In the imperial envoy's mansion, after the other attendants except Cai Kongmu came out of the hall, those who drank tea went to drink tea and those who took a nap to catch up on their afternoon naps. Most of them were enjoying themselves. The servants stood in the hall, just waiting for the imperial envoy to return inside.
You can rest in the hospital and be lazy.
In fact, it is not their fault. After the imperial envoy arrived in Suzhou, he only issued two instructions, but did not take any practical actions and did not arrange specific errands. Naturally, they and their attachés had nothing to do.
But when the imperial envoys and entourage walked out of the courtyard door, someone called out to their colleagues: "Yesterday, I found a pound of good tea at the market. How about you come to my place to taste it?" Others laughed and said, "I have nothing to do.
Dare you disobey your orders?"
Someone else looked around and asked, "Why don't you see Cai Fu? Could it be that he hasn't come out yet?" Others replied, "Maybe I want to have a few words with Mr. Fang? This brother Cai is very motivated."
Everyone laughed together. At this moment, they suddenly saw a servant running up to them and shouting, "The imperial envoy wants to beat Cai Kongmu. Gentlemen, please go and take a look!"
All the attendants looked at each other, completely confused. They were fine when they were talking just now, so why did they start taking action in the blink of an eye?
Everyone turned back together and ran quickly towards the lobby. From a distance, they saw the two long followers of the imperial envoy dragging Cai Kongmu from inside to outside.
Cai Kongmu's body was bent into a bow shape with amazing flexibility, and he was holding on to the door frame with both hands, shouting something into the room.
Walking closer, I could clearly hear Cai Kongmu shouting: "Master Fang, as an official, you must be benevolent. You must consider the hardships of the people's livelihood. You must not act harshly and insist on your own way!"
Even if I die, I have to say that raising taxes is absolutely unfeasible. Mr. Fang, you should know your way back and don’t make the same mistake again and again, otherwise you will be a sinner of the Su family!"
Everyone looked at each other in confusion. What's wrong with Cai Fu's brain? Why did he suddenly get into a fight with his superior? They are just junior officials at the lowest level, and they can do whatever their superiors say. How can they have any room to comment?
The imperial envoy's loud shouts were heard from the hall, "A small-minded person who dares to contradict me will be given a stick and given thirty punishments, and be kicked out of the mansion!"
The attendants thought again, no wonder Mr. Fang was angry. What Cai Kongmu said just now was indeed a lot of transgression, and it was too much. Can the sinner of the Su family say such things casually?
In addition, it seems that Cai Fu is desperately opposing the imperial envoy's tax increase? I don't say whether his view is correct or not, but this position is so crooked that anyone else would be angry if he were the imperial envoy.
But does the imperial envoy really know how to beat people? Just as the other attendants were stunned, they saw that the two senior attendants of Mr. Fang had already held Cai Fu down, holding sticks they found from nowhere, and started beating him head and face.
Thirty spankings with a cane may sound easy to say, but if it is done without any mercy, most people will not be able to stand up and move.
Not long after, the thirty strokes were finished. A long follower went into the room to revive him, while the tortured Cai Fu lay on the platform, groaning and unable to move.
The officer who returned from the imperial envoy came out again and shouted: "The imperial envoy said that these people cannot be retained and will be expelled from the imperial envoy's mansion and will not be used again!"
All the attendants saw this, and although they felt that Cai Kongmu was a little crazy and that he had asked for it, he was the one who brought it upon himself. However, even if things fall into their own category, a certain amount of camaraderie is inevitable.
Everyone then entered the main room together and pleaded with the imperial envoy, who still had an angry look on his face: "Cai Kongmu has been seriously injured. He has no relatives or friends in Suzhou Prefecture, and he didn't bring much money with him when he came out this time. If he is kicked out, he will be killed on the streets."
.Lord Wanwang, please give him a way to survive!"
Fang Yingwu hesitated for a moment, and then ordered: "I really can't keep him here! But the crime is not worthy of death. Throw him to the government office and ask the local government to arrange for him to return to Beijing. I will report to the relevant department for punishment!"
When an imperial envoy like Fang Yingwu travels, he doesn't have many attendants and handymen around him, and his property is supplied by places along the way. He can only leave everything to the place to handle, so Cai Fu can only rely on the place to get him back to the capital.
arranged.
This was the best result that could be achieved. Everyone could only praise together: "Your kindness, sir, I would like to express my gratitude to Cai Kongmu!"
Wang Ying immediately led two servants to carry Cai Fu to the government office, threw him to the gate guard, and left in a big way.
