Jiangsu, Suzhou, Governor's Department. Pen % fun % Pavilion www.biquge.info

Master Qian Liang Tang Shengkui hurriedly walked into the signing room, glanced at Xu Jishe, who was sitting on the desk, and arched his hand: "Dong Weng-." ”

Xu Jishe put down her pen and got up, stretched out her hand to give up her seat, and after ordering the tea, she said with a warm face: "The summer grain has been relieved in full, right?" ”

As the master of money and grain, Tang Shengkui naturally knew about the fact that the imperial court had sent a telegram urging the provinces to pay the summer grain, so he immediately nodded and said, "The summer grain has been solved in full. After a pause, he continued: "Now that the grain is on the railway, Jiangning is quite busy transshipment across the river, and there should still be some of them that have not yet left the province. ”

Before leaving the province, Yuan Qi could intercept a telegram, after all, the Beijing-Hangzhou Railway was in the hands of Yuan Qi, Xu Jishe glanced at him, smiled and waved his hand, "Mr. doesn't know Yi Guocheng, if he wanted to intercept it, he would have done it a long time ago." ”

"After the summer grain, there is the autumn grain." Tang Shengkui said slowly: "Now that the southeast has become a separatist, it is better for Dong Weng to test it." ”

This is not unreasonable, now most of the officials in the southeast provinces are of the Yuanqi line, Yi Zhishu is tempted by abolishing the Li Jin system, and the intention of separating the southeast is already Sima Zhao's heart, and everyone knows it, but with Xu Jishe's understanding of Yi Zhizhi, even if the pattern is southeast, he will not openly turn his face with the imperial court.

Seeing that he was silent, Tang Shengkui continued: "Even if Grandpa Yi has no intention, Dong Weng is still a good ...... to try." ”

Xu Jishe nodded, whether to test or not, this is a matter of attitude, but how to test? Is it a trip to Shanghai in person? Or send a telegram?

Seeing him nodding, but not saying a word, Tang Shengkui couldn't help but smile in his heart, he knew his temperament as a Dong Weng, and also knew his relationship with Yi Zhi, so he immediately said slowly: "Dong Weng might as well report it directly, Xia Liang has been fully solved." ”

"As Mr. said." Xu Jishe said first, this is not only a retribution, but also a temptation, and it is better to be quiet.

Shanghai, Zhenhai Mansion, Changle Book House.

Cao Gensheng walked quickly to the door with three telegrams, glanced at the room, and saw that there were three people present: Bao Shichen, Wu Changqing, and Yan Shikuan, so he reported softly: "Big shopkeeper, Suzhou, Fuzhou, Anqing calls. ”

Yi Zhizu took the telegram and looked through it, and casually transferred it to Bao Shichen, the three telegrams were very concise, and they all said the same thing - summer grain.

"This is a test of the lord's attitude towards the imperial court's taxation." Bao Shichen said and looked at Cao Gensheng, "The telegrams from the governors of the provinces are always available. ”

"Yes." Cao Gensheng bowed slightly and left quickly.

Yi Zhishu lit a cigarette casually, and the imperial court called the governors of the provinces to urge the summer grain, which was to test whether the southeastern provinces would pay taxes normally, and Bao Shichen continued to test the reaction of the governors of the provinces with this matter, but in his opinion, it was no longer necessary, and now there is no suspense about separating the southeast, who is disobedient, just take it out.

After reading the telegram, Yan Shikuan asked directly: "The southeastern provinces pay tens of millions of taxes a year, what is the plan of the big shopkeeper?" ”

Yi Zhizu didn't answer, but looked at Bao Shichen, "What do you think, sir?" ”

"Pay normally." Bao Shichen said without thinking: "If the lord intercepts the taxes of the southeastern provinces, the imperial court will inevitably turn against him. ”

Nodding slightly, Yi Zhizhi said contentmently: "Regarding the tax, can you tell me in detail?" ”

Could it be that you really plan to intercept it? Bao Shichen pondered for a while before he said slowly: "At present, the main agricultural taxes paid by the local provinces can be divided into -- land, allowance, and donation.

Diding is the official endowment of the imperial court, and the allowance and donation are additional taxes derived on the basis of the diding, so they are also called the allowance according to the grain and the donation according to the grain. ”

Estimating that Yi Zhishu may have a very vague understanding of taxation, Bao Shichen explained in detail: "Land, that is, land endowment, Ding, is Ding tax. Men between the ages of 16 and 60 are required to perform forced labor or pay a ding tax.

Diding, that is, the Ding silver is spread into the acres of land, and the Ding tax and the land endowment are combined into one and collected. The imperial court customized, one tael of silver per acre of land, and two coins of silver.

In addition, one or five taels of silver are levied on each tael of silver, and there are many surcharges such as leveling, dumping, string tickets, public expenses, clerical meals, paper, sheaths, ropes, foot fees, and escorts, which vary from place to place.

