Chapter 18: Evening Beacon Fire

  Huang Qiyuan always felt that he was full of enthusiasm and dedication, but had no way to serve the country, wasting his grand ambitions in this small place. Only today did he feel that he had lost without regret.

  That article, which he had once been so proud of, although it made him unsuccessful from then on, but in his heart there was always a kind of literary arrogance, thinking that he himself was being attacked by those with different political views. Although he was not successful in the officialdom, he would certainly leave his own good name in history, and this life would not be in vain. Unexpectedly, if his memorial to the throne were really to be implemented, it would also be a mistake for the country and the people, so at this time, not only was his heart cold and disappointed, but also the lonely arrogance that had been accumulated for a long time was swept away.

  Looking at Yang Ling, this handsome young man, Huang Qiyun secretly thought to himself: "I had only heard that he was the youngest scholar in the county, and that his eight-legged essays were exceptionally well-written. I didn't expect him to have such insight. It seems that this young man is not ordinary after all."

  I have no achievements to speak of, so I'd better devote myself to assisting him. If he becomes a famous minister in the future, I'll also be remembered in history. Even if that doesn't happen, as long as he can become a high-ranking official, my deceased child's young grandson will still have someone to rely on.

  At this point, Huang Qiyin chuckled and helped Yang Ling up, saying with a warm smile: "Young Master Yang, no need to be polite, I'm ashamed to accept the title of teacher, Old Huang has been in this county for so long that he's almost become a local, if there's anything you need help with, just let me know, I'll do my best to assist you."

  Ji Ming Yi is a third-rate county, compared to the rich counties in Jiangnan, the total amount of taxes and grains owed differs by as much as 300 to 500 times. The tax rate is frighteningly low, at first glance, it seems that the tax rate must be increased, at least such counties should no longer have arrears of taxes and grains. However, the actual situation is that even small landowners or self-cultivating households in this place are still struggling to make ends meet, so owing taxes and grains has become a matter of course.

  Therefore, a county official in a rich county collects 80% of taxes, and the local people's lives are not affected. They even praise him as a Qingtian, sending Wanmin umbrellas. However, if he is unlucky enough to be transferred to such a poor county after a few years, even if he tries his best to collect 30% of taxes, in the mouths of local people, he is also a corrupt official, a cruel official, and a blood-sucking vampire who scrapes the ground three feet.

  Moreover, the founding emperor of the Ming Dynasty, Zhu Yuanzhang, calculated the officials' salaries very accurately. The silver issued was only enough for the officials to support their families, and the expenses for welcoming guests, servants, sedan chair bearers, horsemen, including the wages of clerks and accountants, were all paid out of the officials' own pockets. Therefore, the money and grain collected from the people would definitely be embezzled by local officials into their private pockets. The county officials did so, and the village heads, Li heads, and Jia heads below them did the same. As a result, 100% of taxes were levied, but only 80% was submitted to the national treasury.

  When the taxes were insufficient, local officials showed their skills. The counties with more land than the Ministry of War had grasped would make up for the shortage, while those with less land would boldly report natural disasters to request tax relief, thus completing the task of collecting taxes and gaining a good reputation for loving the people.

  Although there are many people who owe grain taxes in Jimingyi, over the years, some people have opened up wasteland and cultivated mountains. The Ministry of Revenue still controls the number of mu from the early days of the founding of the country, so although only a small amount is collected, it can meet the requirements of the Ministry of Revenue by supplementing part of the surplus commercial tax.

  In addition, the autumn above the horse just came to plunder, can report the disaster more seriously, in order to reduce some money and grain. Due to the special status of Chicken Cry Post, the military significance of this place is far more important than the county government, so the Ministry of Official Affairs clearly knows that even if the annual taxes are not enough, it's not too strict to add money to assess political performance.

  Yang Ling, who was originally worried and frustrated, suddenly became clear-headed after Huang Qiying's pointing out. The 30% of the tax grain that had been collected with great difficulty was reduced to half by a stroke of Huang County Magistrate's pen, leaving Yang Ling speechless.

