: Breaking and repairing a big pot

The crushed coal in the stove has already produced green flames. It is the best time for the heat.

Lao Sun, who was repairing the iron pot, was not in a hurry to start, but narrowed his eyes and scraped the bottom ash on the old iron pot, revealing a small crack in the iron pot, and then gently tapped it with a small iron hammer, saying in an expert tone: "Look, what's the pot like? Fortunately, you brought it early, otherwise such a good pot would be ruined..."

While speaking, he added dark force in his hand. With a little force, he knocked the crack of one inch into a three-inch large hole: "Look, it's not enough to use rivets for such a long hole. It's necessary to use fire to repair it. Fire is strong and durable, but it only costs three cents to add..."

As a pot-fixing craftsman, there are two crafts that you must master: one is the pot-fixing method used to make money and eat, and the other is the pot-fixing method.

Many times, how to break a pot is as important as how to repair it. Only by knocking the cracks on the iron pot bigger is to make people who need to repair it, otherwise how can they make a few more copper plates?

In this small Shucheng, Lao Suntou is not the only one who knows this well. Li Si, the coach of Huaixi, is also a master.

Taking advantage of the enthusiasm of the "August 15th Operation", Li Si summoned wealthy families on the ground in Huaixi to Shucheng.

Shucheng is the first county town since the army of the Dead, and it is also a place where the forces of the Dead are concentrated. The most important thing is that it is very close to the base and there is no need to run too far without being tired.

As for the rich, landlords and men in Lu, Feng and other places, they were idle and had nothing to do anyway, so Li Si didn't mind letting them get tired of it.

Lord Du Shuai’s order was issued. Who among the famous and promising families in various places dared not to move? Even if the house in his family caught fire, he would not dare to delay Lord Du Shuai’s time!

After being invited by the dead army stationed in the local area, these people were still trembling? As long as Li Si remembered it, there would definitely be nothing good, and he would inevitably lose money again.

He said it was "invitation", but the soldiers who went to the dead army had no intention of asking for it. He ordered it coldly and then set off immediately. This was not a request, but it was just a rope tied up.

It is said that Lord Du Shuai is going to host a banquet for everyone, but everyone is not happy at all.

Where is Li Si’s banquet so delicious?

I'm afraid there is no good banquet, and there is no good meeting. It's not a big deal to lose some money. Don't get out of the Hongmen Banquet.

No matter whether it is far or near, no matter whether it is riding a horse or a cart, I dare not delay the time of farting. I came to Shucheng like a small drum in my heart.

To be honest, most of these people have never seen Li Si himself, and no one wants to see him. Whether Li Si has a green face, fangs, or three heads and six arms, it is best not to see him.

But this time it was impossible to see each other. Li Si "invited" everyone to Shucheng's private house. I don't know what was going on, but I know that it would definitely not be a good thing.

It seemed that they had already made an appointment, and everyone brought some meeting gifts. There were local specialties, sometimes fresh and rare items, and some were directly sealed...

Anyway, this is the first time I see the dominant figure in Huaixi, it’s hard to be empty-handed.

More than twenty large square tables have been set up in the yard, each square table is equipped with four chairs. If there are not enough chairs, use a bench to make it up. There is a large teapot and a few small tea bowls on the table, and a plate of fruits, walnuts or red dates. Some tables don’t even have fruits?

Everyone was mentally prepared for such a shabby so-called "feast". Anyway, they didn't really come to eat something from Sanjiu's big table.

But even so, these people dare not sit down.

The four master Du Shuai Li has not appeared yet. Who dares to sit down with the three rituals and six rituals and not the six rituals? If Master Du Shuai chooses the rituals, it will be a problem that cannot be finished.

Two or three hundred people watched helplessly, but they didn't sit down, standing around the yard with a restrained attitude, waiting for Lord Li's "coming" to come. But it was not until noon that Li Si still did not show up.

My legs were numb, and finally a little maid came out of it and shouted frankly: "My handsome family is coming now. The master said that you are all well-known figures in the local area. It is really not good to let everyone wait for so long. Let the maid sue you for him first..."

After so many people were waiting, no one dared to say anything, and only Li Si had this idea. Who would dare to take the blame for not guilty? Seeing the little maid giving a tribute to him, he quickly said, "I dare not take it" and "I dare not take it".

"Mr. Du Shuai is busy with all kinds of things and is in the military and political affairs. Naturally, he is so busy that he can't get rid of his body. I will pay attention to it and pay attention to it. It's okay to wait for a while."

Just as he was politely lying with the little maid, a young man in a blue cloth robe walked out from inside.

It was not until the soldiers who went to the death behind them beat the forks in their hands and saluted with a "splash" that everyone realized that this young man with a smile on his face was Li Si, the legendary invincible world.

