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在清朝的时候，那些地方上坐拥广袤田土的地主缙绅们，往往有着举人、秀才、捐官（花钱买的官，多为虚职）之类的“功名”，不少人还有子侄或亲戚在朝廷内当官，从而编织出一张巨大的关系网。
哪怕是在征战动荡的太平天国时代，除了作为反贼的太平军之外，湘军、淮军、楚军这些挂在朝廷名下的兵马，通常也都会对他们有些顾忌，从而不敢劫掠得太过分。不管是再怎么跋扈的兵头们，只要尚未决心谋反，否则对待这些人脉关系盘根错节的地主缙绅，多少也会有些忌惮。
但是到了破旧立新的民国年代，这一切护身符和特权就统统打了水漂。民国时代的兵痞和军阀大帅们，可都再也不会把清朝的功名身份放在眼里。该勒索就勒索，该屠杀就屠杀，根本不会客气——那年头在乡下死一个人，就真是跟死一只蚂蚁没啥两样。
在杨白劳眼中，黄世仁无疑是主宰生死的存在；但是在手握兵马的军阀面前，黄世仁也就是个屁。
虽然地主们也试图在新时代走上层路线来维护自己的权益，例如去竞选国会议员之类。但民国前期毕竟是一个“有枪就是草头王”的年代，哪怕你在北京跟什么高官攀上了交情，到了地方上也未必有用。
想法子结好当地军阀也是一条路子，毕竟县官不如现管。但问题是大多数的军阀旋起旋灭，这个“现管”更替得实在太频繁。士绅们刚刚花大钱投资下去，军阀就已经通电下野了……于是又白忙乎一场。
其次，在民国初年的河北、山东、河南、四川这些战乱频繁之地，就算是遇上了不打仗的年月，军阀们为了供养庞大的军队，以及维持奢华的生活，从而摊派给地主们的赋税，也远比清末时期更加沉重。
例如四川全省在清末只需供养新军一镇（相当于一个师）12000人，外加差不多数量的绿营旧军，还有向云南、贵州、甘肃提供约250万两白银的财政补助。
但是到了1935年的时候，四川人需要供养的川军总兵力，却已经膨胀到了340个团，八十多万人的庞大规模！每年所需的开销自然是几倍十几倍地往上翻。在某些地方，农税居然“预征”到了民国一百年（2012年）以后！再加上川军混战对地方经济的破坏，纵然是四川这样的天府之国，地主士绅们也同样叫苦不堪。
北方各省农村被“预征”赋税的状况，虽然不如四川这么荒诞，但由于自然条件差，灾荒频繁，民间财富有限，实际的负担还要更加沉重。
当然，地主们也可以设法提高地租，把这些负担转嫁到农民头上。但是土地上的出产就只有这么多，哪怕不给农民留下一粒谷子，能够搜刮到的粮食也是有极限的。而军阀们发明苛捐杂税的本事，却是从来都无上限的，一下子搞出来六七百种附加税也是常事——例如青苗捐、烟捐、卫生捐、青山费、马路费、招待费、人口税、花灯税等等。正所谓“自古未闻屎有税，如今只剩屁无捐”嘛！
而且，在这些苛捐杂税之外，军阀们还经常向地主们以各种名义大肆摊派勒索，有时能让人倾家荡产。
所以，在民国时代的华北和山东地区，尽管许多县里的实际地租已经收到了七成以上，把佃农们逼得只能把谷糠麸子当做主食，到了灾荒年月就要出门逃荒，乃至于到东北去“闯关东”。但除了极少数最顶级的大地主之外，大多数中小地主的日子还是过得很糟糕。
根据1930年的一份乡村调查显示，如果没有工商业之类的额外收入，只靠地里刨食，也没有办法逃避捐税的话。那么地主的家里最起码要有200亩以上的好地，才能顿顿都吃白面馍馍，逢年过节吃一顿肉。
而在这个标准线之下的地主和富农，自家种的小麦白面都要拿出去卖钱缴税，以及换一些火柴、食盐、布匹之类的必需品，只留下棒子面、高粱面之类的粗粮来给自己果腹。
至于更穷的贫农，每天能喝上两碗掺着树叶的番薯稀饭就算老天开眼了。
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About the game:
USA as a world power? In E-Sim it is possible!
In E-Sim we have a huge, living world, which is a mirror copy of the Earth. Well, maybe not completely mirrored, because the balance of power in this virtual world looks a bit different than in real life. In E-Sim, USA does not have to be a world superpower, It can be efficiently managed as a much smaller country that has entrepreneurial citizens that support it's foundation. Everything depends on the players themselves and how they decide to shape the political map of the game.
Work for the good of your country and see it rise to an empire.
Activities in this game are divided into several modules. First is the economy as a citizen in a country of your choice you must work to earn money, which you will get to spend for example, on food or purchase of weapons which are critical for your progress as a fighter. You will work in either private companies which are owned by players or government companies which are owned by the state. After progressing in the game you will finally get the opportunity to set up your own business and hire other players. If it prospers, we can even change it into a joint-stock company and enter the stock market and get even more money in this way.
In E-Sim, international wars are nothing out of the ordinary.
Become an influential politician.
The second module is a politics. Just like in real life politics in E-Sim are an extremely powerful tool that can be used for your own purposes. From time to time there are elections in the game in which you will not only vote, but also have the ability to run for the head of the party you're in. You can also apply for congress, where once elected you will be given the right to vote on laws proposed by your fellow congress members or your president and propose laws yourself. Voting on laws is important for your country as it can shape the lives of those around you. You can also try to become the head of a given party, and even take part in presidential elections and decide on the shape of the foreign policy of a given state (for example, who to declare war on). Career in politics is obviously not easy and in order to succeed in it, you have to have a good plan and compete for the votes of voters.
You can go bankrupt or become a rich man while playing the stock market.
The international war.
The last and probably the most important module is military. In E-Sim, countries are constantly fighting each other for control over territories which in return grant them access to more valuable raw materials. For this purpose, they form alliances, they fight international wars, but they also have to deal with, for example, uprisings in conquered countries or civil wars, which may explode on their territory. You can also take part in these clashes, although you are also given the opportunity to lead a life as a pacifist who focuses on other activities in the game (for example, running a successful newspaper or selling products).
At the auction you can sell or buy your dream inventory.
E-Sim is a unique browser game. It's creators ensured realistic representation of the mechanisms present in the real world and gave all power to the players who shape the image of the virtual Earth according to their own. So come and join them and help your country achieve its full potential.
Invest, produce and sell - be an entrepreneur in E-Sim.
Take part in numerous events for the E-Sim community.
