Original subtitles

[English subtitles are available]

[Under The Microscope]

[Episode 2]

♫ Su San left Hongdong County ♫

♫ Coming before the big street ♫

♫ Su San left Hongdong County ♫

♫ Coming before the big street ♫

♫ I haven't spoken of my misery ♫

♫ Gentlemen of the past, listen to me ♫

Father, what does 3,530

[3,530]

mean?

For the first salting, the salt tumbles.

For the second, snowflakes fly.

For the third and fourth, get the bones.

By the fifth and sixth, you're done.

If I had

even a tenth of your ability,

you won't have to

work so hard.

Don't beat around the bush.

You don't have to deliver

the goods to the provincial capital yourself.

Shuai and I

will get it done for you.

You've grown up.

You're becoming considerate of me.

Since you offered,

do me this favor.

But you can go by yourself.

Leave the arithmetic nut here.

No, no.

I have to take him with me to the provincial capital

to broaden his horizons.

He has to do accounting for me.

No, I can't do it

without Shuai.

You can't gamble?

Yes.

No. Sister.

It's not like that.

Where is he?

[Renhua County Office]

What's the matter?

There is a big mistake

in Renhua County's tax registers.

I'm here to file a plaint.

I hope you can correct it as soon as possible.

This is my memorandum.

Mistake?

Your family paid taxes in excess?

Not mine.

There's a problem with

tax payment for the entire Renhua County.

A huge problem.

Let me write it down for you.

The entire Renhua County?

What's it to you?

Since the numbers are wrong,

shouldn't the Revenue Office

correct it?

There's a lot of bureaucracy

in matters like this.

You need to report this to the higher-ups.

What do you mean?

Don't say that I didn't teach you.

The money and grains in Renhua County

all get sent to Jin'an Prefecture.

If you want to file a plaint,

you must go to the Archives in Jin'an Prefecture.

Do you understand?

[Jin'an Prefectural Office]

Everyone.

Pay attention!

No one is to

embarrass Renhua today.

Do you hear me?

-Later, Prefect Huang -Yes.

will appear from this direction.

Come on, make some noise!

[Jin'an Prefectural Office]

Raise your head and chest!

Look ahead!

If anyone dares neglect their duties

or play around,

you'll have it coming to you!

Old Master,

Assistant Prefect Song is here.

Assistant Prefect Song?

Assistant Prefect Song!

Thank you, Magistrate Fang.

Assistant Prefect Song.

[Assistant Prefect of Jin'an Prefecture, Song Ren]

Stop!

Stop!

Assistant Prefect Song.

You are the second-in-command

in Jin'an Prefecture.

Why didn't you come

with Prefect Huang?

I'm checking in before he gets here.

[Revenue Office]

Come back tomorrow.

I have to go greet the new prefect.

This is very urgent.

We must talk today.

What is it?

There is a huge mistake

in Renhua County's tax payment.

We must correct it immediately.

Who asked you to come?

Myself.

What are your scholarly credentials?

Do you have an official title?

No.

What's a commoner like you doing here,

stirring up trouble?

Get out of the way!

Something is wrong with the tax registers.

What does it have to do with my identity?

If you don't move,

I'll have someone drag you out.

Look, this tax

is called the Silk Poll Tax.

It's 3,530 taels in total.

This is the Prefectural Office.

We only accept requests to check our accounts

from government offices one level down.

Ask Renhua County

to write an official document.

Then, we'll handle the matter.

I've been to the Revenue Office in Renhua County.

They said it's a matter of taxation

at the prefectural level.

They can't do anything about it.

We only accept official documents

from county governments.

Settle it yourself.

Get out of the way!

[Prefect Huang of Jin'an]

[Jin'an Prefectural Office]

Welcome to your new post, Prefect Huang.

Welcome to your new post, Prefect Huang.

Magistrate Fang.

Go.

Welcome to your new post, Prefect Huang.

You've arrived.

Why is no one here?

-Why isn't anyone here? -Yes.

[Prefect of Jin'an, Huang Ningdao]

Hurry.

Here.

Magistrate Fang. Hurry up.

Oh no.

Welcome to your new post, Prefect Huang.

Rise, everyone.

Thank you, Prefect Huang.

I am the Assistant Prefect of Jin'an, Song Ren.

Greetings, Prefect Huang.

Assistant Prefect Song, don't stand on ceremony.

I am

the County Magistrate of Renhua, Fang Maozhen.

Greetings, Prefect Huang.

