Chapter 301: Goodwill and Enmity |
Speed was of the essence.
Zhang Fei knew well that his own strength was weak, while his opponents could be said to control lightning and thunder. If he faced them head-on in direct confrontation, he definitely couldn’t defeat them.
He could only win through speed, constantly creating time gaps.
Simply put, when they prepared to respond to this move, he would immediately make the next move, rather than following traditional rules of taking turns one by one.
Now everyone could see through Zhang Fei’s tactics.
First settle the common people, then deal with the powerful elites.
Actually, many people thought the powerful and the common people were enemies, but this wasn’t the case – their relationship was actually very close.
Because the powerful controlled the means of production, while the common people held the productive energy.
Whether obstructing reforms or directly rebelling, it was always the common people who caused trouble first, then the powerful raised their banners – the pattern was basically the same.
Another issue of the news report was published.
This issue directly announced the collection of street encroachment fees.
It mainly targeted those encroachments that posed no safety hazards but exceeded the standard ward wall boundaries.
The standard range was calculated to be about twenty square meters.
Two choices.
Either demolish.
Or pay taxes.
The newspaper also published tax rates – the minimum rate was 2.83% of current market prices, with a maximum of 4.5%.
The larger the occupied area, the more they collected.
It also provided specific explanations that this tax rate was based on the average of Bianjing land price increases over the past five years, roughly 2%. The additional 0.83% was actually derived from current rental rates compared to sale prices.
Simply put, this land didn’t belong to them, but they could use it and trade it – these usage and transaction fees couldn’t be monopolized by them alone.
This was public land after all.
But actually they still had profits to make, because Zhang Fei calculated averages based on housing prices and rents, and those powerful families’ mansions were definitely above average.
They were being pulled down by the average.
Collection began immediately.
Look, look, look – this fox’s tail was finally showing.
After causing all this trouble, wasn’t it just about money?
Absolutely competing with the people for benefits!
That day the imperial city was filled with complaints.
In the Chamber of State Affairs.
“Sigh, he’s still a young man after all, can’t keep his composure.”
Wen Yanbo sighed.
Sima Guang was also deeply worried: “The matter with the common people hasn’t even been sorted out yet, the replacement stalls haven’t been settled, and he’s already rushing to collect taxes. This excellent situation will likely face new complications!”
They couldn’t understand – this excellent situation was right before them. As long as the common people were properly settled and the replacement stall arrangements were handled well, gaining popular support, those powerful families would be like dead fish in a jar, easy to catch. Why was he in such a hurry?
At the police bureau.
“Old Hou! What brings you here?”
Zhang Fei asked Hou Donglai: “Did something happen at the bookstore?”
Hou Donglai hurriedly said: “No! No! It’s just… someone wants to publish an article in the Scholar’s Gazette.”
Zhang Fei asked: “Who?”
Hou Donglai said: “Pei Jian, Lord Pei.”
Zhang Fei scratched his head and asked: “Does he count as a scholar?”
Hou Donglai hurriedly said: “Of course he does. Lord Pei is well-versed in astronomy and geography, and heads the Imperial Observatory.”
Zhang Fei became interested: “Is he publishing an article on astronomy and geography?”
“Not exactly.”
Hou Donglai handed Zhang Fei a document.
Zhang Fei took it and looked – the entire article criticized the police bureau’s urban reforms, saying it was all about money in the end. He immediately laughed: “Looks like his family has encroached on quite a bit of land! Publish it! Publish it! Print extra copies – this newspaper will definitely sell well, but don’t keep extra stock. This issue can only make one quick profit.”
“Wait!”
Suddenly a voice shouted to stop them. Cao Ping walked in, roughly snatched the article from Zhang Fei’s hands, and after reading it, immediately scolded Zhang Fei: “You really want money more than your life – you’d actually publish this?”
Zhang Fei first waved to Hou Donglai: “Wait outside for now.”
After Hou Donglai left, Zhang Fei said to Cao Ping: “Commissioner, can we really stop people from printing pamphlets? Might as well let me earn a bit – I’ve done so much work but haven’t gotten any bonus at all.”
