Exile and banishment are not the same concept.
To many people, exile and banishment seem to be a punishment.
In fact, in ancient times, exile and banishment were targeted at two groups of people.
Most of the exiled prisoners were those who had committed minor crimes or were family members of serious criminals who were implicated.
These people were exiled to remote areas to perform forced labor, most of which had a fixed term. Even if it was indefinite, there was still a chance for them to go back by spending money and using their connections.
But exile is different. Most of these people are death row prisoners who have been granted commutation of sentence, or they are serious criminals.
These people were those who had committed unrepentant crimes. When they were exiled, words would be tattooed on their faces to indicate the reasons for their crimes. They would then be sent to remote areas to do heavy labor, and their status would basically be reduced to that of slaves.
These exiled prisoners are divided into lifelong and permanent ones.
Lifelong imprisonment means that criminals must serve hard labor in remote areas until they die.
As for permanence, their descendants will be slaves for generations to come and have to do labor in remote areas forever.
So, being exiled is better, but those who were exiled are really miserable.
As the punishment was determined, batches of wealthy businessmen, families, and officials were implicated and all were arrested. Some were fined, some had their property confiscated, some were exiled, and some were banished, as a sign of the court's punishment.
at the same time.
The Single Whip Law is being implemented in full swing across the country.
The use of treasure banknotes to offset taxes is also being promoted.
The whole country was in an uproar, and the people were all cheering for joy.
The Single Whip System directly simplified many taxes and even corvee labor.
For the lower-class people, this means fewer procedures, which means fewer processes of being deducted, and it will not be so easy for officials to make things difficult for the people by relying on the "final right of interpretation."
In addition, the treasure notes that the people had been unable to spend could suddenly be used to offset taxes, and the deduction was based on the original price, not the depreciated value of the treasure notes.
This means that the value of the treasure notes in the hands of all the people suddenly doubled, and they made a small fortune! It was really a pleasant surprise!
As for some wealthy families, some of them already had a lot of banknotes in their hands before this incident happened, and they suddenly became rich overnight.
Of course, there are also opposite examples.
Songjiang Prefecture City .
In a mansion.
Mr. Huang looked at the official report in his hand and was a little bit unbelieving for a moment. He paced back and forth and couldn't help muttering to himself: "One Whip Law, unified taxation, and treasure notes can finally be used to pay taxes? And can also be used to deduct corvée labor? This latest policy..."
"Doesn't this mean that the value of the treasures in my Huang family's treasury will double?"
“This is a great thing!”
Mr. Huang quickly called the butler over and said, "Call Mr. Storekeeper over here!"
Soon, Master Huang saw the treasury and asked hurriedly, "How many treasures are there in the treasury?"
When the warehouse man heard this, he said proudly: "Reporting to the master, there is no more treasure notes left. They have all been exchanged for spirit stones and spirit silver..."
"What?!" Mr. Huang, who was originally very happy, couldn't help but widen his eyes when he heard such an answer, and said in disbelief: "Where are my treasure notes? Where did you take them?!"
The warehouse man was originally very proud, but when he saw the master's expression suddenly become so ugly, he realized that something was wrong. He quickly said, "This matter has nothing to do with me, master. How can I have the right to transfer the treasures in the warehouse? These treasures were exchanged by Madam..."
"This... this loser woman!!" Mr. Huang asked with gritted teeth, "How did you exchange it?"
"A treasure note worth one thousand spirit stones was exchanged for three hundred spirit stones. Because the amount given by the other party is very large, so..." the warehouse man said cautiously.
"Ah!" Mr. Huang felt a tightness in his chest, as if something was blocking it. He felt extremely uncomfortable for a moment and couldn't help but shout miserably: "My precious banknotes!!"
"Master?" The warehouse man was stunned when he saw this scene. He hurriedly said, "Master, this banknote should not be kept for long!"
"That was in the past!" Mr. Huang said uncomfortably, "Now the court has issued a decree that treasure notes can be used to pay taxes and to offset corvée labor. The price of treasure notes will rise sharply in the future!"
"No, get our treasure back!"
"Even if I break the contract, I will get it back!"
Previously, the Baochao had been depreciating. Even though the official decree stipulated that transactions must be conducted in Baochao, it was impossible to directly prohibit people's private behavior with a ban. No one liked the Baochao that would continue to depreciate.
