"Hmm?" The young man frowned and waved his hand. He was already on his guard. If he really wanted to get both of them, then he would have to start a massacre.
"Hehe, don't worry. I won't kill you. If I kill you, how can I get the money? Not only will I not kill you, but I will also give you jobs and farmland so that you won't starve to death!" The Commander-in-Chief of City Gates said to Liu Mang and the others with a smile.
"Give us farmland?" The young man was even more confused. This Commander-in-Chief of City Gates was obviously up to no good. Why would he give them farmland so easily?
"My Lord, let's kill our way out," the scarred man said to the young man.
"No!" The young man shook his head. If he could avoid fighting, he would try his best not to. No matter what, these people were considered his "own people." If he killed his own people, wouldn't it be a joke to the enemy?
"Then, my Lord, let's reveal our identities," the scarred man suggested again.
"Don't be impatient." The young man didn't want to fight because he was afraid that his identity would be exposed. Once his identity was exposed, he would have to return to Shouchun even if he didn't want to. He still didn't know how to face them in Shouchun.
What's more, the young man looked at the people around him and the words of the Commander-in-Chief of City Gates. A few key words made the young man ponder deeply. Farmland? Heads? Money? The young man seemed to have thought of something, but he wasn't sure.
"General, let me arrange for my wife before I go with you," the young man said to the Commander-in-Chief of City Gates.
"Go, go, go!" The Commander-in-Chief of City Gates gave him face because he saw his wife. Although he couldn't see her face clearly because it was covered by a cloth, he could see her skin color clearly. It was dark yellow. With one look, he knew that she was a country woman. She wasn't in the eyes of the Commander-in-Chief of City Gates at all. The ancient people had always regarded white as beauty. They didn't have a healthy bronze skin because only the women of rich families would live in seclusion. As long as such a woman didn't have a congenital dark complexion, then she was Baizhi's.
Those women who were exposed to the public would naturally be tanned by the sun in order to make a living. Once they saw this dark skin, they would lose interest.
"Husband, I'll go with you!" The woman with a veil covering her face said.
"You stay here! I'll be right back! With the two of them protecting me, what can possibly happen to me? "The young man arranged the woman and left with the Commander-in-Chief Of City Gates.
"General, where are we going?" The young man couldn't help but ask because they were heading out of the city. Along the way, they stopped for a while and more people joined the group.
"Naturally, I'm going to a good place!" The Commander-in-Chief Of City Gates was happy that the money was going to be in his hands, and the young men were willing to cooperate with him. His attitude also improved.
Soon, a large camp appeared in front of the young man.
"Hmm?" The camp was very large, but there weren't soldiers inside. Instead, there were a group of people in ragged clothes. Where was this place?
"Alright! We're here! " The Commander-in-Chief of City Gates dismounted from his horse. Guo Yi took the horses of the young man and the others and rode the good horse. He was in a good mood and let the Commander-in-Chief of City Gates ride the bad horse first.
"Oh, isn't this Commandant Hao? What brings Commandant Hao here? " The Commander-in-Chief of City Gates's surname was Hao. He was originally a scoundrel who liked to wander around the city and cause trouble. He was imprisoned many times. However, because he was familiar with some people from the Guo family, he was released not long after he was imprisoned. Later, when Xinye City changed from Jingzhou to Yangzhou, the original guards were transferred back to Jingzhou by Liu Biao. Xinye naturally needed people to guard it again, so the governor recruited local soldiers. Hao Liu originally wanted to get a salary to pass the time, so he joined the guards of Xinye City. Xinye City originally wasn't under the control of the Guo family.
The Guo family was originally a small noble family in Xinye City. Their family's property wasn't much. The only high official in the family was Guo Yi, a county under Xinye City. However, because Xinye belonged to Yangzhou, many nobles in Jingzhou migrated. After all, Liu Mang's reputation was still there. He killed all the nobles in Wancheng City.
Therefore, even if Yangzhou and Jingzhou were allies, most of the nobles withdrew from Xinye and went to Jingzhou.
The Guo family was only a small noble family. They originally had a county official position in Xinye. If they left Xinye, no one would give them an official position in Jingzhou. Therefore, they could only stay in Xinye and wait for the new master's arrangement.
