Volume 1 Chapter 105: Jiang Guan Steals the Master (Three)

  Chapter 105: Jiang Guan Steals the Master (Three)

  "Secondly, the county yamen's granary can only support people for three days of warmth and fullness, but the silver in the prefecture's treasury used for disaster relief will not be a lot." Lu Town is considered a large town, with a county official being of the sixth rank, so the amount of silver stored in the prefecture's treasury might not even be as much as Qiu San Niang's dowry.

  "It's just that more than half of the silver is to be submitted to the imperial court as taxes and cannot be used at will. In normal times, if local villagers suffered a disaster, after the disaster passed, they could at least arrange for them to return to their hometowns, and no matter what, the land would still be there. But the people who came from Yuling have already left their homes behind, and it's so difficult to settle them down." Jiang Tao sighed and shook his head.

  "I came all the way by boat and saw that there are many desolate lands twenty or thirty miles outside of Lùzhèn, with no signs of human habitation in the green mountains and clear waters. I wonder if it belongs to this county?" Mòzǐ asked. In ancient times, the land was vast and the population sparse, so it's really possible to settle down.

  "The town of Lùzhèn is not big, but the county of Lùzhèn is a hundred miles around. Although there are many barren lands and more than twenty uninhabited mountains and forests, most of them also have owners, leaving only those poor and barren lands that are difficult to grow anything." Jiāng Tāo thought for a while too.

  "Although the land has an owner, can't we make use of it even if it's abandoned? We could have the government intervene and rent the land from the landlord, then let the refugees cultivate and use it. As for the barren land, we could allow the people of Yuling to build houses and villages, start businesses and set up shops. I think in this situation, they wouldn't have much to complain about, as long as they have a place to settle down." Mozi expressed her own thoughts.

  "Not to mention anything else, just this rent alone. Even if the landlord is willing to rent, where would the county government get the silver from?" The middle-aged scholar in the back heard it and thought it was a wild idea.

  "The county government owes it to the landlords in the form of official debts." A new term jumped out of Mozi's mouth.

  "Government bonds?" Jiang Tao's eyes widened and stared at Mozi without moving, "Miss, please elaborate."

  "In terms of collecting rent, government bonds are like an official document issued by the government to local landlords, stating that the principal is based on land rent, with an annual interest rate, for example, five percent, and a term, for example, five years. At maturity, the landlord can collect the land rent plus interest in silver from the government office with the bond certificate. If the interest offered by government bonds is higher than that of silver shops, it should be more attractive to people. After all, those barren lands don't generate any income." Mozi explained the concept of government bonds to the two, which was actually a national debt a thousand years later.

  The middle-aged scholar lowered his head and thought for a moment, but Jiang Tao reacted quickly, "What about the official payment of this silver five years later?"

  At the same time, the government will rent these lands to the people of Yuling, with the first year being a stable period and less rent can be collected. In the future, based on production and business conditions, rents will increase annually. These tens of thousands of people, if they settle in Lu County, will become taxpayers within a few years, so how can the government not pay back the silver to the landlords? Moreover, there are other ways to guarantee the recovery of silver. The government can set up official loans, lend money to small business owners, and collect interest higher than official debts. On one hand, it gives, on the other hand, it collects, collecting more than giving, slowly offsetting each other, even becoming another source of income for the government treasury. Of course, this loan cannot be taken lightly, and the borrower's repayment ability must be reviewed, otherwise, it will become a bad debt that cannot be recovered. Also, the official cannot be corrupt, or else he will put the collected money into his own pocket and use his power to owe debts to the landlords, which would be troublesome. This method, if done fairly, must be transparent. A special account book for Yuling relief should be set up, with separate officials in charge of official debts and loans. Both sides should settle accounts monthly and annually, and it is necessary to balance the books. If successful, this will be the earliest prototype of a state-owned bank. If not, it will provide a shortcut for people with ulterior motives to fill their pockets. However, apart from this method, her ability is limited, and she cannot think of anything else.

  It can only be thought that any idea, like medicine, has good effects and unavoidable side effects. The top priority is to settle the refugees and their future lives, if the government does not act impartially, there will be more injustices. Swindlers are everywhere, and there are many Zhou Bapi (a character known for his cunning and greed).

  At this point, Jiang Tao also lowered his head and thought silently.

  Mozi knew that the concept of government debt and loans would be difficult for these scholars to understand, so she just chatted with them. One person's power is too small, at least she can think about it for those who suffer, and her heart will feel a little better.

  "Excuse me, I'll go first." Not wanting to bother with those two anymore, Mozi quickened her pace and walked into the bustling crowd.

  "The young lady's idea, at first hearing, makes people confused, but after careful consideration, it is indeed ingenious and boundless. I have benefited a lot from it. If you try with an open mind, I don't know if I can execute it accurately." The big head shook back and forth, "Listening to the young lady's thoughts and words, she must not be an ordinary person. May I ask for your address so that I can visit often and learn more?"

  As I lifted my head, where was that slender figure in front of me?

  "Master, Master!" Jiang Tao hastily pulled on the middle-aged scholar's sleeve, "Where is that girl?"

  The middle-aged scholar who was called "Shi Ye" stared blankly at his surroundings for a longer time than Jiang Tao, "Has he left?"

  "Could it be that the Bodhisattva has descended to the mortal realm, transformed into a maiden, and specifically come to guide us through our difficulties?" Jiang Tao slapped his forehead with a loud crack, "Master, you say, who would have thought of such an ingenious method just by walking along the road? And she's only a twenty-year-old maiden."

  "Sir, your words are usually ordinary, but I don't believe it. However, today is indeed a bit strange. That girl's words are truly unheard of." The master thought more and more like a divine rescue, "Sir, shouldn't we hurry to the temple to thank the gods?"

  "Thanks are in order, but not now." Matters have their own urgency, Jiang Tao turned around and rushed off. "Master, you go back and quickly write the notice, inviting all the big and small landlords of Lu County to come to me, I want to release this official debt. Also, let people open up the Relief Porridge Factory before sunset today, we can't let the refugees starve anymore." That girl was right, three days have more opportunities.

  "But sir, what about the officials on the other side? If we really want to get rid of the official debt and open up the granary, what will the prefecture and province say?"

  I rushed to see the Magistrate, I thought this idea of official debt could work, it wouldn't cost the government a single silver coin, and it would settle so many people. The Magistrate should agree to it. If not, I'll go to the Governor's place. At worst, I'll petition the Emperor for his decree. That girl was right, our ancestors in Yulin were subjects of the Great Zhou, we are all connected by blood, how could we abandon them? Besides, those people were first released from the Water Fortress, if you investigate thoroughly, it's not my fault. Since they've come, we should treat them well. Recently, our Luozhen and Yulin have been in a precarious situation, with True Seekers trying to take over Yulin, we need everyone to resist the enemy together, every extra pair of hands counts. If we don't help them now, what reason would they have to help us in the future? The Bodhisattva was absolutely right.

  "I think this will do. Your Honor, you truly are a parent official who pleads for the people's lives. I say, those refugees are extremely fortunate to have met Your Honor while in office." The teacher's assistant spoke with emotion, also with a hint of flattery.

  The two of them walked and talked, and soon disappeared from view.

  Today's first update.

  The second update is at 7 o'clock.

  Chapter 105: Jiang Guan Steals the Master (Three)

  Chapter 105: Jiang Guan Steals the Master (Three)