Time flies.

In the blink of an eye, it entered August, and the summer harvest was approaching, and both the people and the officials began to get busy.

The threshing machine and blower invented by Han Zhen have been improved by the Engineering Institute to make them more convenient and fast.

With the assistance of the Agricultural College and officials from various prefectures and counties, it was extended to the whole territory of Shandong.

With these two things, the speed of summer harvest can be increased several times.

People will also have more time to work and subsidize their families.

This was the first summer harvest after Han Zhen ruled Shandong, so officials from top to bottom paid great attention to it.

The tax collectors' hands were shaking when they collected their taxes.

There's no way, the county magistrate is watching it personally, and at the same time, the cabinet is shooting left and right, the Ministry of Rites, and the Ministry of Households...... A large group of officials are also there.

If he dares to harvest an extra grain of wheat, it will not only be a matter of dismissal, but even a small life.

Looking at the smiling faces of the people, Han Zhen was in a good mood: "This year is a good year." ”

"Who's to say it isn't."

The old chief grinned and complimented: "However, there were bumper harvests in previous years, but Zhao Song's taxes were too heavy, and there was not much left after paying the taxes." Thanks to the benevolent government implemented by the county magistrate, it is good to divide the land into the mu, and now that the taxes are paid, there can still be a lot of grain in stock, which is enough to last next year. The grain harvested in the autumn can be sold for money to subsidize the family. ”

"Poor man, since the second year of Daxuanhe, the people in our village have not changed into a new clothes."

Han Zhen comforted: "This year is just the beginning, and it will get better and better in the future." ”

The old chief patted a little ass: "With the county magistrate here, we have hope for the future." ”

Han Zhen said: "Remember, if there are officials and supplementary officials who take advantage of you and others, and do illegal things, just go to the county inspectorate to report it, if there are officials who prevent you from entering the city, go to the barracks to find the Qingzhou army, and there will be soldiers to escort you into the city." If you put a hundred hearts, I will be the master for you, and no one will dare to retaliate afterwards! ”

"The county magistrate is relieved, the old man is provincial!"

The old lieutenant nodded solemnly.

As soon as he gets older, he can naturally hear what is true and what is scene.

After inspecting one village, Han Zhen and the others rushed to another village.

The same is true in other states and counties, except that the inspectors are replaced by officials from the Inspectorate.

The officials of the inspection department are all carefully selected by Han Zhen.

These people all have one thing in common, that is, they are brainless and unsophisticated.

Commonly known as rotten Confucianism.

When encountering something that cannot be solved, the only way to die is to repay the king's kindness.

If such a person is on the official side, it will be a disaster for the people under his rule.

But in the inspector's office, it is extremely suitable.

Moreover, Han Zhen also formulated a promotion system, and there is only one way for officials and supplementary officials of the Supervision Department to be promoted, that is, to catch corrupt officials and corrupt officials, and there is no second path to promotion.

This means that they are naturally on opposite sides of normal administrative officials, and there is no possibility of cooperation.

Just last month, when I learned that Han Zhen was going to issue business shares to officials, a group of officials from the Inspectorate collectively wrote a letter and arrested Han Zhen and sprayed him.

After spraying, he was not addicted, and when the officials of the four cabinets were on a mission, Zhao Ting, Liu Mi and other high-ranking officials were blocked at the door of Shaoyang Palace and sprayed, even Xie Ding and Xu Cun were not spared, and finally hid their faces and fled in shame.

even followed Zhao Song's example and gave Zhao Ting several high-ranking officials the hat of a six thieves.

In the end, there was really no way, but Han Zhen came forward, so he finally fooled them.

After inspecting the villages around the county town, it was already sunset, and Han Zhen and a group of officials rode on horses and headed towards the county town.

Under the scorching sun, all of them were sunburned and their cheeks were red, but no one complained.