It could be said that the Guo family's ancestral grave was smoking. Most of the nobles left Xinye, creating a large power vacuum in Xinye.
Xinye's Governor Liu Qi had requested for more officials from Yangzhou's Shouchun. However, Xu Shu, the military advisor in Yangzhou, did not have enough officials in Yangzhou. How could he send more people to fill up Xinye? Thus, Liu Qi could only choose someone who was better. This Guo family had risen from a small county to a Lieutenant in Xinye City. The Guo family's status had also doubled. This was because Hao Liu was related to the Guo family.
This was how he changed from a ruffian to a Commander-in-Chief Of City Gates. His identity changed, but his nature didn't change.
"What do you mean by 'wind'? Of course, I'm here to give you money!" Hao Liu still had to be respectful to such an official whose rank was lower than his. After all, they were all after money.
"How much is it this time?" Old Xu was very happy to see Hao Liu. Naturally, he felt good when someone gave him money.
"A total of 32 people. Same as before, you get 20%!" Hao Liu got off his horse and pointed at the 32 men behind him.
"20%? Haha, Commander-in-Chief Hao, this won't do! "Old Xu shook his head.
"Wasn't it 20% in the past?" Hao Liu frowned and said. Two levels was not low. Each person had three mu of farmland. 32 people would have 96 mu of farmland. Two levels was almost 20 mu of farmland. It was not a small amount. 20 mu of farmland would be worth several gold coins.
"How can the past be compared to now?" Old Xu curled his lips and said. In the past, Old Xu was willing to take 20% or even 10% because Xinye and Yangzhou were too close. When Yangzhou and Jingzhou were at odds, no one wanted the farmland in Xinye. Even if it was good farmland, it wasn't worth much. They were afraid that Jingzhou would attack them. Therefore, 20% or even 10% was acceptable.
But now, Yangzhou's army had become the overlord of the Yangtze River. Jingzhou couldn't even protect itself now. How could they attack Yangzhou? Therefore, 20% was not acceptable.
"Commander-in-Chief Hao, you have to know that we are risking our lives!" Old Xu continued.
"Alright, alright, tell me how much you want!" Hao Liu was very dissatisfied. Risking their lives? If you were afraid, why didn't you do it earlier? If you wanted to kill me, you would have already been cut to pieces. This time wouldn't make a difference.
"This amount!" Old Xu smiled and stretched out five fingers.
"50%? Haha, Old Xu, go ahead and snatch it!" Hao Liu was so angry that he laughed. 50%. If Old Xu took 50%, he, Hao Liu, would go hungry.
"Then I can't do anything!" Old Xu said to Hao Liu.
"Old Xu, we have already done it so many times. 50% is impossible! I don't believe that you, Old Xu, will not do business! How about this, 25%! "
"45%!" Old Xu also lowered the price. Hao Liu was right. Why would he not do business if there was a chance? He, Old Xu, did not have anything against money.
"30%!" Hao Liu gritted his teeth and raised the price.
"40%!" Old Xu also lowered his request.
"Old Xu, 35%. If it's any higher, then there's no point in doing business." Hao Liu composed himself and said. If it was more than 35%, then he, Hao Liu, would not be able to earn much. Instead of risking his life, he might as well not do business. However, cutting off one's path to wealth was like killing one's parents. Hao Liu's eyes showed slight dissatisfaction. If Old Xu cut off his path to wealth, then he, Hao Liu, naturally had a way to stop Old Xu.
"Alright, alright, alright. On account of you, Commander-in-Chief Hao, I'll give you 35%!" Old Xu was not an ignorant person. He knew what it meant to be a person who could not accomplish anything but was good at ruining things. Hao Liu was such a person. If you wanted to rely on him to do things, then it was basically impossible. However, if he wanted to ruin your business, then he could think of ways to do so.
Therefore, Old Xu did not want to offend Hao Liu too much. He could still earn 35%.
"32 people! Old Xu, watch carefully! Come, come, come, all of you come here for this general! "Hao Liu shouted to his subordinates.
The young man looked at the ragged commoners around him. All of them had dull eyes. Under the push of Hao Liu's subordinates, they walked towards Old Xu.
In front of Old Xu was a table. On the table were some books and a pen stained with ink.
"What's your name? Where are you from?" Old Xu opened a blank book and asked the first commoner who came over.
