Han Shizu

"Who dares to break into the county government office!"

  A loud shout suddenly came from the Heqing County Yamen. Four Yamen servants stood on the platform, making knives in their hands, looking fiercely at the people in front of the Yamen.

  It wasn't that they were overreacting, it was just that the people who came were tall, had unkind expressions, and were equipped with weapons, making them look like they were not easy to mess with. Although it is impossible to rush into the Yamen, after all, there are only a few people, but it is still appropriate to scold him as he does his duty.

  The leader of the visitors was a young man, handsome and tall, with a masculine look on his face. He was holding a long sword in his hand. The scabbard had exquisite patterns and the hilt was equipped with jade ornaments, which was obviously extraordinary.

  Basically looking at the four government officials as if they were nothing, he raised his eyes to look at the very grand plaque, then noticed the closed door of the government office, and said mockingly: "It's a clear day, the government office is closed, the river is clear You can only imagine how the county is governed!"

  The sarcasm could be felt by everyone. Even the government officials in the party class felt humiliated and said angrily: "How bold! How dare you blaspheme the government!"

  "You!" The other party was obviously a bit arrogant, and the young man glanced at the Yamen officer coldly, and ordered the envoy: "Go and inform your county magistrate that someone is coming from Beijing!"

  After hearing this, the yamen servant's expression suddenly changed a bit. Facing the young man's cold gaze, he was frightened by his aura, but he didn't even dare to say anything harsh. He turned around and hurried to the yamen to report.

  The young man had no reason to wait. He put his sword behind his back and called a few followers. He followed him calmly and calmly into the county government office. The other officials who heard the conversation did not dare to stop them. The people coming from the capital were not them. These little shrimps can offend.

  As for this young man, of course he is not a mortal. He even has various auras on his body. His name is Li Zhaoxian. He is twenty-one years old. He is the grandson of the emperor, the emperor’s nephew, his parents and even Leping Gong Li Jilong and the eldest princess Liu Jia. Now he has a He was given the title of Zhaowu Colonel and served as a bodyguard in Ouchi. This time he went on tour with him.

  He boldly broke into the lobby, and before he could observe anything, he saw two middle-aged men in green official robes walking out of the second hall, with gloomy faces. He only glanced at the situation in the hall, and his attention fell on Li Zhaoxian. On the body, he asked without losing his vigilance: "Who do you dare to ask me?"

  Li Zhaoxian looked at the middle-aged man in green robe and said calmly: "Are you Chen Ruoyu, the magistrate of Heqing County?"

  "Exactly!" Chen Ruoyu replied, and then he tried to test: "I don't know which yamen your husband is from, and why he comes to this county. If you need help, just say so!"

  "Then please Mr. Chen, please come with me!" Li Zhaoxian said directly, his tone was calm, but his attitude was very strong.

  Seeing this, Chen Ruoyu's face darkened. No matter how you say it, he is still a respected person in the county. He has already given enough face to the words "a visitor from Beijing". He is so clueless and unclear, let him He followed, what the hell!

  With this thought, Chen Ruoyu's tone became less friendly and he spoke in an official tone: "This county still has official business to deal with, so I don't want to be teased by this! Seeing that you are young, this county will not care about you anymore, see you off!"

  After saying that, Chen Ruoyu turned around to leave, looking a little guilty in Li Zhaoxian's eyes. However, he didn't take it seriously and took out a document from his pocket. The bright yellow silk surface was particularly eye-catching. Li Zhaoxian said calmly: "Your Excellency, County Li, you should read this handwritten letter before making a decision!"

  Of course, Chen Ruoyu was not ignorant. When he saw the handwriting, his heart tightened, but after reading it, his legs became a little weak.

  When he looked at Li Zhaoxian again, his voice trembled slightly, with a hint of begging: "Can you please wait a moment while I wait for my subordinates to sort things out?"

  Hearing this, Li Zhaoxian looked polite, took two steps forward, reached out his hand to help Chen Ruoyu smooth the wrinkles on the chest of the official robe, and said with a smile: "Your Majesty, County Master Li, is very well-dressed, so why don't you do it?" My lord, I have kept you waiting for a long time!”

