Although Hou Junji was the general of the dynasty and the father-in-law of Prince Li Chengqian, under such specific circumstances, he could not persuade Li Chengqian at all and had to obey Li Chengqian's order.
"Okay, His Highness the Crown Prince will arrive after half an hour."
Li Chengqian's suggestion of an hour first was abruptly reduced to half an hour by Hou Junji. It was a bit confusing, but in the end he nodded heavily.
"My father-in-law, I know you are doing it for Cheng Qian's good, so just follow your father-in-law's arrangements. Cheng Qian will select people to investigate the situation now."
Hou Junji nodded helplessly and let Li Chengqian select the capable soldiers among the Tiance Guards, who were escorted by Qin Huaiyu and rushed toward the village ahead.
A group of more than a dozen people acted like wandering students, happily reciting poems and composing poems, and marched forward.
When I first arrived in the village, this wandering student successfully attracted everyone's attention because he recited poems and composed poems.
A few people who were well-read in poetry or aspiring to take imperial examinations opened the courtyard door and walked out, bowing their hands to them.
"You don't know where you came from."
Literati always feel that they have a good relationship with each other because of literature. After handing over this new literati, Li Chengqian hurriedly dismounted.
"We are traveling students from the Tang Dynasty to prepare for the imperial examination in Chang'an. It would be a good thing if we could watch."
As soon as Li Chengqian finished speaking, the student nodded.
"It is indeed a good choice to learn civil and martial arts and sell them to the emperor's family, but is Li Tang really worthy of our loyalty as scholars?"
Suddenly being asked a serious question, Li Chengqian couldn't help but be stunned.
Are there any scholars in the world who doubt the orthodoxy of Li and Tang?
Then he looked at him and said.
"I don't know what this brother has to say. I have traveled to many places and suddenly found out why this place is so backward."
There was no other way, so Li Chengqian could only express his doubts, and the scholar sighed hurriedly.
"It's not that we don't need to work hard to create wealth, but isn't Li Tang's tax too heavy?"
"What? The taxes are very heavy, how come I didn't know that? The tax burden in other places is the previous thirty-one tax. Why do you still say that Li Tang's taxes are heavy?"
"What? Li Tang's tax burden is one from the previous thirty tax? How is this possible?"
"It's true. We came from other places, and there were such joyful and peaceful scenes everywhere. Why did the tax burden become so heavy when we came to Xiongtai? Isn't the tax burden of thirty-one tax in the previous government not enough? Are you all happy and peaceful, living in peace and quiet?"
As soon as Li Chengqian finished speaking, the scholar seemed to have suffered a heavy blow.
"Is this true? Why are our taxes here not only not decreasing compared to the previous period, but actually increasing?"
"What? These people are so bold. His Majesty the Tang Dynasty was benevolent. Not only did he abolish many of our corvees, he also reduced the tax burden to thirty-one. He also distributed auspicious seeds all over the world. As long as these seeds can grow normally, There will be no more hungry people, why don’t you know these things?”
"Is there such a thing?"
Just as Li Chengqian finished speaking, the scholar in front of him asked again.
"How come I didn't know about this? Thirty taxes, one exemption from corvee, and auspicious seeds. Is this true?"
"Don't you know about this?"
Li Chengqian looked at the literati in front of him in surprise, and said a little surprised.
"This is true. We have traveled to many places. We have been to Chang'an, Luoyang, and further east to the land of Qilu, the land of Jianghuai and the land of Lingnan. It is all the same, even for a few Years ago, the war was raging in the land of Yanzhao, and this was especially true. People praised His Majesty for his benevolence and virtue. How come this is the case in the southwest of you?
Could it be that the decree issued by the imperial court was not implemented here? That shouldn't be the case. His Majesty the Tang Dynasty treated everyone equally, so how could it be possible to divide areas? How about differential treatment?
This is impossible! "
Li Chengqian couldn't help but count his fingers and talk about what he had seen in the places he had been.
Li Chengqian's words made the scholar in front of him quite surprised.
"This...is this true? We have never enjoyed any of the benefits you mentioned. What on earth did this official think? How dare he do this?"
But just as he finished speaking, Li Chengqian looked at him again, "Did the official fail to convey it, or did the people in the villages and towns below you not continue to convey the matter after the official conveyed it?"
Li Chengqian asked again, and the scholar in front of him didn't know what to say, so he could only look at Li Chengqian and shake his head.
"Why don't I know about these things? The local head of the Zhou family is also living a miserable life like us, so he will definitely not get the news. If he gets the news, how can he live in poverty?"
"is that so?"
In an instant, a thought flashed through Li Chengqian's mind.
"It seems that the officials here are acting recklessly."
However, Li Chengqian was still curious, "Are there no passing caravans bringing news?"
When he mentioned the caravan, the scholar smiled miserably.
"We don't have any special features here at all. We occasionally go up the mountains and into the woods to collect some herbs, but this is not considered a specialty. No one comes to buy it. We have to carry it to the county town in exchange for a little money, which is considered a little extra. income."
"is that so?"
