A good poem that can be remembered for eternity was used by Ji Lie on a courtesan girl. How could a literary master like Yang Qing not be angry?
"It's just that King You wasn't sent to Youzhou because he was stupid and misbehaved since he was a child."
"But looking at his actions, he doesn't look like a fool."
"Why?"
Shen Wu said with some doubts.
"I do not know either."
Yang Qing shook his head, feeling quite puzzled.
It would be impossible for Ji Lie to pretend to be crazy and act stupid in order to keep a low profile and pretend to be a pig to eat the tiger.
How could he be so scheming when he was only in his teens?
As long as he makes no mistakes, he will definitely inherit the throne in the future.
Being deposed as the crown prince and sent to the bitter cold Youzhou on the border seems to be of little benefit to him!
"When I meet King You, everything will surely come to light."
Shen Wu smiled.
"That's what you said."
Yang Qing nodded, his eyes fell on the fields on both sides of the official road, but he was slightly stunned.
Seeing that something was wrong with his expression, Shen Wu asked in a low voice,
"Brother Yang, what happened?"
"Look at those farmers."
Yang Qing pointed to the field aside. There were many farmers busy in the field at this time.
Following the direction he pointed, Shen Wu looked for a while, but couldn't see anything wrong.
"What's wrong?"
"You see on their faces... they seem very happy?"
After Yang Qing's reminder, Shen Wu indeed discovered the difference.
Since they left Luodu, they met countless farmers working in the fields along the way.
It's just that most of the farmers have heavy faces and are indifferent.
There are even many supervisors from landlords' houses nearby, strictly supervising them.
The farmers around Youzhou City, without supervision, were all working enthusiastically, with joyful smiles on their faces.
With such a comparison, no wonder Yang Qing was surprised.
Shen Wu winked at Yang Qing, reined in his mount, dismounted, walked to the field, and smiled at an old farmer,
"Old man, I'm a little thirsty from the long journey. Could you please have a cup of tea?"
"Easy to say, easy to say!"
The old farmer laughed, picked up the clay pot next to him, and poured a glass of water for Shen Wu and Yang Qing each.
The two of them sat on a few rocks at the edge of the field, drinking tea and pretending to be casually chatting with the old farmer.
"Old man, we are also from Youzhou. It's just that we haven't been back for a few years. I wonder how the harvests in the fields have been in recent years?"
"The weather has been harsh in recent years, and the harvest every year is not optimistic."
The old farmer shook his head and sighed.
"Really? But I see that you, old man, don't seem unhappy. Why is that?"
Yang Qing asked tentatively.
"You two don't know anything about this."
When he mentioned this, the old farmer's eyes visibly lit up.
"Because we met a prince who loves his people like a son and is compassionate!"
King You again?
Yang Qing and Shen Wu were both stunned.
"how do I say this?"
"What we farm is all the land of Prince You's Mansion, and the prince only charges us 30% of the rent!"
When the old farmer finished speaking, Shen Wu was furious.
"Thirty percent rent, this King You is so cruel! Old man, you still praise him like this?"
"This man can't talk nonsense!"
As soon as he heard Shen Wu slandering Ji Lie, the old farmer's expression suddenly changed.
"You don't know that except for 30% of the rent, we don't have to pay any other taxes!"
As soon as these words came out, both Yang Qing and Shen Wu were moved by it.
Regardless of their current status, they are no longer the same as before, but after all, they came from ordinary people, and they are very clear about taxation.
Although the Great Xia Dynasty had a tax rate of one for every fifteen years, the mess of taxes and corvees accounted for more than 50% of the land!
If Ji Lie really only charges 30% of his output, that would definitely be considered caring for the people!
"Is this true?"
Yang Qing couldn't believe it.
"If I lie to you, I will be struck by thunder from the sky and die a good death!"
The old farmer said categorically, even swearing,
"Of course, sometimes Prince You's Mansion needs people to do work. But as long as you go, the Prince's Mansion will pay you!"
"The prince also promised us that as long as we don't break the law, we can farm these fields for a lifetime!"
Seeing his firm attitude, Yang Qing and Shen Wu couldn't help but disbelieve him.
At this moment, Shen Wu's eyes fell on the farm tools in the old farmer's hands, and his pupils shrank suddenly.
"Old man, you farm tool..."
As a warrior, he could tell at a glance that this farm tool was made of fine iron!
"These farm tools were also provided to us free of charge by Prince You's Mansion."
The old farmer said with pride,
"Tell me, is the prince a good person?"
"If you say that, of course he is a good person!"
Shen Wu nodded in agreement.
"Thank you for the tea, old man."
Yang Qing put down the water glass in his hand and nodded towards Shen Wu.
The two left the field, got on their horses, and continued towards Youzhou City.
"Brother Yang, in my opinion, this Prince You is really a good prince!"
Shen Wu said softly.
"You're right."
Yang Qing has traveled all over the country for so many years and met countless wealthy families.
But most of them just want to squeeze the people. There are some compassionate people, but they can't be like Ji Lie.
They also reduced the land rent, hired people to work and paid them, and provided farm tools for free!
If he hadn't seen it with his own eyes, Yang Qing would never have believed it!
"But speaking of it, using fine iron to make farm tools, dear, is Prince You's palace so generous?"
Shen Wu couldn't help but click his tongue.
The finest refined iron is generally used to make weapons and armor.
Even the Great Xia court was extremely short of fine iron.
But I didn’t expect that Prince You’s Mansion would be so extravagant that they could make farm tools out of fine iron!
How rich this King You’s family must be!
Thinking of this, Yang Qing even couldn't wait to see Ji Lie earlier to see what kind of person he had become.
So he ordered his followers to speed up and rush towards Youzhou City.
Finally, before dark, Yang Qing and Shen Wu arrived at Youzhou City.
But before they could enter the city, they saw a young man coming to greet them.
"I've met Mr. Yang!"
"Who are you?"
Yang Qing said with some surprise.
"I, Deng Wei, am the chief official of Prince You's Mansion. On the order of the prince, I am here to welcome you."
Deng Wei explained with a smile.
"That's it. Chief Deng, please lead the way."
Yang Qing's brows frowned slightly.
He didn't expect that Ji Lie knew his whereabouts so well.
Following Deng Wei, Yang Qing, Shen Wu and others shuttled through Youzhou City.
Not long after, the group arrived at Prince You's Mansion, and Yang Qing also successfully met Ji Lie.
Although Ji Lie was still the prince in the early years, Yang Qing was also an official in Luodu.
However, because of Ji Lie's stupidity, he was not favored by Emperor Ji Hong and almost never appeared in public.
Speaking of which, today is also the first time Ji Lie and Yang Qing meet!
