There is a space for passenger planes in the late Ming Dynasty

Chapter 21 Other big players relented

Returning to the county government office, Lin Feng asked Luo Jingyuan to take the Liu family and his son into prison and arrange for special personnel to strictly guard them. No one was allowed to see them without his or Magistrate Zhang's orders.

Su Shunnian was ordered to register the taxes received and put them into the treasury. Lin Feng unceremoniously took back the 500 taels of salary advanced for county officials, and then ordered that 300 taels be spent in the household for daily expenses. Just make a small treasury.

This is also the practice of county governments at all levels. Part of the tax money is withdrawn as tax collection fees and used for their own expenses, which is often referred to as department management fees in later generations. Generally, it does not exceed 10% of the tax.

Of these 300 taels of silver, Lin Feng made it clear that a total of 35 officials and government servants who went to the Liu family to arrest and collect taxes would be given a bonus of 2 taels to each person, and an extra 2 taels would be given to the clerks and squad leaders. There must be benefits to following him. Another 100 taels were sent to Magistrate Zhang for his expenses, and the rest was kept by the household.

When Su Shunnian heard this, he was overjoyed and went to do it. He repeatedly praised the county magistrate for his magnanimity. He didn't take any money from him and only considered his brothers.

But little did he know that Lin Feng had already "fed" in the Liu family's warehouse.

Yulinwei, town Qiangbao.

"What, the eldest brother and nephew were taken away by the Fugu County government?" Liu Jingsheng, the second eldest son of the Liu family and the guard of Zhenqiang Fort with Yulin Guard Qianhu, asked in surprise.

"Yes, the second master, please think of a way to rescue him." Butler Liu Sanjin was not involved in any specific charges, so he was not arrested. He rushed to the second master of the Liu Mansion overnight to report the news.

"Don't our family always have a good relationship with the county government? Where is that Ding Dianshi?"

"There is a new Prime Minister Lin in the county who is responsible for tax collection. Ding Dianshi asked us not to pay taxes, so we offended Prime Minister Lin. He brought people here to arrest him."

"Isn't this nonsense? Ding Dianshi asked you not to pay taxes if you don't pay them. Isn't this just acting as a sword for others? Did the county magistrate arrest him in the name of tax arrears? These days, no one among the big gentry owes taxes, nor do they. What a big deal, just pay the tax."

"No, they arrested the young master on suspicion of murder. The elder master was charged with resisting arrest with violence." Liu Sanjin replied.

"What, it's suspected of murder. Is that true?" Liu Jingsheng became anxious when he heard this. The nature of this murder case was different.

"This, this..." Butler Liu hesitated.

"It's already this time. If you have anything else to hide, tell me now!"

"Yes, this happened, and a whole family was killed."

"What, my nephew is so courageous! It's true that my eldest brother doesn't care about anything at all. This is going to be difficult." Liu Jingsheng stood up anxiously and said while pacing.

"Second Master, you can't just ignore me, our family is counting on you." Liu Sanjin begged.

"You old guy, can I not care about my own brother and nephew? I will write a letter to Magistrate Zhang first to see if there is any room for it, and then I will beg the commander to intercede. Prepare some more money at home, this It’s definitely going to cost money.”

"Understood. I'll report it to my mistress right away when I get back and hurry up to raise money." Liu Sanjin replied.

Fugu Nanxiang, Li Mansion.

"Dad, something bad is going to happen." Li Fei, the eldest son of the Li family, hurried into the study and shouted.

"What's all the fuss about? Tell me slowly." Li Wanxiang, the head of the Li family, said.

"There is news from the county government that both the Liu family and his son in Dabao have been arrested, and the Liu family's tax arrears have been paid." Li Fei quickly told him what he had learned?
  "Is this serious?"

"It's absolutely true. Many people saw with their own eyes that the tax money was escorted into the treasury. People I know well at the county government also asked about it. The Liu family and his son were indeed arrested."

