Lu Ming

Page 227

Chapter 519 Frontier Fortress Infrastructure

Corvée, since the Qin and Han Dynasties, is a kind of unpaid labor that the government forced civilians to do.This includes forced labor, miscellaneous labor, military service, etc.In essence, corvee is also a kind of tax.

Different from the gold and silver tax in kind, the government distributes corvee and collects the labor force of the people.

In ancient times, corvee was one of the most important rights of the government, which was equivalent to the gold and silver tax.Throughout the dynasties, corvée has been numerous and harsh. At the end of the dynasty, corvée evolved into the fuse of the rebellion of the people at the bottom.

As small as the rough work of carrying sedan chairs and sweeping in the yamen, including building bridges and paving roads to clean up rivers in winter, and even going to the border fortress to fight and deliver food, the government relies on the corvee system to collect free labor. You must bring your own dry food and straw sandals, which is an out-and-out five-coin party.

For feudal dynasties, corvee is the basic condition for maintaining the operation of the government.Without taxes, the government will go bankrupt, and without corvee, the government will not last for three days.

In short, any behavior in which the government enlists the people to pay labor without paying remuneration can be classified as corvee.

Even in later generations, in the early days of the founding of the country with low productivity, the government will still mobilize the people to build infrastructure—no matter what the starting point is or what slogans they shout, this is corvee labor in disguise.

To put it bluntly, we are still poor, have no money, and want to engage in construction, so this is the only way to go.

However, the social management model of corvee must exist in an era of low human productivity, because the government cannot receive enough money from the people to support public services.

In ancient society, the economy and finance were underdeveloped, the government did not have money printing machines, and the people did not have WeChat transfers and credit banknotes in their hands. In fact, most farmers only had a few copper coins all year round, so the government could only directly collect labor to offset taxes.

In fact, since ancient times, people have used money to hire people to serve as "servants", but this kind of behavior mostly happened to urban residents and rural landlords, and it was not mainstream before the Ming Dynasty.

What really ended the social form of corvee was the improvement of human productivity.

The popularization of industrialization has turned the world upside down and changed everything.As early as 1937, during the Great Depression in the United States, Roosevelt began to hire people to dig holes... one group of people dug the hole, and another group of people filled it.

Look, the commodity wealth gushed out of the machine is beyond the capacity of the society to digest, and the government needs to hire people to dig and fill the pits to make the stagnant economy flow.

The above, including the milk poured into the Mississippi River, are all signs of the reversal of industrial society-the government began to find ways to send money to the people to create job opportunities, and there is no such thing as free corvee, because only those who work can get wealth. Talented people dare to consume endless industrial products, so that the social economy can operate, and life can barely survive.

This time, Ding Liqiu, the No. [-] person in the Guangzhou Special Economic Zone, promoted the "new version of corvee labor of the new social experiment project" in Zengcheng County. It is a combination of history and future generations, and it is a freak.

……

There were three types of corvee in the early Ming Dynasty, one was Lijia service, the other was uniform corvee, and the third was miscellaneous.

Lijia service is community labor, and the conscripts usually work in the local Lifang.Junwei is a regular servant of the government. Everyone takes turns to share, and there are various jobs for traveling abroad.The remaining miscellaneous is of a temporary nature and is used to deal with emergencies.

These types of corvee forms were implemented in the middle of the Ming Dynasty and changed.

First of all, as the external colonists came with silver coins produced in Mexico, the Ming Empire naturally experienced a certain amount of inflation, which objectively added a certain amount of currency to the economic environment.

Next is the appearance of Zhang Juzheng, a generation of famous ministers: a whip method.

The One Whip Law stipulates that the land tax, corvee and other miscellaneous levies of each state and county are always one, and the combined collection of silver taels is converted and paid by mu.

The one-whip law greatly simplifies the tax system and facilitates the collection of taxes.At the same time, it made it difficult for local officials to cheat, which in turn increased the fiscal revenue of the imperial court.

After the one whip method, the monetization of tax and service became the norm, and the practice of people handing in "service silver" instead of levy was widely promoted in various parts of Ming Dynasty.

