Becoming an Immortal from the Northern Song Dynasty

Chapter 104

(The front has not been changed yet) Lin'an City, listen to Yunxuan.

In the morning, Lu Zhixin, dressed in casual clothes, entered the teahouse with an accompanying Taoist.

The waiter saw Lu Zhixin coming for three days in a row, quickly brought tea, and asked with a smile: "The guest officer came early today."

Lu Zhixin gave tea money, took a few copper coins and turned them upside down in his hand, the waiter immediately came over and asked in a low voice: "Guest officer, what do you want to inquire about today?"

The Taoist who followed said with a smile, "According to the rules, serve some snacks first, and speak slowly!"

The name of this Taoist is Liu San. He lost his father when he was young, and was raised by his mother and half-old brother. He is smart and hardworking, and he is very careful in doing things. He is very familiar with the affairs of the market, which Lu Zhixin values.This time to inquire about the news, I specially brought him out as a helper.

Not long after, the tea and snacks were put on the table. The clerk rubbed his hands and took the reward. Lu Zhixin asked, "Boy, you said yesterday that there are six major chambers of commerce in Lin'an. I walked along the street, but why did I only see five guilds?"

While the two were talking, a man who looked like a merchant suddenly ran in from outside.When entering the store, he shouted: "Master Han!"

The shopkeeper came out from the room and said with a smile, "Shopkeeper Zhu, what's going on, you're in such a hurry?"

"Have shopkeeper Han heard that Taoist, the head teacher of the Longevity Sect, has arrived in Lin'an?" Shopkeeper Zhu said eagerly.

"Headmaster Taoist? Isn't he in Bianliang? Why are you in Lin'an again?"

"Oh! I made a mistake before. I heard people say that the Governor of Lin'an personally went outside the city to meet the head teacher."

The proprietor Han of the teahouse was stunned for a moment, and said thoughtfully, "Really? This Daoist teacher is so arrogant."

Shopkeeper Zhu let out a "bah", spat, and said angrily: "Every time a big man comes, he has to increase taxes, distribute food, and Latin." "After thinking about it, I feel a little uneasy," Shopkeeper Han, you The street is so wide that we can't afford to offend anyone who comes, why don't we raise a sum of money and send it to us first? "

Shopkeeper Han of the teahouse gave way to Neidang, "Master Zhu, let's go in and talk."

Shopkeeper Han's teahouse has been doing very well in recent days. Lin'an City has had a lot of major events recently. All the idlers gossip and worry at the same time, and the others are just fine. The merchants on the street are especially nervous.

Shopkeeper Zhu frowned slightly, "It's been four days since Taoist Master dismissed the county government, yet the chamber of commerce confiscated the members' money. It's really strange."

"Don't tell me shopkeeper Zhu likes to pay money?" Someone said jokingly.

"Hey~~" Shopkeeper Zhu made a long voice, "Why would I want to pay the share money on weekdays. But the situation is unstable now, and I don't know what will happen next, so I can't wait to pay the share money as soon as possible. Safety."

As soon as this remark came out, all the merchants fell silent.What shopkeeper Zhu said was on everyone's mind. Now that Taoist Taoist is on stage, he doesn't want money, and he doesn't want to be Latin.

Originally, there were big chambers of commerce that would shelter small merchants from the wind and rain, but now even the big chambers of commerce shy away.Small businessmen are not afraid.

In the silence, someone suddenly said: "I heard that the next day after the Taoist master dismissed the soldiers, he sent people to occupy the county government office and seal the bank. He also brought people to check the accounts himself. It has been four or five days since the investigation was completed. Maybe after the head teacher Daozi checks the account and collects the money, life will go on as usual?!"

As soon as the words fell, a few foolish people were not afraid of things, and joked: "Checking the accounts is a great thing. The head teacher leads a group of people to check the accounts, maybe next year?"

After a while, the guests roared with laughter, bringing some joy into the oppressive teahouse.

The Taoists are illiterate and can barely read some words.From the perspective of businessmen who deal with the accounts every day, these people forget about it, what kind of accounts are they checking? Even if there are some tricks in the accounts, can those people understand it?
Shopkeeper Han felt that this was not right. It is said that the Daoist master is an immortal descended from the mortal world, and he may not be an ordinary rough martial artist.

If the officials of the Lin'an government office knew what the merchants were thinking at this time, they would probably roar out the words 'nonsense', but at this time they were sweating profusely listening to Liu San's preliminary audit results.

