Chapter 590 Everyone is happy
Huangfu Tan stood up and bowed to Hai Rui.

Fang Zhiyuan also saluted Hai Rui respectfully with his hands crossed.

Shu Youliang looked at Hai Rui with a complicated expression and picked up the memorial on the table.

“Let me see what the master wrote. If it’s really wrong, I have to prepare my escape luggage and equipment in advance.”

Shu Youliang opened it and just glanced at it, his expression changed.

In his memorial, Hai Rui summarized a series of major cases tried in Suzhou. He believed that the fundamental reason why many Jiangnan noble families were lawless, the gentry were corrupt, and the literati were dishonest was that the imperial court was too generous to them, making them fearless and daring.

how to solve this problem?

Hai Rui proposed four solutions, one of which was that officials should not return to their hometowns after retirement.

Officials of the second rank and above live in the northern and southern capitals after retirement, officials of the fourth rank and above live in provincial capitals after retirement, officials of the seventh rank live in prefectural capitals after retirement, and officials of the eighth rank live in county towns after retirement.

Retiring from a ninth-rank official?

Almost none. Ordinary officials can retire at the eighth rank by accumulating experience over the years. If they retire at the ninth rank, they must have been dismissed because of some mistake.

The second suggestion Hai Rui put forward was that officials and gentry should pay taxes together and abolish preferential treatment and exemption.

The imperial court did not exempt officials and gentry from taxes, but only exempted them from miscellaneous duties and some corvee labor. This part was gradually monetized by Zhang Juzheng through the Single Whip System as part of the poll tax.

Many officials and gentry did not pay the full amount of taxes. Instead, they colluded with government clerks to conceal large amounts of land and distributed the land taxes that should have been paid to other self-cultivating farmers and small and medium-sized landlords.

The land survey and population census promoted successively by Gao Gong and Zhang Juzheng were aimed at identifying the hidden fields.

However, this tactic worked in other provinces, but encountered layers of resistance in the south of the Yangtze River.

Zhang Juzheng went to great lengths to request an imperial decree to mobilize the Jinyiwei forces in Southern Zhili and also asked the Commercial Investigation Department of the Shaofu Supervisor to assist. After exhausting all possible means, he was able to clear out 2.33 million acres of farmland in Southern Zhili, two-thirds of which were cleared in Anhui and other places.

Yingtian Prefecture and Jiangsu Province, especially the wealthy Three Wu areas, were stingy.

Since you are so ungrateful, don’t blame the emperor for turning the table on you.

The Southern Examination cheating case, the banned book case, and other major and minor crimes humiliated the Jiangnan aristocratic families. Then, the Fuxing Society conspiracy case directly took away the aristocratic families who had the most hidden land, as well as the officials, celebrities and scholars who cheered for them.

After the field was cleared, Hai Rui submitted a petition requesting another inspection of the fields in Jiangsu and Yingtian Prefecture.

While investigating hidden dangers and re-registering, all previous exemptions will be revoked, and it will be solemnly announced that from now on, officials and civilians in the Ming Dynasty will pay taxes together.

Hai Rui also proposed a third point in his memorial, which was to distribute the tax based on the amount of land.

Zhang Juzheng was implementing the Single Whip Law. After its implementation, the imperial court’s Ding silver, Lijia tax, and Junyao tax were combined into four types of tax silver, which were collected together by local officials.

According to ancestral rules, this money was not turned over to the Ming central government, but was used for various local levies, and actually mostly went into the private pockets of officials.

In his memorial, Hai Rui proposed that the calculated Ding tax be evenly distributed into the land tax, and that a unified land tax be levied based on the number of mu of land, and that the Ding tax no longer be levied on individuals.

This is just a way of saying it, and its essence is to tax everyone.

As long as you have land, you must pay taxes; as long as you have transactions, you have to pay taxes.

At the same time, all taxes were paid to the Ministry of Revenue, and the provinces, prefectures and counties were responsible for collection, transportation and deposit. The Ministry of Revenue was responsible for accounting, acceptance and review.

Subsidies that need to be returned to local governments should be returned after collection is completed; taxes that should be reduced or exempted according to the law should be collected first and then reduced or exempted.

And on this basis, a complete financial system of taxation and budget accounting will be established.

Then, Hai Rui made the fourth suggestion, which was to relax the control over household registration so that ordinary people, students, literati, farmers and handicraftsmen could move freely and work in factories, businesses and companies.

Of course, Hai Rui also proposed that the Ministry of Justice negotiate with the Ministry of Households to establish a registration system for population birth, residence, and migration.

After reading it, Shu Youliang couldn’t help but gasp.

“Master, I will go and deliver this memorial. I will also go back to my home in Beijing and ask the old lady, the wife, and the brothers and sisters to prepare their luggage so that they can travel around the world at any time.”

