Although Yuzhou and Suizhou are both administrative districts located in the northwest of Yunlan Province, which is surrounded by mountains, they are not Zhili prefectures or subordinate prefectures affiliated with Yunlan Province, but Zhili prefectures directly governed by the central government. .
Although the environment in some areas of the upper reaches of the Qingjiang River in the two states is relatively harsh, the land in other areas is relatively fertile and the climate is pleasant. Moreover, after most of the spiritual energy was siphoned into the upper reaches of the Qingjiang River, large areas with a very dense concentration of spiritual energy were formed that are very livable. zone.
Therefore, the population of the two states is not large, and they were already very prosperous during the reign of the first emperor.
But in the past few years, after Queen Mother Zhao came to power, the lives of the people in the two states have been extremely difficult.
The most intuitive manifestation is population.
When the late emperor worked hard to rejuvenate the Xia Dynasty, the population of the two states continued to grow rapidly, and once became a tax powerhouse comparable to Canglan Province. However, since the late emperor collapsed in a strange and bizarre heaven and earth phenomenon, the population of the two states has continued to grow rapidly. But it's plummeting every year.
Today, the population of the two states is actually 30% less than the year when the late emperor died.
One can imagine what a "grand occasion" the world was like when Empress Dowager Zhao took the throne.
At this time, in a village belonging to a certain county in Yuzhou.
More than a hundred households in the village, hundreds of men, women and children gathered in the grain-drying field, looking despairingly at the official official who made a sudden visit not far away.
"Lord Registrar, I beg you to be noble and leave a way for Xiaomin's family to survive!"
Chen Baiqian, who is already in his 60s this year, has a withered face and is as thin as a skin and bones. He knelt down in front of a middle-aged man dressed as a scribe and shouted with great sadness:
"Although the county magistrate has increased taxes every year in the past few years, Xiaomin's family has never defaulted on any arrears. Now Xiaomin's original family of eight has only four members left, and the family only has more than ten days left to survive. If you are doing hard labor at this time, you will not be able to prepare the required rations by yourself, and if the common people take away all the remaining food from home, the family will have no way to survive. Isn’t this pushing the common people’s family to a dead end? "
As soon as he finished speaking, Li Wei, a man with a thin face and ragged clothes, also knelt down and begged:
"Your Excellency, it is clear to me that it is not just the common people who are unwilling to contribute to the government. It is actually the common people's family that is in dire straits and does not even have the food they have prepared for themselves. The county magistrate refuses to provide food rations along the way. We are really helpless. Please forgive me, Lord Registrar." Let's find a way out..."
After the two started, other villagers also imitated their example, kneeling on the ground and kowtowing to the middle-aged scribe.
"Please sir, have mercy..."
"Please have mercy, sir..."
"Xiaomin's family really can't survive..."
Some villagers were so excited that they rushed towards the middle-aged scribe, wanting to hug his thigh and beg.
However.......
"Damn you idiot, get out of my way!"
Uh-huh!
Following a sharp shout, a burst of spiritual power suddenly surged from the body of the middle-aged scribe named Gao Ping.
Immediately afterwards, a strong wind suddenly appeared around his body and kept circling, protecting his entire body in the middle.
Bang bang! !
"ah!!"
"ah!"
The villagers who rushed towards Gaoping screamed and were blown into the air by the strong wind, and then fell heavily to the ground.
"Daddy!!"
"Uncle!"
Suddenly there was an anxious and childish exclamation from the crowd, but two sallow-looking children rushed out and ran to the two villagers who fell on the ground with tears in their eyes.
But they saw that the bodies of the two villagers were twitching violently, and then they kicked their feet a few times, and in just a moment they were completely silent.
"Wow!"
The two children immediately burst into tears, shook their relatives' bodies, and shouted loudly, trying to wake them up.
But obviously, this is just in vain.
Seeing this scene, all the villagers suddenly shrank their necks and looked at Gao Ping with fear in their eyes.
Most of the villagers even dared not open their mouths to beg for mercy.
"snort!"
