Chapter 119 Summer Tax

Author: Use your soul to aim

Chapter 119 Summer Tax

With the arrival of summer, it was the most important summer tax collection time in the Ming Dynasty.

Zhang Zongxian wondered why he didn't have to pay the summer tax. After all, the non-agricultural population in Jiazhou was increasing, and he had to maintain a high reserve of grain at all times.

Otherwise, if there is a natural disaster, you will not be able to buy food even if you have money.

In the hands of corrupt officials, these grains will only line their own pockets and will be of no benefit to the country.

So Master Ma was called to discuss how to avoid handing over the summer grain.

After understanding what Zhang Zongxian meant, Master Ma said:

The Lord's explanation of this matter is simple. He just needs to report the disaster situation in this state and request the superiors to waive the summer tax in Jiazhou. However, this matter needs to be handled by the prefect's Yamen and the governor's Yamen first.

Otherwise, when the superiors inquire, the prefect's Yamen will report that there is no disaster, and the Lord will lie about the disaster.

"It's no good to have to deal with the prefect's yamen. I'll throw the money into the water and not give it to them."

Since the last time Zhang Zongxian set up a goal for Yan'an Prefecture, although Master Ma later kicked the ball back to the prefect's Yamen.

Zhang Zongxian was originally unhappy that the prefect always wanted him to be filial. It was even more impossible for Zhang Zongxian to take the initiative to give gifts to the prefect.

Master Ma probably expected it and said quickly.

Don't be anxious, my lord, I have another plan. Originally, the summer grain harvest was going to be escorted to Yansui Town. It is better to negotiate with Yansui Town directly.

The lord directly transported money to pay for the food. Firstly, the food received from Yansui Town must be sold out. Secondly, since the lord is short of food, it is better to buy more in Yansui Town.

For example, the grain shipped from Shanxi originally had to go around Tongguan. If the cable bridge on the Yellow River is built, there will be no need to go around a long way. It will be shipped directly to Jiazhou. And the price is easy to negotiate.

If you think about it carefully, this is indeed the case. Moreover, this operation reduces the intermediate links and reduces the food loss. It only hurts the soldiers on the side wall.

But now that the new army has formed, we are not afraid of rebellion. Instead, we can use silver and food to absorb the elite border troops.

Moreover, after the imperial court mobilized troops twice, Yansui Town no longer had many soldiers to fight.

Since the next step is to attack the Hetao and take away all the combatable soldiers in Yanshou Town, we can avoid worries.

After thinking about it, Zhang Zongxian made a decision immediately.

"This is a great plan. Then Master Ma will go to Yanshou Town to discuss the matter in detail. The price must be lowered. Just harvest as much grain as you can. Do you understand?"

"Don't worry, my lord, I will go to Yansui Town and get at least one hundred thousand dan of food for my lord."

"Master Ma, if you really get back 100,000 shi of grain, I will reward you with 5,000 taels of silver. However, the price of grain must be much lower than the market price."

"Don't worry, my lord, the price is naturally much lower than the market price. For the generals in Yansui Town, they are all free things."

Sure enough, only by following the right lord can a counselor like him have room to flourish.

After bidding farewell to my lord, Master Ma set off towards Yulin with great expectations.

Not long after Master Ma left, Li Jiasan informed that the new president of the Jiazhou Chamber of Commerce wanted to meet.

This chamber of commerce was also promoted by Zhang Zongxian. The purpose was to improve the status of these businessmen and gradually give them the power to participate in municipal construction.

This new president was elected by many workshops in Jiazhou, and he basically does all the dealings with the government. He is a well-rounded person.

The grassroots man Jin Mengda pays homage to Master Zhizhou.

Jin Mengda, who has been doing business for generations, naturally knows that officials of the magistrate's level in the Ming Dynasty would not even bother to meet small businessmen like them. At most, they would only meet the housekeepers and staff.

But the Zhizhou master welcomed them to visit him.

He often summoned them to ask if they had encountered any difficulties? Is anyone from the government trying to trouble them?

When talking about doing business, he was very clear-cut and did not look down on him at all. It was not like he was born into an official family.

"President Jin, please take a seat. President Jin came today to see me for something. If you have anything to say, please tell me. As long as it is beneficial to the people, I will give my full support."

"Having a good official like Mr. in Jiazhou who is dedicated to serving the people is a blessing that we and the people have earned over many lifetimes!"

"What I have learned is the way of governing the country based on the people. I never care about false reputations. Unlike those rotten scholars who talk about saints and sages but do unscrupulous things."

President Jin didn’t know what to say after hearing this. How dare you, an official, scold a Confucian scholar? Change the subject quickly.

"Master Caomin came to visit this time because the Chamber of Commerce and I want to raise funds to repair the roads from Qingjian County to Yan'an Prefecture and Shenmu County to Yulin. We hope to build them into roads that can be used by four-wheel carriages."

"Well, this is a good thing! I will definitely support it fully."

"We originally thought that such a good thing would be a good thing, and I think the Yan'an Prefecture would also support it. We never thought that the Yan'an Prefecture would say that we were talking about national affairs and had evil intentions, and beat up the people we sent."

Hearing this, Zhang Zongxian understood that the prefect of Yan'an had vented his dissatisfaction with him on the chamber of commerce.

It's just too much of a lie. It seems that sooner or later it will be a hidden danger that this kid won't be able to stay.

Chairman Jin was also afraid that Zhang Zongxian was afraid that the prefect was his boss after all. Seeing that Zhang Zongxian looked unhappy, he felt that there was still some drama, so he continued.

"It's okay to just beat me and wait. After all, the people don't fight with the officials, but the prefect's Yamen will now confiscate anything shipped from Jiazhou.

When I sent someone to ask for it, I was imprisoned. Now no one in the caravan dares to transport goods to Yan'an Prefecture."

"How dare you seize your goods? Didn't the people from the escort agency take care of it?"

"The people from the Master's Escort Agency all deliver them to the city gate and don't enter the city. The goods I'm waiting for are only impounded after they enter the city."

This is aimed at him! Zhang Zongxian first comforted Chairman Kim.

"President Jin, you spend money to redeem the person first. It is not convenient for me to intervene directly in this matter, but please reassure the people in the Chamber of Commerce that I am not someone to be trifled with. If I hit you, I will hit me, Zhang Zongxian.

I must give you an explanation on this matter."

After saying that, he arranged for the Li family to call Master Ma back quickly.

While waiting for Master Ma, Zhang Zongxian chatted with Chairman Jin about road construction.

"Don't move the road to Yan'an Prefecture now. It's better to bypass Yan'an Prefecture and build it from Yanchang County to Hancheng, and then build it from Hancheng to Xi'an.

I will ask Staff Zhao to help you negotiate with the counties. It would be best to build a bridge at Longmen to connect the Yuncheng area of ​​Shanxi Province."

"I am still far-sighted. This way it is indeed better than going from Yan'an Prefecture to Xi'an Prefecture. There are also Shangxian County along the way."

When it comes to road construction, Zhang Zongxian has always had an idea. Since these businessmen have enjoyed the benefits of road construction, they are also willing to pay for road construction.

Why not let them take the lead in building a horse-drawn railway?

Just solve the problem of the rails. Although it is not as fast as the steam train, there is still no problem in pulling several tons of cargo at a time.

Far more efficient than today's four-wheeled carriages.

Newcomers, please give me a monthly ticket! Please recommend me! Please add it to your collection! Every recommendation is an affirmation for me! Every collection is an encouragement to me! Thank you all for your support in advance! I wish you all the best, wealth and freedom!
Chapter completed!