Chapter 356: He wants to destroy the tax and tribute system

Turning the screen, rounding the back hall, entering the residence.

Jia Jia Sicong, the County Magistrate of Qili County, tossed and turned for a while before bringing out a wooden box from the rear mansion.

Before he could even walk back to the front courtyard tea hall, the wooden box was reached for and taken by Shopkeeper Tang, who had been waiting before the tea pavilion door.

"Can Shopkeeper Tang rest easy now?"

"Magistrate Jia, you flatter me. In truth, I had learned much about you before coming here; I know you are by no means a man who breaks his word. It is just that my proprietor made this request, and even if it is merely going through the motions, we who do the work must handle official business officially."

After hearing this, Jia Jia Sicong nodded, holding a brush, and methodically filled it with ink from the inkstone.

Then, he gracefully signed the contract document stating that eighty percent of the farmland's output would belong to the Ji Village, with the remaining twenty percent staying in the county.

As for Shopkeeper Tang, he sat on the grand armchair opposite, opened the wooden box, and took out the register stamped with the seals of the Seven Great Chu Xian Sects.

The Great Xia legal code states: Under the heavens, all is the King's land.

And the so-called King refers to that brilliant and talented founding Emperor of Great Xia.

Although Great Xia subsequently declined, and every year it must provide countless grain harvests to support the immortals in their cultivation—becoming no different from a tool, lacking the grandeur of an imperial dynasty—these lands still belong to Great Xia.

Because human history records that back then, Great Xia sought to unify the Nine Continents, and it was only by using the system of the masses providing support that they invited the hidden Chu Xian Sects to manifest and assist in the battle.

Great Xia wanted the territory, while the cultivators wanted the support; this is the orthodoxy of human history, long since compiled into history books and passed down through generations.

In other words, this is the source of why the cultivation world can unify its understanding, believing that the common people should support the immortals, and it is also the reason why cultivators can maintain a clear Dao heart despite exploiting all living beings.

Because this promise was once recognized by the world.

And the so-called Fish-Scale Register originates from this.

Legend has it that when Great Xia pacified the Nine Continents, the Chu Xian Sects no longer remained hidden and began to widely accept disciples.

Thus, both sides jointly issued the Fish-Scale Register to local government offices to determine the quantity of tax and tribute to be collected.

The reason it is called the Fish-Scale Register is that the fields, mountains, and ponds are arranged in sequence, with their boundaries resembling the layout of fish scales.

What Shopkeeper Tang needed for this trip was the contract signed by Magistrate Jia, as well as this thick stack of registers.

A few breaths later, Magistrate Jia finished signing the document, habitually held the paper in the air, waited for the airflow to pass and let the ink dry at a speed visible to the naked eye, then used cinnabar and oil-based ink paste to press his handprint, handing it to Shopkeeper Tang.

"Magistrate Jia is indeed straightforward." Shopkeeper Tang closed the wooden box and cupped his hands.

After hearing this, Jia Jia Sicong stroked his long beard: "Land matters are land matters, but please, Shopkeeper Tang, pass on the word: next year, the tax and tribute for those commoners who signed the labor contract must be delivered on time and in full. That is an offering to the immortal families and must not be taken lightly, otherwise, no one can protect us."

The cultivation world and the mortal world have a very fragmented information gap, and this is even more so for a small-time county magistrate managing commoners.

Just like when the corpse tide surged previously, and the sky exploded with light for several consecutive months, the common people speculated endlessly, but even now they do not know why.

This county magistrate also did not understand the so-called status and strength of the cultivation world, speaking with a mix of a reminder and a threat.

"Magistrate Jia's words are absolutely correct; I will certainly report this truthfully to my proprietor."

"Then I can rest easy." Jia Jia Sicong revealed a relaxed expression.

With the commoners of Qili County all signed into Fengzhou, obtaining tax and tribute shares through labor to hand over to the immortal masters, he would no longer have to worry like in previous years about losing his head due to insufficient tax and tribute collection.

He even obtained twenty percent of the produce through leasing land; it was simply immense wealth, so how could he not be relaxed?

Shopkeeper Tang finished organizing the items and placed them into the wooden box. Looking at his overjoyed expression, he couldn't help but speak: "This matter is known only to heaven and earth; it would be best if you, Magistrate, did not reveal what happened today."

