mtlumby2d Chapter 1513 Apportioned Taxes
Chapter 1513 Apportioned Taxes
What could Sun Shan do? He could only complain about being poor and absolutely could not admit that he had a lot of grain.
Sun Shan cried out, "My lord, I have no choice. Yuanlu County is poor. We have no minerals and no local specialties. All we can do is sell grain."
To be honest, sir, I wanted to achieve some political success, so I built bridges and roads, and developed water conservancy projects—all of which cost money. Unfortunately, I simply had no money left. Luckily, the heavens have blessed us with favorable weather this year, resulting in a bumper harvest. The only thing we can sell is grain.
I originally intended to sell in Chenzhou Prefecture, but the grain price there was simply too low. Hearing that the price was good in Dongting Lake, I had no choice but to head to where the price was higher, no matter how hard or tiring it might be.
He paused, then continued tearfully, "My lord, I plan to sell the grain and use the money to repair the official road from Yuanlu County to Chenzhou Prefecture. If you want to get rich, you must first repair the road so that the people of Yuanlu County can go out and the local specialties of Yuanlu County can be sold in Chenzhou Prefecture."
"My lord, I have no choice but to sell our meager surplus grain. With the money, we can do other things. My lord, Yuanlu County is already dirt poor; if we don't build a proper road out of the county, it will become even poorer."
Sun Shan cried and pleaded, trying to gain sympathy.
Finally, he asked, "By the way, sir, I need to repair the road and expand the official road. Could you please provide some assistance and subsidies? The road leads to Chenzhou Prefecture, and its completion will facilitate travel between Chenzhou Prefecture and Yuanlu County."
Sun Shan's words infuriated Prefect Liu.
They're just building a road, why do they dare ask Chenzhou Prefecture for subsidies? If Chenzhou Prefecture had the money, they would have built it themselves. Why would they need Sun Shan to ask?
Of course, that's not the main point. Having said all that, Prefect Liu did indeed have his eye on the grain from Yuanlu County. The fact that it could be sold outside proves there was a surplus.
This surplus was precisely what Prefect Liu wanted to retain. The reason was simple: several subordinate counties of Yuanlu County had already fallen behind on taxes in the first half of the year, and no amount of urging or pressing them had any effect.
This infuriated Prefect Liu, who had no choice but to apportion the uncollected portion to the upper and middle counties to barely manage to collect the taxes and submit them.
Several counties had already written to Prefect Liu, complaining about their poverty and asking him to reduce the tasks assigned to them in the second half of the year. This infuriated Prefect Liu once again.
Upon hearing this, the upper and middle counties, which had been assigned quotas in the first half of the year, immediately began to plead poverty, claiming that the wealthy households had been exploited enough in the first half of the year.
If tasks are assigned to other counties, even if the Buddha himself descended to earth, there's nothing he can do. These middle and upper-class counties are unwilling to accept it and want Prefect Liu to figure out a solution himself.
Prefect Liu racked his brains, his temples turning white as he looked at the list of wealthy households, discussing which one would be the best to impose a quota on with the least severe consequences.
After thinking and thinking, I suddenly heard that Yuanlu County had actually formed a team to sell grain.
Other counties have no grain, so why does Yuanlu County have grain?
At this moment, Prefect Liu's advisor said, "Sir, Yuanlu County, where Magistrate Sun is located, is a medium-sized county and has not yet been subject to grain taxes."
It wasn't that Prefect Liu didn't want to assign tasks to Yuanlu County, but rather that Yuanlu County ranked last among the central counties.
The reason it became a central county was not because it was wealthy or had a large population, but because it was the largest area that Yuanlu County was divided into when the administrative regions were originally divided.
Yuanlu County was promoted to a medium-sized county only because of its large jurisdiction.
When the tasks were initially assigned, Yuanlu County was not considered.
After Sun Shan sold grain, Prefect Liu realized: "Even a starved camel is bigger than a horse. Although Yuanlu County is not rich, it has the largest area and the most land. Even if it is poor, it can still squeeze out tax grain."
Therefore, Yuanlu County became the primary target of Prefect Liu's levies, without exception.
Prefect Liu's advisor said with difficulty, "Sir, it's good to assign taxes to Magistrate Sun. But Magistrate Sun has helped you make contributions and has been very proactive in paying taxes. If we insist on assigning taxes to him, it will seem a bit heartless."
Sun Shan immediately contributed two stars to Prefect Liu's efforts in maintaining public order, earning Prefect Liu a commendation from his superiors.
The first time, he wiped out a bandit leader who had escaped the net; the second time, he easily subdued a serial killer. These two incidents made Prefect Liu a prominent figure in official circles.
If Prefect Liu were to show no mercy and distribute the heavy tax burden onto Sun Shan, it would seem too cold-blooded.
In life, work, and officialdom, one should always leave room for maneuver so that things will go smoothly in the future.
So Prefect Liu and his advisor discussed it for a while and decided to use "information from the imperial court" to exchange for "tax apportionment" as a reminder to Sun Shan to behave himself as a local official and not to run to the capital.
The capital city will not be stable for the next year or two.
Prefect Liu received reliable information from his elder brother, Marquis Yi Hui: the current emperor might be dying. Although he has been on the throne for less than a year, he is already ill.
I heard he has a very serious illness, the kind that is incurable, and he's just getting through the days.
It is said that they die within six months or a year, and are not the kind of people who live long lives. Unless Hua Tuo is alive, they might be saved.
Do not ask how Marquis Yihui knew, for the current emperor summoned him.
Before his death, the late emperor also summoned Marquis Yihui, and he passed away not long afterward.
Marquis Yihui vaguely sensed that the current emperor was seriously ill.
He specially sent a trusted confidant from the prefecture to secretly inform Prefect Liu that he should behave himself as the prefect of Chenzhou, not to engage in any unethical activities, and especially not to try to curry favor with the capital, so as not to be mistakenly harmed.
Prefect Liu had no choice but to listen and was planning to remain in his post in Chenzhou Prefecture.
However, taxes still need to be paid; they will not be exempted from payment simply because the emperor has died.
Prefect Liu thought and thought, and finally decided to target Sun Shan, and make sure to impose the tax burden on Sun Shan.
Who told him to jump out and sell grain?
Prefect Liu, too lazy to listen to Sun Shan's complaints of poverty, cut to the chase: "Magistrate Sun, I know you have grain, and I won't ask for much. The higher-ups need to collect taxes, and I'm a little short of the quota. Hehe, Magistrate Sun, I've always admired you the most, and I'm sure you won't disappoint me, will you?"
Sun Shan: ...
It turns out that Prefect Liu wasn't after the grain business; he just wanted him to spit out grain and pay taxes.
Sun Shan, of course, was unwilling.
If there's one, there will be two, and if there's two, there will be three. What if the unfulfilled tax amount keeps being assigned to you?
Sun Shan repeatedly protested his innocence: "My lord, there is hardly any grain in Yuanlu County! My lord, where am I supposed to find grain to hand over?"
Prefect Liu waved his hand, looking like he was saying, "I won't listen, I won't listen."
He said, "Magistrate Sun, I don't believe you lack grain. This task is entrusted to you. Last time, Yuanling County and several other counties completed it. This time, we're a little short, so I'll put you in charge."
After saying that, he raised his teacup, clearly telling the guest to get lost.
Sun Shan wanted to say something more.
Prefect Liu had already gone behind the screen.
Sun Shan: ...
You, Prefect Liu, are truly heartless! I've given him so much credit, and yet you treat me like this.
Sun Shan secretly drew a curse circle, cursing Prefect Liu to have a son without an anus!