I am the villain in the book

The next day.

When the news of the imperial court's military expedition spread to the people of Shu Prefecture at the fastest speed, the reaction among the people was not too intense.

Perhaps everyone had expected this day to come, only they didn't expect it to be so soon.

Therefore, apart from discussing it over tea and meals, most people did not take it to heart.

There was no advance escape with family in tow, no hurried closure of markets and businesses, and no "abandoning the darkness to embrace the light" to welcome the imperial army.

Of course, this did not mean that the people of Shu Prefecture had all recognized Ning Yu Ke as their "new king," nor did it mean that they believed "Shu State" could withstand the attack.

The reason they were so calm was simply because the war did not have a great impact on them.

Unlike in ancient times, where wars meant conscripting people from every household, the threshold for "joining the army" in the cultivation world was very high.

Apart from a small number of grain and logistics soldiers, at least 70-80% of the remaining soldiers had to be martial artists who had already entered the ranks.

About 30% of the people in the world have all eight main meridians open.

If you exclude those who give up martial arts due to extremely low talent, and most women, then only about 10% of people actually embark on the path of cultivation.

This also means that at least 90% of people do not have the most basic qualifications to "participate in the war."

To put it bluntly, there was no need to worry since they wouldn't even be able to conscript them.

As for the impact of the war on other aspects of life... Shu Prefecture was now the most peaceful place in the Great Ning Dynasty. The days were not easy in any of the other states, so where could they escape to?

Besides, they were citizens of the Great Ning Dynasty just two months ago. Even if the imperial army attacked, they probably wouldn't do anything to them.

When Shu Prefecture City was captured and the Weiyang Palace was burned down, it would just be a matter of changing back to the previous emperor. It wasn't a big deal...

With similar thoughts, most of the people in Shu Prefecture continued to do what they were doing, at most stocking up on some "affordable grain" at home to prevent food prices from soaring in the future.

I heard that grain prices in other states and counties have increased three or four times.

Thinking about it this way, the new empress seems to be quite good.

"Have you heard? The commander of the imperial court's rebellion suppression army this time is the Great General of the Nation, Han Zhao!"

They never arrested people randomly, paid for their meals and tea according to the price, and did not patrol the streets and catch thieves as perfunctorily as before.

More importantly, they were extremely kind to people.

For example, if someone misspoke during a casual chat, even if it was heard by the yamen's officers, there would not be any major trouble. At most, they would be reprimanded and fined a few copper coins.

If this had happened in the past, they would have been thrown into prison and charged with "bewitching the people and plotting rebellion."

The sun was high in the sky, and it was another sunny day.

Although it was already autumn, it was still a bit hot at noon. Some porters who had just finished their work had even taken off their sweat shirts, drinking large gulps of cool tea for one copper coin "unlimited refills" with their upper bodies bare.

When everyone was chatting excitedly, they suddenly heard a commotion from the yamen, which seemed to be accompanied by various shouts.

"What's wrong?"

Someone raised their eyes in confusion: "Why are there so many people gathered at the yamen entrance?"

"It seems that a new notice has just been posted!" An eagle-eyed person replied loudly.

"Notice?"

When the group of men heard this, they lost most of their interest.

The notice posted at this time must be related to the war, and the war was a matter for martial artists, so it had nothing to do with them.

This "reasoning" was originally correct, but as more and more people gathered at the yamen entrance, everyone became more and more curious about what was written on the notice.

Until the shouts coming from the yamen gradually became clear.

"The empress has ordered a reduction in land tax!"

"Reduction in land tax! !"

Someone ran over here shouting, the excitement on his face was beyond words.

"This old brother!"

A porter grabbed the man's arm and asked anxiously: "What's going on? What does the notice say?"

"That's not a notice!"

The ordinary-clothed man said excitedly: "That's the new policy of the Ministry of Revenue! The empress has ordered it! From today onwards, the land tax for the people of Shu will only be one in fifty!"

"One in fifty?!"

A group of porters suddenly widened their eyes: "Old brother! Are you sure you didn't see it wrong?!"

"I can't read, but the official said it himself! How could there be a mistake!"

The man smiled and pointed to the yamen entrance: "If you don't believe me, go and ask yourself!"

"..."

"Wow! !"

A group of people looked at each other for a few breaths, and then rushed to the yamen entrance like a swarm of bees.

Even the tea stall owner couldn't care about the stall, and followed behind in a hurry, just like the old men and old ladies who were eager to grab free eggs in their previous lives.

It's no wonder that these people would have such a performance, because the reduction of one in fifty was too exaggerated.

If it hadn't been seen with their own eyes and heard with their own ears, this would have been something they wouldn't even dare to dream of!

"The emperor's grace is mighty! The emperor's grace is mighty!"

The man who announced the good news watched a group of porters and peddlers run away, and after sincerely sighing twice, he continued to run forward, preparing to continue to tell more people about this great thing.

The scorching sun was still hanging high in the azure blue sky, without a cloud in sight.

Just like the dazzling golden sunlight, the haze brought to Shu Prefecture City by "the imperial court has sent troops to suppress the rebellion" was instantly dispelled by this new policy of "tax reduction."

One person told ten, and ten told a hundred. This matter spread throughout Shu Prefecture in a very short time.

Everyone praised Ning Yu Ke's benevolent governance and good deeds, and their rating of this "empress" soared by a large margin.

And many people were no longer indifferent to this war.

They hoped that Shu State could defeat the imperial army, and hoped that Ning Yu Ke could win!

Because only in this way could the new policy of one in fifty land tax continue for a long time.

This may be selfish, or short-sighted, or "forgetting righteousness for profit."

But for the common people who face the loess and turn their backs to the sky, and work diligently in the fields, their way of thinking about problems is so simple.

They don't have great ambitions such as "establishing a heart for the world, and opening up peace for all ages"; they also don't quite understand the great principles of "loyalty to the emperor and righteousness to the country, and everyone is responsible for the rise and fall of the world."

However, they do know which emperor is good to the people.

If you are good to me, I will support you.

This is actually what Mencius said, "He who wins the hearts of the people wins the world."

It is a pity that many rulers do not really understand this truth.