  The rest of the miscellaneous things under the guidance of Huang Xiancheng, Yang Ling also got started quickly, and soon he handled the government affairs in an orderly manner, becoming the real controller of the county's administration behind the scenes of Min County Magistrate. However, his power came entirely from Min County Magistrate, with this clay Bodhisattva on top of him, he was just the spokesperson for the Bodhisattva. If there was no such "Bodhisattva", nobody would have listened to his orders.

  However, with the support of County Magistrate Min and the strong assistance of Deputy County Magistrate Huang, Yang Ling managed to govern this small but complete county town in an orderly manner. Before long, the people of Jimingyi, officials, and messengers all knew that the person actually controlling the operation of the entire county was an 18-year-old young man hidden behind Magistrate Min, named Yang Ling.

  Han Youniang no longer goes to the tailor's shop to work, not because she doesn't want to go, but because the boss dares not use her again. As a joke, what kind of person is her husband? Now it's just one county magistrate's hat short on his head.

  At that time, in the big cities of Jiangsu and Zhejiang provinces, there were already some textile mills with hundreds of workers, but most of these workers were also men. In such a small place, it was extremely rare for women to go out to work, so although Yang Ling did not want to let a 15-year-old girl stay at home every day as a young housewife, he had to follow local customs and no longer allowed her to show her face in public.

  Since then, the young woman has been cooped up at home every day, doing nothing but cooking, and there was no TV or other entertainment tools at that time. Although most married women were like this back then, in Yang Ling's eyes as a modern person, it seemed like the young woman was being imprisoned at home.

  Every day, only when she returns home, a joyful expression appears on her face. While eating and watching herself, it seems like there are endless things to talk about. Even small matters can be discussed with relish for half a day. Originally, in the mountain village, although life was hard, at least she could go out. Now, she is like a bird locked in a cage, and the sparkle in her eyes is becoming increasingly dull.

  Yang Ling looked at her with a heartache, and since he was really busy with work, he simply got her to wear men's clothes and took her to sign the lease agreement to assist him in copying and writing documents. Fortunately, Han Youniang was different from ordinary girls, her father was originally a leader of a security firm, and their family background was not bad, they had hired teachers when she was young, but later the security firm lost a large sum of money and went bankrupt. These tasks of copying and writing were naturally manageable for her.

  Han Youniang had something to do and could accompany her husband, so she was naturally overjoyed. Yang Ling was "clear about public and private matters". Although everyone in the signing room knew that this was Yang Shiyue's wife, he just said it was someone who came to help, so the salary was paid as usual. It's just that his privately hired person had to give him a pay raise, so Yang Ling followed the local customs, and what should have been deducted from him naturally went into his pocket without exception. Anyway, if he didn't want it, he couldn't hand it in, and it would be divided up by others.

  Yang Ling, being privately hired by the county magistrate, did not enter the official rank, so this month's salary was only three stones, equivalent to six silver coins, which were paid by the county magistrate personally. The county magistrate's monthly salary was 3 taels and 7 mace, enough to support a family of old and young, but if he didn't take a little tax revenue, his own family would have to go hungry.

  The officialdom calls this reasonable deduction "fire expense". According to Yang Ling's understanding, it means that there are policies from above and countermeasures from below. At first glance, he saw that during the Ming Dynasty, officials embezzled 60 taels of silver, and Zhu Yuanzhang imposed severe punishment by flaying them alive and stuffing their skin with grass. However, corruption among officials did not stop, and those officials who were beheaded one after another generally rushed to the execution ground. At that time, he didn't understand it very well, but now that he has personally experienced it himself, he realizes that although there are indeed corrupt officials, even honest officials need some necessary gifts, which is unavoidable.

  Fortunately, over the years, these officials have naturally formed a set of rules for themselves, which distinguish between what constitutes corruption and what is necessary courtesy from lower officials. This system has been established outside of official regulations and is voluntarily followed by officials at all levels, with guidance from Huang Lao and Yang Ling also being able to rest easy.

  Tomorrow is the first day of the Lunar New Year. Perhaps due to my mood, although the streets are still wet and chilly, I don't feel as cold as usual while walking around. The sound of firecrackers can be heard from near and far.