Cao Ping waved his hand and said, “Let’s not talk about that matter for now. Don’t you think you’re being a bit too hasty with this? It’s already widely rumored outside that, just as this article states, the so-called reforms are merely for collecting money to fill our police’s coffers.”
Zhang Fei nodded with a smile and said, “Yes! They’re absolutely right. I am indeed collecting money to fill the police’s coffers.”
“That may be so, but… but you shouldn’t have said it so early.” Cao Ping said, “The commoners’ affairs haven’t been properly handled yet, and now you’re provoking them again. This will only incite more opposition.
Don’t you know that many of the wealthy and powerful were initially hoping they could pay just a small amount to settle this street encroachment matter, so they didn’t oppose it much? Now that they know they’ll have to pay so much money every year, these people will all stand up in opposition too.”
Zhang Fei asked with a smile, “Have you ever cooked before?”
Cao Ping glanced at him sideways.
Zhang Fei explained, “Cooking is all about timing. High heat may be fast, but it’s not necessarily good. Low heat may be good, but it’s rather slow. Timing is the most important thing.”
Cao Ping looked confused, “What exactly are you talking about?”
Zhang Fei smiled and said, “I’m just saying that now is the perfect timing. You may rest assured – not only will there be no trouble, but it will actually benefit us.”
Cao Ping was stunned, “Benefit us?”
Just then, Ma Xiaoyi suddenly walked in, “Reporting to the Commissioner, this subordinate has urgent matters to report.”
Cao Ping asked, “What matter?”
“It’s like this.” Ma Xiaoyi nervously handed over a tax bill, “The street encroachment fee for the Commissioner’s household has just been calculated. Since I saw the Commissioner was here, I thought…”
Cao Ping immediately began to question his life choices. Are you trying to make an example of my family? He immediately exploded in anger, “Your Ma family has also encroached on the street.”
Ma Xiaoyi said sheepishly, “Big brother is currently at my house collecting the fee.”
Cao Ping was slightly stunned, then sneered coldly, “I understand now. You two boys are taking turns collecting taxes. Hmph, how clever indeed.”
Ma Xiaoyi immediately pointed at Zhang Fei, “This was Brother San’s idea.”
Zhang Fei immediately panicked, “Damn! Little Ma, what happened to our brotherhood?”
Cao Ping pointed at Zhang Fei, “If you don’t explain this clearly today, this matter isn’t over.”
At the Ma family house.
“Xiaoyi went to the police bureau early this morning and isn’t home.”
“I know Little Ma is at the police bureau now. I came specifically to find Uncle Ma.” Cao Dongdong said with a grin.
Ma Tianhao was puzzled, “What do you want with me?”
“Nothing else.” Cao Dongdong pulled out a tax bill, “This is the street encroachment fee that Uncle’s family needs to pay, hehe!”
Ma Tianhao’s expression froze, “Dong’er, given the relationship between our two families, you’re coming to my house to collect taxes?”
Cao Dongdong immediately said, “It’s Little Ma who’s being unreasonable. He went to my house to collect taxes first, so I…!”
Ma Tianhao was shocked, “You’re saying Xiaoyi went to your house to collect taxes?”
Cao Dongdong nodded vigorously, “Exactly! To get promoted, he completely disregarded brotherly bonds. If Uncle Ma doesn’t believe me, you can ask my father.”
Ma Tianhao wondered, “Can he really get promoted then?”
Cao Dongdong sighed, “At the time, my father praised him for not fearing the powerful, being impartial, and strictly enforcing the law, and was planning to promote him to captain.”
“Ah?”
At the police bureau, completely ignoring the curses of those wealthy and powerful people, they had already begun systematically collecting taxes from these major street encroachers and requiring them to make corrections.
Cao Dongdong and Ma Xiaoyi’s strategy was to target acquaintances first.
Starting with people they knew.
At White Crystal Inn.
“Brother! Don’t blame us for not showing consideration – our own families have paid too.” Cao Dongdong sighed.
Ma Xiaoyi nodded repeatedly.
Fan Zheng carefully examined the tax bill and said, “Paying taxes isn’t a problem, but I need to clearly know – after paying taxes, whose land is this exactly?”
