"This official knows that if you people don't say it, it doesn't mean that you don't want it in your heart. Some people think that the official is making a big fuss, and some people think that the official is really from the countryside, not a scholarly family, with shallow eye sockets and little knowledge, and no big money in his eyes. A few buckets of rice, a few taels of silver, is it worth such a mobilization? In your minds, what you do is a small thing, nothing big. He didn't kill anyone, didn't set fires, and never betrayed the sellers, but just let those grains grow a way and let them pay less money and grain. Anyway, the county can ask the government for exemption and ask for a reduction, and if it doesn't work, it will be owed. The two governments of Susong owe millions of stone in grain taxes, and they don't expect to pay it off in this life. If not, what can it do? But what I tell you is that you are very wrong to think so! ”

In Fan Jin's room, all the food officials of the seven districts were present, all of them did not say a word, and stood silent in the room. In Fan Jin's hand, there is a stack of bound account books, this is his achievement in Daode Township this time, in the eighteen townships of Shangyuan, the land of Daode Township has been cleared and completed. The actual inspected land is more than 3,700 mu more than the land in the county's account books. This includes not only some deliberately concealed and not reported, but also some that they did not even understand themselves, and were discovered by the county yamen during this cleanup.

In addition to the specific field figures, another thing is to verify the number of fields owned by individuals. Whoever owns all the fields must be registered and compared with the records kept by the government. If there are any errors or omissions, the books of accounts are changed on the spot and the title deeds are issued. This kind of on-site office work method of the county order makes the officials have no room to do anything from it, and they can't use tricks and other means. It can only be issued at a glance, according to the actual number of fields.

Gu Shoushan's side also recruited early in the morning. After all, compared with assassinating the court officials with the intention of rebellion and bribing the grain officials, the crime of reducing or reducing the grain tax is much smaller.

Although the taxes of the Ming Dynasty were not heavy, the service could kill people. The amount of tax that was not high was also unbearable. The grain chief's dismissal is regarded as a benefit for his own tube, and as for taking a part of the kickback, it is the motivation for him to work hard and work hard. Even if the townspeople knew, they couldn't say anything.

The entire Shangyuan is divided into seven districts, and the actual control of the total grain chief in each district is more than two townships. Another segment of Gu Shoushan, the land situation of Changle Township, is also about to be completed.

Of course, Gu Shoushan didn't want to be unlucky only himself, so he simply bit out the other six chief grain chiefs. The grain officials and grain chiefs colluded with each other, on the one hand, to pay less to the imperial court, and on the other hand, to do their best to squeeze money in the countryside, and they all confessed clearly. This confession was placed in Fan Jin's hand, and his copy was placed in front of several grain officials.

These grain officials were all officials in the yamen. Among them, three houses are accounted for, one is responsible for two years, and all of them are involved. The names of these people are in the ministry, even if they are county orders, and there is no way to do anything to them without conclusive evidence. Since they were all hereditary, they were more familiar with the local area than with the foreign prefectural magistrates, and it was often these people who overrode the prefectural prefectural powers and made the prefectural magistrates act according to their wishes.

If the cooperation between the two is not good, these officials also have a way to toss the chief officer. For example, if he is strict, there are several sacrifices every month that need to be attended by the county order, and then he has to fast three days before the sacrifice, as long as he wants, you, the county official, don't plan to eat meat this month, let alone have sex with a woman.

In terms of money, in addition to the main money, what can be obtained by folding color is also a means to watch the officials. If the relationship between the two is rigid, it is not impossible to receive cables and sails as wages. The relationship between magistrates and officials has always been a complex subject, and the two sides compete for power with each other.

Of course, the county official can name a certain official, and he must be selected if he participates in it. However, the above officials and officials will also become the laughing stock of Shilin. Besides, it doesn't make much sense for a clerk to be dismissed and replaced by his son or brother. The officials collectively slackened their work, and it was difficult to carry out the work of the prefectural order. This is also the reason why the county order is more and more dependent on the master, this group happens to be the nemesis of the officials, who can shelter the county order from the wind and rain to complete the work.

Another way for the county to subdue the officials is to get enough evidence to clean up the officials. When their lives are at stake, those officials will not be able to be strong. Right now, what Fan Jin is holding in his hand is such a trump card.

Fan Jin, who usually treats people with a smile, is like frost under his eyes, which makes the air temperature in the room drop a lot.