When encountering such a thing, naturally no one in the government office dared to take charge of it and hurriedly reported it to the magistrate. When Li Tingmei heard this, she couldn't help being surprised: "What? Fang Qin sent Cai Kongmu out of the house and called me
Allocate property to send him back to the capital?"
After thinking for a while, Magistrate Li ordered again: "Bring it to the hall, and I will ask it in person."
Cai Fucai had been severely tortured, and of course he couldn't get up. He could only lay weakly on a simple stretcher, and barely raised his hand to Magistrate Li as a courtesy.
Magistrate Li asked: "Why are you doing this?"
Cai Fu raised his head and replied angrily: "I heard that Mr. Fang is going to increase taxes. First, he wants to increase the rent of private land to the same level as official land. Second, he wants to double the tax and silver for door stalls to make up for the arrears of money and grain.
"
At this time, the land in the world was divided into official land and civilian land. Official land, as the name suggests, is state-owned land, but it is rented to the people for farming, but the tax is very high; while civilian land is private land among the people, and the tax is much lighter than official land. Generally speaking, big households
Of course they are all landowners.
The proportion of official land in Suzhou Prefecture is very high, so the total amount of taxes is very heavy. However, the burden on official land is already extremely high, and it is really impossible to squeeze out more oil and water. Therefore, it is not surprising that the idea of targeting private land during grain supervision is not surprising.
In addition, Suzhou is the most prosperous commercial city in the world, with shops dotted all over the place. The stall tax is a very generous local fiscal revenue. Doubling the tax rate can collect a lot more money.
When Governor Li heard this, he seemed to have grasped some key. Even if the imperial envoy's idea was good, the reality was cruel. If the tax increase was easy to handle, he, the prefect, would have reaped the political benefits long ago, and he would not have to wait for the imperial envoy.
come?
First of all, tax increases will definitely trigger a strong backlash across the board, especially among powerful large households and wealthy businessmen, who are prone to trouble;
Secondly, the tax rates are ancestral laws and regulations that were established during the reign of Taizu. Therefore, changing the tax rate is not only an economic issue, but also a very sensitive political issue. If you are not careful, you will lose your official position.
It can only be said that this imperial envoy is still too young, and he is too eager to achieve political achievements as expected... After finishing the plan in his mind, Magistrate Li was surprised and asked: "Fang Imperial Envoy actually wants to disrupt the ancestors and make them legal?"
This is really audacious!”
Cai Fu followed Magistrate Li's words and continued: "Such an idea is simply not feasible. It is intended to benefit the country but is actually harmful to the people! Although I am three feet tall and of low rank, how can I just ignore it and ignore it?
In the mansion, I tried hard to persuade you, but in the end I offended Mr. Fang with my words, so I received this cane. I’m afraid that I will inevitably be punished after I return to the capital!"
When Magistrate Li heard this, he thought, he was not the only smart person who knew that Envoy Fang would definitely not succeed. Why didn't Cai Kongmu clear up the relationship in advance? After being beaten, his reputation came out.
However, Magistrate Li still expressed his praise: "Mr. Cai has a righteous heart and is willing to suffer punishment. I have the right to express my gratitude on behalf of Mr. Gusu!"
Cai Kongmu gritted his teeth and said: "In my opinion, the prefect cannot stop the imperial envoy. The only solution now is to fundamentally solve the problem!"
Magistrate Li asked: "What is fundamental?"
Cai Fu replied: "It's all in the capital! Li Futai is far away in Gusu and I don't know. Although Mr. Fang is very arrogant, he also has many enemies in the capital. Deadly enemies are everywhere!"
As long as Li Futai unites with the local gentry and relies on public opinion to estrange his feelings, there will naturally be people in the capital who can't get along with him! I don't know my own abilities, but I know a few friends from the same hometown, and I will tell the truth after returning to the capital!"
Magistrate Li was silent for a moment, thinking over and over again in his mind, weighing the pros and cons.
Ever since he was demoted to the local government seven or eight years ago, he seemed to have been forgotten by the court, like a kite with its string cut off. This should be his last chance to show his face, otherwise he would have to wait to serve as the prefect until he retires.
In the worst case, he just loses his official position and leaves. What's the difference between becoming an official? In the end, Magistrate Li sighed: "The sage said, if you are in good ways, you will get many help, but if you are in bad ways, there will be little help. This is it! The imperial envoy wants to implement harsh government, so I will host a banquet to invite the gentry in the government, and we will
Discuss this!"
It's a pity that Governor Li has been in peace for a long time, and he can't help but become paralyzed. Who would have thought that others would use such a trick as the bitter meat trick?
PS: I have been thinking hard all night to clear my meridians, and when it comes time to vote for the end of the month, I am going to risk my life! Today’s guarantee is 7,000 words! Be the first to post!
