"The results are released, the results are released!"
At the yamen gate of Dingyuan County, several officials posted notices, rang gongs and started shouting. In a moment, people from the end of the street gathered around, talking and whispering to each other.
The literate people looked at the content on the notice, shaking their heads and reading aloud, while the illiterate people listened attentively. For a while, it was as chaotic as a vegetable market.
"Bang!"
"Everyone be quiet!" A civil servant saw that there were no less than a hundred people gathered, so he asked the clerk to beat the gong to stop the onlookers from making noise, and then read aloud after it was quiet.
"Listen up, everyone. Now the imperial court wants to collect commercial and agricultural taxes. Those who are on the list must go to the Royal Bank to pay the tax on their own initiative before the end of October. Those who fail to pay after the due date, or those who pay less will be deemed
If you resist the tax, you will be fined twice the amount of tax required to be paid.
If you fail to pay the second time or pay less, you will be fined five times. If you fail to pay the third time, the land will be confiscated directly for agricultural tax, and the store will be closed for commercial tax..."
"Wow..."
As the official finished reading, the hundreds of onlookers were in an uproar.
Because most of these people are merchants who need to pay taxes, including many small vendors who run noodle stalls and eat food.
Everyone found it very strange when they heard that they had to take the initiative to hand it over to the bank. They all became nervous when they heard that if they didn't hand over the money, the store would be closed down directly.
"Sir, I'm a meat seller, how much tax do you have to pay?"
"Sir, I'm a calligrapher. I wonder if I need to pay tax?"
"Sir, why should I go to the bank to pay it? Aren't you here to collect it? What if I pay it to the bank and don't accept the payment?"
Bang bang bang bang!
"Everyone be quiet!"
"Those who have to pay taxes have their names on them, and after their names there is the amount that needs to be paid. Check it yourself.
As for why you have to go to the bank to pay, this is what the court wants, you can just do it, why is there all this nonsense?
After you pay the tax, the bank will issue a voucher to you. With this voucher, there will be no non-acknowledgement of the account, so you don't need to worry.
Finally, I announced that if you find that the tax amount on the list does not match the tax amount you calculated, you will be lucky if you pay less.
If you pay too much, you can write a statement by yourself. You only need to write down your name and number clearly, and then put it into the iron box on the left. When you pay taxes next year, the court will offset the overpayment this year.
So if you find that the tax amount on the list is wrong, you don’t need to worry. You must also go to the bank to pay the tax amount according to the tax amount on the list. Otherwise, you will be regarded as underpaying or not paying..."
The clerk spoke a lot, his mouth was dry, but everyone understood it.
The literate people looked for their names on the list one after another, and found that there were numbers after their names, so they immediately started counting.
Because whether it is agricultural tax or business tax, the tax collection standards have been informed in detail when registering, so basically anyone who can read can do the math.
However, business tax is more complicated, and even some literate people cannot calculate it. Agricultural tax is much simpler, and even illiterate people can calculate how much money they have to pay every year.
As the news spread, more and more merchants and landlords arrived, and even more people came to join in the fun. For a time, the entire Yamenkou City Gate was crowded with people.
The two officials took turns reading the list on the notice, so that those who were illiterate could know how much tax they should pay.
Some small businessmen and hawkers, when they learned that they only had to pay one or two cents of silver, immediately rushed to the bank with their precious banknotes.
Some large landowners and merchants took a wait-and-see attitude and did not rush to the bank to pay taxes. After all, there were still more than twenty days.
Liujiacun.
It is the most remote mountainous village in Dingyuan County, more than eighty miles away from the county seat. Xu Fu and a small official, riding two mules and horses, set out in the morning and arrived at dusk.
"You two gentlemen are here. What business do you have?"
"Go and pour some water for me first!"
Xu Fu waved his hand and shouted at the old man who came forward to ask.
"Yes, yes, it's hard work. I'll send someone to go..."
The old man nodded quickly and called for people to pour water.
Xu Fu and the clerk took the water ladle and drank a few sips. Then they felt comfortable and pricked their mouths. Then Xu Fu adjusted his official uniform and said with full official authority: "Remember, you will be called the official in the future.
Later, call all the people whose names I have read out."
After saying that, he took out a piece of paper from his arms. There were only a dozen or so people on it. The most he paid was only two cents of silver, and the least was only three cents of land and only thirty cents of tax.
Not long after, a dozen villagers whose names were read were called over, and Xu Fu told them about the taxes they had to pay, and made it clear how much each person had to pay.
When more than a dozen villagers heard that they had to go to the bank in the county to pay the bills themselves, they were immediately confused and all of them broke out in a sweat.
"Master Guan, I have never been to the county town and don't know where the bank is. I'd better leave it to the master directly..."
"Yes, sir, isn't this how tax collection works in previous years? Why is it so troublesome this year?"
As the villagers spoke, they took out the copper coins and broken silver they had prepared.