Hai Rui sat down and rolled up his sleeves, “Youliang, there’s no need to be so alarmist.”

“Master, I am not exaggerating. When you submitted this petition, Prime Minister Zhang was freed, but you were trapped. Your four methods, especially the first three, are digging up their roots.”

Shu Youliang counted on his fingers with Hai Rui.

“Retired officials are not allowed to return to their hometowns, and high-ranking officials are only allowed to live in the two capitals and provincial capitals, under the eyes of the court. He is not interested in seeing so many retired high-ranking officials gathered together.

In the past, when they returned to the village, once the plaque of the third-rank minister was hung, the whole county would only hear his voice. Even if it was a retired prefect of the fourth or fifth rank, when he returned to the village, he would stomp his foot and the ground would shake three times.

He donated, annexed and concealed land, monopolized the business in the county and the village, and then he was kind and generous, opened academies, and trained all kinds of students, scholars and juren. “

Shu Youliang shook his head and sighed.

“As long as we can train one or two Jinshi, this wealth and honor can be passed on for another generation or two, and we can become a true aristocratic family.

There is also the requirement that officials and gentry pay taxes together, and the abolition of preferential exemptions and the equalization of land tax. Sir, Prime Minister Zhang’s performance evaluation system was just a whip to use officials as cattle and horses, but your three laws are completely uprooting the officials and gentry.”

At this point, Shu Youliang looked helpless, “Master, you finally became the governor and a prefect, you should cherish it. If you really submit this petition, we will have to pack up and leave, wandering around again.”

Hai Rui just smiled and said, “Your handwriting is more beautiful than mine. Hao Ju has proofread it. Please copy it for me and send it out with your seal.”

“Alas! We have just had a few days of good life.” Shu Youliang sighed and went to another cabin to copy.

At night, the ship docked at Qiandun Town Pier.

Hai Rui stood on the deck, with his hands behind his back, looking up at the starry sky.

The night sky is clear, deep and silent, as if it is very close, if you climb a little higher, you can reach out and pick the twinkling stars. But it is also very far away, when you gaze at the starry sky, you find that it is moving away from you quickly.

Shu Youliang came up with a coat and put it on Hai Rui.

“Master, the river breeze is cool at night, so wear one more layer of clothing.”

“Thank you, Youliang. This old man and this family really can’t live without you.”

Shu Youliang grinned, “Master, you know I am very useful in this family, right? Why don’t you give me a raise?”

“Haha, no salary increase.”

Shu Youliang’s face darkened. “You are such a stingy old man. You get angry when we talk about wages.”

“What do your family members need wages for? Aren’t you in charge of the family’s money? You won’t run away with the money, and you won’t eat your fill while the old and the young are hungry.

Why do we need wages if we eat from the same pot? Why do we need wage increases if we don’t have wages?

Shu Youliang looked at Hai Rui and smiled, “Master, the word ‘family’ has tied me down for twenty to thirty years.” Hai Rui smiled, but it was a forced smile. He put his hands behind his back and continued to look at the night sky.

Shu Youliang, who saw this, asked, “Master, are you still upset after the trial?”

“I just feel upset after the trial.”

“Is it because there is suspicion of frame-up in the case?”

Hai Rui turned around and looked at Shu Youliang with a half-smile.

“Frame-up? Do you know what a frame-up is?”

“Well, that’s not a frame-up, that’s just taking advantage of the situation.”

Shu Youliang started talking incoherently.

“I believe Xu Kun, a dandy, who went to Qinhuai River to visit a prostitute but didn’t pay, and got into a fight with the teapot madam. But I don’t believe you that they are preparing weapons to rebel.

Their anti-war manifestos and the so-called regicide plan were just to make themselves feel good. These young masters had it too easy in the past. With their families backing them up, they dared to do anything and say anything.

Master, they only dare to say it, but they certainly don’t dare to do it.”

Hai Rui did not say anything, but continued to look at the clear night sky.

“And the weapons and armors of the Tianjie Academy are just a mess. Especially the muskets, which are simply a failure. Su Feng is a bit rough in his work. Anyone who knows a little about the military knows how strictly the court controls muskets. Those bald donkeys in the Tianjie Academy actually got a hundred muskets. Were they given by the Buddha?

Moreover, the most important component, the trigger spring, is missing. What is the bald donkey from Tianjieyuan doing with it?
I guess Monk Zhongyuan was also confused when he saw the list. When did I become so awesome? I could even get a musket.

But without a trigger spring, what’s the point of a firearm that doesn’t fire? Can it be used as a fire stick?”

Shu Youliang talked a lot and then changed the subject.

“Master, so what?
Things like treason and regicide are unacceptable, let alone being done! Xu Kun and other noble family members actually dared to plan treason and regicide. Even if they were suspected of being induced and instigated, they didn’t have this idea in their minds, so how could they be aroused?

