Tibet

The inspection team arrived as scheduled.

Led by Xiangyang Changshi Zhao Huanwen, two inspection teams stationed at the Du family and the Huang family respectively.

In the lobby, Zhao Huanwen put a declaration form and tax documents on the table, and said to Du Youguang: "Please confirm, head of the family, this is the number of slaves and the taxes paid this year that your Du family declared to the county government. Can you see if they are consistent?" ?”

Zhao Huanwen actually had a very good relationship with Du Youguang, and they often ate together, but at this moment all the friendship was gone, and there were not even any extra kind words.

There was a row of people standing in the hall. The four warriors on the far right were the internal guards. They were looking at Zhao Huanwen coldly. At this time, how could Zhao Huanwen dare to talk about old times and talk about friendship?

Zhao Huanwen added: "If it is confirmed that it is good, please sign and deposit it, and then we will use it as a basis for the audit. The time will be ten days. We will not live in Dufu, but we will seal and check all the account books and ask the relevant family members. I’m going to the manor to investigate and ask the owner for his cooperation.”

Du Youguang signed uneasily and asked, "What if there is a slight discrepancy?"

"If there is a slight discrepancy, just pay the tax penalty, and then it will be fine. From now on, the final amount will be used as the basis for tax payment. If you pay taxes on time every year, there will be no more audits."

"I see!"

Zhao Huanwen glanced at the internal guards in the hall and said: "But I have something ugly to say first. If your government sets up obstacles to obstruct the inspection and prevents us from submitting the audit report, then the next step is for the internal guards to come to inspect, and the consequences will be serious. ”

Du Youguang wiped the sweat from his forehead, "I understand! I understand!"

"Okay, I've said everything I need to say, let's get started!"

The inspection of the Du family began, with the promotion officer Wu Shaohan in charge. More than twenty people participated, including four internal guard soldiers. They were only responsible for supervision.

Zhao Huanwen brought another inspection team to the Huang family, and was also respectfully invited into the lobby by the Huang family.

Zhao Huanwen also put a document on the table and said: "Please confirm, head of the Huang family, that this is the number of people and taxes reported by the Huang family to the county government. If it is correct, please sign and pledge it!"

Huang Min looked at it, frowned and said, "No, we made two declarations to the county government in total. This is just one of them. What about the other one?"

Zhao Huanwen was startled and asked quickly: "When was the second declaration made?"

"Last day!"

Zhao Huanwen secretly scolded his subordinates for their impatience and went to the county government to collect information before the ten days were up.

"Maybe there was a mistake in the handover. Let's confirm it."

As soon as he finished speaking, the county magistrate came running with sweat on his head and said, "Zhao Changshi, there is one more thing here that is missing!"

Zhao Huanwen snorted, took the document and looked at it carefully. When he added up the number of people on the two declaration documents, it was exactly the same as the number on the internal guard list, and there were even a dozen more people.

Looking at the declaration time again, it turned out to be the afternoon of the tenth day, only half an hour before the county office finished work. This was a last-minute declaration.

Zhao Huanwen immediately understood that this move was really cruel, leaving the Du family alone on the top of the mountain.

"Have you paid all the taxes?" Zhao Huanwen asked again.

"Reporting to Chang Shi, they have all been converted into civilians and no longer need to pay taxes!"

Zhao Huanwen looked carefully again, and sure enough, they were all converted to civilians. He nodded, "Okay! That's 1,376 people, and they have all been converted to civilian status. They do not need to pay taxes anymore. According to the regulations , after our review is correct, we will report it to the court. Because the Huang family became civilians one month after the slave law came into effect. Whether they need to pay taxes during this month is decided by the court. If the court thinks that taxes are not paid, then If the case is closed, of course there will be no penalty even if the tax is paid, because the Huang family declared it truthfully. "

Huang Min didn't say anything more, he just smiled and signed. He knew what he should know, and he also knew what he shouldn't know. His father told him that things often end in talking too much, and silence is the best at this time. Kingly way.

Zhao Huanwen nodded, "Then let's start the review!"

If Du Youguang is usually a little more generous and a little more generous, when it's time to give gifts, he will be a little more generous.