But who else could be there for Li Si? The one who was wearing official clothes and black veil behind him was Lord Zunjin Qiudejin, Shucheng County.

Everyone quickly greeted, bowed and sang:

"It is a blessing for us to see the Du Shuai today."

"The villain misses day and night, and finally meets Master Du Shuai. The feelings in his heart are hard to express."

...

Li Si quickly waved his hand and said loudly: "I understand everyone's thoughts. I understand. Today I am in my private house, so I don't have so many official things..."

"Everyone came from afar, and they were already exhausted. Why didn't they sit down? They all sat down. They couldn't play at the stand-up. Who, Chunlan, bring a few more benches..."

Li Si greeted him warmly, and he looked like a very hospitable host.

After a noisy thank-you seat, everyone sat down. But no one dared to sit steadily. They were mostly owing half of their butts, just sitting a little bit.

Sitting like this is more uncomfortable than standing.

"Brother, I can't compare to everyone. There are so many people under my command who want to have a meal, but I really can't afford to buy a decent banquet, so I have to take a pot of tea to entertain everyone. Use tea as a bar, and if you are slow, please, please, please..."

"This tea is better than wine."

"I've quit drinking a long time ago, it's better to drink tea, well, it's better to drink tea." Everyone couldn't stop following Li Si's words, and their little abacus in their hearts was quick: "Looking at Li Si's crying and poverty, I must have to try different ways to pay our money again, I just hope I don't pay too hard..."

These people are laughing at each other for their face, but who in their hearts is not complaining?

Under the foot of the army to die, he could only abide by Li Si's slaughter.

Li Si still had a harmless smile on his face: "Just now, I noticed that everyone did not come empty-handedly. I also understood the rules of the meeting gift. But here, many people are donors from Huaixi, and they are superiors and subordinates. I want to accept your gifts. Isn't this just bribery or bribery? When these people's gifts leave later, I will ask someone to return them to everyone. Others, thanks to everyone's view, I brought gifts from so far away. I, Li Si, understand in my heart that this is giving me a face, but I was disrespectful, so I accepted them, haha..."

After saying this, those who spent money to donate a shitty official position suddenly felt relaxed and comfortable in their hearts: at least they bought the official position that was nothing, but it seemed that they were useless. At least they were treated as their own person by Li Si, and they might not be too cruel when they were cut off.

Those guys who didn't spend money to buy Guan'er immediately felt a chill in their hearts: Those who bought Guan'er and you, Li Si, are their own people, so wouldn't we be outsiders? If we had known this, we would have been a sucker at the beginning. God knew that Li Si would take this opportunity to open his mouth. If he went back, he would have to buy an official position no matter what, of course he didn't expect to have any power. But if he could make the army to die as his own, it would be worth it.

Li Si "Zi'er" tasted tea and the smile on his face became even more intense: "I don't have to say more about what kind of world is now, right? The people can't live anymore..."

Here comes, I'm here, and I'm talking, so I'm going to ask for money next time.

Li Si looked at the people below with strange expressions, and naturally knew what they were thinking. He laughed and said, "Brother, I know, everyone is afraid that I will open my mouth and ask for your money, right?"

After such words, everyone's faces became even more strange.

In this world, except for cutting flesh, it is the most painful thing to pay. Who would like to pay out money? But in front of Li Si, this is really hard to say.

"Haha, today's gathering is just a private meeting, and we will talk to each other's hearts. Everyone can say whatever they have, and there is no need to hide it..."

Finally someone stood up and said in panic: "Mr. Du Shuai is doing a great thing for the country and the people. The villain knows this. If we go to the death army... our army will really be short of it. Master Du Shuai just speaks. As long as the number is not... not too large, the villain is willing to sacrifice his family for the country. But if the number is too large, the villain really can't take it out..."

"Okay," Li Si bowed: "What I respect most is a man like this big brother who can sacrifice his family for the country and a good man. But everyone has really misunderstood. Today we won't talk about money. I will never pay everyone's money anymore. I can do this with just saying this."

What? Don’t want money? It turns out that I don’t want money! After Li Si said this, everyone’s heart was finally intact. Just don’t want money. As long as you don’t pay everyone’s money, you can say anything, and everything is easy.

What's more, in front of so many people, he said that he would not make any money in the future.

After taking Li Si's great peace of mind, everyone smiled.

The smiles I just now must have been pretending, but now I am just a smile from the bottom of my heart.

"Haha, I knew everyone was afraid that I would miss your wallets. In fact, I, Li Si, are not so unreliable. If I really had a short hand, I would ask the Tartars to touch the money. The rabbits don't eat grass beside the nest. How can I not understand this principle?" Li Si said with a smile: "I know everyone is scared of me..."