"Returning to Daozi, the above is the annual revenue and expenditure data that Lin'an should collect. Before the closure of the treasury, according to the accounts, in the past three years, there were 3 embezzlements of more than a thousand guan, and 13 embezzlements and deficits of less than a thousand guan. There are 42 cases of misappropriation and deficit of 179 guan. Up to now, [-] cases of less than [-] guan have been detected. The report is over."

After Taoist Liu San finished speaking, he wiped the sweat from his forehead.

Zhang Yuqing smiled and said, "Would you like to check the accounts to see if Liu San made a mistake?"

Hearing this, the officials suddenly had a glimmer of hope in their hearts, but they shook their heads again and again after a while, "Teacher Daoist, there are difficulties in humble positions! The head teacher Daoist doesn't know, the money was embezzled by the governor! He He spends extravagantly on weekdays, and when he has no money, he comes to ask for it, as if the government office is his family's bank. We really have no choice!"

Zhang Yuqing was not angry, and said kindly: "It's really hard for you to wait. The governor of the Song Dynasty is studying with me, and you can ask him slowly about many things. But the tax collectors will wait for you, right?"

The petty officials did not dare to answer right away, but after a little calculation, they felt that they understood, and immediately reported back, "Reporting Taoist, many people have installed relatives and friends as tax collectors. Those people are corrupt and violate the law, and the humble officials will immediately dismiss them."

Zhang Yuqing shook his head, "It's a common practice for tax collectors to corrupt the law. However, you can see that the severe punishments and harsh laws of the past dynasties were designed for this time. Wait, you tell those tax collectors to collect taxes according to the rules. Don't work because you can't get money. They will benefit in the future. If you don't teach, you will call it abuse. I never engage in tricks of borrowing heads. What I said just now is not a threat. If you violate these two , will never forgive."

The petty officials were trembling and sweating profusely, and they stood at attention and replied, "Yes. The humble ones obey."

"Also. It's really inconvenient to integrate the government's finances and taxation. In my opinion, it's better to separate the finance and taxation. It's a big deal. It's better to let Liu Sanbang help you. I don't know what you think?"

The little officials immediately nodded and praised: "What Taoist Zhangjiao said is very true. Since ancient times, evil governments have come from this. In this way, everyone is clean everywhere. It is really a blessing for the people of Lin'an. The talent of Taoist Taoist , it’s the only one Ding has ever seen in his life!”

He praised in his mouth: "Admiration, I really admire the humble position! Finance is the foundation of the government, but I don't want to be so ingenious and insightful in teaching Taoism. My lord is really a person who knows it from birth!"

Zhang Yuqing chuckled, and he felt a lot more relaxed after finishing the financial affairs.

However, Lu Zhixin took the initiative to ask a question, "Your Highness Daozi, since so many corrupt officials have been found out, why aren't they severely punished?"

As soon as this remark came out, the students in the literacy class responded one after another.

Zhang Yuqing asked: "You know that corrupt officials are so hateful, have you ever thought about why?"

Someone among the students immediately replied: "Because they don't do business, they know how to bully others."

The students in front of them all believe that everyone has a responsibility to society.The higher the status, the greater the responsibility.

Zhang Yuqing slowed down his speech, "The responsibility of the government office is to provide services to the society. But services cost money, and they are taken from the people and used for the people. We will first master the bank, which is to quickly provide public The first step in service."

The students habitually opened their notebooks and started to record. According to the usual practice, Zhang Yuqing will start to teach everyone on this topic.

"The responsibility of the government office is to provide public service products to the society. Whether it is an official or a small official, they are just a part of the bureaucratic machine of the government office. In fact, there is no good or evil in itself. Now we are in charge of the Lin'an government office, and now everyone It's an official of the government office. How can we do business and not bully others?"

The students responded immediately: "We are good people, of course we will do good things and not bully others."

These slogans are exactly the ideas of the students in the spontaneous stage. They are plain and simple, but they are confusing concepts.

Then he went on to say: "The public function of the government office is a serious technical work. It has nothing to do with good people and bad people. It cannot be evaluated by moral standards. From an objective point of view, it can only be achieved or not achieved, or the efficiency of achievement. Sometimes, honest officials A person with high morals but unable to provide good government services is still an asshole; on the contrary, although corrupt officials increase the cost of execution, if they provide some government services to some extent, it is actually better than muddled and honest officials, just from the cost standard It needs to be carefully evaluated, if it is too high or far beyond the affordability of the people, it will degenerate into a moral concept.”

