As for why they don't just give out cash, but instead give out vouchers, because money can be saved, and if ordinary people save their money, doesn't that mean they're just wasting it? At least that's the case for Mr. Zhao.

Consumption vouchers have a time limit and a consumption range, which can stimulate consumption better than real money and is more conducive to targeted support for key industrial and commercial sectors. Mr. Zhao would of course choose the latter.

Moreover, he knew very well that paying grain to the emperor was a matter of course for the common people. If they could get coupons back, it was a bargain for free, and they would definitely not be picky.

Sure enough, when it was time to collect taxes in Kunshan County, the common people immediately rushed to the gates of several government warehouses with sacks on their shoulders to line up to pay taxes, fearing that they would not be able to receive coupons if they paid taxes late. Why would they need to urge the tax collection?

The difference between the vouchers and real money or silver notes is that, first, the vouchers have a time limit and must be used up before the Chinese New Year, otherwise they will be invalid. Second, the goods must be purchased at designated merchants. In order to make those merchants feel at ease to accept the vouchers, the county has already paid them half of the silver notes in advance.

As for the other half of the amount, you have to wait until after the New Year to redeem it at Jiangnan Bank with the consumption vouchers. In this way, in order to earn more consumption vouchers, merchants will actively promote sales, which will promote the hot business atmosphere in the county and drive the prosperity of various industries in the county.

According to conservative estimates, the county spent one tael of silver, and in the end it brought back at least five taels of silver!

Well, it's obvious that this was done by a certain Mr. Zhao who wishes to remain anonymous, using his father's name to create a name for himself.

According to Mr. Zhao's intention, he wanted to give money directly to the people, but Zhao Hao resolutely stopped him. Distributing money directly would be too conspicuous and people would think he was buying people's hearts.

Even if you distribute grain, it won't work. Can you withdraw the imperial grain just because you want to? Have you asked the emperor?

Although if asked, Buzz Buzz would probably agree for the sake of those sets of talisman porcelain... oh no, because His Majesty has always loved his people like his own children. But the Paw Patrol will not miss this opportunity to tear him and his son apart. Wouldn't that be a case of good intentions leading to bad consequences?

So Zhao Hao designed this routine. He asked the county to issue coupons in the name of encouraging people to pay taxes early and pay more taxes. He knew very well that the Paw Patrol's economics level was equivalent to no level. He could entangle them by going around in circles.

This is indeed the case. The Suzhou and Songjiang Circuit Inspector and the Military Preparations Commissioner both questioned Kunshan County, asking why tax coupons were issued when collecting taxes.

The answer is: It is to make everyone pay more taxes and solve the chronic problem of tax arrears that has plagued the government!

Where do these coupons come from? Of course, they are bought from merchants.

Why do you have to spend money to buy coupons? This is to increase industrial and commercial tax revenue and reward key supported enterprises in the county. And they are bought at half price, which is not enough for merchants to even make back their investment, but just to help them get through the difficult start-up period.

What? They got the other half of the money next year? That's a different matter. That's the company's bonus for the new year!

Basically at this point, the Paw Patrol's attention will shift to why it is so good for industry and commerce.

The answer is that there is no other way. Our Kunshan has a dense population and too little land. If we don't want the people to starve to death and beg for food, we can only develop industry and commerce like Suzhou did, so that everyone can have work to do and food to eat.

In this way, the people were eager to pay taxes, and the government collected more tax revenue. The people themselves also benefited greatly; the businesses that the county wanted to support also grew rapidly; the prosperity of Kunshan County also improved rapidly... Everyone lived a good life, so what was the problem?

The inspector of Susong and the military governor who came to inspect were sent back in confusion. They could only shout in their memorials that the Kunshan experience could not be replicated.

Of course, what Mr. Zhao said, "The most worrying thing is how to collect the imperial grain to the minimum line," is not nonsense.

Because according to Hai Rui's Yingtian New Deal, the two prefectures of Suzhou and Songjiang still had to pay grain taxes, and they couldn't convert all of it into silver like other places. So Kunshan County was still collecting grain.

The enthusiasm of the people to pay taxes is too high, and they may pay too much. After paying enough taxes, the remaining taxes in the warehouse will get moldy in Kunshan's horrible weather!

~~

The scorching sun enveloped the Chaozhou government office, but the lobby was spacious and ventilated, with a high roof, so it was still relatively cool.

For the entire morning, Zhao Shouzheng had an in-depth exchange with two of his subordinates and ten county magistrates on the current situation of Chaozhou Prefecture.

Then he announced his plan to revitalize Chaozhou - taking the provincial capital as the leader and economic development as the bridge to unite the scattered counties and lead the people of the prefecture out of poverty!

It was basically what he had told Lin Run, the five chronic diseases, six major problems, and the set of countermeasures.

By the time he finished his long speech, it was almost noon.

At this time, Fan Datong came in and asked when the banquet would start.

Zhao Shouzheng stopped talking and stood up and said to everyone, "Please have a simple meal. After the meal, we can talk one by one."

So he took the officials to the cafeteria of the government office and treated them to a simple meal - each table had only four dishes, one soup, and four cold dishes.

Obviously, Mr. Zhao was not trying to save money, but he didn't want to turn lunch into a long banquet and waste precious time.

Although there are few dishes, they are Jinling cuisine that is hard to find in Chaozhou.

The four dishes and one soup are squirrel fish, prawns, Jinling meatballs, eight-treasure braised duck, and chicken stewed in clear soup.

The four cold dishes are salted duck, marinated chicken feet with pepper, Jinling vegetarian assorted vegetables and tofu boat with golden crab sticks.

