Chapter 8, reality is harsh

In the Qing Dynasty, local militias had already been established, but prior to the White Lotus Rebellion, they were directly managed by the government, with positions such as militia commanders and team leaders set up, varying by region, and their funding was sourced from local resources. The memorials from the Kangxi era also mentioned that a militia commander led troops into the mountains to suppress bandits, only to be defeated by the very bandits they sought to eliminate

Carefully choosing words, not wanting to hurt Mr. Guantian, this remark not only brought a look of relief to Guan Fengsheng's face, but also reddened the eyes of Mr. Guantian, who had originally been glaring at Li Si.

I just don't quite understand how much imperial grain my family has taken on to drag the uncles down to this extent

Li Si? That bookworm? Did he get hit by a stone and lose his mind, daring to oppose me, the esteemed Lai Yipin?

Mr. Guantian appears to be very familiar with these numbers, reciting them while searching for a list. Guanfengsheng is completing the grain for him, and the list is naturally at his home

There are several households in the neighborhood, but it has always been Lai Yipin who manages the affairs, and behind Lai Yipin ... ...

This term, Li Si has a vague impression of it; it is similar in nature to the "Uniform Labor Silver" that has already disappeared in Guangdong, both targeting the burdens of labor service, albeit directed at different subjects. Uniform Labor Silver primarily refers to the maintenance funds for clerks, porters, stable hands, and relay station workers. During the Ming Dynasty, these tasks were directly performed by the common people, and later, they were consolidated into the regular taxes under the whip law.

In the Qing Dynasty, the land tax in the regular taxation system was relatively low and not complex, averaging about 0.4 taels of silver per mu across the country. The more complicated aspect was the head tax, which was primarily used by local authorities to exploit the common people. The tax reforms during the Ming and Qing Dynasties essentially revolved around these two components.

Li Si restlessly paced around the room. Although it was still early spring, he felt a burning heat throughout his body.

Wait a moment, Lian Yong, isn't this a group practice? Will this be 1712 or 1812 in the end

March 18, the 50th year of the Kangxi reign

How foolish, Li Si thought of hitting his own head, but this is just the regular tax

Absurd

The fat man let out a sound, as if he had relieved some of his worries, turning to walk away while still giving instructions with his mouth.

Fire consumption ... ... 2 taels, 8 qian, 8 fen ... ...

"Don't talk nonsense! With the spring harvest about to begin, Lord Li is keeping a close eye on us, the pillars of the county, and his gaze is quite shrewd. Although I still have Lord Bai above me, the things we do are not exactly above board, and Lord Bai is reluctant to confront Lord Li directly. If something goes wrong with the spring harvest, and Lord Li holds me responsible, losing money is a minor issue; being made a scapegoat and having him write something unfavorable about me on his shabby paper would be a real problem"

The entire Shaozhou Prefecture frequently experiences thefts, and there are many shack dwellers and miners; the county has also established militia units

The term "uniform silver" specifically refers to the office expenses of officials and government offices. At the founding of the Ming Dynasty, according to the plans of Zhu Yuanzhang, the Hongwu Emperor, every piece of paper and every writing instrument used by the county offices was to be directly provided by the local households, with the aim of ensuring that not a single copper coin circulated in between. However, this communism-level concept was soon shattered by reality, evolving into what is now gradually regarded as a "fee" that exists above the regular taxes and below miscellaneous charges. Ironically, this portion of labor service, which had already been consolidated into the regular taxes under the whip law, is being levied again. This communism-level concept was soon shattered by reality, evolving into what is now gradually regarded as a "fee" that exists above the regular taxes and below miscellaneous charges. Ironically, this portion of labor service, which had already been consolidated into the regular taxes under the whip law, is being levied again

I heard that you are using my name to seek out Liu Pozi for some matter. You better be careful and not let anything happen, otherwise I will have your skin peeled off

Who are the village heads

As for Lord Li, I am also keeping a close watch on https://m.hetushu.com. Recently, he has indeed been preoccupied; as long as the financial resources are sufficient, he likely will not be overly concerned.

What about the local officials and constables who are supported by money? What about the six hundred thousand green camp soldiers who are sustained by regular taxes?

Li Sizhen truly wanted to curse loudly, completely oblivious to the fact that he was viewing the matter through the lens of future taxpayers.

It amounts to a 30% fuel consumption, so this county official is not too greedy

Clock on top

Mr. Guantian does not let go of a single copper coin, and the "li pai" refers to the village head, as it is also a ten-year cycle. Whoever steps forward to assist the authorities in collecting taxes becomes the village head. The "gui tou" and "shu ban" are the officials dispatched from the county.

Looking at the date from the 50th year of the Kangxi reign, Li Si vaguely thought of something, but for a moment he could not grasp it. Then his thoughts were twisted by the tax rate; let’s assume his annual income is thirty taels, the tax amount is indeed shocking. However, five taels and four qian of silver should not lead to the point of selling one’s daughter, right

Guan Fengsheng gritted his teeth, while Li Si was also murmuring softly.

The county has a total of fifty-four characters.

He strolled leisurely in the pavilion, accompanied by a lean man who nodded obsequiously beside him

When Li Si spoke these words with a firm tone, Guan Fengsheng and Guan Tianshi remained silent in response

We are all in such a situation. According to the land registry, my family still has 20 acres of rice paddies. Over the years, I have approached the authorities numerous times, but they all say that any changes to the land registry must be approved by the village head, and what we say does not count.

The overweight man let out a dissatisfied grunt and turned to glare at the thin man

5 taels and 4 cents

Li Si frowned as he took the palm-sized document, and upon raising his head, the four characters immediately made him break into a sweat: "Household Registration License"! The meaning of this license and the pictorial book is indeed too far removed from the meaning it will have three hundred years later

Li Si asked sincerely

This does not yet account for the respect owed to the clerks, cabinet heads, and secretaries, as they do not have any formal recognition

Li Si had some impression of this part before, but now that he is personally involved, he is so furious that his nose nearly twisted.

