Chapter 36 Chapter 36 Buying an official position
The controversy at the Jinling court has not yet reached Nanjiang County.
At this time, Nanjiang County had just finished purchasing medicinal herbs.
As the medicinal herb trading center of Guangyue Prefecture, the government office put in a great deal of effort.
Fortunately, the harvest was quite fruitful, and they even helped sell medicines from several surrounding counties, so at least they didn't end up with unsold medicinal herbs.
Su Qing even had connections in the military, which helped him get a good price for many places.
After this series of transactions, Su Qing developed a fairly good relationship with the magistrates of the surrounding counties.
Especially the four counties that were just recovered: Jiangbei County, Jiangwu County, Shangkou County, and Yisong County.
Jiangbei County used to have a large number of military troops stationed there, which hindered its development.
The other three places were only gradually recovered at the end of last year, let alone construction.
Fortunately, the medicinal herbs sold well, which allowed the local government offices and people in these areas to breathe a sigh of relief.
The magistrates of Jiangbei County and the five other counties were somewhat embarrassed.
They had previously worried that Su Qing's Nanjiang County would steal their business.
In reality, it's those who follow along and grow medicinal herbs who are stealing other people's business.
Fortunately, Magistrate Su put aside past grievances and led everyone to make money together.
However, income is far from keeping up with expenses.
In particular, grain prices remain high in various regions, even affecting Nanjiang County.
This is normal.
It is said that when the city gate catches fire, the fish in the moat suffer as well.
When grain prices fluctuate in other places, Nanjiang County cannot remain unaffected.
Fortunately, they were well-prepared and have not sold any grain outside the county in recent years, storing it all in granaries throughout the county.
At this point, it was natural to bring it out, and several surrounding areas also benefited from it.
"Nanjiang County is simply the anchor of stability for the surrounding area."
"Yes, no matter how chaotic things are outside, it's good for us if Nanjiang County can stay stable."
A medicinal herb.
A grain price.
Nanjiang County has become a ballast for the surrounding counties.
With her around, the surrounding people, and even the officials, were all protected.
They were also confident about the 60,000 troops stationed in Yisong County on the border of Guangyue Prefecture.
When these messages reached the ears of the officials in the Guangyue Prefecture, they evoked a different feeling.
The people in the prefectural city are well-informed.
In early June, they received a piece of news first.
Rumors that the current prefect finds hard to believe.
Even though he was eager to leave this place.
But the person who might succeed him is actually a woman?!
The government office had been buzzing with discussion for some time.
What do people in Nanjing think?
They actually want a woman to be the prefect?!
Is there really no one left in the court?!
How could someone with no official rank rise directly from county magistrate to prefect?
That's absolutely ridiculous.
"Fortunately, it's just a rumor; who knows if it will actually happen."
That's what they said, but the people in the Guangyue Prefecture government office couldn't help but wonder what it would be like for Su Qing to be the prefect.
If she were to become the prefect.
The situation in Guangyuefu should be much better, right?
No, I can't think like that.
A woman shouldn't be appointed as a prefect; being appointed as a county magistrate is already an act of imperial favor.
In the Hua family of Fucheng, Hua Jingming even ate tea leaves.
Is Su Qing coming to the prefectural city?
He wants to be a prefect?
Are you kidding me?
When the news reached Nanjiang County again.
Everyone in the government office was visibly shocked.
Magistrate Su himself, however, remained unmoved.
One reason is that she already knew about it.
Secondly, the prefect has not yet been appointed, so to be happy now is like popping champagne ahead of time.
The magistrates of the surrounding counties immediately sent gifts, which she returned, but their attitude was clear.
If Su Qing could become the prefect, the situation in their respective counties would be much better.
After all, everyone knows that.
As the prefectural government, it should assist the counties in post-war reconstruction.
But they just pretended not to see it and continued to collect taxes as required, which made the locals furious.
This gift-giving seems like a fit of pique.
What's wrong with the woman? What's wrong with the county magistrate?
