Chapter 30: Pressing for Payment

The sound made Pang Yu's heart lurch.

The Village Chief, overjoyed, pushed aside the few people in front of him and saw a burly man standing outside. He couldn't help but laugh. "Now that's a fair price."

The man who had just bid seven mace shot the burly man a fierce glare. "Xu Lengzi, throwing out wild bids like that, you'll leave us all with no way to make a living."

Xu Lengzi cursed back instead, "The hell do I care about you? I need the silver!"

"Who doesn't need silver? If you're going to break the rules, then we'll make damn sure you don't earn it. I bid eight candareens! I just won't let you..."

"Seven candareens."

"Six candareens..."

"Five candareens!"

The Substitute Beating man saw that Xu Lengzi was determined to win, and just then the Tax Register Clerk came out on the other side. The other Substitute Beating men all rushed over to compete, afraid of losing out on both ends. He had no choice but to throw out a line: "Fine, you just wait, Xu Lengzi."

The group of Substitute Beating men abandoned the Village Chief and crowded around the Tax Register Clerk. Xu Lengzi, expressionless, ducked into the Village Chief's cage. Once he had fitted the wooden cangue over his head, several bailiffs secured the cangue to the Standing Cage. A Runner called Pang Yu over to help lift a few thick iron chains. As he hung them, he cursed, "You son of a bitch, Xu Lengzi, who the hell gave you permission to be a Dailong? And for five candareens of silver? Have you no shame, blocking everyone's chance to make money? I'm giving you a few extra chains today."

Xu Lengzi didn't make a sound. Normally, Substitute Beating and Dailong were where the bailiffs administering punishment earned extra income. Those taking the substitute punishment had to pay them respect money, and then the bailiffs would just go through the motions. Otherwise, the bailiffs would strike to kill, and no Substitute Beating man would survive long enough to earn silver. So this line of work had its own rules.

Only recently, this Xu Lengzi had appeared, utterly disregarding the rules. He disrupted the market and, worse, gave no silver to the bailiffs. But he was thick-skinned and tough. The last time the bailiffs gave him a solid beating, he slept for a few days and then got right back up.

Thinking of this, the Runner's anger flared. He kicked Xu Lengzi hard twice. Xu Lengzi's head and neck were already fixed in place, and his footing was unsteady. One foot missed its hold. The Runner seized the chance to pull away one of the wooden boards. Originally, there were only two footboards beneath the wooden cage. Now only one remained. Separated by the cangue, Xu Lengzi couldn't see below. One foot found solid purchase, while the other flailed wildly for a moment. Realizing the board had been removed, he said nothing and braced his foot against the surrounding logs, though it was a bit more strenuous.

After locking the Standing Cage, the Runner cursed at Xu Lengzi again: "Fine for the Standing Cage, but next time if it's Substitute Beating and you dare come snatching again, I'll..."

"I need silver. If there's Substitute Beating work, I have to come grab it. If you've got the strength, just beat me to death and be done with it."

The Runner was momentarily choked with rage. Pang Yu thought to himself that this Xu Lengzi truly was as bull-headed as they came, impervious to both reason and force, determined to snatch the business no matter what. By now, the Tax Register Clerk had also found someone for Dailong, but had to spend a full two mace of silver more than the Village Chief. If not for this Xu Lengzi causing trouble, the Substitute Beating men and bailiffs would all have earned more. So the Substitute Beating men gathered around Xu Lengzi, cursing him loudly as he stood there immobilized.

The area by the Eight-Character Wall was noisy with commotion. After finishing with the Standing Cage, Pang Yu and a few bailiffs hurried back to the Main Hall to await their assignments.

As they stood in place below the platform, they heard the County Vice-Magistrate say to Yang Fangzao, "For the neighborhoods with the most arrears, we still need to issue License Tickets. Without taking real measures, those cunning Tax Household won't pay up willingly."

Yang Fangzao nodded and swept his gaze over the crowd below, recognizing no one.

