Xinghe County.
Xiao Yuan threw the champion here and had high hopes for him.
After taking office, Wang Yuanju immediately checked the files, and then he did not rush to do things without thinking, but went to various villages in person.
This observation of people's sentiments had a remarkable effect, allowing him to clearly grasp the basic situation of people's livelihood within his jurisdiction.
In conclusion:
All villages, without exception, are very poor, and almost all the villagers are skin and bones and dressed in rags.
Moreover, there are very few wells, and many rural villagers have to walk long distances to get water, which makes them in need of water.
The rivers and canals are silted up and no one has cleaned them all year round, so irrigation is tight.
Village roads are muddy and full of potholes, and traffic is severely disconnected.
Wang Yuanju recorded everything he saw and made a plan for government affairs.
There was a lot of land and fertile land annexed by slave owners in the past, which could be distributed to the people for farming according to policies, but the problem is that now every household does not have any surplus food.
Based on this, Wang Yuanju immediately decided to open the official warehouse by borrowing grain so that villagers in each village could have food to eat. After the fields were harvested, the people would return what they borrowed and things would gradually get better.
Each county has its own treasury, which was captured by the Qin army before. Xiao Yuan issued a warrant and set aside part of it for the treasury turnover in various places, including the granary.
After confirming this matter, Wang Yuanju did as he said.
Two days later, the village chiefs from each village came to the county government to discuss matters.
There was no tea and snacks, just a simple courtyard. The village chiefs seemed very excited to see the county magistrate for the first time. Many people entered the county town for the first time. They looked around and whispered to each other, making the scene noisy.
"All quiet."
Wang Yuanju stood above and got straight to the point: "You are all village chiefs elected from the villages under the jurisdiction of Xinghe County. You know the situation in your village better than anyone else. Let's start with Xiaomu Village and report the population one by one."
"My lord, the county magistrate, there are fifty-one households in Xiaomu Village. Counting the young and old, there are a total of 307 people."
"Your Majesty, the County Master, there are now sixty-four households in Hejia Village, with a total population of 391 people."
"Your Majesty the County Master, there are now forty-two households in Linwan Village, with a total population of two hundred and thirty-seven."
"Respect the County Master"
Village chiefs reported one after another, while clerks took notes.
This is not a specific registration, but an approximate number of people. In order to borrow food, the government will go to each village to conduct the actual household registration.
Wang Yuanju listened and knew what he knew. Among them, most of the village's population was between two hundred and three hundred. Some of the few with less than one hundred had mostly starved to death or were exploited to death by slave owners.
The civil servant also said at the right time: "Sir, there are several people here with a population of less than one hundred. Look."
Wang Yuanju said: "I know that villages that are too desolate can be merged with other villages later, but now is not the time. We should first solve the famine problem to prevent any more villagers from starving to death."
After the two discussed, Wang Yuanju faced the village chiefs again and said seriously:
"Now, this county announces the imperial decree."
"Under the jurisdiction of Xinghe County, farmland in each village, including unclaimed farmland, will be evenly distributed to each household based on population. In other words, all people will have their own farmland."
As soon as these words came out, the crowd burst into cheers, and every village chief's face was full of excitement and excitement.
"Great Qin Dynasty for ten thousand years!"
"Long live His Majesty the Emperor!"
People can't wait to jump and wave. The old slave era is over, and the Qin Dynasty will really give the people farmland!
Wang Yuanju could understand the joy of these village chiefs, and did not stop them from cheering. Instead, he waited for a while before suppressing the excitement: "However, the people's land belongs to the people, but half of the income from the land belongs to the state in the first three years. After three years, half of it belongs to the state." , then normal taxation will apply.”
As soon as he finished speaking, the village chief said excitedly: "It should be done! The country has been so good to us people!"
"Yeah yeah."
No one is unhappy. In the past, when we were farming under slave owners, we didn’t get anything for ourselves every year. It was all other people’s. It was good if we didn’t starve to death. Not to mention May 5th, September 1st would be fine!
"Okay!" Wang Yuanju continued: "Public land and household registration are top priorities. After that, the government will go to each village to clear land, count the population, and register household registration."
"In addition, all excessive taxes and miscellaneous taxes in Xinghe County will be exempted!"
"Long live!!!"
The village chiefs were extremely excited, and their cheers got louder every time.
"There's something else!"
Wang Yuanzhi stopped shouting, looked around and said, "Do you still have food to live in each of your villages?"
Speaking of this, the scene suddenly became quiet, and everyone was silent.
Lin Wuze hurriedly knelt down and said: "Your Majesty, our Lord in the County, every household in Linwan Village has no food left. Many people are digging wild vegetables and tree roots to satisfy their hunger. Please save us."
As soon as he knelt down, the other village chiefs also knelt down, and their joy just turned into tears. Yes, the country is so good to the people and provides them with fields, but now they don’t have enough food to survive.
"Get up, this county has a plan to deal with this." Wang Yuanju said directly: "Now that the villages can't survive, the county government can advance it, but this grain is lent by the state to each village. When the people's fields are harvested, , must be returned to the county government.”
"That's for sure! The county magistrate is really a great benefactor to the people. I kowtow to you."
People cried with joy again, and Lin Wu even kowtowed several times.
"Your Majesty loves the people, and the country loves the people." Wang Yuanju commanded without hesitation: "Now we will line up to register based on the population of each village. The upper limit for each village shall not exceed 20,000 kilograms."
There are more than 20,000 shi of grain left in Xinghe County, about two million catties, which can still withstand the opening of a warehouse.
The civil servant came to his side and hesitated to speak: "Sir, if everyone is like this, the treasury will be in trouble."
Wang Yuanju said: "The situation here in the county is much better, and the government's food and grass can still sustain it. Now that the county is here, we can no longer let the people die of cold and hunger."
"After taking care of Mintian, these will come back in multiples."
"Yes, I will handle it now."
Population is the cornerstone and dividend.
The village chiefs began to queue up in front of the official case, full of expectations and hopes.
And this busy time lasts only a few hours.
After each village borrowed grain, it began to load it on oxcarts. Wang Yuanju personally came to the scene to direct it. Before leaving, he said: "These oxcarts can also be loaned to the village for farming. When the time comes, they can be exchanged for grain and returned." "
"Ah? Thank you, my lord, the county! Thank you, my lord, the county."
The village chiefs today had too many surprises.
In the evening, Linwan Village.
Lin Wu drove the bullock cart and started shouting as soon as he returned to the village: "Countrymen! Folks!"
Not long after, the crowd gathered, and Lin Wu patted the large sack on the bullock cart and said excitedly: "Do you know what this is, grain! It's all grain! It was lent to our village from the county government!"
"Huh? So much food!?"
"This, this, I've never seen grain packed in big sacks."
People couldn't help but be surprised and walked around the ox cart to touch it.
"Look at your potential!" Lin Wu scolded with a smile and said loudly: "Everyone has this food, and I will distribute it to everyone equally."
Hearing this, the villagers were instantly excited, and someone shouted loudly: "Village Chief, you are amazing!"
"How is it? Is our village chief qualified for his job?" Lin Wu was also happy from ear to ear.
"Competent and competent!"
"Don't panic, there is better news."
(End of chapter)
