As soon as the merchant was going to strike the market, everyone's hearts immediately hung in the air.

By the end of the Ming Dynasty, after more than 200 years of exhibition, the industrial and commercial class had already possessed extremely large power, and gradually became arrogant. By this time, the local economy was completely free from the central government, and the imperial court was full of spokesmen for their interests. It can be shown that the imperial court at the end of the year did not have the slightest financial control over the local economy, otherwise there would not be a joke that the huge imperial court would only have a tax revenue of only four million a year in any country.

I am afraid that Zhu Yuanzhang did not expect that the merchant he despised the most would become so domineering in more than two hundred years after his death, the most typical example is the example of the imperial court sending people to the local area to collect taxes during the Wanli period.

In the Wanli period, the finances of the imperial court were actually very tight, in the middle of Wanli, the border form of the Ming Dynasty was already particularly severe, Nurhachi's wings began to harden, the Japanese were also eyeing the sidelines, there were traitors in Ningxia, and the Tusi in the west was not calm. Emperor Wanli wanted to use force against these opposition forces, but the silver deposit in the treasury (ten years of Wanli) was only four million taels, and he could not even fight a war to resist Japan and aid Korea.

Someone is going to ask, isn't there a household department in the imperial court, why don't you send officials from the household department to collect taxes? The answer to this question is absurd, because the tax collectors stationed in the local areas have long been bought off by the local merchants. The taxes collected every year are pitiful. The most absurd thing is that in the 11th year of Wanli, a minister went to the imperial court, saying that a certain province could only receive a few dozen taels of silver in commercial taxes a year, and the local tax officials at all levels had more than 100,000 taels, so they applied for repeal. What is the nature of the question. People in modern society may never even dream of such a ridiculous thing, and the commercial tax collected by a provincial-level tax bureau is only a few thousand yuan a year, which is probably unprecedented in the history of world exhibitions. When Wanli was in power, the commercial tax rate was sixty and one, and the annual sales were less than forty taels of silver, but those officials in the imperial court could not even collect such a tax rate truthfully.

In order to collect business taxes. Wanli gritted his teeth and stomped his feet, and sent a large number of eunuchs to the local area to collect taxes. Thinking about bringing up the money and then going to war with the opposition forces outside the country. But he underestimated the local businessmen and civil service class, in April of the twenty-seventh year of Wanli (1599), more than 10,000 citizens of Linqing beat the tax envoy Matang and burned the tax office. Thirty-seven of his minions were killed. That is to say, the IRS was burned, and 37 state tax officers were martyred. In the thirtieth year of Wanli (16o2), "Yang Rong, the tax supervisor, raged and stirred up the people, and the people were indignant, set fire to his kitchen, and killed the official Zhang Anmin." (History of the Ming Dynasty), that is, Yang Rong, the director of the local Internal Revenue Bureau, was burned to death. The deputy director was martyred.

Subsequently, encouraged by the concept of innocence in resisting taxes, there were incidents of the national bourgeoisie organizing violent resistance to state taxation in Huguang, Yunnan, and Fujian and Guangdong. Outrageous. Killing those sent by the imperial court to collect taxes was not only acquitted by the civilian clique, but was instead regarded as heroes and idols. Under the impact of this kind of thinking, the strike of businessmen and students has also become a commendable behavior, because now when they hear about the student strike, Wu Qing, Jiang He, Chu Di and others are lying if they say that they are not worried.

looked at Wu Qing and the others with heavy faces and anxious looks, and finally the youngest Wang Yue spoke. I saw her say in a crisp voice: "Lord Wu, Lord Chu, although the concubines and others are women. But on weekdays, I have also heard Hou Ye say a sentence, that is, power comes out of the barrel of a gun. Those people were nothing more than a bunch of lowly merchants, who could incite some scholars and green-skinned mobs to strike or besiege the yamen, but who were you, you had in your hands the most powerful army of the Ming Dynasty, and this army had never been afraid in the face of the fierce Tartars. Just last year, this army even won a great victory of 60,000 enemies outside the pass, but how long has it been, and you are actually scared when facing a group of pot-bellied merchants, why is this? The concubine's body is unknown, the Hou Ye handed over Jinan to you before leaving, what to do you should know better than the concubine. ”

Wang Yue is worthy of being born in a family of eunuchs, and Wu Qing and Chu Di are ashamed to say this, but they are still deceived by habitual thinking.