Ma Xiaoyi quickly said, “Section 17 state this very clearly. The land tax follows the household. As long as you pay taxes, this land belongs to you, and you can buy and sell it freely.”
Fan Zheng asked, “What if we stop paying taxes?”
Ma Xiaoyi grinned, “Then it won’t belong to you anymore.”
The meaning was clear – this tax would continue to be collected indefinitely.
You really are ruthless enough. Fan Zheng nodded slightly and said, “Alright, I’ll go pay the taxes when the time comes.”
“That works. We’ll take our leave then.”
Dongdong and Ma Xiaoyi habitually stood up to leave.
“Wait!”
Fan Zheng pointed at the food and wine on the table and said, “Young Master, Little Ma, you’re wearing official robes now. You need to be careful, lest people catch you and think we’re engaging in private dealings.”
Dongdong glanced at Fan Zheng and chuckled, “Brother, your revenge comes awfully fast. Let’s talk about the next meal later.”
Fan Zheng cupped his hands and said, “I’m thinking of both your official careers.”
“Put it on the tab!”
“Putting it on the tab is such a hassle. Why not just deduct it from some taxes?”
“Taozi! Pay the bill!”
After shouting, Dongdong put his hand on Ma Xiaoyi’s shoulder, and as they walked out, he whispered, “Little Ma, from now on we’ll have to think of another way to come here and mooch drinks.”
Ma Xiaoyi’s eyes darted around: “How about we move the vehicle license auctions to somewhere else?”
Dongdong blinked, “Good idea.”
Meanwhile, Pei Jian’s article had finally been published.
It received unanimous praise among the scholar-official class, which immediately united the scholar-officials.
They respected Zhang Fei as a true man.
You actually published this too.
However, what happened next left them dumbfounded.
The day after this issue of the Scholar’s Gazette was released, even more commoners came to the police stations to pay their fees.
The more harshly they criticized, the more eagerly the people paid, afraid of falling behind others.
This…
Had the common people struck it rich?
Taking out ten strings at once wasn’t a small sum.
We’re waving flags and shouting for you, crying injustice on your behalf, so why are you being so enthusiastic?
Little did they know, their criticism actually made the common people feel much more balanced.
We only need to pay ten strings, and this land becomes ours, while you have to pay ten strings every year, or even dozens of strings.
This was truly a sure profit!
For the first time, the poor paid less tax than the powerful.
Speaking of which, if even the powerful had to pay, how could they escape?
They were even afraid that the Police Bureau might change its mind and make them pay annually too, so they had to hurry to get these new land deeds, because they had already consulted the Legal Aid Office and learned that once they got the new deeds, the land would be theirs.
This actually created a kind of mutual encouragement.
The more the Police Bureau collected from the powerful, the more enthusiastic the common people became.
And the more enthusiastic the common people became, the quieter the voices of the powerful grew.
Competing with the people for benefits.
So you’re the people, and those common folk are all prime ministers?
The News Gazette also published another issue, greatly praising the people of Bianjing for knowing and obeying the law – truly good people for the ages.
But don’t be so enthusiastic – our police stations have limited manpower and can’t keep up!
The powerful immediately lowered their flags and silenced their drums.
The voices of opposition grew smaller and smaller. Whoever opposed now would be challenging the law.
It should be known that this entire process was law enforcement, not reform. They could choose to return the public land they had occupied, and past encroachment responsibilities would not be pursued.
They could only stir up public anger to cover for themselves, but now the people were so eager to pay taxes.
Moreover, it was very fair – for the parts of ward walls they had encroached upon, just like the common people, if it was residential use, they only needed to pay one hundred coins, and if commercial use, ten strings, and the land would belong to them. Only the excess land beyond that would require paying the street encroachment fee.
At midday.
Two patrol officers were seen escorting a night soil collector toward a large mansion.
“Hurry up, hurry up! Did you not eat today?”
“Damn! Don’t mention eating, it’s really disgusting.”
“We’re not pushing night soil, so we’re not disgusted. Little Ma, where shall we eat later?”
