Chapter 975
: Everyone Has Their Own Thoughts
Chapter 975: Everyone Has Their Own Thoughts
Inside Jiangnanchun Restaurant,
It was quiet.
The maids who were serving around had already left.
The shocking remarks made by the Inspector Su Chong shocked everyone. Even the usually courageous Eunuch Yang squinted his eyes and looked over. It was unknown whether he was prepared or deliberately confusing everyone. She smiled with her lips pursed, which was very charming.
"It is said that Lord Su is a student of Lord Lu in the capital, and he is very intelligent. Today, I see that he is indeed worthy of his reputation. He is not afraid of the government guarantee. It is nothing more than a notarization. As long as he can guarantee the number of acres of land for mulberry planting, it will be fine. Lord Jing, how much land can be guaranteed for sale in the four counties, including the number of acres of land that has been reclaimed privately, and how much has been measured? I would like to hear about it."
It has come to this point. As long as we can plant mulberry trees on the fields, we don't care about so much.
The inspector general Jing Cunliang blinked his eyes in understanding, and understood what Eunuch Yang meant. Suzhou, Yangzhou and other places have been planting mulberry trees one after another. Although the people are unwilling, the floods in the four counties of Jinling have frightened many people. Only then did they decide to plant some. Only the four counties of Jinling have not seen any movement so far. Even if there was a disaster, the flood has receded. The disaster has even destroyed the land of those gentry.
Then he took out an account book from his pocket and put it on the table.
"Eunuch Yang, all the gentlemen, you all say that floods are ruthless, but the fields on the ground cannot escape. Some time ago, several gentlemen went to measure the land. There were 130,000 acres of taxable fields recorded in the books, 40,000 acres that were not recorded, and the remaining 150,000 acres were all on the heads of the gentry. After the water receded, I sent someone else to verify it, and it was roughly the same. As for the counties in the north of the Yangtze River, there are few people and poor land. Now it takes a lot of people to open mountains and quarry stones, and it occupies a lot of land. Once the strong laborers leave, the land will be barren, so simply don't count it."
After saying this, he pushed the account book in front of Eunuch Yang and approved the number of acres of land after measurement. These words also made the three adults in the prefectural yamen look a little unhappy.
Even Su Chong took a look in surprise. It turned out that no one there had a simple mind. As for the quarrying of stones in Jiangbei, he had heard a little about it. It was for the jade used by the retired emperor for practicing Taoism. It cost a lot of money, but it was under the account of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and had nothing to do with the local government. Those places were more like several large manors than county governments, so it didn't matter.
When Eunuch Yang heard this, he smiled widely and flipped through the account book. It turned out that the account book was indeed detailed enough. According to this calculation, as long as the four counties in Jinling could plant mulberry trees, the project would be revitalized and multiple goals would be achieved at one stroke.
"Okay, Lord Jing is very careful and meticulous. According to the calculation, the newly measured tax land in Jinling is 170,000 mu. Even if half of it is planted, there are still 80,000 mu. The tax land in Yangzhou is 150,000 mu, and half of it is 75,000 mu. In addition, there are 180,000 mu of tax land in Suzhou, which is an increase compared with the past. The number of mulberry fields is at least 220,000 mu, which is roughly enough for the Weaving Bureau. Now Suzhou and Yangzhou have both moved, but Jinling has not moved yet. My lords, you still need to think about it."
It seemed like an exhortation or a warning. It had come to this point. Even if the judge Ma Guangcheng had done something personally, it would be unacceptable if he failed to handle it well. Jia Yucun and Hu Wenxuan were sweating on their foreheads. Hu Wenxuan had no choice but to speak out to help.
"Eunuch Yang is right. As long as the land is found by the government, it should be tax land. At least it should be approved by the county government and have the official seal of the Jinling prefect as a guarantee. Then the land deed should be re-drafted. In this way, I think there will definitely be people who come to buy it. Ten stone of grain is not a lot."
The words were good, but people were not easy to fool. Don't ask about the extra acres of land, they were all cultivated privately by the gentry and wealthy families. If it wasn't for the re-verification after the flood, who would have thought that the situation in Jiangnan had reached a shocking level? This matter can only be done, not discussed. Putting it in the open has aroused the indignation of the gentry in Jiangnan. It will be difficult to keep this position.
"Master Su, what do you think?"