Yang Fangzao had no personal connections in Tongcheng. Due to his short-term appointment, he had no intention of developing his own power base. He fundamentally relied on the existing power structure—namely, the County Vice-Magistrate. He offered the Vice-Magistrate a concession: "Sir Zhou is well-versed in the yamen's personnel. I would ask Sir Zhou to dispatch a few capable men to make another round through these neighborhoods."

The County Vice-Magistrate pointed at Pang Yu and the others. "These few standing in front are all steady in their work and possess some talent."

Yang Fangzao didn't even glance at Pang Yu and the others. He simply nodded to the Vice-Magistrate. "Then I shall write a Chengtou to the Household Office, assigning these men to go to the countryside for Tax Grain Comparison. For this Autumn Grain Levy, I must ask Sir Zhou to devote extra attention."

"Tongcheng County, regarding the matter of Tax Grain Comparison: Dispatches Runners Pang Yu and Ruan Jin to deliver this notice. Hereafter listed are the Tax Household in arrears. Strictly urge them to personally bring their Tax Receipt Stubs to the Bench and pay the full amount of taxes and grain due for the sixth and seventh years, in compliance with the legal deadline. The stubs are to be surrendered for verification and cancellation of records. Listed are three Tax Household of South Pond Neighborhood: Liu Pan, Ruan Zhongdu, Sun Tianyu. Fifth day of the eighth month, seventh year of the Chongzhen reign. Acting County Magistrate Yang Fangzao. Ticket seal: deadline three days for completion and return."

Pang Yu respectfully received the License Ticket with both hands. Seeing the large red official seal at the bottom, he smiled slightly and said to Tang Chengfa behind the desk, "My thanks to Tang."

Tang Chengfa looked up at Pang Yu. His lips moved, but in the end, he said nothing. He just waved his hand dismissively, signaling Pang Yu to leave. Tang Chengfa had taken a solid beating last time, suffering injury to his muscles and bones. More importantly, he had lost face in front of the entire yamen. He had been recuperating at home ever since, never showing his face in public. Most of the other bailiffs who had been beaten were doing the same.

Yang Fangzao's assumption of office, however, presented an opportunity. Although he was only acting, the authority had nonetheless changed hands. Yang Fangzao had no grudge against them and naturally wouldn't beat them without cause. So returning to work now was both safe and unremarkable. Though his injuries hadn't fully healed, Tang Chengfa insisted on coming back to work.

Having endured this ordeal, Tang Chengfa was currently keeping a very low profile. Yet he couldn't bring himself to lower his pride and curry favor with colleagues, so his demeanor came across as cold indifference.

Pang Yu, of course, felt no real sympathy for Tang Chengfa. He carefully put away the License Ticket and went to the Fast Squad to find Ruan Jin. This man had previously been a mounted Runner and was highly skilled in the matter of pressing for tax and grain payments. This time, the License Ticket assigned them to go together.

When he reached the Corridor outside the Ceremonial Gate, He Xianya was already waiting there. He hurried over. "Second Brother, did you understand what Tang said before noon?"

"I think so. He meant that if we handle the Tax Grain Comparison well, there will be good assignments later. But I heard Tax Grain Comparison is already the best. What better assignment could there be?"

He Xianya's tone was anxious. "Oh, Second Brother, the ones being pressed for payment are all destitute households. Even if you're ruthless, you can only squeeze out a little. Compared to that good assignment, it's like rendering oil from a mosquito's leg. The good assignment Tang just mentioned is the Autumn Grain Levy. As long as you handle the pressing well, when it's time for the Autumn Grain Levy, they'll assign you as a Chest Attendant..."

Pang Yu let out an "Oh." "What kind of bench does a Chest Attendant guard?"

He Xianya looked helpless, with an expression of not knowing where to begin. After a long moment, he said, "When the time comes, I'll come help you, and then Second Brother will understand. This is something many veteran clerks can't get even after years of service. Tang truly values Second Brother. But the most important thing is to handle the pressing properly. If even after issuing the License Ticket, you can't collect the arrears in full, and His Honor marks you down as ineffective, then there will be no assignments at all."

Pang Yu said with full confidence, "Since I've taken this assignment, I must collect the taxes and grain in full. Will Third Brother go with me?"

"If Second Brother asks, I naturally must go."