  "Yes!" Chen Ruoyu had no choice but to respond, but at this time, his heart was already filled with gloom. His family knew about his family affairs, so this test might not be easy. But now that the matter has come to this, we can only try our best to stabilize our mood and find a way to save it.

  Chen Ruoyu came from a well-known family. His father was the famous general Chen Sirang. In his early years, he served as the inspector of Huainan and made great achievements in the Battle of Huainan. Later, he served as the commander of the Huaixi capital and the inspector of the Yangtze River.

  His elder brother, Chen Ruozhuo, was ranked second in the [-]th year of Kaibao. Now he has become the head of the Ministry of Civil Affairs. As for himself, he was also a Jinshi, and Heqing County was his first official post.

  Li Zhaoxian's visit was obviously on the order of Emperor Liu Yang who was on a tour, and to be "invited" away by Li Zhaoxian in this way was obviously a big problem in his tenure, and it was a major problem.

  There are various reasons and reasons for the bureaucratic crimes of the Han Dynasty, and Chen Ruoyu also covers them. He was not from a low background, and his vision was not shallow. Money was not in his eyes, but he was greedy for fame and power, and had ambitions in his career. This was not a big problem, but he was too eager for quick success and quick gains in his pursuit of career.

  Among the "tax reform faction" in Han Dynasty, many people rose up because they made real achievements and made outstanding contributions in the implementation of restructuring, land surveying, publicity and education, etc.

  In the past three years, Chen Ruoyu is obviously one of them, and he has received awards for it. Especially when compared with his predecessor, his work effectiveness and official ability are highlighted.

  After all, it was under the leadership of Chen Ruoyu that Heqing County completed the tax reform in an all-round way. The data on the land register was clearly more than three times that of the old register, and the financial and tax revenue was even higher than under the two-tax system. doubled the amount, and actually handed it over to the Taoist priests and the imperial court in accordance with the regulations.

  With such an identity and background, and such outstanding achievements, Chen Ruoyu only needs to wait for promotion, especially when the new emperor ascends the throne. Murong Defeng is also making personnel adjustments after taking office as Tianguan, and his elder brother Chen Ruozhuo from Beijing Judging from the letter, he is already on the next batch of promotion lists and has been promoted to the governor of Mizhou in one step.

  However, all this came to nothing with the emperor's sudden private visit. After Liu Yang's two-day field investigation, he learned that Chen Ruoyu's brilliant political achievements contained too many falsehoods, and Heqing's tax reform was as wet as if it had been soaked in the Northern Yellow River.

  First of all, the Heqing County government's protection of small farmers and people is in name only, and it even sides with the landlords and local tyrants, and in turn suppresses ordinary people.

  It is said that after Chen Ruoyu took office, he called together the big landowners under his jurisdiction, made some high-sounding words, and revealed overtly and covertly that the court's tax reform must be implemented, and it must be implemented thoroughly, and it must be included in the government's land register. It is necessary to see the number of acres of land owned by each family. As for the problems encountered by the rural sages during the reform, the county government will also try its best to help solve them.

  Hearing the string song and knowing its elegant meaning, the gentry in Heqing understood the county master very well and were willing to serve him. Then the tax reform work in Heqing was on the fast track, and the land clearing and registration were completed in two years. , and he has a name, a family, and a household, and has achieved remarkable results.

  However, in fact, after Liu Yang learned about it, he only had eight words to comment: It is unsightly and the crime cannot be punished!

  Not to mention reasonable tax avoidance methods such as decentralizing the land under your name and allocating it to clans and tenants in a certain amount. This is the safest method, but in Heqing County, not many people do it.

  More often than not, the land is distributed to the common people according to the method of renting and lending, but they are tied to them through the lease and loan agreement. In fact, they still control the life, old age, illness and death of the common people, and let them work as cows. Be a horse.

  Under such conditions, the small farmers who "own" their own land may not be much improved compared to before, and may even be worse off. In the past, one had to pay landlord rent and court taxes, but now one has to pay loans and local taxes. Adding the two together, the latter may not be easier than the former. High borrowing and interest rates are like a rope around their necks, suffocating them. But whether it improves or corrects the evil depends purely on the integrity of the landlords and creditors.