"Eunuch Yang said that you should take the overall situation into consideration. I agree with you. So, I will inform those people about this matter and tell them that within three days, the prefectural government and the county governments will guarantee the sale of the good farmland in the four counties. Those who are interested can go to the county government to register. At that time, I and Lord Jing will also go there tomorrow to take charge. Prefect Jia, what do you think?"
Su Chong also knew that many things could not wait any longer. If these things were to be brought to the court, no one present would be able to escape. As for the judge, since the pirates could not be caught, there was naturally no evidence, so it could only be put aside for the time being. After all, he had to take care of Eunuch Yang's face.
"Okay, it's settled. Come, try some of Jiangnanchun's famous dishes. This is what I crave when I come here."
"Father-in-law, please."
Everyone clinked glasses and it seemed as if they had returned to the days of peace and prosperity.
Jinling West City,
A large house on the west bank of Jinghu Lake is quiet and empty. The originally flower-filled landscape garden has now become just bamboo rockery and a small bridge. However, the large house with four entrances and exits shows the owner's generosity.
In the main house,
Su Jinkai, the president of Jinling Chamber of Commerce, was sitting in the main seat sipping tea, and sitting next to him was Li Zhen, the head of the Chunyang County Police. At this moment, he was sitting upright with a smile on his face.
"President Su, this is a letter from my master to you. He also asked me to bring a message to you, asking you to help me. My master will definitely remember it."
After saying this,
Su Jinkai raised his eyebrows. How could he have said that? It was a coincidence that he had been helping with disaster relief in the village these days. Today, after returning from the Chamber of Commerce warehouse, he ran into this man in front of the government office. He said he was a police chief from Chunyang County. He originally thought it was official business, but it turned out to be a private matter. Whatever.
He took it and looked at it. The handwriting was familiar, as if he had seen it somewhere before. However, the writing was obviously weaker, and it looked like he had just started learning. It was just some common sentences in daily communication. At the end, it mentioned the land sold in various counties in Jinling. Ten stones of grain could be exchanged for one acre of land. That was a lot.
Su Jinkai's eyes widened in disbelief. In the past, this price was considered free, but now it was almost like robbing money. However, thinking that he was a government official, it was not easy to refuse suddenly, but he would not agree easily. After all, he had not been in Jinling for the past few days, and he didn't know what had happened.
"Captain Li, you know that I have not been in the city for the past few days, so I don't know many things. But since it is your master who has asked, I should ask, how much land does your master want me to buy?"
If there is not enough, we can buy some, and it is no harm to give more food. Thinking of the granary built by the Chamber of Commerce in West City, there are still 100,000 stones of food purchased for the Marquis' Mansion that have not been sent out, I feel a little anxious.
Li Zhen sat there stunned. He didn't expect Chairman Su to be so straightforward. Then why didn't anyone of the wealthy gentry in the city care about it? How would he know about the matters involving the above? After hesitating for a moment, the county government's original tax land deed was 30,000 acres, but in fact it was 40,000 acres after measurement, which had already been reported to the government office. It should be the same in other counties.
"President Su, Chunyang County currently has about 30,000 acres of taxable land registered as affected by the disaster. My master wants President Su to buy all of it with the government as a guarantor and the seals of both the prefecture and the county. How do you think?"
Shocking words,
Su Jinkai, who was drinking tea, suddenly spat out all the tea in his mouth, looking embarrassed and exclaiming;
"What? Thirty thousand acres, Captain Li. You are not deliberately making fun of me, are you? In Nanjing, I have some property in the city. I have sold all the farms outside the city. Besides, I sell salt, not farm. You said you want a hundred acres of land. I will buy it. It is considered as a favor to your master. But you asked for thirty thousand acres of land. You are not asking for money and food, but my life."
Su Jinkai put down the tea bowl, his eyes turned green, and he stared at the head of the police strangely. Who dared to say that in Jiangnan, he could take over 30,000 acres of fertile land in one go? And he was clearly registered under the name of Luo Yunhou Mansion, and Luo Yunhou was involved, so he couldn't act rashly. Now someone came to talk about this matter, either he had evil intentions, or he was so bold and desperate,
"Oh, President Su, how dare I take your life? Everyone in Jiangnan doesn't know that President Su is from Luo Yunhou Mansion. It's useless for me to have such courage and bravery."
