Chapter 1147: Chapter 633: Can’t Go On Living (Double-Length) (2)

Seeing that Chen Yi’s questioning held no malice, the old farmer gradually calmed down and replied, albeit awkwardly and fearfully, "The county... the county makes us do a lot of work, the land... can’t be farmed."

Chen Yi remained impassive, and then asked, "Isn’t the county’s grain tax just one part in fifteen, with no labor during busy farming periods and assistance during the slack season, as decreed by the Prince Mansion?"

The old farmer opened his mouth but couldn’t speak, and after a long while, dumbly asked, "Which... which county is that?"

"Just the nearest Wenshi County."

"No, no, there’s no such thing..." The old farmer shook his head vigorously, then finally found his words and said, "The county collects less, but the work we have to do is too much more. Carrying sedan chairs for the constables, repairing roads, reclaiming wastelands, digging coal... it’s all us. When people leave, they’re gone for several days, even months, with no food. The land gets seized by others, goes to waste, crops die..."

Chen Yi was silent for a moment.

He really didn’t know whether the Prince of Annan tracking down hidden households was a blessing or a curse for these people. Even though he was loyal to the Prince Mansion, he knew it was more of a curse than a blessing.

The old farmer continued, "Decades ago... there was a schoolteacher in the county who wanted to go to Dragon Tail City to beat the drum in protest, only to be stopped halfway and beaten to death in front of everyone. The people couldn’t survive in the county, so they escaped here... No matter how much grain and cloth are demanded here, at least there’s an acre of land to farm. As long as there’s an acre to farm... we’re not afraid of not surviving."

Chen Yi, hearing this, had nothing more to say. He quietly placed one thousand copper coins down, instructed the old farmer to hide it well, and then stood up to leave.

.........

Sunlight filtered through the tree canopy, and the Iron Scale Army in formation began their return journey. The Prince of Annan glanced sideways, catching sight of Chen Yi riding up to join the ranks.

"Why the delay?"

Just as Chen Yi was about to speak, Qin Qingluo calmly stated:

"Those who delay without an incident are to be executed according to law."

"Is the Prince willing to execute me?"

"I am asking what incident you encountered."

Chen Yi slightly lowered his eyes, sensing a rare thread of concern within the words.

After some thought, he slowly said, "I found a hidden household and inquired, offered them to return to the county and register, but they refused."

Sunlight streamed through the gaps in the leaves, casting dappled shadows on the cold jade-like armor of Qin Qingluo, whose eyes showed little surprise,

"The Prince Mansion’s new decree states that those who return and register will be exempt from taxes for three years and given land to farm."

"Indeed, the Prince Mansion’s new decree is so good. But how does it compare to being a tenant of the Dao Family in this fortress? Yet they still choose to become hidden households." Chen Yi paused, then continued, "Your Highness, the Prince’s new decree is undoubtedly benevolent governance. Yet... the hidden household claims that what the county government does is as different from the Prince Mansion’s orders as north is from south, as heaven from earth."

"Explain in detail."

"Firstly, taxes and corvée labor aren’t what they seem." Chen Yi started recounting, trying to maintain as calm a tone as possible, "The Prince Mansion’s clear decree states one part in fifteen for taxes, and no labor during busy farming times. But when it gets to Wenshi County, the constables craft sneaky pretexts, turning the one part in fifteen into empty words. Moreover, during the slack season, what’s named as ’assistance’ is actually forced labor. Carrying sedan chairs, repairing roads, reclaiming wastelands, digging coal... these take months, with people bringing their own provisions. Farmlands are left unattended, overgrown and abandoned, seedlings wither, and a whole year’s hope is dashed. When they return exhausted, the land is either seized by others or left in disrepair. Taxes aren’t reduced, labor increases instead, their livelihood is gone. How dare they return to the county?"

Qin Qingluo did not interrupt.

"Secondly, clerks run amok, preying upon the villagers," Chen Yi continued. "The Prince Mansion’s plan to distribute land is a good policy. However, local clerks collude top to bottom. The best lands are seized by powerful allies, while only barren slope lands are divided among returning refugees. Even worse, they extort in the name of ’verification’ and ’measurement.’ Any dissatisfaction leads to flogging and the cangue, while severe cases are framed for crimes, leaving families shattered. People see the county government as a predator. They’d rather endure the Tusi’s exploitation, as it still allows a slim chance to survive. They dare not set foot in the county government for fear of being devoured."

