The war didn't happen. Chen Ze had done a great job. Even Cao Sheng was full of praise for it. Even the original little bastard turned into a brat, and his attitude changed drastically.
It's just that for Chen Ze, this is not something to be happy about. Instead, he feels that the burden on him is heavier.
Xu Qianfang is willing to negotiate peace because he fully believes that he can really bring justice and hope to the people of Wutong County. Therefore, Chen Ze must not fool around with this matter and must give an explanation to everyone.
Therefore, Chen Ze did not return with the large army, but asked Cao Sheng to take the troops and horses to return first, and then left a team of 500 people for Chen Ze to dispatch to deal with the follow-up problems.
Cao Sheng wished that Chen Ze would handle these matters. After all, those who fought in the war hated dealing with such government affairs. If they handled it well, no one would praise them. If they didn't handle it well, the blame would be placed on them. Now Chen Cao Sheng was extremely happy that Ze was willing to take over this mess. When Chen Ze came back, he would have a big banquet to cleanse Chen Ze.
Chen Ze quickly responded, and then led 500 soldiers and horses directly to Wutong County.
The situation in Wutong County can be said to be very bad now. The entire county is quite dilapidated, no one is doing business, and the infrastructure is even worse. There are potholes all over the road, and no one cares about it at all.
Xu Zhirong followed Chen Ze back to Wutong County and explained the basic situation of Wutong County.
The problem is still the same. Corrupt officials are simply trying to eat people. They are plundering people's wealth and wealth, forcing the people to have no way to live their lives. The situation in the county is pretty good, but the situation in the townships is extremely bad. It is obviously the autumn harvest season, but many people have already starved to death, and the security problem needs to be solved urgently. After the two days of incidents, the administrative system of Wutong County has basically collapsed, which has led to some people starting to fish in troubled waters, and theft and robbery incidents have occurred from time to time. .
Xu Qianfang couldn't even manage it. After all, the biggest pressure now was to prepare for war. He didn't have much thought to manage the security of the people who showed up. He just sent a patrol team.
After arriving in Wutong County, almost all the people hid in their homes and did not dare to come out, and no one dared to set up stalls and do business on the streets.
After drinking, Chen Ze came to the county government office in Wutong County and immediately summoned the seventeen bureaucrats who were still alive.
These bureaucrats were not bad people, and they had some leeway in doing things, so Xu Qianfang spared his life, otherwise he would have been killed by the sword long ago.
The most urgent thing now is to appease the people as soon as possible and stabilize the security of Wutong County.
Chen Ze took some of the 500 troops and organized security patrols, and the remaining troops began to go to each township in batches to inform them about the peace talks.
Notices began to be posted all over the city saying that they were not going to fight anymore and that no one would be held accountable. Xu Qianqian had confessed and was taken to Qingzhou for trial.
The soldiers trained by the Cao family are indeed of good military discipline, but before leaving, Chen Ze specifically emphasized that the troops going to various villages are not allowed to enter the people, let alone bully the people, otherwise they will be dealt with according to military law.
In addition, Chen Ze is preparing to open a warehouse to release grain.
Xu Qianfang was really ruthless. Not only did he kill most of the bureaucrats, but even the landlords and squires did not escape this disaster. All their homes were robbed, and all the food was now hoarded in the county government's granary. at.
Chen Ze needs to restore normal production and life in Wutong County as soon as possible. Grain distribution can ensure that most people still have a way to survive.
Fortunately, Wutong County is not that big. The total population of the county, including all townships, is about 50,000.
After Chen Ze called Xu Zhirong here, he asked Xu Zhirong to summon some accountants across the city to prepare for the liquidation of the land in Wutong County.
As Xu Zhirong's son, Xu Zhirong is extremely famous in Wutong County, and the people are willing to cooperate. Therefore, Xu Zhirong will take part in everything that follows, and Chen Ze will assist him to keep everything going in an orderly manner.
Xu Zhirong summoned a group of accountants in a short period of time, a total of twenty-six people.
Chen Ze divided the twenty-six people into four waves of teams and went to each township respectively. He cooperated with the school officials who had already gone to each township and contacted the local village chief. He asked the village chief to contact each family to verify the land situation, and then compiled and sent it to them. Go to Wutong County Government Office.
Thanks to Chen Ze's series of measures, Wutong County finally regained some vitality in just two days. Vendors began to open their doors normally, and more pedestrians began to visit the road.
Townships have begun to continue the autumn harvest to ensure production order.
On the third day, Chen Ze asked Xu Zhirong to organize a group of relatively well-known people in Wutong County and invite them to the Wutong County government office to discuss how to maintain the normal operation of Wutong County.
The administrative system must be restored as soon as possible, and the security force must be built up. Otherwise, when Chen Ze leaves, Wutong County will definitely fall into chaos. And if the court wants to send new county magistrates and bureaucrats, it will be a mess. It will take at least two or three months. Within this time, Wutong County needs to implement self-government.
Now everyone is more worried about taxation. Soon after the autumn harvest, the court will definitely impose taxes. After Wutong County experienced this turmoil, at least 30% of the food was lost.
And now the entire county is still in panic, because there are indeed many people who support Xu Qianqian, and they are afraid that the court will hold him accountable and others will be implicated.
"Don't worry, let the whole city know that this matter is not a rebellion, but a matter of bureaucratic corruption, which has made the people miserable, and the court will not hold them accountable."
Chen Ze can indeed vouch for this matter. With the evidence solid, it would be really embarrassing if the palace couldn't even settle this matter.
"As for this tax..."
Chen Ze checked the tax situation in Wutong County in recent years. The highest tax rate was around 120,000 taels, and the lowest rate was around 80,000 taels.
"Brother Xu, confirm the land and harvests in each township as soon as possible. Work harder and send more people there."
After much deliberation, Chen Ze decided to allocate money from Qingzhou to subsidize Wutong County's tax revenue and tide over this year's difficulties first.
The people of Wutong County will not be able to make it through this year if the grain is collected according to taxation, so the granary will definitely be opened, and grain will be redistributed on a per capita basis. In addition, after the land liquidation, the land of the original landlords and gentry will be redistributed, and the red grain will be re-established. Deed.
As long as these are put in place, Wutong County will soon be able to overcome this disaster.
