Prince Yong brought with him a dozen trusted followers, plus the martial arts masters he hired and local gentry, totaling more than fifty people. However, there was not a single official of high rank accompanying him.
He was not traveling under imperial order, so local officials had no obligation to receive him. Furthermore, he had ambitions to seize the throne, unknown to the common people but known to all the officials in the court. All the officials had disciples serving in local positions, so naturally, the news spread among the local officials, both large and small.
Before the situation became clear, in order to avoid being labeled as a member of Prince Yong's party, no official was willing to stand out at this time. They would rather seek an audience in secret than have any dealings in public.
Prince Yong and his entourage dismounted in front of the village plaque bestowed by the emperor. He raised his eyes to look at the plaque, then looked around, and saw that no one came to greet him. All he saw were a few women, children and young kids. His eyes became a little colder.
"Your Highness, it's spring plowing season now, and every household is busy working in the fields. I'll send someone to find the head of the village." Zhenjun was not even a ninth-rank official, and he didn't dare to call himself a humble official in front of Prince Yong. He had heard that Prince Yong had a bad temper, and he was afraid that he would accidentally anger him.
He hurriedly sent someone to find the head of the village.
"No need!" When King Yong heard that everyone was busy with spring plowing, his eyes warmed up. He handed the whip to the attendant beside him, put his hands behind his back, and said loudly: "Food is the most important thing for the people. I am not here on official business. How can I disturb those working in the fields by coming to see me? Please lead the way and let me take a look."
As soon as Prince Yong finished speaking, the gentry and wanderers who came with him praised him. Prince Yong was very pleased to hear this and a smile appeared on his face.
"Prince Yong, please come this way!" As soon as Zhenjun made a gesture of invitation, his newly hired legal advisor immediately ran to the front to lead the way.
Wu Fengfu was crippled, and he had recommended the new advisor to the lord. Like him, he had a shifty look, and he excitedly led the way, his sleeves swung. Whenever the road surface was slightly uneven, he would turn back and nod and bow to Prince Yong, reminding him to walk carefully and not sprain his ankle or dirty his shoes.
He looks just like a pug.
The town lord saw this and regretted letting him come along. Prince Yong's arrival hadn't been reported to the county beforehand, catching him completely off guard. He was desperate to minimize his presence, fearing he'd draw Prince Yong's attention, lest he inquire about Huo Jincheng's previous visit to the town government office and bring him into trouble.
On one side is the Crown Prince, and on the other is Prince Yong. He cannot afford to offend either of them. Even if he has ten heads, they are not enough for him to chop off. But this advisor is being clever and keeps flattering Prince Yong, as if he is afraid that he will not attract Prince Yong's attention.
He gritted his teeth in hatred!
In the distance, laughter and joy could be heard from the fields. Prince Yong raised an eyebrow and shook the velvet cape from his shoulders. He had heard that farming was hard work and unbearable, and he didn't understand why the villagers of Dingxian Village were so excited about farming.
I think the rumor is wrong.
He thought to himself.
I remember that a few years ago, the land tax was increased to 1% of 30. Many officials from all over the country submitted memorials to the emperor, reporting that the people were dissatisfied. Some officials even felt sorry for the farmers, saying that farming was the hardest job in the world because they had to work hard in the fields.
It was obvious that they were all lies. If he hadn't come here today and seen it with his own eyes, he would have really believed those nonsense. Those villagers looked very happy. How could they show any signs of suffering?
He shook the cloak on his shoulders again and made up his mind that when he returned to Beijing, he would propose to his father that the land tax should be increased to 1 in 20, no, to 1 in 10.
He thought that a tax of one in ten was too little, and now that grain production had increased, even a tax of five in ten was reasonable. The court had hundreds of thousands of troops to support, and with the local troops numbering over a million, these people needed to eat. How could they support the army if they didn't pay more grain?
Soldiers are the foundation of a country. If they are not well fed, how can they have the strength to fight on the battlefield if the enemy invades?
The troublemakers are all helping the troublemakers.
Prince Yong secretly made up his mind and reported to his father when he returned to Beijing, asking him to change the tax rate from 30% to 10%!
At this time, the lawyer waved his hands and shouted to the working villagers, "King Yong has arrived! King Yong has arrived!"
No prince had ever visited Dingxian Village before, and the villagers were stunned when they heard the news. When they came to their senses, they suddenly discovered that the horses of the people brought by King Yong were walking in the fields. Not only were a large area of seedlings that had just been planted a few days ago trampled, but the horses were also nibbling on the seedlings.
It was a terrible situation. The villagers were like a hornet's nest that had been blown up. They shouted and ran over with hoes in hand, driving the horses.
There was a chaos of people and horses.
Ding Youtian leaned his hands against the sunshade and looked towards King Yong. He saw a young man in bright clothes and riding a horse standing on the ridge with his hands behind his back. He was far away and could not see King Yong's facial expression, but he could feel the anger emanating from him.
Several villagers who rushed over first to protect the crops were kicked away by the martial artists. The fields that were just full of laughter and joy were suddenly filled with angry curses and insults. Some villagers even questioned King Yong angrily.
Dingxian Village was renamed by the emperor himself. Even the emperor's son had to obey the emperor. How could a son go to a village that was renamed by his father himself and cause trouble, let alone destroy the land on which the villagers depended for their survival?
The crowd was suddenly outraged!
Driven by overwhelming anger, the villagers rushed forward waving hoes and surrounded King Yong and his entourage. A few brave young men, like newborn calves fearless of tigers, pointed at King Yong's nose and questioned him, clamoring for an explanation.
Prince Yong's face turned ashen with anger.
The village head and Ding Youtian also rushed over at this time. A young man shouted to Ding Youtian, "Fourth brother, you are the only scholar in our village. Come and talk to this so-called prince. Their horses not only trampled on the crops but also injured our people. Even the prince can't bypass the word justice!"
Ding Youtian was working in the fields, dressed like a farmer, with a blue scarf on his head, a green slanting-collared, knee-length cotton-padded jacket on his upper body, and a black belt around his waist. Although he was wearing coarse linen clothes, when he stood in front of Prince Yong, he could not hide his noble and outstanding aura, and was in no way inferior to Prince Yong who was dressed in brocade clothes.
He looked at Prince Yong, clasped his fists, and said in a deep voice, "I, Your Highness, have farmland. I would like to ask why you allow your men to trample on crops and destroy farmland. Our dynasty has issued a clear decree prohibiting anyone from destroying crops for any reason. Violators will be charged with theft. Is Your Highness unaware of this, or is he knowingly committing this offense?"
"How dare you!" Prince Yong was so angry that his teeth were about to break. His mother was deeply favored by the emperor, and he was gaining more and more favor in front of the emperor. Even the important officials in the court had to look at his eyes in front of him, and even the prince had to give him some respect.
When had he ever suffered such humiliation?
"You are just a mere scholar, yet you dare to act so presumptuously in front of me? I think you are tired of living!"
Ding Youtian remained calm, "A prince who breaks the law is subject to the same punishment as a commoner. As a prince, don't you know this?"
"You're courting death!" Prince Yong pointed his finger at him angrily, then shouted at a hook-nosed fellow beside him, "Catch him now!"
"Let's see who dares!" A clear shout was heard, and Jian Ning came running over.
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