Forty-eight years of Qianlong

Chapter 598 A Day in the Wendeng Military Control Committee ([-])
In the final analysis, Liu Mengren still didn't understand Beihai Town.But this is also normal. As a county official in a remote mountainous area, no matter how well-informed he is, he is at most ten miles and eight villages in one county. The "Northern Pirates" who strictly blocked the news had a correct understanding.

Four years ago, when the Northern Navy attacked Rongcheng and Wendeng counties and recruited poor farmers in the surrounding villages, Liu Mengren was just a clerk in a single household.Later Bei Haijun left, the original county magistrate and Dian Shi were all dismissed by the court for questioning, and the people in the sixth room also had a big change.After the new county magistrate Zhou Luduan took office, he relied on bribery and bribery of Zhou Luduan's chief and easy-going staff, and used curvy tactics to curry favor with the county magistrate's wife. official.

Now Liu Mengren has only been working for less than two years, and the money he borrowed has not been repaid yet, when Bei Haijun came.Moreover, unlike four years ago, Bei Haijun even put up the signboard of the new yamen this time, showing a posture of taking root and not leaving.

Facing his wife's constant complaints at home, Liu Mengren considered for a day and a night, and finally decided to take a gamble. Taking advantage of the arrival of the "New Dynasty", he took the lead in seeking refuge in order to gain wealth.He came to see Kong Shaoan today, hoping to leave a good impression on him, and then find a way to continue to take over Wendeng County's annual work of entrusting money and food.

Who knows that Kong Shaoan mentioned "Shun Zhuang Book" without saying a word, how could this not make him nervous?Although Liu Mengren knew exactly who owned the private records of Liudu and Fifty Li in Wendeng County, once he said it, he would offend all the big clans in Wendeng County!
The full name of "Shunzhuang book" is "Shunzhuang actual collection book". In some provinces, it is also called "red book", "fish scale book" and "Qijun book"; it lists the grain and silver that each household in the county should pay. , the number of meters, changes in taxation and taxation, and changes in land ownership are important bases for finding out the taxation and arable land at the grassroots level.

Before August every year, the county government will determine the total amount of money and rice to be levied for the next year, and then the housekeepers will call Li Shu and Jia Shu to distribute them to each capital, map, and li according to the number of taxable fields and tax rules in the county. , A's flower account, and then register it on the book and report it to the county magistrate.

After that, each prefecture and county must submit the "actual collection booklet" to the chief secretary of the province for a stamped letter before the end of October, and then return it to each prefecture and county before the start of the levy in the next year.The county government office will issue a bill based on the data in the booklet—that is, the triple tax notice. The Lishu and Jiashu must send the bill to each flower household, and let them go to the township or the county government to submit it themselves.

There is one copy in the hands of the county government office and one in the Lishu, and the content should be the same, but in the process of compilation from the bottom up, the draft booklet in the hands of the clerk is the most original and authentic The base book of actual collection at the grassroots level is also called "private book", while the book kept in the county government is called "county book".

From ancient times to the present, there is no distinction between high and low, and it is the nature of all people in society not to want to pay taxes. The flower households who pay food dare to fool the county magistrate in order to evade taxes, but they can't hide it from the book office, mainly because the "private books" in their hands can be tracked at any time The transfer and sale of households and land properties, knowing who should collect money and food.

Because the imperial court did not pay wages to low-level subordinates, it would cost money to be a fat job like Li Shu, and had to send fees to relevant personnel in the house and invite banquets.First of all, they will make a fuss in the "County Book", usually using scribbled handwriting, or listing a large number of tax payments, and writing obscure and lengthy units of measurement, even if the county magistrate reads it, it is like a heavenly book.

Some county magistrates are forced to rush because they cannot complete tax tasks, and they will preside over the compilation of actual collection books or land clearing, and obtain control over tax sources such as rural population and land by re-compilation of measurement books; The method of "showing the chicken to the monkey" is to privately agree to spend a large sum of money to buy back the control of the private book.But when the term of this county magistrate is over and transferred away, the next one will have to go back to the old way.