As long as we can lead them to govern the area well, they will accept it!
Su Qing was both amused and exasperated by everyone's antics. She looked at the letters sent by Gu Congsi, one of which was to be delivered to Instructor Gu and his wife.
This was the first time he had ever sent a letter back.
It seems the situation in Nanjing has stabilized.
The letter to Instructor Gu and his wife simply informed them that they were safe and sound, and mentioned that Su Qing had taken care of them when they were ill.
Su Qing's letter, on the other hand, was extremely long.
First, he detailed the mutiny in Beijing at the end of March.
Then came the detailed situation in Jinling, and who was supporting her in becoming the prefect.
Gu Congsi did not write down his own judgment, but only wrote down what he knew.
The rest can be left to Su Qing.
Gu Congsi knew that she knew better than he did how to do it.
This letter gave many people more confidence in Su Qing's chances of becoming the prefect.
yes.
Su Qing's fiancé is a favorite of the emperor.
She is also very capable.
This matter might actually work out.
Moreover, everyone knows that being the prefect of Guangyue Prefecture is not an easy job, so no one should be competing with Su Qing for it.
Anyway.
From the perspective of most of the area surrounding Nanjiang County.
Appointing Magistrate Su as Prefect is an excellent choice.
At least if she were in that position, she wouldn't ignore the lives of ordinary people.
However, since the news broke in early June.
Even in July, when preparations for the autumn harvest were underway in various regions, the selection of a prefect was still undecided.
Some people say that the noise in Nanjing is too intense.
The matter was about to be settled when a great Confucian scholar from Lu came to object.
He traveled 1,200 li in six days just to oppose a woman becoming a prefect.
This great Confucian scholar quoted extensively from classical texts and engaged in a heated debate with Gu Congsi.
In short, one point of view.
Su Qing, female.
When the prefect violates the laws of our ancestors.
Gu Congsi argued his case forcefully, leading the top officials from various regions to debate with him.
It is said that many well-known and popular articles and poems were created during the competition.
But the outcome is becoming increasingly unclear.
It's estimated that no one expected that a great Confucian scholar would come out and stir up trouble.
Su Qing ordered people to keep an eye on the situation in Gaoqing Prefecture while simultaneously trying to curb local grain prices.
Grain prices must be stabilized before the autumn harvest this year.
They even need to release some of their stored grain in Nanjiang County, otherwise the grain prices in Jiangbei County, Jiangwu County, Shangkou County, and Yisong County will definitely get out of control.
At this point, many people realized why Magistrate Su had prohibited the cultivation of various medicinal herbs.
Medicinal herbs are good things, but they can't be eaten as food.
Without food as a foundation, no matter how high the price of medicinal herbs is, people still cannot afford to buy food.
The surrounding areas, where medicinal herbs are grown, have naturally suffered greatly and can only hope that the autumn harvest will come soon so that everyone can breathe a sigh of relief.
Next year, we will definitely learn from this experience.
Just when everyone was looking forward to August so they could harvest their grain.
A new decree from the prefectural capital caught all regions off guard.
"Collecting autumn taxes ahead of schedule?" The magistrate of Jiangbei County immediately wrote to Su Qing, "Why would you want to collect them ahead of schedule out of the blue?"
"It's only a little over a month, can't you even wait that long?!"
The autumn harvest in Guangyuefu usually takes place around the Mid-Autumn Festival.
Generally, taxes are paid in full before mid-September.
But this year, taxes are due in various places as early as the beginning of July.
It was even stipulated that taxes must be paid before July 20th.
The reasons have also been explained.
One reason is that the imperial court in Nanjing needs money.
Secondly, the 60,000 troops stationed in Guangyuefu needed supplies and were short of money.
In short...
I'm short of money!
You need to hand it in quickly!
But for local county governments, it was simply a matter of getting things done ahead of schedule.
But for ordinary people, it was no less than a catastrophe.
Paying taxes in advance sounds simple.
Where did they get the spare money?!
Everyone is struggling to make ends meet, living day to day, and hoping to catch their breath after the autumn harvest.
