King of Song

Chapter 144

Qingmiao originally means immature crops, and more specifically refers to the time when the crops are green and yellow before they mature.

In ancient times, for farmers, the most difficult time was when the crops were not harvested.During this period, there was a lack of food and clothing, and life was unavoidable, especially when the wind and rain were not smooth, it was even more miserable.

As mentioned above, in order to tide over difficulties at this time, the common people were often forced to borrow money from rich households and landlords.After the grain harvest, high interest has to be paid.If things go on like this, the life of the people will become more difficult. Once they can't pay back the principal and interest, they can only sell the land...

Over time, there will be serious land mergers.The reduction of national taxes will prevent the people from living and working in peace and contentment, which is not conducive to the stability and peace of the world.

In order to suppress mergers and increase the revenue of the treasury, Wang Anshi first formulated and implemented the Young Crop Law at the beginning of the reform.

In the second year of Xining, the Regulations Department of the Third Division of the System promulgated the Green Crop Law, stipulating that all households in Fanzhou County could borrow cash or grain from the local government to subsidize farming before the two harvests in summer and autumn each year.

The borrowers are rich and poor, and ten people are the guarantees, checking each other.The loan amount is divided into five grades according to the assets of each household. The first-class households do not exceed [-] guan, the second-class households [-] guan, the third-class households [-] guan, the fourth-class households [-] guan, and the last-class households [-] guan.The loan in that year will be repaid with the spring and autumn taxes, and two cents of interest will be charged each period.

Two cents, which means charging 20.00% interest, seems very high.But compared to borrowing usury from big landlords, [-]% or even [-]% interest is already very low.

If you only look at such content, it is indeed a good policy that benefits the country and the people.Why did such a good policy end in failure?This is what confused Lin Zhao the most.Even if there is opposition from the so-called feudal landlord forces, if there is no problem in itself, it will not be a complete defeat, right?

It is precisely because of this that Lin Zhao's mentality is more cautious. He wants to understand, investigate, and implement it carefully, and he is not in a hurry.Autumn is the time when the grains in the south of the Yangtze River are harvested, and there is no shortage of crops for the time being, so the large-scale implementation will not start until the end of the year at the earliest.

In contrast, Cai Jing was more active, and started to proceed immediately after accepting the imperial decree.Now the implementation of the new law in Yuhang County has begun in full swing, and it is at the forefront of the Song Dynasty.

As for Lin Zhao, he took it slowly and took advantage of the autumn harvest to patrol around Qiantang County to learn the most authentic first-hand information, and then cooperate with the implementation of the Green Crop Law.

The first thing Lin Zhao cares about is the Changping warehouse, which has been set up since the early Song Dynasty and is also the basis for the existence of the Green Crop Law.

The main function of the so-called constant level warehouse is to stabilize grain prices and stabilize the market.Whenever there is a bumper harvest, because a large amount of new grain floods into the market, and because the supply exceeds demand, the price of grain will inevitably drop.

In feudal society, there was a saying that cheap grain hurt farmers. At this time, in order to ensure the interests of the people who had worked hard for a year, Changping warehouse would buy grain at a price slightly higher than the market price.

When it is too late, the grain will be sold at a price slightly lower than the market to ensure that the people have food to eat.At the same time, it can also play a role in maintaining the balance between supply and demand and stabilizing the market.In terms of the motivation and effect of the simple establishment, the existence of regular positions is very beneficial.

But in fact, a glamorous thing often has many unexpected things happen.Perhaps it is because of the existence of the shining points, which cover up the shortcomings behind it so well that people fail to notice it in time.

When Lin Zhao came to the Changping warehouse in Qiantang County, a small official rushed to greet him. He was very courteous and seemed a little flattered.

As for the specific official position of the petty official, Lin Zhao couldn't understand for a while, and even the petty official himself was a little confused.Because the Changping warehouse is a freak in terms of organizational structure, Changping warehouse is a yamen under the jurisdiction of Sinong Temple, but all funds must come from the third department in charge of taxation and finance.

However, Changping warehouses are set up locally and subject to local jurisdiction, so their affiliation and organizational structure are particularly complicated.That's all, it doesn't matter on weekdays, but when it comes to finances, problems immediately arise.

Because according to the operation mode of the regular position, it is a non-profit organization. If you buy at a high price and sell at a low price, you will lose money in the long run.Who should bear these shortfalls?In terms of purchasing food and daily operations, the regular warehouse also requires a lot of funds.

But Sinong Temple is a Qingshui yamen, very poor!As for the situation of the third department in charge of finance itself, it is not optimistic. The economic situation of the Song Dynasty has never been better, and the third department in charge of the country's financial management is not easy at all.

When the money is a bit more generous, the funds for the regular position can be allocated in place.Once Sansi was too busy to take care of himself, Chang Pingcang was like a motherless child, struggling to live with his own resources.

The situation is far worse than this. Even if the third division allocates funds, it still has to go through the local government.The states and counties are not fuel-efficient lamps. After some exploitation, how many can actually reach Changping warehouse?If things go on like this, a vicious cycle, Changping warehouse gradually cannot make ends meet, has reached the verge of bankruptcy.

This time Wang Anshi's reform, especially after the Promulgation of the Green Crop Law, the previously unknown Changping warehouse was finally able to come in handy, and it was brought back to life.

The arrival of County Magistrate Lin made this feeling of the little official even stronger. There was no such thing as a county magistrate coming to inspect before.No one cared about Leng Yamen at all, but today he suddenly looked radiant.The frustrated little official had already given up on his future, but at this moment hope burst out again.

Lin Zhao asked, "How many Changping warehouses are there in Qiantang County? How much is the grain storage?"

"Uh..." The clerk said submissively: "Go back to the county, there is only one Changping warehouse in Qiantang County..."

"Only one?" Lin Zhao couldn't help but sigh, could it be that the remote areas along the southeast coast are not taken seriously?

It was the little official's next words that made him suddenly understand, and at the same time he was a little surprised.The little official said: "Not only Qiantang County, but even Hangzhou, the entire Liangzhe Road is only here."

"What?" The whole result surprised Lin Zhao!

The little official said: "That's true, only the places where the state capitals are located have Changping warehouses!"

That's it... Lin Zhao understood the problem in a second.The implementation of Qingmiao Rice depends largely on the Changping warehouse, but its quantity and distribution area obviously cannot meet the demand.

There are many people and few warehouses, and the geographical distribution is unreasonable.For example, the people on Liangzhe Road never made a special trip to Hangzhou from places as far away as Yuezhou and Quzhou to receive money or food for young crops, right?Otherwise, the transportation costs alone will not be affordable.It can be seen from this point that the content of the reform was negligent from the very beginning, and it was destined to be full of difficulties.

Lin Zhao asked again, "How is the grain stored in the warehouse this year?"

The little official was very proud of this, and said: "Hangzhou has been enjoying good weather and good harvests every year. I bought a batch of grain at a low price before, and the stock is absolutely sufficient."

With this guarantee, Lin Zhao feels more at ease.As for how to implement the Green Crop Law, and the issue of closing warehouses... Lin Zhao felt that he should do something.

While he was thinking, someone came to report: "Magistrate Lin, someone from Bianjing..."

"Yeah!" Lin Zhao responded, and when he was about to leave, a thunder exploded in the sky!

(End of this chapter)