For Kong Shaoan, although he can use the work team to go to the countryside to re-clear the land and compile the household registration book to grasp the actual local situation, but most of the energy of the work team will inevitably be wasted on fighting wits with the big clans and flower households , It doesn't take a year and a half to finish!
Therefore, before going to the countryside, the North Navy task force must know the whereabouts of the "private book", and even get it in advance, so that they can know what they are doing and have a target.

At this time, Liu Mengren's heart was at war between heaven and man, so he said: "Director, another copy of the survey book is not in the hands of the villain. Wendeng is a total of six cities and fifty miles, and each has a copy. You have to ask those places about this matter." The chief and chief Jia will understand."

Seeing him like this, Kong Shaoan probably understood a little bit.Right now he needs someone like Liu Mengren to help him with his work, familiarize himself with the local situation, and restore economic order, so he can't just punish him immediately.He immediately stretched his brows, thought about his words, and said in a gentle tone: "Mr. Liu, I know that under the rule of the Qing Dynasty, people like you are not in the top class. If you don't have a reputation for educating people, you will stop at the pawns in your life. Many people even It’s not even organized.”

"The director is wise! The villain has also studied for several years and passed the examination for a scholar, but he really didn't have that fate, so he had to ask someone to work in the yamen to support his family. Although the villain used to be a pawn The county government has a system of officials, but that is also a five-year term, and they must retire when they expire."

In the Qing Dynasty, the office staff of various departments in prefectures and counties were roughly divided into three categories, namely pawns, scriptures, and scattered books.Take Liu Mengren's household as an example. Only he has a formal establishment, and everyone else is a contract worker.

"Well!" Kong Shaoan nodded and asked, "Let me tell you about the situation in Beihai Town. People like you and your subordinates are all professional management talents in our place. The so-called specialization in the art industry, only In terms of knowledge and experience in tax collection, household registration and land management, even a Jinshi-born Hanlin is far behind you. In Beihai Town, we classify people like you as "technical talents" to enjoy high salaries of."

Although Liu Mengren didn't understand what a "technical talent" was, but the other party was boasting that he still understood, so he quickly cupped his hands and said, "The director is serious, these are trivial affairs in the countryside, and they cannot be judged by the superiors!"

"No! It is precisely because of thousands of people like you, Mr. Liu, that a country's fiscal taxation and land management system can be built. Without your hard work, those high-ranking governors, governors and ministers, and even the emperor , It is impossible to govern the country well at all. But the salary and treatment given to you by the Manchu Qing is too low, so I think, rather than saying that the subordinates are greedy, it is better to say that you have not received the salary corresponding to the content of the work."

After listening to Kong Shaoan's words, Liu Mengren suddenly felt a surge of heat in his heart, and his nose felt a little sour.I have been a subordinate official for more than 20 years, and I have always heard people say "the harm of subordinate officials" and "all subordinate officials in the world should be killed". Today is the first time that a Shangguan has said such a thing about his status. high.

Indeed, people like myself are a bit greedy, and they have done a lot of favoritism and fraud, but the problem is that the food and silver issued by the imperial court to these people is no more than 12 taels or seven taels a year, and the average is no more than two or three dollars a day. The sub-money is only used for one meal for the couple, so it is often not paid in full.In addition, the expenses of transportation, accommodation, food, and human relations when going to the countryside to do business every month have to be paid out of their own pockets; every new year, they have to give gifts to Shangguan and his staff; what's more, in times of famine, deductions will be made Workers and food silver.If it is not taken from the people by illegal means, the whole family will be driven to a dead end.

Liu Mengren wiped the moisture from the corners of his eyes, and when he was thinking about how to reply, he heard Kong Shaoan startlingly say: "In our Beihai Town, a person with professional ability like you can be a deputy county magistrate. Well, I can still be the county magistrate."

Liu Mengren looked at Kong Shaoan in disbelief, he was a little dazed by the pie thrown by the other party.Can someone like me be the magistrate, or even the magistrate?God!That's the seat that can only be seated by a genuine brand.

