Han Zhen's routine was very effective. If these villagers knew that a thief was coming, they would probably run into the mountains in droves.
But when they heard that Wang Yuanwai was looking for them to discuss matters, they all came honestly.
Although many villagers recognized Ma Sangou and the others and felt something was wrong, they did not dare to say anything due to the simple knives in their hands.
After a while, more than 100 households from up and down Xiaowang Village, totaling more than 380 people, all came to the house.
When these villagers saw the scene in front of them clearly, they immediately realized that something was wrong.
At this moment, Wang Yuanwai, who was lying on the ground, suddenly shouted: "Folks, this group of thieves are here to rob us. Kill the thieves quickly! Whoever kills the thieves will be rewarded fifty guan!"
Fifty strings!
This number caused a stir in the villagers.
But it was just a commotion, and it soon calmed down.
Without him, it's just that Wang Yuanwai's reputation is so bad that he has already lost his credibility over the years.
Think about it, this guy doesn't even want to give Han Zhen the reward for hunting wild pigs, so how should he treat the villagers on weekdays?
Han Zhen kicked Wang Yuanwai in the stomach. The severe pain made him bow like a prawn and he was unable to say a word.
Looking around at the crowd, Han Zhen said loudly: "I believe many people know us. Yesterday we hunted wild pigeons, but this guy didn't want to give us any reward. Instead, he beat us up and asked his servants to injure our brothers."
"After being taught a lesson by me, I held a grudge. I paid Master Xu to kill me. Do you think I should be killed?"
The villagers kept silent, but their blazing eyes revealed their true feelings.
"As a man, I, Han Zhen, pay attention to repaying kindness and repaying hatred. Today, we will take revenge!"
As soon as he finished speaking, Han Zhen suddenly dropped the sword in his hand.
puff!
The sharp blade cut off Wang Yuanwai's head, and a stream of blood suddenly spurted out from the broken neck.
"ah!!!"
"Killing people!!!"
Seeing Wang Yuanwai being beheaded in public, the onlookers immediately ran away.
Seeing this, Han Zhen shouted: "Who dares to escape?"
This loud shout was like thunder exploding in everyone's ears, and with the murderous aura, all the villagers were suppressed.
Seeing the horrified expressions on the faces of these villagers, Han Zhen stretched out three fingers and said loudly: "I will tell you three things. After that, I will not stop you whether you want to go or stay."
"The first thing is, Xiaowang Village is under my control from now on!"
"The second thing is that all your previous debts to Yuan Wang should be cancelled!"
Upon hearing this, the villagers were stunned. Even some villagers who were standing on the outermost edge and preparing to sneak away could not help but pause.
The imperial court has imposed more and more exorbitant taxes and miscellaneous taxes over the years, and will raise taxes from time to time. With just a few acres of land, it is impossible to pay taxes.
what to do?
Wang Yuanwai stood up at this time and took the initiative to lend money to the villagers.
Of course, this money will charge a lot of interest.
But taxes will have to be paid next year, and the villagers can only continue to borrow money to pay taxes, falling into an endless cycle.
Nowadays, these villagers work hard every day and farm to their death. As a result, most of the money and grain have been repaid with interest, and it is difficult for them to even have enough to eat.
This debt is like a mountain of backlog on the villagers, allowing them to help Wang Yuanwai farm and make money for generations, almost like serfs.
But now, Han Zhen said that all the debts he had owed had been written off, and the villagers felt their bodies suddenly lightened.
"You...can you keep your word?"
A timid voice emerged from the crowd.
Han Zhen said loudly: "I, Han Er, have always said the same thing, and every spit is like a nail!"
Thanks to the good reputation he had accumulated in the past, he had some credibility in the hearts of these villagers.
For a moment, the villagers looked happy.
Who would want to run into the mountains and become a fugitive if they could live a peaceful farming life?
Do you really think the mountains are nice?
Wild beast or bandit, which one is easier to get along with?
They don't care who controls Xiaowang Village. They only care about whether they can survive and whether their life is better than before.