Although after Zhang Juzheng's death, a whip method was crazily resisted by the vested interests, and was eventually destroyed and overthrown, but some items were naturally preserved, including the conversion of corvee.

However, this time when Comrade Ding Liqiu came to Zengcheng County, he was going to reverse the course of history: restore the old system, conscript corvee, and recruit personnel.

At the end of December in the Gregorian calendar in 1630, when the Lunar calendar was about to reach the Laba Festival, Zengcheng County issued a sad official announcement to the people of the whole county: to conscript Chongzhen for four years of corvee in advance.

After the one-whip law, in order to adjust the uneven burden of households in Lifang, the compilation and review unit of the service bank was expanded from Lijia to prefectures and counties.And this time Zengcheng County's order to levy corvee was issued by the county government.

Of course, although the order appeared to be issued by the county government, it was actually driven by Ding Liqiu's operation.After a deep understanding of Ding Liqiu's background and Cao Zongbing behind him, the magistrate of Gutaigu County, a sesame official, has no ability to resist in this regard.

At the end of the Ming Dynasty, there were many corruptions and abuses in the officialdom. Since the addition of the "Three Rates", it has been effective. In addition to the "Three Rates", in some places, even the rates for ducks, cattle, and grass insects have also appeared in a grand manner.As for the collection of taxes for future years in advance, that is even more commonplace, and it is not considered news.

Therefore, the Zengcheng county government dispatched the new-year-old corvee in advance this time, which did not cause much disturbance.The crux of the problem is that this time the official document clearly stated: double the amount of money.

After this official document was issued, several families were happy, but thousands of families were sad.

The doubling of service money is probably not a big deal to the rich, it is nothing more than a matter of skipping restaurants.However, for the vast number of poor farmers who are struggling to go bankrupt, this one is fatal.

But I'm sorry, this is what Uncle Ding Liqiu wants - what are the poor ghost's family doing on those two acres of land with yellow faces and emaciated faces?Why don't you come to answer my corvee and take you to Xintiandi to be a farmer?

So in the fourth year of Chongzhen after the New Year, after passing through the corvee behind the scenes, it was officially implemented in the Zengcheng area: a large number of poor peasants who could not pay the service money were first conscripted to the county by the official Daming official corvee, and then transported to Huangpu Naval Port, and then took a boat to Taiwan to "build a frontier fortress".

Yes, according to Cao Zongbing's recent note to the court, Taiwan is now a frontier fortress of Ming Dynasty, and the court needs to send people to build some towers and piers, and then build a Great Wall or something "to prepare for foreign enemies."

For so many infrastructure projects, of course Daming had to send someone over, there was nothing wrong with it.

Chapter 520 How the Corruption Was Started

Time flies like a white horse, and in a blink of an eye, it is the spring of 1631.At this point in time, four years have passed since Cao Chuan's first crossing in 1627.

In the three and a half years of full planning, the time-travelers have grown from scratch, from weak to strong, and have initially established their own business.

At the same time, the work of infiltrating Daming across the world has not stopped at all. After all, the population and raw materials needed for industrialization must be provided by Daming.

In fact, starting this year, the word "infiltration" has become a bit of a misnomer.As the muscles become stronger, the time-traveling regime is now more and more impatient to cover up, the movements have become tougher, and the posture has gradually changed from penetration to "swallowing".

The corvee service in Zengcheng County was the beginning.

To put it bluntly, this corvee was a large-scale official immigration activity.

This is the first time that the public power of the Ming Dynasty has been stolen and used by the public to organize social activities in a formal county of the Ming Dynasty. The meaning behind it is very profound.

If we go back to the source, this is actually the bonus that Mr. Cao has continued to this day after he recruited An to join Daming.This dividend has been continuously increasing with Cao Zongbing's rise in the Ming system, and in the foreseeable future, the dividend will continue to flow—until one day Cao Zhongchen officially raised the flag of rebellion.

……

Back in time, not long after the bandits were suppressed, Ding Liqiu, the mayor of the Guangzhou Special Economic Zone, entered Zengcheng.

This time, Zengcheng County expropriated the 1631 average corvette in advance. Regarding the county government, Ding Liqiu also did a lot of meticulous work.

