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

Chapter 8 The official struggle begins

County offices in the Ming Dynasty were very neat and square. The innermost part of the county office was the lobby where the magistrate worked, and the courtyard in front was called the main hall.

The side rooms on both sides are where the six offices where the officials work are located. On the left are the officials, households, ceremony room, and grain department, and on the right are the military, punishment, work rooms, and the delivery department.

The six rooms correspond to the six ministries of the imperial court. The Grain Section is specifically responsible for grain taxation. The Chengfa Section is like the current county government office, responsible for sending and receiving various documents.

Lin Feng came out of the county government hall and walked a few steps to the household room. Zhao Guangqing, the clerk in charge, was already waiting.

"Lord Zuotang, I have prepared the payment documents you requested." The household secretary has received the news that Lin Feng will be responsible for the collection of payment this time.

Lin Feng didn't say anything. He first took the payment collection document issued by Jiazhou and read it. The document is very simple. In order to suppress bandits, an additional 20 cents per mu will be levied this year. Fugu County has approved taxable land of about 5000 acres. A total of 7 taels of payment silver and discounts are required, and must be paid before the end of July. .

Lin Feng saw that it was okay, at least it wasn't due right away, there was still a month left.

"Secretary Zhao, what is the progress of the payment collection now?" Lin Feng asked.

"Sir, I have just sent the documents from Jiazhou, and the collection has not started yet."

"The documents from the state capital arrived in May, why are they being sent so slowly?" Lin Feng asked.

"Master Ding said there was no need to rush. He knew how the salary would be collected, so he asked us to get busy with other things first." Secretary Zhao replied without mercy.

"Really? Without Ding Dianshi's instructions, wouldn't we have to collect taxes and grains in Fugu County? If we can't collect this salary, I will be responsible, and you, the household secretary, can't run away."

"Master Zuotang, it's not that we don't want to levy taxes, it's true that every village has resisted it fiercely. In recent years, there have been severe droughts and military disasters, and the harvests in the fields have been poor. The people are very resistant to paying taxes, and some places have violently resisted paying taxes. "The clerk complained.

"Can't we collect other regular taxes?" Lin Feng then asked
  "Under the personal supervision of Mr. Ding Dianshi, most of the regular taxes can still be collected. Among the three counties in Jiazhou, our tax payment ratio is not at the bottom." This Secretary Zhao seems to be Ding Yingqi's die-hard. Mr. Ding who never leaves his side.

"Okay, show me the Fugu County tax collection account books in recent years and the county's farm land records." Lin Feng was not interested in nagging him anymore. He would check the historical accounts first. Such a rebellious guy The subordinates must be eliminated as soon as possible.

"Yes!" Secretary Zhao did not dare to openly disobey the order, so he arranged for two clerks to move out a large number of account books that had obviously not been sorted out.

"Leave a few of you to sort out the account books and catalogs by time for me to check." Lin Feng then ordered.

"Master Zuotang, there are many household affairs. We also have the household registration and population verification matter that Master Ding asked us to do. This is an urgent matter approved by the county magistrate. I am really busy. Can I help you sort it out later?" Zhao Si Officials launched a soft-top and hard-on resistance.

"Really? Who is in charge of this house?" Lin Feng asked. Taxation is the authority of the county magistrate, and household housing must also be under the leadership of the county magistrate.

"In the past, Mr. Ding was in charge. Now that the county magistrate has arrived, he will naturally be under your leadership." Secretary Zhao did not dare to open his eyes and tell lies.

"Then I can't command you anymore?" Lin Feng glanced at Secretary Zhao coldly and asked.

"No, no, my lord can naturally take command. There is indeed a conflict between a few things, please forgive me." Zhao Guangqing looked like a dead pig who is not afraid of boiling water.

"Sir, I have nothing to do and I would like to stay here to help you sort it out." An older clerk in shabby clothes stepped forward and said.

"Very good, what do you call me?" Lin Feng was surprised that someone else volunteered. It seems that the houses are not completely monolithic.

But think about it, the change of leadership must be an opportunity for those who were previously unsatisfied. It is abnormal that no one takes the initiative to come closer.

"The villain is Su Shunnian, a scribe. He has been working in the household for some years. He understands the situation relatively well and is willing to help you sort it out." Su Shunian said respectfully.

"Very good, thank you for your hard work. Are the others busy?" Lin Feng scanned the other four or five clerks in the house.

These scribes quickly looked at Zhao Guangqing. Zhao hesitated for a moment, pointed to the scribe who stood up and said: "Sir, we have few things to do in our household. We are really busy recently. Let Shunnian help you first." , he is also an old scribe, we have finished our work over there and will come over immediately to listen to your instructions."

"Okay, then stay in Shunnian and let the others go take care of your important matters." Lin Feng mocked.

Dismissing the other people in the moving room, Lin Feng said to the nervous Su Shunnian: "Shunnian, don't be nervous. You just need to perform your duties with all your heart. Don't be afraid that anyone will retaliate against you. If there is any problem in this regard, I will help you." You carry it.”

"Thank you for your concern, sir. I am willing to serve you." Su Shunnian bowed.

"Very good, please tell me about the payment first." Lin Feng said.

