There was something strange in Wei Fuzi's heart.

Ben thought that this might be a slightly literate cavalry, but when he heard the words that he was going to lead the donkey, he felt that he was thinking too much.

So, he took two steps back.

Hang your head, wait for all these soldiers and ruffians to go in, and then close the door and stay in your own little building.

But don't provoke them.

They don't want to tear down the desks and make a fire.

That's when it happened.

Li Chenan brought Zhongli Ruoshui and the three of them to him.

Li Chenan had already taken off his armor, and he bowed to Wei Fuzi, "Old man, excuse me!" ”

Wei Fuzi was stunned, looked up, and saw that delicate face.

There was a smile on that face.

There was a hint of tiredness in the smile.

He doesn't look like a martial artist, but more like a literati.

"Ah...... The general was polite. ”

After hesitating for three breaths, Wei Fuzi also arched his hand and asked cautiously: "Dare to ask where the general came from?" ”

"We're coming from Annan Province."

"Oh...... Hearing that the Wuya Pass was opened, Wu Ning and the two countries formed an alliance...... Dare to ask the general, how is the trade between the two countries over there now? ”

Li Chenan smiled, "Old man, don't call me a general, you can just call me Xiao Li." ”

"Wuyaguan has indeed opened its doors, and the merchants of the two countries have also passed Wuyaguan to engage in commerce."

Wei Fuzi glanced at Li Chenan again.

The corner of his eye swept over the three girls beside Li Chen'an.

In the military, it is not allowed to bring family members.

The man said don't call him General...... Then he is not a man in the army.

But the number of this cavalry was not too many, but the pitch-black armor looked very powerful.

If this cavalry is protecting him, then this man's status is a bit high.

They came from Annam......

Could it be that this is the cavalry of the Red Flame Army?

His surname is Li ...... Ages and rumors...... And with three confidantes!

The young man in the back just said that he wanted to get a dog to make up for him!

Old Master Wei was shocked in his heart, and he had vaguely guessed the identity of this Li Gongzi!

As it should be.

I just heard that he is going back to Kyoto and is going to ascend the throne to become the emperor of Ningguo!

What is he doing here in the Northern Desert?

Old Master Wei thought a lot at this moment.

"Li Gongzi, if you don't dislike it, can you move to the humble house to sit?"

Li Chenan thought for a while, "Then bother!" ”

After saying this, Li Chenan turned his head and instructed Wang Zhenghaoxuan:

"You take some people to town and buy some food...... In addition, buy some firewood and quilts, so that everyone can rest for a night tonight and set off early tomorrow morning! ”

He looked at Old Master Wei again, "Please lead the way!" ”

"Li Gongzi, please!"

Old Master Wei took Li Chenan and the four of them to the upper floor.

Wang Zhenghaoxuan looked at their backs, and suddenly turned his head to look at Amu:

"Senior brother, he only told me to buy it, but he didn't give me any money...... Does that mean I'm going to grab it? ”

Amu's eyes widened suddenly:

"You go grab it!"

Wang Zhenghaoxuan spread his hands, "But I don't have any money!" ”

“…… Neither did my brother! ”

Xiao Wu walked over.

A cloth bag was taken out of his bosom.

When I opened it, there were shiny five ingots of silver!

Wang Zhenghaoxuan's eyes lit up: "Where did you get it?" ”

Xiao Wu grinned.

Reached out and handed it over.

Babbling and gesturing.

Wang Zhenghaoxuan couldn't understand, "Let's go, let's go and see what's delicious!" ”

……

……

The second floor of the gatehouse.

The light gradually dimmed, and Old Master Wei lit a lamp.

I also changed the pot of tea.

Li Chen'an and Old Master Wei sat opposite each other, and Zhongli Ruoshui and the three of them sat on Li Chen'an's left and right.

"Excuse me, old gentleman?"

"Your surname is Wei."

"Oh, Mr. Wei, if it doesn't rain in this bluestone town, how many people are on weekdays?"

Old Master Wei poured tea, smiled and shook his head: "Even if it's a weekday...... Qingshi Town is set every 369, when the market is set, there are some farmers and hunters to catch the market, but there are not many people. ”

"There are only 320 people in the town, and there are only 320 people, which can't even compare to a village in Jiangnan Province. So even this small number of shops has now vacated a lot...... No one! ”

Li Chenan nodded.