Although there is natural coercion from high-level official circles and hard power demonstrated through bandit suppression, corvee service is a county government after all, and it must be done through the county government, so Ding Liqiu must cooperate with Zengcheng county government. Can't force it.

In addition, corvee is only one aspect.Regarding the next step of social transformation in Zengcheng County, there are still many contents, which require the cooperation of the county government.

So when the District Chief Ding Ding was in Zengcheng, he paid a visit to the county magistrate Gu at the end of 1630.

In the matter of suppressing bandits, the county magistrate Gu, who has achieved rich political achievements without paying the price, now has a good impression of Cao Zongbing and his troops.This time, when he learned that the master under Cao Zongbing was visiting, the County Magistrate naturally did not dare to neglect, and the two sides immediately started a round of cordial and fruitful "negotiations" in the flower hall of the county government.

After two rounds of tea, let's talk business to each other.Although Mr. Gu Taigu is not qualified to be a feudal bureaucrat, his skills in dealing with people and secular communication are very high, so the atmosphere quickly became harmonious.

At this time, Master Ding didn't write any ink, so he first made a request: Zengcheng County Government needs to cooperate with Master Cao's strategy, confiscate Chongzhen's four-year uniform corvette in advance, mobilize the serving people to Huangpu Military Port, and follow the instructions. The corvee money is doubled.

Before Ding Liqiu came to the county office, he naturally notified Gu County Magistrate in advance. Both parties generally knew about today's topic, so Gu County Magistrate had actually discussed and psychologically prepared with his master before.

Now after hearing Master Ding's request, Master Gu and Master Ma, who was participating in the negotiation beside him, looked at each other, stroked their beards lightly, and showed a smile of "it's true" in their eyes.

Immediately afterwards, Mr. Ma asked with a smile: "So, what's the benefit to the county government and my master?"

Ding Liqiu nodded.

He is a member of the time traveler. When he was a teacher in Fujian, he had come into contact with many Ming Dynasty bureaucrats who were full of morality, so now he likes the Ming people like Master Gu who puts interests on the table-everyone is short on time. Come on rhythm, can't you say something clearly?

Now that Mr. Gu is a sensible person, Mr. Ding directly stated the conditions: as long as Mr. Gu cooperates, Mr. Cao will not only pay the full amount of money to make up for the loss of the county government in terms of corvee, but also pay the county government. It is also beneficial to go up and down these private individuals, and there are special rewards... After the term of Gu County Magistrate expires, the capital can help with the operation of the Ministry of Officials, and assign Gu County Magistrate to a county or state to be an official, and it is very likely Promoted to a higher rank.

After hearing these promises, County Magistrate Gu was a little distracted at first—he knew that the other party was powerful, but Mr. Gu was surprised to be able to deal with the bureaucracy with such a thorny promise.

However, Master Gu still didn't nod his head, but raised another doubt: "After two or three years like this, Zengcheng's money and valley will not be able to be collected."

It is no secret that Cao Zongbing's foundation in Taiwan is short of people, and he is pulling people's heads everywhere to reclaim wasteland. Therefore, Master Gu is very clear about the background of the conscripting of corvee this time.

So he raised this question: a large number of corvees are collected, and then the tenants will be sent to Yizhou for you and will not come back. Who will collect the county government's taxes in the future?One must know that Mr. Gu will work in Zengcheng for a few more years. He is greedy for this little benefit, and after two years he will not be able to pay taxes to Fanku.

This is the greatest worry of Master Gu all along.Compared to this point, Mr. Gu didn't care too much about the promotion that Ding Liqiu promised before: he himself is easy-going, maybe after this term, he would go back to his hometown to enjoy the blessings if he felt bored. Worth mentioning.

Although Ding Liqiu didn't know Master Gu's inner activities, he had to answer this question right now: "Well, as long as Master Gu stays in Zengcheng for one day, Mr. Cao will give you two gifts in summer and autumn every year. The master paid in advance, how good is that?"

"Is this true?"

After listening to Master Ding's shocking local tyrant's words, Master Gu and Master Ma were dumbfounded and couldn't believe it.

