Chapter Forty-six: Mortgage of Official Land

  In the morning, there are two special things: one is that the official salary is extremely low, and the other is that taxes are also very low. The official salary is so low that the annual income of a first-class county magistrate is almost the same as that of a horse driver. Hai Rui, an honest official in the Qing dynasty, was so poor that he could not afford to eat meat and became emaciated. When his elderly mother had a birthday, they even slaughtered two catties of meat, which caused a stir in the officialdom. The tax rate for the people is 3% to 1%, taking the Wanli period as an example. At that time, the total population was about 60 million, and the per capita annual burden on national taxes was only 0.033 taels of silver. This light taxation is rare in history.

  However, the common people of the Ming Dynasty did not gain much benefit. In the early days of the founding of the Ming Dynasty, Zhu's family was from a poor background and did not understand economics. They issued large amounts of paper money, but did not collect it, causing the value to depreciate quickly. In the end, it was just Zhu's family exchanging worthless paper for the people's gold and silver, which was equivalent to robbing the people's wealth. Maybe today the people sold their cows and got a few pieces of paper money, but after some days those paper money could only buy a chicken. As for how much paper money was issued, I estimate that even the rulers did not keep track of it. Whenever they needed money, they would just print more, and since paper and ink were cheap, it seemed like there was an endless supply.

  The Yongle Emperor was the one who utilized the Great Ming Treasure Note to the greatest extent. After successfully seizing power, he achieved extremely brilliant accomplishments, such as reducing the power of vassals, sending expeditions to the Western Ocean, compiling the Yongle Encyclopedia, dredging the Grand Canal, establishing the Nurgan Regional Military Commission, launching five campaigns against the Mongols in the north, dispatching an army of 800,000 to conquer Annam, and relocating the capital to Beijing. Although the economy developed somewhat, it was insufficient to cover the enormous expenditures, which relied heavily on issuing large amounts of Treasure Notes. This led to over-drafting the people's wealth and the credit of the Ming dynasty, leaving the common folk in unbearable suffering. It is lamentable that the Zhu family rulers were a declining generation, with some fond of playing with crickets, others enjoying carpentry, still others nostalgic for their wet nurses, and even one who did not attend court for thirty years after becoming emperor - they came in all sorts.

  Local officials are also unscrupulous, their salaries are too low, corruption is rampant, and miscellaneous taxes are as numerous as cow hair. They extort money from the people through various means such as "淋尖踢斛" (a kind of tax on land), "火耗" (a kind of tax on fuel) and "油耗" (a kind of tax on oil). The local gentry and landlords also constantly exploit the common people, so that what is handed over to the state is only a small portion, while the bulk of it goes into the pockets of officials at various levels. Sometimes, the "火耗" in some places even exceeds the regular taxes. Moreover, the "辽饷" (a kind of tax on land) imposed on the people's heads is also a heavy burden. As a result, can the common people's burdens be anything but heavy?

  This is why Lu Haoshan and Zhang Yunhui shook their heads together.

  "We've already collected the full year's taxes, and now we have to collect the additional taxes as well. The people of Jiangyou County are mainly farmers, they don't have any side jobs, so they don't have any extra income. Sir, I'm not speaking out of turn, but I fear it won't be good for us to collect these taxes. The local officials are all locals themselves, they're from the same village and town, we can't really push them to death, can we? You are the parent official of over 50,000 people in Jiangyou, they're counting on you to take care of them." Zhang Yunhui still refused to give up, everyone in the county knew he was responsible for collecting taxes, if something went wrong, he would be the one being scolded.

  Lu Haoshan said with some difficulty: "Zhang Zhubu, it's not that this official is cruel to the people, but the imperial edict is hard to defy. Now the Ming dynasty is in a precarious situation, and I'm afraid we can't explain this away. Moreover, this is the emperor's will, and we small officials can only carry out orders. If not, I'm afraid we won't be able to withstand the emperor's thunderous wrath."

  After finishing, Lu Haoshan said with some concern: "Zhang Zhubu, this official knows that you are a local of Jiangyou, and have been an official for many years, familiar with the situation in Jiangyou. How confident are you about the task assigned by the imperial court?"

