Chapter 51

Jin Tong, who seemed to have read some books, finally quoted a line from a classic, making Zhang Han almost burst out laughing.

He coughed twice, suppressing his laughter, and moved closer to look at the yellow notice. It was then that Zhang Han noticed there was also a white notice beside it.

The yellow notice stated a tax of two fen per mu, with the regular taxes and corvée duties converted into land taxes at six fen, totaling eight fen of silver. With the autumn tax, it would be even more, which matched Zhang Han's estimate of about two fen of silver per mu for regular taxes and corvée duties.

The tax on the white notice was much higher. The previous corvée duties had already been converted into money, but they were being collected again. This included the grass bundles for the post stations, river labor, horsemen, sedan bearers, firemen, and doorkeepers, as well as all the labor and services required by the government, including those for official offices and private services. The most interesting part was that although the village was under the jurisdiction of a military garrison, the Li family was registered as civilians. However, they still had to pay all the required taxes, just with different names. The usual county taxes were now collected by the garrison.

The military garrisons in Datong were indeed different from those in the interior. In the interior, military officers could only manage their own military households and had no power to collect taxes or corvée duties. At most, they could forcibly take land from military households and force them to farm, then do business themselves. If they were border military leaders, they could add smuggling and embezzlement to their income. In Datong, however, the military garrisons were like civilian and military thousand-households, and the commanders had the power to manage civilian households and collect taxes, making them much stronger and more profitable than those in the interior.

Suddenly, someone shouted, "Why are both the yellow and white notices adding silver this year?"

Li Xiangfu looked over and frowned, "The yellow notice adds one fen per mu? The white notice adds two fen?"

This meant an additional three fen of silver per mu, which would make the summer tax more than one fen. And there was still the autumn tax.

For a moment, the crowd was in an uproar. Most of the villagers were illiterate, but those who could read confirmed that both notices had indeed increased.

Jin Tong remained calm and even exchanged a few pleasantries with Zhang Han, though his demeanor was very arrogant. Although he was just a lackey, he held power in his hands. To him, Zhang Han, despite being wealthy, was just a fat sheep to be slaughtered. Therefore, Jin Tong had a clear psychological advantage.

When the crowd had calmed down, Jin Tong said sternly, "What are you all shouting about? The additional one fen of silver per mu is by the Emperor Wanli's decree. If you don't believe it, you can go to the garrison city and see for yourselves. You peasants, do you even know why the silver is being added? The Jurchen rebels have risen and invaded our Liaodong border, killing many people. Emperor Wanli is furious and has raised an army to punish them. Before the troops move, provisions must be prepared. Collecting a bit of silver from you to support the army's provisions, and you all make such a fuss. If you anger me, I'll have the Qing Army Hall send more people to arrest you and put you in stocks."

This scolding effectively silenced the crowd, and Jin Tong left with a self-satisfied air.

Zhang Han had seen the yellow notice in the garrison city and knew that the additional tax was only 3.5 fen per mu. He remembered that during the Chongzhen era, the additional tax was 10 he of grain per mu, equivalent to 8 fen of silver per shi. However, in practice, except in the northwest, farmers paid only 3 to 4 fen of silver per shi. Later, the additional tax was increased to 1.49 fen per mu, and in the tenth year of Chongzhen, it was increased again to 1 fen per mu. After several increases, including the additional levies by local officials and the loss from selling grain, the highest tax was 2 tael of silver per mu. Farmers could not even earn 2 tael of silver from their annual harvest, so it was no wonder they rebelled.

After Jin Tong left, the atmosphere was filled with gloom. The additional three fen of silver per mu meant that while the landowners would bear the additional tax on the yellow notice, the villagers would still have to pay the white notice. At the current grain prices, each household would have to pay nearly one shi more in grain, which was like taking food from their mouths. With the current weather, wild vegetables were still abundant, but by the time the autumn tax was collected, hunger would be inevitable.

Zhang Han looked at Jiang Yi, who immediately understood. He put his hands on his hips and said, "Everyone listen, our Heyu Sheng business is still buying grain in various places. We have already informed everyone. We will continue to buy grain at 50 fen of silver per shi. If you want to sell grain to pay taxes, you can sell it to us and Heyu Sheng!"

Li Xiangfu had also been thinking about this. A difference of 20 fen of silver per shi could mean two to three months of food for a peasant. Previously, Heyu Sheng had said they would buy grain but then stopped, leaving everyone very disheartened. Now that they were buying again, Li Xiangfu couldn't help but slap his thigh and exclaim, "This is perfect!"

"It's not perfect yet," Zhang Han smiled and pulled Li Xiangfu aside. "There's more to it. I need your help with the village."

"Whatever the master needs is what we need."

"Prepare a few empty rooms and some good tea and water. We will have many guests in the next few days."

"Ah?"