Gao Ping snorted coldly, and at the same time reached out his hand and patted the dust on his body.
"The damn mob dared to attack this master's book. They really don't want to live or die!"
The charge of attacking an imperial official was so lightly placed on the two villagers who could no longer defend themselves.
The yamen servant on the side came over, with a smile on his face, and said flattering words one after another.
"As expected of the county magistrate's right-hand man, Master Gao is truly a master of cultivation."
"These untouchables really overestimate their capabilities and dare to attack Master Gao. How is this different from striking an egg against a stone?"
"Hmph! These untouchables are just untouchables. They obeyed the county magistrate's order to work and nothing happened, but in the end they wanted to die. They attacked us without knowing whether to live or die. They had to see some blood before they would obey. They deserve to be punished for generations. Nestle in this small space."
"Who says it's not..."
Hearing this, Gao Ping immediately narrowed his eyes and clasped his hands, looking inscrutable.
"Ignorant people in Guizhou are all like this. It's not surprising."
It can be seen that he still enjoys the flattery from his subordinates.
They did not lower their voices or hide anything when they spoke. They let the surrounding villagers listen to all their unscrupulous words without any scruples.
snap…
Looking at the two children not far away who were gradually fainting from crying, Li Wei clenched his fists violently, his eyes full of anger.
This is the court that they pay taxes on time every year to support, and this is the court official who can be selected by the court's selection of talents!
What a cannibal without spitting out the bones!
This kind of dog official, this kind of court... Damn it!
The other villagers were frightened and filled with anger.
But they are just ordinary people, and they have struggled to survive in the cold and hunger for several years. They have never had enough to fill their stomachs for a day, and they are completely unable to resist. Facing Gao Ping, a genuine cultivator, they can only dare to be angry but dare not speak out.
At this time, Gao Ping suddenly turned his head and looked around at the villagers with contempt.
"Listen to me!"
His face was full of arrogance, and there was no trace of politeness in his words, as if the people standing in front of him were not villagers at all, but a group of livestock.
"The floods in the Tianmen River area are urgent. The county magistrate has already said that no matter what, the county will recruit 4,000 young people to repair the dam area and dig channels to prepare for emergencies. You and other villagers have been blessed by the country. Now is the time to repay the imperial court, no matter who it is, no matter what the reason is, we will never allow excuses."
After hearing this, everyone suddenly became completely desperate.
Chen Baiqian looked extremely pale and shouted: "But we really have no food rations... Sir, can you..."
"The county government also has no food storage."
Before he could finish speaking, Gao Ping interrupted expressionlessly: "The county government is busy with water control and has no time to pay attention to other things. You can just find a way to solve this small problem yourselves."
Hearing this, Chen Baiqian's already gray eyes darkened completely.
Already...there is absolutely no way out...
Li Wei gritted his teeth and said: "Without rations, it's a question of whether we can even reach the dam area alive, and the government provides so little food in the dam area. Even if we are lucky enough to go to the dam area, we won't be able to eat enough. What's the point? Got a job? What’s the point of just walking around?”
Gao Pingping glanced at him expressionlessly and said indifferently: "As long as we pass, you will naturally be of use."
No matter how bad it is, it can save a sandbag for the court.
"Okay, I am busy with official duties and have no time to talk nonsense with you."
As he spoke, he slowly turned around and said with an impatient expression: "You have to go even if you want to go, and you have to go if you don't want to go. I am here to inform you, not to discuss with you. If you dare to disobey me, Do not comply..."
Having said this, he suddenly sneered, with a hint of viciousness and cruelty in his smile.
"Once verified, he will be killed without mercy!"
Upon hearing this, all the villagers' faces suddenly turned into chaff, and their extremely thin bodies began to tremble.
This scene is currently being staged in some areas of Yu and Sui states.
Obviously the imperial court did not order the conscription of labor force, but some concerned people took action quickly after learning about the Qingjiang flood.
............
besides.
Today I will continue to work hard to repay my debt!
Please read it! Please read it! ! Please read it! ! !
