Guide to traveling through the Northern Song Dynasty

In mid-May of the lunar calendar, wheat harvest begins and summer grain collection begins.

The farmers in Shangbai Village finally panicked, because the news of the recovery of tax arrears from previous years had been confirmed by Lao Bai.

Because the five Baiford brothers ran away, Lao Bai had no choice but to use the Baojia method and temporarily arranged a group of "tax supervisors" to be responsible for collecting taxes.

The Baojia method was created by Wang Anshi. Ten households are one Bao, five Bao are one big Bao, and ten big Bao are one Du Bao. During the off-farm period, he participated in military training and was responsible for maintaining law and order in the countryside. At critical moments, he also participated in suppressing rebels.

Then, the Baojia Law added a tax collection function.

Ten to thirty households of common people take turns to choose a Baoding as the head of the tax collection, who is responsible for collecting taxes, so it is also called the tax collection head, or the tax collection head.

"Tax heads" are not permanent. Only when large-scale tax collection is needed, some farmers are temporarily selected to serve.

With the changes in the old and new party struggles, the Baojia Law has also been changing. During the Huizong period of the Song Dynasty, Cai Jing came to power and introduced new laws, and the Baojia Law was also fully restored.

Outside the Bai family's mansion, a group of heads were kneeling.

They are all farmers with more males in the family, and they were arranged to collect taxes in a confused way. They didn't even know that there was such a thing as "tax collection" before. After all, it had only been two years since they recovered. They asked the elders in the village and found out that "Ji Tou" was similar to Luncha Yamen.

"Come in, don't cry."

A group of supervisors were led into Bai's house to meet Mr. Bai, who was basking in the sun.

"Spare my life!"

The moment the two sides met, the supervisors knelt down one after another, crying and begging for a way out.

Member Lao Bai also looked sad, looking like he was about to cry at any moment. He asked his servants to help him and stood up shakily: "The government wants to collect food, what can I do? You just share the tax equally, but our family has to share and buy money, buy money together, which is more than what you pay. A hundred times a thousand times more.”

One of the reminders said: "My family has paid the grain tax every year, so we sell iron and also pay the land tax. Where does the tax arrears come from?"

Old Bai said: "The court wants to collect taxes, but I don't care about you. When I was the chief clerk, I could help you suppress them. But now the chief clerk is Zhu Er, a rebel who has been recruited. Who cares about the fellow villagers? Life or death? My second son, even though he is a police officer, can't say anything."

The leaders immediately cried harder, feeling that their death was imminent.

Lao Bai said again: "You try your best to collect food. If your family doesn't have enough money, let them borrow money. I can only help as much as possible, and the interest rate will be reduced by two cents compared with previous years. Within three years, we will never demand payment. Maybe the folks We can get through the difficulties. Also, since I let you do things, I won't let you lose your family. As long as things are done properly, I will help you."

After speaking softly, Officer Lao Bai hardened his tone: "If you don't do it right, you will be exiled to the army according to the law. You can weigh it in yourselves!"

The smart head already understood what it meant.

It's nothing more than letting them be evil people. Lao Bai Yuanwai took the opportunity to lend money, and then used usury to annex the land.

They must do this evil man, otherwise they will be ruined and exiled!

After all the hard talking, these bosses finally left, full of resentment and nowhere to vent their grievances.

"well!"

Old Bai sighed and sat alone in the shade of the tree, watching the leaves swaying in the wind.

He is a person with vested interests. The older he gets, the more conservative he becomes and he is unwilling to make such a fuss. Even if he can take advantage of the opportunity to merge after much trouble, it will greatly damage his reputation.

The leaders left the Bai family and quickly spread the news throughout the village.

It is obviously the wheat harvest season, but the farmers are not happy at all. The whole village seems to be shrouded in gloom.

Lao Bai was afraid of an accident, so he ordered his servants: "Select twenty strong men from the tea garden to come down from the mountain and patrol around the place day and night. We all bring guns and sticks. If anyone makes trouble, stop it immediately!"

Shangbaicun is still doing well, but Xiabaicun is in a state of panic.

