After the incident, Zhou Cong convened the county order and the subordinates of the county to discuss the matter.

"Zhou Cong is young, has no virtue, has no talent, and was wrongly regarded by the king as a long history, acting in charge of Shangjun. We are poor in the county, the people's livelihood is difficult, and it is a border place. I also know that it is time for the barbarians to invade again, and they should keep all the taxes reduced this time in the county as armaments. But when I went down and looked, what did the people eat? As he spoke, he brought out the bark and wild vegetables, and then cried in front of the hundred and tenth officials, "Everyone said that the people had reached the point of eating bark and wild vegetables. ”

The director of Hongnong Division is a sallow-faced old bureaucrat, in his forties, called Feng Tangzhi. He saw that this young man Changshi was crying, it didn't look like acting, so he had to step forward and persuade him: "Zhou Changshi, isn't this going to be autumn soon?" Soon the people will be able to eat. ”

"That's it, Zhou Changshi's love for the people is good."

"Autumn is coming soon, don't be sad about Zhou Changshi."

"It's not that Zhou Cong doesn't know it's time to harvest autumn. But you know what? The soil in our upper county is thin, and there is so much food in the field. After the farmers harvest the autumn, they have to pay rent to the landlord, right? After paying taxes, how much food is left? Yes, we can hunt in the mountains of Shangjun and mix some game, but it's still not enough, right? I have visited more than 100 people's homes, and since I myself am from a poor background, I know that this day is three or two millet days. Ladies and gentlemen, is three taels of millet a day enough to eat? ”

“？” Although everyone is not like the bureaucrats in Xihai County who are on a diet to maintain their health, they are not ordinary people who eat poorly, and they look at each other one by one.

"I know people think I'm stupid. I just thought that if I could lighten the burden on the people, I would lighten it. After all, the barbarians are eyeing the people, and if they want to protect the territory and the people, they have to rely on the support of the people. ”

"Zhou Changshi's idea is good, but the people of Xiaoben will not necessarily appreciate it."

"I don't expect a little favor for the people to appreciate it. However, the people's will must be won little by little, and we must start from now on. I think as long as we insist on winning the trust of the people, the people will still be reasonable. Feng is the director, you are in charge of agricultural taxes, and I hope that the head of Feng will help me. ”

"How can I help?"

"I have promised the people to only collect 30% of the government treasury expenses, and I hope that the head of the seal will help restrain everyone, and I must keep my promise."

"Since Zhou Changshi can say that he can win the trust of the people, he can say that the people's hearts must be fought for little by little. Then the people of Shangjun will be able to understand the difficulties of the history of the perimeter. ”

"Seal the master, please. Colleagues, please. "Once again, I salute all the bureaucrats.