Crossing the Ming Dynasty to be the magistrate

Feng Er returned home with the sweet cakes that were sold out today.

His wife had already prepared meals, and when she saw him coming back, she asked, "Why did my husband come back so early, and how is business today?"

Looking at his wife's weather-beaten face, Feng Er felt sour, and pretended to be relaxed and said: "It's not bad, why don't you lie on the bed, you have told me that I will eat out by myself in the future, don't worry about me, get well early That's right. Wait until next year, we two will have a big fat boy!"

The wife laughed and scolded him, then fell silent when she thought of something, and said sadly: "I don't know what will happen next year. If it is like today, I am afraid that the child will not be able to live a good life for a few days."

The atmosphere in the room suddenly became dull. Feng Er's family used to make sweet cakes for generations. His family was willing to use materials, and it was an old benefit passed down from their ancestors. The business in Mengyang County has always been good. A few years ago, he married a beautiful daughter-in-law. It would have been better.

Unexpectedly, since the county magistrate Sun came a few years ago, the exorbitant taxes in the county have tripled, and some people can't eat enough, so no one buys his candies.

His wife, Ma Shi, was pregnant at this time last year. In order to support the family, Ma Shi could only work as a weaver with her belly open. As a result, she fell on the way one day and lost her child.

After that, Ma's health was also very bad, because he didn't have money to buy medicine, so he just kept raising him like this.

Just when Feng Er Ma was worried, Li Qiang from the next door knocked on his door.

Li Qiang was originally a clerk in a small restaurant in the county. He and Feng Er had the same illness, and the boss fired him because the business in the store was not good. Now the family is almost in trouble.

Feng Er opened the door for him: "Brother Li is here, sit inside, the family happens to be eating, come in and eat together."

In fact, he already knew what Li Qiang was going to say in his heart, and he already had the answer.

Li Qiang resisted to divert his attention from the smell of the food in the room, shook his head and said: "Not today, I came to see Brother Feng this time mainly to ask you to come with us tomorrow to beat the drums and complain about grievances. Wenzhi County is here, we will go together tomorrow, and we must reduce some tax burdens!"

Feng Er hesitated, with a troubled expression on his face: "Brother Li, to tell you the truth, I have decided to move my family to Peng County."

"What!" Mrs. Ma and Li Qiang exclaimed together: "Why didn't my husband tell me?"

Feng Er was ashamed: "In the past few months, I basically didn't open a business. I couldn't sell the sugar cakes, and I ate all the broken ones. I thought about it. Anyway, I have crafts. If we go to Peng County, we won't die of hunger." , Meng Yang can't wait any longer."

Li Qiang persuaded from the side: "Brother Feng's words are wrong. No matter how bad Mengyang is, it is our own root. It is so easy to leave home to seek a life. Besides, the illness of younger brother and sister has not recovered yet, how can you bear to let her travel with you all the way! The new county magistrate doesn't know who he is. The worst thing is that he has the same morals as the previous dog official. People watch it!"

Hearing what he said, Feng Er looked back at his bony wife and gritted his teeth: "Okay! Brother Li, I will listen to you this time, as long as it can make my daughter-in-law live a good life, I am willing to do anything! "

The two made an appointment for tomorrow's gathering time and place, and after speaking, Li Qiang went to the next house to mobilize.

In the early morning of the next day, Wen Yu had already been in office for three days. During these three days, he could be said to be very busy. He not only had to deal with the mess left by his predecessor, County Magistrate Sun, but also inquired about and sorted out the information he sent people to collect. .

Fortunately, Mei Hongzhi and Zhou Wan's two assistants shared a lot for him.

Originally, Wen Yu thought that Zhou Wan, as the subordinate of County Magistrate Sun, was also the second in command of Mengyang County before, and he was in a mess just like County Magistrate Sun.

Unexpectedly, Zhou Wan is not only outstanding in ability, but also deeply loved by the people of Mengyang. It is also thanks to such a person in charge of the security prison. Although Mengyang has a lot of levies and miscellaneous taxes, and the government is also corrupt, there are not too many wrong cases by enemies.

Wen Yu felt curious, so she found time to test it out.

Zhou Wan only smiled wryly: "I'm really ashamed to praise you and the people. I just do my job well. Although my history can't protect the people of Mengyang, I'm here. They still have a way to survive. If I leave one day, Mengyang is afraid that the people will be in dire straits."

Hearing this, Wen Yu couldn't help admiring him. No matter what Zhou Wan had done before, he was really a good official who cared for the people wholeheartedly.

From then on, Wen Yu took off her colored glasses, and just like Mei Hongzhi, let him go and reuse him.

In the Ming Dynasty, the county government office started to work every morning and only left at dusk.Every day at Mao, the officials and various miscellaneous servants must sign in at the Chengfa room, which is called Dianmao; at You in the afternoon, they will go home when they are scattered.

The county magistrate's daily promotion is divided into morning hall, middle hall and evening hall.Although the county magistrate's schedule can be determined according to their own circumstances, the small officials and miscellaneous servants have to "from morning to evening, disturbing and disturbing, and always serve."

It can be said that the tasks of the ancient county government were relatively heavy.

Wen Yu and a group of subordinates had just started to deal with official documents, when the sound of drumming and grievances from the common people came from outside.

The yamen servant came forward and reported that nearly a thousand people raised their drums outside, demanding that some miscellaneous taxes be exempted in the county.

Wen Yu read the pleadings and case files they submitted, and found that there were indeed too many unreasonable taxes, so she asked the government servants to tell the people that they had agreed to all their demands.