  There are not many virtuous gentry who are tolerant and helpful to their neighbors, but there are not many of them. For most of the powerful landowners, even if they are just resisting the court's "tyrannical land administration", they cannot make life easy for the common people. , otherwise wouldn’t it really turn those mud-legged and untouchable people upside down?

  There are also farmers who can't bear the usurious loans and go to the county government to complain. At this time, County Master Chen will of course fulfill his original promise and help the gentry solve their problems.

  There are also words, and they are righteous, and it is a matter of course to pay back debts. There are written evidence, fingerprints, etc., and it is also the signature of the county magistrate Cao, which is effective.

  What's more, judging from the records, it's not an exaggeration. If it's not over in ten years, it's still twenty years. If it's not over, there will still be descendants. Those lands can't be given away for nothing. You already have your own land. What else can you be dissatisfied with? You can't be too greedy.

  Of course, as a parent official, Chen County Zun also has a "heart of loving the people." Out of compassion, he will still find the creditor when faced with the request and sentence him to a reduction of three or two years in benefits. Of course, the county sages will also give the county Zun Face, in this case, what else do the people who complained have any dissatisfaction? If the entanglement continues, do you want to stay in the countryside anymore? Aren't you afraid of neighbors poking your back and scolding you for being greedy and ungrateful?
  There are also people who are unwilling to borrow money. However, if you don’t borrow, others will lend you, and the temptation of owning your own land is really not something that ordinary small farmers can resist. And once you sign your name on the poverty line, you are destined to be trapped. thing.

  Of course, there are also people who try their best to pay off their loans in advance, whether they steal or rob, some people really do it. However, after old loans there are new loans, and there are always various difficulties and risks in the production and operation process. As long as there is need, the villagers are very generous and willing to lend a helping hand.
  Gradually, many landowners have discovered that under the current policy environment, this lending business can actually make money. It can not only reasonably and legally avoid the high local taxes caused by land concentration, but the income may not be higher than concentrating the land under their own names. Low.

  Under such circumstances, some "smart people" have begun to target the original homesteaders. If they have difficulties, they will lend you help when they need it. If there are no difficulties, they will lend you money and grain.

  This is still restrained. Those who eat people without spitting out their bones will try their best to make you bankrupt and lose your money, and then "save" you with a loan agreement. Then they will not take your land and will keep farming and producing to repay the debt.

  As for escaping debts, let alone the protection of the government, if people can escape, how can the land escape? At worst, the land can be taken back and handed over to other farmers for farming.

  Through such operations, the land annexation situation in Heqing County has been effectively controlled, but the livelihood of farmers has not fundamentally improved, and has even worsened.

  The control and exploitation of ordinary farmers through loans may not be lighter than personal dependence based on land. This is the result of the compromise of the gentry and sages to the court and response to the government reforms.
  One can imagine what the situation is like in Heqing County under such conditions. Of course, as long as there are no disasters or diseases, the farmers can continue to live their lives and even show a stable atmosphere. However, the small farmers and households under this order are really in an invisible state. In an even more suffocating atmosphere.

  In addition, Chen Ruoyu also had other tricks, such as making a fuss about the land hierarchy. The land of the gentry was recorded as middle field, lower field or even poor field, while the land of ordinary people was classified as upper field and middle field, and taxes were collected accordingly.

  This is also a situation that frequently breaks out in the process of tax reform, and it is also one of the main contradictions under the new tax system. For some people, the new tax system is not as good as the past of paying two taxes per capita. At least in wealthy areas, where the economy is developed, the land output is large, and the population is prosperous, even if the court is biased when setting the tax amount, the tax to be paid is not heavy when it is apportioned to individuals.

  In addition, the county government also allocates some barren mountains, deserted beaches, and woods to farmers as cultivated land, and can collect some taxes.

  At the same time, the loan policy for the poor people under the rule was actually stopped. After all, the gentry helped solve the problem. However, the annual loan relief business is still "doing", and it is done in the accounts, and it is done beautifully.

  As for the grain, seeds, agricultural tools and other materials used for loan relief, they can be easily converted into financial and tax revenue. Some operations even only require two additions and subtractions in the Changping warehouse register, old grain is shipped out of the warehouse, and new grain is brought into the warehouse. Just move the knife and pen.