"Why shouldn't it be revealed?"

"It is merely to avoid some unnecessary trouble."

Shopkeeper Tang spoke: "Actually, it makes no difference to us, but if others were to know that you, Magistrate, used public land to exchange for profit, I fear it would be difficult for us to slip it directly into your pocket next year."

Jia Jia Sicong's expression sank: "True, true, Shopkeeper Tang's reminder is timely."

The land belongs to Great Xia; even if it wasn't farmed but changed to leasing, a portion of the income would need to be incorporated into the treasury.

If this matter were exposed from the shadows to the light, he, Jia Jia Sicong, might not be able to scrape up even a single cent.

Seeing that he understood the pros and cons, Shopkeeper Tang stood up holding the wooden box: "Since that is the case, I will no longer disturb you. Farewell."

"Shopkeeper Tang, walk slowly!" Jia Jia Sicong also stood up to see him out.

"Magistrate, there is no need for such courtesy; please stay."

"No, this official needs to go check on my grain."

Jia Jia Sicong, who had previously been calm and composed, replied, then quickly ran toward the three grain carts that Shopkeeper Tang had brought, calling for the servants in the mansion to unload the grain.

Shopkeeper Tang's eyes couldn't help but narrow. He then waved to his assistants, and the group of more than ten people drove the remaining horse-drawn carriages away.

"Shopkeeper."

"What is it?"

"This Jia Bai is a famous loudmouth in all the surrounding villages, and he isn't very bright either. Will he go around talking about what happened today?" As they headed toward the county seat below, a shop assistant couldn't help but ask.

Shopkeeper Tang, sitting on the carriage shaft, shook his head upon hearing this: "It is true that these local officials are all foolish, but the good thing is that they are all extremely greedy. Naturally, they understand that if this matter were to spread, they would definitely not be able to gain any benefits, so they won't cause trouble for themselves."

Amidst their conversation, the merchant caravan continued to penetrate deep into Qingzhou.

At the same time, the carriages dispatched to return turned around and headed in the direction they came, speeding into the territory of Fengzhou.

Rumble, rumble—

Carriages fully loaded with grain continuously penetrated deep into the Six Prefectures, entering and exiting between the countryside and the county government offices.

Their movements were secretive, and coupled with the fact that the commoners of Qingyun lived in remote and impoverished areas, no one had noticed these caravans.

And these shopkeepers accompanying the carriages also relied on the temptation of profit to exchange for one Fish-Scale Register after another, sending them silently to Fengzhou.

And those county officials who signed the contracts and gave the Fish-Scale Registers indeed did not reveal a single word to the outside world because of their vested interests.

As long as the news continued to be carried out secretly, obtaining all the Fish-Scale Registers for the signed contracts did not seem like a difficult task.

"Young Master Xiang."

"Speak."

The private secretary of the Fengzhou government office bowed slightly before Xiang Xiang Kuangcheng: "The fifth grain warehouse has been emptied, and the merchant house has sent another message saying they are short on grain."

Hearing this, Xiang Xiang Kuangcheng held his breath slightly, then gripped his sleeves and spoke: "Open the sixth grain warehouse."

"Young Master, those immortals have always been greedy. If this continues, I'm afraid there will be no end to it. Five of the nine granaries are already empty, and even our Fengzhou will have a hard time; many people will have to tighten their belts."

"Open it. Ji Village will not let everyone go hungry."

"Yes!"

Seeing Xiang Xiang Kuangcheng's firm will, the private secretary immediately cupped his hands and complied. Subsequently, a large group of people left the fifth warehouse and headed toward the sixth.

As the heavy doors were opened, the grain stored within was moved bag by bag onto the carriages and sent in all directions.

He knew that the Fish-Scale Registers from various prefectures had been sent back, which meant that Ji You's idea was effective.

At this critical juncture, the grain in Fengzhou could not be cut off.

They had to control the gaze of those noble families and Chu Xian Sects, let the matter continue to advance, feed them, and wait until they were willing to let some grain flow through their fingers for the commoners to survive.

Fengzhou, which was almost giving up its entire grain harvest, would have a very difficult time, and the accumulation of several years would also be exhausted, but the future would definitely be a smooth path.

Wei Rui had already arrived at the sixth warehouse from Ji Village at this time.

In her hand, she carried a lacquer box, which contained the meal she had brought for her lover.

