RPAGF Chapter 30 The Tax Invoice Dispute (Part 2)
Chapter 30 The Tax Invoice Dispute (Part 2)
Chapter 30 The Tax Invoice Dispute (Part 2)
"What?" Li Hechen had been collecting city entry taxes at the city gate for three days, and this was the first time he had ever seen someone ask for two taels of silver to enter the city.
“I’ll pay two taels of silver, which is three thousand copper coins, and you’ll give me three thousand tax stamps. Is that right?” Ma Deyun said with a smile.
Li Hechen isn't stupid; he knows how to do the math, and that's how it should be done, but...
"Brother Li! No way! This isn't fair!" Geng San quickly stepped forward and said.
Geng San and Li Hechen had a good relationship; Geng San was one of Li Hechen's friends. He won a big prize yesterday and even gave Li Hechen a red envelope (a monetary gift).
“Ma Deyun! You’re supposed to be a scholar! How can you be so shameless!” Liu Gangli stepped forward and shouted.
Ma Deyun glanced at Liu Gangli and said disdainfully, "Who's shameless! Liu Gangli, what do you mean? Is it wrong for me to want to pay more taxes? Don't think I don't know that today your steward led dozens of people from your family, young and old, around the four city gates, going out one gate and in another. You have at least two or three thousand tax receipts. You're allowed to pay more taxes, but I'm not allowed to?"
Geng San's face turned green upon hearing this. "You rich people are truly rich! Your brains are so sharp! You can even pull this off! This is outrageous! Others work so hard, collecting less than three hundred tax stamps in a whole day. And you, each of you, collects thousands! This is so unfair!"
Those collecting tax stamps shared similar sentiments with Geng San: this was utterly unfair! We cost five copper coins per stamp, and after a hard day's work, we barely collected a few. You, on the other hand, cost only one copper coin per stamp, yet each of you has thousands! This is outrageous!
"You're cheating! You're bullying us!"
Someone shouted something, and the crowd collecting tax receipts immediately became excited.
Seeing this, Lin Qing chuckled inwardly. Brother Yang was truly brilliant. With this move, the gamblers who collected tax tickets were immediately out of business. Since the gamblers stopped collecting tax tickets, the common people had no income. Each time they entered the city, they had to pay one coin, and within a few days, the people would surround the county government office, demanding an explanation from Wang the Fool.
Ma Deyun pointed at a loud voice and said, "Who's cheating? Master Cheng is here too. Master Cheng, you said that Lord Wang levied the city entrance tax to build facilities that benefit the people of Hanshan County. As a scholar, I also want to do something for the people. Is it my fault that I pay two taels of silver in city entrance tax? Hey you, the one shouting the loudest, come on, you also pay two taels of silver in city entrance tax. I promise I won't object!"
Old Cheng had been tricked by Wang Wenzhou into becoming the tax inspector of Qingyang County, and he was truly at a loss. Ma Deyun was right, but what the tax collector said was also correct. Old Cheng thought about it and realized he couldn't solve the problem. He beckoned over a yamen runner and ordered him to go and invite Wang Wenzhou.
On his way there, Wang Wenzhou listened to his subordinates recount what had happened. He thought to himself, "We really can't underestimate the ancients. In just three days, so many people have come up with so many ways to exploit loopholes. They're truly remarkable."
When Wang Wenzhou arrived at the south gate, he saw several groups of people arguing in a chaotic manner. If he had arrived any later, they might have started fighting.
"Quiet!" Wang Wenzhou shouted.
The crowd was so noisy that no one could hear them.
Ma Bantou quickly led several constables and shouted "Quiet!" The crowd quieted down when they saw Wang Wenzhou.
Wang Wenzhou, with his hands behind his back and his large belly protruding, spoke in an official tone: "I have already heard about what happened. Li Hechen, summarize the accounts. What is the total amount of tax revenue entering the city today?"