"Bang Bang Bang ......"

A burst of applause rang out at the door, and everyone looked back to see that Yue Yang, who had disappeared for several days, was standing at the door looking at everyone with a smile, clapping lightly with both hands.

"Well said!"

Yue Yang strode over, first looked at Wang Yue with appreciative eyes, and then said to Wu Qing and Chu Di Zhengse: "What did I tell you before I left a few days ago, once there is something, you don't have to be polite, we have the division of the tiger in the hand, what else can the merchants set off?" You have to remember that there are some things that we can compromise and tolerate, but there are some things that we can never tolerate, you know? ”

Yue Yang's blazing gaze was like a knife and he couldn't stop scanning the three of them, and he saw that all three of them lowered their heads and didn't dare to look at him, and finally Wu Qingcai muttered: "Master Hou, it's a humble and thoughtless job, and I've caused you trouble." ”

Looking at the three people who didn't dare to argue, Yue Yang sighed lightly: "You are not ill-thought, you are a civil official group who are afraid of offending the Ming Dynasty, you are all people who have read books, and in your hearts you have preconceived in your hearts and are frightened by Wanli's collection of commercial taxes." You may say that this is Shandong, not Shanxi, and the collection of commercial taxes has to be done slowly step by step, but have you ever thought about it, why is it so natural for us to collect commercial taxes in Shanxi? This is not something we do by talking to those businessmen, but by "forced" it by the guns and bayonets in our hands, and we have only one way to force people who do not pay taxes, and that is to force them out with knives and guns! You have to be clear about one thing, rights and duties are complementary, do you understand? ”

"Yes!"

After listening to Yue Yang's words, Wu Qing and the others didn't know Yue Yang's determination. They all responded in unison......

The third day of the third month of the third month of the eleventh year of Chongzhen, the Qingming Festival

Shandong began to surging all over the city, and from the morning onwards, the merchants in Jinan began to strike one after another, and the shops in Jinan began to close. All trading was also suspended, and soon the people of Jinan fell into a great panic. Soon a rush began to spread in Jinan, and by the time of the afternoon, the price of rice in Jinan had soared to eight taels of silver per quintal of rice, and the whole city was in turmoil.

In this panic, not only the price of rice, but even the price of rice, oil, salt, sauce, vinegar and tea soared like a rocket, and finally formed a situation where there was no market.

So far. There was a depression in the market in Jinan, and the people were panicked. Many people did not know what was happening, and at the same time there were many petitioning crowds in various parts of the city, and these people gathered in a huge stream of people and walked towards the yamen everywhere, shouting slogans as they went. He demanded that the imperial court remove Yueyang from his post as governor and cancel the new policy of apportioning the land to the mu and the officials and gentry to pay grain as an errand and errand.

In the governor's hall, Yue Yang sat in the hall, and dozens of officials in the hall were sitting upright, and no one dared to speak. Among these officials, most of them not only did not have a look of worry or fear on their faces, but showed a look of schadenfreude, and secretly looked at Yue Yang, who was sitting upright in the hall, with a playful gaze, and only a few officials looked at each other with worried eyes.

"Let's talk about it. How did this wave of strikes come about? Yue Yang's voice seemed to float to the ears of the officials as if from the clouds.

There was silence in the lobby, and everyone was still silent, and many people turned their eyes to Ke Zhennan, the political envoy, and Ma Ke, the envoy who sat at the bottom of Yueyang. It's just that these two people's meditation skills are very good, sitting motionless, looking at the nose and nose and mind, as calm as an old monk.

