"The document states that each villager receives one dou of grain. How dare you withhold taxes?" Yun Ao asked in shock and anger.

Lu Tu met his gaze arrogantly: "It's already a favor that we didn't ask the government to distribute disaster relief grain in the face of natural disasters and man-made calamities. Why don't you give us a smaller amount? This is all we get; otherwise, you won't get a single tael of silver!"

"Very well! Lü Tu, you just wait. Once I get back and report to the Commandant, you'll know the consequences of your actions!"

After saying this, Yun Ao snorted coldly, turned his horse around, and left Kuishan Village. The villagers cheered in unison, "Your Excellency is mighty!"

Lu Tu waved his hand at the crowd and said, "There's no need to thank me. This silver isn't a gift to you for nothing. You'll need to repay it with grain after the autumn harvest."

"I have to thank you. If it weren't for you, my wife would have been taken away to be a military prostitute, and I would have been demoted to a military slave. Our whole family would have been ruined then."

"Your Excellency has truly shown us immense kindness!"

After speaking passionately for a few more minutes, Lu Tu instructed them to prepare for the spring planting season and not to plant immediately before dismissing all the villagers.

Back home, Lu Tu jokingly said, "Xiao Yu, I've spent your dowry again."

Nangong Huiyu chuckled and gave Lü Tu a reproachful look, saying, "Husband, we're family, so let's not be so formal. That was clearly something you snatched with your own abilities, not part of my dowry. Besides, what you did was a good deed. If it were me, I probably would have done the same, right, sister?"

Song Yuxi frowned: "Husband, Yun Ao's actions were indeed a bit too domineering, but then again, we have to follow the official documents. If he goes back and reports to the Commandant truthfully, even if the Commandant doesn't punish you on the spot, he will target you in the future."

Lu Tu, of course, understood the implications and nodded solemnly: "That's true, but when I went to the Commandant's Office to collect the reward that day, Yun Tian had punished Yun Ao very severely, and had already ordered him to be demoted to a concubine's son. Although we have quite a bit of silver on hand now, we need it for everything, and this is not the time to spend it recklessly."

So I have no choice but to take a gamble. I'll gamble that if Yun Ao has any brains, he'll collect more from other places and make up for the shortfall we've made up for.

"What if we don't make up for it?"

"If I don't make up the difference, the worst that can happen is that I'll be punished and have to keep paying the taxes, and Yun Ao will completely lose his chance to be favored. So either way, it's within my acceptable range."

Song Yuxi sighed softly, "Wouldn't that mean the villagers in other villages would suffer even more?"

Lu Tu nodded helplessly: "There's nothing I can do about it. I'm too short-armed to take care of so many people."

Perhaps because of her childhood experiences, Nangong Huiyu was much more optimistic than Song Yuxi. She smiled slyly and said, "Actually, it may not be a bad thing to say that way."

Upon hearing this, Song Yuxi immediately became interested: "What do you mean?"

"If the exorbitant taxes and levies reach a certain level, it will inevitably create more vagrants and military slaves. We can then gather them under our control and use the White Lotus Sect's methods to win over the people!"

Lu Tu nodded. Although Nangong Huiyu's method of using religion to enslave people might be somewhat inappropriate, the general direction was correct. Only with a large population and abundant food could one survive and rise in a chaotic world.

“My sister is right. As long as we can keep killing Wuhuan people to gain military merits, these are not problems.”

"My wife, you don't need to worry about these things for me for now. Xiaoyu, you take care of Yuxi. I'm going to Songshan Village next door."

"Yes, my lord."

Although Nangong Huiyu's virginity was broken by Lü Tu, she was still quite skilled. Two or three adults could not get close to her, so Lü Tu felt at ease with her at home.

Lu Tu also paid taxes for the villagers of Songshan Village. He was not afraid of taking a loss, but he believed that any loss had to be made public so that others would know about his contributions and the favors he had done. These things could not be left unmentioned and simply forgotten.

When they arrived at Songshan Village, they found that the villagers were all waiting there. As soon as they saw Lü Tu, a large number of them knelt down. Lü Tu spotted Nie Yun in the crowd and knew at a glance that this kid had told them beforehand.

That's good too. Having someone else say it is much more effective than him saying it himself. After these days of observation and testing, Nie Yun's growth rate far exceeds that of his peers.

"Thank you, sir, for paying our agricultural tax on our behalf!"

"Don't worry, Lord Lü, we will work to repay you, and we will also pay you back after the autumn harvest. Our family owes you three bushels of grain!"

"My family has two bushels of grain; if I were to renege on my debt, I wouldn't be human!"

Immediately, the villagers publicly acknowledged the debt.

Lu Tu came to the crowd and helped an old woman up: "Everyone, get up. Your words are enough. From now on, do as I say, and I guarantee our lives will get better every day!"

The people of Songshan Village knew Lu Tu's unwavering character and trusted his words implicitly. They all said, "Lord Lu, we'll do whatever you tell us to do. Wherever you point, we'll fight!"

"Alright, it's already February, and spring plowing will be in a month. Everyone should stop planting then and follow my instructions this year."

"I'll do whatever you say, sir!"

The villagers spontaneously brought gifts for Lü Tu, some giving a pound of millet, others two eggs that they were reluctant to eat.

Lu Tu did not refuse, but accepted everything. He even gave away the extra items, as accepting these things would put the villagers at ease.

Nie Yun helped carry these things and followed behind Lü Tu, asking curiously, "Brother, there's something I don't understand, but I'm not sure if I should say it."

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