Chapter 212: Rising from the Ashes?
While Zhang Fei was busy dealing with legal aid matters, a strange undercurrent of public discontent quietly flowed into the capital from all directions.
The imperial city immediately erupted in commotion.
The ministers discussed the matter extensively among themselves.
When public grievances arose in the capital region, the emperor quickly became aware and took the matter seriously.
In the Hall of Delegated Rule, Emperor Zhao Xu asked with a puzzled expression, “I’ve recently heard that public discontent is rising around the capital. What exactly is going on?”
Nothing significant had happened recently, and there were no natural or man-made disasters in the surrounding areas. It was truly perplexing.
Censor Lin Dan stepped forward first and reported, “Your Majesty, according to my knowledge, the surrounding public discontent stems from land investigations and collection of back deed taxes.”
Zhao Xu frowned, “Land investigations and deed tax collection are matters that benefit both the country and the people. Why would the common people be resentful of this?”
He remembered that when the court first announced the collection of informal deed taxes, the people were quite happy about it.
Wang Anshi immediately stepped forward and said, “In my opinion, there must be troublemakers at work.” Wen Yanbo said, “Academician Wang, making such claims without evidence is unfair!”
Wang Anshi immediately replied, “Though I haven’t investigated this matter fully, if what Censor Lin says is true, there must be troublemakers involved.”
Zhao Bian, seeing Wang Anshi’s conviction despite lack of investigation, curiously asked, “How do you figure?”
Wang Anshi explained, “Land investigations and deed tax collection mainly target landlords and wealthy gentry, not common people. If there is resentment, it should come from those landlords and gentry. Clearly, this so-called public discontent is their doing. The court need not pay attention to it.”
Lin Dan said, “Academician Wang only knows half the story! Those landlords and gentry aren’t farming the land themselves – they rent it to tenant farmers. Though the landlords pay the deed tax, taxes are generally factored into the tenants’ rent. Now with land investigations and back taxes being collected, taxes must be paid immediately. This has become an unbearable burden for many tenant farmers, hence the public discontent.”
Wang Anshi snorted, “By your logic, the imperial court shouldn’t collect taxes at all?”
“That’s not what I meant at all,” Lin Dan said. “I just think the imperial court’s sudden land investigation and back tax collection is too hasty and lacks consideration. I believe what Lord Wen said was very reasonable – this matter concerns people’s livelihoods, the court should think it through carefully.”
Wang Anshi directly retorted, “Then let me ask you, should the court think carefully about paying official salaries?”
Lin Dan grew angry, “You’re simply twisting words!”
Wang Anshi snorted, “I’m discussing the facts.”
Sima Guang looked at Wang Anshi with furrowed brows, “If you truly want to discuss facts, you should get the full picture rather than obscuring things.”
Wang Anshi opened his eyes wide in anger: “When did I obscure anything?”
Sima Guang said, “Then let Censor Lin finish speaking.”
“I thought he was finished,” Wang Anshi muttered as he stepped back.
Lin Dan shot an unhappy glance at Wang Anshi, then produced a deed, “This is a lease contract my people found. Once Your Majesty reads it, you’ll understand the source of public discontent.”
After reading it, Zhao Xu’s brow furrowed deeply.
Lin Dan continued, “Your Majesty, though many landlords use informal deeds, the true beneficiaries are the tenant farmers, not the landlords.”
Wang Anshi angrily rebuked, “Complete nonsense! If the landlords aren’t benefiting, is the government benefiting instead? Our dynasty’s laws stipulate that taxes follow ownership of the land. How can they transfer tax burden to tenant farmers? This contract should be considered void – taxes must be borne by landlords and cannot be passed on to tenant farmers.”
Wen Yanbo said, “If the contracts are invalidated, tenant farmers will have no land to cultivate. Who exactly are you trying to punish?”
He then turned to Zhao Xu and said, “Your Majesty, I believe this matter requires careful consideration. Even if the imperial court wants to investigate land ownership and collect deed taxes, we shouldn’t rush it. We can collect the deed taxes this year but temporarily suspend other taxes. Otherwise, many commoners will be overwhelmed by the burden.”
While deed taxes couldn’t be transferred to tenant farmers – whoever bought the land had to pay them – the problem was that once informal deeds became formal ones, they would enter the tax system, which would then be passed on to tenant farmers.
“The summer taxes could be waived, but what about autumn taxes?”
Wang Anshi said, “If we collect deed taxes but don’t enforce regular taxation, the tax system will exist in name only.”
His mind was still clear – summer taxes were already being collected, and with deed taxes being paid now, it might be too late, but they would definitely be in time for autumn taxes.
After all, this wasn’t happening nationwide.
Wen Yanbo said, “Stop being alarmist. This only applies to land with newly paid deed taxes – other lands will still be taxed normally. How is that existing in name only? Besides, this whole matter arose from a single court case. Neither the government nor the people were prepared. Delaying for a year is perfectly reasonable.”
“What if something else comes up next year – should we delay another year? One year after another, when will it end?”
Wang Anshi turned to Zhao Xu again, “Your Majesty, if we compromise on legal tax collection, there will be public outcry whenever the court collects taxes in the future. We cannot set this precedent.”
He knew this pattern too well – take one step back, and you’ll keep retreating.
Zhao Xu nodded, “Let’s investigate this matter thoroughly before further discussion.”
Seeing this, Wen Yanbo said nothing more.
After Wen Yanbo and the others left, Wang Anshi stormed out of the hall angrily. When he reached the steps, he suddenly stopped. Someone was standing nearby. He turned his head to see it was none other than Sima Guang, and asked, “What’s your view on this matter?”