  "Sir, if it were in the past when everything was going smoothly and I still had some control over the situation, but unfortunately, the heavens are not cooperating, with consecutive years of poor harvests. The common people are already struggling to make ends meet, tightening their belts just to get by. To say nothing of the full year's taxes, even half a year's taxes would be extremely difficult for them. Not to mention the additional burden of providing supplies for the Liaodong region. Honestly, it's impossible to come up with the funds. This is also why I've come to discuss this with you, sir. To be frank, if we force the collection of taxes, I fear it will lead to chaos. I humbly request that you petition to delay the collection, allowing the people of Jiangyou a bit of breathing room."

  Zhang Yunhui spoke with great eloquence and persuasion, almost as if he was about to kneel down in front of Lu Haoshan.

  "It's not that I, the official, don't pity the common people, it's just that my words carry little weight. The orders were issued by the Ministry of Revenue, and they too are acting according to the Emperor's decree. I'm afraid even if we try to appeal to higher authorities, it will be of no use." Lu Haoshan said with some difficulty.

  It has come to this, and the county magistrate still hasn't relented. It seems that he will have to follow orders after all. Zhang Yunhui sighed and said, "Alas, I can only hope that the common people can get through this ordeal, and that nothing untoward happens."

  Lu Haoshan paced back and forth in the hall, his face filled with worry. After a while, he said in a low voice: "Zhang Zhubu, this matter concerns the people's livelihood. Can we have the county government act as guarantor and let those who are wealthy in the county pay first? We can return the money when the summer harvest is collected. What do you think about this?"

  "It won't do," Zhang Yunhui quickly vetoed, shaking his head and saying: "Sir, since there are no outsiders here, I'll tell you the truth. These local gentry and wealthy landowners all want to take advantage of the chaos to seize the little land that the common people have in their hands. Even if the county government is willing to act as a guarantor, it's hard to get even half a point of money or grain from them. And even if we use both soft and hard tactics to make them put up the money first, I'm afraid the interest won't be low, and when the time comes, the common people still won't be able to repay the loan, and the land will still fall into the hands of those local gentry and wealthy households."

  Crows are generally black, but on that day in Huatian Village, Li Xiangcai also cut off the stream water, intending to make Huatian Village unharvestable. As a result, more than half of the land in Huatian Village would fall into his hands. That's why Lu Lao ran to fight with Li Xiangcai and was killed by him. To avenge his death, Lu Haoshan fled to this place. Unexpectedly, such a situation also occurred in Jiangyou County, thousands of miles away.

  The country is in danger, the people are suffering, but these scholars and officials, who enjoy special privileges, are only concerned with internal strife and their own interests. Lu Haoshan has seen through this, no wonder the Ming dynasty has been declining. A nation must exist before a family can exist, but these people have put things upside down, and it is only natural that they will be lost in the annals of history.

  Lu Haoshan understood the source of Zhang Yunhui's worries. If all the land of the common people were annexed by the rural gentry, then those lands would be transformed into tax-free lands, making it even more difficult to collect taxes, and the burden on the common people would become heavier, while the task of collecting taxes would become extremely difficult.

  In the past, as soon as taxes were levied, it meant all sorts of benefits, and a group of corrupt officials would be delighted to collect them. However, Lu Haoshan, who had secretly investigated before, knew that the people of Jiangyou really couldn't afford to pay the silver, and if they continued to force collection, the consequences would be either becoming a criminal in Jiangyou County, or being driven to death, or forcing them to rebel. Therefore, for his own little reputation, for his own future, Zhang Yunhui repeatedly asked Lu Haoshan to think of a way.

  Three days without seeing each other, one should look at each other with new eyes. After Lu Haoshan successfully impersonated the county magistrate, he had been working hard for his own lofty ideals and had never relaxed. In terms of the operation of the county government, he made great efforts and after nearly three months of hard work, it can be said that he was familiar with the operation of the county government. Seeing Zhang Yunhui's worried look, he suddenly said: "Zhang Zhubu, this official has an unorthodox method."

  "Please go ahead, sir." Zhang Yunhui, who had already given up hope, was overjoyed when he heard this and hastily asked.

