Chapter 347 Are you talking about the troops from the Northwest Camp?
Jiang Yubai spoke with such sincerity that every word seemed to come from the bottom of his heart.
After hearing this, Sang Zhixia quickly closed her eyes and said with a wry smile, "Master Jiang, do you want more food just for the people in your fiefdom? Are you sure?"
"That's impossible."
Jiang Yubai's frankness was frightening. He used the gentlest expression to say the most shocking words: "The hundreds of thousands of troops in Lingnan consume a huge amount of food every day, and more of it will of course be sent to the barracks."
"My sister-in-law is familiar with Chen Nianhe in the Northwest Camp. I think she is also aware of the army's food and grass consumption. If there is a shortage, it will be a real headache."
Sang Zhixia's head grew bigger when she looked at Jiang Yubai's sincere face.
She also has a headache now.
"Master Jiang, we cannot bear to hear you say such things, and the issue of military rations is definitely not something we can interfere with."
"But I already said it."
Jiang Yubai blinked innocently, looked at Xu Yu and said, "I also want to invite Xu Yu to join us, and when things are successful, I will give him a high position."
"I……"
"Sister-in-law, I know what you are worried about, but some things cannot be avoided by simply avoiding them."
Jiang Yubai blinked with deep regret and said with a sigh, "Lingnan has abundant rainfall and thriving agriculture, but in the eight cities and sixteen counties within the Lingnan fiefdom, even when the weather is good, people still starve to death every year. Do you know why, sister-in-law?"
"Jiang Yubai, you..."
"Xu Yu, I'm not talking to you."
Jiang Yubai glanced at Xu Yu with displeasure and said unhappily, "The farm belongs to my sister-in-law, and the seeds are hers too. Why are you so nosy?"
Unable to win over Xu Yu, Jiang Yubai simply focused all his attention on Sang Zhixia.
Sang Zhixia pulled Xu Yu away with great worry, and with no other choice, she chose to be an audience member: "I'd like to hear the details."
Jiang Yubai showed a sneer on his face and mocked: "Because of the harsh policies and heavy taxes."
According to the laws of the court, the taxes collected annually in all the territories of the court are fixed. The only difference is the difference caused by different regions, and the general rules do not change much.
But the method implemented in Lingnan is different from that in other places.
Other places only need to pay one-third of the tax, but in Lingnan it is double.
Regardless of the harvest of the year, Lingnan was forced to send various taxes to Kyoto every year, which were several times higher than those elsewhere.
Under such harsh taxes and policies, the people in Lingnan suffered terribly, but they had no way to do anything.
"During the reign of the previous emperor, there were six fiefdom kings, including Lingnan. However, the other five fiefdom kings have all passed away. Now, my father is the only one left."
"My father is still alive because Lingnan trades his people's lives for tax money every year, and he keeps himself humble and acts as a protector to maintain temporary stability."
"But this is destined to be only temporary."
Today, he is extremely ambitious and has been on guard against Lingnan for many years. He even wants to force Lingnan into a desperate situation again and again so as to find a reliable excuse to send troops to attack.
The king of Lingnan and the people under him had suffered for many years because of this, and it was only a matter of time before they began to rebel.
After more than ten years of planning and forbearance, it is almost time for ambition to burst out and break the deadlock.
Because if we don't resist, there will be no way out.
Sang Zhixia listened quietly without saying anything.
Jiang Yubai changed his tone and said subtly, "Lingnan is in such a situation. What do you think of the Xu family, my sister-in-law?"
"Xu family?"
Sang Zhixia lowered her eyes, concealing the emotion in them, and said calmly, "The Xu family has already suffered a great disaster. Their glory is gone, and they are burdened with deep guilt. Their descendants will be ordinary people for generations to come. What other twists and turns can there be?"
"Really? Sister-in-law, do you really think so?"
Jiang Yubai smiled and said, "The Xu family was convicted and exiled, but the Xu family members are still alive."