Li Zhen was obviously anxious, he stood up and bowed to apologize.
Seeing this, Su Jinkai thought a lot in his mind in an instant. He calmly held his hands up, his peripheral vision fell on the letter again. Suddenly, an idea flashed in his mind. Isn't this the handwriting of the Marquis? No, the Marquis's handwriting is mostly full of the artistic conception of Canglong, but this letter only has the righteousness of Confucianism. Obviously, it was not written by the Marquis, but this kind of handwriting can only be written by the Marquis, or it is related to the Marquis.
"Captain Li, don't be anxious. Sit down, sit down. Su didn't mean that either. I don't know who your master is."
It was Li Zhen's turn to be a little confused. President Su didn't even know who his master was. No wonder he reacted like that. He quickly replied, "To answer President Su, my master is Xu Changwen, a student of Luo Yunhou. He was the first in the first class of the Hanyuan Palace's special examination and was transferred to Chunyang County as the county magistrate. He was also accompanied by Xu Dong, the county magistrate of Yong'an County."
After hearing this explanation, Su Jinkai sat up and finally understood why County Magistrate Xu had written this letter. He must have been desperate.
How could he not know about these things in Jinling City? However, the salt merchants were different from the gentry in that they did not need to farm. If he rashly intervened, he would be in trouble. Unless he used the name of the Marquisate, it was still unclear whether this Lord Xu was worthy of his help.
"So you are the Marquis's disciple. Didn't you tell me earlier that your master wanted me to buy all the tax fields? You know, if I buy them in the name of the Marquis's Mansion, these tax fields will no longer be tax fields."
The land tax of the Dawu Dynasty could not be collected from the nobles and aristocratic families. The masters of Jinling City wanted to convert the fields into mulberry trees. If he turned the taxed land into the property of the Marquis' Mansion, it would be strange if he was not anxious. What was Lord Xu thinking? He was still underestimating him.
But Li Zhen said again;
"President Su has misunderstood. These registered tax fields are guaranteed by the government. After the harvest, even the taxes are guaranteed. The government takes 40% of the income, and the remaining 60% is divided equally between the servants and the owner, with each taking 30%. However, the owner does not need to worry about the land and farming. Every season, he only needs to send people to collect the harvest with the tax collectors. It kills three birds with one stone."
These words were taught by his master, and he had no control over whether they would succeed or not.
Su Jinkai's eyes widened in disbelief. Who would be so foolish as to buy those fields? Not only could he not make the decision, but he also had to pay taxes. This was considered disaster relief and charity. But when he thought about it carefully, it was not a loss. The fertile fields in the south of the Yangtze River yielded crops twice a year, and other crops could be planted in between. The harvest was not small. But who would dare to go for this price if they cooperated with the government?
"Captain Li, it's not that I don't want to help, but I'm unable to do so. If it's just a hundred acres, I'll buy it. But for these thirty thousand acres, let's not talk about the interests involved. Even if I buy it for the Marquis's Mansion, the current market price of ten dan of grain per acre is one hundred taels of silver. This price is too expensive.
Since the master family gets 30% of the profits, then I should pay 30%, so that I can explain to the Marquis' Mansion. You offer a price of 100 taels of silver right away, and even if I have the guts to do it, I wouldn't dare to accept it, let alone so much!"
"President Su is right. My master said that if President Su agrees, he only needs to pay 30% of the grain. One acre of land is three shi of grain, and 30,000 acres is only 90,000 shi of grain. The contract will be in triplicate and can be signed tomorrow. My master will wait for President Su directly at the government office. President Su, I have official business to attend to, so I'll take my leave now."
Almost in the blink of an eye, Li Zhen stood up, bowed, and left, leaving Su Jinkai dumbfounded. This was a plot. When did he agree to buy those good farms? Thirty thousand acres of good farmland and ninety thousand dan of grain, most of the grain in the West City warehouse was emptied in one go. When he wanted to find the seemingly honest captain, he was gone.
Only the old butler Su Da, who was serving behind the screen, came in and said hesitantly;
"Master, are you really going to buy those tax fields? The nobles, merchants and wealthy families in the city have been secretly competing with each other these days. Would it be inappropriate for you to intervene now?"
