After Transmigration: Building a Kingdom in Turbulent Times

Chapter 1136 - 1118: Tax Reduction and Exemption

Once again, it was the day of the ten-day holiday, and the people of Zhuoxian, Youzhou subconsciously headed to the county government announcement wall, the gates of the towns, while the rural folks went to the great market.

In the past, the market days were on the first and fifteenth of the lunar month. Since Youzhou had a school, which took on the task of communicating government decrees, the market days gradually changed to once every ten days, on the first day of the students’ holiday every time.

This was not a requirement from the government but was initiated by the people themselves.

Previously, they did not feel these government decrees were particularly relevant to them, but whenever the government had relief aid, conscription, tax exemptions, and other policies, the students would read them out at the market, even more detailed than what the village chief told them. So, they couldn’t help but go to the market to listen.

Since they were going to the market, how could they not conveniently exchange for some urgently needed items to bring back?

Therefore, every market gathering was lively, even though lately it was farming season, they would still take half a day to go to the market.

This time, four students came to work, two of them were sixteen or seventeen years old, scholars who had studied for several years, bringing along two boys aged around eleven or twelve, who had only joined the school for half a year and knew fewer characters, there to maintain order and run errands.

The two eldest had already studied for several years, and after another year, learning new books like "New Arithmetic," they could become teachers at the school. Of course, if they didn’t want to teach, they could take an exam to become government clerks or participate in talent recruitment exams.

However, with their current knowledge they couldn’t participate in the talent recruitment exams, as for being a government clerk, it’s better to be a teacher at the school.

A teacher’s monthly salary is much higher than that of a government clerk.

"...The official salt price is unified nationwide. This month, the official salt is sold at 800 cents per dan, seven cents per pound. Only government salt shops and designated grocery stores can purchase it, the government strictly orders not to hoard official salt. If the price of salt sold outside is below six cents or above nine cents, it will be treated as private hoarding salt..."

Buzzing discussions filled the air, it was the people’s uncontrollable joy, "Half a pound of salt is enough for my family for half a year."

"No way, how much can half a pound of salt be?"

"It can be managed if conserved."

The students listened for a while, then flipped over the gazette and continued loudly: "Great General’s order, Youzhou had frequent calamities and disasters last year, people suffered hardships, hence, this year Youzhou is exempted from transfer and mouth tax, land rent is halved, while other fishing, hunting, livestock, weaving, medicine, and trade will be calculated based on benefits minus costs, tax one-tenth, no error allowed."

Concerning taxes, the listening people immediately became anxious, quickly asking: "What does it mean, what does it mean?"

The student loudly replied: "The Great General exempted Youzhou from transfer and mouth tax this year, land rent is halved, and artisans, like medical workers, livestock, weaving, and traders, after deducting costs, profits are divided into ten portions, and one portion must be tribute."

Many who had mainly dealt with fields before did not understand previous policies and could not help but ask: "Is it more, or less?"

"Less."

Upon hearing this, everyone rejoiced and asked, "If during the idle farming period, we take time to cultivate fields for people, or build houses for others, do we have to pay taxes on the earned money?"

Previously, it was required, when Great Jin was short on money, any excuse could be found. Carrying bags for others, earning ten cents a day, three cents must be handed over to the government.

Whenever a person left the village to find work, no matter if they found it or not, they had to pay an official road wear fee, even if they walked on small paths, it was not allowed. One year, Wang Jun even set up checkpoints on the roads, every passerby had to pay one cent for the defecation fee, arguing they polluted nature.

Even if someone held back and claimed not to relieve themselves, it was useless.

The students were also from Youzhou, subjected to these various messy fees, nodded at the gazette: "The Great General said all miscellaneous taxes besides the government-specified taxes are canceled. Counties do not have the right to private donations. If a donation is necessary, it must be reported to the Inspector Mansion. If there is no government decree, the number of new donations and taxes in a year shall not exceed three types, and per capita each type shall not exceed three sheng of grain."

Upon hearing this, the people couldn’t help but cheer.

The entire market was filled with the sounds of cheers, and when the market-goers returned to the villages, this news spread throughout the countryside.

A woman sitting by the fire diligently spinning yarn heard it, and due to excessive eye strain, tears streamed down as she lifted her head, "That’s wonderful, wonderful, now this year’s silk cloth and cotton can be kept for making clothes for you."

The man stepped forward, placing the yarn she held aside and said: "Since the government waived the transfer, there’s no rush to make it. Wait for the daylight to be better, your eyes need rest."

"I’m not tired. I’ll make more clothes for the children this year; last year they really suffered from the cold."

Having similar treatment to Youzhou were the devastated Yan State and the perpetually famished Yongzhou, whereas Bingzhou, Jizhou, Qingzhou, Guangzhou and other places had transfer reduced and exemption on mouth taxes, land rent halved.

The government decrees reached all states, except for some officials worrying about local finances, everyone else rejoiced with the people, the nation celebrating together.

In such jubilation, Luoyang and places south welcomed the summer harvest.

The school went on summer harvest vacation, students returned home, wielding scythes and rushed into the fields with their families to harvest wheat.

Xuzhou and Yangzhou, separated by a river, both were harvesting wheat in the fields. The excitement here transmitted over there, and they couldn’t resist but engage.

Thus, people on this side of the river also learned that side was exempted from mouth tax and many other taxes, instantly feeling envious.

The news slowly permeated Jiangdong and Jiangnan, both places’ people were deeply envious.

In the past year, they didn’t endure war like the Northern Land, but ordinary people had a tough life, especially around Poyang Lake, due to migrants from Shu entering, Wang Dun’s several disputes with the northern faction.

Coupled with the massive migration of noble families and commoners from the Northern Land, not only did they have a hard time, but the ordinary people squeezed out of living space also struggled.

Local people of Jiangdong and Jiangnan envied Central Plains for this year’s tax reductions, while those fled southward, trying hard to integrate into the local community, but not yet settled small noble families also had restless minds, looking northward, contemplating returning.

Only the Great Noble Families, wherever they went, their days weren’t particularly difficult.

Regarding Zhao Hanzhang’s measures in Central Plains, they naturally heard and thus approached Wang Dao, "Why doesn’t Mao Hong suggest to the Great King to also reduce taxes, to stabilize people’s hearts?"

Wang Dao said: "This method is good, everyone may jointly submit a petition."

Several exchanged glances, agreed, and arranged to submit the petition together.

Upon leaving Wang Mansion, they didn’t go their separate ways but changed to another place to continue drinking and gathering, "Since February, the Great King has not seen Mao Hong, and we don’t know what’s going on. Previously, for small matters like tax reduction, Mao Hong would just speak to the Great King, but now we actually need to submit the petition ourselves."