So at this critical moment, someone would definitely take the risk of losing his official position to tip him off for the sake of his usual generosity.

What a pity! Du Youguang's usual stinginess ruined all the favors left by his father and ancestors.

Everyone knows that the tip-off at this time is likely to be discovered by the internal guards, so who is willing to risk sending a letter to the Du family?

So Du Youguang didn't know from beginning to end that the Huang family had completed the rectification, and the Huang family's inspection became a review, which was completely different in nature.

Ten days passed in the blink of an eye. With the internal guards' spy, the Du family could not escape the inspection. The inspection team quickly found 3,200 slaves in the Du family's Gucheng County Manor.

Three days after the inspection, a notice of the inspection results was given to the Du family. The Du family was against the imperial court and had a huge amount of tax evasion, so they were ordered to pay back the taxes of 3,200 slaves, 6,400 guan, within ten days. He was also fined ten times as much, with a fine of 64,000 guan, which must be paid within ten days, otherwise the internal guards would come to confiscate his property.

In addition, since the Du family only declared 540 slaves, the government will only recognize the slaves they declared. The remaining 3,200 are illegal slaves and will be dealt with separately by the government.

This is where the imperial court became ruthless. Not only did they want to deprive illegal slaves, but they also had to pay heavy taxes and fines.

Du Youguang immediately collapsed to the ground and was about to cry without tears. He immediately went to see the county magistrate Wang Ning, but the county magistrate Wang Ning refused to see him because he was not feeling well.

However, Wang Ning finally couldn't afford to lose face and sent his aide Wang Xiu'ang to meet Du Youguang.

In the inner hall, Wang Xiu'ang slowly said to the dejected Du Youguang: "The county lord asked me to tell you to pay the taxes and fines as soon as possible, and turn more than 3,000 slaves into civilians. This level will be passed. Don't make mistakes again."

Du Youguang was about to cry, "But there are more than 60,000 strings of money, and more than 6,000 strings of taxes, which add up to more than 70,000 strings. How can we afford it?"

Wang Xiu'ang sighed, stood up and said: "I am just kindly advising you to leave a way out for the Du family. If you don't pay, once the inner guards come to the door, you Du family will have to live in the bridge hole and beg on the street. Don't think I am exaggerating. If you don't believe it, just wait and see! My county lord has done his best. Goodbye!"

Wang Xiu'ang raised his foot and left. Du Youguang hurriedly followed him and said: "Does the Huang family have to pay too?"

Wang Xiu'ang stopped and sneered, "The Huang family is smarter than you, people The family converted all 1,300 slaves into civilians during the rectification period, so he doesn't have to pay a penny and will not be severely punished! "

"What?"

Du Youguang's eyes widened, and he said angrily: "He and I agreed to boycott together, how dare he betray me?"

Wang Xiuang said lightly: "I suggest you give the position of the head of the family to other brothers! An incompetent general will tire the whole army. Master Du, I will say one last thing to you. How many slaves do you have? The inner guards have already mastered it. The emperor is determined to deal with the Du and Huang families. Huang Min is smarter than you and escaped. You should quickly pay the 70,000 strings of money, maybe you can escape this disaster, otherwise the inner guards will come to the door, and the Du family will be completely finished. You can do it yourself!"

Although Du Youguang is stingy, he is not stupid. Once he finally realizes the serious consequences, he also wants to survive and save himself.

Du Youguang immediately convened a family meeting and told the clan members exactly what had happened. He originally wanted the whole clan to share the heavy fine, but unexpectedly, it aroused the anger of the whole clan. They all said that this matter had nothing to do with them. It was Du Youguang's stupidity and they should not be implicated.

The clan members left one after another, and finally Du Youguang was the only one standing in the hall in despair.

Three days later, that is, on the eighth day after the tax payment notice was issued, Du Youguang hanged himself.

Five days later, 300 inner guards from Luoyang entered the Du family and confiscated all the Du family's property, including real estate, land and shops. All the more than 30 families of the Du family were driven out of the house, and the Du family completely disappeared in Xiangyang.