Magistrate Fang, please rise.

You...

You must be tired from traveling.

It’s been hard on you.

We've been waiting by the gate.

I didn't think that

you would arrive before us.

I decided

to arrive in Jin'an a few days in advance.

I don't mean anything else.

I just wanted to have a look around

and get to know

the local customs in Jin'an.

Did I cause you

any trouble?

Not at all.

If only all the officials of the Ming

could be like you,

going to the people

and trying to understand their suffering.

All under heaven would be peaceful.

The seas would be calm, and the Yellow River would be clear.

Magistrate Fang, you flatter me.

Since I am watching over Jin'an

on behalf of the Ming,

it is only right that I do my best

until the day I die.

You scoundrel!

Why are you here again?

This is the Prefectural Office’s affair,

you should report it there.

The Prefectural Office said

they only accept documents from county offices.

The tax was paid in vain,

so the plaint should be raised by the county.

You can go to the person who said that.

They asked me to come to you.

Guards, drag him out!

What are you doing?

Where is this?

Sir.

Making so much noise,

how inappropriate!

You again?

Sir.

This arithmetic nut

has going mad for some reason.

He insists that there is a problem

with the tax payment in our county.

Yes, there is a problem.

Let me show you.

You mean

there is something wrong

with tax affairs in Renhua County?

Xu Kang, the County Magistrate of Wujiang, sent a greeting card.

He says that he is too busy to come in person

and asks your forgiveness.

Throw away all the greeting cards.

Yes.

It's okay.

Old Master.

Jin'an Prefecture's reputation is well-deserved, isn't it?

Even though I have assumed office,

these county magistrates

dare delay their meetings with me.

They must be in on it together

to teach me a lesson.

Be careful.

Yes, Old Master.

Why don't you

go down to the counties

and show them who's boss?

I am not allowed to

enter any of the counties without permission.

I can't even go to

the Renhua County Office next door.

Otherwise,

the Censors will remonstrate against me

for leaving my post.

They know I have a lot to lose.

Otherwise,

how could they be so audacious?

Wipe this properly.

Okay.

Jin'an Prefecture

really has too much

accumulated dust.

It's turbid in here.

It's time to clean up.

Doing his best

until the day he dies?

Does he think he is

Marquis Zhuge of Wu?

The other county magistrates

really won't come to pay their respects?

The harvest is coming.

The collection of taxes by the court

is a big deal.

What?

Can Prefect Huang

refute that?

Speaking of taxation,

I have something

to report.

Go ahead.

A dimwit

was making trouble in the Revenue Office,

saying he found a mistake

with taxation in our county

in the Archives’ registers.

A mistake?

What mistake?

He said that our county

is overpaying our taxes every year.

What?

Overpaying? Who said that?

This man

[Renhua County Office]

trespassed into a government office.

By the order of the County Magistrate,

he will be flogged 10 times

to serve as a warning to all others.

There is a big mistake!

Shut up!

Flog him.

Yes.

[Renhua County Office]

Flog him.

Take it.

Close your mouth.

Stop it!

Stop it!

Assistant Prefect Song.

Advisor Fang.

What are you doing?

This man trespassed into the Archives.

I was ordered by Magistrate Fang

to punish him.

Everyone in Jin'an Prefecture knows

there's something wrong with Shuai Jiamo.

I am acquainted with his elders.

Could you let him off for my sake?

Since you asked,

we'll do away

with the remaining flogging.

But you have to talk some sense into him.

He's talking nonsense,

insisting that there is a problem with taxation

in our county.

If this gets to

Prefect Huang,

wouldn't it create trouble

for my Old Master, and for you?

He broke into the Archives

because of an issue with taxation?

Yes.

[Renhua County Office]

Jiamo,

I've pled for mercy for you.

They won't flog you anymore.

Don't talk nonsense when you go back.

Taxation

is not something

someone like you can interfere with.

Keep to yourself.

Silly child.

Stop talking nonsense.

[3,530]

Why is the door open?

Shuai.

Dummy.

Dummy?

What is it?

Shuai's cat.

Shuai!

Shuai! Shuai! Wake up!

Dummy!

Help him up.

He might be hurt.

-Be careful. -Come on.

Let's go.

You're just a commoner.

How did you know

there's a problem in Jin'an Prefecture?

At first,

I found that the acreage of the fields I measured

did not tally with the numbers on the title deeds.

Later,

when I was doing accounting for the gambling house,

I found it was the same

for them.