"Arrest people for arrears of taxes. Isn't the Prime Minister of Lin County afraid of causing trouble? The Liu family is not a soft persimmon." "I heard that people were not arrested for arrears of taxes. The son of the Liu family, Liu Shangjin, was suspected of murder. The head of the Liu family was arrested for shielding and resisting arrest. Arrest and jail." Li Fei continued.

"Arresting people with criminal cases and then forcing them to pay taxes is a good trick for Lin County Prime Minister," Li Wanxiang said.

"Then do we still need to pay taxes as soon as possible?" Li Fei asked.

"In the past, we felt that Lin County Prime Minister could not control the county government, so we cooperated with Ding Dianshi to postpone the tax payment. Now that Lin County Prime Minister can arrest the Liu family and his son, it at least proves that he has controlled the county government's execution room and arrest team. It's not worth it for us to go against him anymore.

Besides, my Li family has always respected the law and will not refuse to pay taxes. "Li Wanxiang immediately found an excuse for his resignation.

"Yes, the government officials I called to hear the news are very careful when it comes to Lin County Prime Minister. It seems that this person is really skillful. It's better for us to take the initiative to pay taxes." Li Fei said in agreement.

"Without further delay, prepare the tax money quickly and pay it in the afternoon, no, in the morning. Anyway, our land is not very large, only about 3,000 acres, which only adds up to four to five hundred taels of tax money." Li Wanxiang ordered. road.

Fugu County Government.

"My lord, my lord, that's a good thing. The head of the Li family in Nanxiang personally brought the tax money. Do you want to see him?" Su Shunian, the householder, ran in happily and said.

"See you!" This person who has surrendered and moved closer to him must give him face, even if he has to buy a horse bone for a thousand dollars, let alone a human being.

Therefore, Lin Feng solemnly received Li Wanxiang, the head of the Li family, at the county magistrate's office.

"Sir Lin, my Li family is late to pay taxes, please forgive me." Li Wanxiang decided to relent, with a very good attitude.

"It's not too late, it's not too late. It takes time for you guys to raise the tax money. It's understandable that it's a day or two late. The head of the Li family came to pay the taxes in person, but he set an example for the big households in the county to pay taxes in accordance with the law. "Of course Lin Feng also gave him face, and he was the first to give out a free hat.

"Our Li family has always abided by the law. In the early stage, the capital turnover was indeed a little slow." Li Wanxiang was very cooperative and replied as if he was a good law-abiding citizen.

"Master Li, besides farming, do you have other livelihoods?" Lin Feng asked.

"In recent years, the weather has been bad, and farming has become more and more difficult. Our Fugu produces coal, and the Li family also does a little coal and construction business. However, coal is very smoky when burned, and sales are not very satisfactory. Now we are building houses. Even less, it will be difficult to do business." Li Wanxiang also took the opportunity to complain.

"This winter for the county government heating, I will make the decision to purchase a batch from your Li family. We will definitely support merchants who pay taxes in accordance with the law." Lin Feng said, whoever you buy from is not a buyer. Those who move closer to themselves first must give priority. benefit.

"That's great, thank you, sir." Unexpectedly, there was an unexpected surprise, and Li Wanxiang quickly thanked him.

"I will send someone to find out. If the Li family always operates with integrity, there will be many cooperation with you in the future." After hearing that the Li family was a very good coal boss and infrastructure contractor in later generations, Lin Feng also had some ideas for cooperation.

"My Li family has always pursued honest management, so please feel free to investigate." Li Wanxiang replied with obvious confidence.

As the news spread that the Liu family and his son were arrested and the Li family took the initiative to pay back the tax, all the big families in Fugu County could not sit still and drove to the county government to pay back the tax.

They had also heard that Feng Jingui, the county's prison chief, had been taken down, and that County Magistrate Lin was investigating violations of law and discipline in major households.

These days, which big family doesn't have some small problems that can be solved by relying on connections? If they don't pay taxes quickly, are they waiting to be liquidated and arrested?

In less than two days, Hufang collected more than 13,000 taels of this summer’s taxes, pay, and last year’s tax arrears from large households in the county, completing the task of collecting taxes at the end of the month ahead of schedule.

(End of this chapter)