Han Zhen instructed: "During this period of time, the cabinet has been focusing more on the performance of other states and counties, and the apportionment into the mu has just been implemented, and many landlords and gentry will definitely be dissatisfied. If you dare to make trouble, you should be punished, and you should be killed, and you don't have to be soft. The landlords and gentry are this thing, if they kill one batch, they will soon have the next batch, so they don't need to feel distressed. ”

Although the landlords and gentry were also dissatisfied and resistant, after all, it was not yet time to pay the money, so it was not fierce.

Now that the summer harvest is over, and the real silver and platinum are going to be paid, how can those landlords and gentry not feel distressed?

According to the previous tax system, after the landlords and gentry paid the land tax of one out of ten, they paid one or two yuan according to the number of adult males in the family.

Now it is different, and the money from the field tax is evenly distributed to all the fields under his rule.

For example, Linzi County has a population of 40,000 and more than 14,000 adult males.

An adult man's ding money is 320 yuan, a total of 4.48 million yuan, and then divided by the total number of 210,000 mu of land in the county, which is equivalent to 22 yuan per mu of land.

An ordinary family in the countryside, even if they have 20 acres of land at home, pays only 440 yuan in land tax, which is less than before.

The landlords and gentry are different, they have a lot of land in their hands, often tens of thousands of acres, and they need to pay hundreds of thousands of yuan.

At the same time, the same is true for forced labor, which is divided equally among the fields.

A few hundred times a year, ten years is a few thousand, how can the landlords and gentry endure it?

It's strange if you don't make trouble.

Of course, Han Zhen is not worried, because in just one or two years, the landlords and gentry will spontaneously support the apportionment of the land.

Why?

It's still that word, money!

Although Zhao Song's field tax is low, it can't stand up to the excessive taxes and miscellaneous taxes.

Taxes are raised every three or five days, and the people are all poor ghosts, where will the money come from to pay taxes?

The higher authorities only issued orders, and in order to complete the task, the local officials had to pick a few landlords and rich businessmen to slaughter and bleed.

Even, local officials will take advantage of the opportunity to loot and embezzle family property.

Therefore, in Zhao and Song Dynasty, the local wealthy businessmen are a high-risk industry.

If you don't have a background, sooner or later you will end up ruined.

Even if you have a background and connections, you still have to endure the pain of paying money in the end, which is nothing more than paying more and paying less.

For example, at the end of the summer of last year, the imperial court collected Ding body money across the country.

The people sold their sons and daughters, and they couldn't make up the land for sale, and the remaining gap naturally fell on the landlords and wealthy businessmen.

Under the rule of Han Zhen, there was no such problem, and in contrast to the two, they would pay hundreds of more land dollars every year, which was more important, and these landlords and gentry were still clear.

"I understand."

Zhao Ting replied.

……

……

August 15, Mid-Autumn Festival.

According to the rules, there is no curfew on festivals, the city gates are not closed, and the people can stay up all night.

It's getting late, and night is falling.

But the excitement of Yidu County has just begun.

I saw the lanterns hanging high, and finally connected into a brilliant sea of lights.

Shops are hung in red to show good fortune.

The East and West markets are full of all kinds of stalls.

The streets are bustling with pedestrians, filled with a joyful and peaceful festive atmosphere.

Because there is no curfew, not only the people in the city, but also many people in the surrounding villages also come to join in the fun.

It is said that the county magistrate specially prepared fireworks tonight.

The Northern Song Dynasty not only had fireworks and firecrackers, but even invented a medicine puppet on this basis, combining fireworks with puppet shows, and the visual effect was extremely shocking.

"Husband, hurry up."

In the harem, Zhao Fujin pouted and was urging Han Zhen.

"Okay, okay, here's it."

Han Zhen smiled dotingly and put down his hand.

Seeing this, Zhao Fujin's beautiful face suddenly showed a smile.

Quietly glancing at the direction of the door, and seeing that there was no one around, the little girl took the initiative to step forward, stood on tiptoe and pecked Han Zhen on the cheek, which was a reward.

Out of the study, a few little girls and Han Zhang's were ready, just waiting for him.

"Let's go."

Han Zhen waved his hand, led a group of wives and concubines, and took a team of guards out of Shaoyang Palace.

