Chapter 107 Purchase of Wasteland
Yu Tong was a seventh-rank county magistrate, and Zhu Chong was a fifth-rank supervisor. It was absolutely true that Yu Tong was extremely respectful to Zhu Chong.
Even though Yu Tong was the local tyrant in Changning County, the Baochao Tizhusi had no control over him in any way.
However, the Baochao Tizhusi is now directly under the Secretariat, and it is no exaggeration to say that it is an agency directly under Zhu Yuanzhang's control.
Although Zhu Chong's rank was not high, his power could definitely be considered as being among the top five officials.
Even after the Secretariat was abolished by Zhu Yuanzhang and the Treasury and Banknote Administration Office was transferred to the Ministry of Revenue, it was still an office directly managed by the Minister of Revenue, and its power did not diminish in the slightest.
Besides, Beijing officials are one level higher than ordinary local officials no matter where they go.
For example, the inspector of Yingtian Prefecture had a similar rank to Yu Tong, but when he arrived at the local level, he could act arrogantly even when facing the local provincial governor, let alone Yu Tong.
Not to mention someone like Zhu Chong, who has the background of a prince. Naturally, he has to put on airs in front of Yu Tong, even when he needs help from him.
When Yu Tong learned that Zhu Chong was the supervisor and Zhang Quan was only the governor, he couldn't help but be surprised.
The main reason was that Yu Tong did not know Zhu Chong, and Zhu Chong was too young. After all, it was rare to see a Beijing official as young as Zhu Chong.
When Zhu Chong and Zhang Quan stand together, apart from his temperament and youthful handsomeness, Zhu Chong doesn't look like a fifth-rank official at all.
After all, judging from age and habits, Yu Tong thought that Zhang Quan was more like a superior official, but he did not expect that the man in front of him, who was about the same age as his son, would actually be the new chief of the Baochao Tizhusi, a fifth-rank official!
With doubts in his mind, Yu Tong carefully invited Zhu Chong and Zhang Quan into the inner courtyard and ordered the maid to serve them fragrant tea and cakes.
"Excuse me, Master Zhu, but I never expected you to be so young and promising. You've already been appointed to the position of Director of the Imperial Banknote Administration Department at such a young age. May I ask who your teacher was?"
To be honest, Yu Tong's words may have been a test, but knowing the other party's background is better than not knowing it.
Upon hearing this, Zhang Quan showed a look of surprise and wanted to tell the other party Zhu Chong's identity, but was interrupted by Zhu Chong.
"Master Yu, if I remember correctly, you passed the imperial examination in the second year of the Hongwu reign. At that time, Master Wu Lin, the assistant professor of the Imperial College, was my tutor."
Upon hearing this, Yu Tong immediately felt a deep respect for Zhu Chong. He knew the Wu Lin that Zhu Chong was talking about very well. Especially when he heard Zhu Chong mention when he would pass the imperial examination and specifically mentioned Wu Lin who was an assistant teacher at the Imperial College at that time, he understood Zhu Chong's meaning even more.
Because Wu Lin was not just an assistant teacher of the Imperial College in the second year of Hongwu. He was a great figure who was transferred from the Minister of War to the Minister of Personnel in the sixth year of Hongwu.
In the Ming Dynasty, Wu Lin's talent and character were well-known. Zhu Chong said that Wu Lin was his master, which naturally made Yu Tong look at him with admiration.
But what Yu Tong didn't know was that Zhu Chong had racked his brains to find Wu Lin as his cheap master.
There were so many great people who taught Zhu Chong. If he said that Li Shanchang, Liu Bowen and Xu Da were his teachers, Yu Tong probably wouldn't believe it unless Zhu Chong introduced himself. But that was not Zhu Chong's original intention for coming here.
After understanding the situation and exchanging pleasantries, Yu Tong asked, "I wonder why Lord Zhu came here today?"
"I do have a private matter and would like to trouble you, Lord Yu." Zhu Chong waited for the other party to bring it up, and then told him that he wanted to purchase land in Changning County.
"Oh, I see. Then Lord Zhu has indeed found the right person." Upon hearing this, Yu Tong immediately found the fish-scale map of Changning County that contained land records.
"Master Zhu, please look here. Here is the fish scale atlas of our county. All the farmland in the county is listed on it. How much farmland do you need to purchase?"
Zhu Chong looked at the fish scale book with excitement in his eyes. This would be a priceless treasure in the future.
After the founding of the country, Zhu Yuanzhang recorded the land in a special record, which is the fish scale atlas in front of Zhu Chong.
In the early Ming Dynasty, due to years of war, the population had not increased, so the land utilization rate was not high.
Moreover, the common people who own land are more willing to sell the land they have reclaimed to the government, because farming is not as profitable as selling land. For this reason, the price of land in the Ming Dynasty is not very high at this moment.
Therefore, the government is actually not very willing to purchase the land from the people, but it will record the locations and people who are willing to sell the land in the Fish Scale Treasure Book, so that people in need can check it at any time.
Therefore, Zhu Chong's purpose in looking for Yu Tong was precisely this. Besides, Yu Tong was the local boss of Changning County, so if he had any problems in the future, he would be the right person to look for.
Zhu Chong glanced at the contents of the fish scale book and quickly found the several pieces of land and barren mountains that he had previously taken a fancy to. He then pointed out the location he wanted to Yu Tong.
Yu Tong saw the place Zhu Chong pointed and looked surprised. "Master Zhu, these places you pointed at are too..."
Originally, Yu Tong thought that Zhu Chong wanted fertile farmland, but he didn't expect that most of what Zhu Chong wanted were barren hills, which left him completely confused.
As the local official of Changning County, Yu Tong knew too well the situation under his jurisdiction.
He has been in Changning County for quite some time. When he first came here a few years ago, he could still see many people farming.
But later it was discovered that the land here was too barren, especially the barren mountains that Zhu Chong pointed out, where even the easiest trees to grow could not survive.
Later, even when he wanted to give these barren mountains and wastelands to others for cultivation, no one wanted them. This was because these barren mountains and wastelands were all government-owned and were specially registered in the fish scale book.
Special registrars have to pay taxes on some of the barren mountains and wastelands. Even if the annual taxes are equivalent to nothing, it is a burden for the people. Therefore, Yu Tong has always thought that these barren mountains and wastelands may not be wanted by anyone after he leaves office.
Unexpectedly, Zhu Chong's arrival surprised him and he even doubted Zhu Chong's purpose of purchasing these barren mountains and wastelands.
But it was impossible for him to guess Zhu Chong's purpose, and he had no reason to refuse Zhu Chong's purchase of these barren mountains and wastelands.
There is no reason to turn away business that comes to you. Zhu Chong is willing to spend money to buy these barren mountains and wasteland, which is also a political achievement for Yu Tong.
Now, both the Ministry of Revenue and local governments are short of money. Now that a financial sponsor has appeared, there is no reason to push the rich man away.
Especially after Yu Tong knew that Zhu Chong's mentor was Wu Lin, there was even less reason for him not to do Zhu Chong's business.
Although Wu Lin has retired and returned to his hometown, his students and former officials are all over the world and have a great reputation. For Yu Tong, it is definitely not worth it to offend Zhu Chong, a promising big shot, just for a few barren mountains and land.
But Yu Tong felt a little conflicted. This was a common problem among local tyrants. They would take advantage of others to make money. For someone like Zhu Chong, who was in charge of making money, Yu Tong himself would not be able to get over this.
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