EBE Chapter 21 Dog Officer
Chapter 21 Dog Officer
Chapter 21 Dog Officer
After finishing his morning run, Wang Wenzhou returned to Zuihualou and took a nap while holding Sheng Lan.
"Bang bang bang..." A rapid knocking sound rang out.
"Young Master Qiang, what's the matter that you're in such a hurry?" Sheng Lan asked as she opened the door and saw Wang Qiang.
"Something's happened! Young Master! Get up quickly, something's happened!" Wang Qiang rushed into the room and said anxiously.
"What's wrong?" Wang Wenzhou asked.
“A group of people gathered at the city gate and caused trouble, refusing to pay the city entry tax!” Wang Qiang replied.
Wang Wenzhou knew there would be opposition to the city entry tax, but he didn't expect it to come so quickly.
Wang Wenzhou sat up, and Sheng Lan quickly went over to help him get dressed. Sheng Lan served Wang Wenzhou with utmost care. Although the two had only met yesterday, Sheng Lan could understand what Wang Wenzhou wanted to do with just a glance.
Wang Wenzhou wasn't wearing official robes; he was dressed in plain clothes. As a conman in later generations, Wang Wenzhou had some knowledge of psychology. Whenever there's a disturbance, there's always a ringleader. Wang Wenzhou wanted to see who was in charge.
Hanshan County was not a large town, and Wang Wenzhou and his servant quickly arrived at the south gate where the people were gathered. Three yamen runners responsible for collecting taxes were surrounded by a group of people, at a loss for what to do.
Wang Wenzhou squeezed into the crowd and noticed an elderly man standing out from the crowd. He recognized the man; it was Cheng Benqing.
Cheng Benqing stood with his hands behind his back, speaking righteously: "Our Great Ming Dynasty has been established for over two hundred years, with almshouses, public cemeteries, and pharmacies for the benefit of the people, ensuring that the poor have food, the elderly are cared for, the sick receive medical treatment, and the dead are properly buried. Yet, the corrupt official Wang Wenzhou has been levying exorbitant taxes. The city entrance tax, a practice that has existed for millennia, is unheard of..."
Before Wang Wenzhou traveled through time, he was unaware of the Ming Dynasty's welfare system. It was only after reviewing official documents at the government office these past few days that he learned some things. The Ming Dynasty was actually a high-welfare society. The so-called "Yangjiyuan" (养济院) were welfare homes responsible for sheltering the widowed, orphaned, and lonely in the cities; "Louzeyuan" (漏泽園) were national cemeteries, providing free burial for the deceased; and "Huimin Pharmacy" (惠民药局) were state-run free hospitals where patients could receive free medical care and medicine.
Zhu Yuanzhang even stipulated that if homeless vagrants or disabled people who were unable to take care of themselves and were left unattended were found in the city, the local officials would be held accountable, ranging from being dismissed from their posts to being imprisoned.
The Ming Dynasty had very low taxes, and one of the reasons for its downfall was its lack of funds; it couldn't even afford to pay its military expenses. Therefore, when the people heard yesterday that a city tax would be levied, they naturally refused. You can't just announce a tax and expect the people to pay immediately. First, while one copper coin isn't much, it's not insignificant either; two coins can buy a vegetable dish and a steamed bun. Second, what's the difference between this city entry tax and highway robbery?
Today's protest against the city entry tax was spearheaded by Cheng Benqing. Cheng Benqing is an old scholar from Hanshan County, old in years but with a cynical heart. Yesterday afternoon, he contacted scholars and intellectuals throughout the county to join in the denunciation of the city entry tax.
Just as Lao Cheng finished his speech, a man suddenly shouted, "In our Great Ming Dynasty, the commercial tax is one-thirtieth of the total tax, and those who cross the line are considered to have violated the law. There has never been such a thing as an entry tax! Wang Wenzhou has created this pretext out of utter shamelessness!"
Wang Wen tilted his head and realized that he recognized the person who said this. It was Ma Deyun, one of the four idiots he had met when he spent ten taels of gold to buy a maid.
Ma Deyun, one of the Four Great Talents of Hangzhou, was naturally among those invited by Cheng Benqing. Rebeling against corrupt officials—a prestigious cause that would surely entice the Four Great Talents to participate enthusiastically.