"Where is the one who is the one who is the one who is used by the people."

Once you feel better, you will become bolder in your words.

Li Si bowed and bowed: "In the past, there was no way, so I had to offend you. I had to find food from your bowls. What's the place I can't get? Today, even if I, Li Si, will accompany you all."

Everyone quickly stood up and returned the greeting: "The lord is working for the country, so we ordinary people naturally have money and work hard. It is really a matter of duty and we should not be able to receive the lord's greeting."

Seeing the atmosphere getting more and more harmonious, Li Si said: "Today, I will ask everyone, everyone is a big family with land and production. Do you think the taxes in Huaixi are heavy?"

"Not heavy, no heavy," it is obviously a heavy tax that has never been seen in hundreds of years, but no matter how arrogant everyone is, they dare not say the word "heavy", which is slapping Li Si in the face.

"Haha, just separated by a river, the land tax and commercial tax here are three times that of Nandu. I know the tax burden is extremely heavy." Three times that of Jiangnan, it would be a real ghost. Fortunately, it was Li Si. If such a heavy tax burden was placed in the Chongzhen Dynasty, the mere swearing star alone could drown Li Si several times.

"Little Man Rong said justice." A man stood up in the seat, with a very comprehensive etiquette. He seemed to have read books: "On the surface, the taxes of the Lord Shuai cannot be heavier, and it is not as light as the court said. But the account is not like this. For example, my family has distribution stores and land in Jiangnan and Luzhou. But as long as we pay taxes in Huaixi, there are no other miscellaneous expenses. After careful calculation, the burden is much less than that in Jiangnan. At least, there is no need to handle some of the big men in the yamen, and no one can increase taxes and withdraw money under various pretexts..."

Not to mention anything else, at the beginning of the founding of the Ming Dynasty, the land tax could be paid directly by brown rice. Since it was brown rice, it must be a bit of rice husk. After the government took it back, it would have to process it and remove the husk before it could be eaten. Of course, part of the pounds must be deducted to offset the amount of rice husks. However, the tax laws of the imperial court have not been changed, but the men below only collect refined rice and do not have brown rice. And they still have to eliminate the pounds of rice husks, which is called removing miscellaneous taxes.

But for thousands of years, who has seen rice husks that have to be removed from the rice in thousands of years?

But the word "guan" means two words. What should people do if they say the people below? Who said that everyone is the common people? Just go for miscellaneous things, and everyone recognizes it. But now the tax on miscellaneous things is so crazy that thirteen kilograms per stone. This one miscellaneous tax alone is much more than the land tax in Chaotian. Even the unscrupulous businessmen below dare not take more than two kilograms of miscellaneous things. The local area has thirteen kilograms. Could it be that the common people's rice husks are iron? They have to deduct so much?

Everyone agreed and agreed.

In all dynasties, taxes and fees have never been a big burden. If we look strictly according to the system, there has never been a dynasty that the taxes in any dynasty were so heavy that they forced the people to rebel.

The biggest burden comes from exploitation of local forces and various expenses attached to taxes.

The tax law of the Chongzhen Dynasty was traveling to Jiangnan. According to this tax rate, the tax per mu of Jiangnan, which has a very high grain output, is equivalent to about 11 or kilograms of grain (the disaster area in the north is eight kilograms). The tax in Jiangnan, where the yield per mu of refined rice can reach 400 kilograms of rice is really negligible.

However, the 400 kilograms of grain harvested by the people were only a few dozen kilograms, and most of them "disappeared" out of thin air, neither entering the national treasury nor in the hands of the people.

But things are so strange, it is indeed a bit incredible, but this is a real thing, not a trick.

As for the vast majority of the disappearing wealth, Li Si knew very well where he went.

In the hands of bureaucratic and gentry class.

In Huaixi, the army to die with thunder and even bloody means to clean up a large number of bureaucratic gentry, and at the same time shocked others in the same class. Using powerful means to reduce the rent of up to 70% to 50%, and at the same time appoint their own people to form a new bureaucratic strata.

From the core, the northern military personnel of this new bureaucratic class who went to the death army were also in full swing to Li Si's orders.

Because there was no opportunity to plunder, and there was no name to impose this and that tax. Although Huaixi was responsible for the heaviest taxes of the dynasty, the income of the people increased.

It was because Li Si intercepted the interests of the bureaucrats. While drawing the parts to the dead army, he returned part of them to the landlords below. The landlord was strongly restricted by 50% of the landlords and indirectly returned a small part of the interests to the farmers.

These interests are indeed a small part of the money for bureaucrats who are used to eating big things, but for farmers who are used to having few leftovers, it may very likely mean that the food in their homes can be doubled.

"So, do you agree with the current situation?"

“Agree.”
To be continued...