The rise of the poor

Chapter 2333 An Disgrace to Civilization

On the way back, Hu Zongxian asked Zhu Pingan curiously, "Lord Zhu, if you don't increase taxes in your jurisdiction, how will you raise 60,000 taels of silver? That's no small sum."

Zhu Ping'an didn't intend to hide it from Hu Zongxian, as such matters couldn't be concealed anyway. Moreover, the two sides were still in a limited cooperation period, which presented an opportunity to demonstrate sincerity. Furthermore, if Hu Zongxian followed his advice, it would be a great benefit to the people in his jurisdiction. Therefore, he said to Hu Zongxian, "Lord Hu, the Japanese pirates are currently causing serious trouble in Jiangnan. They are burning, killing, and looting, causing disasters and making life difficult for the people. Imposing additional taxes on the people would not only damage our reputation, as taxes are always reduced or waived in years of great disasters, but there is no reason to increase them. Secondly, the disaster-stricken people have no surplus grain, making collection extremely difficult. Since the people have no money, it would be better to persuade the wealthy to donate. There are countless rich people in Jiangnan, so we can raise funds through donations."

After listening, Hu Zongxian pondered for a moment and said, "Some rich people are heartless when they are rich, so it is not easy to persuade them to donate."

"Hehe, nothing is difficult if you set your mind to it." Zhu Pingan smiled slightly.

If someone is rich but heartless, then we'll see how clean they are. If they are clean, and it's just a simple matter of deducting money, then that's another story. But if they are not clean, and they have committed crimes or colluded with Japanese pirates, then they will be severely punished!

The Jiangnan region is prosperous, accounting for more than 70% of the nation's wealth. There are countless wealthy people, and those with vast fortunes can have at least 8,000 to 10,000.

For example, during the Qing Dynasty, when Wu Sangui rebelled in Yunnan, the gentry of Suzhou donated one million taels of silver, which led the governor to petition for a reduction in grain tribute. Capitalism was also emerging in Jiangnan during the Ming Dynasty, and there were even more wealthy people there.

If they are rich but unethical and corrupt, or if they collude with Japanese pirates, then five or six families can scrape together enough silver!

A merciful general cannot command an army; to make an example of someone, Zhu Ping'an will not show any mercy!

"I need to think about it carefully," Hu Zongxian said noncommittally.

Upon returning to Zhao Wenhua's residence, Zhu Pingan instructed his men to pack their belongings, preparing to depart early the next morning to return to Jiangsu and Zhejiang.

Before returning to Jiangsu and Zhejiang, there is one more thing to do.

"Young master, everything has been purchased." Liu Dadao arrived with a three-tiered food box in one hand and a jar of old wine in the other.

Zhu Pingan opened the food box, looked inside, and nodded in satisfaction. "Not bad, these are all Mr. Xu's favorites."

"Don't worry, young master, there's nothing that fatso doesn't like to eat, and these are all classic meat dishes from Chu Yue Lou. I guarantee that fatso will drool in his sleep over these lion's head meatballs," Liu Dadao said, patting his chest.

However, Liu Dadao still didn't understand. "Young master, aren't we being too good to him? Every time we come, we bring him so much good food and give him so much silver. What kind of status does the young master have? You've been so kind to him, treating him so many times, and he still doesn't appreciate it. If you ask me, we might as well feed him to the dogs."

Zhu Pingan smiled and said to Liu Dadao, "Dadao, he is absolutely worth more than his price. If we can get him to come out and help me, the fight against the Japanese will be twice as effective. These things are not even worth one ten-thousandth of his value."

"I don't see how capable he is." Liu Dadao scratched his head. "I think sending him to the battlefield would be suicide."

"His value isn't in fighting the Japanese pirates on the battlefield with bayonets." Zhu Pingan couldn't help but shake his head with a smile.

"Then what is his value?" Liu Dadao scratched his head.

"A strategist is someone who offers advice and plans," Zhu Pingan pointed to his head. "To strategize within the command tent and win battles a thousand miles away."

"I don't see how that fatso is that good." Liu Dadao scratched his head, still not believing it.

"You'll find out when the time comes," Zhu Pingan said with a slight smile.

"I'll see then. If he's not as powerful as you say, I'll make him vomit up everything he's eaten," Liu Dadao said through gritted teeth. "If he really is as powerful as you say, I'll treat him to a hundred meals."

"Then you'd better start saving money," Zhu Pingan said with a smile.

Liu Dadao didn't believe it.

Soon, Zhu Pingan led Liu Dadao to an alley in a carriage, where they saw an old woman pointing at a fat man in the courtyard and cursing him.

People of all ages in the neighborhood were watching the spectacle, pointing and whispering among themselves as they watched.

"Fatty Xu, if you can't come up with the rent today, you'd better pack your bags and get out of here right now. I've had the worst luck in eight lifetimes since I rented this place to you. Look at the mess you've made of the yard. That's not all; you never pay the rent on time. You keep putting it off until tomorrow, and then the day after. You've been owing rent for two months now! I'm not running a charity! If you can't pay today, you'd better pack your bags and get out of here. If you don't leave on your own, I'll get my husband and my brothers to throw you out."

The shrewish old woman stood at the door, pointing her finger at the fat man's nose and spitting as she berated him.

"Aunt Wang, please give me another ten or fifteen days. I will definitely scrape together the rent for you. I am an educated man."

The fat man clasped his hands together, smiled obsequiously, and said some nice things.

"Pah! You have the nerve to call yourself a scholar? I only rented you the house because you were a scholar. Look at you, what makes you look like one? All you do is drink and act like a complete idiot! And you're always behind on rent! You have money but don't pay rent, you go buy alcohol, and when you're drunk you cry and scream, and you even scribble on the walls. Did you buy a whole jar of wine yesterday?! You fatso, you have money to buy alcohol but no money to pay rent. Do you think I'm easy to bully? You're either paying today or getting out!"

Once the feisty old woman started berating the fat man, she couldn't stop. Her spittle flew everywhere, enough to wash the fat man's face, causing him to cover his face and back away.

The older woman became increasingly agitated as she cursed. In her emotional outburst, she couldn't help but step forward, grab the fat man by the collar, and yank him out, even tearing his arm out.

"This is truly an insult to civility," the fat man said, his face flushed.

"Pah! Every scholar has the right to use that word, but you don't! You know what 'refined' means?! You're refined just because you owe me two months' rent!" The shrewish old woman cursed as she dragged the fat man out the door.

"Honestly, this fat guy still has the nerve to call himself a scholar. He's been behind on rent for so many times, and this time he's been two months behind."

"Exactly! I've never seen such a shameless scholar. He's like a scoundrel, drinking and singing, and he sings terribly."

"Once, I don't know if he was drunk or faking it, but I was passing by and saw him relieving himself against the wall outside the alley. He was shameless!"

“He cheated me out of my candied hawthorn last time, saying there was a worm on it, and then he took my candied hawthorn.”

The surrounding neighbors, who were watching the spectacle, were all talking about it. Among so many people, regardless of age or gender, not a single one had a good word to say about the fat man.

This fat guy is truly something else when it comes to being a person of this caliber. (End of Chapter)