Pang Yu glanced at the Runner Room and lowered his voice. "Big Brother is back on duty today. What if he has an assignment that needs you as an Auxiliary..."

He Xianya replied almost without thinking, "Big Brother still can't walk steadily. I reckon neither the Fast Squad nor the Punishment Office will assign him any tasks. It should be fine."

After speaking, He Xianya also turned his head to glance at the Runner Room. Jiao Guozha had returned to work today and had given the two of them no friendly looks, staying inside the Runner Room after the Morning Session.

"Did Big Brother seek you out to talk?"

He Xianya shook his head and whispered, "Earlier, I overheard Big Brother talking with someone at the door. It seems that what happened that day, when Second Brother praised the County Vice-Magistrate, somehow reached Big Brother's ears. He's not very happy about it."

Pang Yu paused for a moment of Strategic Patience, then smiled faintly. "We'll deal with that matter slowly later. Then I must trouble Third Brother to first accompany me to South Pond Neighborhood to press for the tax grain."

In Sunjiaba, South Pond Neighborhood, bursts of barking dogs came from the village.

"Bang!"

The ajar door panel was kicked open with force. Three Auxiliaries, fierce as wolves and tigers, charged into the courtyard, sending chickens flying and dogs leaping in chaos.

This was South Pond Neighborhood, south of Tongcheng, the first stop on Pang Yu's trip to the countryside. It was also the neighborhood with the most unpaid Spring Tax in Tongcheng County. A total of two bailiffs had been dispatched. Pang Yu brought two Auxiliaries, and Ruan Jin brought three Auxiliaries. Including the Village Chief and the Lice, the team heading to the countryside numbered nine in total. The leader was the Runner Ruan Jin, a burly, stout man with a face full of ferocious flesh. Fittingly, his three Auxiliaries were also vicious-looking characters.

The Tax Household household that owed grain had five members, three of them children. Seeing men in Constable Uniforms enter, the woman had already collapsed in fright in the main room.

Ruan Jin swaggered straight into the main room. He surveyed the furnishings with a Cold Expression. The main room contained only a table, two chairs, and a spirit tablet on the high altar. Ruan Jin slapped his Waist Saber down onto the table with a thud, making the woman on the floor tremble. Satisfied with this Outcome, Ruan Jin seated himself on a chair with the swagger of a general mounting a horse.

"Crack!" With a loud snap, the chair collapsed into pieces. Ruan Jin let out a yelp and fell flat on his back.

Pang Yu had just stepped over the threshold. Seeing this, he stifled a laugh and quickly went over to pull Ruan Jin up. Cursing under his breath, Ruan Jin kicked the broken chair aside, found a bamboo stool, and sat down carefully. His imposing manner instantly diminished.

South Pond Neighborhood was not far from the County Seat. Pang Yu and his group had already pressed two households. This was the third Tax Household, whose head of household was named Sun Tianyu. Looking at the furnishings, Pang Yu saw a house utterly destitute. The difficulty of pressing for payment here was considerable.

But with Ruan Jin present, Pang Yu wasn't too worried. This man was a Runner by background. He had paid his own silver to buy this License Ticket. The Household Office had sold it to him because Ruan Jin had an outstanding record in pressing for tax grain. Whenever there was a pressing task with performance pressure, they were willing to sell to a ruthless character like Ruan Jin. Both sides benefited.

Ruan Jin's Auxiliaries all crowded into the main room. Finding it cramped, Pang Yu exited back into the courtyard and looked around. There were only three thatched huts, all with mud walls that were peeling in many places without repair. The courtyard wall was made of bundled branches. Some Firewood was piled in the yard. In the southwest corner stood a grass tree, with some dried straw tied to it, only half the tree remaining. This was certainly not a wealthy household. In later ages, it would be a target for poverty relief. But there was no such concept in ancient times. It was no surprise they were in arrears to the yamen.

The Sun family's three children huddled timidly by the grass tree, all watching the strangers in the courtyard with fear. Just as He Xianya had said, country folk feared bailiffs even more.

The Village Chief called out to the woman: "Woman of the Sun family, tell your man to come out."

