The day before yesterday, someone from the Duke's Mansion said that the court was discussing the clearance of the land and mu of Zhangzhou. Xu Changyuan did not ignore it, but felt that since the court was still discussing it, even if it really wanted to implement this matter, it would be ten days and half a month later.

However, he didn't expect that the imperial court's Qingzhang team would come so soon, but it scared him.

At this time, seeing the words of the minor official with the "Qingzhangzi" to protect his forehead, the people around him were in a state of great turmoil and complained, Xu Changyuan felt relieved.

'Qingzhang Tianmu actually ran to the farm of the Duke's Mansion. I think the court is going to shoot himself in the foot this time.'

Xu Changyuan looked around the crowd and sneered.

He is not in a hurry at all now and is ready to watch a farce.

···

Yingtian Prefecture Office.

Xiong Rulin, Zhang Xianguang, Chen Zilong and others were all sitting in the side hall where Xia Yunyi usually worked to drink tea.

Wei Yao and Shilan of the Ming Dynasty took six green robe officials to sit behind a table, sorting out Yingtianfu's fields and population-related documents, mainly fish scale books, yellow books, etc.

Although the data on these past files is very different from the real data, it can also be used as a reference.

For example, you can learn through such documents how many acres of land should have in a certain Duke's Mansion, how many acres of land were rewarded by emperors of the Ming Dynasty, how many were land purchased through formal channels but not included in the tax-free list, etc.

Xia Yunyi and three officials from the Ministry of Revenue were in charge of the government office, and also to deal with some sudden and important matters in the process of clearing the land.

The land of Zhangzhang was only in Jiangning in the afternoon, and the two counties of Shangyuan began. The other counties were probably not going to start until tomorrow, so the four of them were still leisurely at this time.

Xia Yunyi said: "There are many honorary farms in the two counties of Jiangning. We started to attack them as soon as we came up. Are we too hasty?

It is important to know that those tenants who give their land to nobles can be tax-free, and they only need to pay rent to the landlords and pay some service money.

At first glance, the court wanted to clear the land, but they certainly thought they would pay an extra land tax in the future. If it could not be explained clearly, I am afraid that the tenants would try their best to obstruct the matter."

Xiong Rulin said lightly: "The imperial edict has been issued. Anyone who dares to obstruct the reform of the land tax will be sentenced to the crime of losing his home and moving to the north at the least.

Now the north is short of population. If the tenants from noble families really dare to obstruct Qingzhang, they will naturally catch what they should be caught and kill what they should be killed."

Xia Yunyi frowned when he heard this and said to himself: Xiong Rulin is so murderous.

Then he said, "If this happens, it will probably cause a greater civil unrest. Is it not what Your Majesty wishes?"

Xiong Rulin wants to say something else, but Chen Zilong spoke first and said with a smile: "Xia Tongzhi doesn't have to worry. The Qingzhang Specialist has received special training. In a Qingzhang team, there are people who are good at measuring the land and calculating the book, and some are good at communicating with the people.

, those who explain policies also have overall dispatch, people who are alert to weird people, and those who monitor corruption and supervise discipline.

In addition, the Imperial Guards follow and protect them to shock the people. I believe that civil rebellion is not so easy to happen."

After hearing this, Xia Yunyi only relaxed his eyebrows slightly, but he was still worried.

He was a county magistrate for five years and knew that the people were very ignorant. Sometimes even good policies were not understood by the people, it would be difficult to implement them, and it would even cause fierce resistance from the people.

The court's Qingzhang Commissioner looked not old, and could he really do the job of dealing with the people at the bottom?

···

Liantang Village, Tangxi.

Seeing Sun Guicheng's words made the people excited. Not only did the other clerks become nervous, but they couldn't help but hold the short sticks on their waists, but even the team of imperial guards next to them frowned.

Yang Qianniu, the captain of the Imperial Guard, couldn't help but murmur secretly: Isn't this clearing of land on the first day?

Only Sun Guicheng, who was standing on a big stone, looked calm and did not feel nervous.

He looked in his early thirties, but he was from a resident family. He followed his father to the countryside when he was a teenager and dealt with the people outside Nanjing. He had seen many scenes.

Now that I have been having several months of special training, I naturally won’t be confused because of this small scene.

In fact, the reactions of these tenants in front of him were as expected.

He picked up the loudspeaker (megaphone) - this is the reward he received for his excellent performance in the training, and it is the magic weapon brought by His Majesty from the fairy world.