Looking at the doubtful eyes of the students, Zhang Yuqing explained: "Everything needs to be paid. It is such a small matter as eating every day. From getting rice noodles to cooking rice noodles, you have to pay money or labor. I put this kind of dedication called cost."

These words were relaxed and boring, and Lu Liang burst into a humorous temper, and said with a smile: "Master, isn't eating a labor? Sometimes eating a meal is quite tiring."

Zhang Yuqing knocked on the table, "This is a good question. If someone takes a fancy to this meal, they will take it away after you cook it. You have worked so hard on your own, can you eat?"

Lu Liang couldn't laugh immediately, not only him, but also the students looked serious.

"I say this is a good question because this question is a description of the law of the jungle in which the jungle is preyed upon by the weak. Big fish eat small fish and small fish eat shrimp. In essence, it is plundering of results and passing on costs. Many reactionary governments generally manifest themselves as crazy plundering. The fruits of the labor of the common people, in turn, cannot share the social public costs fairly, so at the end of each dynasty, you will see the lower class people working hard all year round but starving to death, and the upper class doing nothing and getting drunk and dying."

The students were momentarily shocked by what Zhang Yuqing described, and everyone looked more or less solemn.

Zhang Yuqing knows that it is impossible for students to have a basic understanding of society through only one education.Bring the topic back to the present.

"Let's also talk about the cost. Food, clothing, housing, and transportation all require cost. Our clothes are not made by ourselves. Since we can wear the clothes, it proves that someone has paid for the cost of the clothes for us. The court, the government, the country , society, and the most important struggles and games for thousands of years have revolved around who will bear the costs and who will be responsible for distributing the output.”

"At the moment, we only have so many people, so we must first solve the practical problems in Lin'an City. We must provide social services, take them from the people, and use them for the people. The biggest enemy we face now is the 'middlemen' who make money. The price difference! Ten cents can only do ten cents. If people pay twenty cents for public services, but only receive ten cents for social services, someone must have taken the other ten cents This kind of person is a corrupt official that everyone hates."

Liu San frowned and asked, "Master, where can I find someone who is capable of taxation and is not a corrupt official?"

When Lu Zhixin heard this question, he quickly replied: "I can't do that. Let me serve as a soldier and fight to protect the fruits of everyone's labor. Please wait and work hard for the tax collection cost."

There are many people who have similar ideas with Lu Zhixin. They agree with the efforts and contributions of taxation, but they don't want to do taxation.

"Liu San, do you want to collect taxes quickly, or do you not want corrupt officials to collect taxes?" Zhang Yuqing asked.

Liu San frowned and thought for a long time, hesitant to speak several times, and finally replied: "I would rather not collect taxes, and I don't want corrupt officials to harm the people."

Zhang Yuqing nodded, "That is to say, the tax collectors are not very skilled and inefficient. Can you accept that too?"

Liu San didn't think about this result, hesitated, nodded vigorously, "Yes."

Zhang Yuqing smiled and said: "Then let's think of a way together and see who in Lin'an City can complete this task."

The small merchants in the city still didn't wait for the president of the chamber of commerce to send out the news of handing over the money. The anxious people went to shopkeeper Han's teahouse to drink tea and chat when they had free time, exchanging the latest news.

The news that Daozi, the head teacher, changed the official name to cadres did not interest Shopkeeper Han.They all do the same thing, so what's the use of having a name you've never heard of?
Just as he was chatting with the guests, he saw a person standing outside the door. Shopkeeper Han hurried out, "Brother, long time no see."

Seeing Shopkeeper Han coming out, Bao Bao laughed, "Shopkeeper Han, brother, I have some news. I don't know if Shopkeeper Han wants to know."

Shopkeeper Han didn't say much, and put down his sleeves directly.After a while, shopkeeper Han was a little surprised that the news price this time was five times that of the previous one.Shopkeeper Han gritted his teeth and gave the money.The man then whispered a few words in Shopkeeper Han's ear, and then walked away.

Everyone in the teahouse saw shopkeeper Han walking back to the teahouse with a gloomy face, and returned to the back room. After a while, they took out a sign and instructed the staff to hang the sign in a prominent place.When everyone saw it, the sign said 'Don't talk about politics'.

The bosses are all cautious people. After seeing the sign, they all got up to make tea money and slipped away.After a while in the lively teahouse, only a few people and a table full of tea husks remained.

The next day, shopkeeper Han's teahouse was still empty, not as lively as it was a few days ago.

(End of this chapter)