Therefore, it is not unfair to sentence Xu Kun and others to treason. It is also not unfair for the aristocratic scholars who were implicated. The emperor earnestly persuaded them to give the people a way out and breathe a sigh of relief.

But how did they do it? You saw it, sir.”

Hai Rui’s eyes sparkled, “Yes, if these kind-hearted people in the southeast are not eliminated, how can the good people here live in peace? It is better for the Xu family to cry, or for more than 600 families to cry, than for the whole southeast to cry. It is better for thousands of people to cry, than for hundreds of thousands of people to cry!

Even if the scholars scold me or slander me, I am just a stone in the toilet, smelly and hard! “

Shu Youliang smiled happily: “Master, that’s right, as long as we kill these vicious tigers and wolves, you don’t care whether you use a kitchen knife or a hatchet? If it’s convenient, you can also use stones.

Speaking of stones, sir, don’t look down on the stones in the toilet. No matter how high-ranking an official is, as long as he throws a stone into the pit while squatting, do you think he will be able to have a Buddha born and two Buddhas ascend to heaven? “

Hai Rui stroked his beard and laughed heartily. His hearty laughter was like the stars falling from the night sky, jumping on the silent river surface like a mirror, scattering in the night, flying into the air, and turning back into bright stars, swaying and twinkling above the tranquil mountains and rivers in the southeast.

Tongzhou Wharf in Beijing.

Yang Jinshui led his men to see off Li Zhi and others who were heading south.

“Mr. Zhuo Wu, with the title of Minister of Rites, is appointed as the chief priest of the Nanjing Imperial College. He is leaving today, and everyone is watching and expecting him. The emperor has sent us here to see him off. I wish Mr. Zhuo Wu a smooth journey south.”

Li Zhi, still as thin as ever but with the spirit and energy of a great master, smiled and bowed, saying, “I thank the emperor for his grace.”

Yang Jinshui took a book from Wang Liang and handed it to Li Zhi.

“Mr. Zhuo Wu, this book is a collection of the emperor’s small thoughts. I’m giving it to you. Please correct me if I give you any advice.”

Li Zhi quickly took the book with both hands and said respectfully, “Your Majesty’s sacred record, I dare not make any rash comments.”

He looked at the words on the cover of the book and read them word by word: “Dialectics and Materialism.”

Yang Jinshui, who was standing opposite, said, “The emperor is a man of great talent, and he always speaks with profound meaning. When we left, the emperor repeatedly told me that he was looking forward to your valuable comments on this book.”

Li Zhi replied solemnly, “Please tell Your Majesty that I will read it carefully and write a review every day on what I have learned from reading the book and submit it to Your Majesty.”

After Li Zhi and his entourage’s official ship left the dock, Yang Jinshui took Wang Liang on a carriage and returned to the capital city.

Amid the sound of horse hooves and wheels, Wang Liang spoke carefully.

“Godfather, urgent news from Suzhou, eight hundred miles away, Lord Hai has poked a big hole in the sky to the south.”

Yang Jinshui did not answer directly, but slowly said: “The emperor once asked Zhang Xiang, asked Mr. Zhao, and asked me. Who are our friends and who are our enemies?”

Wang Liang listened attentively without blinking, afraid of missing a word.

This is my godfather passing on the secret.

“I have never understood what the emperor meant by his question. Now I understand it roughly.”

Wang Liang quickly said, “My son is still confused. I hope my godfather can teach me.”

“Liang’er, remember this. Now, the officials are our friends, and the scholars are our friends. They want wealth and glory. According to the new saying, this is called striving for progress.

And these, the Emperor and we can provide them.

We hit it off right away! “

Wang Liang quickly asked, “Godfather, who is our enemy?”

“Certain officials, juren, jinshi, famous scholars and other official gentry families are our enemies. They are clinging to their original power and interests and are unwilling to let go. So we will use our new friends, those officials and those scholars, to overthrow them and take away their power and interests.

Then we divided it 30% to 70% with the emperor taking 70% and the remaining 30% being secretly divided into 70%. We then dressed up the remaining 30% beautifully and gave it to our new friends with drums and gongs.

Everyone is happy! “

Wang Liang’s eyes became brighter and brighter, and he nodded repeatedly in agreement: “Godfather is right, it is indeed a happy occasion for everyone.”

Yang Jinshui asked, “Is the car heading straight to Xiyuan?”

“Yes, godfather. My son told the driver and guards before I got on the car.”

“Okay, we have to hurry to Xiyuan for class. The emperor is giving classes to Zhang Xiang, Mr. Zhao, Mr. Hu, and us.”

“The emperor’s class? Godfather, you are so proud. I dare to ask, what class is the emperor teaching?”

Yang Jinshui took out a thin book from his arms with dignity and stroked the cover proudly with his right hand.

Wang Liang looked at it carefully and saw a line of words written on the cover: “Political Economy”.

(End of this chapter)