  Using all these means together, the tax revenue of Heqing County has naturally increased compared with before, which has turned into Chen Ruoyu's outstanding achievements in the tax reform business.
  After understanding the true situation, Liu Yang can hold back his anger and not curse, which is already a sign of his high level of self-cultivation.

  In addition to being angry, there is also a sense of helplessness. He feels that he is still paying attention to the tax reform process and often pays attention to some details. The court also acts cautiously and has continuously adjusted and improved it over the past many years.

  However, even if this is the case, a situation like Heqing County can still occur. This place is only separated by a river from Luoyang!

  If Heqing is like this, you can imagine what the situation will be like in other places. Chen Ruoyu is not the only smart bureaucrat in the world. Their methods may be even more unexpected! No wonder there are so many complaints and riots everywhere!
  The restructuring, after so many years of reform, has produced such a result. For Liu Yang, it is really terrible.

  What was even worse was yet to come. When Chen Ruoyu was brought to the imperial court, he still did not repent and wanted to struggle a little more and make false claims.

  Liu Yang asked Chen Ruoyu about the current status of the tax reform in Heqing County. Although he was a little panicked, he quickly adjusted and sincerely stated that he was following the instructions of the court in full. Even if there were some omissions, they were deviations caused by a poor understanding of the new policies. and made mistakes, which he also admitted.

  When Liu Yang mentioned that high-interest private loans were common in Heqing County and the poor were being oppressed, Chen Ruoyu looked innocent and expressed in surprise that the court did not prohibit private loans, and it was very common for poor people to borrow money to buy land. The squires If you are willing to take out the land, you can't give it away for free.

  He even banned debts with excessive interest rates, punished evil gentry, and effectively protected the interests of the common people. Especially those landlords who pass all land transaction taxes to farmers are severely punished in accordance with tax laws. They act in accordance with the law and the rules. These situations are well documented.

  On the other hand, in the process of a large number of land transactions, the county government collected a large amount of transaction tax to enrich the finance. This is not only a fault, but also a merit.

  Of course, he is not a perfect person. He has insufficient political experience, has made some mistakes, has a unclear understanding of the livelihood of ordinary people, and has made some oversights in the sentiments of the people. Chen Ruoyu also admits this.
  After dealing with it, Liu Yang was so angry that he almost ordered Chen Ruoyu to be beheaded. This kind of tact and sophistry, Chen Ruoyu spoke eloquently, but it was terrifying to think about it carefully. At the same time, from this county magistrate, Liu Yang also understood why the situation in Heqing County had developed to this point.

  Chen Ruoyu is by no means a mediocre person. He knows what he is doing and can even be called a capable person. His mind is too flexible and he keeps making mistakes while constantly making achievements. It's just that, as a parent official, I never sit on the side of the common people, but actively move closer to those filial (village) sons (gentry) and virtuous (land) grandsons (lords).

  If all the bureaucrats in the world are like this, it will not only be the suffering of the small people, but also the sorrow of the Han Empire. The problem is precisely that Liu Yang has no idea how far the situation in various places has developed, and whether it is worse than that in Heqing County.

  Don't mention anything else, at least the public security in Heqing County is relatively stable, and Chen Ruoyu is controlling the situation well. And where there are riots, civil unrest, and even judgment?
  Of course, no matter how Chen Ruoyu tried to quibble, he could not escape the suspicion of deceiving the emperor. However, after what he said, Liu Yang really gave up his intention to kill this person for a while.

  That night, at the county hotel, Liu Yang had another heart-to-heart talk with Xu Shilian. He expressed with regret that the tax reform has reached an extremely difficult stage at this stage.

  However, through these problems, he also discovered that many of these problems can actually be avoided. All he can think of is to at least improve local chaos through more comprehensive, more frequent, and deeper supervision, not to say eliminate it.

  Liu Yang said passionately that the people of the Han Dynasty deserved more consideration and protection from the imperial court.
  To be honest, if the fundamental problem is not solved, all that can be done is to improve and solve some superficial things.

  However, if the small peasants and people are allowed to stand up and take charge, the Han Empire and the Liu Family will no longer exist.