Cultivation Begins with Caring for Sister-in-law-Chapter 554: Winning the People’s Hearts

Fengzhou is different from the North.

The North has been devastated by war and disaster, even resulting in the migration of northern populations to the South, leaving many Government Office positions vacant, which made it impossible for Chen Mo to conduct a public trial.

But Fengzhou is not the same. Although it has changed hands several times and experienced its share of war, basic order is still present, and the noble class and Noble Families still exist within.

Moreover, Prince Huai has ruled over Fengzhou for more than two years now, who knows if he left any tumors behind for Chen Mo. So Chen Mo wants to use this method to purge these tumors from various parts of Fengzhou, which is also the fastest way to establish his prestige and influence there.

However, this move also offended the noble clan gentry and some local bullies in Fengzhou, who united to resist, even inciting the common folk to revolt and threatening Chen Mo to stop the public trial.

Chen Mo doesn’t care about their threats. If they resist, that’s just perfect for waste utilization, letting new soldiers practice drilling.

This time, Chen Mo had no intention of using appeasement methods as he took over Fengzhou.

There’s no territory grabbing without bloodshed.

...

Jing County, Ma Wang Village.

In April, the village had completed all sowing and was busy carrying manure to fertilize the fields.

After fertilizing, small groups of villagers washed their feet in the canal beside the fields, then sat by the field ridges to rest and chat teasingly.

"Younger Brother Lin, I’d said it before, Lin Zhong has a prosperous face, clearly destined to become a lord. In my view, he’s sure to make it onto the roster this time in the imperial examination."

"Old Man Tie, since when did you learn to read faces? Weren’t you saying before that Lin Zhong looks like a pig with garlic stuck in his nose?"

"Haha, yes, yes indeed."

"Nonsense, when did I ever say such things? Wang Jieshi, don’t make baseless claims, you were the one who said Lin Zhong that boy wasn’t cut out for studying."

...

Though Lin Zhong had merely registered for the imperial examination, whether or not he would pass was uncertain, but the people of Ma Wang Village had already started ingratiating themselves with Lin Zhong’s father, Lin Xuan.

Mind you, before this, even though the Lin Family had settled in Ma Wang Village, being outsiders, they were frequently ostracized.

The most direct manifestation was fighting over water.

Fighting for water for the fields.

If not for Lin Zhong’s uncle Ma Fu providing support and help, the Lin Family might’ve been bullied to death in Ma Wang Village, not to mention marrying within the same village.

As for the villagers’ remarks, Lin Xuan didn’t take them to heart, he just chuckled without speaking.

He didn’t display any mockery either, as premature delight before things were settled would make the fall afterwards that much more miserable.

After pondering for a while, he instead said, "You all are overestimating Zhong’er, the imperial examination has been suspended for several years now, and without revising the coursework, who knows if he’ll be able to pass."

Lin Xuan was laying the groundwork early, should Lin Zhong fail later, at least it wouldn’t be too embarrassing.

The person referred to as Old Man Tie flashed his eyes for a moment, but didn’t tread upon the matter, instead he laughed and said, "I see Lin Zhong is a bright child, surely he’ll succeed."

Of course, those words were spoken, but inside hoped Lin Zhong wouldn’t pass.

People are like that, especially those from the same village, particularly outsiders—they naturally can’t stand others having it too good.

However, this doesn’t mean Old Man Tie is of petty heart, he similarly can’t bear to see others having it too bad.

Lin Xuan laughed and shook his head, then proactively switched topics, and said, "It’s already April, in a few days we must pay the land rent, I heard this year the rent is going up."

Upon these words, the villagers’ faces instantly lost their smiles, replaced by looks of worry.

Ever since Prince Huai lost Huai State and the Xiao Family’s support, during these two years of ruling Fengzhou, to maintain the military operations, Prince Huai could only increase the taxes on the people of Fengzhou. Coupled with the layers imposed by the officials and junior officials beneath, when it reaches the hands of the people, this tax becomes incredibly heavy.

And due to the heavy tax burden, Ma Wang Village’s inhabitants, unable to pay, ultimately were coerced by Landlord Liu, losing their fields to him for a pittance.

Those without fields even had to resort to selling their children.

Now, Ma Wang Village’s people are working the land for Landlord Liu, having to pay him a sum of rent every April.

"Good news, good news..." 𝙛𝓻𝒆𝓮𝒘𝙚𝙗𝒏𝙤𝙫𝓮𝒍.𝓬𝒐𝙢

As the villagers were idly chatting, Lin Zhong’s brother-in-law Wang Chong’Er came running over, with the villagers watching him, declared, "Landlord Liu was beheaded, the Government Office just sent people over to notify us to go to the Government Office to distribute fields."

"What, Landlord Liu was beheaded?" At these words, each villager’s eyes widened, Old Man Tie was stunned for a while, then spoke, "Chong Er, are you still dreaming, the Government Office distributing fields to us? I’ve never even dreamed of such a scenario."

Not only did Old Man Tie disbelieve, but Lin Xuan and other villagers couldn’t believe it either.

Wang Chong’Er arrived before them, breathing heavily, and said, "It’s true. Today the county hosted a public trial; it was on the trial stage where Duke An’s people ordered Landlord Liu beheaded, not just him, even the Government Office officials were beheaded. Duke An waived our county’s taxes for a year and distributed the fields Landlord Liu occupied to us. Uncle Stone and Aunt Teng both went."

Hearing this, the villagers were stunned, mouths agape.

Regarding the public trial, the Government Office had previously sent someone to notify Ma Wang Village, inviting them to attend in the county town, but for villagers who couldn’t even recognize much, there was no interest, only sending a few representatives.

Yet never did they expect such a thing to occur.

"Chong Er, you better not be deceiving us," still there were villagers expressing disbelief.

"If it’s true or not, we’ll know by going to the city." Lin Xuan hurriedly wore shoes after wiping the water off his feet.

...

An hour later.

When Ma Wang Village’s folks saw the head of Landlord Liu hung on the rack, they finally believed Wang Chong’Er’s words were true.

Then they all rushed to the Government Office.

By then, a long queue had already formed outside the Government Office, all waiting for field distribution.

By the time Ma Wang Village’s turn came, it was almost night.

Lin Xuan and the others displayed their documents, affixed the Hand Seal, signed their names, and as they walked out of the Government Office with their titles to their respective lands, they still felt it somewhat unreal.

Just then, they saw a group of people kneeling before the Government Office, as they faced it, sobbing with emotion, each shouting Duke An’s name as Justice.

Upon inquiring, they learned Duke An was inside the Government Office, Old Man Tie grabbed Lin Xuan and others’ hands fervently, "Younger Brother Lin, let’s go pay respects to Duke An."

"Duke An not only took care of Landlord Liu but also waived our taxes for a year and distributed land to us, he’s our savior and Justice."

"..."

And such circumstances unfolded in other counties consecutively thereafter.