Sima Guang ignored him and, keeping his eyes downcast, chanted Wang Anshi’s own slogan, “The people pay no additional taxes yet state coffers overflow, the people pay no additional taxes yet state coffers overflow, the people pay no additional taxes yet state coffers overflow.”
“Hmph!”
Wang Anshi snorted angrily and stormed off.
Sima Guang looked up, watching Wang Anshi’s retreating figure, and laughed distainfully, “I told you before that hastily adding taxes would inevitably burden the common people, but you wouldn’t believe me. Now let’s see how you manage to fill state coffers without increasing the people’s burden.”
Zhang Fei knew nothing about this, as he was currently absorbed in the joy of receiving new clothes.
“How is it?”
Zhang Fei, wearing his freshly made beach-style short-sleeved shirt and eagle-embroidered shorts, with wooden clogs that went clack-clack, did an elaborate spin in front of Gao Wenyin.
The outfit was the epitome of coolness.
Gao Wenyin had an odd expression as she said, “These clothes are only suitable for sleeping, aren’t they?”
Although she had made them herself, she really didn’t think they looked very attractive.
“It’s fine as long as I don’t go out.”
Zhang Fei moved his limbs freely, feeling as if he’d broken free from constraints. Though the current summer wasn’t too hot, with cool mornings and evenings, he still hadn’t quite adjusted to Song dynasty clothing, which became uncomfortable when he sweated. Suddenly remembering something, he said, “Wait a moment.”
He bounced over to the bed, crouched down, and pulled out a small wooden chest. After searching through it for a while, he pulled out a bundle of red cloth.
“My lady, could you make me another pair of shorts like this?”
He shyly handed the red bundle to Gao Wenyin.
Gao Wenyin took it and spread it out to find it was a pair of red shorts. “Who are these for?”
Zhang Fei grinned and said, “They’re for me to wear.”
These were the underwear that had traveled through time with him, but he only had this one pair and usually couldn’t bear to wear them.
“You can fit into these?” Gao Wenyin asked in surprise.
Could she already know about his special endowment? Zhang Fei shyly replied, “These shorts can stretch. You can pull them gently, but don’t use too much force.”
Gao Wenyin gave them a gentle tug and exclaimed, “What material is this made of?”
“It should be cotton,” Zhang Fei said.
“Cotton?”
Gao Wenyin examined them carefully. “Wait, how does it stretch?”
“Oh, that’s called an elastic band.”
“Elastic band?”
Gao Wenyin eagerly asked, “What’s it made of?”
“Uh, let’s not get into that. Can you make them or not?” Zhang Fei asked.
“Can these shorts be worn in public?” Gao Wenyin asked.
“Of course not.”
Zhang Fei quickly explained, “These are undergarments worn inside, to conceal one’s endowments.”
“What endowments?” Gao Wenyin asked curiously.
Zhang Fei chuckled, “You’ll find out next time.”
Gao Wenyin didn’t think much of it and carefully examined the shorts. “If you have more of this elastic band, I can help make them. Without it, we’d have to use strings to tie them, which might not work as well.”
Right, there was no elastic band in this era – how would that work? Having to untie several strings when rushing to use the bathroom could lead to accidents. Zhang Fei dejectedly said, “Never mind then.”
He took the underwear back from Gao Wenyin’s hands.
“If they’re damaged, I can help mend them,” Gao Wenyin offered.
The fabric could be mended, but the elastic band wouldn’t maintain its elasticity forever. Zhang Fei smiled and said, “Forget it! I’ll keep them as a family heirloom to pass down to your son.”
“My son?”
Gao Wenyin looked startled, but quickly understood. Her cheeks turned red, and she cast a reproachful glance at Zhang Fei with her bright almond eyes.
Knowing her modest nature, Zhang Fei refrained from teasing her further and said, “Let me put my underwear away safely.”
He bounced over to the bed, placed the underwear in the small box, and pushed it under the bed.
This made Gao Wenyin suppress a giggle.
Just as he finished storing them, there was a knock at the door. “Brother San, Benefactor is here.”
“I know! I’m coming right out.”
Zhang Fei turned to Gao Wenyin and said, “Wife, I’ll head out first.”
“What?”
Gao Wenyin quickly stood up and said, “You’re going out dressed like this?”
Zhang Fei said, “I don’t feel like changing. We’re all family here.”
“But you can’t.”
Gao Wenyin hurriedly blocked the door. “How can you go out dressed like this? What will people think?”
Zhang Fei blinked and smiled, “You really sound like a proper lady now.”
“No, it’s not that… I…” Gao Wenyin anxiously stamped her foot. “If Master Xu finds out I made these clothes, he’ll think I…”
“That you corrupted me?” Zhang Fei asked uncertainly.
“Yes.”
Gao Wenyin nodded repeatedly.
She was a traditional woman who took such matters very seriously.
“Are you capable of that?”
Zhang Fei chuckled and said, “Alright! I’ll change clothes.”
After changing back into his long robe, Zhang Fei went to the front courtyard. Seeing Xu Zun sitting there with a grave expression, he asked, “Father-in-law, what’s wrong?”
Xu Zun looked at him and sighed, “There’s a problem with the back collection of deed tax.”
Zhang Fei asked, “What problem?”
Xu Zun explained the situation to Zhang Fei.
After listening, Zhang Fei sighed helplessly, “It’s always the common people who suffer!”
The court wanted money, the landlords wanted money – where was it all supposed to come from?
Xu Zun continued, “Now there are people at court discussing how His Majesty shouldn’t have banished Wang Hong to the capital.”
Zhang Fei frowned, “If he comes back, I’ll be in trouble.”