At that time, Zhao Xiaowu was not very old, but he already had some memories.
Dang Feihong set a tax of 50% of the harvest for them. It seemed not high, but it was an astronomical figure.
Because he designated all the fertile land developed on Moon Island as high-quality fertile land.
According to the determination of the Dashun court, the fields in Jingzhou were divided into four classes.
The amount of tax paid is measured according to the field level.
For high-quality fertile land, the yield is determined to be two hundred and fifty catties; for top-quality fertile land, the yield is determined to be two hundred catties.
If it is an ordinary field, it is divided into medium field, whose output is determined to be 150 catties; and inferior field, whose output is determined to be one hundred catties.
The grade of this field was all discussed and approved at the beginning between the owner of the field and the government.
In other words, basically, the grade of the land is determined by the landlord and the government. If it is a tenant farmer, it has no right to decide at all.
It is also because of this that if the landowners can have a slightly better relationship with the government, then the standards for land assessment may be appropriately lowered, and then the taxes to be paid will be less.
Just like Duanjiabao, the fields near the Fushui River are basically high-quality fertile fields. As long as the weather is good and you manage it properly, it is not difficult to get a harvest of two to three hundred kilograms.
However, in the government's book, they all have high-quality fertile land, so the taxes will be relatively light, and the Duan family and farmers will have relatively more food left behind.
However, the land on Moon Island is already very barren. If the weather is good, it will be extremely difficult to get a harvest of 1,780 kilograms.
How can it be calculated based on high-quality farmland?
However, Zhao Xiaowu's father did not dare to refute.
He knew that it would be terrible if he angered Dang Feihong and charged them with private reclamation.
According to the output of two hundred and fifty kilograms, half of it was handed over to Dang Feihong, which would still leave forty or fifty kilograms of grain.
More importantly, at least their reclamation on Moon Island has been recognized by the government.
In order to have more surplus food, Zhao Xiaowu's father and others reclaimed more wasteland.
The fields on Moon Island today were basically cultivated by people of his father's generation.
The days passed in such a hurry, until that year, the Fushui River overflowed, and Moon Island was almost submerged in the flood.
Fortunately, Zhao Xiaowu's father had noticed it early and led everyone to higher ground.
However, all the belongings on the island and the crops that were about to mature were destroyed by the flood.
When the flood receded, Moon Island was in a mess, but Dang Feihong, who came to collect food, arrived.
At that time, the people on the island had no food to pay the tax, so they begged for exemption or a period of grace.
However, the officials ignored them and beat his father severely. They also threatened that if they did not pay the grain within three days, they would all be jailed as bandits.
Zhao Xiaowu's father was seriously injured because of this beating, and his body was deteriorating.
Zhao Xiaowu was still young at that time, but Zhao Dachui was already sixteen years old, and he was very powerful and good at using a pair of sledgehammers.
Zhao Dachui was naturally dissatisfied. He took two sledgehammers and secretly went to Wangjiang County without telling his father to settle the score with Dang Feihong.
The result can be imagined.
How could Zhao Dachui alone be able to deal with Dang Feihong?
If a gust of wind hadn't happened to pass by and lead him to escape, I'm afraid Zhao Dachui would have fallen into the hands of Dang Feihong.
Later, Zhao Dachui brought Gust Feng back to Moon Island, and from then on he raised the banner and went against the government. In just over a year, he became the biggest bandit in Wangjiang.
The first few years were very difficult because Dang Feihong kept a close eye on him.
It wasn't until Dang Feihong was promoted to Lingxiao County Sheriff that their lives gradually improved, and the brothers on the island also developed faster.
Zhao Xiaowu seemed to be talking to himself, recounting the past events.
His voice seemed very clear and loud in the silent night sky.
Mo Shoucheng in the carriage did not express any further opinions.
If Zhao Xiaowu hadn't occasionally stopped to ask him a question or two, and his "hmm" words, Zhao Xiaowu would have doubted whether he had fallen asleep.
Mo Shoucheng flashed, flew out of the car, landed on the edge of the car, and sat down side by side with Zhao Xiaowu, "When did you follow the gust of wind?"
Zhao Xiaowu was stunned for a moment, and then continued.
After Guofeng pulled the flag on Moon Island, he appointed his brother Zhao Dachui as the second head of the family.
Within a few years, Zhao Xiaowu's parents passed away. Zhao Xiaowu was exactly fifteen years old that year.
So, he followed Zhao Dachui.
However, his status on Moon Island is not very high. Otherwise, Zhao Dachui would not have thought of sending him to assassinate Duan Wenjun and submit a petition to increase his trust on the island and prepare for his future promotion. .
However, he didn't expect that their brothers would be tricked by Uncle De and bump into Mo Shoucheng...
"So, your life should have improved around the time Zhang Suxing was appointed as the magistrate of Wangjiang County, right?" Mo Shoucheng spoke again.
Zhao Xiaowu frowned, seeming to be thinking, and then said after a long time, "It seems, yes!"
"A gust of wind seems to have been connected to the capital?" Mo Shoucheng asked again.
Zhao Xiaowu frowned again, then nodded, "It seems so!"
"Do you know who he contacted in Beijing?" Mo Shoucheng asked.
Zhao Xiaowu shook his head in confusion.
He didn't even know which adult in Lingxiao County was related to Xiufeng, so how could he know who he was in contact with in the capital?
However, Zhao Xiaowu is a very smart person.
Just from Mo Shoucheng's two questions, he immediately caught some news.
In other words, it captured some of Mo Shoucheng's thoughts.
"Master Mo, are you saying that life on the island has improved slightly in recent years because the head of the Fengfeng family was protected by Zhang Suxing, the former magistrate of Wangjiang County?" Zhao Xiaowu turned his head and looked at Mo Shoucheng in surprise.
Mo Shoucheng didn't answer, he just glanced at him and said calmly, "It's almost dawn. We can reach Wangjiang in an hour at most. You can go and sleep in the carriage!"
Zhao Xiaowu wanted to refuse, but he looked at Mo Shoucheng and said nothing.
Nodding, he jumped lightly, landed in the car, leaned against the car wall and fell asleep.
The carriage creaked and creaked slowly on the official road.
The first ray of light from the east has already hung up and landed at the gate of Wangjiang City.
The captain of the soldiers guarding the city yawned as he directed the two soldiers below to open the city gate.
The carriage passed the city gate inspection without stopping at all, and drove quickly in the direction of Yunlai Inn.
