Be a small county magistrate in ancient times

Chapter 501 Thinking Too Seriously

"Young Master!" When Bafang found Meng Changqing, Meng Changqing was playing shuttlecock with Mancang.

"Stop playing, I have something to ask you."

Meng Changqing kicked the shuttlecock in front of Mancang and said, "Little Mancang, go find someone else to play with."

Mancang made faces at Bafang and imitated his tone, shouting, "Master, Master."

Bafang rushed over and pressed Mancang's head, "I have something important to discuss with the young master!"

Mancang had learned martial arts from Xi Bei for half a year and was in his prime. He immediately raised his foot to fight with Bafang.

"Stop it." Meng Changqing went to the middle to separate the two, and then said to Bafang: "Let's go to the study to talk."

Before they even reached the study, Ba Fang couldn't wait to ask, "Tomorrow is the third day of the lunar year, so are we still going to Liangzhou Prefecture?"

"You have to go." Meng Changqing said, "Come back after sending He Wen off."

Just as they reached the door of the study, Bafang lifted the curtain to let Meng Changqing in first, and asked, "You have been so idle these days. I haven't seen you write any congratulatory articles."

"You don't have to be serious with someone like that. It's easy to just write a Happy New Year."

Bafang said, "You have to write well to people like that. If you flatter them, you won't have to worry about anything."

"You have to consider who you are flattering," Meng Changqing said. "With his status, how could he change his attitude towards others just because of a few nice words?

If there is a conflict of interest, no matter how many nice things you say, it will be useless. Isn't it more terrifying to smile on the surface and then stab someone in the back? "

"What you said is too scary." Seeing him holding a pen to write, Bafang hurried over to grind ink.

"Master, let me ask you another question." Bafang said, "Everyone opposes the new tax proposed by Governor Liu, but in your opinion, are the officials so strongly opposed because of themselves, or is it really for the people as they say?" "What do you think?" Meng Changqing asked back.

"Before Lord Zeng came, I thought they were mostly for the people, but after Lord Zeng came, I felt that they were more for themselves."

"No one else can know what they are thinking," Meng Changqing said, "but I agree with your opinion."

Bafang was worried, "If the new tax is really implemented, will it have any impact on our Beishan County?"

"Of course there is. The higher the tax rate, the harder it is for the people to live. If people have a hard time living, they will be dissatisfied with the government. If this continues for a long time, you can imagine what the result will be."

"It's been a long time since Beishan County has come to this point. If this continues, won't it alienate the people from you?"

Meng Changqing looked at him and said, "If someone doesn't know what you said, they would think I'm going to rebel."

"No, no, no, that's not what I meant." Bafang put down the ink stick and rubbed his hands. "Wouldn't it be great if we put up a notice telling the people that it was Prefect Liu who insisted on raising taxes?"

"Have you ever seen anyone issue such a notice?" Meng Changqing said, "Whether it is Liu Dexiang or me, we are both court officials and minions of the ruling class. How can the people, as the ruled class, believe that I am different from other minions and am still a good person?

Is it possible? If it were you, would you believe it? "

Bafang said, “I believe it.”

"Because you are the elder brother of the minions." Meng Changqing spread out the written congratulatory article, pushed Bafang away and went to the corner to pick up the kettle.

"Master." Bafang caught up with Meng Changqing, "It's not easy for us to get to where we are today. Is it possible that when Governor Liu makes a move, we have no way to deal with it and can only watch the people below being embarrassed by him?"

"You think too seriously." Meng Changqing said, "He can collect his own taxes. I don't want to hand them over."