"It's unbelievable, doesn't it?" Kong Shaoan smiled slightly, and continued: "Many county magistrates and deputy magistrates under the administration of Beihai Town started as illiterate farmers step by step. It's not surprising at all. Monthly salary, starting from 30 taels of silver, the highest can get 50 taels a month. If you do well, there will be a bonus equivalent to one to three months' salary at the end of the year."

"Ah! So high!"

Liu Mengren was old-fashioned, and with a little mental calculation, he came up with a salary range of 450 taels to 750 taels, while the annual salary of the next seventh-rank county magistrate of the Manchu Qing court was only 45 taels of silver, 45 dendrobium rice, plus Several hundred taels of Yanglian silver.Of course, the county magistrate has to be more greedy, otherwise he wouldn't be able to live on with that little money.

Kong Shaoan immediately drew another big cake, and only heard him say: "Mr. Liu, if we verify that you have no major acts of oppressing the people, then on behalf of Wendeng County Military Control Committee, I would like to hire you as the deputy director in charge of agriculture." .When the place is stable in the future, the deputy director of the military control committee will be the deputy county magistrate."

God!Liu Mengren trembled all over, his heart beat faster, and his ears were full of tinnitus.In any case, he never imagined that he, as a pawn, would have the opportunity to become a second official.Maybe, as Kong Shaoan said, there is still a chance to be a county magistrate in the future?

Oh shit!Fight!What Li Shu Jia Shu, what kind of big family, in the face of a one-step future, that is a fart!

"Putong!" Liu Mengren knelt down immediately, leaned over and said to Kong Shao'an: "In the past, Liu did things, although he did things that were all-inclusive and superficial, but they were all point-to-point, never harming people's lives. .May the director be clear about it! The director valued it and entrusted him with a high salary. From now on, I would like to repay the director's great kindness with all my heart!"

"Get up quickly, why is this necessary?" Kong Shaoan saw that the plan was effective, a smile appeared on the corner of his mouth, and then he walked forward slowly, stretched out his hand to help him up, and said: "Although that is the case, the procedures that should be followed still have to be followed. You go back and wait, within two or three days, someone from the Military Control Commission will deliver the letter of appointment to your home."

"Yes, yes!" Liu Mengren's body was covered with dirt on his forehead, and he didn't dare to wipe it off. He said embarrassedly, "The villain was so excited that the director laughed."

"Okay, you go back and rest first, you are tired enough to stand for a long time."

Kong Shaoan watched Liu Mengren step back and walk out the door step by step. He didn't clenched his fist until the sound of the other person's footsteps went away, and shouted excitedly: "Oye!"

Just a few days ago, when Wu Siyu went to inspect Anping Port, he brought a letter from Zhao Xin to Kong Shaoan.In this letter, apart from words of encouragement, Zhao Xin also told Kong Shaoan how to employ people after he arrived in Shandong.

".Xiao Kong, you have to remember that when it comes to the use of Manchu and Qing officials, try not to use 'honest officials'. You must know that an official's job is to serve as an official and benefit one party. A mediocre and honest official is often more hateful than a corrupt official.

Secondly, for subordinate officials and local bullies, after collecting enough evidence, they should be suppressed severely and quickly, so as to establish the prestige of Beihai Town.

Finally, I would like to warn you that when appointing officials of the old school, you must adopt the strategy of 'doing merit is not as good as past'.As long as there is no great evil and people are capable, they can be used.But you must have an understanding of the past behavior of these people, and have their past criminal evidence.The purpose of doing this is to let the other party understand that it's not that you don't care, but that you don't care at the moment. Once you want to replace him, you will have to settle the old and new accounts together, and you will be killed!
Let's explore talents!There are many people who do specific affairs in the local subordinate officials' offices. These people teach and accept privately and inherit from generation to generation;However, I think that as long as they are under reasonable salary and supervision, they can play a big role in our smooth takeover of local power.In the future, we can let some of them return to Beihai Town to train for a year or two, and let Lao Yu train a few more times, and our team of cadres will grow bigger and bigger."