Bai Zongmin held a whistle stick in his hand and summoned the strong men of the tenant farmers to lecture: "I paid so much money and grain to the government. Our family is not living well, and no one can live well. You all keep an eye on which family has finished harvesting the wheat." , immediately came to the door to urge for food. If the family did not have enough money and food, they would be escorted to borrow money. If anyone disobeyed, the house would be demolished! "

Forced by the bullying power of member Xiaobai, the villagers in Xiabai Village were crying while harvesting wheat.

After the wheat is dried, it has to be sent out to the novices.

The whole village has been exploited by Bai Zongmin for many years, and the third-class households no longer exist. The slightly affluent fourth-class households used their family savings to pay the tax in full. Ordinary fourth-class households had no choice but to sell their land at low prices in order to avoid borrowing money at usurious rates.

As for the fifth-class households, those with land sold their land and those without land sold their lives. Almost all of them became clients dependent on Bai Zongmin.

No one dared to resist.

Those who dared to resist either fled to other places or were already dead. Xiaobai Yuanwai really dared to kill people.

The situation is similar throughout Xixiang County.

Various tragedies are being staged in villages large and small. Many farmers have fled into the mountains, but no one has taken the lead in rebellion yet.

…

A small boat docked at the bandit village.

A bearded man in silk clothes found the villagers after getting off the boat and said: "I am a friend of Village Master Yang. If you need to enter the village for something, please lead the way!"

Half a day later, this person saw Yang Jun.

Yang Jun asked: "Who are you friends with? Why can't I remember?"

The bearded man glanced at the others and said in an arrogant tone: "Let them retreat. This matter is very serious. Only tell the leader of the village."

Yang Jun waved his hand and said: "Yang Ying stays, the others go out."

When there were only three people left in the room, the bearded man revealed his identity: "I am Zhu Zhuzhu's person. I just came here to ask, why haven't you taken action against Shangbai Cun?"

Yang Jun did not dare to be negligent and replied: "Old Officer Bai has someone in the county. If I rob Shangbai Village, there will be no peace in Heifeng Village."

The bearded man sneered: "In the county government office, the magistrate takes the first position, and Zhu Zhu takes the second position. With these two chairs, the rest of the government officials are all minions. With Zhu Zhu's support, how can you still What are you afraid of?"

Yang Jun didn't mince words and asked directly: "How many times have Master Zhu taken his words seriously? I'm afraid he's not treating me like a gunman."

Big Beard did not answer directly, but threw out a bait: "The stolen goods in Heifeng Village must be sold to Bai Zongmin first, and then to businessmen in the county. Those businessmen smuggling, who dares to bypass Zhu Zhu's book? As long as you rob After arriving at Shangbaicun, I will kill the old member Bai, and I will introduce businessmen to you from now on. I hope the chief secretary will support you and not be affected by Bai Zongmin's cowardice!"

As soon as these words came out, Yang Jun stopped talking and was actually seriously thinking about the pros and cons.

This guy is usually smart, he also prides himself on being loyal, and he also has a bit of womanly kindness.

However, it is easy to forget one's true interests!

If there are enough benefits, his brain will be damaged and his IQ will plummet.

The tea smuggled in Heifeng Village and the stolen goods robbed in Heifeng Village all need to be shipped by the middleman Xiaobai Yuanwai. However, the promise given by Master Zhu was to bypass the middlemen and allow the Shanzhai to trade directly with the merchants.

This kind of operation must have a government background, otherwise it will not last long.

And Master Zhu is a member of the government. He can become the backer of Heifeng Village and even help Heifeng Village clear its name.

"Brother, agree." Yang Ying couldn't help but say.

Yang Ying has always been in charge of foreign trade, and he knows how much money that young member of the White House has made by working as a middleman.

Yang Jun wanted to agree to this, but was afraid of the consequences. He sat there worrying about the gains and losses, hesitating and undecided.

"I...I'll think about it again." Yang Jun couldn't make up his mind.

The bearded man said: "You need to think about it slowly, and I won't rush you. I just want to remind you that in twenty or thirty days, the wheat harvest will be finished. After the summer grain is handed over, there will not be much money left in the village. How can you grab it again?" I can’t grab that much. Farewell!”

The man left immediately, leaving the Yang brothers in a daze.

