Rise of the 1630s South America

Chapter 1855 East Exercising ([-])

On March 1682, 3, it rained moderately.

The carriage sent by the tax office stopped lightly at the entrance of the Dongfang Hotel. A policeman from the Ministry of Internal Affairs politely asked Zhao Chuyan, the envoy of Chosun Dong, and his entourage to board the carriage, and distributed a set of rubber rain boots to each of them.

The construction of the Ministry of Finance building was not done very well, and the site was heavily flooded, so rain boots were always required on rainy days.Fortunately, the East Bank now has two major sources of rubber—the output from the rubber plantations in Xinhuaxia Island and the rubber imported from Portuguese Brazil—and the vulcanized rubber technology is becoming more and more mature, so things such as raincoats, rain boots, solid tires, and pillows The output of rubber products such as rubber and various containers is very large, and it has become an industry that cannot be ignored, highlighting its huge economic significance. It can also be seen that rubber is indeed a very good material.

Zhao Chuyan and the others looked at the expensive rubber rain boots in their hands, feeling a little emotional.In the Kingdom of Korea, when it was raining and muddy, only two groups of nobles could walk in densely sewn leather boots, like middle-aged people or ordinary people, but they could only wear straw sandals, even if they had leather shoes, they were reluctant to wear them because the price was not cheap .

But in this eastern country, rubber, a material he had heard of for the first time, has brought great convenience to people's lives. Although its price is still a little high, there is still a market for folk coir raincoats and oilcloth raincoats. But the application has been relatively extensive, at least the military and tolerance have already applied it on a large scale. I heard that they are still expanding the area of ​​rubber plantations. It should be promoted on a larger scale in the future, and it should not run away.

The Treasury building is coming soon.After checking the documents at the guard at the gate, the carriage moved on and stopped in a spacious square, and then the group got out of the car and walked to the location of the tax office.As Zhao Chuyan walked, he observed that the so-called Ministry of Finance should be the Ministry of Households. It is not uncommon for the North Korean Kingdom to have the ability to collect tax and support separately.It's just that their building looks more magnificent, and the one in Hanyang City is far inferior. This is the real gap in national strength between the two countries. Thinking of this, Zhao Chuyan sighed a little.But then he suddenly got excited again, Master Zeng tried to examine himself three times, so that he could be alert and not be confused by foreign objects, since he came to the territory of the Dongguo people, did he sigh a little too much?

Zhao Chuyan was a little puzzled and a little apprehensive about his current situation.I am even more worried about the increasing number of Dongguo words in my daily language. Have I deviated from the Dao and started to think more and more in accordance with the thinking mode of Dongguo people—Aqia, The way of thinking is the vocabulary of the people of the Eastern Kingdom - in time, will I gradually transform into a barbarian who is full of utilitarianism and strives for profit all day long?It should be noted that the word "ritual" runs through the entire Chinese society. People in the East do not follow the famous teachings and do not understand etiquette (this does not refer to superficial things like politeness, but the three cardinal guides and five constant rules that are related to social order, personal life, etc.) attachment, code of conduct, etc.), if he is slowly assimilated into a shameless person who doesn't understand human relations and rituals, and doesn't follow the three cardinal principles and five constant principles, then just wipe his neck and forget it.

Huang Hanhua personally greeted Zhao Chuyan and his party at the door of the meeting room, and then led everyone into the meeting room, where the meeting officially started.Both sides started talking in general terms, mainly Huang Hanhua was talking and Zhao Chuyan was listening, and they didn't ask questions.Huang Hanhua started talking about the new round of tax reform that is currently going on in the east coast. He talked about the meaning of taxation, the classification of tax types, the principles of formulating tax rates, the status of tax collection, the reaction of the public, etc. He talked a lot. , I don’t know if the North Koreans really understand it.

Later, he talked about the tax system of overseas colonies, such as the tax system of Xinhua Island, Australia and the San Francisco in the Far East, which are very familiar to the Koreans. He also talked about the economic development of each colony and the people's ability to bear taxes.At this time, Zhao Chuyan, who had been listening most of the time before, suddenly spoke up, and only heard him ask: "Is the tax collection heavy in the Eastern Dynasty?"