Seeing such a situation, Yue Yang sneered in his heart, but said lightly: "Master Ke, you are a political envoy. Shandong's big and small civil affairs are under your control, don't you want to say a few words? ”

The squad leader took the roll call. Ke Zhennan naturally couldn't be dumb anymore, he stood up and saluted Yue Yang and said respectfully: "Lord Governor Qiqi, this is what the private businessmen have done and the lower officials don't know, but the lower officials think that no matter how the businessmen make trouble, it is a private matter of the people after all, as long as they don't violate the laws of the Ming Dynasty, we just need to watch quietly." ”

When he said this, Ke Zhennan felt a joy in his heart. Knight Ke Zhennan has been unhappy with Yueyang for many days, this guy is too strong, he gave all the officials a dismount at the reception banquet on the first day of coming to Jinan, and also swore on the spot that he would carry out a new deal, who do you think you are? Zhang Juzheng is good enough, he created a whip method by himself, but what happened later, after his death, he was still dug up and whipped the corpse, and there was absolutely no good end for offending the anger of the public.

"Oh...... That's how Master Ke thinks. Yue Yang's eyes lit up when Ke Zhennan called him the governor, but then they became dull again, and he turned to Ma Ke and said, "Does Master Ma also mean the same thing as Master Ke?" ”

Ma Ke stood up and saluted Yue Yang and said respectfully: "Lord Governor, forgive me, the lower officials think that Lord Ke's words are still a little reasonable." Xia Guan also knows that your original intention is also for the imperial court, but there are some things in this world that are not what we want, and everything is not up to the point, this levy of commercial taxes, apportionment into the mu and the integration of the official gentry and the payment of grain are too sensational, even if you want to implement the new policy, you have to do it step by step, otherwise I will be in danger. ”

Although Ma Ke's words sounded very gentle at first glance, they were actually in harmony with Ke Zhennan, and the meaning of the words was the same, let Yue Yang cancel the new policy and cancel the collection of commercial taxes.

When Yue Yang heard this, his originally calm eyes flashed a hint of history, but the corners of his mouth showed a strange smile.

"So Master Ke and Master Ma are not in favor of Benhou's implementation of the new policy to levy commercial taxes?"

"This ......" Ke Zhennan hesitated for a moment and said: "Lord Governor, this collection of commercial taxes is really a big matter, and it should be considered in the long run." ”

"Well, Master Ke and Master Ma know what Ben Hou means." Yue Yang nodded: "Lord Ke means that more is better than less, to be a monk for a day and hit the clock for a day, as long as you can keep your black gauze hat, whether the court has silver or not, it doesn't matter if the Ming Dynasty is stable or not, is that so?" ”

Yue Yang's words were really harsh. It can be said that he has torn his face and cursed.

"You ......" Ke Zhennan was so angry that since Yue Yang took the lead in scolding, there was no need for him to wear that hypocritical mask anymore. He also stood up and looked at Yue Yang and said loudly: "I don't dare to agree with Governor Yue's words, I have been a country for more than 200 years, relying on the tireless efforts of literati such as us and other literati, otherwise how could there be more than 200 years of stability in the Ming Dynasty." As soon as the governor arrived in Shandong, he clamored for a new deal, but how could the new deal be so easy to do? The gentry have always been the foundation of the Ming Dynasty, and if this foundation is shaken, the Ming Dynasty is in danger of being destroyed at any time, haven't you taken this into account? ”

looked at Ke Zhennan who was talking. Many officials had excitement on their faces, if it weren't for the estimation of Yue Yang and the pro-soldiers standing around. They almost stood up and applauded.

"Haha...... Hahaha......"

Instead of being angry, Yue Yang burst out laughing.