Therefore, anyone who gets the treasure notes will basically sell them immediately.
But with the implementation of the government decree, Baochao can be used to pay taxes and to offset corvee labor, which directly causes the value of Baochao to rise rapidly!
Seeing that the treasure notes were about to return to their original prices, countless people rushed to exchange the treasure notes, hoping to be ahead of those who didn't know the news yet.
For example, a butcher in Songjiang Prefecture.
He listened attentively as officials announced the latest policies.
When I heard that Baochao could be used to pay taxes at the original price and that I could be exempted from corvee labor by paying Baochao, I realized that this was a good opportunity to make money!
Butcher Wang turned around and went home immediately to ask his wife for spiritual stones and silver so that he could buy some treasure banknotes!
This behavior was opposed by the butcher's wife Zhang at the time.
Zhang tightly covered her own money box and yelled, "Are you crazy?! You don't treat people who give you treasure notes well, you either shortchange them or earn some discount money from the treasure notes, and now you're actually exchanging spirit stones for treasure notes?!"
"Oh! Of course I'm not crazy. The court has issued the latest decree. In the future, treasure notes can be used to pay taxes and to be exempted from corvee labor. The price of treasure notes will definitely increase in the future, and it will increase a lot!" Wang the Butcher said hurriedly.
"Ah?" Zhang was stunned for a moment: "Really?"
"Of course it's true!"
"But...is it really okay for you to do this?"
"You really have a woman's mindset! How can you make money by hesitating? Get out of my way!" Butcher Wang became anxious and tried to push his wife away.
"Stop!" Zhang suddenly shouted, "Think about it carefully. Since the court has announced this news, why wouldn't they be on guard against people like you? If you really did it, you would most likely be punished!"
"And how will those people whose treasure notes you exchanged hate you after they learn the news from the court? Haven't you provoked so many enemies for no reason?"
"We are open for business. Even if we don't make friends, we can't offend so many people."
"Even if this is my opinion, please listen to me this time. Let's not make this kind of ill-gotten gains!"
Hearing what his wife said, Wang the Butcher hesitated for a moment, thought for a while, and finally put down his hand, sighed and said: "Okay! Then we won't make this money!"
"Husband, there is no need to be so unwilling. As long as we live a good life and have enough food and clothing, why should we make money that is against our conscience?" Zhang saw this and immediately said with a smile.
…
When the decree was issued, many people took the opportunity to buy up the treasure notes.
These people's behavior is also speculation!
But compared with the large-scale purchase of banknotes just before the decree was issued, it was not that serious. It was more of a clever move to create an information gap.
These people were not severely punished, but were given a verbal warning, an education, and were asked to return the purchased banknotes. They were also fined as a punishment.
After all, the nature of doing so is not too bad and the scope is not too large, so there is no need to confiscate property and exile.
When these people returned the treasure notes, they were all very unhappy. After all, these were the money they had worked so hard to buy. Those who didn't know about the policy were a minority after all, and it was not easy to cheat the treasure notes out of these people's pockets!
After earning some money with great difficulty, I have to give it back and pay a fine... Is this fair?
but.
When these people learned about the families, officials, and nobles who had their properties confiscated, beheaded, or exiled, they were all terrified!
Because they seem to be doing the same thing!
If the imperial court really issues a strict order to investigate, wouldn't they all be exiled?
Everyone can't help but feel lucky to have survived the disaster!
It’s just returning the banknotes and paying the fine!
This punishment is already very small!
After hearing the news, Wang the butcher was glad that he did not buy the treasure notes. If he did those things, he would not only offend people, but also have to return the treasure notes and pay a fine! He might even have his property confiscated and be exiled, which would be even more terrifying!
Butcher Wang couldn't help but sigh to his wife, "Madam, you were right to advise me. I was just a mean person. Your opinion is not that of a woman, but one that is wise and righteous!"
Zhang smiled and said, "It's good that my husband listens to advice. Everyone wants to make money. This is normal behavior."
"From now on, treasure notes and spirit stones will be the same, and even more popular. This policy really benefits the people."
…
Any reform will inevitably involve countless interests.
This is the reason why those who have carried out reforms since ancient times have rarely had a good ending.
