Huang Qiyin had always felt that he was full of determination but had no way to serve his country. He had wasted his lofty aspirations in this tiny place. Only today did he feel that his loss was not unjust.
Although the essay that he was so proud of had caused him to lose his ambitions, he had always had the arrogance of a scholar in his heart. He felt that he had been attacked by someone with differing political views. Although he was not satisfied in the official circles, he would leave his clean name in the annals of history. This life would not have been in vain. He did not expect that if his memorial was to be implemented, it would harm the country and the people. Therefore, not only was he disheartened, the arrogance that had accumulated for a long time was also swept away.
Looking at the handsome young man Yang Ling, Huang Qiyin secretly calculated in his heart, "Originally, I only knew that he was the youngest scholar in this county, and that he had only written an exquisite essay. I did not expect that he would have such insights. It seems that this person is not someone who is ordinary in a small pond.
I do not have any achievements, so why not help him wholeheartedly. If in the future he can become a famous official, then I will also leave my name in the annals of history. If not, as long as he can become a high-ranking official, then the young grandson of my son who died early will also have someone to rely on. "
Thinking to this point, Huang Qiyin chuckled and went forward to help Yang Ling up. With a face full of smiles, he said, "Nephew Yang, there is no need to be so polite. I do not dare to accept the words of a teacher. I, Old Huang, have been staying in this county for a long time. If there is anything that you need help with, please do not hesitate to ask. I, Old Huang, will tell you everything I know."
Chicken Cry Inn was a third-grade county. Compared to the wealthier counties in Jiangnan, the total amount of taxes and grain was 300 to 500 times lower. The tax was frighteningly low. At a glance, it seemed that the tax had to be raised. At least this kind of county should not have any tax and grain arrears. But the reality was that in this place, even if there were some small landowners or farmers, they would still be half starving and half full. Arrears in taxes and grain were a matter of course.
Thus, if a county official were to collect taxes of 80% in a rich county, the lives of the local people would not be affected at all. They would even praise him as the blue sky that gave the people umbrellas. However, if he was unlucky enough to be transferred to such a poor county in a few years, even if he tried his best to collect taxes of 30%, in the eyes of the local people, he would still be a corrupt official, a cruel official, and a leech that dug three feet into the ground.
What's more, Zhu Yuanzhang, the founding emperor of the Ming Destiny Dynasty, calculated the official's salary very accurately. The salary given was only enough for the officials to support their families. As for the expenses of welcoming and sending guests, servants, sedan chair bearers, and the salaries of aides and counselors, they were all paid out of the officials' own pockets. Therefore, the local officials had to divert part of the money and grain paid by the people into their own pockets. It was the case for the county magistrate, the village head, and the village head. In this way, even if the taxes were 100%, only 80% would be turned over to the national treasury.
Thus, when the taxes were insufficient, the local officials would show their abilities. The counties that had more land than the Ministry of Appointments controlled would make up for it. The counties that were congenitally deficient would have the courage to report natural disasters and request for relief. Not only did they complete the task of collecting taxes and grain, but they also gained a good reputation for loving the people.
Although there were a large number of people in Chicken Crying Post who were in arrears of grain taxes, there had been people opening up wastelands and reclaiming the land. The Ministry of Revenue still controlled the number of acres of land at the beginning of the country's founding. Thus, although the taxes collected were very little, they only needed to use the surplus commercial taxes to supplement a portion to meet the Ministry of Revenue's requirements.
In addition, the Tartars had just raided in autumn, so they could report the disaster more severe in order to reduce some of the taxes and grain. Due to the special position of Chicken Crying Post, the military significance of this place was far greater than that of a county. Thus, the Ministry of Appointments knew that the annual taxes here were insufficient, so even if they added money, they would not be too strict in assessing political achievements.
After Huang Qiyin's guidance, Yang Ling could not help but feel enlightened. It turned out that the already pitiful 30% of the taxes and grain collected was only handed over by County Magistrate Huang with a wave of his pen. Yang Ling was speechless.