The sound of horses’ hooves on fallen leaves continued, with the silent procession of the Iron Scale Army behind.

Chen Yi took a deep breath, his voice heavier, "Thirdly... corruption in governance leaves no room for appeals." He paused, then looked directly at Qin Qingluo, "It was mentioned that decades ago, there was a schoolteacher in Wenshi County who witnessed injustice and sought to file a complaint in Dragon Tail City. As a result... he was intercepted before leaving the county and beaten to death in public! Since then, no one dared to speak, no one dared to file complaints. People couldn’t survive, hence they fled to the Tusi’s domain, even though the Dao Family’s exploitation was harsh, at least... there was still an acre of bare land to till."

With everything said, the implications were clear to all.

But what surprised Chen Yi was that the tall woman merely showed a slight reaction from start to finish.

The forest was silent.

Qin Qingluo, sitting upright on her horse, her figure as straight as a pine tree, with the sunlight outlining the cold, hard contours of her armor.

"Your Highness..."

"I know," Qin Qingluo said calmly, "Even when taxes are heavy, people can still live, but if the labor is heavy, the people will have nowhere to flee."

Chen Yi pondered slightly, his eyes momentarily complex and difficult to discern,

"You told me before that ’someone incited them,’ it seems the Prince knows why there is incitement, and also knows why those hidden households listened to such incitement." 𝙛𝓻𝒆𝒆𝒘𝙚𝓫𝙣𝙤𝒗𝙚𝓵.𝙘𝙤𝙢

His words were not hasty or agitated. He was not a naive person, nor did he believe that the court’s intention was good but the subordinates executed it poorly. Rather than being deceived, the court always understood that things would be executed poorly.

"Wenshi County is like this, and eight or nine out of ten counties in the Southern Border are the same," Chen Yi paused, slowly saying, "Even if clerks run amok and governance is rotten, they still have to measure land and organize the households to collect taxes."

Qin Qingluo leaned slightly forward, the armor reflecting cold, hard lines under the light. Facing Chen Yi’s seemingly reproachful words, she finally responded slowly:

"The county government is like roots. These roots, many are decayed; am I unaware of their ills? Am I not weary of their corruption?

However, if Tusi revolts, wild barbarians raid, and refugees fall into disorder, what will I use to suppress them? What will I use to deter the court’s hounds? And what will I..."

Her voice paused for a moment, her gaze seemingly penetrating the layers of mountains, turning toward the turbulent northern horizon, then continued,

"...use to face this impending... upheaval in the world?"

Chen Yi fell silent once again.

He was not unaware of what Qin Qingluo said. In fact, all past Princes of Annan operated the Southern Border this way, and after three centuries of diligent governance, the Southern Border now had much lighter taxes and corvée labor compared to the Central Plains. Otherwise, there wouldn’t have been so many refugees migrating here.

The wind rustled through the branches and leaves, bringing a faint whimper. The Prince of Annan pondered slightly, slowly saying:

"I know you have a woman’s heart.

When I have curbed the Tusi, with more wealth, more land, and more people, it may provide temporary relief."

Chen Yi was somewhat surprised, raising his eyebrows slightly, "Is the Prince comforting me?"

This time, the Prince of Annan did not deny it but instead asked in return, "And if I am?"

Chen Yi’s throat moved, he lowered his gaze, his voice deep and steady, "I understand, Your Highness."

Qin Qingluo said no more, gently spurring her horse onward. The Iron Scale Army followed silently, the sound of armor clinking echoing through the forest, cold and orderly.

............

............

Returning to the Prince Mansion, Chen Yi’s thoughts were somewhat tangled. Along the way, he removed his armor and went straight to his courtyard.

However, Zhu E had already seen him returning from afar, and she chose a looser garment to meet him.

"I am not adept at handling matters together with her."

Upon seeing Zhu E, Chen Yi seemed to shed some burden and said so.

"Is the official under pressure?"

"Indeed," Chen Yi smiled slightly, then said with a hint of helplessness, "She said I have the kindness of a woman, criticized me thoroughly."

Upon hearing this, the keen-minded Zhu E quickly guessed seven or eight-tenths of it and, after a slight sigh, seemed to have thought of something, and her eyes lit up instead.

"The Prince rarely directly criticizes like this, she’s always been courteous to those with talent, think of it positively," she paused, then said, "Could it be that the Prince’s words mean... intending to take the official as a consort?"