In the process of putting down the lacquer box and taking out the food, the daughter of the Wei mansion kept staring at those busy people in front of the warehouse door, feeling a bit puzzled.

Every one of them knew clearly that Fengzhou was being bled dry.

But she didn't know why her lover was always so straightforward and unhesitating every time he opened the warehouse to distribute grain.

"Master, this is... where did so much grain come from?"

In the county government office of Songhe County, Yongzhou, the wife of Magistrate Pi Chu Xian was staring at the three large horse-drawn carriages of grain, dumbfounded.

Especially the two black pigs tied to the third carriage, which made her feel even more dazed.

The corpse tide had led to a total crop failure in Qingyun, and it was not just the commoners who suffered; they, the officials, also had a very difficult time.

True, Great Xia would still issue them monthly stipends, but the problem was that under the current situation, even if the monthly stipend were doubled, it would not be enough for them to purchase grain.

For some time now, their Pi family had been living frugally, wanting to rely on the corruption of the tax and tribute collected last year to survive this winter, but this taste was indeed not very pleasant.

But who would have thought that upon waking up today, Madam Pi would see so much food in the courtyard? Surprise was naturally unavoidable.

Seeing this, Pi Chu Xian knitted his brows: "Don't ask what you shouldn't ask. Order someone to unload one carriage and send it to the kitchen; grinding it into flour will be enough to eat for several months."

"And the remaining two large carriages?"

"Naturally, they are to be sent to Prefect Min, and have Prefect Min write a letter to the Zhenbei Army, telling them to take good care of Kuan'er."

As Pi Chu Xian spoke, he ordered his servants to fetch the rain cloth used during tax and tribute collection and covered the two large carriages tightly.

After Great Xia changed the reign title to Taiyuan, the policy of military expansion began to be implemented. Although the military life was extremely bitter, for many lower-level official families, it was an opportunity.

Because the Zhenbei Army could cultivate, and after accumulating enough military merit, they could even allow their relatives to enter the Chu Xian Sects.

Thus, in the spring three years ago, the far-sighted Pi Chu Xian sent his son into the army.

This was actually the same idea as Fang Fang Zhongzheng, the magistrate of Yuyang County in Fengzhou, and it was also very similar to the Xiang family; they all hoped that someone in the family could enter the cultivation world.

But the unlucky thing was that they thought that after sending their son there, he would guard the city walls, muddle through for a few years, and then squeeze out some tax and tribute to pull strings and get ahead, but they didn't expect to encounter the joint invasion of the Nine Continents by the Demon and Barbarian races.

Now, news of soldiers dying in battle kept coming from the You and Yun Prefectures, making Pi Chu Xian unable to sleep at night.

So he had been dragging his superior, Prefect Min, to find a way to withdraw his son from the front line and transfer him to logistics; naturally, he had to send gifts.

Amidst the rustling, the carriages were covered.

Seeing this, the private secretary of the county government couldn't help but speak in a low voice: "Master, this matter is inappropriate."

"What is inappropriate about it?"

"When the people from the Wulu Merchant House left, they gave instructions not to reveal it to the outside world. If Prefect Min were to know that the immortal tax and tribute are borne by Fengzhou, and you can still receive twenty percent of the leased land every year, this benefit would not reach our hands. We might as well wait a bit longer, wait until the year is better."

Pi Chu Xian immediately interrupted the private secretary's speech: "With the world short of grain today, how can icing on the cake be as sincere as sending charcoal in snow? Moreover, the war on the front line is fierce; how many lives does my son have to wait?"

"This..." The private secretary was instantly speechless.

"You stay at home, take good care of everything in the mansion; I will return in a few days."

"Yes."

Pi Chu Xian got on the carriage, and under the whip of the coachman, he hurriedly left Songhe Immortal County and headed toward the Yumao Commandery of Yongzhou, which was under his jurisdiction.

By the time Pi Chu Xian arrived at Yumao Commandery, a vast crowd of refugees was wandering through the city.

They drove the carriage and kept taking detours, and it took several hours before they arrived at Prefect Min's mansion.

However, just as he entered the door, he was stopped by the gatekeeper of the mansion: "Magistrate Pi, what is the purpose of your visit?"

"This official wishes to pay a visit to Prefect Min; please have the steward report it." ===== CHAPTER 357 =====