The Reborn Wife is Farming

Chapter 551 Tax Increase

The guard ran in excitedly and said excitedly, "Fourth grandma, the general and the others have attacked Lin'an City."

"So fast?"

The guard nodded excitedly, "The news from Baili said that Mr. Biao instigated a group of imperial guards and asked them to open the city gate."

"What about the second prince?"

The guard regretted, "The second prince and Prime Minister Qin ran away from another city gate. Because they were covered by Xixia cavalry, they couldn't pursue them to the end. But if they occupy Lin'an City, the general can ascend the throne, right?"

"Isn't enthronement quite a target at this time? In my opinion, it's more important to put down the war first."

At this time, Rong Xuan was also talking to Qi Xiuyuan about assessing the war first and then ascending the throne, otherwise they would occupy Lin'an City and ascend the throne as emperor, and they would become the target of public criticism.

Qi Xiuyuan agreed, "The Xixia army has not retreated for a long time. It seems that the progress of Jin Kingdom is not very smooth. I don't want to recall Haoran, so I let him toss around the border. The second prince is still in the hands of the Xixia people. I will kill him. Only at ease."

Rong Xuan responded and asked, "Do you want to bring Madam and Ah Ling back to Lin'an City?"

Qi Xiuyuan thought for a while, then shook his head and said, "Let them stay there, it's safer."

Li Jinghua, who was excitedly waiting to return to Beijing, was a little discouraged when she received the news. Mu Yangling comforted her and said, "Brother is also thinking about our safety. When the world is stable, he will definitely come to pick you up."

Li Jinghua said a little depressed: "I don't know when the world will be stable."

"I don't know when the world will be stable. The servants only know that if the eldest grandma and the fourth grandma don't care about it, the place where we live will also be unstable."

The two looked up at Chen Ming's family and asked, "How do you say that?"

Chen Ming's family sighed and said: "How else can we say that the world is in chaos. In the past, no matter how corrupt the officials were, they would always give us a way to survive, but now we can't. The county magistrate has raised the tax by 30% like crazy. Now It's time to get autumn grain, and our folks from ten miles and eight towns don't have enough food even if they hand in all the grain. Now there are people selling iron everywhere outside, and our small village is also trying to sell their daughters these days. Those who don’t have daughters have to sell their sons, and our family still goes to the town to buy meat every day, and buy some fine grains from time to time, but many people are watching.”

Mu Yangling's eyes widened, "Well, the situation has deteriorated to this point, why didn't you say it earlier?"

"Isn't it that you and grandma are both worried about things in the capital? We, the head of the family, didn't expect the situation to turn so bad. Our ancestors lived here, and there has been no such thing for hundreds of years. The rent and tax are the worst. It's still the military salary that was apportioned once, but it's not as heavy as the tax..."

Chen Ming's family said again: "Our place is pretty good. I heard that the peasants in another town are even more miserable. Not only do they have to pay the imperial court's rent and tax, but also the landlord has raised the rent for those who have land. Even if you sell all your children, you may not be able to make enough money, they all lost their homes and went out as refugees."

Mu Yangling and Li Jinghua looked at each other, Li Jinghua hesitated and said: "Why don't you ask Chen Ming to restrain himself, and don't forget to go to town, Ah Ling, didn't you ask someone to raise chickens and ducks in the front yard? They are also older right?"

"Sister-in-law, that bit of chicken and duck isn't enough to fit between the teeth. If it's just us, it's okay to eat more vegetables. Xiaobao and Xiaoxiong are still growing, but they can't lack their food and clothing. Also, Xiaobao still has food and vegetables. I’m taking care of my body, some ingredients have to be bought fresh.”

"Then, let's find a way to help, otherwise if there is chaos here, our family may be the first to be hit."

Their family is the richest in several nearby villages.

Mu Yangling thought for a while, shook his head, and said, "No, let's not say that we can't produce so much food, but if we can, and help a few nearby villages, people in other villages and towns may rush over."

"Then what should we do? Move?"

Mu Yangling looked at Xiaobao and shook his head slightly. Xiaobao was not in good health. He had been ill the last time he came here from Lin'an City. If he moved again, he might get sick again. She can find a relatively stable place, and if she moves again, how can there be a safer place?

Mu Yangling patted her hand and said: "Sister-in-law, don't worry, the situation is not the worst yet, see the situation before deciding whether to move or not."

Li Jinghua didn't really want to move, so she could only suppress her temper and continue to wait.

Mu Yangling turned around but looked for the guards, and asked them to check the magistrate of the county and get first-hand evidence of the crime. The guards said: "This thing was still useful two years ago. Now that the world is in chaos, who cares about it? Fourth grandma, this Evidence is of no use."

"Then what do you say?"

"It's better to cut off the county magistrate and execute the law on the spot." The guard muttered.

Mu Yangling's eyes lit up, he knocked on the table and said, "This is a good idea."

The guard stammered and said, "Subordinate, this subordinate is just talking."

Mu Yangling glanced at him and said, "I didn't tell you to do it."

Mu Yangling turned around and wrote a letter to Baili, assassinating or something, this kind of thing should be done by Baili, and there must be no trace.

Within two days, before the tax and food of the villagers had been sent to the county seat, several notices were posted at the gate of the city, stating that this year's tax was exempted, and it was stamped with the seal of the county magistrate.

The people in the whole county were in an uproar. The first feeling was that they didn't believe it. After confirming that the seal was correct, they happily spread the news.

Even the remote mountain village where Mu Yangling and the others lived heard the news in the afternoon. Naturally, the news was brought back by Chen Ming who often ran to the town.

Not to mention that the villagers didn't believe it, even Li Zheng and the village head didn't believe it. They came to the mansion to ask Chen Ming, and Chen Ming swore to the sky, "It's true, the gate of the county is stuck, and many big families in the village say so."

"It shouldn't be, why did the county magistrate suddenly exempt from tax?" Li Zheng and the village head were puzzled.

Chen Ming said indifferently: "Whatever why, anyway, our village doesn't need to sell children and women, and we don't need to starve to death."

Li Zheng and the village head were still a little worried, "If this is fake news, I'm afraid the big guys will have a lot of fun."

"It shouldn't be possible. The county magistrate's seal is stamped, and he can still go back on what he says?" Chen Ming also hesitated.

But no matter what the truth is, the preparations for the autumn tax slowed down, and those who originally wanted to sell their sons and daughters also stopped their actions and began to wait and see.

As a result, within two days, Chen Ming brought back another news, "The county magistrate died, and someone wiped his neck at home. It is said that the announcement was written by the murderer."

The village chief was stunned, and hurriedly asked: "Does the announcement count?"

Chen Ming shook his head, "There is no certainty in the county. Since we are not sure, let's not send it away, otherwise the food will be wasted."

"Then, your boss didn't send it?" The villagers all looked at Chen Ming inquiringly.

Chen Ming shook his head again and again, "No delivery."

As soon as these words came out, everyone's hearts instantly settled down, and they decided to wait and see.

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