Li Yan smiled and arched his hand to the big businessmen, and said, "Li thanked you for your generosity. However, this can only solve the problem for a while. Moreover, Qixian County is dozens of miles in radius, and most of them are plains, so there are a lot of troops needed. You don't want to be attacked by thieves and bandits in the future, do you? ”

"What do you mean?" Zhang Dianshi frowned and asked.

Li Yan explained: "What Li means is that you will take one to two percent of your respective harvests and profits to Li, so that Li can use the money to raise soldiers, and then better protect everyone's safety, wouldn't it be better?" ”

"Isn't that?"

"That is, how is this different from a commercial tax?"

"We all pay taxes and food, how can we pay it again?"

……

The big families and businessmen frowned and objected one by one, they were very sensitive to this kind of tax and fee. In the past, the emperors sent tax collectors down, but they fought against those eunuchs. Fortunately, there are local officials who support them to rise up against the emperor's collection of taxes, even if they kill a eunuch, they can still hold it. Of course, everyone tacitly knows that these big businessmen take the lead, and the business of those officials can also benefit.

However, the current situation is a bit special, and a gang of thieves and bandits have come out. People have changed the rules, not civil fighting, but martial arts. At this time, these officials and big families were a little blind, their mouths and big truths were useful to the emperor, but they were useless to the thieves, so they had to rely on military generals.

Li Yan smiled slightly and said, "You can discuss it slowly, don't worry." ”

Zhang Dianshi whispered a few words to Su Jing, and then looked at Li Yan proudly.

Sure enough, Su Jing hesitated for a moment, and finally said, "Mr. Li, this is not appropriate." Only the imperial court can collect taxes, and you can't make mistakes! ”

Li Yan arched his hand to Su Jing and said, "County Zun, take a step to speak." With that, he invited Su Jing aside.

"County Honor." Li Yan said in a low voice: "This is not a tax, but the funds they voluntarily handed over to raise soldiers. These things, the humble position will not be all wanted, and they will be given to the county respect. At present, the imperial court assesses the performance level of the government, and all of them are based on the amount of grain and tax paid. These families usually help each other, and you can't collect a few dollars, so you put all the taxes on the ordinary people. But now that the people have all gone to be thieves, can they continue? This money and grain can not only support Li's soldiers, ensure the safety of the county, but also compensate the county for some taxes, isn't it the best of both worlds? ”

Su Jing thought for a moment and asked, "Can they be willing?" They all have backgrounds, and if they are in a hurry, I will also be affected by the fact that I am in a hurry to find their relatives. ”

Li Yan said: "This matter has nothing to do with the county honor, as long as the county honor is a witness." As for the operation of the county government, the county doesn't have to worry about it at all, isn't there still a history of Ma Dian? The humble position will also help, and there will be no problems in the affairs of the yamen. ”

Su Jing thought about it for a while and felt that it was feasible, this was a matter of benefit and no expense, he didn't have to do anything, he could sit and receive credit, why not do it? So he nodded and said: "This testimony can be done by the county, but if they don't admit it afterwards, the county will not come out." ”

"Humble duty understands."

Li Yan and Su Jing reached an agreement and returned to everyone. But Zhang Dianshi was very anxious, seeing the smoke billowing from the north, his grange was about to be trampled clean by thieves.

"Mr. Li, when can I join the army?" Zhang Dianshi asked anxiously.

Li Yan said: "As long as you can agree to Li's proposal just now, Li will send troops to the north now." Even if they chase and intercept them, they must drive the thieves away from the county border to protect the food and clothing of the brothers. ”

All the businessmen were a little reluctant, but Zhang Dianshi immediately agreed: "Okay! I promised to give you a 10% harvest every year in the future. You send troops now! ”

Li Yan shook his head and said, "If you have too little food, I can't support my soldiers." At least 20%. ”

"Yes, you can." Zhang Dianshi readily agreed. Anyway, he didn't plan to give it, even if it was more, he would agree without blinking. He is now most concerned about how much more he can harvest this year. It's all white money. Although it is a disaster year now, food is expensive, but as long as the disaster year is over, it is still worth silver.

Li Yan nodded and said, "Okay, since Zhang Dianshi agreed, then ask the county to be a witness, and let's make a note." After that, he looked at the other big businessmen and said, "Have you thought about it?" There is only Zhang Dianshi's family, but it is far from enough for me to recruit soldiers. ”

Zhang Dianshi immediately exerted his influence, lobbying and handing over to everyone. After a period of chaos, all the big businessmen present agreed to pay Li Yan a military maintenance fee, which means protection money. However, these people are all shrewd people, and they all know Zhang Dianshi's thoughts, and they all treat Li Yan as a fool. What if there is a written note? In any yamen, such a document will not be considered valid. Besides, which of them has no relatives and is an official before? These people are useless against thieves, but against the officials of the imperial court, the effect is wonderful.

Li Yan and other big businessmen reached an agreement, except for grain and vegetables, which were set at 20%, and the proportion of other things to be handed over would be discussed later.

Fortunately, Su Jing was born in Jinshi, and he would let his subordinates bring pen, ink, paper and inkstone wherever he went, so he quickly wrote the note, which was privately printed and handprinted, and it was quite complete.

Li Yan lined up the notes one by one, carefully blowing the ink on them.

"General Li, you should hurry up and send troops!" Zhang Dianshi asked anxiously. As an official, he still has a lot of experience when to pretend to be a grandson.

At this time, a personal soldier ran over and whispered a word in Li Yan's ear. Li Yan nodded, and continued to patiently dry the ink on the note.

After waiting for a while, he put away the note, arched his hand to Zhang Dianshi, and said, "Let you wait for a long time, since we have all set up the note, then Li will naturally send troops." ”

As soon as Li Yan finished speaking, a cavalryman rode over and shouted, "Attention!" The thieves are coming! Note! The thieves are coming! ”

As soon as Su Jing heard that the thieves were coming, he didn't say anything, and immediately got into his carriage and urged the coachman to hurry back to the county seat. Other big businessmen are also the same choice, even Zhang Dianshi is the same, at this time, fleeing for his life is the first, and he can't take care of anything else outside his body. Although there are nearly 1,000 troops of Li Yan here, anything can happen on the battlefield, and the safest way is to stay away from the battlefield.

Li Yan looked at the carriages on the official road and smiled contemptuously. After that, he ordered: "Let the troops get ready, those 'locusts' are coming, and behind them is our own field, and we must not let them pass!" ”