There were too many tourists in the city tonight, and since it was for fun, I didn't choose to take the bus.

Walking through the streets, the noise and prosperity come to your face.

Thinking about the Mid-Autumn Festival last year, he had just occupied Linzi County.

A year later, it occupied the land of Shandong, with more than 70,000 soldiers.

"It's so lively."

Ma Shuyao was amazed, and the colored lights were reflected in her big smart eyes, like a galaxy.

Jiang Suyi said curiously: "Sister Youyou didn't go out in the past?" ”

Ma Shuyao explained: "Although the Mid-Autumn Festival was also lively in previous years, it was not as good as half a minute today. ”

Zhao Fujin on the side said in a pleasant tone: "It feels a little bit like the capital." ”

"It's still not as good as the city of Tokyo."

Han Zhen shook his head and smiled, he still had this self-knowledge.

Yidu and Bianjing are not of the same magnitude at all.

The population is ten times worse.

In addition, the city of Tokyo is supported by the power of one country, and its prosperity is unique in the current world.

Today, old watches in Europe still light torches in castles.

Han Zhang seemed to think of something, and asked expectantly, "Didn't Erlang prepare fireworks tonight, when will they be released?" ”

During this period of confinement, she was suffocated.

It's hard to come out and take advantage of the festival, so the interest is high.

Han Zhen smiled: "It's still early, it's not dark yet." ”

The group wandered aimlessly, stopping from time to time to buy some food and small items at the stall.

After a while, Han Zhen and a group of guards were full of things.

"Husband, husband, this cherry Biluo tastes good, you can taste it too."

Zhao Fujin said, stuffing half of the baked cake into his mouth, then turned around and continued to visit the stall with a group of little sisters.

The so-called cherry Biluo is a kind of pie, and the filling is cherry, which originated in the Tang Dynasty.

This pie is extremely exquisite, and the cherries inside need to remain in their original shape and color after baking, as if they were fresh, but they are actually ripe, which is a test of control over the heat.

Han Zhen chewed a few bites and found that the taste was really good, the cherries were moderately sweet and sour, and the wheat aroma of the baked cakes had a unique flavor.

After strolling around for a while, I met Han Shizhong and a woman.

Han Shizhong also saw him, and hurriedly took the woman forward to greet him: "I have seen the county magistrate, this is the last general's lowly one." ”

"Liang Hongyu, a folk girl, has seen the county magistrate."

Liang Hongyu curtst her knees and makes a blessing salute.

"No need to be polite."

Han Zhen smiled slightly and glanced up and down at each other.

This Liang Hongyu is a strange woman, born as a military prostitute, but she has no wind and dust, and she dares to love and hate.

After his wife Bai passed away, Han Shizhong helped her as his wife.

The facts also prove Han Shizhong's vision, Liang Hongyu, as a virtuous helper, keeps the family in order, and at the same time, she also has a lot of help in her career. Whether it was the Miao Liu Mutiny or the Battle of Huang Tiandang, they all gave Han Shizhong great help.

Seeing that Han Zhen seemed to have something to say, Liang Hongyu said with interest: "Husband, let's talk with the county magistrate, the slave just took a fancy to a hairpin, and happened to ask for the price." ”

With that, he left.

Han Zhen asked, "Are the family members settled?" ”

"Thank you for the county magistrate's concern, everything is settled."

Han Shizhong was a little restrained.

One is the identity of a demoted general, and the other is facing Han Zhen, he really can't raise his confidence.

Han Zhen asked again: "Are you familiar with the firearms in the army?" ”

Speaking of this, Han Shizhong was interested, and his tone was full of excitement: "I am familiar with it, the power of firearms is really terrifying, and when used in battle formations, it is almost as powerful as a god." During this period of time, the last general, Liu Dutong and others have been studying the method of battle formation, and now they have some experience. ”

"Really?"

Han Zhen's face was overjoyed, and he said with a smile: "Tomorrow, I will go to the barracks to see your results." ”

Han Shizhong said confidently: "I will not disappoint the county magistrate." ”

(End of chapter)