"Jiangning is not a border pass, so you don't have to guard against a northern captive coming to cut people. In recent years, there has been no big trouble, so there is no need to worry about war. In the peaceful world in the hinterland, the most important thing is: money and food! Benguan was born in Guangdong, and he has also been to the north. These places are not as rich as our Jiangning, it is a blessing to be a common person here, and it is also a blessing to be an official, we should be content with our position, work diligently, and report to the Son of Heaven to settle down the people, so as to be worthy of God's love for sending us here to be officials. But some people don't know how to cherish blessings! ”

"I know it's hard to be a clerk. But compared to the peasants outside, you are much happier after all. At least you don't need to plow the land yourself, you don't need to get covered in mud! You think the income is small, and the official will find a way. Isn't it good enough for your whole family to have food to eat, and to make sure that it is better than that of the servants, who eat meat four times a month, and you eat meat ten times a month? Isn't it enough that every official can send a child to study in the county? This official is not a sea pen holder, and he does not require you to wear patched clothes and eat green vegetables and tofu. Everyone wants to live better, the official supports, there are some things that I shouldn't see, and I know how to close my eyes. But what you're doing now makes me can't close my eyes! If I close my eyes again this time, I won't have to open them! ”

The sweat on the heads of several officials kept profuse, and Su Guan Nian of the household said: "Tangzun, I know that I am wrong. It is a moment of ignorance and greed for the common thing...... But this rule is not based on lowly duties, but has been passed down from generation to generation. Moreover, if they are not given some face and allowed to reduce their taxes, the country will not be able to pay enough money and food. I hope that the eldest lord will be merciful and understand the difficulties of the next service. ”

"Don't be sloppy with me. As usual, the officer knows, I said I'm not a sea pen holder, and I don't intend to break the old rules here. There can be a common practice, but only if it is not excessive. It's hard work, it's not easy for the people, and it's not easy for you. It was a very wasteful task to find a point of balance between the taxes and grain of the imperial court and the actual affordability of the people. I can tolerate you for doing things that waste your energy and earn some rewards. But for the sake of this money, to be unscrupulous, that is to kill yourself. Besides, what did you do after you took the money, don't you know what you are doing? Lu Huaran! ”

He called out the name of another Guan Nian in the household, and the latter snorted and hurriedly stepped forward to salute. Fan Jin snorted coldly: "The lonely old Cai Si in Daode Township, three in his fifties, and his second son died early, and he was alone. He barely survived with only five acres of thin land, but in the account books, he had a full 130 acres of land in his name. The enslavement of these fields was all pressed on him, so that the old man almost committed suicide several times. Where is your forgiveness at this time? Where is your mercy? ”

Lu Huaran's face turned red and white when he was asked, so he had to kneel on the ground and said: "The errand of the next army was not done well, I couldn't visit it clearly, and I was deceived by a few Diao people!" ”

"This liar deceived you on the pink bed of the small hotel in the village? Don't think that you have a relationship with Jinyiwei, and the things investigated by this official can be covered up. Your relationship can only be a whistleblower, but it cannot hinder the investigation. The things that the official wants to investigate have been found out clearly. Everything you do is under the control of your own officials, and you still want to resist? Do you have to see the coffin to shed tears? ”

Hufang Jing Cheng Qin Juan suddenly stepped forward, lifted his robe and knelt on the ground and said, "The master doesn't need to say it. You must already know everything, and it will be futile to say anything after the next battle. Yes, we don't have much to say. Everyone present, including the next servant, liked money and liked women. A clerk in Jiangning, how can he get a few hundred taels of silver every year. If you can't get back the five hundred taels of the house, the daughter-in-law will scold the mother. For so many years, this has been the case. But this time, the eldest lord has to be serious, and the subordinates have to admit that they are unlucky and let the eldest lord fall. ”

"Well said, enough singles!" Fan Jin nodded and said to the other six: "You go out first, and Qin Jingcheng will let you stay." You are the owner of the house, and you know the most things, and the official has something to ask. ”

A few other people withdrew, and Fan Jin called Qin Juan up, gave him a seat, and said with a cold face: "You seem to be smarter than them." I just like to deal with smart people, and if your performance can satisfy me, maybe you don't have to die! This official is not to scare you, according to the law of Da Ming, the money you take is enough to peel the skin dozens of times. You're a little fatter, but you don't have that much skin to peel. The former magistrate Lai Yangshan deducted his taxes and grain because of your arrears, which caused him to be unable to finish his class, and finally went to a dead end. This official avenges his colleagues, and it is only natural that he will do you. ”