The woman, her face full of worry, hesitated for a long moment before going inside and helping out a sickly man. He looked at least over fifty, but Pang Yu had learned by now that ancient people, poorly nourished, looked older than their actual age. He estimated the man was actually in his thirties.

The Village Chief went over and cursed, "Sun the Second, what did I tell you? Can you drag out tax grain until it disappears? If you don't pay yourself, the official masters will come to your door to collect. Let's see how you get out of this today."

The woman collapsed to the ground, wailing loudly: "We have no silver! We have nothing to eat! It's all been traded for medicine..."

With no one supporting him, Sun Tianyu slumped to the ground as well, propping himself up with his hands. His grayish-white lips trembled slightly as he stared at the ground, saying nothing.

Ruan Jin stood up and planted a foot on the bamboo stool. "No silver? This lord here doesn't have silver either. One 'no silver' and you don't pay your rations and pay — then what does this lord eat?" He jabbed a finger outside the house. "Those children there, aren't they silver?"

The woman crawled over and clutched his leg. "My lord, you mustn't — they are flesh fallen from my own body. We are all parents here..."

Ruan Jin, disgusted by her filth, seized the woman's hand and flung her to the ground. As she sprawled on the floor wailing, Ruan Jin kicked her aside and cursed: "Stop fouling this lord's Blue Combat Garment. Those with no part in this, keep your mouths shut. You just tell me — how do you plan to make up the owed rations and pay today? If the arrears are not cleared today, I'll haul your man off to jail! Or drag your children away to be sold with a straw marker."

Two of the children by the grass and trees heard the wailing from the house and burst into frightened tears. The eldest child hurriedly tried to soothe them. Zhou Yueru rushed over to help. Here the value of a Female Aide showed itself — the two children quickly quieted down.

Pang Yu shut his ears to the commotion inside. County Magistrate Yang's stance was clear: the owed rations and pay had to be recovered in full. If one household fell into arrears, others would follow suit, and then it would be Magistrate Yang who could not deliver on his duties.

From Ruan Jin's perspective, letting any Tax Household off was even less of an option, because he had purchased his License Ticket and was already under cost pressure the moment he set out. If this collection drive fell short, not only would the County Magistrate and the Household Office be dissatisfied, but Ruan Jin himself would suffer direct financial loss. So without anyone needing to spur him on, Ruan Jin had ample motivation to play the villain. Pang Yu was happy to take it easy.

Feeling someone tugging at his sleeve from behind, Pang Yu knew without turning around that it was Zhou Yueru.

Zhou Yueru whispered behind him, "Can you help them? They're so pitiful."

Pang Yu shot her a glare. "What's it to me? If you pity them, go speak up yourself."

"I'm afraid of that lead runner, Runner Ruan. Didn't you always say you wanted to do good deeds and accumulate virtue?"

"Zhou Yueru, whose side are you on? You think I'm not afraid of Runner Ruan? He carries a sword." Pang Yu paused, then added in a breezy tone, "This young master has always lived so carefree because I understand one truth — I am just a small man, incapable of solving all the suffering in the world."

Zhou Yueru said angrily, "I'm talking about this family right here. Who asked you to solve everything? Then I'll help them myself. How much rations and pay do they owe?"

He Xianya could not help but interject from the side, "Seventeen mu of regular tax plus the Liaodong Military Tax. Add the Xianyu Silver for the County Magistrate, County Vice-Magistrate, Chief Clerk, and the Clerks of each office, plus Militia Squad Silver, plus all manner of Commuted Tax Silver. Even if you could pay it, the autumn grain levy is right around the corner. Can you support a family of five?"

Zhou Yueru was stunned speechless. In that interval, Ruan Jin's two Auxiliaries had already seized the yard's sole hen and were clamoring to slaughter it for lunch.

The Sun woman heard the commotion but dared not stop them. She lay on the ground weeping, "Sirs, have mercy — it's the only laying hen we have. We depend on it to nourish the head of the house."

The two Auxiliaries paid no heed. They pressed the hen's head to the ground, drew a knife, and slit its throat. The hen thrashed desperately, feathers swirling through the yard. All three children screamed in fright. The Sun woman wailed as if heaven and earth were collapsing.

