"President Zhu, this time the tax must be collected, and you might as well make it clear to the people when you collect taxes, the current state affairs are difficult, so the fifty percent tax is collected. It only takes two years, and after two years the tax is down. Zhang Zhenfang said to Zhu Danma.

As an ambitious young man, Zhu Dan hopes to change the status quo of China through efforts to enrich the country and strengthen the army after he is elected as a member of the parliament. Although he did not like the land reform policy implemented by the People's Party at all, the strength of the People's Party also made His Majesty Zhu Dan yearn for it. He talked to Zhou Zhentao about taxation, and Zhou Zhentao's suggestion was to change the previous situation of only collecting money and imitate the people's party's plan for paying taxes on grain.

The BJP does need food, and since it issues its own banknotes, the BJP's currency issuance is similar to food stamps at this stage. The price of grain cannot be shaken by iron, and residents must rely on their grain books and household registration books to buy the prescribed amount of grain. All ensured that the BJP's banknotes were quite strong. His Majesty Zhu Dan also wanted to learn from the People's Party in terms of taxation, and after collecting grain, he sold part of it to pay various silver expenses every month, and the surplus grain could be used by the people when they needed it. It can also be used to provide relief to the victims of the disaster, or to pay for the food rations of the students when they run schools. At least after listening to Zhou Zhentao's introduction, Zhu Dan formed his own thoughts. That's what the BJP did, so now the BJP has enough food to maintain stability in the base areas, including the issuance of currency. Various industries have also begun to be built, and each day is better than the next.

Now listening to Zhang Zhenfang's proposal to reduce taxes in the future, Zhu Dan is even more happy, he stood up and said excitedly: "Zhang Dudu, I will do my best in the future." ”

After Zhang Zhenfang left the Tax Police Academy, he was still uneasy in his heart, but he no longer had the feeling of hanging in the air. Zhu Danma's thoughts on taxation Zhang Zhenfang naturally knew, and Zhu Danma's initiative said it many times. Whether it is Zhang Zhenfang or Zhou Zhentao, they are just supporting and encouraging. In fact, the two have very different views. Zhou Zhentao's suggestion can be accepted by Zhang Zhenfang, it is by no means that Zhang Zhenfang is easy to fool, but Zhou Zhentao's suggestion is indeed reasonable. Zhou Zhentao suggested that Zhang Zhenfang use the railway to transport the grain collected from Henan to other places and sell it. The People's Party was overhauling the railway, especially after the seizure of the railway factory in Qingdao to control the Germans, and the speed of railway construction was much faster. The People's Party has begun construction of a railway from Xuzhou to Kaifeng, which, once completed, will allow supplies from Henan to go directly to Lianyungang. Large quantities of grain can be exported overseas, such as Japan and Southeast Asia.

Tax collection money, which is forcing the people to be exploited by landlords everywhere. Hoarding a lot of grain in Henan can stabilize local grain prices in Henan, but it also restricts the rise of grain prices. If it can be exported overseas, it is money to exchange more for less. Moreover, through the quota trade agreement, the customs can directly transfer the money to the central government of Yuan Shikai, and it can also be smoothly handed over. At the same time, the export of a large amount of grain can effectively promote grain prices. When the price of grain is high, Zhang Zhenfang throws a batch of grain to immediately give people the feeling of calming the price of grain, and at the same time, he can make money effectively.

After thinking about it, Zhang Zhenfang agreed to the plan of collecting taxes and only collecting grain. Regarding Zhou Zhentao's overall view, Zhang Zhenfang was even more shocked. When a person's vision is not limited to Henan Province, nor is it limited to China, but can include a larger scope, there are many solutions to problems that seem to be unsolvable. For this reason, Zhang Zhenfang specially sent people to investigate, and found that Japan had indeed done a good job in buying and selling low-priced grain, not only grain, but also more commodities purchased by Japan. Including cotton, raw silk, Japan is buying. It's just that the People's Party doesn't sell it, and it doesn't produce silk under Beiyang's rule. As for cotton, Henan produces it, but there is no railway to transport it to the seaside.

