"This year's Chinese New Year, in addition to paying 6,000 yuan rent to the guild hall, he also borrowed money from 520 yuan. The day before yesterday, I hoped that there might be a gift of charcoal, but there will definitely be no gift this winter. It is the most gratifying thing to hear that the family can pay off the old debts this year. That is, men have a burden outside and families have no burden. "
The "male" here of course refers to Zeng Guofan himself. In winter, Zeng Guofan expected foreign officials to send some "charcoal greetings" to pay New Year greetings. However, I look forward to the ending of "draw water with a sieve". Therefore, Zeng Guofan had to borrow five hundred and twenty pieces of silver for the New Year.
Zeng Guofan took the imperial examination in 1838, and was admitted as a scholar with the first place. He was able to enter imperial academy, become Jishi Shu, and then enter the official career. By 184 1, Zeng Guofan had been an official in Beijing for three years. After three years in Beijing, why did Zeng Guofan not save any savings, but he was so poor that he had to borrow money for the New Year?
There are two reasons for this.
On the one hand, Zeng Guofan, as a lower-ranking Beijing official, has a really low salary.
184 1 year, Zeng Guofan was appointed as the academician courtyard for review. The examination grade of the Hanlin Academy starts from Grade 7, which is lower than Grade 7 Sesame Officer. According to this level, Zeng Guofan's salary standard is an annual salary of 45 taels of silver and a salary of 45 meters. What is this concept? At that time, the servants and long-term workers employed in the Qiao Family Courtyard of Shanxi Jufu earned an annual income of 33.38+22,000 taels of silver and 50 taels of silver. In other words, Zeng Guofan is an open Beijing official, and he is paid by servants and long-term workers.
Don't laugh at "Seven Sesame Officials". The real life in a magistrate's county is much richer than that in Jingkuan, and you can get 1200 taels of silver in addition to your salary every year. Zeng Guofan had no money to maintain a clean bank. His only hope is that when local officials arrive in Beijing, they can occasionally think of him and give Beijing officials all kinds of "respects" such as "charcoal respect", "farewell respect" and "ice respect".
Local officials send all kinds of "respects" to Beijing officials, hoping to connect feelings and establish interest transmission channels. Zeng Guofan, as a Senate official in imperial academy, has no real power in his hands, although his reputation is precious. Who would have thought of him?
On the other hand, Zeng Guofan's daily expenses are huge.
To be an official in Beijing, you should not be too shabby in food, clothing, housing and transportation, and you should not be short of popular things, which will cost a lot of money. Zeng Guofan's poor salary has been spent twice. It is his normal life to make ends meet.
Every Spring Festival, Zeng Guofan will spend more money.
After the Spring Festival, teachers Zhang Mu and Zhao Qijuan are going to visit them, aren't they? You can't go to the teacher's house empty-handed, can you? Zhang Mu is a hot minister, while Qi Juanzao is a master of three generations. They are all important figures in the imperial court. Is it too cheap to give them gifts for the New Year? So Zeng Guofan had to pay attention to buy some gifts that he could get and send them to the teacher's palace.
After worshipping the teacher, Zeng Guofan immediately went to visit his hometown and friends. Zeng Guofan must weave a network of contacts if he wants to succeed in officialdom. Compatriots and friends are indispensable people in this network.
After paying New Year greetings to fellow villagers and good friends, most people are finished here. Zeng Guofan is not an ordinary person. He will visit in the same year. What is "the same year"? That is, students who took the provincial examination and the senior high school entrance examination together. They can also play an important role in official career.
For example, Zeng Guofan had a fellow named Liu Rong. They met on the way to Beijing for an exam and became friends under mutual appreciation. Later, Zeng Guofan founded Xiang Army, and Liu Rong played an important role. 1February, 855, after Zeng Guofan was defeated by Shi Dakai, he was disheartened and "I was so angry that I wanted to ride to the enemy's rear to fight to the death". After being dissuaded by Liu Rong and others, I gave up the idea of suicide.
Therefore, Zeng Guofan is cash-strapped, and it is understandable to borrow money for spring.