The two discussed for a long time, but because they were too attentive, they didn't realize that Yuan Rang was also listening to them for a long time.

It wasn't until the two of them fell silent that Yuan Rang couldn't hold back his curiosity and asked out loud: "Yuan Ji, Li Laiheng, what is the third point?"

This question frightened Shi Yuanji, and he almost jumped up from the stone: "Senior brother, when did you come?"

"I've been here to listen to you. Yuan Rang spread his hands, his expression was very innocent. "I still don't understand what the third point is. And, what does the weight of the tax have to do with the cattle being stolen?"

Shi Yuanji patiently explained: "The tax is too heavy, once the tax is apportioned, you have to sell cattle if you can't afford it." As soon as the cattle are sold, how much grain can be harvested by relying on people to pull the plows? The land cannot be planted, so they can only abandon the fields and flee the famine. ”

"But if people flee and the taxes are still there, they have to pay for them together, and the more people who flee, the heavier the taxes will be for those who do not flee, and the heavier the taxes, the more people will flee. ”

"Some people don't want to run away, so they have bad intentions, so they steal other people's cattle. But after stealing cattle, buying money, and paying this year's taxes, I still can't pay taxes next year, and I still have to flee the famine. ”

Although Yuan Rang is a slave of the Yuan family, he only replaced the real Yuan Rang when he went to Chengyun Pavilion, but after all, he grew up in a big family, and he still doesn't know much about folk affairs.

After listening to Shi Yuanji's story, he had some understanding, but he still had some doubts in his mind, so he asked again: "Why don't the people who fled the famine sell their land? ”

Li Laiheng laughed and replied: "Young Master Yuan, if you buy the land, you will also buy the taxes home, will you buy it? Now the field is the root and seedling of trouble, and no one wants it." ”

Seeing Li Laiheng's disdainful tone, Shi Yuanji, who knew Yuan Rang's identity, was a little dissatisfied: "Li Laiheng, how can you talk to my senior brother?"

Seeing Shi Yuanji's reproach, Li Laiheng had no choice but to laugh angrily: "I was wrong, don't blame the master." But his expression didn't look like he was admitting his mistake at all.

Yuan Rang didn't care about Li Laiheng's attitude at all, but thought about it seriously: "Yuan Ji, you're right. The tax system of this dynasty came from the first emperor, but the first emperor was fighting with the western goblins, and the high tax is understandable. But now that there is no war, and taxes are still collected like this, this is not right. ”

"Yuanji, you can enter and exit Xingqing Mountain, if it is possible to advise Your Majesty to reform the tax system. Otherwise, the number of displaced people will only increase. ”

Shi Yuanji nodded: "This is a method of drawing salary from the bottom of the kettle, I will do it." Senior brother, you have time to help me look at the dragon pattern arrangement on the fountain. You know, I'm not from the spirit department, so I'm afraid something will go wrong. ”

"Simple, I'll go now. Yuan Rang was very happy, this is his specialty.

Looking at Yuan Rang's back as he drifted away, Li Laiheng snorted lightly: "It's worthy of being a child of the Eight Pillars National Clan, it's really ...... Hehe. ”

"Li Laiheng, if my senior brother is really the kind of person you think, based on your attitude just now, you would have been abolished by him with an excuse. Shi Yuanji looked at him coldly and said.

Li Laiheng nodded, not daring to refute the matter, so he had to change the topic: "Master, now I can play a role." ”

Shi Yuanji let out a long sigh: "To tell you the truth, I don't want to take this step. ”

"Master, as the old saying goes, cutting off a person's wealth is like killing a person's parents. But in my opinion, it is better to cut off people's money than to kill their parents. Li Laiheng's eyes were cold, and he said predictively. "If you want to change the tax system, if you want to let the royal family annex the land, or if you don't let the Eight Pillars enjoy special privileges, will they agree?"

"They will only try to buy you first, and the purchase will not make a threat, and the threat will not kill you. ”

"I know. Shi Yuanji spoke softly and didn't care.

Li Laiheng saw Shi Yuanji's look at life and death, he was a little dazed, and he was at a loss for a while.

Shi Yuanji smiled and asked mysteriously, "When I quarreled with Nuying, how many things did you hear?"

"This, hehe. Li Laiheng's heart was weak, and he saw cold sweat on his forehead, he couldn't say that he heard everything. "That is, what is the red moon, Wangshu, the gods, the white dragon prince and the like. ”

"If you want me to say, master, you have to live in harmony with your wife. Utilitarianly speaking, Madame is powerful, and the royal family and the Eight Pillars Kingdom will not dare to touch you when they see her. ”

He covered his forehead and pondered for a long time before saying, "This is called a fox and a fake tiger." ”

"What kind of fox fake tiger might, can you use words, this is called driving the tiger and devouring the wolf. Shi Yuanji couldn't laugh or cry when Li Laiheng said.