Now tell them not to hold their breath yet.
Who could stand it?
Like someone whose salary is only enough to cover daily food and rent.
Originally, I would pay the rent on the 20th of each month after receiving my salary.
Tell him now that the rent is due on the 10th of this month.
If you don't pay, we'll kick you out.
How can we live like this?
Now let's not even talk about other places.
Even the people of Nanjiang County were thrown into riots.
It took Su Qing and the others a long time to calm everyone down.
As for how to pay the taxes, that remains to be seen by Su Qing.
Just when everyone was at a loss, the government office sent out another document.
This document was delivered directly to Su Qing by the officials in charge of household registration at the prefectural government office.
The man had a sly smile on his face, but he didn't seem to have any good intentions.
However, the contents of the document were unknown to the Nanjiang County government.
The government offices of the remaining sixteen counties in Guangyue Prefecture were almost all aware of its contents.
Su Qing looked at the man coldly, her eyes filled with unspeakable mockery.
Whether the mockery is directed at the document in front of us or at the person behind it, we cannot know.
The document's content wasn't complicated, but it was quite ridiculous.
Nanjiang County has the highest tax revenue and the best overall situation.
Therefore, we should pay more taxes this year to set an example for other counties.
Not only that.
The government will no longer reimburse or allow any expenses incurred at the military sanatorium from August of last year to June of this year.
In other words...
This year, your Nanjiang County will not only have to pay for the wounded soldiers' expenses themselves.
We'll have to pay more taxes.
Why?
It's all because your area has developed so well.
The document also subtly implied that both the local government and the imperial court in Jinling would remember you.
This is a great opportunity for you to shine.
That's all I have to say; everyone knows what that means.
Do you want to be the prefect of Guangyue Prefecture?
Then pay more taxes.
Pay more taxes and you can become a prefect.
In Su Qing's view, this was not about paying taxes.
It was clearly a scheme to force her to use Nanjiang County's tax revenue to buy an official position.
Su Qing sneered, "A bunch of useless trash."
This statement has been used to insult countless people.
Once the counties of Guangyue Prefecture gradually realized what was happening, they were no longer panicked.
It turns out that the advance taxation was not targeted at them.
All eyes are on Nanjiang County.
As long as they pay enough taxes.
Su Qing would then have an excellent record of political achievements, and the current prefect of Guangyue Prefecture would speak highly of her.
At that time, the position of local prefect will be hers.
The temptation is undeniably great.
Anyway, this is Nanjiang County's money, not Su Qing's private treasury.
Even if we pay it all, so what?
That's the prefect!
The position of the fourth rank.
There has never been a woman in the world who could serve as a prefect.
Some people even secretly calculated the income of Nanjiang County from last year to this year.
"Several million taels of silver is possible."
"Of course, there's the medicinal herb trading center, the bumper harvest of grain, and the shipping taxes."
“If we take out one million taels, she will definitely be given an official position in Jinling immediately. I heard that Jinling is in dire need of silver.”
"It's a small county, yet it's so wealthy; it's no wonder that people covet it."
"If it were me, I would definitely pay to become the prefect."
"Su Qing has a bit of a thirst for power, so he should be willing."
Everyone was waiting for Su Qing's decision.
Even the people of Nanjiang County think that it doesn't seem like a problem for her to pay more taxes.
That's the prefect.
The rise from county magistrate to prefect is a meteoric one.
How could anyone not be tempted?
At the center of the vortex, Su Qing was examining the general's calligraphy again and again.
Is this the imperial court you've been working so hard for? Interesting.
She casually set the calligraphy copybook aside and said to Luo, the registrar, and Wu, the household manager, "This year's tax amount should remain the same."
"The expenses for wounded soldiers that should be reported should continue to be reported."
"By the way, Nanjiang County does not pay taxes in advance."
"Since it's an autumn tax, let's wait until after autumn to discuss it."
"If the Prefect is in a hurry, he can come and collect the grain in person."