"Not heavy!" After pondering for a while, Huang Hanhua replied truthfully: "It can even be said to be a little light, because our government's income sources are diversified, and we don't point to that little thing in the field. Of course, agriculture, fishery and Animal husbandry is the foundation, and food is the most important thing for the people. Only when these foods are abundant can we develop business with more peace of mind. The agricultural production efficiency of our East Coast Republic is not low, the offshore fishery resources are abundant, and the catch of seafood is very high. Large, coupled with the huge resources of bison in La Plata, so our country’s food supply is very rich. With more food surplus, industry, commerce, and service personnel can develop, and the government’s tax revenue will naturally increase. The root of this is the improvement of productivity."

Zhao Chuyan silently chewed the meaning of Huang Hanhua's words, and found that the more he chewed, the more flavorful he was.According to their words, the level of agricultural productivity in North Korea is low now?Thinking of this, he again—why did he say again—sighed, and said with a wry smile: "Compared to the previous state, the taxation in our country is heavy, and many scholars and people suffer from it. I have a family who cultivate a hundred acres. Land, the most abundant in the year, will receive seven or eight taels of silver, grain, and cloth. The currency system, so Zhao Chuyan talked about the people who cultivated the land to pay taxes in silver), and if you don’t pay for it, you will pay two or three liang. Well, if you cultivate a hundred acres of land at a high rate, you will receive two hundred dendrobium in one year, and more than a hundred in the second Dendrobium, hungry years even only have sixty or seventy dendrobiums. Only a family of ten middle-aged people can support themselves. In addition, there are miscellaneous labors, such as raising cattle and donkeys, building cities, building roads and logging, raising garden horses, paying tribute, etc., with a variety of colors The poor can still support themselves in good times, but if there is a natural disaster, they can only pawn their sons and sell their daughters to pay for it, so the people complain about it."

To be honest, Zhao Chuyan was quite shocked by Huang Hanhua's previous words.Because in his opinion, the tax burden of the people on the east bank is too light, unbelievably light.They have nice brick houses, large livestock, so much food that they even make wine (alcohol prohibition was issued every time there was a bad harvest in North Korea’s history), and a lot of fish.You must know that the status of middlemen in North Korea is not low. They are generally doctors, policemen, musicians and other professionals, and their income level is in the upper middle class. As a result, they are just like ordinary people on the east bank—at least the people near the capital. That's right—the difference is almost the same. What kind of factors are at play?

That's right, Director Huang also said that there are a lot of fish and shrimps in the coastal waters, and there are also many unowned cattle in the wasteland to the south, so the people live well.But is there really no other reason than that?Zhao Chuyan wanted to say no, but what he had seen and heard over the past few days told him, no, there were other factors!For example, the seeds of the Dongguo people are good, and the wheat they grow is full and the yield is more.In addition, they have a lot of livestock and a lot of useful machinery, so one person can cultivate as much as [-] mu of land, which ensures a sufficient surplus of food.On this point, no matter how hardworking the people of North Korea are, they are far behind. What's more, the tax burden levels of the two countries are very different, which is doomed to the difference in the living standards of the people of the two countries.

"I have been troubled by our country's tribute, and the people are miserable. When I was a young envoy to Yanjing, I saw the current situation of the Qing Dynasty, and found that it was the same. From then on, it is said that all countries are the same." Zhao Chuyan picked up the teacup in front of him and sipped lightly After taking a sip, he said with a wry smile: "Until today, I didn't know that the sick people who are heavily taxed are not the same all over the world, but Shangguo has practiced the sage's love for the people."

In fact, Zhao Chuyan even discovered that the Dongguo people seem to have done a better job on the principle of "the people are the most important, the community is second, and the king is the least", but he never dared to talk about this in public.Today, Zhao Chuyan also has a certain understanding of the political system of the Dongguo people. He knows that there is no so-called emperor in this country. The head of state is called the "Chairman of the Executive Committee". Everyone can also take the role, unlike North Korea, which stipulates which ones will be held by the second class and which ones will be held by middlemen.

On this point, isn’t it true that the people of the Eastern Kingdom practiced this sentence in Mencius, while the Koreans recite it every day, but in fact they don’t take the sage’s philosophy seriously?No wonder some East Coast scholars once wrote an article pointing out that Confucian scholars in China, North Korea, Vietnam and other countries were poisoned by Cheng Zhu Neo-Confucianism. The people, the people live and work in peace and contentment, and the people are not suffering from the turmoil of the troubled times. If this is not the paradise of kings, then what else is qualified to be called paradise of kings?Although these words are suspected of bragging about putting gold on one's face, and this country has no king and no father, it is hard to say whether it can be consistent, but for now, it seems that it is not bad, at least better than the Kingdom of Korea.On this point, no matter how thick-skinned Zhao Chuyan is, he is ashamed to say that North Korea or China are better than people in the East in practicing Mencius's "kingly way" thought and building a kingly society.