As if to prove Zhou Zhentao's foresight, in the fourth month of the lunar calendar, Chen Ke sent people to Henan to inquire about the construction of the railway to Kaifeng, and Zhang Zhenfang immediately agreed. As for the cost, Zhang Zhenfang asked the People's Party to give him cheap freight within two years, and the People's Party also agreed to this. Therefore, the tax is considered to be everything, only the east wind is owed, and this summer harvest can collect the grain, and Zhang Zhenfang can practice his real power as the governor of Henan. After a few days of preparation, the Henan tax police force was finally dispatched.

The wheat harvest in Zhuangzhai has already been harvested, and this year's harvest is very good thanks to the use of the seeds of the People's Party's "One Crop Wheat". In the first two years, everyone could only look at the tall wheat seedlings of the people in the next village, scolding in their hearts and mouths. This year, except for a few families with the faintest hearts, everyone planted this wheat seed. Although the ridges are not as neat as the villages under the People's Party, the harvest is more than 200 catties. Some good land can have 300 pounds. After the usual good harvest, it is only more than 200 catties, and it is very good to be able to harvest 150 catties in ordinary land. The joy of the people of Zhuangzhai is completely from the heart. Looking at the ordinary wheat fields surrounded by abundant wheat fields, the people would also joke with the sad-faced families.

As soon as the wheat was harvested, the people went to their relatives in the next village to seek wheat seeds. It's just that the wheat seeds in the People's Party are also harvested at this time, and it will take more than a month to arrive. Those who climb relatives, ask for wheat seeds, and relatives who don't move around much on weekdays have become celebrities at the moment.

Liu Jisheng didn't do this, he was most afraid of troublesome people, and if he troubled people, he had to accept everyone's favors. Although it is difficult to repay the money, it is even more difficult to repay the favor. He specifically inquired about the situation in the village of the People's Party, and the wheat seeds were brought from other places. Unified distribution, the people in the next village actually played a small trick, they bought an extra part of the wheat seeds, in addition to their own use, the rest of the high price sold to the people of the village. Rather than owing favors and paying more money, Liu Jisheng felt that it would be better to go directly to the People's Party's "agricultural service company" responsible for growing wheat. As the saying goes, burn incense and burn the right temple, and ask for the right person. Even if the extra money is directly paid to the owner of the People's Party Agricultural Service Company as a "tea fee", it is better than giving money to others and owing everyone a favor.

Hearing that people from the People's Party's Agricultural Service Company were coming these days, Liu Jisheng went there early every morning to wait, but he didn't dare to do so nominally, so he found a temporary job transporting dung in the alleys set up in various villages, and he could see more people coming and going in and out of the village.

Since following the People's Party, the village next door has made Liu Jisheng feel very different. The biggest change is naturally the seeds planted in the fields, followed by the fact that there are many more livelihoods in the village. The next village was merged with two other villages, and the new village could only be called a town. After the landlords' land was divided, in addition to the three acres of land for one person, a large amount of land was returned to the People's Party. However, the people of this village call these lands "state-owned land", which means state-owned. State-owned land is not good land, and under the guidance of the personnel of the Agricultural Science and Technology Service Company, the people planted paulownia trees, raised earthworms, and set up breeding farms. During the off-season, the people under the rule of the People's Party went to work in these various businesses on the ground. Kindergartens were opened in the new town, and the little dolls were sent to the kindergarten, and the half-grown dolls, both male and female, were sent to the newly opened school. It is said that there is even a lunch served in the school. Not only do you not have to pay for school, but you can also eat a meal. Unexpectedly, Liu Jisheng felt inexplicably jealous.

What made Liu Jisheng most jealous was that the People's Party actually engaged in "centralized residence", and Hulachao began to build houses in a centralized manner. The original adobe houses were all pushed, and the new houses were all two-story small red brick houses. It looks better than the original landlord's house, and it is also equipped with transparent glass windows. On weekdays, the new town and the people of Zhuangzhai are not busy in the slack season, and after the new town is subdued by the People's Party, the year is busy. In addition to building houses, there are many new things to do. It's not just men who do it, women do it too.

