"Unexpectedly, it caused the local people in Jiangnan to lose their families and their lives."
"Now the people are complaining about the government's decree of 'taxation based on land'."
"It is said that someone is preparing to go to the capital and write a letter in blood to make a petition."
The words fell.
Murong Yanran was surprised, "How could it be?"
"How could re-measuring the land have caused the people of Jiangnan to be in such a state?"
Qin Yuan sneered: "Isn't this easy?"
"I think they ordered the clerks to increase the amount of land these people owned, or even expand it several times when compiling the registers."
"Then they hide their own land there to avoid taxes."
Li Dejian replied: "Yes, it is just as my elder brother said!"
"Most of the petty officials in the yamen have been passed down from generation to generation, and have long been connected with the local aristocratic families."
"Families are permanent, but officials are transient."
"Even if local officials wanted to intervene, what could they do about these local tyrants?"
"A powerful dragon cannot defeat a local snake."
"If you mess with these people, their orders won't even leave the government office!"
"Why not report it to the court!" Murong Yanran asked in confusion.
Li Dejian sighed.
After these days of contact, he has already understood.
The lady-in-waiting beside His Majesty.
Although he has some talent, he is too idealistic and doesn't understand the grassroots operations at all.
But seeing how she's flirting with my eldest brother, she might be my future sister-in-law, and I can't afford to offend her.
He patiently explained, "What's the point of reporting it? All the noble families have long been united, and the court is full of their spies."
"Even if they report it, can the imperial court still massacre all the gentry in Jiangnan?"
"If we massacre the aristocratic families in Jiangnan, will the aristocratic families in other parts of the Great Zhou be in danger?"
“So, there’s no solution.”
"If officials sent by the imperial court want to accomplish something, they can only do so through political struggle."
"Even if you put in a lot of effort, you may not get any benefits, and worse still, you may die."
"In this case, how many people are willing to do something for the people?"
"Everyone gets what they need, and things go peacefully together, and that becomes the norm."
Murong Yanran became more and more annoyed as she listened, and shouted in a low voice: "These bastards!"
"You are a beast worse than pigs and dogs!"
"You've got a fortune, why are you still taking advantage of the people?"
Qin Yuan seemed to be mocking: "Their immense wealth was also earned bit by bit from the blood and sweat of the people."
Li Yinhuan asked in doubt, "Second brother, even if we re-measure the land and increase the amount several times, it won't destroy our family, right?"
Qin Yuan chuckled. "That's even easier. Since the previous land measurement was wrong, taxes have been collected at the wrong rate for many years. Should we make up the difference?"
Li Yinhuan suddenly understood.
Li Dejian was full of admiration, "That's right! Everything is just as you said, big brother!"
"It was this forced taxation that forced countless people in Jiangnan to lose their homes and sell themselves into slavery."
"I just found a village that has been reduced to ruins. Only one or two elderly people are left to make a living."
"It is said that bandits created a riot and plundered everything. All the young people fled, leaving only those like them who could no longer walk."
"Now the people in Jiangnan are deeply resentful of the land tax and are full of complaints!"
Qin Yuan looked at the floating clouds in the sky and said softly, "It seems that the situation in Jiangnan is more serious than I thought."
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