With a gulp, he finished a cup of tea, then slammed it down heavily on the table, causing the cup to crack with a loud bang

Since childhood, I have always cared for my second sister the most, willing to suffer myself rather than let her endure any hardship

Steady! I want absolute stability! The officials in Guangdong are in complete disarray. After enduring this year, Li Zhushou and his parents will likely no longer be able to stay in Yingde.

The fat man truly has a smaller heart as he grows fatter

Rest assured, elder brother, those country bumpkins wouldn't dare to cause a commotion

I, Lai Yipin, am just a vicious dog; if I do not tear you to shreds, I shall not bear the surname Lai! Hmph!

Other miscellaneous charges such as foot charges, cabinet fees, weighing fees, and lock fees are numerous and varied; this is still considered acceptable, as receipts have been issued for all of them

Silently, Guanjie felt as if she had committed a wrongdoing, unable to meet Li Si's gaze. Li Si merely patted her small head, a bittersweet feeling swelling within him. Upon returning to the Guan family and seeing Guan Fengsheng, the middle-aged man's sturdy face displayed a myriad of emotions: joy, surprise, shame, and helplessness.

Indeed, next, Mr. Guantian produced another document, which was not as formal as the "Household Registration License," but it still bore a receipt stamp at the bottom

"Fourth Brother, why should I help you? It's not just because of your father; even if your family loses everything, we still have to share your family's imperial rations"

Is my second sister really going to be sent away? Am I, Li Si, still worthy of being a person?

Achoo

In the Zheng Tang Li of Yingde County, regarding the collection of taxes and grain, it is now reported that according to the map of Huangzhai, Li Zhui has completed the payment of taxes and grain for the 50th year of the Kangxi era

In summary, it is still the trite conclusion that the officials and gentry collude to oppress the common people.

When Guan Fengsheng spoke, Li Si desperately suppressed the impulse to roar. The two words that had been buried deep in his heart were once again churning restlessly: rebellion

number

Pulling back his ethereal thoughts, Li Si focused on the small print on the list

4: The county magistrate generally does not seek out the common people, but rather pressures the gentry. The relationship between the county magistrate and the gentry is both cooperative and adversarial; the so-called collusion between officials and gentry is not as straightforward as it seems

Jinping silver, four taels and two qian

Has the ticket been distributed? Is there no one causing a commotion?

The thin man had a faint sheen of sweat on his forehead, his expression somewhat stiff, yet he smiled brightly

Guan Fengsheng explained, his tone filled with helplessness

Emotions are running high, and Guan Tianshi has brought over several slips of paper, which is quite irregular; there are no official seals, only handwritten notes.

Guan Fengsheng sighed

It turns out that Li Si's family has more than thirty mu of rice paddies recorded in the land registry, with six members in the household and five of them being adults. His parents are still alive, and three of his prematurely deceased brothers have also been counted as adults. The land that has long been sold is still listed in the land registry.

Li Si spoke tenderly, while the little girl tightly clung to his arm, burying her small head in his waist, afraid to speak, fearing that if she opened her mouth, she would burst into tears

Something is amiss... All the miscellaneous taxes are built upon the foundation of the regular tax. Yet, Li Si alone has to bear nearly five taels of regular tax each year. During the Kangxi era, the census of "dingkou" was over twenty million; this "dingkou" refers to the tax units, not the actual population. However, Li Si is currently facing a one-to-one situation with a dingkou! Based on his burden, it can be calculated that during this grand Qing dynasty, the regular tax would amount to one hundred million taels and an additional fifty million taels in books each year

Fourth Brother, your family in the county is still registered...

The positive item is five taels and four mace of silver

Li Si took a breath of cold air; when all was counted, he, Li Si, was to be extorted of sixteen or seventeen taels of silver by the officials and their clerks! This is simply outrageous, how can one live like this

In a courtyard characterized by a harmonious arrangement of green tiles, red pillars, blue bricks, and white walls, a middle-aged man with a plump figure shook his flesh and sneezed

The small document bears two large seals, one being half of the bilingual county magistrate's seal in Manchu and Han, and the other reading "Grain Received". Additionally, there are two signatories: Clerk Yang Xia and Li Pai Lai Yipin.

Muttering softly, he walked out to the yard. After a while, in a small living room, he met another plump woman, who was none other than Liu Pozi. The two whispered for a while, and Liu Pozi left with a radiant expression, while the thin man in the hall grew increasingly sullen.

Uncle Guan and Aunt Guan, regarding the matter of the silver, you need not worry. I, Li Si, am not the same Li Si as before. From now on, I will take responsibility for my family's affairs myself

The thin man repeatedly said "I dare not" while looking at the back of the fat man, and only after the figure disappeared did his face return to a cold and sinister expression

One tael and six cents of positive silver, three taels and eight cents of Ding silver, this is from last year 1

Lian Yongyin, 3.4...

The overweight man lowered his head, and the tip of his nose nearly touched the forehead of the thin man

After the Shunzhi period of the Qing Dynasty, there was a measure known as "self-sealing and cabinet submission," which allowed commoners to pay taxes in the county town and subsequently receive a tax payment certificate. This certificate had different names in various regions, such as "taxpayer license," "license," or "tax receipt." However, the self-sealing and cabinet submission faced resistance from local gentry and, due to inconvenient transportation, the cost for commoners to pay taxes might even exceed the tax itself. Thus, while there were policies in place, there were also countermeasures, and in many areas, tax collection continued to be enforced by local clerks.