The tax law reform will affect the interests of many people, causing them to try every possible means to obstruct it. Fang Keqin was forced to take this path and he can only go down this path to the end.
Originally, Fang Keqin was the leader of the clean civil servants and his reputation could not be better.
But now, his negative information has appeared one after another, and some unfounded negative information has been dug out.
Basins of dirty water were poured on him one after another, and many censors even impeached Fang Keqin, saying that he used tax reform to engage in corruption and bribery and hoped that he would be punished.
As the Whip Method progressed, pairs of invisible hands were about to press Fang Keqin to death!
To put it bluntly, it's because Fang Keqin is alone, weak and easy to bully!
These people still have illusions, thinking that as long as Fang Keqin is removed, the tax reform may stop!
But they obviously underestimated the emperor's determination!
With the continuous implementation of government decrees.
Fang Keqin encountered many difficulties and troubles.
These difficulties were things Zhang Juzheng had never encountered before.
After all, Zhang Juzheng was in a high position, second only to the emperor and above everyone else. When such a person resolutely embarked on the path of reform, the resistance he encountered would certainly be smaller.
This was something Su Che had not considered enough.
When he learned about this situation, he immediately reprimanded the censor who was unaware of the truth and did not punish Fang Keqin who was involved in the rumors.
Su Che knew very well that changing generals in the middle of a battle was a taboo in military strategy. Since he had handed the matter over to Fang Keqin, no matter how many voices discredited him, he would ignore them and just trust him boldly!
Therefore, not only did he not punish him, but he also rewarded him. Su Che promoted Fang Keqin to the position of Prince Taibao, gave him the Emperor's Sword, and allowed him to execute any lawless ministers. He also gave him a guard army that he could command at will!
As the decree was issued, almost everyone saw the emperor's determination to reform!
When Fang Keqin learned the news, he was so moved that he burst into tears and bowed down in the direction of Yingtian Prefecture!
“Your Majesty is wise!!”
Forced to embark on the path of tax reform, Fang Keqin was more or less reluctant deep down.
But as the tax reform progressed, Fang Keqin clearly realized the benefits of the reform, which is not only beneficial to the country, but also to the people.
but……
A lot of people have been offended!
First, the land was surveyed and taxes were evenly distributed, leaving no place for hidden farmland and no place for tenants to hide. As the policy was issued, all landlords were fined a lot of money! This offended almost all landlords in the Ming Dynasty.
Although land annexation was not so serious in the early Hongwu period, this policy directly restricted the development of landlords. How could they not hate it to the core?
In addition, treasure notes were levied based on the acreage, and the government collected and paid them.
In the past, land tax was basically collected in kind. Although it was calculated in currency on the surface, it was actually paid in kind.
However, with the implementation of the Single Whip Law, all taxes were changed to treasure notes. Except for the spiritual grain for the royal family's consumption, all other land taxes were changed to treasure notes.
This not only saved storage and transportation costs, but also reduced a lot of "losses", and at the same time made corvée transparent, which directly reduced the gray income of many officials.
This was equivalent to offending all the officials in this area, making them want to skin Fang Keqin alive.
The Single Whip Policy benefited the imperial court and the people, but it offended the officials who controlled the discourse power and the landlord groups.
It is really difficult to implement it smoothly!
Fang Keqin knew this clearly.
Faced with numerous difficulties and countless dirty waters, Fang Keqin gritted his teeth and persisted, constantly implementing his policies, and finally achieved some results!
But he was also worried that the emperor would recall him, which would make all his efforts go to waste! After all, there were too many people who discredited him!
However, what Fang Keqin did not expect was that the emperor not only did not recall him, but gave him unconditional trust, not only promoted him to a higher position, but also gave him the Emperor's Sword and a guard army, allowing him to boldly implement the new policy! !
"This is a policy that will last for all eternity, a policy that has never been seen before. It benefits the country and the people. How can we let those insects harm it?" Fang Keqin held the Emperor's Sword and said word by word with a firm gaze: "I will live up to my mission and implement this policy thoroughly! Let Your Majesty see my results!!"
"My Ming Dynasty will surely prosper!"
As time went by, Fang Keqin had already changed from being more or less reluctant at the beginning to a loyal executor of this whip law. Even if his innocence was tarnished, he still wanted to establish this eternal policy! !