As for the other miscellaneous matters, under County Magistrate Huang's guidance, Yang Ling also learned quickly. Soon, he managed the administrative affairs in an orderly manner and became the true person behind County Magistrate Min who controlled the county's administration. However, all of his authority came from County Magistrate Min. Above his head was a clay Bodhisattva, and he was the Bodhisattva's spokesperson. Without this "Bodhisattva", no one would listen to his orders.
However, with the support of County Magistrate Min, the official county magistrate, and the strong assistance of County Magistrate Huang, the second-in-command, Yang Ling managed this small but well-equipped county in an orderly manner. It did not take long for the people, soldiers, and messengers of Chicken Crying Post to know that the person who actually controlled the entire county was an eighteen -year-old youth hidden behind Lord Min. This person was called Yang Ling.
Han Youniang no longer went to the tailor's shop to work. It was not that she did not want to go, but the boss did not dare to use her anymore. What a joke, who was her man? Now, he only lacked the hat of a county magistrate.
At that time, there were already some weaving and dyeing factories in the big cities of Jiangsu and Zhejiang, with hundreds of domestic workers. However, these domestic workers were mostly men. In such a small place, it was very rare for women to go out to work. Therefore, although Yang Ling did not want a fifteen-year-old girl to stay at home every day as a young housewife, he could only do as the Romans do and not let her show her face in public.
However, Han Youniang was cooped up at home every day. Apart from cooking, she had nothing to do. At that time, there were no entertainment tools such as television. Although most married women at that time were like this, from the point of view of a modern person like Yang Ling, he felt that Young-niang was imprisoned at home.
Every day, she would only show a happy expression on her face when he came home. While watching him eat, she seemed to have endless things to talk about. She would talk about any trivial matter for a long time with relish. Originally, although her life in the mountain village was difficult, at least she could go out. Now, she was like a bird in a cage, and the light in her eyes was getting dimmer and dimmer.
Yang Ling's heart ached when he saw this. In addition, he was really too busy with work, so he got her a set of men's clothes to wear and brought her to the signing room to help him copy and write documents. Fortunately, Han Youniang was not a girl from an ordinary family. Her father used to be a head escort in an escort agency. His family's financial situation was not bad. When she was young, her family had hired a teacher. Later, the escort agency lost a large amount of goods and closed down. Only then did it decline. These tasks of copying and writing were naturally competent.
Han Youniang had something to do and could accompany her husband. Naturally, she was full of joy. Yang Ling had a clear distinction between public and private affairs. Although everyone in the signing room knew that she was Advisor Yang's wife, he only said that she was hired to help. Therefore, his salary was still the same. However, he had to pay for the private employees he hired. Thus, when in Rome, Yang Ling did as the Romans did. He naturally pocketed all the money that was supposed to be withheld. In any case, he couldn't hand it over even if he didn't want it. It would naturally be divided up by others.
Because Yang Ling was personally hired by the county magistrate, he was not ranked. Therefore, his monthly salary was only three stones, which was equivalent to six copper coins. This money had to be paid by the county magistrate himself. The county magistrate's monthly salary was three taels and seven copper coins. It was enough to support his family, old and young. However, he also had to pay the salaries of the advisor's aides, servants, and sedan bearers. If County Magistrate Min did not withhold any taxes, then his family would have to starve.
In the officialdom, this kind of reasonable interception was known as burning consumption. According to Yang Ling's understanding, there were policies at the top and countermeasures at the bottom. When he first read a novel about a Ming Dynasty official who embezzled sixty taels of silver, Zhu Yuanzhang punished him by flaying him and stuffing him with grass. However, the official's embezzlement was not stopped. Those officials rushed to the guillotine one after another. At that time, he did not understand. Now that he had personally experienced it, he knew that although there were corrupt officials, even if they were honest, some necessary tributes were still necessary.
Fortunately, the officials in the Ming Dynasty had naturally formed their own rules over the years. What was considered corruption and what was considered low-ranking officials had already formed their own system outside of the court rules. The officials automatically followed the rules. With Elder Huang's guidance, Yang Ling felt at ease.
Tomorrow was the first day of the Lunar New Year. Perhaps because of the mood, the weather on Ming Ming Street was still wet and cold. However, walking on the street did not feel as cold as usual. The crackling sound of firecrackers could be heard from far and near.