"The tax levy document came in May, and Ding Dianshi has been struggling to do it. On the one hand, it is really difficult to collect taxes. The big landowners in our Fugu have a good relationship with Ding Dianshi. Most of them don't pay taxes, or pay less taxes. Ordinary land taxes have fallen heavily on ordinary people, and everyone has long been overwhelmed.

The villain is also from a poor family. Every time I go home and hear neighbors scolding us for colluding with officials and gentry and bullying the people, I feel very uncomfortable. Therefore, after several attempts to let large households share the tax, they were suppressed. If you don't come, I will be kicked out of the house soon, so today..." Su Shunnian mustered up the courage to say.

"Don't worry, you have to be conscientious as a person, and you have to abide by the rules as an official. As long as what you say is true, I will definitely protect you."

"Thank you sir!"

"Then you should sort out the account books first, and then bring them to the county magistrate's office to show me." Lin Feng explained.

County government office, Dianshi public house.

"Master Youtang, this man named Lin wants to check the accounts. I made a mess of the account books and gave them to him. He wanted me to arrange someone to help him, but I pushed him back.

However, Su Shunnian, an old scribe, dared to jump out and take the initiative to assist him, which was really embarrassing. "Zhao Guangqing came to report immediately.

"Are there any problems with the accounts?" Ding Yingqi was still more concerned about this matter.

"Don't worry, sir. Our accounts are all done by old officials, and there are so many account books that we can't check them clearly in a short time. How can a young man named Lin understand the accounts? No one helped him for ten days and a half. I can’t even touch the edge." Zhao Guangqing said confidently.

"Then you have to be on guard. You send someone to warn Su Shunnian and make him wiser. In addition, say hello to several big households in the county and ask them not to cooperate with the collection of taxes and not to lend money to small businesses. People, please obey my arrangements."

While Ding Yingqi was arranging the arrangements, he was still thinking in his mind, "Small, a foreigner still wants to fight with me. Originally, I could give you a drink of soup. But now, I can't carry out the payment collection task as scheduled, so I have to wait for the state government to come and hold me accountable." Bar."

When Lin Feng returned to the county magistrate's office, Lin Jiakang and others had already tidied up the room. The county magistrate's office is not big, it is a small courtyard with three rooms. The front of the entrance is where the county magistrate works and sleeps. The wing on the left is where the entourage or family members rest. The wing on the right can be used as a kitchen or a warehouse.

Lin Feng and the others were just three bachelors, so they didn't start a group. They just went to the county government office to get some food and came back to eat.

After a simple meal, seeing that it was still early, Lin Feng left Fang Tiezhu to look after the house, changed into casual clothes, and quietly went out with Lin Jiakang, preparing to meet Chen Xiong and the others.

Arriving near the inn that was agreed upon in advance, Lin Feng observed carefully and found that there was no one following him, so he walked in. Perhaps Ding Dadianshi thought that he was a stranger and unfamiliar with the place, so there was no need to follow him at all.

In the inn room, Chen Xiong and others were there. Lin Feng first briefly introduced the situation in the county government, and then ordered: "If I want to gain a foothold in the county government this time, I must first defeat the Dianshi named Ding. I need your cooperation in the dark."

"Sir, I heard that this man named Ding is not a good person. We brothers can just come to the door in the middle of the night and kill him." Fang Dashan is worthy of being a bandit. Although he was not very successful, as soon as he said the words It's full of bad taste. Of course, this is also consistent with his personality, he likes to be straightforward.

"That won't work. Since it's an official struggle, you have to follow the rules of the officialdom. Otherwise, you'll easily be suspected. You can't engage in assassination unless it's absolutely necessary." Lin Feng replied.

"Hey, Iron Hammer and I are not good at fighting wits, so we will follow your arrangements, Master." Fang Dashan scratched his head and said.

"Chen Huwei, you go buy a shop facing the street tomorrow. It shouldn't be expensive here. Fugu County is too small, and you will easily be targeted by interested people if you stay in an inn."

"Yes, we walked around the streets during the day. As long as it's not in the center of the county, a shop plus a backyard only costs twenty or thirty taels of silver, which is much cheaper than in Taiyuan." Chen Xiong replied.

"Then buy two shops, and you go and buy them separately. One will be used to open a blacksmith shop, and the other will be used to sell goods. We will sell the red dates we brought first. We will discuss the next step." Lin Feng thought about the future. There must be a combination of government and business, otherwise the government officials will rely on the county magistrate's salary, which will not be enough to support several of them.

"Understood. Is it just the money needed to buy a shop?" Chen Xiong said in embarrassment.

"Oh, I will give you 60 taels first. You try to discuss the price and save some money. Then buy some necessary items. When the money is spent, just report to me." Lin Feng said as he took out 60 taels. Two silver coins for Chen Xiong.

"Don't worry, sir, we will definitely make arrangements."

"Also, you go inquire and check the property status of the large landowners in the county in the past two days. I will be useful here. Be careful not to make a big noise." Lin Feng continued to order.

"Understood!" the three of them said together.

"If anything happens in the past two days, someone can come to the Yamen to find me and tell me someone is from my hometown."

"I understand, sir, please rest assured." Chen Xiong responded.

　In order to thank book friends such as Ants in the Starry Sky, Pilgrim, Yan Wu, Jieshan, Wen Heping, and Obsession for their strong support, an additional chapter will be added on weekends.

(End of this chapter)