Although there are thousands of specialists in Qingzhang, only ten people have to give this big trumpet magic weapon.

With the magic weapon in hand, Sun Guicheng is more confident.

He stood up straight, put his hands on his waist and said, "The villagers started scolding before they could hear me? Since you know that Your Majesty is a fairy descending to earth, how could you conclude that this clear land of the millet cannot bring you benefits?"

His loud voice calmed the tenants.

Then a pretty strong farmer in the crowd shouted: "Is it good to let us pay the land tax? It's a fool to have a three-year-old child!"

Sun Guicheng looked over and asked with a smile: "What is this hero's name?"

The farmer shrank slightly, and saw that he could not hide, so he said, "My name is Gu Erhu, what's wrong?"

Sun Guicheng said: "How much land do you have now rented out?"

"It's nearly three acres."

The Jiangnan has a large population and few land, so the per capita farming number of land is much lower than that in the north. For example, in Liantang Village, there are mostly good water irrigated fields. People are accustomed to intensive farming, and often three or five acres of land are enough to make a living for the whole family.

So, Sun Guicheng was not surprised to hear Gu Erhu's words and then asked: "Then how much rent do you have to pay in a year and how much labor money do you have to pay?"

Gu Erhu was in his early thirties. Although he was a farmer, he was not confused. At least he knew everything about farming.

He said: "My husband is kind-hearted. He has reduced his rent this summer and only needs to pay 40% of the autumn grain. As for the service money, thanks to His Majesty's grace, he has lost all the tax payments such as three pays, and only needs to pay five cents of the silver in the second half of the year."

After hearing this, Sun Guicheng laughed and asked again: "The three acres of land you rented out are originally own?"

Gu Erhu showed hesitation and did not speak.

Seeing this, Sun Guicheng said, "If you don't say it, I will just take it as it is. Then, now I will settle the calculations for you.

Now the land tax of the imperial court in Yingtian Prefecture is half a stone per mu of rice. Most of you are good paddy fields, and you cultivate carefully. If there is no disaster, you should be able to collect two or three stones of grain per mu, right?

The imperial court collected half a stone, and calculated based on the yield of two stones per mu, it was only 2.5%; if you collected three stones per mu, it would be more than 1.5% of the point.

In order to avoid land tax, you donate the land to others. Although you don’t need to pay taxes, you have to pay 40% of your rent a year, which is equivalent to paying 20% ​​or 30% more than the normal land tax. You have suffered such a big loss.

, You are actually grateful to the landlord who collects rent.

Gu Erhu, just say it yourself, are you stupid?"

Sun Guicheng's actions once again caused an uproar among the tenants, while Gu Erhu stood in the crowd.

Xu Changyuan, who was watching the show outside, looked ugly and thought to himself: Unexpectedly, the purgatory commissioner sent by the imperial court was not only able to speak loudly, but also made a clear account for these tenants, which would be a big deal.

After thinking about it, Xu Changyuan avoided the eyes of the officials and muttered a few words in the ears of the two followers, and then the two followers mingled into the tenant.

At this time, there were hundreds of tenants gathered at the entrance of the village, and there was no order. In the uproar, the intrusion of Xu Changyuan's followers was not noticed.

At this time, the tenants were all talking about the credibility of Sun Guicheng's words.

"What the specialist said is true or false? We only paid rent but not tax, but suffered a huge loss?"

"I won't settle the big stake, but I know that this autumn Tianzhuang has collected more than one stone per mu of our rent."

"If this court really collects half a stone per acre of paddy fields, then we will suffer a loss?"

“···”

Gu Erhu didn't have complicated calculations, but listening to the discussions of other tenants around him, and thinking that he did pay more than one stone per mu this autumn, he suddenly felt very painful.

"Oh, I'm so stupid! That's so stupid!"

After thinking it through, Gu Erhu couldn't help but scream with regret on his face.

When Sun Guicheng saw that many tenants were like Gu Erhu, he showed a look of regret, and not only laughed.

He was about to explain the benefits of dividing the acres of ditches to these tenants after he had cleared his mind, but someone in the crowd shouted: "You are talking nonsense! How could the court only collect half a stone of grain per mu?!"

Then someone answered: "That is, if the imperial court really collects so little taxes, how could so many people offer the land to the Duke? Or, the imperial court collects half a stone this year and coaxes us to take back the land, and wait for next year

Maybe if you want to collect one or two stones!"
Chapter completed!