lcionline Chapter 228 The Heartless Land Tax Collector
Chapter 228 The Heartless Land Tax Collector
I thought that boiling sugar would take about five or six days.
Gao Mengli and Lin Xi underestimated the farming capabilities of all 56 households in the village.
Each household has at least one mu (0.16 acres), and some have as much as three or four mu. The sorghum stalks from nearly two hundred mu alone weigh about ten thousand jin (5,000 kg) after the husks have been peeled.
Each sorghum stalk contains only 2% to 5% sugar. That means that 500 catties of stalks from one mu (approximately 0.16 acres) can be used to make 10 to 25 catties of brown sugar.
After working for more than half a month, we have boiled about 450 jin (225 kg) of rice.
This is because coal is highly efficient and saves on firewood.
If firewood were used, ordinary people would probably go bankrupt trying to boil sugarcane!
Gao Mengli and Lin Xi asked Du Hao to put the sugar cubes into an oilcloth bag to prevent moisture, and then put them in the cellar for storage.
Next year, when making loquat syrup, we can save some money on buying brown sugar.
The rice that every household had dried was also brought back to the warehouse, and every villager had a happy face!
After all, this year the paddy fields have no shortage of water or fertilizer, and with ducks to control locusts, the yield has doubled compared to previous years.
The yield per mu is close to 800 jin, and after deducting 40% of the land tax, there is still a lot left.
However, for the sake of convenient overall planning, the imperial court calculated the land tax based on a yield of 600 catties per mu, which is 240 catties.
This year, they earned an extra 200 jin (100 kg).
Even if there is a year of famine and reduced production, the imperial court will still calculate the land tax based on 600 catties.
In recent years, the increasing burden of exorbitant taxes and levies has caused immense suffering for ordinary people.
The social hierarchy is scholar, farmer, artisan, merchant. Although farmers are ranked second, in reality, it is the farmers who suffer the most in life.
The conscription of men into the army also came from the peasantry.
After all, peasant families struggle to even feed themselves, let alone afford to pay for the population tax with silver.
Merchants, who pay a poll tax every year and live a life of family reunion, are implicitly considered to have a higher social status than farmers.
Before everyone could even rejoice, the government officials in charge of collecting grain taxes entered the village.
Gao Mengli and Lin Xi heard the village chief ringing a gong at the village entrance and ran over.
A grain-collecting team arrived, led by a man who was neither male nor female, and whose identity was immediately obvious.
Dou Weiyi stood respectfully to the side.
Gao Mengli frowned as she looked at Dou Weiyi, who simply shook her head without making a sound.
A sense of foreboding welled up in Lin Xi's heart, and he whispered in Gao Mengli's ear:
"This group seems to be up to no good. Judging from that eunuch's demeanor, he's probably up to no good."
Gao Mengli nodded slightly. Who could disagree?
The saying "your face reflects your heart" isn't entirely without merit.
The eunuch's gaze swept across the crowd with a sinister look, and he shouted in a shrill voice:
"This year, there are new regulations regarding land tax; it needs to be increased by another 10%!"
These words were like a bombshell, instantly exploding in the crowd.
"My lord, this is absolutely unacceptable!"
The village chief stepped forward, trembling:
"Although the harvest is slightly better this year, we've already paid 40% of the land tax, leaving us with very little surplus grain. If we add another 10%, how will we survive in this freezing winter?"
The eunuch snorted coldly, his fat twitching a few times:
"Hmph! This is His Majesty's decree. Do you unruly commoners dare to disobey it?"
The soldiers on the border were suffering from the bitter cold, and they were counting on these provisions to get through the harsh winter.
Although Dou Weiyi came from a military family, she was not so familiar with the villagers that she would tell them everything.
This reason is quite valid, and it's likely that the villagers are unaware of it.
This was also the best reason the Ministry of Revenue could give for requisitioning grain.
He stood there calmly, looking completely confident of victory.
Little did he know that after hearing what he said, the villagers fell silent, frozen in awkward silence.
All the villagers' eyes turned to Dou Weiyi, who was standing next to him.
Really? Yes, they don't resist at all; in fact, they're quite happy about it.
After all, without a country, there is no home; they can still distinguish between the two.
The current stability is all thanks to the soldiers guarding the border, and they remember these border children.
To everyone's surprise, Dou Weiyi clenched her fists immediately upon hearing what Eunuch Zhou said.
They risked their lives to protect their country, and now this has become an excuse for the higher-ups to make money?
The veins on Dou Weiyi's forehead bulged as he struggled to control his anger.
Upon seeing Dou Weiyi's appearance, everyone immediately realized that this father-in-law was talking nonsense with a straight face.
Unable to make a decision, the village chief turned to his trusted advisors, the Lin couple:
“Look, this…”
What should we do?
If it weren't for the presence of this close advisor to the emperor, he would have slapped his thigh and sat on the ground to throw a tantrum.
Gao Mengli frowned and looked at Dou Weiyi again.
Seeing his restrained and patient demeanor, he sighed and said, "Village chief, let's do as the adults say."
They were just poor, ordinary people who found happiness in living in peace and contentment, with enough to eat and wear.
Going against the authorities in any era will never end well.
unless……
It has full, beautiful wings!
After hearing Gao Mengli's words, the village chief hesitated for a moment, but ultimately remained silent, his sorrowful expression growing even deeper.
The villagers also looked helpless and sad, and much of their joy at the harvest had vanished.
Although everyone was unwilling, they had no choice but to accept it for the time being under such powerful forces.
Otherwise, what, are you suggesting we rebel?
Gao Mengli turned to the village chief and instructed him, "Village chief, bring the villagers over to bring tables and chairs for the adults to sit on, and arrange some tea."
The village chief responded and hurriedly went to greet the villagers.
Gao Mengli then turned to Lin Xi and whispered in her ear, "Go to your younger siblings' canteen, make some snacks to go with their drinks, and serve them some rice and dishes, just one meat dish will do."
Lin Xi nodded and quickly ran towards the cafeteria next door.
After all, these kinds of people love to gossip, and if they go back and their superiors spread rumors, they'll be the ones who suffer.
After arranging these things, Gao Mengli went home to prepare.
After all, her family still has an acre of land.
If the dry land is taxed at 300 catties, then 50% of that would be 150 catties.
It was so dark, so incredibly dark, that she wanted to kill someone.
Ah Li carried the sorghum for tax payment, and the two headed towards the village entrance.
Seeing that the eunuch and his men had already started eating, Gao Mengli quietly waved to Dou Weiyi, who was standing to the side.
Upon seeing this, Dou Weiyi glanced at Eunuch Zhou, then quietly took a few steps back and walked over.
"Lord Dou, is what this eunuch said true?"
Dou Weiyi frowned, her eyes filled with anger, and she lowered her voice:
"Sister-in-law, if this is true, I'll eat shit upside down."
If they hadn't embezzled military funds, the soldiers guarding the border wouldn't have suffered from hunger and cold every year, with so many freezing and starving to death.
In recent years, the lives of those in power have become increasingly extravagant, the national treasury is empty, and they still want to carry out large-scale construction projects to build royal villas.
This is why someone personally came down to collect the grain this year.
Not only that, the time was also brought forward by half a month.
Gao Mengli's heart skipped a beat when she heard Dou Weiyi say that.
She had a feeling that this matter was probably not over yet...