"I really didn't expect anyone to be so shameless, what kind of gentry is the foundation of a country, I really don't understand. What did those gentry do for our Ming? What did these gentry do when the imperial court had no money to give relief to the victims, and when the soldiers of the Nine Frontiers were starving because of lack of food and clothing? What did the gentry of Shandong do when the Liukou invaded? When Chongzhen invaded Shandong in the eighth year, what did our gentry who claimed to be the foundation of the Ming Dynasty do? What else did they do besides hiding in the house behind closed doors and trembling around their concubines and maids? Is all they can do is eat their brains one by one? If this is the virtue of the gentry of the Ming Dynasty, then Benhou would rather not have these foundations! ”

Listening to Yue Yang's laughter and unscrupulous words, Ke Zhennan, Ma Ke and some officials were silent, they wanted to refute Yue Yang fiercely, but when the words came to their lips, they couldn't find any reason to refute Yue Yang. In the end, Ma Ke retorted with a red face: "The governor's words are ridiculous, throughout the dynasties, the gentry have always been the foundation of the imperial court. How does it become a burden in your mouth? ”

Yue Yang sneered: "Maybe it was the foundation at the beginning of the dynasty, but at this time, these foundations will become a group of giant rats that will only attach themselves to the people and suck flesh and blood." ”

"You ......"

In the face of Yue Yang's ridicule, all Ma Ke and Ke Zhennan could do at this time was to look at them with hatred.

At this time. There was a faint commotion outside the yamen.

"Unauthorized collection of commercial taxes is not tolerated!"

"The collection of commercial taxes is to rob the people of their wealth, this move is angry and resentful, and there is no light and darkness, and the land of Qilu will be destroyed and withered."

"Competing with the people for profit is a move that brings disaster to the country and the people!"

Although the governor's yamen can be called a deep courtyard and a high wall, it still can't prevent the sound from outside from coming in.

Listen to the shouting and scolding outside. The officials in the lobby had different expressions, some strange, some disdainful, and some snickering. The various states of sentient beings are varied.

Yue Yang stood up and walked outside, sighing as he went: "It seems that it is very lively outside, so let's go out and see what the so-called backbone and foundation of the Great Ming are going to do." How about it, would you like to go out with Ben Hou to have a look? ”

Anyway, Ke Zhennan, who had already turned his face, naturally couldn't weaken his momentum, and snorted lightly: "Naturally, I'm going!" After speaking, he took the lead in standing up and following Yue Yang, and soon a group of officials followed Yue Yang and walked out.

When Yue Yang and the others came to the gate of the governor's yamen, they saw a scene that surprised him, the street outside the governor's yamen had been occupied by a dense crowd at this time, for hundreds of scholars and businessmen, and Yue Yang also saw that there were many green-skinned scoundrels mixed in the crowd, and they were still holding sticks and other murder weapons in their hands, these people were scolding at the soldiers guarding in front of the yamen, and even some people threw clods, small stones, rotten vegetable leaves and other things at them, It's just that the soldiers in front of the yamen have been ordered in advance not to use force without authorization, and they have always been restrained.

Seeing that Yue Yangwei's officials came out, these people seemed to be even more excited, many people pointed at Yue Yang, and even a few people even scolded, seeing this situation, Ke Zhennan, Ma Ke and many other people who followed Yue Yang were smug on their faces, and some people looked at Yue Yang with a playful look, wanting to see how this tough governor dealt with these people in front of him.

How could Yue Yang not understand the thoughts of these people behind him, he smiled faintly and glanced at Wu Qing on the side.

Wu Qing nodded knowingly, and shouted loudly to everyone: "Everyone, it is a big crime for you to gather a crowd here to block the governor's yamen, and the first offender of Yue Hou Ye Nian will not be held accountable, and he will not disperse, if he is obsessed and used by the villain, don't blame Hou Ye for doing thunderbolts." ”

"Phew......"

As soon as Wu Qing's words were finished, an old man in a robe spat at Wu Qing and pointed at him and scolded: "You are a scum, it is just a matter of harming the people in Shanxi, and now you have come to my Shandong to harm my Shandong people, what kind of paving into the mu is really shameless, if you don't hurry up the cliff and stop the horse, Daming will be destroyed in the hands of you people." ”

"Right...... The imposition of commercial taxes is a competition for the interests of the people and should be abolished. ”

"It's never too late to stop the precipice!"

The crowd on the side also shouted.

Suddenly, a hoarse voice shouted, "Yue Yang...... Go back to Shanxi! ”

As soon as these words came out, there was silence all around...... (To be continued) R466

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