After the team entered the North Desert Road, along the way, there were indeed not a few villages, but there were many abandoned fields.

"I saw that in this land of Yingzhou, although it is mountainous, the fields below the mountain are also suitable for farming."

"I heard that the imperial court has also reduced many taxes now, at least the heavy tax that Ji Tai imposed on the people back then has been abolished, does the old gentleman know that the lives of those people here have improved now?"

Old Master Wei looked up at Li Chen'an, and became more and more sure of the identity of this son.

He pondered for a moment, stroked his goatee, and said slowly:

"I've heard some news from the outside."

"Subtracting those taxes, this is indeed a major event for the benefit of the imperial court, but it's just ......"

"Our North Desert Road is too far away from Kyoto, and it seems that the tax reduction policy has not been spread to the North Desert Road."

Li Chen'an was stunned, leaned over, and asked very seriously: "What does Elder Wei mean by this, that the entire Northern Desert Dao is still heavily taxed?" ”

Old Master Wei smiled suddenly:

"Lao Yu is a teacher, but I heard rumors that the people's taxes are still three percent of each of the two taxes...... I also heard that in places like Gangnam Province and Annam Province, which are rich, the people's tax has been reduced to two taxes of one percent each. ”

"Maybe it's because the imperial court's policy hasn't spread to the Northern Desert Dao...... If it could have come earlier, the people of the Northern Desert Road would naturally have a better life. ”

After a pause, he added: "It's better than two points!" ”

Li Chenan asked, "Why?" ”

"The emperor is far away, even if the imperial court reduces taxes, the local people are poor!"

"For example, in this humble county, the county order wants to maintain the expenses of the county government, if it depends on the tax stipulated by the imperial court...... Even if the county magistrate subsidizes all the monthly salaries issued to him by the imperial court, it is not enough! ”

"Poor!"

"The people are poor, there is no business and no workshop!"

"Even if the two taxes can be collected and handed over to the imperial court, how many copper plates can be left in this Xuhuai County?"

"This account is very simple, and the copper plates left behind can't maintain the lowest expenses in a county anyway."

"So what can be done?"

"The only way to formulate local miscellaneous taxes, such as horse tax, dog tax, chicken, duck, cattle and sheep tax, and so on!"

"No, in order not to pay these taxes, there is not even a single dog in the entire Qingshi Town, and there are not a few cattle and horses in the entire Xuhuai County."

"Farmers plough their fields without oxen, and rely on people to pull the plows."

"Transporting some local goods, there are no ox carts and horse-drawn carts, and they all rely on shoulders to resist ......."

"Anyone who has a little ability, but who has a little family background, last year left Qingshi Town the most!"

"People always yearn for a better place, and they always want to live in a fairer environment."

"As soon as they leave, the population of Humbled County will be smaller, and the county government will be even more short of silver, so there will be more miscellaneous taxes, and the people who will be left behind...... It will only be more bitter! ”

Li Chenan understood.

It's another vicious circle.

Can this be blamed on the local prefectural order?

Unless he fills his pockets, he can't really blame them.

Can this blame the people for being lazy?

Not even more!

The burden on them is only getting heavier!

But there is no escape.

There is only one result -

There are fewer and fewer people!

No one dares to have children anymore.

Because you can't afford it!

They are already alive and well, and in a few years, when they die, this bluestone town may gradually disappear.

Even Xuhuai County is afraid that it will gradually disappear.

Li Chenan got up, stood in front of the window, pushed open the window, and looked at the pouring rain outside.

He took a deep breath and picked up the pen on the desk, there was still some ink in the inkstone, and his pen fell into the ink, and then on a piece of paper:

Hillside Sheep

"The peaks and mountains are like gathering, the waves are like anger, and the mountains and rivers are on the surface of Tongguan Road.

Looking at the western capital, he hesitated.

Sad, the Qin and Han dynasties, the palace and thousands of rooms have been made of soil.

Xing, the people are bitter

Lose...... The people are bitter! ”