Corrupt official in the Red Chamber

Chapter 85 Kill the chicken to warn the monkey

"Sir, the warehouses in Shandong have exchanged the grain for silver in order to avoid loss of grain. However, according to the current grain price in Shandong, the same amount of grain cannot be redeemed."

Jia Rui jumped up from his chair as soon as he heard this.

He is scared!

Originally, he thought that these officials would narrow down the grain and sell it when the price of grain was the highest.

So the current food should still be in their hands.

Unexpectedly, these guys were greedy and stupid, and sold all the food early.

If they want to buy back such a large amount of grain now, I am afraid that these guys will have no choice but to sell their entire family.

Jia Rui rubbed his head, sat down on the chair again, his face became gloomy, looking at these guys below, he wished he could pull them out and chop them all up.

But Jia Rui knew in his heart that each of these people had a backer in the imperial court, and they were all from the top two ranks of Scholars. They were connected with each other, and they were a very powerful force.

Jia Rui suppressed the anger in his heart, and then said: "Since you can't pay the food, then pay the money."

"Sir, Yin Zixiaguan and others can't make preparations at the moment." Zhang Shiwei, the chief envoy of Shandong Province, said

Jia Rui was completely angry this time, "Why are you all iron cocks?"

"Your Excellency, it's not because Xiaguan and others are stingy. In fact, the money has already been used to buy land. If we want to raise so much more money now, I'm afraid that Xiaguan and others are powerless."

Jia Rui was trembling with anger now, how could the common people in Shandong be so unlucky to have such a group of corrupt officials.

And if you are greedy, the common people can bear it. What the common people can't bear is that you people don't have a bottom line.

Jia Rui squinted his eyes and thought for a long time, then gritted his teeth and said, "Starting from a month ago, if all the fields have to get the red deed, the tax will increase tenfold."

Those who can still afford to buy land now must be the wealthy landlords and the officials in front of them. Getting a sum of money from these people will also be a good thing for disaster relief.

"No sir!" said Shandong Inspector Wang Jingchu.

"What's wrong?" Jia Rui stared at Wang Jingchu with red eyes and asked.

Although Jia Rui stared at her and made her feel uncomfortable, Wang Jingchu still said: "The tax system is set by the imperial court and cannot be changed in the slightest. Although your lord is an imperial envoy, he has no right to change the tax system of the imperial court."

Jia Rui is completely angry now.

These guys in front of them don't agree to pay back the food without paying them, and they don't agree to increase taxes on themselves. What are they doing against themselves?It seems that he is still too merciful.

It's time to use Shang Fang's sword.

Jia Rui glared at the group of people below, then turned and left the study.

After Jia Rui left, other people began to complain about Wang Jingchu.

"My lord Wang, you have gone too far. It doesn't matter if the imperial envoy raises a little tax. Those landlords and rich people have plenty of money."

"That's right, compared to the land you bought, what is the tax paid? Why do you have to fight against the imperial envoy on this matter?"

Wang Jingchu also had a gloomy expression.

He is different from other officials.

This dynasty has a system and is not allowed to hold official positions in this province, so other officials come from other provinces.

But Wang Jingchu was different. Although his native place was also from other provinces, he married the daughter of a wealthy local family.

His interests can be said to be linked with the local gentry, so he must not allow Jia Rui to increase taxes.

Just as the room was bustling, there was a burst of weapons ringing outside.

An official by the window stretched his head to look out, and immediately gasped.

I saw countless soldiers, wearing helmets and crown armor, holding weapons, surrounding the study.

"It's not good, soldiers are coming."

With this shout, the other people froze for a moment, and then used the door or window to look out together.

I saw that there was already a mountain of soldiers outside, and countless soldiers were facing the study room with cold weapons.

Before these people could react, a general shouted loudly:

"The imperial envoy arrives, and all the officials kneel down to welcome him."

The officials below looked at each other in blank dismay, but still fell to their knees.

At this time, Jia Rui had already changed into the uniform of the imperial envoy, and walked over with Shang Fang's sword in his arms.

This time he did not enter the house.

"Wang Jingchu, the inspector general of Shandong, took bribes and violated the law. He secretly withheld money from the treasury. The people of Shandong ignored him. If he didn't kill him, the people were angry. They came, dragged him out, and beheaded him to retaliate."

As soon as Jia Rui finished speaking, only four or five burly men came out from beside him, and then rushed over together, pinned down Wang Jingchu, and dragged him away.

Wang Jingchu was terrified at first, but now she has come to her senses.

"Master Jia is the fault of the lower officials. The lower officials agree to increase the tax. Please increase the net."

But no matter how he shouted, Jia Rui kept a sullen face and didn't look at him at all.

Jia Rui was looking for an opportunity to vent his anger.

The officials below also knew that Jia Rui was losing his temper, so no one dared to intercede for the king.

After a while, there was a scream, and a soldier dragged a head to Jia Rui.

"Commander, here is the head, please inspect it, Commander."

Jia Rui glanced sideways, then waved his hand to make the soldiers retreat.

After that, he went straight into the study with Shang Fang's sword in his arms.

The calves of the officials at all levels below were already trembling with fear, and some of them couldn't stand up. Fortunately, there were other people beside them. After they helped each other and entered the study again, they knelt down and listened to Jia Rui's instructions.

"Is there any objection to this official's tax increase?"

How dare anyone object now?Didn't you see that Wang Jingchu who opposed it had already had his head chopped off?
"This official and others will respectfully obey the orders of the Imperial Envoy."

"Okay, then from now on, when you go back, ask someone to make up the original taxes for me. I need to see the tax money from a month ago within three days."

The officials below have nothing to say this time.

And these people breathed a sigh of relief.

Although they also bought some land, they did not buy the bulk after all. The real bulk was purchased by the gentry and wealthy merchants in Shandong. Letting these people spend some blood is just a drop in the bucket for these people.

After the officials at all levels withdrew under the leadership of Wu Zhishan, Jia Rui let out a long breath.

Originally, Jia Rui didn't want to take such drastic measures. After all, he was also an official, and he had to establish a good relationship with the people at all levels below.

But now that things have come to this point, it is impossible not to adopt this method.

This time, the tax on land transfer has increased tenfold. In addition, land sales have reached a peak during this period, and this month's mercury can earn more than 10 taels.

With this money, Jia Rui can still buy some more grain and dregs, plus the grain and silver he brought, Shandong can barely survive the disaster this time.

But then I will meet the Shanxi businessman.

See if these people are as good-handed as the legends say, able to get what they need.

(End of this chapter)