Just like some people just want to be the wife of the county magistrate and don't care who the county magistrate is.
Someone else asked: "What about the third thing?"
"Yeah, what's the third thing?"
Seeing that the situation was developing in the direction he expected, Han Zhen smiled slightly and continued: "The third thing is that Xiaowang Village will not collect taxes this year, and starting from next year, it will only collect a field tax of one out of ten, and there will be no other exorbitant taxes. !”
boom!
Han Zhen's words were like a bomb, detonating the villagers instantly.
There is no tax this year, which means that all the harvest in the fields belongs to them.
The key is that in the future, only 1 out of 10 taxes will be collected.
The villagers whispered to each other and looked excited.
Han Zhen did not interfere and watched them quietly.
After a while, the noisy discussion gradually subsided.
At this time, a gray-haired old man looked worried and asked, "What if the government investigates me?"
This sentence was like a basin of cold water poured on everyone's hearts.
Han Zhen was not surprised, so he calmly said: "You don't have to worry about the government, I will take care of it as well."
At this time, Ma Sangou on the side said loudly: "I'm afraid you and others don't know that the county government's chief secretary Xu has been killed by Brother Han, so the government won't dare to come!"
First, they killed the wild pig yesterday, and then they killed the king in public. The villagers of Xiaowang Village no longer doubted Han Zhen's bravery.
There was an uproar in the crowd.
In their eyes, Master Xu is the emperor of Linzi County and a high-ranking figure.
Now even Master Xu was killed by Han Zhen, which shocked them greatly. Their eyes looked at Han Zhen with deep awe.
At the same time, despite being shocked, a hint of joy arose in the hearts of these villagers.
With Master Xu dead, the government should not dare to come. With no debts and no need to pay taxes, life will be easier in the future.
It seems that there is nothing wrong with Xiaowang Village being under the control of Han Zhen.
Han Zhen could see the reaction of the villagers, and he couldn't help but secretly breathed a sigh of relief. It was finally done.
He was betting that the villagers in Xiaowang Village had been oppressed to the limit.
If he wins the bet, Xiaowang Village will be his.
There is nothing to lose if you lose the bet, just take the money and food from Wang Yuan's wife's family and go into the mountains.
Looking around the villagers, he said loudly: "After I have finished speaking, whoever wants to leave or stay is up to you."
More than 300 villagers stood there quietly, no one left.
Seeing this, Han Zhen nodded with satisfaction and continued: "Since everyone has chosen to stay, then you must abide by the rules. My rules are very simple. Those who kill will die, those who hurt others will be punished, and those who steal will pay double compensation!"
He is following the three chapters of the agreement between Liu Bang and the elders in Guanzhong.
The three chapters of the agreement were not something that Liu Bang came up with on his forehead, but a plan that was thought through and discussed by two top counselors, Zhang Liang and Xiao He, among the Three Heroes of the Early Han Dynasty.
It was precisely by relying on the three chapters of the covenant that Liu Bang quickly gained the support of the people in Guanzhong, so much so that after Liu Bang was later deported to Shu, all the elders in Guanzhong missed him.
Of course, the three chapters of the agreement would not have such a big effect now, but they could quickly establish Han Zhen's prestige.
These people in front of me are all poor farmers. Who can understand the big principles and strict and complicated laws they are talking about?
Sure enough, after hearing Han Zhen's simple and rude rules, the villagers nodded in agreement, as they should.
At this time, another voice came out from the crowd: "There are many idle fields in the village. Can we plant them?"
I didn't dare to think about those abandoned fields before because I was afraid that if I had too much land, I would be targeted by the government and be classified as a third-class household and arrange a government office.
Now that they no longer have this worry, some people immediately thought of those abandoned fields.
Han Zhen muttered: "Don't touch the wasteland for the time being. I have other uses. However, you can reclaim the wasteland. No tax will be collected on the newly reclaimed land for three years. After three years, the tax will still be drawn according to ten."
The villagers were a little disappointed to hear that the wasteland could not be planted, but Han Zhen's next words made them excited again.
Tax exemption for three years of land reclamation!
