Chapter 178: The Calculator
Zhu Lan recalled that this was the prize he received when he first participated in the poetry competition held at the academy when he had just traveled through time.
In the original story, the heroine Zhu Qingyan obtained this book, and then she made rapid progress in the imperial examination and official career. Zhu Lan was not sure whether there was any connection between the two, after all, Zhu Qingyan herself did work hard in her studies.
But in order to avoid being kicked out of Longchang Academy, she decided to win the book and read it. However, she found the content inside was mediocre, so she put it aside and let it gather dust.
These things happened several years ago and Zhu Lan had long forgotten about them. It was only when Zhu Qingyan held the book in his hands that he suddenly remembered them.
Zhu Qingyan had already opened the "Collected Commentaries of Various Philosophers" and began to flip through it carefully.
"Is there anything unusual about this book?" Zhu Lan felt curious.
Zhu Qingyan thought for a moment and shook his head. "It's nothing special. It's just a copy written by a left-handed person."
"Left-handed?" Zhu Lan took the book and took a look, but he couldn't tell. He just thought the handwriting was neat and beautiful.
"Left-handed people can also write well, but because they use force in the opposite direction when holding the pen, the hooked strokes will be a little different from those of ordinary people."
Zhu Qingyan said this and pointed it out to Zhu Lan, who indeed discovered the difference after a closer look.
"It's amazing that you can figure this out." Zhu Lan praised sincerely. When she first got the book, she turned it over and over but couldn't figure out any clues.
After being praised by Zhu Lan, the corners of Zhu Qingyan's mouth rose uncontrollably again, but he immediately stopped it.
"It's nothing. I used to write with my left hand when I was a kid, but my mom forced me to change it later, so you can see the difference. But come to think of it, this handwriting is somewhat similar to what I wrote with my left hand."
Zhu Lan took advantage of the situation and simply gave the book to Zhu Qingyan, saying that it was a souvenir.
A possibility flashed through her mind. If she had not interfered with the opportunity, this book should have belonged to Zhu Qingyan. Perhaps only she could see more from it.
The carriage stopped and Murong Jing outside lifted the curtain.
"We've arrived at Qingxi Town. Let's find an inn to rest."
…
In Wulei Pavilion, the intense data calculation work was finally over.
The students who participated in the activity have not left Wulei Pavilion for many days. They sleep on the floor at night, and someone follows them when they go to the toilet. They all look haggard, but there is no resentment on their faces.
When he was summoned earlier, the old gentleman surnamed Zhao said that this was a test of mathematical ability, which would include land measurement, rent calculation, tax calculation, etc. If the results were excellent, he would have the opportunity to enter the Ministry of Revenue and become a "mathematician."
"Suanshi", as the name suggests, is the person in the Ministry of Revenue who is responsible for calculating various accounting data. Although it is only the lowest level of official, it is also a formal staff of the imperial court.
For these students, this is a huge shortcut!
"It's finally over! I'm so tired!" A female student walked out of Wulei Pavilion and stretched.
"Junior Sister Zhou, what is the final tax silver question? Is it 2,120 taels and 7 cents?"
Junior Sister Zhou's eyes widened. "How is that possible? It's clearly more than 2,700 taels! The salt tax is clearly higher than other places!"
"Oh, your question is about salt tax? That's fine, it turns out everyone's questions are different..."
Other students sighed, "When I first joined the Mathematics Society, I thought I could help my dad weigh pigs, but I didn't expect to have the opportunity to directly enter the Ministry of Revenue!
Hahahaha, this incredible wealth is finally mine!"
"It's all thanks to Senior Sister Qiao, oh no, Instructor Qiao!"
Zhao Qing came to Yan Yuze's study and knocked a few times.
"Come in."
Zhao Qing walked in with a thick stack of straw paper. The dark circles under his eyes made Yan Yuze slightly stunned.
"Ah, Lord Zhao, this is... Although it is for official business, we should combine work and rest. We don't have to work so hard." Yan Yuze invited Zhao Qing to sit down and personally poured him a cup of tea.
Zhao Qing's eyes were dull and his voice was a little weak.
"Sixth, Sixth Prince, may I ask who is Miss Xiao Wan's teacher?"
Yan Yuze thought about it and realized that classes A, B, C, and D in Longchang Academy all had fixed teachers, but the students in the classes were rotated frequently.
"The closest one should be Master Wang from Class A."
The most recent one... sounds like he has outlasted many masters.
Zhao Qing had tears in his eyes and a surge of admiration for the warrior surged in his heart.
He is really risking his life to teach students!
Zhao Qing took a sip of tea before he remembered that he had something important to discuss with Yan Yuze.
"Your Highness, I have already checked the account book you assigned to me." Although he had resigned long ago, Zhao Qing still called himself "your humble servant" in front of the prince.
Yan Yuze didn't mind and asked him what he had discovered.
Zhao Qing's face became heavy, and he said slowly: "The tax revenue in Long'an County is very high."
He spread out a piece of paper and explained while writing and drawing: "According to the court regulations, the transaction between the people is taxed at one thirty percent, but the tax items in Long'an County are far more than this.
When common people went to the streets to sell their own farm products, they had to pay a "stall tax" of ten cents before setting up a stall.
For every completed transaction, in addition to the taxes set by the court, the government also levied a "service tax", which means that the officials would come to collect this tax specifically to compensate for their running errands."
Zhao Qing then listed several more tax items in succession, some of which even Yan Yuze had never heard of.
"That is to say, the amount of taxes collected by Long'an County alone each year is far more than what is paid to the court?"
“Much more than that.”
"Where will the extra tax money go?" Yan Yuze's eyes turned a little colder.
Naturally, the recipients of the bribes are the officials, both big and small, who accept the bribes.
He needed to know the specific name of the official.
"I dare not say it clearly, Your Highness will know it after looking at this account book." Zhao Qing handed the accounts he had reorganized to Yan Yuze.
Yan Yuze was not in a hurry to watch. "Master Zhao, you have worked hard. I will send someone to secretly send you back to your hometown, and there will be another reward. But the matter in Jiangzhou this time..."
"I understand. Once I leave this door, I will not remember anything."
Yan Yuze nodded with satisfaction and let him go.
Ouyang Ye walked out from behind the screen and his eyes fell on the pile of messy straw papers on the table.
"Your Majesty, can you report this matter to His Majesty immediately and have it investigated?"
Yan Yuze tapped his head with his fan, feeling a little headache, "My royal brother doesn't care, he told me to do it, really.
Alas, if this matter is investigated, it will implicate Uzi to some extent. Well, let's wait and see if those students can come up with some surprises in the Northern Frontier."
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