Moreover, the East Bank government also allows the people to criticize themselves (whether it is useful or not), and there are small-scale gentry meetings at the local county and township levels, which meet every year to discuss the national economy and the people's livelihood.Some of these suggestions or criticisms from the grassroots will be accepted by the government, which makes Zhao Chuyan deeply moved: "Elder people always think that the common people are stupid, and they are extravagant on it. Stupid and godlike, right and wrong are based on a public mind, and there are those who cannot be tempted by power and power."

Of course, the "people" here by Zhao Chuyan does not necessarily refer to ordinary people, but to the local students and gentry. He thinks that they have a clear distinction between likes and hates, and they speak out of a public heart, which is better than the "meat eaters" in the court. more direct.Therefore, after realizing the existence and function of the Eastern People's Local Political Consultative Conference, I was very moved, thinking that it has a legacy from ancient times, although the proportion of ordinary farmers, craftsmen, merchants, and warriors was mandatory among the representatives of the conference. He felt a little dissatisfied.

It's just that this kind of understanding can only make Zhao Chuyan's thoughts more confused.Zhao Chuyan's impression of the current East Bank is extremely complicated. One is that their courses are insane, they don't respect famous teachers, don't study classics, and don't pay attention to great etiquette. It is good for officials and people (even the disabled have certain benefits, although they are pitiful), the country is prosperous and strong, and everyone lives and work in peace and contentment, which fully embodies Mencius' thought of benevolent government and loving the people, and at the same time has the sage's Some shadows of the "Great Harmony Society" - they do not learn Confucian classics, do not inherit the Chinese orthodoxy, but their actions coincide with the classic thoughts of Gu Renren, and the goal of construction is also towards the Great Harmony Society of Confucius. Isn't this better than those people who recite the study of Confucius and Mencius every day, but actually practice cannibalism and etiquette and do bad things under the filth?As people from the east coast said when criticizing Cheng-Zhu Neo-Confucianism, "rituals", which include communication etiquette, social order, philosophy of doing things, etc., are right, but if this point is overemphasized and elevated to the level of religion degree, then it will inevitably become rigid and then go astray, which will eventually bring about serious negative effects.

At this time, Zhao Chuyan's forehead was slightly sweaty, and he didn't dare to continue thinking about it.Because if you think about it further, the question will come, that is, who really inherited the philosophy of Gu Renren and the Chinese tradition?This question is difficult to answer. If he, Zhao Chuyan, could choose, he thinks that the two can be combined into one, combining the strengths of the Eastern Bank and the Chinese. Zhao Chuyan also didn't realize that under the subtle influence of these days on the East Bank, his thoughts had unconsciously shifted a lot. You must know that at first he was very repulsive to everything on the East Bank, and even Until a few days ago, he was furious when people from the east coast criticized Cheng-Zhu Neo-Confucianism, which was very popular in North Korea and the Ming Dynasty, but now he has undergone such a transformation, and his thoughts have completely fallen into chaos. Pity this middle-aged man who has been repeatedly reshaped.

In the end, Zhao Chuyan left the tax office and returned to the hotel with a heavy heart. He didn't even take part in the next three days of courses. Instead, he let his subordinates study while he hid in his room to clear his mind and write articles.He recorded every detail of his trip to the East Bank in a diary-style anthology called "Dong Xing Lu", and took it out from time to time to read it and think about it seriously.He didn't know what kind of impact this "Dongxinglu" would have if it was printed and published after returning to North Korea. He only knew that after coming to Dongguo, his whole mind and soul were greatly affected. Shock, although he doesn't fully approve of Dongguo people's things, and he still hates some of them, but this can't cover up many good aspects of them.He only hopes that after returning to North Korea, more people can participate in the debate and thinking, which may be of great benefit to the future of North Korea-of course, he is not the kind of saint who can sacrifice himself for the world, some may The content that aroused great criticism and was not good for him needed to be deleted more, so as not to suffer unwarranted disasters. This was Zhao Chuyan's idea.

(End of this chapter)