The collection of money and grain is based on two periods of summer grain and autumn grain every year, the summer grain is levied in February, and half of the tax amount of the year is paid before June, and the autumn grain is levied in August and the full amount is levied in November.

After the collection is completed, the copper money will be converted into silver taels, and cast into ten taels of silver ingots according to the color of Kuping Ku, after acceptance and sealing, the seal will be pasted, the official seal will be stamped, and the matter of requisitioning and requisitioning the land and the amount of money and silver will be written into official documents, and the competent officials will be appointed to escort them to the provincial capital to pay the treasurer. ”

After a pause, he continued: "The eight provinces of Jiangxi, Jiangsu, Zhejiang, Hunan, Hubei, Henan, Anhui and Shandong pay grain, and the amount of grain is 4 million stone a year. If the southeastern provinces do not pay taxes normally, it will also mean that the supply of grain will be cut off, which is also the reason why the imperial court is eager to send electricity to urge summer grain. ”

Yi Zhifen, Wu Changqing, and Yan Shikuan can be said to be ignorant of the situation of taxation, but they still know the importance of grain, and Jingshi can refer to those who live on grain, Yan Shikuan couldn't help but ask: "What's the matter with allowances and donations?" ”

"Allowances and contributions, also known as allowances and contributions." Bao Shichen said slowly: "Let's talk about the allowance first, also known as the allowance according to the grain, and the allowance according to the grain and military needs. In the first year of Jiaqing, the White Lotus Sect caused rebellion in Hubei, Sichuan, and Shaanxi provinces, and the military expenditure was huge.

Sichuan's grain allowance is one tael of silver for each land levy, and an additional allowance is one tael, which is levied and paid together with the land every year. Later, it was gradually promoted in the provinces, and even if there was no war, it was collected as usual under different names, and now it has become a regular endowment. ”

"This is tantamount to paying two pieces of Diding silver in disguise?" Yan Shikuan couldn't help but be secretly speechless.

"In some provinces, this grain allowance is two or three times the amount of Diding silver." Bao Shichen sighed lightly, and then said: "Let's talk about donation, this is according to the grain donation, the donation was originally to persuade the rich gentry and nobles to donate, and it has nothing to do with the small and medium-sized households.

However, since Xianfeng ascended the throne, the encirclement and suppression of the Taiping army expenditure is huge, the military salary is insufficient, to the provinces to increase the amount of money, Sichuan levies 2 million taels of silver every year, it is difficult to donate enough to the normal donation, and then merged into the local silver, stipulating that each local Ding is one tael of silver, and often donates two or three taels, and the provinces are also vying to follow suit.

Nowadays, each province has one tael of silver, one tael of allowances, two taels of regular donations, plus various miscellaneous expenses such as fire consumption, surplus, and relief, totaling five or six taels.

In addition, there are also husband and horse apportionment, prison three fees, righteous roll apportionment, city defense regiment training fee, etc., and the same as allowances and donations, all of which are levied on the people according to the grain distribution, and are levied and extorted violently, and they are taken by ingenuity. ”

Wu Changqing was shocked when he heard this, and said in disbelief: "With such heavy taxes, why is the imperial court still so poor?" ”

Bao Shichen said coldly: "Three years of Qing Governor's Mansion, 100,000 snowflakes of silver, these additional taxes, the imperial court can get half of it, it's not bad!" ”

"These officials are also dark! I only knew that they were greedy, but I didn't know that they were so greedy! Yan Shikuan said angrily: "Big treasurer, the southeastern provinces can't let them come nonsense!" ”

"When the water is clear, there are no fish, and the southeastern provinces are not the South Seas." Bao Shichen said slowly: "The officials of the two provinces of Nanyang are all selected by the lord from among the scholars....... ”

Seeing Bao Shichen look over, Yi Zhishu sighed slightly before saying: "The rule of officials is a big article, if you want to have a new atmosphere in the southeast, you have to start with the rule of officials, but at the moment, the war is not over, but you can't be in a hurry, and find out the bottom first." ”

After a pause, he continued: "The southeast tax is paid normally for the time being, and the imperial court cannot be forced to be anxious, everything has to be done step by step." ”

Before the words fell, Cao Gensheng walked in with an excited face, and reported: "Big shopkeeper, the submarine cable from Qiongzhou to Luzon has been connected!" The two provinces of Nanyang can directly receive and receive telegrams! ”

"Congratulations, sir." Bao Shichen smiled and arched his hand.

