That's good. What Luo Xi needs most right now is labor: "Okay, Yin Li, make sure the meals are plentiful so that everyone has the energy to work."

"Yes, Chief." Yin Li replied.

However, unlike the villagers' joy, Luo Xi had some concerns.

She secretly turned her gaze to Rong Bai.

They all used to live in the mountain villa, so if they were besieged by the government, it would be easy to escape. But now...

If Rong Bai were to turn his attention to these villagers scattered in various places, it would be very troublesome.

Rong Bai didn't know what was going on, but according to the information he gathered from Honglou, the Prefectural Governor's Office had indeed asked him to find a way to take him away.

But this guy, he's been happily playing the servant right under her nose every day, without showing any sign of actually lifting a finger.

Thinking of this, Luo Xi naturally shared this possibility with the villagers.

Unexpectedly, Wu Lizheng was not afraid at all upon hearing this; instead, he became even more determined.

"Don't worry, boss, we've already planned for this," he said. "We've been putting up with that dog of a magistrate, Rong Bai, for a long time."

“Even if we don’t become outlaws, we’re already prepared to fight these corrupt officials to the death. Rather than be captured and die far from home, we’d rather fight them to the death in our own hometown.”

"Since this corrupt official won't let us live, he shouldn't expect to have an easy time either."

"Yes, don't expect them to have an easy time." The villagers' expressions were filled with indignation.

Rong Bai: "..."

He already said he didn't intend to arrest anyone.

Luo Xi glanced at Rong's face, which was turning pale, then black, then green, and decided to throw in some bombshells to see if he could still sit still: "Alright, since the villagers have the guts, then I will lend you a hand."

"From now on, you'll spend half a day here training with the soldiers. We'll also provide you with some weapons. I guarantee you'll be able to take down the dog, the county magistrate..."

She gave Rong Bai another meaningful look: "And his henchmen, beat them until they cried for their parents."

Weapons? The villagers became even more excited, waving their fists and shouting, "Good! Good! Beat that corrupt official Rong Bai until he cries for his parents!"

Rong Bai: "..."

I don't want to talk anymore.

Xiao Yi, who had just cooled off from training, stood aside and secretly chuckled.

Get excited! Shout it out!

Just don't act like a dead dog next time.

Even those who were used to being bandits couldn't stand the boss's devilish training. As for the villagers, tsk tsk...

After they had vented enough, Luo Xi reached out and pressed down, saying, "Okay, quiet down."

In an instant, all the sounds vanished, and everyone looked expectantly at Luo Xi.

“Now that we’re all on the same side, you should naturally share in the benefits I offer,” Luo Xi said.

“You can see it too.” She pointed to the vegetables covering the hillsides and the lush green wheat fields.

"I have a special kind of seed here that is particularly drought-resistant and heat-resistant. It can grow very well even if it doesn't rain and even if it doesn't get much water."

As Rose spoke, the villagers' eyes shone brighter and brighter.

In fact, they decided to come and seek refuge after observing for a long time and discovering that Chaoyang Manor could indeed grow crops in the absence of rain or even rain.

They were just ordinary people. Who became emperor or magistrate had nothing to do with them. All they wanted was to have food to eat and to survive.

Now, Chaoyang Villa is the best choice.

They haven't even figured out how to bring it up yet, and the boss is already going to make their dreams come true?

Sure enough, the next moment, Luo Xi said, "Any citizen who joins Chaoyang Manor can come and receive seeds after registering; they are all free."

"However, when it's harvest time, I'll be collecting taxes here, it'll be three out of ten. Those who agree can take it, those who don't can't discuss it."

At this point, Rosie's attitude became very firm.

But this tough stance didn't elicit any opposition from the people. Instead, they grinned from ear to ear, saying with a chuckle, "Only three-tenths of the tax? Good heavens, that's far too little!"

"Yes, it's very little. The imperial court pays 50% of the taxes, not including other taxes."

"Then, then, boss, are there any other taxes? A poll tax..." they asked in a low voice.

Luo Xi waved her right hand: "No need, this is fine."

"Moreover, if you are willing to join the army, not only will you be provided with food and lodging, but you will also receive thirty catties of grain and five taels of silver every month."

Luo Xi took the opportunity to spread the word: since they had decided to oppose the imperial court, the more armed forces the better.

"What? There are so many benefits to joining the army?" The villagers were excited again.

They had been forcibly conscripted by the imperial court before, but they were always given twenty taels of silver at once, and another twenty taels upon their return, and that was it. But if it were…

If someone dies in battle, they only receive a pension of forty taels of silver, and they don't even bring back a single item of their belongings.

“The chief is too kind. It’s perfect. I have many sons but not much land. I can keep two and send the rest to join the army.”

"You're so smug. Everyone has sons. My family has five, so we can still spare three."

“I don’t have many sons, but don’t be too proud of me. I have many grandsons, which together are no less than the number of men in your family.”

...

Before we knew it, the discussion had gone completely off-topic.

Rosie: "..."

"Alright, I know you all have many sons, so there's no need to compare."

The villagers were immediately embarrassed.

Luo Xi waited patiently for them to quiet down before pointing to Yin Li beside him: "As for receiving seeds and joining the army, come here to register."

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