"Hehe, my family is rich all over the world, and this county's endowment is probably not difficult."

Having said this, Master Ding gracefully tapped the handle of the fan in his hand in winter: "As long as Gu's parents nod, there will be cash and cash delivered to the county treasury in the morning... As for the amount, it will be determined by the county government." The account of the old year is full of ten, the silver is all newly minted silver coins, and the grain is all new rice shipped from Yizhou, how about adding [-]% to the county government for loss?"

In other words, the biggest and most difficult achievement of local officials in the Middle Ages was how to hand over all taxes and taxes.

So as soon as the local tyrant made a move, the magistrate of Gu County, whose face was swollen with money, naturally nodded and agreed - what else can a county magistrate have to say if he can receive the full summer and autumn taxes for the whole year at the beginning of the year?

However, General Cao's money valley is so easy to get?

After negotiating the first deal, Mr. Ding took advantage of the opportunity to propose the second deal: Since Mr. Cao has paid the taxes in advance for the next few years, naturally, should the taxes receivable in Zengcheng County also be paid? Leave it to Mr. Cao to deal with it?

Yes, this involves the next action that Ding Liqiu intends to implement in the future: tax payment, debt collection, house demolition, pulling cattle and sheep.

Chapter 521 The Power of Example

The profession of taxpayer is one of the oldest professions.

Early Europe was a purely feudal society. The division of rights between kings and lords was very clear. Everyone was the sole owner of their own one-third of an acre of land. Therefore, many royal families and local lords would contract or auction off the tax collection rights of their jurisdictions to Merchants, in exchange for stable financial income.

This situation reached its peak in the late Middle Ages.

It's different here in Asia.

Since Qin Shihuang established the unified dynasty, the feudal system has changed, and national taxes are usually collected by local officials appointed by the central government.In this regard, the Chinese landlord class does not have as much power as the European lords. Although they can use various methods to steal and share the embezzlement, this is not justified after all, and it has nothing to do with the taxpayers.

It was during the Mongol and Yuan dynasties that taxpayers really entered the Chinese people's field of vision.At that time, the illiterate Mongols were uncertain about finances and worried about Han officials, so after occupying China, they subcontracted the national tax revenue to the Semu people—various European businessmen who came to China with the Mongols.

This kind of uncontrolled tax package system is definitely not going to work.The tax official spends 1 yuan to buy the right to collect taxes, and it is bound to search for 10 yuan in the jurisdiction. As a result, public resentment is boiling and resistance occurs frequently in various places. In the end, the Mongols can’t stay in China after only a few decades. The tax system is one of the recognized culprits.

Time came to the Ming Dynasty. With the changes in the social environment, the tax package system gradually appeared in the middle and late Ming Dynasty, and became an optional tax item for some local government offices.

Generally speaking, the local county government that chooses the tax package system will contract the right to collect taxes in summer and autumn to some local "powerful" people who have the ability to receive money and food from the people in order to save administrative costs and complete financial handover.

This tax collection method gradually had a market in the middle and late Ming Dynasty, and it can be regarded as a subcontracting model that formed spontaneously.

Taxation was not mainstream at the beginning, but at the end of the Ming Dynasty, as the central royal power weakened day by day, the administrative ability of the county government, which is the terminal tentacles, also weakened, and it became more and more powerless in the face of the increasingly corrupt local chaos. , so the tax package system will intensify.

So when Ding Liqiu proposed the term "tax package" during the negotiations today, County Magistrate Gu was not too surprised, because over the past few years, some surrounding counties have already done this, but the degree of openness is different.Even Gu Tai himself once considered entrusting Qiu Fu to several big families in the county, but he has been hesitating and has not come to fruition.

In the end, Master Gu nodded and agreed to hand over this year's summer and autumn gifts to Master Ding without thinking for long... They sent Qian Gu to the county government's warehouse in advance, and such a good thing has never happened in this world.To a certain extent, the moment the money grain was put into the treasury, this year's tax should have belonged to Mr. Ding, and the county government really couldn't find any reason to object.