Yi Zhizhi was also very excited, connecting the Nanyang telegram meant that he could get the news of the Crimean War more quickly, and with the telegram, he could also remotely control the two Nanyang provinces anytime and anywhere, "Reward!" He said happily: "Send a message to congratulate them, and reward them with three thousand silver dollars." ”

In just one day, the governors of the southeastern provinces called to test Yi Zhi's reaction to the summer grain, and Yi Zhi's reply was simple, "Everything is business as usual." ”

It's business as usual! Xianfeng put down the telegram and breathed a sigh of relief, as long as the southeastern provinces pay taxes as usual, there is nothing to worry about, if you want to take it, you must give it first, and let Yi Zhizhi be arrogant for a few more years, wait for the Taiping Army, wait for the Citigroup to transport machinery and equipment to make Mini guns and ammunition, and wait for the New Army of the Eight Banners to grow rapidly, and then slowly clean him up is not too late.

Glancing at Mu Zhang'a, who was kneeling below, he asked slowly, "Is there any news from Yungui and Guangxi?" ”

"Back to the emperor." Mu Zhang'a hurriedly said: "Since Hunan and Guangxi were occupied by bandits before, no telegraph lines were laid, and Yungui also did not open a telegraph, so it was impossible to know the situation on the front line in time. ”

Hearing this, Xianfeng was speechless for a long time, he didn't realize it before, after tasting the speed of the telegram, he realized that it was really inconvenient to have no telegram, and he groaned slightly, and then he said: "The military situation of encircling and suppressing the bandits, report it as you go." ”

"The minions obey." Mu Zhang'a hurriedly bowed and said.

There is no telegram in Yunnan, Guizhou, Hunan, and Guangxi, and it is very inconvenient for Yi Zhizhi to be content, but he is full of confidence in the Marine Corps, and he is not too worried, after all, the weapons and equipment and the quality of soldiers on both sides are not of the same grade at all, and in his opinion, it is only a matter of time before the Taiping Army is exterminated, and what he is most concerned about at present is the Crimean War.

In his opinion, the Crimean War was very important for the Qing Dynasty, which was not only related to his plan for northwest expansion, but also related to Eastern Siberia, the British and French combined fleet came to the Far East to encircle and suppress the Russian Pacific Fleet in the Far East, which was really unexpected to him, if he could pull out the Russian Pacific Fleet in the Far East in one fell swoop, for the Qing Dynasty, it would be a once-in-a-century opportunity!

Both Alaska and Eastern Siberia seem to be barren places at present, but no one knows that these two places contain rich and mouth-watering resources underground.

$7.2 million sold Alaska's vast 1.7 million square kilometers, which is the most famous trade in history, this kind of pie-in-the-sky good thing, he naturally can't miss it!

However, for the current Qing Dynasty, Alaska is tantamount to an enclave, and if you can get Kamchatka Peninsula and Eastern Siberia, then you can connect Alaska! The Qing Dynasty will also become an empire that spans two continents!

However, Russia will sell Alaska, but it may not sell Kamchatka and Eastern Siberia, for Tsarist Russia, which has been tirelessly pursuing access to the sea for hundreds of years, it is almost impossible for them to sell Kamchatka, even if they lack money, it is impossible, only to fight!

After the defeat of the Crimean War, Russia was completely a water dog, which could not be turned over in at least ten years, and he only had to wait for the combined Anglo-French fleet to withdraw from Kamchatka, and he could send a fleet to forcibly capture Kamchatka. Only by occupying the Kamchatka Peninsula did the Qing Dynasty have the opportunity to encroach on the uninhabited East Siberia!

For the Qing Dynasty, this is an extremely rare opportunity for expansion, and even in his opinion, the northeast expansion is far more meaningful than the northwest expansion! After all, the resistance in Central Asia and West Asia is too great, and even if they can take the opportunity to occupy it, I am afraid that they will be forced to spit out in the end, after all, European countries definitely do not want to see the Qing Dynasty get involved in West Asia!

The expansion of the Northeast is different, it is possible to occupy it permanently, Britain and France and other European powers are not interested in East Siberia, Kamchatka, Alaska, even if the United States is interested in Alaska, it will not be interested in East Siberia and Kamchatka.

There is only one enemy - Tsarist Russia! Moreover, there was no national liberation movement, after all, Kamchatka and Eastern Siberia were deserted and uninhabited.

In later generations, Russia and the United States were the most successful in their expansion in the 19th century, and England, known as the "empire on which the sun never sets", had 30 million square kilometers overseas and received almost nothing.

The reason is very simple, the national liberation movement in later generations was surging, almost all British colonies became independent, and even after the disintegration of Tsarist Russia, it still firmly controlled Eastern Siberia and Kamchatka!

However, the situation in the Crimean War, which was considered crucial by Yi Zhixiang, was very bad, as Russia was not only losing on the battlefield, but also being rubbed a handful of salt in the wounds by its allies, and when Russia needed the help of its allies the most, the two allies of the Holy Alliance, Austria and Prussia, declared neutrality and secretly formed a defensive alliance.

In this regard, not only was Russia frustrated and angry, but also contentment and indignant, and Tsarist Russia fought alone, greatly limiting the scale, scope and time of this war! He was not only happy to see Russia defeated, but even more willing to see the whole of Europe involved in this war, and this wishful thinking was obviously in vain!