Chapter 75: The Two-Eight Rule
Lee Zhi said smilingly, “The Hsu Clan is a big family. Only a handful of them are actually worth something. Well, it doesn’t matter. If Staff General Liao looks down on us, then what’s the point in forcing ourselves into his good graces? Anyway, the matter regarding the villager’s status as militia is really minor. It won’t matter once the war is over. So, why don’t we talk about something that’s a little more substantial? Can you give us some pay and provision, County Magistrate Sun?”
Sun Chao’en replied, “General Lee hails from the Two Lees. Are you not more noble than the Hsu Clan? Besides, the guy is only distantly related to the Hsu Clan, so I truly do not get what gives him the right to be so arrogant! As for pay and provisions…”
The county magistrate gritted his teeth and said, “Three hundred militia, two taels each—that’s six hundred taels in total! What do you say?”
Fang Hetong exploded, slamming his hand against the table as he shot to his feet, “The court allocated two hundred thousand taels to the cause, and you’re giving only six hundred? Are you truly not afraid that the funds you’ve embezzled will one day burst out of your gluttonous belly?!”
Sun Chao’en let out a bitter chuckle. “I see that you have not consolidated your theoretical knowledge with real life, Junior Brother Fang. Have you never heard of the Two-Eight Rule?”
“What is the Two-Eight Rule?”
The county assistant, Ren Youwei, interjected, “Allow me to explain on behalf of Lord Sun. The Two-Eight Rule is common knowledge within the circle of officials. It refers to the principle of upward remittance and downward allocation. For example, if the imperial court allocates a hundred silver downward to a county, only twenty taels will make it after it passes through various hands. Similarly, when the taxes collected by a county are remitted upward into the treasury, only twenty taels will ultimately reach the emperor’s hands. This is the Two-Eight Rule. If a state is able to pull this off, their governance is considered to be well-ordered, and their officials upright.”
“This… this does not make sense!” Fang Hetong was utterly flabbergasted.
The chief of records also chimed in, “His Holiness allocated two hundred thousand taels to the war effort, but only thirty-six thousand made it to the county. Staff General Liao then took thirty thousand taels from this sum for military pay, leaving the county with a mere six thousand taels. The clerks, yamen attendants and more are all owed considerable sums as well, and we are currently in wartime. They’re all risking their lives to serve the cause, so we cannot afford to delay their pay any longer. This costs another three thousand taels. The remaining three thousand taels must cover the pay of every militia and auxiliary soldiers countywide. All things considered, I believe Lord Sun is dipping into his own pockets when he offers to pay you six hundred taels.”