Zhang Han laughed heartily.

...

By evening, the banquet at Ma Chaoren's house was almost over. Everyone was ready to leave, but the yellow and white notices in the city were causing a commotion, with the sound of gongs adding to the chaos. Jiang Dalin was complaining, "Is this not an unjust disaster? The troublemakers are in Liaodong, and it's their people who should deal with them. What does it have to do with us in Datong? The court spends millions of silver every year, where does it all go? Why do they need to increase taxes for a small Jurchen rebellion?"

Zhang Yanhong, a scholar, smiled and said, "I remember during the Jiajing era, Wang Gao and Wang Wutang caused trouble, invading the border, burning, killing, and looting. Especially Wang Gao, who caused widespread destruction. Later, General Li Chengliang suppressed them, using troops for over ten years. At that time, the country was stronger, with pirates in the south, Altan in the north, and the Jianzhou Jurchens causing trouble in the east, all of which were suppressed without additional taxes. Why is it different now?"

Ma Chaoren sneered, "Brother, don't forget the Taining and Chahar tribes, which have also been causing trouble. Our current emperor is a man who can even extract oil from stones. Fortunately, we don't have mines or rich land here, or the mine and tax commissioners would have come, and that would have been even worse."

Everyone nodded. The mine and tax commissioners were hated by all.

Firstly, commerce and industry had always been outside the system, and the court and officials had never formally taxed them. Being used to low taxes, they could not accept additional taxes. Emperor Wanli set a precedent, and secondly, the mine and tax commissioners were eunuchs, with varying levels of integrity. For every ten taels of silver collected, only one tael was reported to Emperor Wanli. During the Wanli era, several million taels of silver were collected from commerce and industry, but less than half entered the emperor's private treasury, with the rest being divided among eunuchs, nobles, and officials. The large gentry also had a share, but the middle and lower-class merchants suffered the most. Later generations often blamed the gentry for inciting the people to drive away and beat the eunuchs, but without the people's anger, it would have been impossible to rally them against the emperor's servants and their hired ruffians.

At this moment, a servant came in with a large red invitation. Ma Chaoren waved him over, opened it, and his expression was indescribable.

"Truly a strange and bizarre matter," Ma Chaoren said to the others. "The owner of Heyu Sheng, Zhang Han, has sent an invitation, asking me to visit his estate. This is truly amusing."

In recent days, the most active in besieging Heyu Sheng's branches were not the commander's people but Ma Chaoren and the servants and hired ruffians of those present. Instead of coming to negotiate or simply closing the branches, they had sent an invitation, asking people to come to their own territory. To Ma Chaoren, this was absurd.

After laughing, Ma Chaoren threw the invitation on the ground and sneered, "This young man really thinks he's a general or a military commander."

At this moment, another servant rushed over and whispered in Ma Chaoren's ear. Before he finished, Ma Chaoren's face changed, and he slumped in his chair.

Before nightfall, Yang Qiu and others arrived with a group of people.

There were men and women, mostly young boys and girls, and two attractive women. They were walking unsteadily on the field paths, crying and complaining, clearly unable to walk properly with their bound feet. Yang Qiu and others were shouting and scolding them.

Zhang Han watched and, when Yang Qiu approached, laughed and scolded, "You rascal, why did you bring these attractive women?"

"Hehe, Master, two families had no elderly or children, only favored concubines. We had no choice but to bring their concubines. They must be very worried."

Zhang Han nodded slightly and smiled, "Did you encounter any trouble?"

"How could we?" Yang Qiu said proudly. "Although we haven't done kidnapping and extortion for a while, it's our specialty. We've done it countless times before."

Liang Xing laughed, "I did it less, but you did it more."

Zhang Han sighed, "You two rascals, why didn't you become bandits?"

"We thought about it, but our parents were still alive, so we had to endure it," Yang Qiu said seriously. "We almost joined the Liangshan bandits, but being a bandit is more fun, though it's riskier because of the army's raids. It's more dangerous than robbing travelers."

Liang Xing sneered, "When has the army ever seriously raided bandits? They're all paid off. Do you think Lai Tongxin never took money?"

"Let's not get off track," Zhang Han stopped his subordinates' discussion and pointed to the people. "Yang Qiu, take them there. Old Li has already prepared hot food and rooms. Don't scare them; treat them well."

"Master," Liang Xing said with a grin, "Those two women are very attractive. Look at their slim waists, full chests, and pretty faces. You should take them tonight. They won't say anything, and even if they do, would the grain merchants dare to complain to you?"

Zhang Han felt a bit tempted. The two women, who could be favored concubines, were indeed quite beautiful. In modern times, with some makeup, they would be goddess-level.

But he shook his head. If he did this, his reputation would suffer.

He said sternly, "Nonsense, I am not that kind of person."

Liang Xing and Yang Qiu exchanged a smile.