These new livelihoods are now mainly animal husbandry, but also tree planting. Paulownia saplings were also transported from outside, and when they were first transported, they were all bare slender tree poles, and many people in Zhuangzhai suspected that this was a lie at all. Unexpectedly, in the past two years, the saplings have not only survived, but also grown extremely fast, compared with the low jujube bushes in Zhuangzhai, but the people in Zhuangzhai are envious. Since there is such a big livelihood, there are naturally many jobs. The people in the town next door couldn't keep themselves busy, and Liu Jisheng never annoyed people, so he applied for a part-time job, and people also worked for him. Relying on this opportunity, Liu Jisheng also learned more and more about the People's Party.

I had just finished transporting chicken manure, but I saw a group of red flags coming from the entrance of the town. The team is full of young people, and dozens of big cars have been pressed, all of which are new-style rubber wheels. It was piled with sacks. Look at the dress is on the official face. When the people in the town saw these people, they greeted them happily whether they knew them or not. Liu Jisheng was not in a hurry to catch up. After his morning's work, he went to wash his hands at the water pipe in the new town before going to the office of the agricultural service company.

Those young people can only be called teenagers, and many of them look immature when they are not yet 20 years old. Liu Jisheng originally wanted to be called "brother", but it was not right to look at it, so he changed his title, "Little brother, are you here to sell seeds?" ”

"Hello, uncle." The boy politely replied, "We're here to sell the seeds." ”

Facing the kind and polite young man, Liu Jisheng hurriedly replied: "Little brother, hello." I'm from the village next door, I want to ask you to buy seeds from you, can you call the shots? ”

The young man smiled: "Uncle, we can't be the master of this matter. You have to find Captain Liu of our company. ”

"Can you trouble the little brother to show the way?" Liu Jisheng hurriedly said.

"Yes." The boy laughed.

Following the young man to another room, the young man briefly introduced Liu Jisheng's situation to a young man in his early twenties, Liu Jisheng felt that this young man was really not an ordinary person, if it was a young man from Zhuangzhai, not to mention that he didn't know what to do with these things, he was afraid that he wouldn't even be able to speak. However, he was worried that this young man was a little too daring to take care of things, if it was Liu Jisheng, he would put the matter off first, and wait until he figured out the ins and outs of the matter before making more decisions.

After listening to this, Captain Liu smiled at the young man and said, "I know, you go and get busy first." ”

"Okay." The young man answered calmly and strode out the door. Seeing that the young man was not trained for bringing himself to see Captain Liu, Liu Jisheng felt a lot more relieved.

Captain Liu first asked Liu Jisheng to sit down and poured him a bowl of water, and then asked Liu Jisheng about his situation. Liu Jisheng also replied truthfully that he was not a person under the rule of the People's Party, but he wanted to buy wheat seeds from the People's Party. I would like to ask the BJP whether it sells it, and how much it will cost if it does.

Captain Liu replied: "Of course you can buy it if you want to, and the price is 50 yuan for 1,000 grains." ”

Liu Jisheng was shocked, this price was at least 10 Wen cheaper than the wheat seeds sold to Zhuangzhai by "relatives". Some "relatives" even dared to ask for 70 Wen for 1,000 pills. Because he was not at ease, Liu Jisheng asked: "Is it the same as the wheat planted now?" ”

Captain Liu smiled: "It's all the same, we only sell this kind of wheat now." ”

1,000 grains of wheat is about two catties, and 15 acres of land in Liu Jisheng's house requires 20 catties of seeds for one acre, and 15 acres is 300 catties. One pound plus ten wen, that's 3,000 wen. This calculation has been pitted a lot by "relatives". Holding back his unhappiness, Liu Jisheng smiled and said, "Can I buy it now?" ”

"Yes." Captain Liu replied.

