The Daily Life of a Rich Peasant's Boy in the Imperial Examination

The guano factory will be built by Mr. Wang and Sun Dingnan together, and Sun Shan only needs to grasp the general direction.

Especially when it comes to technical issues, Sun Shan is more strict than anyone else.

After that, they began to recruit conscripts to build roads.

This matter was naturally handed over to County Magistrate Wang, since he was the assistant to the county magistrate.

County Magistrate Wang: ...

Did the two Wang brothers owe Sun Shan something in their past life? Why were they being manipulated by him in this life?

Wu Zhubo, who had a weak presence, couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief.

The top leader and the second-in-command in the county are either in love with each other or fighting with each other.

At present, the relationship between Lord Sun and Lord Wang is very delicate.

They are said to be a loving family, but I don't see them drinking and chatting happily. Apart from talking about business, I have never seen them have a private meal.

It's not like dragons and tigers are fighting each other. Lord Sun keeps the Wang family's children by his side and teaches them carefully. How can this be called a struggle?

Wu Zhubo secretly observed the relationship between Sun Shan and Wang Xiancheng, and found that it was full of confusion and could not be cleared no matter what he did.

Finally, I thought that even if I couldn't afford to offend them, I could always avoid them. I tried not to appear in front of them to avoid being implicated.

This world is unfair. When the eldest and the second oldest fight, the third oldest is often the one who gets hurt.

Wu Zhubo didn't want to be a victim.

County Magistrate Wang had no idea what Lord Wu was thinking and was currently sorting out the conscription matters.

County Magistrate Wang asked, "Sir, is this conscription the same as before? Do you think it's feasible?"

Sun Shan shook his head: "Not feasible!"

County Magistrate Wang: .....

What does this mean? Are you questioning his ability to do his job? Are you trying to use this as an excuse to suppress his arrogance?

This was the way the conscription went on last year, the year before that, and for several years before that. Why is it different this year?

No, should we say that the second half of this year will be different?

Is it because the new official has three things to do when he takes office and wants to be different?

Or do you want to intimidate him and suppress him?

County Magistrate Wang wanted to slam the table and leave. He couldn't do this job anymore!

I will endure it! I will endure it! I will endure it!

County Magistrate Wang, with a fake smile, even uglier than a dead man's, asked, "Sir, what's wrong?"

Sun Shan looked at this conscription and found it was the same as before, or similar to Huangyang County, so there was indeed nothing wrong with it.

However, expenses have been high recently, so we have to "rob the rich to help the poor" and subsidize "official expenses."

Sun Shan pointed to the conscription documents and said, "This conscription is generally fine, but some details need to be changed."

County Magistrate Wang leaned closer to Sun Shan and asked curiously, "Sir, what needs to be changed?"

Sun Shan said, "This time, I cannot be replaced by others. I must serve in person."

County Magistrate Wang: ...

How could this be possible? There were so many weak sons in his Wang family. If they all went to serve, they would either lose their lives or be badly injured.

Why can’t I be paid to serve in lieu of military service this time?

County Magistrate Wang immediately objected: "Sir, this is absolutely impossible. We have been able to increase taxes in the past, but not this time. I'm afraid the people will object."

The imperial court stipulated that adult men must perform labor service every year. If they did not serve, they could pay a certain amount of money and the government would hire someone else to serve in their place.

This system is called "gengfu".

Sun Shan shook his head and said, "In the past, when taxes were levied, many people secretly hired others to serve, never paying the government any money. This behavior is unacceptable. If the higher-ups find out, both you and I will be implicated. Therefore, we must strictly control this time."

If you want to change your tax, you must pay the government office and you are prohibited from finding someone to serve privately. If you don't want to pay, you must serve in person and you cannot find someone to serve privately."

Some people who are rich but want to save money will secretly find someone to replace them.

For example, if you have to pay 10 taels of silver to the government, you can find someone to do it for you privately for 5 taels.

This saved half the money, but the government did not benefit much.

County Magistrate Wang understood what Sun Shan meant. He was "crazy about money."

Adult men who did not want to serve in the army had to pay money to the government. If they did not pay, they had to serve in the army themselves and were not allowed to find someone to replace them.

You see, he is the only one in the Wang family who has a keen eye and can see that Sun Shan not only loves fame but also money!

After Sun Shan said this, County Magistrate Wang had no objection.

The Wang family is a well-known wealthy family, so they still have money for military service.

County Magistrate Wang nodded and said, "Your Excellency, this is fine. Since you don't want to serve, you must pay the money to the government."

In the past, no one cared about it because the government was too lazy to intervene.

It is actually reasonable for Sun Shan to take charge now.

County Magistrate Wang said he had no objection.

Sun Shan added, "The tax will be reduced from 5 taels to 4 taels."

County Magistrate Wang asked in confusion, "Sir, why has it become less?"

Doesn't Sun Shan want to spend a lot of money? If there is less money, the government's income will be less, right?

What is the purpose of doing this?

Also, if Sun Shan did this, the officials would also have objections.

The annual "assistance silver" is also a considerable income, and everyone benefits from it to a greater or lesser extent.

If it becomes less, the officials' "extra income" will become less, and they will definitely be dissatisfied.

County Magistrate Wang thought Sun Shan was very strange and his actions were contradictory.

Sun Shan smiled and explained, "County Magistrate Wang, the reason the people are secretly looking for replacements is because the government's tax is too high. This time, I'm forbidding the people from privately finding replacements, and the people are sure to be dissatisfied."

Now that I have lowered the tax, their anger will subside considerably. There will also be less resistance to the conscription."

Then he continued, "Although the levy has been reduced, more people are paying. Combined, the government will receive more levy."

County Magistrate Wang was confused and continued to look at Sun Shan in confusion.

Sun Shan sighed helplessly. If Master Wang were here, he would surely figure it out quickly.

Sun Shan's approach is called "small profits but quick turnover." As the number of people increases, even if the price is low, the profit will be high.

Sun Shan carefully checked the number of adult men in Yuanlu who had served in the army in previous years, as well as the account books of tax silver.

It was found that most people found replacements privately, so the government did not receive much money.

This time, the people are prohibited from privately substituting labor for others. Even if the amount is reduced from 5 taels to 4 taels, the government will receive more money for substitution than in previous years.

It wasn't that Sun Shan wanted to do something like this, but the government's small treasury was empty and needed to be supplemented.

And if he can pay money to do the substitute service or find someone to do the substitute service, he is definitely not a poor person.

For the poor must serve themselves.

When Sun Shan was a child, he saw Sun Bomin go to serve in the army.

Even though his family was considered rich peasants in the village, they were reluctant to pay the labor service fee, let alone the poorer peasants.

Those who can avoid military service, haha, 99% of them are rich people, and Sun Shan has no guilt about taking money out of their pockets.

Sun Shan smiled and said, "County Magistrate Wang, this time, we'll make only this one change to the conscription. Everything else will proceed as usual."

Then he added, "By the way, someone must be arranged to supervise. No private replacements are allowed this time. If caught, they will be dealt with according to the Daqian Laws and Regulations."

Privately finding someone to replace someone in service is strictly prohibited by law, but is actually tolerated.

If you handle the matter impartially now, you will be held accountable for the crime of "evading duty".

Both the principal and the substitute may be punished with caning, fines, or double the labor service.

In order to fill the treasury, Sun Shan had to become a villain.