Zhou Yueru's face flushed crimson. Tears welled in her eyes as she panted heavily. Perhaps she was recalling how the yamen runners had dealt with her own father. She turned to look at Pang Yu, only to see him strolling leisurely around the yard as if he had heard nothing. Her contempt for Runner Pang's character deepened a few more degrees.

"Do you truly not have a shred of sympathy?"

Pang Yu did not answer directly. Instead he asked in return, "Do you know how someone soft-hearted like you best handles this kind of situation?"

"How?"

"Don't let them become individuals in your mind."

Zhou Yueru blinked. "What do you mean, become individuals?"

Pang Yu said patiently, "Before you came here, they were already living a bitter life, but you didn't know that. To you, they were just a grain-delinquent Tax Household on a register. You wouldn't pity them. Once you arrived here, the moment you connected with them and felt this person's suffering, they became a real person to you — that is making them individuals. So the best approach is: don't speak to them, don't ask their names, don't ask their life stories, don't ask their joys or sorrows. That way they remain just a role called Tax Household. A Tax Household is supposed to pay taxes. You are just a runner's aide, supposed to press for rations and pay."

Zhou Yueru gritted her teeth and stared at Pang Yu. Just as she was at a loss for words, the Village Chief's voice rang out again from the main room.

"Sun family daughter-in-law, let me tell you — the runner sirs have come down here, and they won't leave until everything is collected. Otherwise the higher-ups will hold them accountable. No matter what, you have to scrape it together."

"Village Chief, you know — where can our family scrape it together? You have to speak up for us."

"Borrow from the Sun relatives. Borrow from your maiden family. If it's not all together this time, tomorrow the runner sirs will haul people away." The Village Chief pursed his lips. "Don't say we fellow villagers won't help you. If you want a method, it's what I told you before — borrowing within the village is hard to arrange. The only way is to borrow from the pawnshop."

"If we borrow, we can't pay it back, and the interest is so high — how can our family survive!"

"You Sun family woman, how can you be so dense? If you don't mortgage your fields, tomorrow they'll arrest your husband. With that frail body of your Sun Tianyu, he'll breathe his last before he even reaches Tongcheng — do you believe me? Then tell me, how do you survive that?"

The Sun woman fell silent. The Village Chief pressed on: "It's only because I put in good words for you that the runner sirs agreed to wait one day. Now, first slaughter that chicken. One isn't enough — go borrow from the neighbors. Chicken, duck, goose, anything works. And buy some wine. These lord runners have toiled over this matter all day. Think how much labor-and-provision silver they're owed — you have to make that up too. If you don't borrow silver from the pawnshop, how can you possibly scrape it all together?"

The Tax Register Clerk, seeing the Sun woman in a daze, also came over to urge her: "Sun family daughter-in-law, the pawnshop manager is right here. Just borrow a little silver for now to meet the emergency."

Pang Yu heard this and looked back. A middle-aged man in a dark Daoist Robe had already entered the yard. He walked straight up to the Sun woman and said gently, "Auntie, every household faces times when they're caught short. I am Liu Ruogu of New River Pawnshop. I can advance the Sun family some silver to meet this immediate difficulty. You can use your farmland as collateral. Monthly interest, two Mace three fen..."

Pang Yu had now watched this same drama play out three times today. This was the source of the pawnshop's high profits — lending at high interest when a Tax Household was in financial distress. The most crucial element of this business was the support of the Household Office; only then could the pawnshop smoothly conduct its operations.

The Great Ming Law set the maximum interest rate at three fen, but no one paid that regulation any mind. Private pawnshops charged all manner of rates. This New River Pawnshop was among the top three in Tongcheng. At this monthly rate, virtually no commoner could ever repay on schedule.

From the moment that License Ticket was issued, the Sun family's fate was sealed. The grain they grew could never keep pace with the compounding interest. Eventually they would lose their land. They would either become tenant farmers or Refugees. Life would only grow more bitter than it was now. Even the ruin of their family and loss of life was not out of the question.