  "The common people's land cannot be moved, then let's move the official land." Lu Haoshan gritted his teeth and said: "Use the official land as collateral to borrow some money from those rural gentry and wealthy landlords. Firstly, it can smoothly complete the task, secondly, it can reduce the burden on the common people, so as not to cause a big disturbance, and thirdly, it can also bring us a good reputation."

  Is it official land? Take it as collateral?

  Zhang Yunhui was startled, and suddenly looked somewhat discolored, saying: "Sir, in order to help supplement the county government's expenses, many former county magistrates would make decisions on official land, selling it under various names, so that the number of official fields became fewer and fewer. By the time you took office, sir, it can be said that all the official fields were sold out. The remaining official fields are now mostly under the name of the four major charitable organizations. These official fields also include the good fields donated by the rural gentry and clan elders. The daily expenses of these four major charitable organizations are all maintained by these official fields. If we use these fields as collateral, sir, this will stir up a hornet's nest."

  The four major institutions include the Ciyou Bureau for raising orphans, the Yangji Hospital for caring for the elderly and disabled, the Anji Temple for treating illnesses and injuries, and the Louze Garden for burying unclaimed corpses. These institutions cover all aspects of human life and death, demonstrating the Zhu family's benevolence towards the people. Due to limited county government funds and a large number of monks, many places adopted a one-time solution by allocating official land to these institutions. The income from the land was used for their daily expenses, which can be described as a steady trickle. On ordinary days, some kind-hearted people also donated money or goods.

  In short, the four major institutions can be seen as a local parent official's conscience.

  Now the county magistrate actually proposed to take these fields as a mortgage, Zhang Yunhui was shocked: this county magistrate is too bold, if something goes wrong in between, it will become a crime of the whole county, this is simply playing with fire.

  "Zhang Zhubu, you know the situation of the common people better than I do. Can you bear to see them one by one suffer family breakdown and personal tragedy?" Lu Haoshan said with a heavy heart.

  "I don't want to, but sir, these official fields are too sensitive. If we rashly make use of them, I'm afraid it will provoke public criticism or even the wrath of our superiors..."

  Lu Haoshan said calmly: "This matter has already been decided by the official, if it is not resolved, when the time comes, a large number of civilians will flee, and even officials will force the people to rebel. Our responsibility will be even greater then. Shaanxi Baishui is the best example, the civilians are peaceful and self-sufficient, but if they have to deal with those scholars, it's likely to be a waste of effort. The government stepping in would at least show some respect. Besides, many charity organizations in recent times have been nominal only, struggling to maintain even their facade. If real problems arise, the higher-ups will just turn a blind eye. Zhang Zhushu can rest assured, if the higher-ups blame us, I will take full responsibility."

  "The governor's words are as vast as the sky, his heart is tied to the people, and I am deeply moved." Zhang Yunhui was overjoyed and quickly expressed his gratitude. However, he soon became worried and said: "But, sir, even if we combine the official fields of the four major charitable organizations, the amount is still limited, and the funds that can be raised are also limited. I'm afraid, I'm afraid it's far from enough."

  Charity is not heaven, having something to eat and not starving to death is already very kind, so the official fields under his name are not many, even if all of them are taken out, the number is not large. Zhang Yunhui has been in charge of the chief bookkeeper for many years, and he knows these things like the back of his hand. After a quick calculation in his mind, he knew that the shortage was huge, and he said with some worry.

  Lu Haoshan patted his shoulder and said, "Zhang Zhushi, this is just a temporary measure to slightly alleviate the burden on the people of Jiangyou. As for the financial aspect, I will take charge of raising funds, but you still need to work hard on taxation. I believe that as long as we are united in our efforts, we will definitely get through this difficult time."

  "Yes, sir." Zhang Yunhui said with a grateful face: "Sir, you have a kind heart and work hard for the people, you truly deserve to be the parent official of Jiangyou's common people. This is the good fortune of Jiangyou's people. I, Zhang, represent the elders of Jiangyou here, thank you for your kindness."

  Nothing more to say, 10,000 words update tomorrow.