So I went to the Archives

to check the official records

in the fish-scale map registers.

How did you find out

about the Silk Poll Tax

from there?

I don't know how

I found out about it

either.

The problem with the Silk Poll Tax,

the evidence I found,

and my process of deduction

are all written on this memorandum.

My hands are full of oil.

Just tell me.

To put it simply,

in the taxes

Renhua County submits to Jin'an Prefecture

every year,

there is an extra sum of

3,530 taels of silver

that should be voided.

If

the 3,530 taels

is a mistake,

it'll be a good thing

to void it.

Everyone will be happy.

Why did they flog Shuai?

What's Magistrate Fang's nickname?

Statue Fang.

Yes.

He doesn't do anything,

all he wants is peace and quiet.

Now that a new Prefect is here,

all the more he doesn't want

this kind of thing

to cause him trouble.

All right.

Sorry.

Clean it up.

Let's make this clear.

Dummy.

We support you in filing the plaint.

We must pay

what should be paid.

We must not pay

what we shouldn't.

No, Sister.

Shuai has already been flogged

ten times.

If he tries to file a plaint again,

he'll be flogged ten more times.

Six times.

Look at Tripitaka.

He brought his purple gold bowl

and retrieved the sutra.

This is more than 3,000 taels.

It should wake Statue Fang up.

Dummy.

Let me ask you.

If you have a chance to meet the county magistrate,

will you go?

Yes.

Are you afraid of being flogged?

No.

Okay.

But you need to recuperate.

Let's go together when you're fully recovered.

Let's go.

Baoyu.

I have never

thought about wanting you

to excel in the imperial examinations.

But we need to at least

have a good reputation in Renhua.

This is your chance.

The Silk Poll Tax

that Dummy found out about

is definitely not a trivial matter.

If it's corrected,

think about it,

wouldn't it be a good thing

for all the people

of Renhua?

Yes.

If the people of Renhua

find out that

you had a part in it,

wouldn't they feel indebted

to our family?

But Shuai was the one

who found out about this.

What does it have to do with me?

You know

he is an arithmetic nut.

He doesn't know how to express himself.

Look, hasn't the county office

kicked him out?

He needs an intermediary,

someone who will communicate with others for him.

But this—

But what?

I understand.

Do you remember

when Dummy was little,

he carved a number using counting rods

on the wall?

Yes.

Do you remember what it was?

Who can remember that?

I didn't think much of it at first.

But today,

I took this lantern

and looked at it carefully.

Guess what I found.

What?

[3,530]

The number on the wall

is the same

[3,530]

as the number for the Silk Poll Tax.

It's 3,530.

Dummy isn't a dummy.

He has his reasons for doing this.

[3,530]

[3,530]

[Plaintiff Feng Baoyu and Defendant Shuai Jiamo]

Magistrate Fang,

I, Feng Baoyu,

am suing Shuai Jiamo for assault.

What caused the conflict

between you and the defendant?

Why did you fight?

Tell me the truth.

Magistrate Fang,

we quarreled because of

the mistake in taxation in Jin'an Prefecture.

Because of what?

We quarreled

over taxation in Renhua County.

He insisted that our county

is paying 3,600 taels in excess every year.

3,530 taels.

Yes.

He insisted that our county

is paying 3,530 taels of silver in excess

every year,

which should be voided.

But according to my calculations,

it's only 3,510 taels.

We calculated differently,

so we fought.

Say something.

Everyone!

No matter what the correct sum is,

it's a lot, isn't it?

-Yes. -Yes.

It's so much money.

That's ridiculous.

Drag them out!

Drag them—

Wait.

The reason for the assault

is important.

If we don't make it clear,

how can the case be judged fairly?

Yes, we must make it clear.

Make it clear,

so everyone can judge it together.

Right?

Yes.

This is a matter of reduction in taxation for everyone in Renhua County,

it's a big deal.

Right?

Yes.

Alright.

Shuai Jiamo.

Tell me.

How did you find out about

the issue with taxation?

Explain- Explain it clearly

to all of us

in Renhua County

here.

Explain it clearly.

Speak.

Shuai.

What?

Shuai.

Shuai.

What are you doing?

What's going on?

Where is he going?

Why is he leaving?

Make way.

Make way.

Make way.

Get out of the way.

Shuai?

Make way.

Make way.

There are 11 prefectures under the jurisdiction

of Fengxing Provincial Administration Commission.

