Qin Qi pulled Gu Xinyue by the hand, and the two stood behind the door, looking out through the crack in the door.

The people outside were prevaricating, and they heard the sound of horses' hooves, and Wei Le, the head of Zhuangzi, led a few people to ride back.

When he saw the situation at the door, he jumped off the horse, and said with a heavy face: "What is this for?" Audacious like that? Did you really rush to the door? ”

"No, uncle, no." The first middle-aged man in his early forties said, "We're really not here to make trouble, we just want to beg for food." ”

Wei Le's eyes rolled, and he glanced at Qin Qi in the crack of the door, and softened his tone: "How did you say this?" ”

"Wei Ye, Wei Ye." A tenant from the village hurriedly ran from the field and shouted, "Listen to me, listen to me!" ”

When he saw the man coming, the crowd outside dispersed a little and let the man come forward.

Panting, the tenant said to the middle-aged man: "Didn't you say that Zhuangzi is busy these times, and I'll talk about it in a few days?" ”

The middle-aged man smiled and said, "We want to wait, but we can't wait." ”

"Yes, the boss said that this year's autumn tax should be paid in advance, and said that if you still want to rent the land and plant, you have to pay the rent in advance, which we really ......" someone next to him whispered.

The tenant sighed, turned around and said: "Master Wei, that's the case, this is my distant relative, I don't have any land, I was a tenant of other people's fields, but now the rent is mentioned again and again, this year's rent, I'm afraid that all the crops harvested will not be enough, and the big guy wants to ask, do we still let the fields go out to plant in the village." ”

Since the owner and head of the Zhuangzi have changed, the Zhuangzi is completely different from other places, the same field, the harvest in the Zhuangzi is several times more than elsewhere, and the income of the tenants is also several times more, because of the tax increase, the rent in the Zhuangzi this year is also more, but it has no impact on the tenants in the Zhuangzi.

The Zhuangzi is strictly controlled, how to plant, and what is planted is not allowed to be revealed, but the tenants always have relatives and friends, and seeing that the tenants' families in the Zhuangzi are getting better and better, they are not worried about taxes at all.

In addition, the newly increased tax could no longer bear it, so some people changed their minds and asked someone to ask if they could transfer to Zhuangzi and become the tenant of this Zhuangzi.

It's just that Zhuangzi has been busy recently, and the head of the village is too busy to see anyone, and the tenants are so busy.

Unexpectedly, in just a few days, these people couldn't wait.

Wei Le looked at the group of people in front of him, frowned, and said in a deep voice: "In this way, I can't promise you this matter immediately, I have to think about it, you first leave the name, how many people in the family, where they live now, whose land they are tenants, and how much rent they have to pay." ”

He turned around and pointed to the man behind him: "Just tell him, write it down first." ”

"Wei Ye......" The middle-aged man called.

Wei Le raised his head and interrupted him, and said, "Don't worry, there are so many of you, you must let me think about it, rest assured, I won't drag you down, and I will give you an answer tomorrow." ”

"Yes, thank you Master Wei." The tenant bowed to Wei Le, and after Wei Le entered the compound, he turned around and said, "Okay, Wei Le said everything he said, tomorrow will be tomorrow, don't worry, everyone go back first." ”

The people outside followed the tenant and dispersed, Wei Le glanced back, and said to Qin Qi, who was holding Gu Xinyue's waist and snuggling on the edge of the gate, "General." ”

Qin Qi waved his hand and said with a smile: "Okay, this land is so big, where can I prevent it." ”

What's more, these people are also relatives of the tenants, and there is no malice.

"What do they mean?" Gu Xinyue asked.

Wei Le said: "I can't live anymore, I want to find a way to live." As soon as he came, he said that he would make up for the spring tax that had not been paid, and said that the imperial court would increase the tax in order to ensure the military salary and grain at the border passes, and the autumn tax was increased by three percent. ”

"Oh?" Qin Qi raised his eyebrows.

Wei Le also just knew about this matter before he had time to say it, he originally wanted to come back and told Qin Qi, didn't he just be sent to deal with Gu Sanlang again.

Being looked at by Qin Qi with such a smile, he didn't care that Gu Xinyue was still there, Wei Le hurriedly said: "This new autumn tax regulation was also just issued a few days ago, we have a big Zhuangzi here, and we have the tax-free documents given by Lord Wei, so the yamen did not send it to us directly, but sent it to those merchants and farmers first." ”

This Jingdong Road Zhuangzi abounds, all of which are owned by the nobles and ministers of the capital or the local big households.

Those who have meritorious names have a share of tax exemption, and although the tax increase has an impact, it is much less than that of those who do not have tax exemptions.

Wei Le thought for a while and continued: "According to the usual practice, after those fields are planted by people, all the field taxes are also placed in the rent, and now the autumn tax is also put into the field rent by those people, and the tenants have to make up for it, but because there is too much addition, it is that this year's wind and rain are smooth, and the harvest is good, it is estimated that after paying the rent, those tenants will not have much left, not to mention, this is not the first time, and it will be the case after hearing about it." ”

"What about the peasants? Even if you have your own land, can you keep something to eat? Gu Xinyue frowned slightly and asked.

Wei Le shook his head and said: "It's difficult, when I went out to ask first, I heard that an acre of land costs seven dollars and five silver, this is still an autumn tax, plus a spring tax, an acre of land has to cost more than one or two or three yuan, and the field outside is only this amount of income a year, if there is some loss, even the rations will not be left." ”

"Something will happen." Gu Xinyue looked up at Qin Qidao.

Qin Qi's face was also a little heavy, but more thoughtful.

Hearing Gu Xinyue's words, she lowered her head, pecked her lightly on the lips, and said, "Girl, you go and settle the account with Zisu, and hurry up to transport the goods out while it is still dark." ”

Gu Xinyue sighed, didn't say any more, and ran towards Yuan Zisu and Qinglianzi.

"General, I have already told Gu Sanlang and the boy of the Tong family about that, I don't think Gu Sanlang will dare to make any ideas, and the boy of the Tong family is a little difficult to say." As soon as Gu Xinyue left, Wei Le said in a low voice.

"Well, you can send someone to keep an eye on it." Qin Qi replied casually, and saw Gu Xinyue pushing Yuan Zisu into the house, hooked Wei Le's shoulder, and took him to the yin corner next to him.

"I remember you said that two hundred miles away from here, there is a cottage?" Qin Qi asked in a low voice.

"Well, it's also a bunch of bitter men, and they can't survive anymore, so ...... General you? ”

"The people of Jingdong Road are fierce, and now the government is not going to do it, so the tax is raised, I am afraid that not to mention the ordinary people, even the Yin Shi people will not be able to survive." Qin Qi twisted his head, lowered his voice and said: "What about us, we all have a conscience, but what we can help is limited, even if we give away all the fields in the hands of the brothers, we can't solve anything, only to give them a pointer, here, it's not far from Taihang Mountain." ”

Wei Lemu thought for a while, and suddenly said: "I understand, don't worry!" ”

"It's just right, this time we need people to collect and transport grain, and it's no problem to let some fields out, but remember, we have nothing to do with those things." Qin Qi patted him on the shoulder, turned his head and walked towards the house.