Su Jinkai looked depressed. He had been hunting geese all day, but he was pecked by a goose. It was karma. He had to go. He had to go. Those fields were related to the raw silk used by the weaving bureau. The adults were arguing with each other. Everyone in Jinling City knew about it. If he got involved, how would the Marquis' Mansion view it?
But he couldn't not go. The Magistrate Xu was a disciple of the Marquis. I heard that he was sent here by the Marquis's ship. Now the ship is still parked at the dock.
"So what if it's not appropriate? We have to go anyway. Let's go to the government office tomorrow to see what the officials have to say. I think it's not just us. Since they can come to our side to lobby, there may be others. You should also prepare yourself and go with us tomorrow."
"Yes, sir."
Butler Su nodded and ordered the maid to come in and clean up.
But the Zhen Mansion in the North City,
On the desk of the second master Zhen Yingjia, there was also a letter, which was personally delivered by the housekeeper of the inspector general Jing. When he opened it, it was nothing more than some polite words. In the signature, it mentioned the redemption of the land. The government would guarantee 30% of the silver and grain and buy 30% of the profits. This was really thoughtful.
But in this case, the land belongs to the government or to him. Although the land deeds are in hand and the government is involved, these lands are still a hot potato. But now that Lord Jing's letter has been sent here, it seems that he is anxious.
"Come here, tomorrow, prepare the clerks, bring the ink and other things, and go with me to the county government office tomorrow."
"Yes, sir, you are going to the county government office. You are not going to the warehouse of the Chamber of Commerce at the dock?"
Outside, the housekeeper came in hurriedly and asked with some confusion.
"For those matters, just send a steward to do it. Don't draw attention. These are gifts prepared for the emperor in the capital. Be careful. By the way, how many tons of grain are left in the treasury?"
Zhen Yingjia specifically asked how much grain would be needed tomorrow. After asking, he should have a clear idea. The old housekeeper was an old man in the mansion, so how could he not know what was going on in the treasury? He answered carefully.
"My Lord, there are 10,000 dan of grain in the west warehouse of the mansion, and 40,000 dan of grain in the warehouse of the West City Chamber of Commerce, which have not been moved."
"How can 40,000 dan of grain be so little?"
Zhen Yingjia put down the letter in his hand and suddenly asked, "The grain reserves are a little low. Although the Zhen family has reduced the grain business, there are still many farms under them. The annual harvest is more than this."
The butler quickly stepped forward and explained;
"Master, have you forgotten that Su Jinkai, the president of the Jinling Chamber of Commerce, raised money to buy grain. He bought grain from almost every household in Jinling. Most of the grain in the government treasury was sold to this man. If it weren't for your instructions to keep the grain, I'm afraid it would have been sold to him long ago."
This explanation really surprised Zhen Yingjia. He thought to himself, how could he have forgotten this person? Ever since President Su caught the eye of Marquis Luo Yun, he has been doing very well. All kinds of cargo ships on the canal are unimpeded. In particular, he bought a large amount of grain and cloth in Jiangnan and sent them all outside the Great Wall. Almost everyone knew about it. I think he is probably the only one with the most grain in Jinling City.
Calculate like this,
The magistrate of Chunyang, Lord Xu, is from the Marquis' Mansion. When Su Jinkai arrives there, he will probably help. However, the other county magistrate, Xu Dong, the magistrate of Yongning County, is a disciple of Lord Nan Zixiannan. Several noble families in Jinling will probably help. Only the land of Anning and Shangyu counties can fall into their hands.
The nobles are also included. Li Zhengchuan from Shangyu County is a young man from the Anping Earl's family. As for Tang Qingwen from Anning County, he is a Jinshi from the local gentry Tang family. In this way, the land redemption of the four counties should be enough. At most, it is those who reclaim the land privately. But now that things have come to this, it is useless for some people to hide it.
Thinking of this,
Zhen Yingjia was rarely moved. He was indeed a disciple of Lord Lu. His actions were extraordinary. He solved the dilemma by reforming and providing relief. It seemed that the cabinet's move was completed. There was a lot of movement in the Weaving Bureau. Looking at the lights on the table, he was still thinking about it.
at the same time,
In Jinling City, all the noble families received a letter. Many people, such as the Shi family, the Wang family, the Xue family, the Jia family, etc., privately sent people to test each other. The same was true for the noble families. It seemed that the redemption of the land was achieved overnight.
I don’t know what the situation will be in the government office tomorrow.
(End of this chapter)