After hearing Changyan's analysis, the courtyard fell silent for a moment.
Zheng Ruqian looked up in alarm, his voice low and menacing, "Xiao Wu, how do you know so much?"
Could it be...?
"What are you thinking, Second Brother?" Chang Yan said, both amused and exasperated. "There's nothing like that in my family."
"That's good, that's good." Zheng Ruqian patted his chest.
He didn't notice when Chang Yan lowered his eyelashes.
Xu Mo stepped forward to summarize, "So the person behind this should be the third brother's aunt, but Magistrate Bian is unwilling to say it outright, so let's just pretend we don't know."
Fang Heng hesitated for a moment before nodding.
He felt there was something strange about the situation, but he couldn't figure out what it was, so he could only suppress it for the time being.
“Tax exemption might be difficult.” Xu Mo was still thinking about what had just happened, and looked at Zheng Ruqian. “Second brother, go to Yunshui County and tell Magistrate Pang about this.”
If the two counties could jointly apply for new taxation, the chances of success would be greater.
He then looked at Fang Heng and said, "The magistrate might lose his temper tomorrow, so come with me."
It provides both military defense and greater say in the situation.
Although, Bian Wenxuan was still furious.
Inside the county government office.
The young magistrate bounced around like a flea, "How could you say such a thing? How could you even apply for something like this? How could the Prefect possibly approve it? And if the Prefect did approve it, what kind of pressure would he face?"
Going back several decades, there has never been a case of exempting homeless children from taxes.
With every word Master Xu uttered, the pressure was directed entirely at the officials.
Bian Wenxuan flicked his sleeve with one hand, "No, I don't agree."
Xu Mo had anticipated this, and his expression remained relatively calm. "Sir, if thousands of homeless children can obtain household registration, they will be able to live normal lives in the future, pay taxes, and work, making even greater contributions to the county."
Just do the math; being exempt from taxes for a year is such a worthwhile thing.
“We haven’t seen their contributions, but the taxes from thousands of people a year are real money.” Bian Wenxuan also calmed down. “How can the dynasty’s regulations be changed so easily? If you change them, what about others? If other places follow suit, how much money will the national treasury lose that year?”
“Rules are rigid, but people are flexible. If a policy is more beneficial to the country than harmful, why can’t it be changed?” Xu Mo argued.
Bian Wenxuan was about to jump up and down again.
Fang Heng, who was standing at the back, coughed, raised one knee, and snapped the newly made wooden stick in half.
Bian Wenxuan's expression twisted, shifting from anger to shock, and then to a hint of grievance.
"I, I'm willing to risk my reputation to apply for it for you, but whether the Prefect agrees or not is none of my business!" he shouted.
Xu Mo wanted to hear those words. He let out a long sigh, folded his hands, and bowed respectfully. "My lord, thousands of homeless children will thank you."
“Who needs their thanks?” Bian Wenxuan muttered quietly.
Xu Mo pretended not to hear and waited for the county magistrate to write out the application letter, but instead of sending it to Anshui County immediately, he held it back for four days.
Four days later, he had the envelope sent to Anshui County.
Four days later, Zheng Ruqian returned with a whole cartload of vegetables, and said with delight, "Brother, Magistrate Pang has agreed. He had already submitted the application to Anshui County before I came."
A quick calculation suggests that the letters from the two counties arrived in Anshui County around the same time.
Xu Mo nodded slightly, feeling that the chances of success had increased even further.
He no longer held back and began a large-scale census. The first thing he needed was the yamen runners in the county government to notify each village, and the village chiefs to assist in notifying each household.
During this period, various difficulties are inevitable. Some are uncooperative, and some are too lazy to move. When the knowledge in books is no longer useful, even the most knowledgeable scholar can only roll up his sleeves and solve the problems himself.
It's visibly that Xu Mo has lost weight from being so busy.
But the result was good; about a month later, the prefect finally approved the tax regulations with great difficulty.
The beggars throughout Xiyang County were in an uproar.
"Can I really register my household here? Can I claim land? And can I be exempt from taxes this year?" Pang Dashan couldn't believe it.
His four younger brothers also had tears in their eyes. Although they had earned money with Zheng Ruqian for a year and were able to pay their taxes, the county issued such a regulation to let them know that they were cared about.
Those beggars who used to die and no one would care could finally live with dignity.
“There are also some younger people who are really unable to work to prepare for next year’s taxes. They can wait.” Xu Mo closed the file. “A review every ten years is too long. If it could be changed to every five or three years, that would be much better.”
The prefect had only approved one application, so it wouldn't be appropriate to apply for a second one.
We should also give the governor of Anshui County some breathing room.
Pang Dashan nodded repeatedly, not daring to hope for anything else.
This census, later known as the "turning point in taxation of the Dayu Dynasty," lasted three months, from early autumn to early winter, when cold air carrying rain and snow fell again on Xieyang County.
When those who were previously nameless and without surnames also gained household registration, land granted by the state, and were exempted from taxes for the first year, they all knelt and kowtowed at the entrance of the Xieyang County Government Office.
"Thank you, Magistrate Xie. Thank you, Clerk Xu."
A somewhat disordered murmur arose outside. Bian Wenxuan, behind the county government office, rubbed his hands repeatedly like a fly, both excited and bewildered. "Are they really thanking me? Are they really thanking me?"
Xu Mo nodded with a smile.
He said that if this regulation were actually promulgated, it would surely win the gratitude and love of the people.
"So this is what it feels like to do practical things for the people." Bian Wenxuan's eyes reddened.
Back in the Bian family, he was a reckless and unruly person. His parents didn't think much of him, and nobody took him seriously. Even the position of magistrate of Xiyang County was bought with money.
Bian Wenxuan didn't think he could really be a good public servant, and he did indeed put the people behind him in his actions. Until now—he seems to understand what it means to love the people like one's own children.
He straightened his official hat and robes, cleared his throat, and had Wang Xi open the county government office gate.
He thought he was being worshipped by the masses.
Unexpectedly, a dozen or so matchmakers squeezed in. They were all dressed in flamboyant clothes, with huge mouths and big black moles on the corners of their mouths. They shouted enthusiastically, "Magistrate, we heard that you are twenty-five years old and still single. There are many young ladies in our county who are beautiful and beautiful. Would you like to consider them?"
“Master Niu of Shili Town is extremely wealthy. His only daughter is still unmarried. Would you like to meet her? She is a perfect match for you.”
Bian Wenxuan was squeezed into a pancake shape.
Xu Mo, who was behind him, reacted quickly and took two steps back, trying to avoid it.
Unexpectedly, a sharp-eyed matchmaker stopped him, smiling and saying, "This must be Master Xu, right? It's rare to see such a young scholar. Is he already engaged? If not, it would be good to arrange an engagement first, and then hold the wedding ceremony when he's fifteen or sixteen."
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