"We escorted Li Dongzhu all the way back. Along the way, every time we met a citizen, Li Dongzhu would help them.
Among the citizens, we occasionally saw people from Lantian County. They said that Lantian County collects a poll tax, 500 coins per person, for five years.
Furthermore, the government also collects taxes from other counties. If you are too slow, you will be blocked and your family will suffer.
Li Dongzhu wrote a letter to us and delivered it to Zhuangzi's steward, Song De. I do not know what is written in the letter. "
The Winged Knights' men were reporting to Li Longji. The three ministers were listening.
Li Longji heard the report and said, "Good, good tax. Poll tax, I like this name. Poll tax, go investigate."
The last two words were said to Gao Lishi. Gao Lishi bowed, indicating that he understood.
"I request to write a letter." Yao Chong stood up and said angrily.
"Let's wait and see how Li Yi does it. I have never seen him do anything to anyone. He has no real power and cannot interfere with local affairs. He only has the right to write a letter of impeachment."
Li Longji refused to let Yao Chong do anything. He was curious. What would Li Yi do?
"Li Yi will not impeach local officials." Zhang Shuo stood up and said.
He knew Li Yi quite well. Li Yi hated evil as if it was his enemy.
According to the Winged Knights, Li Yi would give things to other people. If they were not feeling well, they would be checked.
With Li Yi by his side, Nie Tian's return trip was especially smooth.
The wild beasts along the way were cleaned up and turned into food. If there were people along the way, they would be given food and set up camp together at night.
If they were sick, there was no need to worry. The vehicle was an ambulance. The things inside were good. Furthermore, Li Yi was a godly doctor.
"I will obey your Majesty's orders." Yao Chong sat down. He did not care. He wanted to see. Is Li Yi a god?
You are just a civil official with no power. How are you going to deal with those people?
Are you going to pay someone to kill you? That's fine. If you hire an assassin, His Majesty won't really do anything to you.
However, you made this old man look down on you.
For a moment, everyone was very curious. In any case, if they were in Li Yi's position, they couldn't think of any solution.
At noon, the people sent to Lantian County to gather information returned to Zhuangzi.
From Zhuangzi to Lantian County, it was a distance of thirty li.
"There is indeed someone playing dirty tricks behind the scenes, but we can't find out anything. It seems like they are hiding very deeply." The person who came back reported to Song De.
"Send someone to set out with the caravan. Load it with copper coins and silk, collect land and properties. As long as someone is willing to sell it, double the price. Tell them that there is something good there and that our Dongzhu has taken a fancy to it. Bury it underground.
At the same time, he told those who wanted to sell their land and houses for the poll tax that Zhuangzi would pay the poll tax.
Once they found something good underground, they would be given a share of the profits. They didn't have to sell it, they could work together to mine it.
People who didn't have land or real estate were told to hire them to help dig up treasures and pay the poll tax for them, even if it was a baby.
Moreover, those who dug up treasures would look at the price. Give them a share of the profits, at least five percent. "
Song De followed the arrangements written in Li Yi's letter.
The farmers loaded the caravan with copper coins and silk.
An hour later, a caravan of twenty luxurious caravans rushed along the official road to Lantian County.
The sky was not dark yet, and no one in Lantian County wanted to sell their land or houses or leave.
The Li Family Zhuangzi went to collect land with great fanfare, but they couldn't even buy a single piece of land.
When everyone heard that if there was a treasure, they would pay the poll tax and divide it among themselves. Why would they sell it? Double the price? They wouldn't do it even if it was five times the price.
Those who didn't have land were even more reluctant to leave. They helped to dig, they were paid for digging, and they got a share of the profits.
They wouldn't believe it if others said it, but the Ba Shui Li Family Zhuangzi said it. Moreover, they brought caravans of copper coins and silk to buy. There was no running away, they would definitely have it.
Another group of people was dumbfounded. They had just bought two pieces of barren land, but they didn't manage to buy any real estate.
Those who left before were those who didn't have much land, or those who had a large family. A portion of them left first, leaving one or two behind to observe.
The rumors were about to explode. At the crucial moment, the Li Family Zhuangzi made his move.
"Damned Li Yi." Brother Guan and Guan Shanxing, who were mentioned by others, smashed their cups.
The others who were discussing countermeasures were suddenly stunned. There was no poll tax at all. The Li Family Zhuangzi said he would pay, but in the end, he didn't.
He said he wanted to buy a house, he offered double the price, and even said there was a treasure underground. Who would sell it?
"Is there really a treasure underground?" Someone thought about it.
"What treasure? It must be Li Yi's doing." Another person was certain.
"What if there is?"
"Let's see if there is. They can dig if there isn't. Aren't we cooperating? If there is, we can dig too."
"What should we do?"
"Let's talk about it in another county. Let's contact someone first."
Everyone discussed for a while and left gloomily.
They were as happy as they were in the morning, but now they were as sad.
"Your Majesty, it's settled just like that? Send someone to talk to them. Lantian County is stable. As for the people who left before … "
Yao Chong heard the news in Xingqing Palace Hall and felt helpless.
Sure enough, things were easier with money. Rumors were true.
As for the people who left, he didn't say anything. The people who left were on their way to Luoyang. Li Yi sent them a letter on the way. When they arrived at Luoyang, there were naturally arrangements made by the villagers there.
There must be work to be done. The children were taken care of. When things settled down, the villagers would bring them back together.
Zhang Shuo also didn't know whether to laugh or cry. "I thought there would be a fight. How could I forget? Li Yi first used the money to deal with the locust plague."
Li Longji smiled. He looked at them and said, "Do you think this matter is over? But I feel that this is just the beginning. "
The news he received was that Song De went to the workshop first to make arrangements. He didn't have any backup plans and only needed to show the money. Why did Li Yi write a letter that involved the workshop?
"I can't think of any other methods." Lu Huaishen shook his head, indicating that he couldn't think of any other methods.
"Isn't the method simple? I'll send you crabs and let you write a piece of calligraphy. Then the calligraphy will be converted into ten cubes and you'll have cotton candy as a stake. After that, you'll have a new house and furniture."
Zhang Shuo mentioned how Lu Huaishen's house came about.
How deep was this scheme? Who could think of such benefits?
"I can't think of anything. I really can't think of anything." Yao Chong also shook his head, indicating that he couldn't think of anything.
He didn't even think of using money to break the situation, let alone counterattack.
"Alright, we'll set up camp here today. Don't worry, there'll be food soon."
Li Yi, who was rushing back, used a loudspeaker to shout at the people who ran out of Lantian County. Along the way, he gathered 70 people.
They were all people who didn't have permanent property in Lantian County. There were also people who came out to hide because there were too many people at home.
They split into five groups and went to Luoyang. Luoyang was a big city and had convenient transportation to Chang 'an. Furthermore, the public security was relatively better than other places.
They were stopped by Li Yi and wanted to bring them back to Zhuangzi. When the people heard that it was Li Dongzhu from Ba Shui, they agreed without hesitation.
They cooperated with the Winged Knights to do some work, especially finding places with flowing water to clean up the game.
These meat were their dinner. They usually couldn't eat it, but they didn't expect to eat it when they were evading taxes.
When the wild vegetables and various kinds of game meat were stewed together, the fragrance wafted out. Many people looked at the Winged Knights around them and felt a sense of comfort.
Children were the most sensitive. They didn't cry or make a fuss, even if they were infants.
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