"Wang Wenzhou, the corrupt official, is a tyrant who levies exorbitant taxes and is shameless and immoral!" Sun Feng, Ma Deyun's friend, immediately shouted.
"Corrupt official Wang Wenzhou!" Yang Shan and Lin Qing shouted in unison.
"Corrupt official Wang Wenzhou!"
The people joined in the shouting, and the crowd was instantly filled with excitement.
Cheng Benqing smiled slightly, confident that the corrupt official would not be able to collect the city entrance tax!
Cheng Benqing shouted, "Bring that corrupt official out! Let justice prevail and give the people an explanation!"
"Crotten official, come out!"
"Crotten official, come out!"
That's how ordinary people are. When they encounter injustice, once someone takes the lead, they'll join in the shouting. After all, if the sky falls, the leader will hold it up.
Li Hechen glared and shouted sternly, "Cheng Benqing, how dare you insult an official of the imperial court!"
"You corrupt official!" Old Cheng said viciously, "I'm cursing you!"
“You…” Li Hechen angrily pointed at Lao Cheng.
Li Hechen was in charge of collecting taxes at the south gate of the city. He knew that Lao Cheng had an official title, so he didn't dare to do anything to him. If it weren't for Lao Cheng and a few other scholars leading the way, and a few ordinary people daring to cause trouble, he would have slapped them across the face long ago.
"Cough cough!" Wang Wenzhou coughed a few times, nudged Lin Qing in front of him, and walked into the inner circle.
"Big..." Li Hechen was interrupted by a look from Wang Wenzhou as soon as he opened his mouth.
Wang Wenzhou spoke up, "I'm from out of town, not from Hanshan County. I'm very puzzled. So many of you are gathered together, opposing government affairs and interfering with the normal work of the yamen runners. You've even insulted officials appointed by the imperial court. Judging from your words, you are all scholars. How can scholars knowingly break the law?"
Wang Wenzhou successfully seized the moral high ground, and his words made Lao Cheng frown.
Ma Deyun sized up Wang Wenzhou. The fat man's face was covered in bruises, clearly from being beaten. "You're not from Hanshan County, are you? Saying things like that just asking for a beating! You're just passing through, you don't have to pay taxes every day. We locals from Hanshan County live in the county seat, and we have to pay taxes every time we go out or come home. Although it's not much, you can't just rob us like this!"
Lin Qing recognized Wang Wenzhou; wasn't this the fat, silly guy who had spent ten taels of gold to buy a maid the other day?
Lin Qing laughed and said, "Brother Pig, you have money, so you don't care about a single penny. But for ordinary people, a single penny is still money. Two pennies can buy a vegetable bun and a full meal for a child."
"Yes!" The poor people nodded in agreement.
Cheng Benqing pondered for a moment and retorted, "Brother, the county magistrate has created various pretexts to levy exorbitant taxes. We scholars are all here for the people, to speak out for them."
"Mr. Cheng is a good man!" the people praised Mr. Cheng.
Wang Wenzhou smiled, stared at Old Cheng, and asked, "Sir, you just mentioned the almshouse, the sanatorium, and the public welfare pharmacy. I'd like to ask if Hanshan County has these kinds of convenient services?"
"Hanshan is a small county with a small population and is poor, so there are no such measures available," Lao Cheng replied.
“Taxes are collected from the people and used for the people. Hanshan County is poor. The county magistrate collects taxes from the city and then sets up almshouses, sanatoriums, and pharmacies for the benefit of the people. Is that wrong?” Wang Wenzhou asked.
Ma Deyun scoffed, "Brother Pig, you're too naive! If the corrupt official is really as you think, then it's a blessing for the people of Hanshan. How could a corrupt official who levies exorbitant taxes possibly care about the people?"
"Really?" Wang Wenzhou said irritably, "You're not me, how would you know what I'm thinking?"
Ma Deyun frowned and asked suspiciously, "Are you the county magistrate?"
"Haha..." Lin Feng burst out laughing. This fat pig, his face covered in bruises and drooling, actually called himself the magistrate of Hanshan County. Buying a maidservant for ten taels of gold? Calling you a fool is an understatement. A fool can be a magistrate?
Ma Deyun was both angry and amused. This idiot deserved to be beaten like that.