"This lowly one is called Gousheng. I'm from Yuzhou!" Old Xu asked and answered. Then, Old Xu wrote Gousheng's name on the book. There was also a person from Yuzhou. He looked at Gousheng and wrote another sentence. There was a mole below his lips, and his eyes were big and lifeless. This was Gousheng's current appearance.
Old Xu was already used to the name Gousheng. In chaotic times, people's lives were cheap. They often did not have enough to eat or died in the chaos of war. Therefore, in order to let their descendants live, the commoners came up with some ugly names, such as Goudan, Gousheng, and so on. They thought that if they were cheap, the heavens would not send them to heaven (which meant death).
The young man wanted to ask something, but no one answered him. The people around the young man all had lifeless eyes.
Soon, he arrived in front of the young man.
"What's your name?" Old Xu asked.
"Me, me!" The young man hesitated for a moment. With this delay, Old Xu could not help but raise his head. "I'm asking you a question. What's your name?"
"My name is, yes! My surname is Han, my name is Yang, "the young man said to Old Xu.
"Han Yang?" Old Xu could not help but take a few more glances. Generally speaking, commoners had many cheap names, especially these refugees. There were quite a lot of Gousheng and Goudan. Old Xu was a little unaccustomed to the sudden appearance of a normal one. However, Old Xu still wrote Han Yang, someone from Xuzhou.
"Next one!"
"My surname is Guan, my name is Hai! I'm also from Xuzhou. "
"My name is Zhou Cang! I'm with them! " Soon, most of the people were finished registering. Under Old Xu's command, these people were put into the camp. There were many commoners in the camp. After a careful count, there were at least thousands of people.
"Another batch has come!" Seeing the young man and the others enter, the group of commoners who had been in the camp for a long time could not help but shake their heads. It was unknown whether they were feeling pity, gloating, or sympathizing with each other.
"Hey, uncle, what's going on here? Why are there so many commoners in this camp?" The young man seized the opportunity to ask a commoner who had been in the camp for a long time while Old Xu was still registering people.
"Big brother, don't call me uncle. I'm not much older than you. I'm only 20 this year, "the man who was caught by the young man said.
"Haha, sorry, sorry!" The young man was a little embarrassed. He was not considered an uncle at this age, but he looked a little too old. However, the young man did not care about it. "What's going on here, Old Xu? And these commoners! "
"Don't you know that Old Xu is here? That Old Xu is here to distribute the fertile land to you! "The" uncle "explained.
"Distribute the fertile land?"
"Didn't you come from outside? As long as you enter the territory of Yangzhou, you can apply to the Yangzhou government for the fertile land with your head! One person will get three mu of farmland, "the uncle continued. The young man finally understood what a head was.
"En!" The young man nodded. He remembered that there was such a thing. In order to attract more common people to Yangzhou, Yangzhou was originally a rich place due to his father-in-law Yuan Shu's wanton squandering. Therefore, in order to fill the vacancy of the common people, he issued various policies to welcome the refugees to Yangzhou. One head could be exchanged for three mu of farmland, and a 30% tax. The tax policy was much better than any other state in the world. These years, Yangzhou had become popular again.
"Three mu of farmland per person and 30% of the taxes!" The man who was called uncle said with a longing expression. However, he shook his head and said, "What a pity, what a pity!"
"En?" Looking at the uncle, the young man was confused. "What's wrong? 30% of the taxes is too much? " The young man was confused. He did not know much about agricultural taxes. In his era, farmers did not need to pay taxes and the state even subsidized them. The 30% figure he had given back then was based on the other states.
"Too much? Haha, of course not! How can there be such a great benefit in this world? Each of them will be given three mu of fertile land! "
"What's wrong?"
"The main problem is, how can commoners like us get the three mu of farmland and 30% of the taxes!" The uncle shook his head. "You were cheated! Sigh! "The uncle looked at the young man and the others with pity.
"I knew that His Highness, the King Of Shu, would not be so kind. It's all a lie! "
"How can you say that!" The scarred man was angry.
"Go away!" Guan Hai's appearance gave the uncle a fright. However, when he heard the young man reprimand the scarred man, he patted his chest and said, "Why are you being so fierce? We're all the same! "
"How did His Highness, the King Of Shu, lie? Brother, can you tell us? "The young man continued to ask.