Qin Juan said: "If the master wants to do the service, he will not call us to the village, but go back to the county to do it in the court." Let us come to Daode Township, that is, to give the next soldier a way to live. This point has long been figured out by the next soldier. In several pawnshops and silk villages in the city, Xia Gong saved a total of more than 3,000 taels of silver, and there were still 200 taels of silver at home. It's all about possessions. Although you can make money from the next service, you can also spend money, and my wife gave birth to five sons to me, all of which cost money. Although the daughters-in-law look like they have passed, they can't be compared with Ma Xianglan and the girls under her, and they can't be compared to the grandfather. I can't give birth to a daughter, and I can't go down this road. Come to think of it, most of what the grandfather wants is our family heirloom, right? ”

Fan Jin looked at him, "You're smarter than I thought." Then tell me, what are you going to do as a smart man? Do you hold on to that account and wait to die, or do you hand it over? ”

"Master, you should know that if you pay the account, it will be nothing after the battle. If the children and grandchildren of the future military want to eat this bowl of rice again, they will not be comfortable eating. ”

"If you don't pay this account, you're nothing. It's nothing more than a matter of time cost, I've checked it from township to township, is the account in your hand still useful? ”

"Impossible. That would take too much time and energy, and the eldest master came to Jiangning to gild, so he wouldn't stay for so long. How could it be that so long of time was wasted because of the inspection of the land and the investigation. Besides, Zhang Jiangling returned to his hometown to bury his father, and then returned to Beijing on an errand, so he would not wait so long to come to Jiangning. Before Zhang Jiangling came, if you want to find out the fields and Dingkou of the Eighteen Townships, you can only rely on the account books in our hands. ”

Fan Jin snorted coldly, "You smart person is a little annoying to me. Guess what I'd do if we couldn't talk? ”

"The eldest lord will let the servants go to the next room to eat and drink for good hospitality, and tell the others that I am fine. Because I gave the books, I was pardoned. Those idiots out there can't tell if you're telling the truth or cheating on them, and they'll end up handing over their accounts. In this way, there are six copies, and whether I have the one in my hand or not has nothing to do with the overall situation. ”

"It was great. You also overlook the fact that the authenticity of your account books is also a problem. The population of the acres of land that the official has counted is to personally inspect the land. As for the population, it is also to be examined by yourself, and it is much more accurate than your account. ”

Qin Juan shook his head and said, "Impossible. We are in charge of one district by ourselves, and in order to make these mud-legged people bow their heads, we have to figure out how much land and how many people they have. If they can't figure it out, how can they be at our mercy? Therefore, the number of our fields may not be accurate, but the number of dingkou is the most accurate. As for the number of fields, we also have our own channels to check a little bit, although it is different from the measurement, but the general difference is not too big, with the account books in our hands, it is enough to satisfy the Minister of Gangneung. ”

Fan Jin said: "Then do you pay or don't pay?" ”

"Deliver! Not only will I pay it, but I will also let those fools hand it in, and there is only one thing to ask for. ”

"Say!"

"There is a Fu Ji pastry shop in Wannian Fang, and the proprietress is my friend. She bore me a son, a poor child who was destined not to inherit my family business. I can die after the battle, and my home deserves to be raided, I just ask the eldest master to raise his noble hand and take care of the mother and son, the woman refused to obey me, and was forcibly occupied by me. I owe them both mother and son, and it's time to give them an account. ”

Fan Jin sneered: "Are you not afraid of this official word and not trusting it?" ”

"Dealing with a villain like Xia Gong, why should the master be untrustworthy? I don't have this qualification yet. ”

"You're smart. In this way, if you hand over seventy percent of the family property, even if it is the punishment for you to enrich your pockets over the years, the official will give two of them to the mother and son, and then send the child to the county to study. Your other sons, go into a small business, and I'll have them take care of them. As for you......"

Qin Juan saluted and said: "The master is as kind as a mountain to the next service, and there will be no more requests for the next service." I just want to be able to eat a meal of steamed pork from Tianfulou before I die. The chef there is from Yangzhou, and the taste is the most authentic. ”

"I guarantee that you will have a lion's head to eat every day, and you will also have Dongyang wine to drink."

Qin Juan Fu saluted Fan again, "Thank you Master Fan for your kindness." A few other fools don't have as much brains as I do, but they always listen to me. I came to persuade them to hand over the bottom account, and I only asked the eldest master to be gracious and leave them a few heads. Now is a peaceful and prosperous era, and the meaning of cutting off a few heads is over at once. If you kill seven grain officials at once, I'm afraid that the new law is not a good omen. ”