Emperor Ming Dynasty

Chapter 169
In July, the rain subsides, and the scorching sun is in the sky.

Although the Huangmei rainy season is over, the water of the Yangtze River has not been reduced by half, and it is still surging.

On the contrary, the merchant ships on the Yangtze River became more and more crowded.

Huizhou merchants and Shaanxi merchants can't wait to take advantage of this quiet moment and make profits.

After passing Jiujiang, Zhang Shenyan felt a lot of emotion.

Although Zuo Liangyu is greedy and despicable, he is not an unwise person. He has been entrenched in Jiujiang for a long time, he has already regarded this place as his own territory, and has not exhausted it.

However, following last year's battle, the army was reduced by half, but his situation eased a lot, and the people under his rule gradually prospered a little.

Especially the trade between Huguang and Jiangnan allowed him to collect tariffs, which made him a lot more comfortable.

"Jiujiang is an important place in the south, and it is a rush for merchants. It is a pity that Zuo Liangyu made such a fuss."

Zhang Shenyan was sitting on a boat, looking at the flowers on horseback, looking at the dilapidated appearance of Jiujiang City, he couldn't help but feel emotional.

"Master, just the toll for the few of us costs thirty cents, which is too expensive."

The servant on the side muttered, "Nanjing City Gate only has three pennies."

Guards, servants, and myself, ten coins each, is indeed a sky-high price.

Zhang Shenyan shook his head and said, "If it weren't for the fact that there are many people relying on the court, Zuo Liangyu would have been dismissed long ago."

As the boat swayed, Zhang Shenyan's dislike for Zuo Liangyu expanded again. Looking at the withered village on the shore, he felt even more regretful.

As for Zuo Liangyu's wolfish ambitions and disobeying orders, they should be completely eradicated.

"Sir, be careful!" At this time, the steward on the ship passed by, and after hearing this, he couldn't help interjecting:
"Under Zuo Jun's command, everyone is like a hungry wolf. When they get a chance, they can't wait to peel their skin and cramps, and suck their blood and marrow."

With hatred on his face, he said: "Damn it, relying on this group of Qiu Ba, if you don't pay enough, the whole boat can be pulled away."

Zhang Shenyan shook his head and sighed inwardly, Zuo Liangyu was really angry and unpopular, no wonder he returned home in defeat.

Immediately after passing the tax card, several groups of people came one after another, carrying weapons and collecting tolls.

Zhang Shenyan counted the number and added it up, at least five taxes would be collected.

Naturally, the businessman didn't dare to refuse to pay, and after enduring layers of exploitation, he finally left the territory of Jiujiang.

Everyone on board breathed a sigh of relief.

The steward said casually: "Finally left Jiujiang."

Zhang Shenyan wondered, "Is Huguang better than Jiujiang?"

In his impression, the so-called King of Hanyang was just an ambitious man in the clan. He was named the county king, and many people in the court were outraged.

If the cabinet hadn't insisted on going its own way, there would never have been a proposal to become a king.

The steward saw that he was dignified, refined and easy-going, he must be a person of status, so he couldn't help but said: "Huguang is now under the control of King Hanyang, so it is considered peaceful."

As he spoke, he shook his head, looked carefully at Zhang Shenyan, and said with a smile, "Sir, he must be from the south of the Yangtze River. There are many rumors about the King of Hanyang there. No matter how much I tell you, I can't tell you how to see it with your own eyes."

"Next, just watch!"

Zhang Shenyan was noncommittal, and looked around on the boat.

A large number of merchant ships sailed on the Yangtze River in an orderly manner. After leaving Jiujiang, they came to Huangzhou Prefecture.

On both sides of the Yangtze River, you can see a few fishermen scattered here and there. They avoid merchant ships and catch fish carefully. They are no different from fishermen in the south of the Yangtze River.

After walking for several more hours, we arrived at Xinkaikou Town after eating fish soup on board.

A large number of ships lined up, waiting to pay taxes.

"I haven't heard that Huguang has a tax card?"

Zhang Shenyan said with a sullen face, but he sighed in his heart. Sure enough, the King of Hanyang was ambitious and set up tax cards privately. Isn't this taking advantage of the people?

"Right now, there's no tax card anywhere."

Hearing the words, the steward said softly: "However, Huguang is better than Jiujiang or even Jiangnan. Here we only charge once, and the rest will go smoothly."

Zhang Shenyan was quite disbelieving.

After a long time, I saw a tax collector in black and soap clothes holding the account book, inspected it, and said: "One thousand pieces of silk, one hundred pieces of linen and other fabrics, two thousand pieces of porcelain...Ten tax two for silk, and one tax for the rest. One thousand 540 taels."

As he said that, he actually took out the account book and got up with the ship steward.

The steward held the abacus and counted carefully, and then said with a smile on his face, "That's right, you're always accurate."

Then, he took out a box of silver.

The tax collector took out a scale and weighed it.

It took a quarter of an hour before the tax was over.

The other person takes out a piece of paper, writes down the goods, taxes, and signatures, seals, etc., and submits and manages the affairs.

Only in this way can we understand.

Zhang Shenyan was on the sidelines, watching with great concern.

It is orderly and the rules are clear. This is completely different from the extortion in Jiujiang.

Afterwards, the steward carefully put away the tax bill with a smile on his face.

Zhang Shenyan asked in surprise, "What is that piece of paper?"

"This is the tax bill." The steward said in a good mood, "With it, the journey can be smooth and there is no need to pay taxes. Moreover, after unloading, you have to rely on it, otherwise you will be taxed and you will be fined a lot of money."

"Ten taxes are one, which violates the court's ancestral system."

"In this chaotic world, how can there be any ancestral system!"

The steward shook his head and said with a sneer: "In the ancestral system, the court still has to collect taxes. This Zuo Liangyu is still a general. He blatantly violated it, and the court has not stopped him."

Zhang Shenyan wanted to borrow it to have a look, but it was still too abrupt after all.

When he came to the deck, he saw the whole river, and a large number of ships were lingering, waiting to pay taxes.

Hundreds of tax collectors, in teams of two, boarded the ship one by one, collecting taxes tirelessly.

"These people belong to the Transshipment Department."

Seeing that he was curious, the steward said softly: "Belonging to the king of Hanyang, he is in charge of collecting taxes. It doesn't matter whether you are a scholar or an official, you can't escape."

"Look over there!"

Zhang Shenyan took a look and saw about 500 people, carrying blunderbusses and knives, staring at them.

"If you don't hand it in, the bird gun will serve you. When you move in to rescue the soldiers, the day lily will be cold."

Hearing this, Zhang Shenyan was silent.

On the tax card, there is no less than an elite army. The king of Hanyang seems to be very short of money, and it is difficult to be a benevolent king.

Presumably, Xiangyang and other places are already in a mess!

With such a mood in mind, Zhang Shenyan entered Huguang.

As the steward said, as long as there is a tax bill for the tax card along the way, no tax will be collected.

And if not, then the punishment will be doubled, and it will be extra severe.

The local people's conditions are different from what he imagined.

Although it is still dilapidated, the people are not ashamed, but their eyes are full of longing.

After asking, I learned that it turned out that the tax for the second half of the year was reduced or exempted.

Huangzhou Prefecture, Wuchang Prefecture, Dezhou Prefecture, and dozens of villages are all like this.

Zhang Shenyan suddenly said: "It turned out that the commercial tax was used to make up for the loss of the land tax."

With this reversal, the image of a Mingjun who emphasizes agriculture over business comes alive on paper.

The curiosity in my heart became stronger and stronger.

(End of this chapter)