They are all home-cooked dishes, without any delicacies from the land or the sea. They just look a little more fancy, the tableware is a little more refined, and the plating is a little more exquisite.

Maybe this can whet people's appetite in this hot summer.

The adults said New Year's greetings and sat down to eat in a casual manner. Because they had to discuss business in the afternoon, there was no wine, only some cold drinks to go with the meal, so everyone used tea instead of wine, and after paying their respects to the master of the house, they picked up their chopsticks and started to eat.

Who would have thought that after eating it, they had no choice but to stare in amazement, holding their chopsticks in their hands and frozen in place.

A turbid tear flowed from the corner of the eye of the Huilai magistrate who was a former imperial student.

"What's wrong? Is there something wrong with the food?" Mr. Zhao quickly took a chopstick from each plate and tasted it. He said in surprise, "It doesn't taste bad. So it doesn't suit your taste? Datong, make a new table of Chaoshan dishes!"

Fan Datong was ordered to have the dishes on the table removed. The officials who had been silent all this time suddenly woke up and quickly protected the dishes on the table!

"Don't move!"

"What are you going to do? I haven't eaten yet..."

"Go down, go down!" The county magistrates shouted loudly, as if they were protecting their people.

"What are you singing?" Master Zhao was confused.

"I have never seen the world, and I never thought there would be such a delicious and delicious food in the world." Puning County Magistrate Dai Jiuchou said embarrassedly, "So I was stunned for a moment."

"Yes, after eating the food at the Mansion Master's house, everything I eat will be tasteless for the rest of my life..." Chenghai County Magistrate Cai Nan hurriedly explained: "This is why I feel disappointed in advance."

"At my age, my sense of taste has deteriorated severely. I haven't tasted such delicious food for many years." The old county magistrate Ye Chaozhen, who had just shed tears, wiped his eyes with a handkerchief and said, "This reminds me of my lost youth, when I could still run in the sunset..."

"I was touched by the smooth tofu. The ecstasy taste reminded me of my cousin, my first love..."

"I can't bear to eat one more bite, for fear of wasting food..." The other adults also rushed to express their opinions.

"Okay, okay, if it's delicious, eat more. And talk less, the food is getting cold." Master Zhao was speechless for a while and disagreed in his heart. He thought, is it really that delicious? It's just average, right?

But looking at them chewing slowly and with such look of enjoyment on their faces, it seemed as if they were not having a meal but meeting an oiran on a pleasure boat on the Qinhuai River.

Obviously not fake...

Today's chef is the famous chef from Jinling. Manager Fang specially arranged for him to go south with Mr. Zhao and be the chef to serve food and drinks.

Mr. Zhao has become accustomed to the extremely delicious taste, so he thinks it is just ordinary.

But in fact, the quality of Wei Ji Xian's dishes has improved a lot compared to those years. Just the powders for enhancing the flavor have been developed to the tune of hundreds. With the blessing of these powders with their own strengths, Wei Ji Xian's dishes are constantly being innovated and have become a legend in the dining world of Jiangnan and even Beijing.

Back then, in the small shabby restaurant in Caijia Lane, the chef with the most delicious food could conquer the taste buds of Jinling gourmets with just a few dishes. Now that he has improved several levels, how could he not amaze these bureaucrats from remote areas who have never seen the world?

Now Mr. Zhao felt too embarrassed to rush them, so he simply ate a bowl of rice, rinsed his mouth, and stood up.

"Everyone, please enjoy your meal. Whoever has finished eating should go to the study first. I will treat you to tea."

County Magistrate Qin, who was always keeping an eye on his brother's movements, was just about to speak when Liu Rugao, who was sitting on his left, picked up a meatball with chopsticks and put it into his mouth.

County Magistrate Qin took it firmly in his mouth and couldn't swallow it or spit it out.

During this delay, Liu Rugao stood up. "Your subordinate will go first."

"Okay." Mr. Zhao nodded and went out first.

Seeing that his brother didn't wait for him, Liu Rugao's expression darkened. He took a deep breath and quickly followed his brother out.

"Thank you very much." The county magistrates thanked him one after another. Now they had time to savor every bite of the dish.

County Magistrate Qin finally swallowed the pill, and perhaps because of choking, his eyes turned red. He thought sadly:

"How despicable! I was the first one to do that..."

~~

Cool music has been installed in the flower hall of the Tongzhi official residence, which is quite cool.

Zhao Shouzheng also learned how to make Chaozhou Kung Fu tea, and asked someone to prepare a full set of tea utensils. He sat in front of the cool music and prepared to make it properly. It was really impressive.

Liu Rugao sat opposite the tea table, beads of sweat constantly oozing from his forehead.

Since coming in, his brother has been silent, which has put him under great psychological pressure.

Finally, County Magistrate Liu could hold it in any longer, and he steeled himself, lifted his robe, and knelt upright beside the tea table.

"Brother, I apologize to you!" He was about to kowtow.

"Okay, what are you doing?" Zhao Shouzheng shouted, scaring him so much that he stood there in a daze.

"I said at that time that I didn't blame you. Do you think I am a person who goes back on my word?" Zhao Shouzheng looked at him and smiled.

Liu Rugao pinched his balls hard and burst into tears, saying, "Brother, don't blame me, I will blame myself even more."

"Just blame yourself. Look, even without your soldiers, I was able to defend Chaozhou City, didn't I?" Master Zhao finally said it. He had wanted to pretend to be Boyi to Liu Rugao since a long time ago.

ps. Only two updates today.