Zhejiang, Hangzhou, Chun'an County.
Early in the morning, Hai Rui's wife Wang prepared breakfast for Hai Rui.
Breakfast at Hai Rui's house is very simple, just a plate of pickles and two bowls of gruel.
From the moment Hai Rui opened his eyes, he held a thick file in his hand and read it carefully.
It wasn't until his wife Wang's urging came that Hai Rui put the file down.
"Eat quickly, you have to go to the county office later."
Seeing that it was getting late, Hai Rui's wife Wang quickly urged.
"Um."
Hai Rui nodded, and just as he was about to pick up the bowls and chopsticks, his wife Wang's voice came again.
"Now, we are completely settled here. When will we bring my mother over from the village?"
"Well, I also want my mother to come to our place as soon as possible, but no matter how much I try to persuade her, she just refuses to come, saying that this place is not suitable for her."
Hearing this, Hai Rui sighed helplessly and immediately put down the bowl and chopsticks he picked up.
"By the way, I passed by the Governor's Mansion earlier and heard from the officials that the conversion of rice to mulberry is about to be implemented. Have you received the documents from the government?"
"That's natural, but if we rashly change rice to mulberry, we're afraid the people will suffer! What happened last time is still vivid in our minds."
After Hai Rui finished speaking, he stood up and poured himself a cup of hot tea.
"You, you, why were you so reckless last time? That Hangzhou Governor Ma Ningyuan is a student of the Governor!"
"Fortunately, the Governor is a good and sensible official and won't care about this with you! Otherwise..."
Before Wang could finish her words, she was interrupted by Hai Rui's deep voice.
"Hmph, he, Ma Ningyuan, indulges his evil officials and ravages the people wantonly! As their parent, how can I turn a blind eye to this?"
"I'm just reminding you a little. Why are you so excited?"
Hai Rui's wife Wang was quite aware of Hai Rui's stubborn temper, so she didn't care about him and walked straight out of the house.
"Aren't you going to eat?"
When Hai Rui saw this, he quickly spoke out and wanted to stop his wife.
"I won't eat, I have no appetite."
His wife Wang's voice came from outside the house.
Seeing this, Hai Rui sighed helplessly, then picked up the bowl and chopsticks again and started eating the plate of pickles on the table.
…
At this time, pedestrians were constantly passing by on the streets of Chun'an County.
One of the busiest streets is filled with vendors.
"Selling candied haws on a stick!"
"Choose a taboo name based on Feng Shui, and your future will be cut off. If it doesn't work, you don't need money!"
On the street, the sounds of hawking, bargaining, and all kinds of shouts intertwined together to form an excellent picture.
"Hey, look, the government officials are here!"
At this moment, a sharp-eyed passerby saw a group of official officers coming from a distance.
The street, which was bustling with people before, fell silent for an instant. The pedestrians picking things quickly dispersed. The street vendors no longer cared about bargaining and quickly packed up their goods in the hope of minimizing their losses.
According to the past, these officials would definitely stop and teach these vendors a little lesson! Not to mention dying, at least he was covered in bruises.
Unexpectedly, this team of officials simply ignored these vendors, and instead beat the gongs and drums and said: "Attention, it's time to collect the field tax soon! If you are willing to change rice to mulberry, the court will collect less or even no tax." Land tax.”
"The specific matters have been posted on the bulletin board! If you want to pay less land tax, please go and take a look."
"What's going on? These officials just said they could pay less land tax. Is that true?"
Seeing that the team of officials had gone away, the pedestrians who had dispersed before returned to the street again, with curious faces on their faces, and asked the vendors on the side.
"I don't know. Anyway, there are some officials coming every day to promote it. It seems that as long as they are willing to change rice to mulberry, they can be on the government's list and pay less or even no land tax."
"So are you on that list?"
When the pedestrians saw this, they couldn't help but ask.
"No, what will we eat if we plant mulberry seedlings instead? However, there are many people in our village who are willing to plant mulberry seedlings instead, and the government has recorded their names in the register one by one."
After listening to the vendor's explanation, the pedestrians were full of curiosity about the government's policy, and then followed what the previous group of officials said and went straight to the place where the government posted the announcement.
At this time, many people had gathered here, apparently attracted by the previous group of officials.
"Anyone...anyone who is willing to change rice into mulberry will not only be able to pay less or even no field tax! In addition..."
"Sorry everyone, I don't recognize the rest of the words."
The man scratched his head in embarrassment and then retreated to the back. After a while, a young man dressed as a scholar took over the important task and continued to read.
"In addition, the government will also reward those with outstanding performance! Not only will they be exempted from one year of corvee, but their children will also be given priority to attend free schools run by the government, and all expenses such as food, accommodation, etc. will be covered by the government."
"What? There are such good things! Not only can I pay less land tax, but I can also be exempted from the corvee for a year, and my children can also attend free schools?"
"Yes, this way, my children don't have to dig in the soil for food all their lives like me! If they can become scholars, my family will be considered prosperous."
After the scholar finished reading what was on the bulletin board, the atmosphere at the scene gradually reached its peak.
What was written on the bulletin board was simply unheard of for the crowd at the scene!
Since ancient times, I have only heard about how the government exploits the people, but I never expected that the government now wants to provide benefits to the people!
Not only does it allow them to pay less land tax, but it also exempts them from one year of corvee service. It also allows their children to attend free schools, so that their children no longer have to repeat their own fate and can read and write! Especially the last one has a fatal attraction for them.
"Why are you still standing there? Go to the government office. If you are late, your quota may be gone."
"Yes, yes, you have to go to the government office quickly."
With the instigation of some people, the crowd's emotions were quickly ignited, for fear that they would be late.
…
Capital, Prince Yu's Mansion.
Since Xu Jie's strategy was a big success last time, Prince Yu Zhu Zaijing found a time to invite everyone to Prince Yu's Mansion to discuss the next strategy.
"Your Highness, everything is going smoothly now! If we continue like this, we will soon be able to change our image in His Majesty's heart."
"And then defeat the Yan Party in one fell swoop!"
In the study room, Xu Jie turned his gaze to Zhu Zaijing aside and said in a deep voice.
"Well, if we could have figured this out earlier, we wouldn't have allowed the strict party to become so rampant."
After Zhu Zaijing listened to Xu Jie's words, he couldn't help but sigh.
"Your Highness, don't worry, the situation is tilting in our favour."
Seeing this, Xu Jie quickly comforted him.
"By the way, how's it going with Tan Lun? Still no reply?"
Xu Jie seemed to suddenly remember and asked Gao Gong beside him.
"No, he said give him a little more time. He still has some things to deal with."
Gao Gong on the side saw Xu Jie asking questions and responded.
"Well, as long as he's willing to reply."
Seeing this, Xu Jie breathed a sigh of relief and nodded.
(End of chapter)
