"I am hereby appointing Cao Xing as the leader of Huangshan Village. I hereby write this book. Seeing words is like seeing people. I hope Mr. Guo will know!"
In the afternoon, Xiao Jing handed a handwritten letter to Cao Xing as a letter of appointment to help Cao Xing successfully take over the army in Huangshan Village.
"My subordinates will live up to their master's trust!"
Cao Xing solemnly took the handwritten letter from Xiao Jing and said with fists in his hands.
Originally, there was no need to be so anxious about the appointment of the leader of Huangshan Village, but Cao Xing was itchy and wanted to take over the troops of Huangshan Village as soon as possible, train them as soon as possible, and make great achievements as soon as possible.
Therefore, after returning to Niu Mansion and learning about the situation in Huangshan Village from Niu Yang, he rushed to the mayor's manor and asked for a handwritten letter from Xiao Jing, ready to take office!
After getting Xiao Jing's handwritten letter, Cao Xing did not delay and left in a hurry, riding a war horse (owned by Niu Yang and rewarded by Xiao Jing at some point), towards the barren mountain village!
After Cao Xing left, Xiao Jing frowned slightly, "Such an impatience is a taboo in the army, and it's easy to fall into the trap..."
Xiao Jing shook his head, put back the messy thoughts in his heart, and started to deal with government affairs.
In years of famine, there will be banditry!
Since Xiao Jing came to this world, the weather has been getting hotter and hotter day by day, almost like a severe drought!
The grain harvest is greatly affected by the weather. As the weather becomes dryer day by day, the harvest will naturally not be much better.
It can be said that a large part of the reason why the Yellow Turbans were able to cause trouble was due to the weather. In addition, the tax rates were not only disappearing but getting higher and higher, the people at the bottom really couldn't survive.
[Han Law] stipulates that land tax and commercial tax in each region shall not exceed 20% or 30%.
Originally, according to the provisions of the "Han Law", even if there was a drought, the people in various regions would not be unable to survive.
But regulations are dead, but people are alive!
Taking Daliu Town as an example, the 25% land tax in Daliu Town actually violates the [Han Law], but in the entire Yanmen, Daliu Town has the lowest and most conscientious tax rate.
Because of this, Daliu Town attracted many refugees.
Nowadays, throughout the Han Dynasty, there are many areas with tax rates of 40 or 50%. In some Central Plains areas, the tax rate has even reached an exaggerated 70%.
The drier the place and the poorer the harvest, the more terrifying the tax rate. Why? Nothing more than maintaining interests.
Because of this, the people couldn't survive, so they either rebelled and became the 'Yellow Turbans', or went up to the mountains and became bandits!
What Xiao Jing has to deal with at this moment is: a group of bandits caught by Zhou Cang while patrolling the territory. These bandits have done many evil things and harmed many people.
Therefore, although this group of bandits was quite powerful, Xiao Jing decided to 'execute them to death' without much hesitation to inspire the people!
"The weather is getting increasingly dry, so we need to prepare early to build water conservancy projects!" Xiao Jing wiped the sweat from his face and frowned.
The tens of thousands of acres of grain fields on the Woniu Plain in Daliu Town rely only on the Qinghe River as a water source. If preparations are not made early to 'reserve water', and if the Qinghe River dries up, I'm afraid...
[Report]: My subordinates were patrolling the town and caught a group of yellow scarf 'spies' (suspected to be). This group of spies were full of nonsense and called themselves 'players'. Their leader said that he had something important to report. I suspect it is related to the 'Yellow Turban', so I don't dare to delay, so I came here to report it.
Seeing this, Xiao Jing raised his eyebrows, "Player?!!"
He didn't expect that there would be players in this remote town!
However, I don’t know if this player was lucky or unlucky, but he was caught by his patrolling officers!
"This player is quite interesting, I might as well meet him if I have time!"
Thinking about it, Xiao Jing put the matter aside. After all, he was just a player, and it was not an important matter in his eyes. It was just of some interest and was not worthy of him abandoning government affairs to see him.