"Your humble servant awaits your arrival."
Using taxpayers' money to buy himself an official position?
Even if Su Qing really liked being an official, she couldn't go to this extent.
Su Qing continued, saying to Clerk Zhu and Registrar Luo, "Grind the inkstone; I need to write a letter."
write a letter?
The document for the government office has already been sent out, hasn't it?
Heaven knows how angry the prefect will be when he receives the letter.
“Write a letter to the magistrates of Jiangbei County, Jiangwu County, Shangkou County, and Yisong County.”
“All regions urgently need post-war reconstruction, so let them ask the prefect for grain and silver.”
"Write another letter to the garrison commander and the logistics officer."
“The prefect of Guangyue Prefecture used them as an excuse to collect autumn taxes from seventeen counties ahead of schedule. Let them ask the prefect for logistics and supplies.”
As for their Nanjiang County, they also need government support.
They need a county school in Daxing, and are in dire need of teachers of the Five Classics. They don't want anyone who isn't from a prestigious family.
Given the Emperor's strong support for the imperial examination system, you wouldn't object, would you?
You scholars from prestigious families, surely you wouldn't be so reluctant to leave the comfort of the prefectural city and refuse to teach at the county school?
Since the current prefect of Guangyue Prefecture is so reluctant to leave this place, then let him continue in his post.
Anyway, it's not her who's in a hurry.
After all the letters were sent, Fei Xiucai was practically bowing down in worship.
The pressure on the local prefect is already immense.
No one is willing to take this position.
Now that everyone is putting pressure on them, even fewer people are willing to come.
Magistrate Su's intervention made the already scalding spot even more like a frying pan.
The prefect of Guangyue Prefecture wanted to take advantage of the last moment to squeeze a large sum of money out of Su Qing, and also to win the emperor's favor with the silver.
Now Magistrate Su is telling you this directly.
I don't want this position, and I'm not in a hurry.
If you want to sit, then sit down.
Let her use tax money to buy an official position?
Are you kidding me?
Let's see if you're in a hurry to leave, or I'm in a hurry to sit down.
Whoever can't hold on any longer.
Then that person loses.
Magistrate Su's actions were something none of the other counties had anticipated.
This was something the current prefect hadn't anticipated.
In his mind, Su Qing would definitely accept the price he offered.
The taxes aren't her money, so there's nothing she's reluctant to part with.
Who knew that Su Qing not only didn't appreciate it, but also encouraged the group to ask him for grain and money.
The magistrates of those four counties were relatively easy to deal with.
They dared not disobey their superiors, and their tone was polite.
However, the 60,000 garrison commanders were extremely arrogant, and the logistics officers in the army were equally aggressive.
They needed not only money and food, but also all kinds of logistical supplies.
Logistics support for 60,000 soldiers.
Even if you sell him, he can't afford it.
The most critical thing is...
This matter will quickly spread throughout official circles.
People who used to want to come to Guangyuefu now avoid it like the plague.
After all, whoever takes over has to deal with this mess.
Su Qing, oh Su Qing.
What good will it do you to do this?
As long as he takes away this year's tax revenue from Nanjiang County, he can make more money in Jinling.
At that time, the Emperor, the Empress Dowager, and that great Confucian scholar from Lu will all praise her as a shrewd, capable, selfless, and public-spirited official.
If this matter is resolved, no one will object to her becoming the prefect.
Can't I take some silver and put in a good word for you in Jinling?
Do we really have to make things so ugly for everyone?
"Sir, another letter has arrived from the army, urging you to allocate logistical supplies."
"The Hua family is asking when they will repay the debt you borrowed before."
"Gu Congsi impeached you before the Emperor, saying that you were levying exorbitant taxes and committing tyrannical acts in the Emperor's name."
"The General also sent a letter inquiring about the condition of the wounded soldiers and why no funds have been allocated for their recuperation."
The incompetent and furious prefect roared, "Enough!"
Stop talking!
Stop talking!
Su Qing, Magistrate of Su County.
You're really something.
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