The county yamen did not have to go to work tomorrow, so they were busy until late at night. Only then did Yang Ling finish handling the official documents at hand and walked out of the yamen with Han Youniang. Red lanterns had been hung in front of the doors of every household. Even those who were usually reluctant to be so extravagant had hung lanterns and lit candles early today.
Women were not allowed to walk in front of their husbands or walk side by side with them. Therefore, Han Youniang had to follow the rules and take half a step back. Yang Ling saw that it was already dark and would not attract too much attention. In addition, Han Youniang was dressed as a man, so he deliberately slowed down his pace. While she was unprepared, he grabbed her hand.
Han Youniang was shocked and blushed. She struggled a few times but could not break free. She could not help but whisper with a red face, "Husband, you …"
Yang Ling turned around and smiled gently. He said softly, "Tomorrow we will go shopping for some goods for the Lunar New Year. Tonight we will go to a tavern to eat something good. Let's go." As he said this, he pulled Han Youniang to the small tavern he had been to for the first time.
Yang Ling was a nostalgic person. He had been there once and felt that the taste was not bad, so he was too lazy to look for another tavern. Whenever he wanted to change his appetite, he would always go to this one. Although Han Youniang was a little uneasy, she knew that her husband had always been easygoing. In addition, it was already dark and others could not see her face. Therefore, she let him hold her hand and obediently followed him.
When Yang Ling and Han Youniang stepped out of the tavern, the night was even darker. The clear night sky was dotted with stars and the fine snowflakes slowly floated down, making his slightly swollen face feel very refreshed.
Yang Ling's expression brightened. He took Han Youniang's hand and slowly wandered around the city. Although the two did not speak, their hands held each other's hands. It was a different feeling that touched one's heartstrings.
On top of the city wall, Yang Ling grabbed a handful of snow and rolled it into a snowball. Using all his strength, he fiercely threw it into the vast night outside the city. However, his body lacked training and this exertion caused his tendons and veins to feel pain. The frozen ground under his feet was also very slippery, almost causing him to fall. Han Youniang was so shocked that she rushed forward and placed a palm under his ribs to steady his body. She was both angry and amused as she said, "Husband, look at you. Why are you acting like a child? Be careful not to fall."
Yang Ling turned around and gently pinched her firm and smooth cheeks. He said in a pampering manner, "You are the one who hasn't grown up."
Han Youniang pouted and unwillingly straightened her body. Yang Ling looked at her slightly childish face and gentle eyes and his heart skipped a beat. At this time, he realized that he was becoming more and more intimate with her. He was already used to her silently taking care of him by his side. He was already used to doing intimate actions with her. If his soul flew away, wouldn't that make her even more sad?
But if he treated her coldly now, how could Yang Ling's heart withstand the attack of her tears? The words about her taking care of him once he died were too sudden and he could not say them out loud. He stared blankly at Han Youniang and did not know what to say.
Han Youniang's face suddenly became hotter and hotter. Under the gaze of Yang Ling's bright eyes, especially with the faint smell of alcohol in his mouth, Han Youniang clearly misunderstood his meaning. Her heart was unknowingly afraid and happy. She was so flustered that her body began to tremble.
At this time, Yang Ling suddenly saw a pair of flames flickering in Han Youniang's black and bright eyes. Han Youniang also widened her eyes in shock. She looked over Yang Ling's shoulder and stared blankly into the distance.
Yang Ling suddenly turned his head. There was a beacon tower on the east and west sides of the city wall. The beacon tower on the east side had already been ignited and the flames were raging. In the distance, the winding city wall extended deep into the forest and there were still a few sparks shining.
He looked to the west again. At this time, the beacon tower on the west wall also ignited with a boom. The fire was fierce. Immediately following, the beacon tower on the mountain ridge further to the west was also ignited and the fire spread further into the distance.
Yang Ling's mouth was wide open. After a long time, he suddenly turned around and looked at Han Youniang. The two pairs of eyes conveyed the same message, "The Tatars are coming!"
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