At his current level, he has already pushed ordinary players far, far away...
"Report!!"
Xiao Jing frowned and thought deeply, but the sound of a guard announcing the news interrupted his thinking.
"Liu Ku, the landlord of Da Liu Town, wants to see you!"
Liu Ku? ! !
Xiao Jing had a question in her mind, what did he want to see? Could it be a tax issue? !
Confused, Xiao Jing stood up, put down the book in his hand, and came to the front house, "Bring Liu Ku up!"
If Liu Ku is sensible and can pay enough food tax, it will be a good thing!
"yes!!!"
The guards retreated, and not long after, Liu Ku and a scribe in Confucian robes came over.
"Common citizen Liu Ku pays homage to the mayor!" Liu Ku bowed his hands in a respectful manner.
Although he is a big landowner in Daliu Town, in the final analysis he is still a civilian, while Xiao Jing is an official. Their identities are different. Regardless of what they think in their hearts, etiquette cannot be abolished!
"Landlord Liu, please get up quickly!"
Xiao Jing politely helped Liu Ku up, saw Chang Gong behind him, and asked doubtfully, "Who is this?"
Liu Ku patted his head and said, "Master Xiao, this is the secret envoy of Shanwu City, Master Chang!"
Seeing Xiao Jing looking at him, Chang Gong had a smile on his face.
The secret envoy of Shanwu City? ! !
Could it be that something happened in Shanwu City that I don't know about?
When Xiao Jing heard this, his eyes narrowed and he looked at Chang Gong with deep meaning.
"Mr. Chang, sit down. Please sit down quickly. You see, this person is not smart at all. Why don't you serve tea quickly?"
Upon hearing that Chang Gong was the envoy of Shanwu City, regardless of his purpose, Xiao Jing's attitude instantly became enthusiastic, and at the same time he softly scolded the servants waiting next to him.
Chang Gong waved his hand and said, "No need!"
Then, he glanced at Liu Ku again, and Liu Ku resigned.
"Master Xiao, there are no outsiders here, so let me tell you straight away. I would like to ask Master Xiao to support Shanwu City..." Chang Gong said.
Hearing this, Xiao Jing nodded calmly. His guess was right, something had happened in Shanwucheng.
Such a big city, Shanwu, actually asked a mayor to support him...
However, it’s okay if there are changes! Just convenient for fishing in troubled waters! ! !
"Oh, Mr. Chang, you also know that Da Liu Town is miserable. It was already destroyed by the Yellow Turbans, and its own defense forces pale in comparison. How can there be any extra troops to support Shanwu City..." Although he didn't harbor any thoughts in his heart. He thought kindly, but on the surface, Xiao Jing politely declined.
Hearing this, Chang Gong's face twitched.
No extra troops? What a liar! Now in Shanwu County, who doesn’t know that your military strength in Daliu Town is the strongest, with 300 soldiers defeating 3,000 Yellow Turbans...
Moreover, Xiaohezhuang's damning article was still on his record...
They all have troops disguised as Yellow Turbans to occupy the grain fields, but no troops to support Shanwu City?
Rejection, full of rejection!
Although he was extremely dissatisfied with Xiao Jing's refusal, Chang Gong still smiled and said with a forced smile:
"Master Xiao, why don't you listen to the terms I offer?"
Xiao Jing took a sip of tea and did not answer Chang Gong's words, but just looked at him with a smile.
Seeing this, Chang Gong took a deep breath, cursed the little fox in his heart, and said:
"As long as Daliu Town is willing to send troops to support, I am willing to give you 10,000 acres of fertile land..."
Ten thousand acres of grain fields? ! !
Xiao Jing's eyes narrowed, what a big gesture...
Although there was some movement in his heart, he still said soberly: "Mr. Chang, sending troops is of great importance. I need to think about it carefully..."
Chang Gong's heart sank, but he still forced a smile and said, "Forget it, I will resign today. I hope Master Xiao can give an accurate reply tomorrow!"
"Haha, definitely, definitely!!" Xiao Jing said haha.
"Excuse me!"
…