"Shut up, everyone. I have already told you that you need to go to the bank in the county to pay it yourself. Even if you hand it over to me now, it will not be counted."
"Sir, wouldn't it be the same if I left it to you? How can it not count?"
"yes!"
"I'm too lazy to bother you anymore. If you don't go to the county town to pay, you will be fined and your land will be confiscated. Don't blame me for not reminding you.
Also, since you are all illiterate, remember to bring the land deed issued by the court with you when you go!"
Xu Fu was annoyed by their quarrel, and it was getting late, so he simply said nothing, got on his horse with his servants, and drove away.
Apparently he was planning to go to the town to rest before dark.
The villagers in Liujia Village looked at the two officials walking away, and they were as anxious as ants on a hot pot.
"Tou Xu, these villagers don't have much experience. I think we should have collected their money just now, and then deceived them and paid it back to the county town. Although it's not much, at least we can have a few drinks."
The little official on the side couldn't help complaining when he saw that he had made a trip in vain.
"You want to kill me, don't you?"
Xu Fu cursed with a straight face.
What happened last time really frightened him. Those civil servants were dismissed from their posts and could still return to their places of origin.
But all the land and house in his hometown were sold. Once he lost his official status, he didn't know what the whole family would do in the future.
Now his monthly salary of five taels is paid on time, and one tael is not deducted, which is enough to support his family.
Therefore, he was extra careful and never took any money he shouldn't have. It was simply not worth losing his official status for that small amount of money. He would not take even the slightest risk.
What's more, when we measured the woodland orchard a while ago, we found that there was quite enough oil and water, and even the imperial court placed it very wide.
Therefore, neither the county magistrate nor they are too worried. After all, woodland, orchards, barren mountains, and mines are not as easy to measure and judge as fields and shops.
However, having learned the lesson from last time, officials in various places did not conceal the report this time, but chose to overreport it.
For example, in an orchard, if the landlord gives Xiaojing money, then make a rough estimate and report it truthfully.
If he is ignorant, then he should be reimbursed for more than ten acres, especially the mines with the heaviest taxes, which are the most difficult to judge.
Therefore, in order not to pay unjustly more money every year, those landlords and gentry basically gritted their teeth and gave a large sum of filial piety money. Some landowners and gentry in the barren hills even refused it directly.
The next day, before dawn, more than a dozen villagers from Liujia Village went to the county town together with the land deed in copper coins.
The group of people on the road were very anxious, fearing that they would not be able to find the county town, and that they would not be able to find the bank when they arrived at the county town.
Fortunately, when I went to the town for the market before, I roughly knew which direction the county seat was. I arrived at the town at noon and walked quickly along the main road.
When they hurriedly arrived at the county town, the city gate was still closed long ago and the sky was getting dark, so everyone had to make a fire in the wild and spend the night.
The next day, they entered the city as soon as the city gate opened. After passing through the city gate, they looked around and were dumbfounded.
Everyone was shocked by the liveliness and prosperity of the county, but they didn't know where to go.
Fortunately, at this moment, a police officer in public uniform came over.
"Are you here to pay taxes?"
"Go back...go back to the police officer, I am indeed here to pay taxes."
Facing the officer's questioning, the group was all nervous. The strong man who answered the question stuttered a bit, fearing that if he said something wrong, he would be taken to the county government to be beaten or locked up.
"Follow me..." The guard waved his hand directly. Obviously, these days, he has long been accustomed to this kind of country bumpkin who came to the city for the first time.
Everyone hurriedly followed up.
"This is the Royal Bank. You can just go in and pay. As for how to pay, someone inside will tell you."
The police officer took them to the door of the bank, said nothing, and walked away. They also did not engage in extortion.
The group of people looked at the grand door and looked at each other. They hesitated for a long time and dared not take a step to go in.
"Big Dog Brother, what should I do?"
"Erhu, you go in first and have a look."
"I don't dare to go, Brother Big Dog, you should go first."
"You coward..."
More than a dozen people pushed me, and I pushed you, all shaking their heads like rattles, until the waiter at the door couldn't stand it any longer, so he stepped forward and asked, "Are you here to pay taxes?"
Everyone nodded vigorously.
"Then why are you still arguing here? Why don't you go in quickly?"
Under the urging of the waiter, everyone boldly stepped through the gate and came to the courtyard, but they did not dare to leave. Finally, they were taken into the hall by a steward.
"Line up and come one by one."
Looking at the female shopkeeper behind the desk, everyone hurriedly lowered their heads. Under the greetings of the bodyguards, they lined up obediently. In the cold weather, nervous sweat broke out on their foreheads.
"What's your name? How much tax do you have to pay? Agricultural tax or commercial tax?"
"Reply, my name is Liu Dagou. I pay the agricultural tax for one penny." Villager Liu Dagou said tremblingly, holding a hundred copper coins in his hands.
"What's the number?"
"I don't know..." Liu Dagou looked confused.