At this moment, Li Chengqian finally understood why this place was in such a situation and had no characteristics. The caravans did not come to trade. Even if there were some good things, they were sold in the county town in exchange for money.
Just when Li Chengqian was thinking about things like this, the scholar in front of him raised his hand to Li Chengqian.
"This brother. I have to continue studying in a certain family. I can't accompany this brother anymore. Please forgive me."
After saying this, the scholar wanted to step back and continue reading his sage book, but Li Cheng looked at him and said.
"Brother, don't worry, what you just said is what I feel. Why don't we go to the county government office and ask, to see what the elder in this county thinks, since the imperial court's orders are not implemented. , and caused a lot of trouble."
The scholar was surprised at this moment.
"This can't be done, it can't be done. Even if we have the intention to avenge the injustice of the people for the dawn of time, but now we are too weak to do such a big thing. We still read the classics and history, as Xiongtai said, It is the best policy to participate in the imperial examination and gain a good reputation, and then serve as an official to serve the people and benefit one party.
Now we rashly go to the county government office to ask for an explanation, but it is just a mantis trying to block the car. Even if we have the intention, the result may not satisfy us. "
He didn't expect that the scholar in front of him was so knowledgeable, and Li Chengqian was even more satisfied with him.
"Since you are so determined, let's see you at the imperial examination hall."
"Okay! See you in the imperial examination room."
The two made a gentleman's agreement in this way, and then everyone returned home, and Li Chengqian continued to move forward.
Soon I met an older man in the village. The older man sighed and hammered his leg under the shade of a tree.
"I'm old, I'm old, I'm no longer useful, and I can't plant any more land. Hey, my three-thirds of thin land. Will the county magistrate ask me to leave again?"
When the old man said this, Li Chengqian couldn't help being startled, and hurriedly came to him, bowed his hands again, and spoke respectfully.
"What do you mean by what I just said? Why are my husband's three acres of thin farmland being taken away by the county government?"
Li Chengqian just asked his doubts. The old man looked at Li Chengqian, "This young master is polite. He had a very pleasant conversation with Mr. Zhou from our village just now. He must be a literate man. Do you think this makes sense?"
The old man first complimented Li Chengqian, and then spoke urgently when Li Chengqian didn't understand why.
"I don't know how knowledgeable the county magistrate in this county is. Since ancient times, there has been no mention of the land allocated by the court being taken back because you have not cultivated it.
It makes sense, and this county magistrate really surprised us.
Last year, because of my inconvenient legs and feet, I had a total of five acres of thin farmland, and I planted three acres of it. Before I could plant the remaining two acres, people arranged by the county magistrate saw it and forced me to take it back. They also said that I couldn't win. The county government went to plant it, but after the county government took it back, it didn't succeed, so the land next to it was left uncultivated.
My legs and feet haven't changed this year. Seeing that these three acres of thin farmland will no longer be able to be planted after the harvest, and will be taken away again, alas, I can't live this life.
It doesn't matter to me, a little old man, alone, that he dies, but how many cases like this are due to family affairs, the fields that have been left uncultivated are taken away, and when they want to plant again, there is no income at all, and they have to pay the county magistrate's people. To measure the land with your own hands, and then rent it with money, what kind of worldly behavior is this? "
As soon as the old man finished speaking, Li Chengqian couldn't help but became furious.
"This county magistrate is really outrageous. Your Majesty strictly prohibits private land sales and transactions. This county magistrate actually dares to blatantly ask for the land. He just asks for the land to be replanted. He is still panicking at the scene and wants you to plant it while you are there. Taking money is really greedy." ap.
Li Chengqian said this, and the old man looked at Li Chengqian and nodded.
"Yeah, I didn't expect that the county magistrate is like this, and I don't know why the officials above the county magistrate don't care about it? Could it be that they say one thing openly and do another behind the scenes? Hey, when will we ordinary people Can you stand out?"
The old man said this sadly to the side, while Li Chengqian looked at him and comforted him.
"Old man, don't worry, you will definitely be taken care of in half a month at most."
"oh?"
Suddenly, the old man became excited when he saw Li Chengqian.
"I dare to ask, sir, but is it the Xiangrui Army in the west? Are they coming to our area to investigate the situation and then do justice for heaven?"
Li Chengqian was a little surprised at this moment. Li Chengqian knew about the Xiangrui Army, and it was an army that upheld justice for the poor. Although some bullies and officials were executed, they had no objection to ordinary people, and Li Chengqian also had a little headache.
How to face this auspicious army?
Now being recognized as this auspicious army, I couldn't help but feel a little sad.
Everyone is waiting for the auspicious army to come and bring justice to them. This auspicious army is so popular among the people, how can it not be so powerful?
If they want to completely deal with the Xiangrui Army, it will be a bit troublesome. They must find a proper way, but since the old man knows that the Xiangrui Army seems to know a lot.
Li Chengqian asked curiously again.
I wonder what the old man calls the auspicious army, and what does the old man think of this auspicious army? How do you view the Tang Dynasty court?
As soon as the old man finished speaking, Li Chengqian asked a question, and the old man didn't feel embarrassed and started talking directly in front of Li Chengqian.