It was impossible to carry back 300 catties, so Liu Jisheng borrowed a wheelbarrow and transported the wheat seeds back. Along the way, his face was as black as the bottom of the pot. Because I was afraid of swaggering, I didn't go home until it was dark. But as soon as he returned home the next night, several relatives went to Liu Jisheng's house. glaring at his smug wife, Liu Jisheng began to talk to these relatives. Everyone heard that Liu Jisheng bought wheat seeds at a low price, and they all wanted Liu Jisheng to help them bring some too. Liu Jisheng said with a sincere smile: "A few brothers, I can take you to find the people who sell seeds from the People's Party, but I can't help you bring them." If I can't bring this back, it's nothing, and I can't let everyone scold to death. ”

Several relatives showed worried looks on their faces, "Jisheng, we don't know those people from the People's Party either. What if we say the wrong thing and they don't sell it to us? You are familiar with the way, or are you too tired. Not to mention, we invite you to drink once at a time. What do you think? ”

Liu Jisheng was happy at the time, "Brothers, if I can't bring it back, how can I explain it to you?" I have already bought my family's wheat seeds, and the wheat seeds of several brothers and your family add up to more than 1,000 catties. If I buy it again, people will think that I have taken the wheat seeds and sold them, and I can't tell. Brothers, you must come with me. ”

After saying it, Liu Jisheng persuaded his relatives to buy seeds with him. sent away a group of people, and another group of people came, and it wasn't until late at night that Liu Jisheng could be regarded as sending away all his relatives. Lying down exhausted, his wife said next to him: "Jisheng, everyone thinks you are very capable." ”

Liu Jisheng didn't want to mention this stubble again, but as soon as he heard his wife say it, he got up, went up and slapped his wife, "You have a lot to do." What if you just think that things can be done, but what if they can't? ”

slapped his wife, Liu Jisheng's anger disappeared, and he didn't care what his wife continued to say, he fell asleep in a daze.

The next day, as Liu Jisheng thought, yesterday seventeen or eighteen people said that they would go to buy seeds together, and nine of them came. didn't wait long, Liu Jisheng took everyone to push the cart to the new town. Captain Liu received them, and when he heard that they were buying seeds, Captain Liu didn't say much, and asked everyone how much they wanted to buy, so he sold them directly to these relatives. Originally, these people were scared like something, and when they went out, some people began to brag that they knew it was okay.

didn't care about these people, Liu Jisheng just buried himself in the cart. Sure enough, as he expected, no one mentioned the matter of inviting people to drink, but someone immediately took a scale and weighed the seeds. Liu Jisheng waited with a dark face to see them finish, and then returned to his house without saying a word. It's not that he thinks others are at fault, he doesn't invite him to dinner, he doesn't trust, in Liu Jisheng's opinion, it's all human nature. Since he bought the seeds, Liu Jisheng is useless, who can take him seriously. Liu Jisheng saved the trouble of drinking. The thing that bothered him was that it would never end there.

Sure enough, more people came to Liu Jisheng at night, and even those who didn't dare to come during the day also appeared. They said, "You have gone too early, and by the time we arrive, you will be gone." ”

Liu Jisheng could only take them one more time. This time, Captain Liu stopped Liu Jisheng when he asked the teenagers below to distribute the seeds, "Uncle Liu, it's not a matter for you to run around." Why don't I go to your village tomorrow in person? ”

"Captain Liu, you saved my life. It's great that you can go. Liu Jisheng was relieved.

Captain Liu was indeed a trustworthy man, and early the next morning, he took his young men and drove six carts to Zhuangzhai. What embarrassed Liu Jisheng was that he went to Xinzhen to buy seeds, and the people seemed to take advantage of it one by one. The seed seller came to the door, and the villagers were afraid.

There were many onlookers from afar, and the villagers found that there were several girls in this team, and both men and women pointed to this team of the People's Party, but there were few people who came up to actually buy. Captain Liu didn't care about this, he and those teenagers set up a grass-green pergola together, those slender iron rods were cleverly folded, and it was a pergola directly opened, this new thing opened the eyes of the people of Zhuangzhai.

