475 Occupy One

Then he gently instructed, "If that's acceptable, then we'll proceed according to your plan. However, for all taxes, the people of Hong Kingdom will pay 10% less, while the people of Qi Kingdom will pay 10% more. In addition, the people of Qi Kingdom will also have corresponding other living security."

Furthermore, if someone truly pledges allegiance to us, this person or village, after a three- to five-year investigation, can have this extra 10% tax abolished, and will pay the same taxes as our citizens, without having to pay any extra.

You should have someone carefully formulate the specific details.

The falcon bowed its head in approval, saying, "Yes, Your Majesty, this is excellent, and this right will be granted only to our people who are loyal to us."

The magpie didn't quite understand and asked in a low voice, "Your Majesty, if we treat them so well, what if they rebel in the future? Wouldn't we suffer a great loss?"

The falcon explained softly, and the magpie nodded absently, saying, "You scholars really know how to think. This method is quite clever—like quenching thirst by looking at plums."

Falcon shook his head slightly and disagreed in a low voice, "We do this to gain the support of the poor villagers, the lower classes, and the poor servants. In this way, they will surely work hard for us."

Secondly, it's also a selection process. If among those who remain there are spies or disloyal individuals, there will inevitably be those who come forward to expose them in order to avoid paying the extra 10% early. Thirdly, ...

'Three days later, we will occupy all the borderlands. Those who do not leave will either die or submit.'

The Red King nodded slightly, his voice deep and powerful, his eyes resolute and determined. "Three days from now, we will occupy the entire borderland. Those who do not leave will either die or submit. It is their only choice."

Falcon knew full well the cruelty of war, and that it was for the future of the Red people. There was no turning back, and if they didn't act now, they would surely regret it later.

Understanding the Red King's resolve and strategy, he nodded and said, "Yes, Your Majesty. In three days, we will launch a full-scale attack on the borderlands. Before that, I will arrange for people to shake their fragile morale."

Feng, one of the four subordinates, remained silent, seemingly never speaking. Seeing the Red King's gaze sweep over him, he whispered devoutly, "The King's orders are my sword."

The Red King gave a hint of approval in his eyes and nodded slightly.

Falcon quickly arranged for someone to come and formulate detailed rules, but some information could be released in advance.

Inexplicably, many comments have emerged in the border region.

'The magistrate of Yanshan and the magistrates of the surrounding counties have all fled, abandoning us.'

'Gaogang Prefecture also fled. They abandoned us.'

"King Hong is kind and treats all villagers equally. If there are any bullies who oppress the people, they should report them when King Hong arrives, and he will surely stand up for everyone."

"Under the new policies of the Red King, all villagers will have land. Those who are lazy and unwilling to work can be reported by others, and the Red King will certainly imprison them."

'All farmland output only requires paying 10% more than the citizens of the Red Kingdom, and only 60% needs to be handed over to the government. The rest can be owned by the citizens, but private buying and selling is not allowed. They can be sold to the Red Kingdom government.'

The government charged exorbitant prices.

The Red King decreed that in the event of a major disaster, taxes would be waived, and relief grain would be provided.

The Red King decreed that all village officials could be elected and replaced by their respective villages every three years, and would also receive a salary.

...

Orders of dubious authenticity spread rapidly throughout Yanshan County.

In Baiyang Village, those who hadn't left felt like each day was an eternity, filled with tension, anxiety, and uncertainty. They searched everywhere, but ultimately couldn't leave as a family. Separation, separation. Now, hearing the news, they didn't even know if it was true or false.

I also heard that the Red King ordered the roads to be blocked. The roads were teeming with bandits, and all sorts of rumors were circulating, some true, some false. People waited, some pitied, and the weak were considered the original sin.

Yang Dadan shouted rapidly through the village, "Breaking news, breaking news! The Red King has decreed that as long as we sincerely submit, we can continue farming and even be allocated good fertile land."

Only 60% of the grain needs to be handed over.

Looking at the men, women, and children peeking out from all around, all eyes were on him. Never before had he been so dazzling and eye-catching.

He nodded emphatically again, "Look, this is an announcement, this is an announcement."

Waving a piece of yellow paper with black ink, he shouted, "Sixty percent! Only sixty percent! And no more corvée labor! No more corvée labor!"

As she shouted, her voice grew hoarse, and tears streamed down her face uncontrollably. In that instant, she thought of her parents. Back then, she was so happy, with both her parents still alive. But then came the forced labor, that damned forced labor, and her parents died on the way to their forced labor post.

With my parents gone, I feel like I'm nothing. No one cares for me, and I have to rely on myself for everything. Now I'm thirty-four and still single, and sadness wells up inside me.

It's so hard being a child without parents. A childhood that's never truly healed.

Village Chief Bai Yang slowly walked over. Looking at Yang Dadan in front of him, he sighed softly, feeling helpless. Yang Dadan's parents were not the only ones who died on the way to forced labor.

Not only were they forced to perform corvée labor, but during the busy farming season, each village was also required to send people to harvest grain for wealthy households in the city. If they refused, the tax would be increased by 10% the following year. If they asked for help, half of their entire village would die.

Upon hearing the news and hearing Yang Dadan's excited mood, I had a sliver of belief in my heart. I took the yellow paper with black ink, and although I couldn't tell if it was real or fake, I could still recognize some of the characters.

As he carefully examined the object, villagers gradually gathered around him, their faces showing excitement, a mixture of belief and doubt; their emotions were clearly complex and difficult to calm.

Half a day later, two literate, younger men surrounded the village chief. After the three of them carefully checked the documents several times, the village chief's expression calmed down slightly.

He spoke in a deep voice, letting out a long sigh, "If what the proclamation says is true, then what I boldly say is true. The announcement says that ordinary villagers will no longer be subject to all taxes, only required to pay 60% of their grain tax. If they sincerely submit, in a few years they will only need to pay 50% of their grain tax."

Hearing the village chief's words, the villagers of Baiyang felt reassured that he wouldn't lie to them, and their hearts, which had been hanging in suspense, gradually calmed down.

Seeing that everyone's expressions had relaxed a bit, the village chief continued, "Of course, there are some restrictions, such as not being allowed to leave the town without permission, and the land cannot be left barren."

These things don't concern us much, so everyone should be fine.

The other villagers nodded. The furthest they would go was to a nearby village or to the market. Normally, who would leave the village for no reason? It was dangerous and expensive.

Of course, it also mentions that the village chief was also included in the scope of the yamen runners and enjoyed certain benefits. Village Chief Bai Yang probably thought it was absurd or unbelievable, so the three of them tacitly did not mention it.