The four talented scholars exchanged glances, secretly chuckling to themselves. "That fool Wang is just waiting for you to come. Perfect timing! Let's see how you handle this."
"Lord Wang, I haven't paid my city entry tax yet!" Ma Deyun said, cupping his hands in greeting.
"No rush! Please wait a moment." Wang Wenzhou turned around and asked, "Li Hechen, have you finished calculating?"
"Reporting to Your Excellency, the total tax revenue for entering the city today is eight taels and six mace of silver," Li Hechen replied.
Wang Wenzhou mentally calculated, "Damn it! So many people are taking advantage of loopholes. This county only has a population of 10,000, yet it has sold nearly 100,000 tax invoices."
Wang Wenzhou looked at Ma Deyun and flattered him, saying, "Ma Deyun truly deserves to be called a scholar of this county. He has paid more taxes for the sake of the people, which is commendable. Li Hechen, quickly accept his money and issue the appropriate amount of tax receipts."
"My lord! This is not fair!"
"That's right! We collected tax stamps for five copper coins each!"
Those collecting tax receipts protested.
Wang Wenzhou cupped his hands in greeting and said loudly, "Gentlemen! Quiet! Please listen to what I have to say. Has anyone forced you to collect tax receipts?"
Upon hearing Wang Wenzhou's words, the tax collectors all fell silent. Yes, it was truly voluntary, but... they had unspeakable grievances!
"Alright!" Wang Wenzhou continued, "While it's still not too late, everyone can continue paying taxes like Ma Deyun! Paying taxes benefits the country and its people; it's an honorable thing!"
"Give me two taels of silver for tax too..."
Ma Deyun put away the tax receipts. Lin Qing, who was standing behind him, was about to speak when Yang Shan grabbed him.
Yang Shan said in a low voice, "No! That's enough for today. This Wang Shazi is really hard to deal with! If we follow the plan, each of us will buy two taels of silver in tax stamps, which will be eight taels of silver in total. If someone else buys them now, he won't have to pay out of his bonus today."
"Haha..." Lin Qing laughed, "Brother Ma, our plan today can be considered a success. I guess no one will collect tax invoices anymore."
"It's hard to say!" Yang Shan looked at the eager people and said, "It seems that those people also want to buy more tax stamps."
Before Yang Shan could finish speaking, people who wanted to buy water tickets surrounded him.
Geng San, who was at the front of the line, said, "Give me a tax stamp for one tael of silver!"
"I'll take three taels of silver!"
"I'll buy 800 tax invoices!"
Watching them pull out their money to buy tax stamps, Yang Shan shook his head slightly. What can I say about you all? Don't you ever use your brains? You've all spent far more than ten taels of silver, yet no one feels cheated. You're all so eager to participate. I really don't understand your thinking.
Seeing Wang Wenzhou's confident demeanor, Yang Shan suddenly had a thought. Oh no! Had he fallen into a trap again? This fool Wang was aiming for this very effect: to turn the city entrance tax into a casino. The more tax tickets sold, the higher the prize money.
He roughly estimated that in this short time, he had already sold over forty taels of silver in tax stamps. Half of that went into the prize pool, which amounted to over twenty taels. Gamblers weren't afraid of high prizes; the higher the prize, the more willing they were to spend money on tax stamps.
Thinking of this, Yang Shan felt like crying, and he ended up helping Wang Shazi carry the sedan chair again.
In no time, everyone who wanted to buy tax stamps had done so. When it was time to draw the prizes, Old Cheng looked at the ledger and announced loudly, "Today's total tax revenue is sixty-two taels of silver. Half of it will go into the prize pool, making today's total prize money thirty-one taels. Now, let's begin the draw."
"Please wait a moment, Mr. Cheng, I have something to say," Wang Wenzhou suddenly called out.
Wang Wenzhou cupped his hands in a gesture of respect to the crowd and announced, "There will be no lottery draw today!"