"How is it?" Prince Yong asked.
The Crown Prince handed the list to Prince Yong, saying, "The aristocratic families pay the least taxes, yet consume the most resources. All the exorbitant taxes fall on the shoulders of the common people—they are parasites!"
Prince Yong carefully examined the list. “There are 6,000 hectares of land. One hectare equals 100 mu, so there are 600,000 mu of land. In that case, the people around Beiding Prefecture are all tenant farmers of the Beizhong family. In addition to paying rent, they also have to pay government taxes, so their lives must be quite poor.”
"Whenever there is a natural disaster or man-made calamity, famine will inevitably occur, and the imperial court will have to provide disaster relief. Meanwhile, these families can set up a soup kitchen at their doorstep and gain fame and reputation." The Crown Prince was furious. He knew exactly how much grain and disaster relief funds the imperial court had transported to Jiangnan for flood control. Although each person only received a small amount, there were so many people that the imperial court couldn't conjure up more. In addition, there were bound to be some corrupt officials, so the people received even less.
When the country is at peace, these families sway the nation's affairs, vehemently criticizing the emperor's incompetence and folly, seemingly concerned for the country and its people to the extreme. But have they ever considered that it is their encroachment on the people's land and resources that leads to even minor natural disasters and man-made calamities, causing the people to be unable to make ends meet?
Of course, not all families were like this, and not all emperors were wise and powerful.
Prince Yong continued reading, “There are more than eight hundred estates, but Prince Yong’s mansion seems to have only four or five. I am far inferior to the Zhong family.”
The teasing remark drew laughter from everyone. "Your Highness, the aristocratic families say you're a nouveau riche, but it turns out your fortune is really not enough."
"They are indeed nouveau riche. I have only been in power for less than twenty years, while the Bei Zhong family has been around for hundreds of years. They are incomparable." One must admit that the other family has a long and distinguished lineage.
"Print out several thousand copies of these lands and estates, then send them into the city using Kongming lanterns. Tell the people that as long as the Bei Zhong family surrenders, their lands, estates, and grain will be distributed to them without rent, and they will be exempt from taxes for three years." The Crown Prince cleared his mind of his frustration and instructed Fei Chi to carry out the task.
Want to incite the people to fight against the imperial court? Hmph, you'd better have the ability!
The Bei Zhong family would never be able to bring themselves to be ruthless unless they could lead 150,000 residents to fight their way to the capital. Besides, the capital is the largest city in Dayong, with more than 500,000 people, which is far superior to Bei Ding Prefecture.
However, the Crown Prince would not approve of letting the common people participate in the war. Once the war starts, the people will be displaced and their families will be destroyed. If they are made to take up arms, Dayong will be on the verge of destruction.
Feichi acted swiftly, and three thousand imperial edicts concerning land ownership, tax exemptions, and grain were printed out.
At the same time, he paid the local people to make Kongming lanterns. The people were originally trembling with fear, afraid that the army would massacre them. Unexpectedly, the Wang army not only did not rob them of a single needle or thread, but also asked them to work and make a fortune from the war. Finally, it was their turn to be honest and simple people.
Having made both the Kongming lanterns and the Crown Prince's Decree, Fei Chi ordered people to tie the Crown Prince's Decree to the Kongming lanterns. At nightfall, taking advantage of the southeastern summer sky, three thousand Kongming lanterns were sent into Beiding Prefecture.
Zhong Yizhan and his brothers were discussing war strategies when a younger member of the family suddenly rushed in in a panic, shouting, "Grandfather, Grandfather, something terrible has happened! A lot of Kongming lanterns have come to the city!"
"What kind of behavior is this, all flustered and disorderly? Speak properly and slowly." Zhong Yizhan was over seventy years old and very dignified. He had high expectations for the younger generation, but unfortunately, the family had been passed down for so long that even he himself had many shortcomings, let alone the younger generation.
The young man gasped for breath, trying to calm his panic, and pointed to the sky, saying, "Crown Prince Yi has ordered that all our land be given to the common people."
"What?" Zhong Yizhan was quite politically astute and instantly understood what the Crown Prince was planning. He was cutting off his escape route!
Huo stood up abruptly and strode outside. A servant came over carrying a Kongming lantern. "Master, look."
Zhong Yizhan had already seen the Crown Prince's decree attached to the lamp. It clearly stated in black and white that as long as the Zhong family did not rebel against the court, and as long as the Zhong family perished, all of the Zhong family's property would be distributed to the people of Beiding Prefecture. "Good, very good. I want to see what kind of end Zhao Yi will have in the future!"
"Brother, how should we respond?" Zhong Yizhan's cousin asked. He had no interest in knowing what the Crown Prince's future fate would be. Even if he were attacked by all the powerful families in the world in the future, it wouldn't solve the immediate crisis.
Zhong Yizhan fell into deep thought. He racked his brains for a solution, but found that he had no other way but to offer more benefits to the people of the city.
If the Crown Prince can be ruthless towards the Zhong family, how can he be ruthless towards the Zhong family?
"When will the reinforcements arrive?" The timid ones had already begun to complain about the delayed arrival of the reinforcements.
Zhong Yizhan slapped him across the face. "You bastard, stop being so pitiful. Even without reinforcements, the Zhong family isn't afraid of the Zhao family!"
"Grandfather, what do you mean? Does that mean the reinforcements aren't coming?" Someone keenly grasped the key words in the question.
Zhong Yizhan frowned, his hawk-like gaze sweeping over everyone. "I swear to live and die with my family!"
"We swear to live and die with our family!" the crowd shouted in unison. They were only saying this because of the pressure from the family head, Zhong Yizhan. In fact, many of them were already eager to prove themselves.
Zhong Yizhan could easily see through the plans of these unfilial descendants. He sighed, ordered some people to leave, and left only a few of his peers and children to continue the discussion.
"Send someone to collect all these lamps," he instructed before turning to go inside.
The servant bowed, accepted the order, and left. As soon as he entered the room, someone asked, "Brother, why has there been no news from Lord Wei for so long?"
Wei Caitao had arrived in Beiding Prefecture long ago.
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