Soon after, the real big buyer appeared, and Liu Cunyong, the first "three-tile cylinder" in Zhuangzhai, had more than 300 acres of land, and he bought 7,000 catties of seeds in one go. Slowly, the seeds on the three carts were bought, which made the people of Zhuangzhai feel awe.

At noon, Captain Liu of the People's Party carried an elaborate stove to boil water. After the water boiled, they used the enamel jar that had appeared in the new town in the past two years to put some hard things in it, then poured hot water into it, and covered it. Soon after, they removed the lid and put in some condiments, and in the astonished eyes of some of the villagers who were holding bowls and watching the excitement while eating, these people from the People's Party actually took the noodles out of the jar and ate them. This is a rarity for the people of the village. Everyone said to each other in astonishment, what was put into the enamel jar was definitely a hard thing, and some of the reckless ones had already sworn and argued. And some timid people already have a small drum in their hearts. A few years ago, I stole a "crop of wheat" and made a curse. This memory has not diminished with the passage of time. Now I see these men and women of the BJP doing tricks to soak hard things in hot water into soft noodles. They felt that this was also a new spell of the BJP.

By evening, only five of the six cartloads of wheat seeds were sold. Captain Liu said loudly to the onlookers: "Folks, we will come back tomorrow." "After collecting the folded tent, he led the team away.

Although the new town next door was submissive to the People's Party, the people in the town were all known to everyone. I didn't think it was too special. On this day, for the first time, the people of Zhuangzhai really saw the real "people of the People's Party", just like looking at the Western scenery, the neat clothes, as well as those young men and women who were clean and plain, concentrated on their work but did not breathe, and the tents that could be folded, and the noodles that could be eaten directly after soaking. They all let everyone see so many things that they have never seen before.

Many people were surprised and even frightened, while many were looking forward to the next day's return.

Early the next morning, Captain Liu really came with those teenagers from yesterday. Six carts were still piled with sacks of wheat seeds. This time, more people decided to buy directly.

But before noon, a large group of people suddenly came from outside the village. They drove directly into the village. But he is a member of the tax police brigade that he hasn't seen for a long time. The leader is Hu Hansan, who claims to be the commander of the tax police battalion. He reined in his horse and stopped in front of the People's Party's cart, and the people had already scattered by this time. Hu Han Sanju looked at Captain Liu condescendingly on his horse, and said in a malicious voice: "What are you doing?" ”

"I'm here to do some small business." Captain Liu smiled, and he asked rhetorically, "May I ask what you do?" ”

Hu Hansan actually knew that there were people from the People's Party in front of him, and he also knew what these people were here for. So he deliberately appeared at this time, but he didn't expect that the young man in his twenties in front of him was not only not frightened by the tax police camp of hundreds of people, but could answer so easily. In such a situation of disparity, this group of young men and women is still so calm. Hu Hansan suddenly became angry, he picked up his horsewhip and whipped it towards Captain Liu.

Captain Liu took a step back and easily gave way to the horsewhip. Then Captain Liu took another step forward and grabbed the reins of Hu Hansan. Hu Hansan didn't expect this young man to be so agile, but he was taken aback. Then he heard Captain Liu say in a low voice: "I know that your name is Hu Hansan, and you are the battalion commander of the tax police battalion here, and you are from Shangqiu. You said that Chairman Chen Ke of our People's Party asked Zhang Zhenfang, the governor of Henan, for your head, and if you don't give it to us, you will call us. Do you think Zhang Zhenfang will give it? ”

The content of these words was quite arrogant, but Captain Liu always had a smile on his face, and his voice was so low that even the people next to Hu Hansan didn't hear it. Hu Hansan's face was full of anger, but he didn't dare to attack.

But he saw Captain Liu let go of the reins and retreated a few steps, turned around and shouted to his subordinates, "Let's leave today." ”

The teenagers quickly gathered their things, loaded their cars and left.

From beginning to end, Hu Hansan never said a word. It was only when the BJP convoy left that he hated to order the people to follow behind, as if to drive away the BJP.