"Do I need to tell you? You'll know soon enough. "The uncle pursed his lips.
"Come, come, come!" Come over quickly. "Hao Liu hadn't left yet and shouted loudly.
"He's calling for you!" The uncle said to the young man and the others.
"Let's go and take a look!" The young man walked over.
"Let me tell you a piece of good news." Hao Liu said to the 32 men who had just been sent over. "From today onwards, you are all commoners of Yangzhou."
The young man felt a little awkward when he heard that.
"Listen, His Highness, the King Of Shu, is generous. Now, each of you will have three mu of fertile land!" Hao Liu continued.
Upon hearing Hao Liu's words, the eyes of the citizens, who were originally in a daze, immediately lit up. What did the citizens want the most? Wasn't it land? Only with land could they plant crops and fill their stomachs so that they would not starve to death?
"Of course, these three mu of land are not for you! It's for you to rent. "Hao Liu continued to speak loudly.
"Rent?" The young man thought for a while.
The uncle revealed a disdainful smile.
"You also know about our Yangzhou's tax, 30%, 30% tax! As long as you farm properly, you will naturally be able to eat your fill! You will even have extra food to exchange for money to buy things for your family. "
A 30% tax was very tempting. It seems like one mu of land could produce 300 to 400 jin of grain. If they were to follow the 30% tax, then they would be able to get 210 jin of grain. Three mu of land would be more than 600 jin, which was enough for them to eat.
"Come, come, come. As long as you sign this, you will have land to farm." Hao Liu said to everyone. "Old Xu, get the things!"
Old Xu nodded his head and quickly got someone to take out a few dozen pieces of straw paper from the tent.
"One for each person. This is your household registration. As long as you put your palm print on it, you will be a commoner of Yangzhou." Hao Liu's soldiers distributed the papers.
The young man also got a copy. After opening it, he finally understood why Hao Liu said that the land was rented.
It was because what was written on the paper was not a household registration. The household registration should be what Old Xu's men had recorded. Now, the papers in the hands of the young man and the others were a slave contract. The young man also took out the papers in the hands of the scar-faced man and the burly man. They were basically the same thing, but the names were changed a little. Zhou Cang was changed to Guan Hai, and Li Er was changed to Wang Er Mazi.
It was written that they were willing to sell their three mu of land to Hao Liu for 5,000 gold coins. After that, it was written that they were renting the land to the Hao Family. It was written that in the first year, 30% of the land would be handed over to the Hao Family. In the second year, 10% would be added, until it reached 60%.
"Haha!" The young man looked at the paper and laughed. There was really a policy from above and a countermeasure from below. He had relied on the 30% tax and the 30% policy to attract the commoners to settle down in Yangzhou. He did not expect that someone would have this idea.
This Hao Liu was really smart. He did not directly seize the land. Instead, he relied on the deed to get the land. Even if someone found out in the future, he could deny it. After all, he bought the land with money. It was written in black and white. You even put your fingerprint on it. How could it be fake? Hao Liu also did not force you. The 30% tax in the first year was to let you taste the sweetness. When you first came to Yangzhou, you were poor and barefoot. Hao Liu was also afraid that these refugees would riot, so the tax in the first year was 30%.
In the third year, the tax will rise to 50%. You won't be able to eat your fill, but at least you will be able to eat your fill. In the fourth year, the tax will rise to 60%. You won't be able to eat your fill, but at least you won't starve to death. In addition, you have been in Yangzhou for a long time. You went from being barefooted to wearing shoes. Now that you have a small family property, you won't be able to directly abandon all of it. The young man had seen too many commoners in this world. These commoners were really the type of cockroaches. They were very patient. As long as you didn't go overboard and didn't force them into a corner, they would really endure as much as they could. They would definitely be as docile as a lamb, diligently eating grass and waiting for you to slaughter them.
This Hao Liu and Old Xu grasped this characteristic and became popular in Yangzhou's big policy. Don't underestimate the three mu of land. One person had three mu of land. In this camp, there were at least thousands of people. This was equivalent to thousands of mu of land. The value of this was not small.
"You, aren't you selling the title deed?!" Among the 32 people, there were actually other literate people besides the young man. The young man could not help but turn his head.
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