After lunch, Kong Shaoan met Yu Heli, the former judge of the execution room, and said almost the same thing.Like Liu Mengren, Yu Heli was also very surprised when he learned that he could also jump the dragon gate to serve as the second official, and then expressed his loyalty.But he was not as excited as Liu Mengren, because there were too many dirty hands and feet of this fellow.

According to the Qing system, prefecture and county magistrates did not leave the gate of the county yamen under special circumstances, which made a large part of the custody and execution work in the prison proceedings also entrusted to the torture room subordinates.The punishment room is mainly responsible for filling out judicial documents, writing legal documents and summons, detaining suspects, filling out judgment documents, sorting out and keeping documents, etc. Specifically, it can be divided into judicial documents and litigation execution.

Due to the complex format of official documents and the strict use of words, non-professional county magistrates are often not as expert as the subordinates of the punishment room. Therefore, the punishment room secretary office shoulders official duties such as issuing subpoenas, legal documents, sorting out evidence materials, and writing case books.

However, unlike Hufang, since the work is also under the jurisdiction of the punishment room, it can be said that there is almost an authoritative effect on the results of the inquest of the murder corpse, and once tampering with it, innocent lives will often be ruined. .

For example, the famous "Yang Naiwu Xiaobaicai Injustice Case" in the late Qing Dynasty was actually a crime of abuse of power by subordinate officials in the punishment room and collusion with officials; Eventually lead to injustice.

Like other subordinate officials, although the daily affairs handled by the punishment room are extremely complicated, except for the pawns, the salaries of others are only meager food and silver and copying fees. To meet the daily expenses of subordinate staff.Many punishment room book offices will make a fuss about "subpoenas" to swindle money; what's more black-hearted is to eat the plaintiff and the defendant, until both the plaintiff and the defendant lose a lot of money, and the punishment room earns a lot of money.

However, the above two are just cheating people out of money, and the most heinous one is "slaughtering white geese"-that is, finding someone to take the blame for death.Some of them are unable to live with their families, and are willing to die as "white geese" for the sake of money, in order to protect their families; way back.No matter which one, the people in the torture room can't get rid of their ties.

At 5 o'clock in the afternoon, Kong Shaoan finally finished his formal work for the day.In addition to meeting the two subordinate staff this day, other things such as convening meetings, signing instructions on official documents and even expense reports, issuing orders, signing sent and received messages, etc. were also interspersed non-stop, and he was very busy.

After dinner, accompanied by the guards, Kong Shaoan went down to the barracks outside the south gate of the county seat, chatted with Lu Shoushan for a long time, listened to the other party's report on the progress of the troops' operations, and held a small meeting.

When he returned to the county office, it was past nine o'clock in the evening.After the guards helped spread the bedding, Kong Shaoan lay down and rested after washing, and did not look at the dizzying account book again.

He was very tired this day, but when he thought that he would be like this almost every day for a period of time in the future, he couldn't help feeling a little anxious.In addition to thinking about official affairs, I also think about what my sister is doing.

In his wild thoughts, he thought that Wu Siyu had mentioned that Zhao Xin was going to Europe, and he didn't know what was so good about Europe at the end of the eighteenth century, so why bother to mobilize people to go there himself.

He tossed and turned on the bed repeatedly until after 12 o'clock, and then he fell into a drowsy sleep.
　"Li Shu", "Ce Li", "Ce Shu" and "Fan Shu" all refer to the same type of people, who specialize in Tujia inspection, book calculation and book making, property registration and registration, etc., similar to modern land The function of the bureau plus the tax office.Most of these people are long-term controlled by big gentry families or clans, that is, "long households" in Jiali. (In addition, the writing of these two chapters is too tiring, and I have read a lot of materials. "A Discussion on Land Fu in the Qing Dynasty", "Dengzhou Chronicle", "Statistics of Household Registration, Land, and Land Tax in China in the Past Dynasties", and "Research on the Local Official Service System in the Qing Dynasty" Read it again.)
　　
　
(End of this chapter)