Pang Yu turned to look at the children. After the pawnshop man had appeared, the atmosphere inside the house had eased somewhat, and they too had quieted down. All three children were barely clothed, their faces smeared with grime. It was impossible to tell whether they were boys or girls.

Pang Yu felt around in his satchel for a moment, then stopped. After hesitating briefly, he pulled out a few pieces of Shayong. This pastry was made of glutinous rice flour with sugar, then fried in oil — considered an exceptionally sweet and delicious treat in this era. Pang Yu carried it because it was high in calories, so he often brought it along on trips to replenish his energy.

Pang Yu held the Shayong before their eyes and nodded to the three children. The eldest child cautiously stepped forward two paces and accepted the Shayong with both hands. The two smaller children reached out. The eldest broke the sugar pastry into tiny pieces and shared them with the younger two. A rural family like this had never tasted pastries. The two little ones, discovering the sweetness, wolfed down their pieces, stuffing them into their mouths.

"Don't choke." The eldest kept handing pieces to the younger ones. Only when the very last bit remained did she take a tiny bite herself. The rest she gave entirely to the little ones.

"Is it good?"

Pang Yu had meant to leave, but now, watching the eldest child eat almost nothing herself, he fished out the remaining piece of sugar pastry and gave it to them as well. The eldest stole a glance at him, her eyes — clear black and white — flickering. Amid the grime on her face was a trace of tears. The bit of sugar pastry in her mouth, she pressed and pressed with her lips, unwilling to swallow.

Pang Yu asked softly, "Are you a boy or a girl?"

"I'm a girl."

Her voice was very soft, and very gentle.

"What's your name? What grade are you in... no, how old are you this year?"

"My name is Sun Tianxiu. I'm twelve in nominal years."

"So young. Then you can call me Uncle..."

Pang Yu stopped abruptly mid-sentence. He stood up and walked all the way outside the house before halting, leaving behind a baffled child.

A moment later, He Xianya came over and stood beside Pang Yu. "Second Brother, did you see those fields of theirs?"

"What about them?"

"I went to look just now. Altogether they can't be more than ten mu."

"Then how did the Fish-Scale Map register seventeen mu?"

He Xianya pointed at the Tax Register Clerk in the yard. "That you'd have to ask the Lice Clerk and the Village Chief. The Fish Scale Atlas dates from the Wanli era. In reality, later divisions of family property, sales, and so on always bring changes. But compiling the Fish Scale Atlas is extremely complicated, so they've used the old registers for years, or made only minor revisions. The true details of the farmland are known only to the Lice Clerk. That register in his hands is the real one. The Household Office has to rely on the Tax Register Clerk and the Village Chief. Those two can manipulate things at will. For the Sun family's less than ten mu to be recorded as seventeen — this trick is called Scattered Allocations. The total mu in the village remains unchanged; certain people's land is scattered and recorded under other households' names. Others pay the tax grain and money on their behalf, but the harvest from the land goes to the original owner."

"And the Sun family knew nothing of this?"

"What peasant understands such things? And the register is held only by the Tax Register Clerk. Relying on this private Fish Scale Atlas, the position of Tax Register Clerk is passed down from father to son. They hold the post in a long-term grip; no outsider can get a hand in. Later, when that pawnshop seizes the farmland, they'll still need this Tax Register Clerk to hide the fields — another sum of silver."

Pang Yu frowned and looked at the Lice Clerk. He had never imagined that a minor village Tax Register Clerk could wield such power.

He was about to ask more about the Lice when he heard a timid voice behind him.

"Uncle..."

Pang Yu turned at the sound. The frail Sun Tianxiu stood behind him with her hands behind her back. He hurriedly crouched down to ask what she wanted, but then Sun Tianxiu brought her hands forward and, with great care, held a tiny egg out before Pang Yu.

"Uncle gave us sweets. Mother says we must know how to repay kindness. I picked this Dai Bird Dan myself (Note: rail bird). For Uncle to eat!"

Pang Yu crouched on the ground, looking at the tiny Dai Bird Dan before him. Facing those bright eyes in that dirt-smudged little face, he found himself unable to say a single word.