  Tomorrow is a day off for the county government, so Yang Ling didn't finish processing the documents on his desk until very late, and he walked out of the county government office with Han Youniang. Every household had already hung up red lanterns at their doors, and even families who normally wouldn't indulge in such extravagance had put up lanterns early and lit candles.

  Women cannot walk in front of their husbands or alongside them, so Han Youniang still retreated half a step according to the rules. Yang Ling looked at the dark night and wouldn't attract too much attention, plus Han Youniang was wearing men's clothes, so he deliberately slowed down his pace, taking advantage of her unpreparedness, and grabbed her hand.

  Han Youniang was startled and her face turned bright red, she struggled twice but couldn't get free, and couldn't help but scold in a low voice with a red face: "Husband, you..."

  Yang Ling turned around and smiled gently, saying softly: "Tomorrow we'll go shopping for New Year's goods, tonight we'll go to the wine house to eat some good food, let's go." As he spoke, he pulled Han Youniang and rushed to that small hotel he had been to once before.

  Yang Ling is a person who sticks to the old, having been there once and feeling that the taste is okay, he doesn't bother to find another one. When he wants to change his taste, he always goes to this house. Han Youniang felt a bit uneasy, but knowing that her husband was easy-going, and it was already dark, so others couldn't see her face, she let him hold her hand and followed him obediently.

  Yang Ling and Han Youniang stepped out of the hotel again, the night was even darker, the stars twinkled in the vast night sky, and the delicate snowflakes fell slowly, making his face, which had become slightly flushed from drinking, feel very refreshing.

  Yang Ling's expression changed, and he took Han Youniang's hand to stroll slowly in the city. Although neither of them spoke, their interlocked palms conveyed a different kind of feeling that resonated deeply in their hearts.

  On the city wall, Yang Ling picked up a handful of snow, made it into a snowball, and with all his might, he threw it fiercely towards the vast night outside the city. However, this body lacked exercise too much, and this exertion pulled his muscles a bit sore. The frozen road surface under his feet was also very slippery, almost causing him to fall. He startled Han Youniang to rush forward one step, with one palm supporting his ribs, holding his body firmly in place, scolding with both anger and amusement: "Sir, look at you, why are you like a child? Be careful not to slip."

  Yang Ling turned around and gently pinched her firm and smooth cheeks, saying with a spoiled tone: "You're just a kid who hasn't grown up yet."

  Han Youniang pouted, not reconciled, and straightened her back. Yang Ling looked at her slightly childish face and those gentle eyes, his heart skipped a beat. He only then realized that he had become more intimate with her, was used to her quietly taking care of him by his side, was used to making some intimate movements with her. If he were to suddenly pass away, wouldn't it make her even more sorrowful?

  But if he were to be cold and distant towards her now, how could Yang Ling withstand her tears? Those words about taking good care of herself once he was gone seemed too abrupt and couldn't be spoken out loud. He stared blankly at Han Youniang, unsure of what to say.

  Han Youniang's face suddenly became hotter and hotter under Yang Linglang's gaze, which was as bright as the morning star. Especially with a hint of wine in his mouth, Han Youniang obviously misunderstood his intention, feeling both frightened and delighted in her heart, and her body began to tremble slightly.

  At this moment, Yang Ling suddenly saw a spark of fire flashing from Han Youniang's two black and shiny eyes, and Han Youniang was also shocked to stare wide-eyed at the distance beyond Yang Ling's shoulder.

  Yang Ling suddenly turned his head, on both the east and west sides of the city wall there was a beacon tower. At this moment, the eastern beacon tower had already been lit, with fierce flames burning brightly. Far away, the winding city walls stretched into the depths of the mountains and forests, with several points of starlight twinkling.

  He looked west again, and at this moment, the beacon tower on the western city wall also burst into a raging fire, with fierce flames, and then ignited the beacon tower on the mountain ridge further west, passing it on to even more distant places.

  Yang Ling's mouth opened wide, and after a while, he suddenly turned around, looking at Han Youniang. The two pairs of eyes conveyed the same message: "The Tartars have arrived!"