Li Laiheng said with a smile: "From a man's point of view, Mrs. is a generation of beautiful women, you have to cherish it." But I'm a little curious, who is Wangshu, is he better looking than Madame?"

Shi Yuanji nervously looked around at the sky and confirmed that Nuying was not around, and then breathed a sigh of relief: "What are you talking about? I have nothing to do with Wangshu." ”

"Well, master, I believe in you, hehe. Li Laiheng smiled very obscenely, obviously not believing.

Li Laiheng struck while the iron was hot: "Master, don't you let me be a guard to help you build an army?"

"Now it seems that Your Majesty is right when he says that I do need an army. Shi Yuanji looked at the busy villagers and nodded in acknowledgement. "But my army has three demands. ”

"The first is to absorb the displaced people, give them land to plant, let them settle down, and there will be military rations. During this period, this army put pressure on the royal family to reduce rent and interest, and even hand over more land. ”

"The second is to eradicate illiteracy in the army, so that everyone can read and learn simple dragon patterns. As for the teachers who teach, a small part is served by those low-level royal children and down-and-out children of the Eight Pillars Kingdom who want to join us, and the other part is served by those prospective students who have failed to make the list. ”

When Li Laiheng heard this, his eyes widened, and he said in surprise: "Master, you have been planning for a long time, right?

Shi Yuanji pretended to be angry and said: "What has been planned for a long time, this is called foresight. ”

"Third, at most five years, at least three years, mortals will have a great war with the goblins. This great war is essentially the invasion of the Heavenly Wolf against Pangutian, so this army must have its own arsenal, make sufficient weapons, and be able to fight and fight big battles. ”

Li Laiheng looked serious, pointed at the blue sky and said: "I can guarantee this matter, and I must guarantee it." But you must let those students who fail to come to the arsenal, without their technical support, it will definitely not work. ”

"Moreover, with the factory, those displaced people have work to do, food to eat, and they will not starve to death. ”

Shi Yuanji smiled slightly: "Don't worry, I don't know about other students, but my senior brother and sister will definitely help you, especially Yuan Rang." After that, it is the best policy to recruit students who have failed to make the list. ”

Li Laiheng nodded suspiciously.

"Master, you have to do something before that. Otherwise, the people of Xiaoyu Village would have to flee the famine. He thought for a moment and said solemnly.

"Tell me about it. Shi Yuanji asked curiously.

"Now that there is a canal, the grain production of Xiaoyu Village is not worried, but the government of Haitang Town is not easy to get along with. Lee Rae-hyung told his thoughts.

"The government may take the opportunity to raise taxes to cover other shortfalls. When the time comes, will the people of Xiaoyu Village still be able to pay taxes?"

Shi Yuanji said suspiciously: "The current county order is still Li Yao, does he dare to go so far?"

Li Laiheng sighed and said: "Master, the county lord has been in the cold for ten years, and he has been seeking officials for thousands of miles, what is it for, isn't it just money." ”

"They just don't care if the town's taxes are paid on time, so that their boss doesn't blame him, and they fill their little coffers. As for whether the common people can flee or not, and whether the fields are barren or not, they don't care. ”

"If you want me to say, you have to take advantage of the power of Princess Evian to go to Ding's house and let them reduce rent and interest. Then, it is a good policy to go to Li Yao's to put pressure on him to collect less taxes. ”

"You're right, but before that, I have to ask Your Majesty to reduce taxes, and I can't do it like this anymore. Shi Yuanji said.

Li Laiheng asked suspiciously: "The little emperor is far away in Fengho, the Central Plains, you write to him and ask him to reduce taxes, when will there be results?"

Shi Yuanji didn't answer him, but just said to a forest on the left: "I don't know which star monarch it is, can you come out to meet?"

In the shadow of that dense forest, a shadow slowly floated to Shi Yuanji's side, revealing its original form: "Master Hou, Kui Wood Wolf listens to your dispatch, do you write a handwritten letter or do we ghostwrite?"

"Your Majesty knows all about my situation here, right?" Shi Yuanji smiled slightly, but it made Kui Mu Wolf feel a chill in his back. "Just tell Your Majesty exactly what I said to Li Laiheng, and I'm sure Your Majesty will consider it. ”

Kui Mu Wolf lowered his head, did not dare to look directly at Shi Yuanji, and said solemnly: "I will obey the will of the Hou Ye below." With that, he turned into a shadow and vanished.

"The little emperor I just said won't be reported by him, right?" Li Laiheng covered his mouth, very afraid.

Shi Yuanji smiled without saying a word, quite gloating, and then took a step towards Jinwuguan.