"What? The He Family Village in the south of the city led 18 villages to sue the Mo's Village for unfair labor! "Meton looked at Arrester Cao who came to report in surprise.
Arrester Cao nodded and said, "Just this morning, the He Family Village in the south of the city handed in the complaint. They thought that their village was too heavy and the Mo's Village was too light.
"The He Family Village?" Meton frowned and asked.
Uncle Fu thought for a while and said angrily, "Young master, the He Family Village is a big village in the south of the city. It is about 10 miles away from the Mo's Village. This village makes a living by baking bricks and tiles all year round. The Mo's Village bought a lot of bricks from the He Family Village this year. But I didn't expect that the He Family Village would bite back."
Arrester Cao said embarrassedly, "Because the Mo's Village paid for labor this year, the villages in the south of the city gave more tasks to the He Family Village. The He Family Village got the most tasks, so it went to the county magistrate."
"But we have paid the fees according to the rules of the imperial court." Uncle Fu said discontentedly.
The Mo's Village paid the immunization fee of two thousand men at once. That was not a small amount. How could they still have to do labor after paying the fees?
Arrester Cao smiled bitterly and said, "There are many twists and turns. It's hard to explain it clearly in a short time. How about Marquis Merton come to the county government and talk with the He Family Village in person to clear up the misunderstanding?"
"Of course, if Marquis Merton doesn't want to go, it's okay. After all, Marquis Merton paid the immunization fee according to the rules of the imperial court. The Mo's Family Village didn't do anything wrong according to the law."
Meton was moved. He knew that this was the county magistrate Su Luosheng's goodwill. But he shook his head slightly and said, "How can the Mo's Village embarrass the county magistrate? Since these villas are the neighbors of the Mo's Village and they have all come to Chang 'an, I'll go to see them!"
"Marquis Merton is so righteous. I admire you!"
Under the lead of Arrester Cao, Meton led the people of the Mo's Family to the Chang 'an county government. When they came to a side room of the government office, they saw Su Luosheng was talking and laughing with a group of grey-haired old men.
These old men were all local village chiefs. Every one of them was a local authority. With over ten villages added together, they were not a small force. Su Luosheng did not dare to neglect them.
"Greetings, Village Chiefs!" Meton saw more than a dozen Village Chiefs as soon as he entered the Chang 'an County Government. He cupped his hands and greeted them.
"We don't dare. Greetings, Marquis Merton!" The village heads hurriedly returned the greeting.
"I didn't expect to disturb Marquis Merton. Today, we are not here to report to the government, but to resolve the conflict between the two villages." The leader, a thin old man, quickly explained.
In terms of nobility, Modun was a marquis, while they were commoners. There was a world of difference in terms of nobility. If a commoner were to sue an official, regardless of whether he won or not, he would have to be flogged ten times first. It was obvious that Manor Head He also had someone to guide him. He only focused the conflict on the two villages and did not involve Modun personally.
Mo Dun looked at the thin old man and said indifferently, "You must be the Heightslord of He Village. Both He Village and Village Mo are big villages in the south of the city. We are neighbors. If Village Mo has done something wrong, Mr. He only needs to come here and inform me. There is no need to make trouble here."
Mr. He could not help blushing. He argued, "There is nothing wrong with Village Mo. It's just that all the villagers of Village Mo paid the immunization fee, but the corvee labor did not reduce. Isn't the corvee labor of Village Mo shared with us?"
Before Modun came, the group of village chiefs were still aggressive and filled with righteous indignation. However, when they really faced Modun, they couldn't help but feel some fear in their hearts when they thought of his status as a marquis.
"That's right. This year, the corvee labor of each village is at least 30% more than the previous years."
"Such a heavy corvee labor, the villagers are all complaining. We have no choice but to ask the government to judge!"
…
As soon as Mr. He finished his words, the other village heads also echoed.
"Well! Today, Marquis Merton is here. If you have any questions, you can speak openly. I only need to consider. "Su Luosheng shouted.
"Yes, if you have any requests, you can speak openly. Village Mo will consider it." Meton frowned and said.
Mr. He gritted his teeth and said, "In the Old Man's opinion, although Village Mo has paid the immunization fee, it is far from enough."
The village heads could not help but feel nervous and looked at Meton. However, Meton was not angry. Instead, he said calmly, "I'd like to hear the details."
Mr. He turned to Su Luosheng and bowed, "May I ask if the government has any complaints about the heavy corvee labor in the past years?"
Su Luosheng shook his head.
The white-haired Manor Head He said proudly, "That's because the He Manor has always made a living by burning bricks and tiles. The bricks and tiles are too heavy, and they cause the most damage to the roads. Every year, the county magistrate assigns the He Manor to repair the official road in the south of the city, and the He Manor has never complained."
Su Luosheng said, "Then why is there such a big complaint this year?"
"That's because the official road is damaged the most this year, and the real culprit is not Village Mo." Mr. He said firmly and looked at Meton.
"Village Mo?" Meton was stunned.
"Yes, it's Village Mo. This year, there are countless carriages going in and out of Village Mo. Every carriage is full of heavy goods. The number of carriages going in and out of Village Mo is even more than the total number of carriages going in and out of other villages."
"Besides, the four-wheeled carriages produced by Village Mo are all steel wheels. Wherever they go, the official road can't bear the weight at all. Every time, there will be mud flying and potholes everywhere."
"Now the official road in the south of the city is almost damaged. It must be repaired this year."
…
The village heads said one after another, and directly said that Village Mo was the culprit of the official road damage.
Meton suddenly realized the origin of the conflict. Village Mo had embarked on the road of industrialization. Naturally, the number of carriages going in and out of Village Mo would increase, which would cause serious damage to the official road.
Mr. He gritted his teeth and said, "Although Village Mo has paid the immunization fee, I don't think it's enough to cover the damage caused to the official road."
The rest of the village chiefs nodded their heads and pointed their spears at the Mo Family Village.
Su Luosheng laughed and said, "Marquis Merton, after all, you have paid the immunization fee. Now that these things have happened, what do you think is the best solution?"
Meton rolled his eyes at Su Luosheng. This stingy guy must have expected today's situation. He must have made up his mind to let Village Mo take on more corvee labor.
Meton was moved. Today's matter must be solved satisfactorily. Otherwise, even if Village Mo was not wrong in law, they would lose in morality.
After all, it was Village Mo that caused the increase of corvee labor. If it was not handled properly, Village Mo's reputation in the south of the city would be ruined.
Meton suddenly interrupted and said, "So, the most difficult task of corvee labor is to repair the official road?"
"Ah!"
Everyone was puzzled. They did not understand why Meton asked this question.
"If Village Mo takes on the task of repairing the official road every year in the future, do you think this matter can be solved?" Meton suddenly said.
"Are you serious?" Manor Head He asked in surprise.
Since Village Mo took on the task of repairing the official road every year, he naturally knew how difficult this task was. Moreover, the requirements were very strict. There were also people from the Ministry of Works who would inspect the official road. If there was a slight problem, they would redo the work. If Village Mo took on the task of repairing the official road, Village Mo would be relieved.
Su Luosheng narrowed his eyes and said like an old fox, "Marquis Merton, don't joke."
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