First,

[Jin'an Prefecture]

is Jin'an.

[Renhua, Lanxi, Wancheng, Tongyang, Dafeng, Sanshui, Wujiang, Shanping]

There are eight counties under Jin'an Prefecture.

They are Renhua,

Lanxi,

Wancheng,

Tongyang,

Dafeng,

Sanshui,

Wujiang,

and Shanping.

[Regular Tax in Jin'an Prefecture]

Every year, regular taxes in Jin'an Prefecture

are divided into summer taxes and autumn grains.

The eight counties pay these taxes individually,

and the amounts are different for each.

I've checked Jin'an Prefecture's registers,

and I found that

in the regular taxes paid by Renhua County,

there is a sum

called the Silk Poll Tax.

[Silk Poll Tax]

There is no indication of the source of,

nor the reason for,

this tax.

I searched all the records

for Renhua County,

but none of them explain

why this tax exists.

The total amount payable

for the Silk Poll Tax

is 3,530 taels

every year.

3,530 taels every year.

That means

we paid 3,530 taels

for no reason.

[16th year of the Chenghua reign, Regular tax in Jin'an Prefecture, Shared tax between eight counties]

That's too much.

The earliest recorded instance I found

for this tax

was in the 16th year of the Chenghua reign.

It's been 100 years.

If we pay

3,530 taels in excess per year,

that will be

353,000 taels in 100 years.

353,000 taels.

Over 3,000 taels per year.

Drag them out.

How much can we save?

-Yes. -Yes.

Yes.

Let me ask you.

Why did you say that

Renhua paid this sum of money

in vain?

I've checked the taxes

submitted by Jin'an Prefecture to the court.

There's also this Silk Poll Tax.

The amount is also

3,530 taels.

What do you mean?

It means

this tax is unique to Renhua County.

There is no record of this tax

in the other seven counties.

I suspect

this 3,530 taels

of Silk Poll Tax

was supposed to be a shared tax,

shared by the eight counties.

But now, it has become

a unique tax to Renhua County.

Of course it's a waste of money.

This matter is too complicated.

We shouldn't jump to conclusions.

Why don't we adjourn court for today,

check with the Revenue Office,

before coming back to it?

Alright.

I understand now.

That's it?

We don't get an explanation?

We shouldn't have

tried this case.

Exactly.

There wouldn't be a problem then.

[3,530, 16th year of the Chenghua reign, Regular tax in Jin'an Prefecture, Shared tax between eight counties]

What case

were we trying initially?

The case of Shuai Jiamo assaulting Feng Baoyu.

Yes.

The case of Shuai Jiamo

assaulting Feng Baoyu.

I hereby declare—

I'm not suing him anymore.

I'm not suing him anymore.

It doesn't hurt that much.

I'm not suing him anymore.

The victim has withdrawn the lawsuit.

I hereby announce

court is adjourned.

What are you going to do about

the injustice

of the Silk Poll Tax?

-Yes. -Yes.

That's right.

You have to give us an explanation.

Your explanation just now

only qualifies

as a testimony for the assault case.

As for the Silk Poll Tax case,

that...

That is another case.

It needs a plaintiff

for a plaint to be filed.

I'll file the plaint now.

Shuai Jiamo,

this is not your family's private business.

Do you want to represent

the people of Renhua?

Why not?

I, Shuai Jiamo,

would like to file a plaint

regarding the unequal payment of a shared tax

on behalf of Renhua County.

To file a plaint,

you have to have

an official title.

As a commoner,

you are not qualified.

We are.

This is

Feng Baoyu.

He's a Government Student in our county.

Go.

Go.

I'm a Supplementary Student of the 3rd-class

in Renhua County.

I am willing to stake my scholarly honor

on filing this plaint

together with Shuai Jiamo!

-Good! -Good!

That's great.

How's that?

Isn't that great?

Alright!

Think carefully.

Even if the lawsuit is successful,

even if Renhua

is exempted from the tax,

none of it

will fall into your hands.

We only want to correct the mistake.

My family

has enough money.

You- You won't give it more thought?

Everyone!

If there are eight brothers,

shouldn't they

take care of their parents together?

Yes.

In the end,

one of them found out that

he was the only one

paying for them.

They agreed

that the eight butchers

will settle a jin each.

In the end,

the seven other brothers

didn't spend a penny.

The County School takes all eight jin

from you.

Do you think it makes sense?

No.

If anyone dares to touch my meat,

I'll kill him!

