allonlinenovel Chapter 154 Is this old man trying to fish?
Chapter 154 Is this old man trying to fish?
But then he suddenly realized something was wrong.
Magistrate Yang was not an accounting major, nor did he know any particularly sophisticated bookkeeping methods. However, thanks to those online novels, Magistrate Yang knew of a bookkeeping method that had already existed in the Tang and Song dynasties.
Four pillars register.
This method of bookkeeping already existed in the Tang and Song dynasties. Inventory, income, losses, and surplus were all recorded in a special way. The only way to bypass the statistics of the Four Pillars of Accounts and make all kinds of accounts seamless was for officials from several places to sit together and check the data with each other. After the data was checked, the data was filled in on the ledger. This was also known as the blank stamping method.
So here's the question: why was there no game involving blank seals during the Tang and Song dynasties, and why was there no game involving blank seals during the Yuan dynasty, but it suddenly appeared during the Ming dynasty?
Were the officials of the Ming Dynasty more astute than those of the Tang and Song Dynasties?
Obviously, no.
The real reason was that the Hu Yuan dynasty was playing the tax farming system, and the blank seal method was that everyone discussed and told the Zhu emperor how much tax they had collected, and the extra losses were pocketed. In essence, it was still the officials playing the tax farming system, and then they put a layer of blank seals on the tax farming system.
Therefore, Zhu would absolutely not tolerate the practice of using an empty seal, because if the Ministry of Revenue could manage money and grain in this way, the Ministry of War could manage soldiers in the same way, and the reasons were equally valid: I don't know how many soldiers will desert on the way, nor how many casualties there will be, so it is reasonable for me to bring an empty account book with the official seal beforehand, right?
This was precisely what Magistrate Yang sensed was amiss.
Old Zhu, this old Deng has been a monk and a beggar, climbed the city wall and killed people, and walked step by step from a cowherd to the emperor's throne. What tricks has he not seen? Or does he simply not know what kind of people the officials are?
It's obvious that Zhu Yuanzhang couldn't possibly be unaware that the Empty Seal Case couldn't possibly have only appeared in the ninth year of the Hongwu reign.
So, is this old man playing fishing?
Wow, he spent nine years preparing the bait, and then with one cast, he caught the heads of over a thousand officials. The number of officials' relatives involved must be at least 80,000 to 100,000. He can be called the greatest angler in history.
Alright, we're all fishermen, I'll just add fuel to the fire for you.
Having made up his mind, Magistrate Yang said directly to Wang Qiong, "Brother Wang, do you know if you could help me find a four-column account book? When I took over Ningyang County, we were penniless and didn't have a decent account book. Those sloppy, transactional accounts were really unacceptable. Now that we're opening the Huimin Pharmacy, we need a four-column account book to keep the accounts in order."
Magistrate Yang planned to first establish a four-pillar ledger in Ningyang County. After two or three years, once the Sixteen Prefectures of Yan and Yun had been recovered and troops were stationed in various places, Zhu Yuanzhang's foundation would be further consolidated. Then, the blank seal case could be exposed.
After Zhu Yuanzhang goes on a killing spree, Ningyang County will have tens of thousands more people to work as laborers building roads.
Tsk tsk, this time I'll build it directly from Ningyang to the capital. After it's finished, I'll turn around and build it from Ningyang towards Beiping. I'll build it into a cement road ten zhang wide, and then sit back and watch the fourth prince head south. Wouldn't that be wonderful?
As for whether Ningyang County will be affected... as long as I choose the right side, Zhu Laosi will have to call me brother-in-law no matter what.
Wang Qiong was unaware that Magistrate Yang had already decided to dig a pit to bury the officials, nor did she know that Magistrate Yang had begun to calculate how to use the tens of thousands of laborers and their families. She simply agreed immediately after hearing Magistrate Yang's request for the Four Pillars Register.
As for the Four Pillars of Account Book, Ningyang County might not have them, but any government office in the capital can find a lot of them. Just take a few old, discarded account books and give them to Magistrate Yang.
It was truly a difficult task for Magistrate Yang. Just because His Majesty wanted to establish a public pharmacy, Magistrate Yang immediately thought of using a four-pillar ledger for bookkeeping, and even reflected on the fact that Ningyang County's previous accounts were not clear enough.
Just as Wang Qiong was secretly admiring Magistrate Yang's noble character, Yang Shaofeng suddenly smiled and said, "Brother Wang, I have an idea, and I would appreciate your advice."
Wang Qiong said solemnly, "Brother Yang, please speak."
Yang Shaofeng said, "Throughout history, there have been renowned doctors like Bian Que and Hua Tuo, as well as quacks who disregard human life. I naturally trust the medical skills of the doctors His Majesty sent to Ningyang County, but if we let them take on a few apprentices, will their apprentices be as skilled as they are?"
"Moreover, Ningyang County governs eight communities and sixteen villages. Sixteen villages are located within the county seat, while the eight communities are located outside the county seat. Villages like Heshan are even more distant, dozens of miles away. It's relatively easy for people in the city to get medical treatment, but it's very inconvenient for people in the eight communities outside the city to come to the city for medical treatment."
Wang Qiong nodded. "Then what does Brother Yang think?"
Yang Shaofeng said, "So I thought I'd have these two doctors compile some commonly used prescriptions, such as Ephedra Decoction and Cinnamon Twig Decoction for relieving wind-cold, and Minor Bupleurum Decoction for treating external pathogens invading the Shaoyang meridian. I'd prepare these medicines in advance according to the dosage for one meal, and then grind them into powder. If people catch a cold, they can take them home and boil them to drink. Wouldn't that be convenient?"
Wang Qiong hesitated slightly, then frowned and said, "This... I have heard that doctors always prescribe one prescription for each patient, and the prescription is tailored to each illness. The timing of the illness will vary, and the medicinal materials used will also vary. The dosage will also vary. There are many considerations regarding the use of gentle or strong heat. The way you do it, Brother Yang... Furthermore, how can ordinary people know whether they have caught a cold or have been affected by an external pathogen invading their Shaoyang meridian?"
Yang Shaofeng said, "Since it is a pharmacy that benefits the people, it should take into account the majority of the people. The most common illnesses among the people are nothing more than external wind-cold and internal damp-heat, so the prescription and dosage should take into account the majority of the people."
"As for how to help people determine whether they have a cold or a damp-heat condition, that's not too difficult. After all, most cold symptoms are the same, with only minor differences. We can have the two doctors compile the simplest diagnostic methods by observation, and then select some clever people from each village and community to learn them. Then we can have them prescribe medicine for the people, right?"
"For example, chills but mild fever, no sweating, headache or aches in the limbs, nasal congestion and hoarseness, runny nose with clear discharge, and a thin white tongue coating are symptoms of external wind-cold. As long as you know some simple observation, you can prescribe Ephedra Decoction or Cinnamon Twig Decoction. If there is no improvement after taking it for two or three days, it is not too late to let the patient see a doctor."
"Of course, this approach is unprecedented, and Mr. Yang is not entirely confident that it will succeed. Ultimately, we still need to test it out first."
As soon as Yang Shaofeng finished speaking, Wang Qiong's eyes lit up.
It seems like there's potential?
After pondering for a moment, Wang Qiong couldn't help but ask with some curiosity, "I wonder how Brother Yang plans to conduct the experiment?"