"Brother, don't think about it anymore," Yang Ying encouraged. "With the support of Master Zhu, the goods in the village can be sold to merchants face to face, which will make more money! Master Zhu will be our backer, and the official Among the gangsters, who are you afraid of?"

Yang Jun was already moved, but he shook his head and said, "You don't know, Mr. Bai is very powerful in the county government, so if you rob his house, it won't end well."

Yang Ying analyzed: "Why did Master Zhu ask us to rob Shangbaicun and even said that he wanted to kill Mr. Bai? It's just that the county government is also trying to merge. The county magistrate is in the first place and doesn't care about anything. Master Zhu is the second in command. The first person, Bai Erlang, is the third person, and many leaders are also targeting Bai Erlang. If Zhu Zhu wants to control the county government, he has to fight against Bai Erlang. That's why he lets us go rob and kill people. As long as old Bai Yuanwai dies, Bai Erlang The family's money and food were robbed, and Bai Erlang couldn't stand firm in the county government!"

"I understand this." Yang Jun said.

"Then what are you afraid of?" Yang Ying said, "Let's fight against Yao Fang. Many leaders in the village have grievances. Let them vent their grievances. Let them go to Shangbaicun to rob property and let them go to Shangbaicun to kill people. Set fire. When the anger is gone and the money is taken away, they will be happy, why don't they still be submissive to Big Brother?"

"That's right!" Yang Jun's eyes lit up. He was worried about how to deal with the leader of the village.

The impact of the fire incident was too great. In the past few days, everyone was talking privately. Yang Jun's prestige as the leader of the village has plummeted, and something must be done to stabilize people's hearts.

As long as you rob Shangbai Village and kill Old Bai, you will have the following benefits:

First, by getting on the line with Master Zhu and gaining official backing, maybe I can slowly clear my name.

Second, instead of letting middlemen make the difference, copycats can trade directly with merchants.

Third, grab a lot of money and food from the Bai family.

Fourth, let the bandit leaders vent their grievances, stabilize the people of the village, and enhance the prestige of the village owner.

With these four benefits, Yang Jun has been carried away and no longer thinks about the serious consequences of this matter.

…

"Bai Fude, the leader of the village wants to see you!"

"I'm coming!"

Baiford was exhausted and followed the leader up the mountain. He felt very happy that he was finally getting through it.

Seeing Yang Jun, Bai Fu nodded and bowed.

"Sit down," Yang Jun asked, "I heard that you are from Shangbai Village?"

Baiford immediately gritted his teeth and said: "I did a lot of humiliating things for that old member, but in the end I couldn't get rid of him. He gave a few of my brothers some yamen jobs. This is forcing me to die, and the whole family can only do it." When you enter the mountains, the grass falls.”

Yang Jun asked: "How many nursing homes are there in Old Bai's family? Are there any good men with guns and sticks?"

Baiford recalled carefully: "I don't often go into the Bai family mansion. There seem to be a few guardians... By the way, there is a man named Gu in the tea garden, and his hair is gray. Although I don't know his background, he must be a practicing practitioner. , escorting the Bai family to transport tea every year. He also gave birth to three sons, named Gu Da, Gu Er, and Gu San. Gu Da died of illness two years ago, Gu Er worked as a gray garment in the county government, and Gu San stayed in the tea garden. Do things. That Gu San is only sixteen or seventeen years old, and he can also use a gun and a stick."

Yang Jun asked again: "Which part of the courtyard wall of the Bai family's mansion is the easiest to penetrate?"

"To the north, the terrain is high. Just build a ladder and rush in." Byford's eyes were fierce. He already understood what the bandits were going to do.

Yang Jun nodded and said: "Very good, you will be the guide when the time comes. In addition to Lao Bai's family, you should also point out the wealthier ones in the village. When the job is completed, not only will you be rewarded, but you will also be promoted to the leader."

Bai Fude said excitedly: "Thank you, village leader, for your support!"

Yang Jun said: "Go down, brothers in your family, please don't farm any more. It's a good time to rest for two days to recuperate."

Baiford walked to the door, then turned around and said, "Master, I... I want to steal a woman."

Yang Jun was amused and asked with a smile: "Are they the female relatives of the old member Bai's wife?"

Byford said: "She is a widow in the village."

"I'm just a widow, so I promise you." Yang Jun was very generous.

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