Fortunately, in our county,

there are two heroes who spoke up for us!

One is called Shuai Jiamo.

He's an expert in arithmetic,

yin-yang philosophy,

as well as prognostication.

The other one

is Feng Baoyu.

He is well-educated.

What else? Go on.

Go on.

Luckily,

Feng Baoyu was taught well at home since childhood.

He has always been kind and virtuous,

with a strong sense of heroism and justice.

When he sees injustice,

he will definitely lend a hand.

That is to say

Shuai Jiamo's clever calculations right the wrongs,

and Feng Baoyu borrows the bill to help his neighbors.

-Bravo! -Bravo!

Folks, come here.

Our Young Master

was meticulous enough to prepare

these notes on the Jin'an taxation case

for all of you.

Take it home and have a look.

There's enough for everyone.

[Regular Tax in Jin'an Prefecture]

[100 years, 35,300]

Interesting.

Interesting.

So this is how

I can break the deadlock.

The higher-ups aren't listening to our explanations,

the ones in the middle level cannot be convinced,

and the subordinates are disobedient.

I wanted to govern by inaction.

Can I stick to inaction?

Can I govern?

I...

It’s really hard for me.

Old Master,

I have a perfect plan.

You can send a notice, saying that...

Our county has always

[Seventh year, fifth month of the Wanli reign, Renhua County Magistrate]

put the welfare of the people first.

We will investigate the matter carefully.

As it concerns taxation, money, and grains,

it is a serious matter.

We must go about it solemnly and meticulously,

such that nothing falls through the cracks.

The people and troops of Renhua must stand down

and not be taken in by rumors.

What do you think?

Master Fan.

Statue Fang is really

a master of delaying tactics.

He talks a good game,

but doesn't actually do anything.

It's like an antelope hanging by the antlers, leaving no tracks to be found.

He has managed to

weasel his way out of this huge problem again.

I'm not talking about that.

I'm asking

how does my book cover look?

Master Fan.

You even handle trivial matters like wrapping up books

yourself.

I'm truly

in admiration.

You shouldn't touch

the silk.

That's not what I meant.

I mean

we shouldn't meddle with the silk tax.

Master Fan,

I understand what you mean.

The silk tax concerns the prefect,

the eight counties, and tens of thousands of commoners.

If we want to abolish it,

the government will refuse.

If we want to apportion it, the eight counties will refuse.

If we want to keep collecting it as is,

the commoners will refuse.

There's no solution.

Whoever meddles with it is done for.

The only way out

is to drag it out.

Have you seen the notice

for this year's provincial examinations?

Yes.

Since Emperor Taizu's establishment of the examinations,

Jin'an Prefecture

has had

180 presented scholars

and

437 provincial graduates,

of which 30%

have been from here, Lanxi.

Yes.

The reason why Jin'an Prefecture is prosperous

lies here,

in respecting and loving books.

Fang Maozhen.

He's lazy,

really lazy.

But he's smart,

really smart.

Master Fan,

you’re knowledgeable,

having been in the capital.

The tricks here in the backwaters

can't fool you.

It doesnt count

when a brute from the countryside

speaks about serious matters.

But

there is some history

between Shuai Jiamo and I.

Please take care of him.

Master Fan.

You know that arithmetic nut?

It was from 20 years ago.

Wonderful.

I'm talking about chess.

Recently,

the silk tax case

has been the talk of the town.

I just wanted to check in.

Magistrate Fang,

how is the investigation going?

There is something wrong with Shuai Jiamo.

What he found

may not be true.

We can't trust him completely.

You are so busy.

Let me

confirm the details,

and report them to you.

Alright.

Let Shuai Jiamo investigate.

I want results

within a month.

When that time comes,

I will judge the case together with you.

Good move!

Good move.

Mr. Shuai.

I know quite a lot

about money and grains.

How do you plan to investigate?

This time, I want to investigate

the archives of the eight counties of Jin'an.

Do you want to see them all?

No.

We don't have time for that.

I have an idea.

This time,

we'll start from Renhua,

Tongyang, Wancheng,

and Lanxi.

We'll start with these four counties.

I want the records

for all summer and autumn taxes

from the Chenghua era to the beginning of the Wanli era.

So much?

Can you finish?

I'm afraid it'll take a long time.

Okay.

There's no hurry.

Take your time.

If one month is not enough,

then take three months.

If three months isn't enough,

then take half a year!

Five months?

There will be results within five days.

Five- Five- Five days?