Not only that, he also wants to exempt several more taxes that were set more than ten years ago, including not only agricultural tax and commercial tax, but the government will issue an official notice of the specific situation in a few days.

Li Qiang and Feng Er were dumbfounded when they heard the news outside. They were already ready to bargain with the government, but now they say that I will agree to all the conditions you put forward, and I will give you more benefits. This... ...that's too bullshit.

Everyone looked at each other in blank dismay, Feng Er asked: "Brother Li, could this be the government's plan to slow down the army?"

"Yeah, trick us away first, and arrest the leader in two days!"

"Yes! We're not leaving! We're going to end now!"

Hearing the booing of the common people outside, Wen Yu couldn't laugh or cry, secretly thinking that the credibility of the Mengyang County government is so low now, it's no wonder that people kill officials.

Zhou Wan watched Wen Yu's face carefully, and seeing that Wen Yu didn't show any displeasure, he quickly asked Ying to lobby the people, and Wen Yu agreed.

Facts have proved that Zhou Wan's words still have some weight. Seeing him coming out and reassuring, the people who have been wronged slowly dispersed.

The next day, the government really issued an official document, stating that all taxes are mainly paid by the imperial court, and all other exorbitant and miscellaneous taxes are exempted.

Thirty tax for the common people. If there are taxes that have not been paid before, the payment can be postponed, but the government should go to the government to explain in detail so that everyone can solve it reasonably.

As for those who do business, taxes must be collected, and it is stipulated that the profits from harvesting will be taxed at [-], but other taxes will be exempted.

Anyone who collects taxes arbitrarily in the name of the government is welcome to go to the county government to beat drums and complain. Once verified, no mercy will be given!

As soon as these regulations came out, the people rushed to tell the news, and the whole city rejoiced. Everyone praised the new county magistrate Wen as a good official.

Wen Yu breathed a sigh of relief, feeling that the first thing he had done since he took office went smoothly.Finally, I can go out and enjoy the customs of Mengyang County.

Wen Yu only brought Zhou Wan with her when she went out this time, and left Mei Hongzhi coldly in the yamen to handle government affairs.

While walking around Zhou Wan, I introduced to him that Mengyang County was not very big in the first place, with an area of ​​just over 3 square kilometers and a permanent population of no more than 5000 people. Even a town with a slightly better economy in modern times would be better than this .

Although it occupies a small area, Mengyang County is very beautiful.The entire city pattern is in the shape of a checkerboard, surrounded by mountains and rivers, with 4 main streets, 8 small streets and 72 alleys in the city.The city walls are towering, and even the paint on the city gates looks brand new.

Zhou Wan explained: "Master Sun just built the city wall last year. There are many ethnic groups near Mengyang, and chieftains are prone to rebellion. Master Sun is afraid that they will come here, so he specially strengthened the city wall."

... If this county magistrate Sun was born in modern times, then he should have heard the saying "Fortresses are conquered from the inside." Wen Yu gave him some inspiration.

Just as the two were discussing the business, there was a commotion in front of them. Wen Yu took a closer look and found that two groups of teenagers were fighting, to be precise, a group of people were fighting around one.

I saw that the leader was wearing a scarlet sword sleeve and a golden crown on his head, looking really rich and powerful.

At this time, he was beating and scolding: "You bastard, what are you, you are worthy of robbing the young master? You don't even take a pee and look in the mirror!"

The boy who was beaten looked smaller than the people around him, and his clothes were a little ordinary.Although he was surrounded by a group of people and beat him, he didn't suffer too much. He could beat anyone who couldn't reach the mastermind.

Zhou Wan was chatting and laughing with Wen Yu at first, and when he saw the situation, he turned black face: "Chong'er! Aren't you in the school! What are you doing here!"

When everyone saw Zhou Wan, or to be precise, saw Wen Yu behind Zhou Wan, they felt a little uncomfortable. Many people here went up to pay respects to Wen Yu during the welcome banquet, and they pretended to be like dogs. , Now I was accidentally bumped into my original form.

Wen Yu smiled at them, and didn't take it seriously. The boys hadn't fought in a few hours.Turning to look at the young man who was alone, he asked Zhou Wan, "Who is this?"

He saw that Zhou Wan had an unusual relationship with this young man, so Zhou Wan hurriedly introduced to him: "Master, this is a dog. Zhou Cunchong, son of a bitch! Come and salute your lord!"

Zhou Cunchong saluted Wen Yu reluctantly, and Zhou Wan blew his beard and stared at him in anger.

Seeing that Wen Yu and Zhou Wan didn't care about them, the group of people sneaked away.

Wen Yu walked back with Zhou Wan and his son, listening to Zhou Wan lecture their son along the way.Zhou Cunchong didn't reply, but he was obviously not convinced.

Wen Yu interrupted the conversation between the two and asked Zhou Wan the reason for the incident. Zhou Wan showed shame and replied, "This matter is still caused by my greed..."

The author has something to say: about taxes in the Ming Dynasty

In fact, in the name of the Ming Dynasty, only the central government had the right to impose taxes on local governments.The taxation of the Ming Dynasty was the lightest in the history. The agricultural tax was basically [-] or [-]. In the early Ming Dynasty, the business did not! Tax! After the middle and late period, the tax was collected, but it was very little.

This led to the extremely poor country of the Ming Dynasty. Later, there were only 7000 taels of silver in the treasury... It was not enough for the country to fight disasters and build water conservancy.

But the people also had a very hard life, and the Ming Dynasty was also one of the dynasties with the most frequent peasant uprisings.

So who took the money? The royal family, local tyrants, gentry and merchants, corrupt officials... etc. This is one of the reasons for the demise of the Ming Dynasty