"Put away the copper coins first. Have you brought the land deed? If so, take it out and let me see it."
The female shopkeeper frowned, then put down her pen and said.
Liu Dagou quickly put the copper coins back into the bag, and then carefully took out a land deed from his arms.
The female shopkeeper took the land deed, glanced at it, and started writing it. At the same time, she did not forget to tell her: "Remember that your number is A, six, seven, eight, five, four, three, two. Go there first and change the copper coins into treasure notes, and then come back."
Pay the money."
"Yes, yes, but I can't remember..." Liu Dagou scratched his head.
"Forget it if you can't remember, go and change the money quickly."
The female shopkeeper waved her hand.
Compared with ordinary people who don't have much land in total and actively pay taxes and pay taxes truthfully, the landlords and gentry are not so happy.
Ten days have passed, and most of them are still waiting and watching, while some self-righteous people choose to pay less.
Especially some big landowners in Yangzhou Prefecture, Suzhou Prefecture, and Changzhou Prefecture.
"Father, there are only three days left until the deadline set by the court. Do we still want to continue to wait and see?"
"Let's take a look again."
Facing the eldest son's inquiry, an old man in rich clothes waved his hand. When he thought of the high agricultural tax, he felt heartbroken.
The Huang family is in Changzhou. Although it is not a top-notch family, it still has 20,000 acres of mulberry fields and 10,000 acres of paddy fields. In total, they have to pay an agricultural tax of 12,000 taels.
In comparison, the more than 300 taels of business tax that shops and restaurants in Fucheng County need to pay seem a bit insignificant.
"Father, the imperial court dares to ask banks to collect taxes, and farmers and merchants to pay them themselves. There must be a way to know which ones are refusing to pay taxes and which ones are paying less. Delaying this is not a long-term solution. Once it expires, you will be fined twice as much.
ah!"
The eldest son has been to Nanjing several times and is more knowledgeable. He knows that the imperial court has issued a notice that it will definitely not work if he does not pay taxes.
"As a father, why don't you know this? But our family has to pay more than 10,000 taels. This is simply unreasonable!"
"Father, our Huang family is doing pretty well, but the Zhou family has to pay more than 30,000 taels. It's better to let the child go to the bank and pay early, so you can have peace of mind!"
"Master, the Zhou family has sent someone to the bank to pay the money."
A steward rushed in hurriedly at this time.
"What?"
"Didn't you say that you didn't even hand over the money? How could the Zhou family not keep their word?" The old man was shocked, and then he cursed.
After the scolding, both father and son were also panicked. They immediately took the money and rushed to the Royal Bank in the city under the protection of the servants.
But when I came to the street where the bank was located, I was immediately dumbfounded, because as far as I could see, they were all landowners and gentry driving horse-drawn carriages to pay taxes.
The huge streets were simply blocked with water.
At this time, everyone in the bank was too busy to keep their feet off the ground, especially the female shopkeeper.
Although the bank was open from morning until midnight, as the news spread, more and more landlords and gentry came to pay taxes. In addition, the money they brought was all silver, which needed to be weighed and folded, so the bank was simply overwhelmed.
.
Finally, on the third day, only a small half of the people paid the tax, while the others were still waiting in line.
It was past midnight, and when the bank announced that it would no longer collect tax money, the landowners and gentry who had not yet paid the tax were in an uproar and immediately started making a noise.
"Your time has passed, and I will not collect any more tax money. It will be useless for you to argue again."
"Then what should we do? We haven't paid the agricultural tax yet. What if the court investigates us? Who will bear it?"
"Hmph! You didn't come to pay taxes for such a long time, and you had to wait until the last three days to pay. Who can blame you? I have been busy from morning to night these three days, what else do you want? Close the door!"
The female shopkeeper was really exhausted in the past three days. Apart from resting for three hours every day, she hardly rested for a moment. At this time, she no longer wanted to talk to them anymore, so she just snorted and ordered the door to be closed.
"Let's see who dares to shut them down."
The gentry and landowners all came with their servants. They also knew that the court was right. When they saw that the bank was really going to close, they immediately wanted their servants to come forward and stop it.
As a result, the government officials and garrison troops who had been prepared rushed forward immediately, and the two sides argued endlessly.
In the end, even the prefect of Changzhou came over to intercede with the female shopkeeper in person, allowing the bank to stay open for another two days, waiting for everyone to pay all the agricultural taxes and report them in the settlement.
"Prefect Qian, it's not that I'm unaccommodating, but the head office has clearly stipulated that as soon as midnight passes on October 30th, all Royal Banks must stop collecting tax money."
"Shopkeeper Li's rules are dead, but people are alive..."
Even though the governor of Changzhou had all his good words and dry words, the bank manager still shook his head like a wave drum and insisted on closing the bank. Finally, the governor of Changzhou was so angry that he had no choice but to leave.
As more garrisons arrived, the gentry and landlords who had not paid taxes had no choice but to return with their money.