Green seedlings originally mean crops that are not yet ripe, and more specifically refers to the time when the crops are not green and yellow before they are ripe.

In ancient times, the most difficult thing for farmers was when they were not harvested. During this period, there was a lack of food and clothing, and life difficulties were inevitable, especially in the year when the wind and rain were not smooth, and it was even more miserable.

As mentioned above, at this time, in order to tide over the difficulties, the common people were often forced to borrow money from the rich and landlords. After the grain harvest, there is a high interest rate. In the long run, the people's lives will become more difficult, and once they cannot repay the principal and interest, they can only sell their land...... Over time, there will be serious land annexations. The reduction of state taxes makes it impossible for the people to live and work in peace and contentment, which is not conducive to the stability and peace of the world.

In order to curb mergers and increase the revenue of the national treasury, Wang Anshi first formulated and implemented the Qingmiao Law at the beginning of the reform and reform.

In the second year of Xining, the Regulations Department of the Third Division promulgated the Seedling Law, stipulating that households in Fanzhou County could borrow cash or grain from the local government before the summer and autumn harvest each year to subsidize farming.

The borrower is rich and poor, and ten people are guaranteed to check each other. The amount of the loan is divided into five classes according to the assets of each household, and the first-class households shall not exceed 15 yuan, the second-class households shall not exceed 10 yuan, the second-class households shall not exceed 100 yuan, the third-class households shall be 6 yuan, the fourth-class households shall be 3 yuan, and the last class households shall always be 500 yuan. In the current year, the loan will be repaid with the spring and autumn taxes, and the interest will be two cents per period.

Two cents, that is, 20 percent interest, seems very high. But compared to borrowing usury from large landlords, the interest rate of 100 percent, or even 200 percent, is already very low.

If you only look at such content, it is indeed a good policy, which benefits the country and the people. Why did such a good policy end up failing? This is what puzzled Lin Zhao the most. Even if there is opposition from the so-called feudal landlord forces, if there is no problem with itself, it will not be defeated?

It is precisely because of this that Lin Zhao's mentality is more cautious, and he wants to carefully understand, investigate, and then implement it, and he is not in a hurry. Autumn said, this is the time of the grain harvest in the south of the Yangtze River, and there is no problem of lack of green and yellow crops for the time being, so it will not be implemented on a large scale until the end of the year at the earliest.

In contrast, Cai Jing was more active, and immediately began to work on it after receiving the holy decree. Now the implementation of the new law in Yuhang County has begun in full swing, and it is at the forefront of the Great Song Dynasty.

As for Lin Zhao, he slowly figured it out, taking advantage of the autumn harvest to patrol around Qiantang County to understand the most authentic first-hand information, and then cooperate with the implementation of the Seedlings Law.

The first thing Lin Zhao cared about was the constant closing of positions, which was a structure that had been set up since the early years of the Song Dynasty, and it was also the basis for the existence of the Qingmiao Method.

The main function of the so-called regular liquidation is to stabilize grain prices and stabilize the market. Whenever a bumper harvest is followed by a large influx of new grain into the market, food prices will inevitably fall because of the oversupply.

In feudal society, there is a saying that grain is cheap and hurts peasants, and at this time, in order to ensure the interests of the people who have worked hard for a year, they will buy grain at a price slightly higher than the market when they close the position.

When the harvest is scarce, the grain is sold at a price slightly lower than the market to ensure that the people have food to eat. At the same time, it can also play a role in maintaining the balance of supply and demand and stabilizing the market. In terms of the motivation and effect of the simple establishment, the existence of a regular position is very beneficial.

But in fact, a superficial thing often has many unexpected things happening. Maybe it's because of the existence of the shining point, which covers up the shortcomings behind it very well, so that people can't detect it in time.

When Lin Zhao came to the place where Qiantang County's Changping position was located, a small official hurriedly greeted him, very attentive, and seemed to be a little flattered.

As for the specific official position of the little official, Lin Zhao couldn't understand it for a while, and even the little official himself was a little confused. Because Chang Ping is a freak in terms of organization, Chang Ping is a yamen under the jurisdiction of Sinong Temple, but all the funds must come from the three divisions in charge of taxation and finance.

However, the regular closing position is set up at the local level and is subject to the jurisdiction of the local government, and its affiliation and organizational structure are particularly complicated. That's it, it doesn't matter when it comes to finances, but when it comes to finances, problems immediately arise.

Because according to the operation mode of regular liquidation, it is a non-profit institution, buying at a high price and selling at a low price, and it will lose money in the long run. Who should bear these shortfalls? In terms of the purchase of grain and the operation of the regular position, the regular liquidation also requires a large amount of funds.

But Sinong Temple is a clear water yamen, very poor! As for the situation of the three divisions in charge of finance, the economic situation of the Great Song Dynasty has never been better, and the three divisions in charge of national financial management are not easy at all.

When you have a little more money on hand, the funds that are often closed can be allocated. Once the three divisions are too busy to take care of themselves, Chang Ping is like a motherless child, and it is difficult to overstretch.

The situation is far worse than this, even if the three divisions allocate funds, they still have to go through the local government. The states and counties are not fuel-efficient lamps, and after some exploitation, how many can really reach the hands of Chang Ping? In the long run, the cycle of evil surnames, often closing positions, gradually making ends meet, has reached the verge of bankruptcy.

This time, Wang Anshi's reform, especially after the promulgation of the Qingmiao Law, the previously unknown Chang Ping was finally able to come in handy, and this brought back to life.

The arrival of the Lin County Order made the little official's feeling more and more intense, where was the county order coming to inspect before. Leng Yamen was not cared about at all, but now it is suddenly radiant. The depressed little official, who had already given up on the future, burst out of hope again at this time.

Lin Zhao asked: "How many positions are closed in Qiantang County?" What is the storage of grain? ”

"Uh......" the little official said resignedly: "Back in the county, Qiantang County will often close positions here......"

"Only one?" Lin Zhao couldn't help but sigh, could it be that the remote areas along the southeast coast are not taken seriously?

The little official's next words made him suddenly understand, and at the same time a little surprised. The little official said: "Not only Qiantang County, but even Hangzhou, the entire Liangzhejiang Road, there is only here." ”

"What?" The whole result surprised Lin Zhao a little!

The little official said: "That's true, only the places where the state capitals are located can have regular liquidation!" ”

That's right...... Lin Zhao understood the problem in a blink of an eye. The implementation of green seedling rice is largely dependent on the regular liquidation, but its quantity and distribution area obviously cannot meet the demand.

There are many people and few warehouses, and the geographical distribution is unreasonable. For example, the people of Liangzhejiang Road can't come to Hangzhou from such a far place as Yuezhou and Quzhou to come to Hangzhou to receive green seedling money or grain, right? Otherwise, the cost of road transportation alone will not be affordable. From this point, it can be seen that the content of the reform was negligent from the very beginning, and it was doomed to be full of difficulties.

Lin Zhao asked again: "How is the grain stored in the warehouse this year?" ”

The little official was very proud of this and said: "In the past few years, Hangzhou has had a good harvest every year, and a batch of grain was bought at a low price before, and the inventory is absolutely sufficient." ”

With this guarantee, Lin Zhao was a little more down-to-earth. As for how to implement the Seedlings Law, there is still the question of this regular liquidation...... Lin Zhao felt that he seemed to should do something.

Just as he was pondering, someone came to report: "Lin County Order, someone from Bianjing is coming to ......"

"Hmm!" Lin Zhao answered, and when he was about to leave, a thunderbolt sounded in the sky!

(To be continued)