Troubled times: Start practicing spiritual practice by taking care of your sister-in-law.

Chapter 555: Winning the People's Hearts

Fengzhou is different from the north.

The north was in chaos due to wars and disasters, and even caused the northern population to migrate to the south. The positions of county magistrates in many government offices were vacant, making it impossible for Chen Mo to hold a public trial.

But Fengzhou is different. Although it has changed hands several times and has experienced wars, the basic order is still there, and the aristocratic class and powerful families still exist.

Besides, King Huai has ruled Fengzhou for more than two years. Who knows if he has left any cancer for Chen Mo? So Chen Mo wants to use this method to eliminate the cancer in various places in Fengzhou. This is also the fastest way to establish his own prestige and influence in Fengzhou.

However, this move also offended the gentry and some local tyrants in Fengzhou. They united to resist, even instigated the people to riot, and threatened Chen Mo to stop the public trial.

In this regard, Chen Mo did not care about their threats. If they resisted, he could just make good use of them and let the new recruits be responsible for training.

When Chen Mo took over Fengzhou this time, he had no intention of using soft tactics.

Fighting for territory always involves bloodshed.

……

Jing County, Mawang Village.

In April, all the villagers had completed sowing and were carrying manure to fertilize the fields.

After applying fertilizer, people in groups of three or four washed their feet in the canals beside the fields, and then sat by the ridges to rest, chat and joke.

"Brother Lin, I told you that Lin Zhong looks rich and can be a master. In my opinion, he will definitely be on the list of the imperial examination this time."

"Old Tie, when did you learn to read faces? Didn't I hear you say before that Lin Zhong had a pig's nose with garlic stuck in it?"

"Haha, yeah, yeah."

"Bullshit, when did I ever say that? Wang Jieshi, stop talking nonsense. It was you who said that Lin Zhong was not good at studying."

……

Although Lin Zhong had only applied for the imperial examination and it was still unclear whether he would pass, the people of Mawang Village had already begun to curry favor with Lin Zhong's father Lin Xuan and others.

You have to know that before this, the Lin family, as outsiders, had suffered a lot of exclusion even though they settled in Mawang Village.

The most direct manifestation is the grabbing of water.

Grab water from the fields.

If it weren't for the help from Lin Zhong's cousin Ma Fu, the Lin family would have been bullied to death in Mawang Village, let alone marrying a wife from the same village.

Lin Xuan didn't take the villagers' words to heart. He just smiled and said nothing.

He did not show any mockery, because if he was too proud of himself before things were finalized, he would suffer a terrible fall later.

After thinking for a while, he said: "You are too optimistic. The imperial examination has been suspended for several years. I haven't reviewed my lessons for several years. Who knows if I can pass the exam."

Lin Xuan was laying the groundwork so that if Lin Zhong failed the exam later, it wouldn't be too embarrassing.

The man called Iron Old Man's eyes flickered for a moment, and he did not stop listening to this, but smiled and said: "I think Lin Zhong is a smart kid, he will definitely pass the exam."

Of course, although he said this, in his heart he hoped that Lin Zhong would not pass the exam.

People are like this, especially those from the same village, or those with different surnames. They naturally can't stand seeing others living too well.

Of course, it wasn't that Tie Laohan had a bad heart, he also couldn't bear to see others live in such a bad way. Lin Xuan smiled and shook his head, then took the initiative to talk about other topics, saying: "It's already April, and the rent will be paid in a few days. I heard that the rent will increase this year."

As soon as these words were spoken, the smiles on the faces of several villagers instantly disappeared, and were replaced by sad expressions.

Since the Prince of Huai lost Huaizhou and the support of the Xiao family, in order to maintain the operation of the army during the two years of ruling Fengzhou, the Prince of Huai had to increase the taxes on the people of Fengzhou. Coupled with the layers of imposition by officials and clerks below, the taxes became very heavy in the hands of the people.

It was because of the heavy taxes that the villagers of Mawang Village were unable to pay, and finally, under the coercion of the landlord Liu Yuanwai, they had no choice but to sell their land to him at a low price.

Those who have no land are even willing to sell their children.

Now the villagers of Mawang Village all help Mr. Liu to farm the land, and they have to pay a rent every April.

“Good news, good news”

Just as the villagers were chatting, Lin Zhong's brother-in-law Wang Zhonger came running over, met the villagers' gazes, and said, "Liu Yuanwai was beheaded. The government just sent someone to inform us to go to the government to divide the land."

"What? Mr. Liu was beheaded?" Upon hearing this, the villagers' eyes widened. After being shocked for a while, Tie Lao Han said, "Chong Er, are you still asleep? The government is giving us land? I have never dreamed of such a scene."

Not only did Old Man Tie not believe it, but other villagers including Lin Xuan also did not believe it.

Wang Zhonger came up to them, panting slightly, and said, "It's true. Didn't the county hold a public trial today? It was on the trial stand that the people of Anguogong ordered Liu Yuanwai to be beheaded. Not only Liu Yuanwai, but also the yamen master was beheaded. Anguogong exempted our county from taxes for a year and gave us the land that Liu Yuanwai had occupied. Uncle Shitou and Aunt Teng were all there."

Hearing this, the villagers opened their mouths in shock.

Regarding the public trial, the government had previously sent people to notify the Mawang Village and asked them to go to the county town to participate, but the villagers who could barely read and write were not interested, so they only sent a few representatives.

But I never expected that such a big thing would happen.

"Chonger, don't lie to me." Some villagers still said in disbelief.

"Whether it's true or not, we'll know after we go into the city." Lin Xuan didn't even bother to wipe the water off his feet and quickly put on his shoes.

……

An hour later.

When the villagers of Mawang Village looked at Mr. Liu's head hanging on the rack, they believed that what Wang Zhong'er said was true.

Then they all ran to the yamen.

At this time, there was a long queue outside the yamen, waiting for the land to be distributed.

By the time it was Mawang Village's turn, it was almost dark.

When Lin Xuan and others showed their credentials, pressed their fingerprints, signed and sealed, and got their own land deeds and walked out of the yamen, they still felt that everything was a little unreal.

At this moment, they saw a group of people kneeling in front of the yamen. They faced the yamen, cried with emotion, and shouted that the Duke of Anguo was an honest and upright master.

After asking around and learning that the Duke of Anguo was in the government office, the old man Tie grabbed Lin Xuan and the others' hands and said excitedly, "Brother Lin, let's go over and pay our respects to the Duke of Anguo."

"Duke Anguo not only killed Mr. Liu, but also exempted us from taxes for a year and divided our land among us. He is simply our second parent and the great Lord of Heaven."

"..."

This situation was then repeated in other counties.

(End of this chapter)