“White Crystal Inn, and we can discuss the vehicle license auction business with Fan Zheng while we’re there.”
“Ugh!”
These three were Dongdong, Ma Xiaoyi, and Zhang Fei.
Zhang Fei had returned to his old trade today, shoveling manure again. The money had been collected, so the work had to be done. He couldn’t help it – the streets were still full of excrement.
The three arrived at a large mansion.
Dong dong dong!
A series of knocks sounded.
“Who is it?”
A doorkeeper opened the door and immediately covered his nose and mouth. “What is that? It stinks so much!”
Dongdong asked, “Is your master home?”
Seeing they were patrol officers, the doorkeeper cautiously replied, “Yes, yes, he’s home.”
Dongdong said, “Then please trouble you to go notify your master that we patrol officers have come to collect taxes.”
“Please wait a moment.”
With that, the door was shut.
After quite a while, the door opened again, and naturally it wasn’t Gu Ji who came out, but Gu Shaoqing.
Master Gu Ji had his dignity to maintain.
Before Gu Shaoqing could even step over the threshold, a cart of manure was thrust right in front of him. Looking up and seeing it was Zhang Fei, enemies meeting face to face made his eyes burn with hatred. He said to Dongdong, “Young Master, bringing a manure cart to my home is rather excessive bullying.”
Dongdong said with a grin, “Don’t blame me, Shaoqing. Our police station is short-staffed, so we can only shovel manure and collect taxes at the same time.”
Gu Shaoqing sneered coldly, “When did Young Master start consorting with these lowly people, becoming so fond of associating with manure?”
Ma Xiaoyi immediately said, “Young Master Gu, you don’t understand. This cart of manure is precious – it’s worth hundreds of thousands of strings. We’re delighted to associate with this manure.”
Dongdong nodded vigorously, “Exactly! Exactly! This isn’t shoveling manure – this is shoveling gold!”
With that, he waved his hand, “Zhang San, quickly bring out the tax bill for Young Master Gu.”
“Yes.”
Zhang Fei immediately pulled out a tax bill and handed it over with a smile, “When Young Master Gu previously bestowed a cart of manure upon me, I had no way to repay you. This small gift – I hope Young Master Gu will accept it with a smile.”
Dongdong and Ma Xiaoyi laughed so hard their shoulders shook.
Gu Shaoqing snorted angrily, “You beggar, what right do you have to come to this young master’s home demanding money?”
“Farewell!”
The three men clasped their fists in unison, abandoned the manure cart, and walked away.
“Stop!”
Gu Shaoqing shouted loudly, “Your manure cart!”
Dongdong said, “Our police station is very reasonable. If you’re unwilling to pay the street encroachment fee, we won’t force you. I’ve already decided to requisition this area as a manure pit, specifically for temporarily storing manure. This cart of manure will be left here first – we’ll mark out the boundaries.”
Gu Shaoqing glared with fury, pointing at Dongdong, “Dongdong, don’t go too far with your bullying!”
Dongdong chuckled, “If Shaoqing is dissatisfied, you’re welcome to file a complaint against us.”
Zhang Fei said in a low voice, “Young Master Gu, you can contact our Bianjing Law Firm.”
“You…”
“Take it!”
Zhang Fei’s expression changed as he directly handed over the tax bill, “You think you can cover the sky with one hand? Damn, this time it’s just a lesson for you. Next time you fall into my hands, I’ll dump the manure right at your front door.”
“Oh! A mere corvee runner dares to act so insolently at this official’s residence.”
Gu Ji emerged with a dark expression, followed by a group of servants.
Zhang Fei smiled, “A dignified Director of the Imperial Treasury actually evades taxes and threatens law enforcement officers – truly eye-opening.”
Gu Ji said through gritted teeth, “Are you tired of living, boy?”
Zhang Fei replied, “Wang Wenshan and Wang Hong once said the same thing to me. Does Director Gu want to take a long trip as well?”
“We’ll see about that.”
After delivering this harsh threat, Gu Ji turned and left.
Gu Shaoqing also turned and went back inside.
The doorkeeper snatched the tax bill from Zhang Fei’s hands and shut the main gate.