"The Xu family's prestige within the military, accumulated over a century, remains. However, the things they possess are like gold and silver mines. With greed swirling, even the most valuable treasures in their hands can be turned into blades, capable of inflicting fatalities."
"What will happen then will be more than just waves and twists and turns."
If a child walks in the snow with gold in his arms, he will surely attract those who covet him.
This statement is not only applicable to Lingnan, but also applies to the entire Xu family.
In the eyes of some superiors, the fact that the Xu family members are still alive means that they are a hidden danger that must be eliminated.
Sang Zhixia secretly clenched her sleeves and said slowly, "If I refuse, does Young Master Jiang intend to report the Northwest incident back to Kyoto and completely eradicate it?"
Jiang Yubai laughed dumbly: "That's not the case."
"Don't worry, sister-in-law. Although I am inevitably annoyed, I won't resort to such means."
The current Lingnan lineage has received favors from the Xu family. Regardless of whether the plan succeeds or not, the friendship remains.
Sang Zhixia felt relieved upon hearing this and said with a wry smile, "That means the Xu family was still stable before the butcher was brought in."
Sang Zhixia stood up, raised the teacup with both hands in front of Jiang Yubai's surprised gaze, and said seriously, "We appreciate the young prince's kindness."
"It's just that this is a serious matter. I'm just a woman and I don't know much, so I can't make the decision. I'm afraid I can't help you with this matter."
"Tea instead of wine. I am here to apologize to the young prince for betraying his kindness."
Sang Zhixia raised her head and drank the cooled tea in the cup. When the bottom of the cup turned red, she said nothing more, but her meaning was very clear.
The Xu family may face many hidden dangers in the future, but Xu Yu and Sang Zhixia currently have the same idea and do not intend to get involved in a more complicated vortex.
Jiang Yubai narrowed his eyes, half smiling, "Sister-in-law, don't you think about it? Are you rejecting me?"
"yes."
Sang Zhixia lowered her eyes with a calm demeanor and said, "The people of Lingnan are indeed suffering now, but at least they are still alive. If war breaks out, how many of them will be able to survive the ordeal?"
Get more food and raise more troops.
When the blades clash, those who die will still be those who are now forced to starve to death.
Even more.
Sang Zhixia had no intention of glimpsing the edge of the ambition, nor did she want to add fuel to the desire for hegemony that was destined to be filled with flesh and blood.
This was not what she had originally wanted.
Sang Zhixia refused bluntly, but surprisingly, there was no sign of annoyance on Jiang Yubai's face. He even drank the cold tea on the table with a smile.
"My sister-in-law is a straightforward person, I should be grateful."
"But my opinion remains unchanged. If my sister-in-law changes her mind at any time, you can have Xu Yu pass the message to me at any time."
Half a moment later, Xu Yu put his arm around Sang Zhixia's shoulder and walked out of the post station.
Sang Zhixia climbed onto his horse and looked at Chief Xie and the others inside the post station who hadn't bowed their heads to see him off. Anxiety was evident in his eyes. "He said he wanted to visit the village, so why did you agree?"
This man is going after the grain seeds. If he is allowed to enter the village, wouldn't it be no different from locusts entering a rice field?
Xu Yu stood by and helped Sang Zhixia adjust the saddle. He said slowly, "He will go whether you agree or not."
Jiang Yubai said it openly in order to avoid suspicion and also to talk things over with Xu Yu and Sang Zhixia.
But since the words had been spoken, it made no difference whether Xu Yu agreed or refused.
Sang Zhixia remembered sweat on his forehead: "Then we go back now? What if..."
"Zhizhi, no."
Xu Yu adjusted his horse and walked to Sang Zhixia's side. He reached out to adjust the cloak on her shoulders and said softly, "Grandfather is in the village. Nothing can go wrong."
"Zhizhi, don't forget that in addition to our family's food, there is another place in the northwest."
A flash of light flashed through Sang Zhixia's mind, and she asked in surprise, "You mean the troops from the Northwest Camp?"
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