A very important small meeting ended successfully in this way.This meeting marked the crossing from the sea to the land, from passive to active, "deep into the enemy's territory", and officially started the process of social transformation of the grassroots regime of the Ming Dynasty, which has far-reaching significance.

In the days that followed, Ming people in Zengcheng County began to experience unprecedented tragedies and comedies.

The first thing to start is corvée.

Not long after the flower hall meeting, before the Lunar New Year, the Lijia of the various villages under Zengcheng County officially started mobilization, and cooperated with the yamen servants who went to the countryside to do errands, and sent all the people selected to serve to the county seat.

What is different from previous years is that this year's corvee, if you want to pay to be exempted from service, you need to pay twice as much money.

In addition, this year's urgent corvee is not to clear the river, but to work in a Laoshizi military port in Huangpu.

As for the latter item, the people who have no information are not cold, because they go to work everywhere, and it doesn’t make much difference to them whether they dig the river or build a military port.

But the first one is fatal: many people can't afford to pay the doubled amount of labor money.

In such a situation, it is impossible to say that the people do not complain.The Chinese New Year is coming soon, but they are forced to go out to serve because they cannot pay the money, leaving the family in the village with no one to take care of them, and they have to bring their own dry food. It is a hard job no matter how you look at it.

However, complaining is useless. After all, corvee work has been done this way for thousands of years. Those who are going to apply for the service this year can only lament their own bad luck, and no one dares to resist the vicious officials and lijia.

So, not long after, led by A in each village, the conscription civilian teams under Zengcheng County came to the county to assemble one after another.

Arriving at the small school grounds in the south of the city, Li Jia held the roster of documents, and after handing over the documents sitting in the shed, the dozens of numb-faced laborers behind him were officially taken over by the greedy bureaucracy.

The next moment, the tragicomedy was officially staged: after the workers registered in line, each of them received 3 shiny silver pancakes on the spot!

The stupid laborers, who were holding silver pancakes and didn't know what was going on, then heard the voice of a thunderous voice holding a weird horn: Everyone is going to carry work for General Cao in Guangzhou City this time, General Cao Aimin Ruzi still has gold in his family, so he doesn't care about these small coins. This time, everyone who comes to serve will be given three silver pancakes per month. You don't have to wait until the end of the month, you will pay at the beginning of the month!

After listening to the shouting from the loudspeaker, the laborers who had been mourning for their concubine were immediately blown away. They couldn't believe what they heard, but the silver pancakes tightly held in their palms reminded them that it was true!

In this era, it is impossible for unskilled workers and laborers who only know how to do coolies to earn 3 taels of silver a month.Now that they got this windfall, many people are so happy that they are stupid: Isn't it a good idea to work for nothing?How did you get paid?

Naturally, this group of forced laborers have never heard the saying "the power of role models is infinite".

In fact, the fundamental purpose of passing through the conscripts this time is to spread Cao Zongbing's personal reputation as quickly as possible through Daming's administrative system, so that the surrounding people know that it is a good way to do Cao Zongbing's job .

Now that the first batch of role models have come, they will definitely receive generous treatment.In the next step, when the laborers gathered in the county town, they were sent to the Huangpu Military Port.This group of people was divided into two at the military port. Some of them went to Tainan by boat. They were called "carrying live jobs" and actually went to pay a visit to learn about the advanced system. All kinds of labor insurance denim work clothes are issued, so don't live too moist.

After half a month in this way, the laborers carrying the rice, wind chickens and labor insurance supplies issued by the military port with their money in their pockets were rewarded by Mr. Cao, and went back to their hometown for "New Year's leave" happily.

As the news of these people returned to their hometowns spread, the Zengcheng locals who figured out what was going on this year’s corvee, after the Chinese New Year, dragged relatives and friends, family and mouths, and came to ask for "" corvee".

The first step of Ding Liqiu's series of corvée actions was considered a success.

Chapter 522 The Daily Life of Shopkeeper Wu ([-])

The sound of "哗啦啦" water kept coming. Looking up, a white waterfall like a horse is falling from the distant green mountains. It is as beautiful as a white dragon when it is reflected by the sun.

In later generations, the waterfall scenic spot in the north of Zengcheng is a famous original ecological tourist attraction.