Zheng Ling said: "The imperial court has never exempted people from taxes, and we have never heard of tax exemptions!"

"I came from Gyeonggi Road. I know that the imperial court exempted Hebei West Road from taxes. The imperial court issued a decree. Today, the decree was issued that Hebei West Road will be tax-free for ten years! The head tax, agricultural tax, and boss money are all exempted!"

Zhao Ning looked at those people.

He seemed to see his mother in his previous life among those people.

He remembered that his mother had told him before that when she was a child, she did not have enough to eat every day and could not eat more than a few pieces of meat a year. She lived in a thatched house, so she was always malnourished and became ill as she grew older.

Of course, my mother's poverty at that time was not caused by tax collection like this.

But at that time, China had just recovered from the war and was running out of resources. There was really nothing to eat.

But seeing them like this, Zhao Ning couldn't help but think about it.

He also grew up in the countryside when he was very young. His generation has witnessed the rapid changes in the countryside, and the people have gone from poverty to having enough food and clothing.

That's why he has enough confidence to implement the New Deal, and believes that through continuous transformation, he will be able to change the past situation.

At least the farmers can have enough to eat.

But when he really saw what was happening in front of the Song Dynasty, and saw that these people were as weak and helpless as ants, in addition to anger, there was also a deep sadness in his heart.

The Song Dynasty was implementing the New Deal, but the full implementation of any policy would take time.

Hebei cannot be covered by the New Deal now because the New Deal talents cannot keep up, and the current administrative efficiency cannot quickly implement the New Deal in Hebei.

Zheng Ling said again: "We have never heard of what you are talking about."

Jing Chao also came from a lower class background and seemed to feel a little sad. He said, "You can go and sue the officials."

"Sue an official?" Zheng Ling said with a bitter smile, "Someone in our village went to the county town to sue an official. As soon as he left the yamen after filing the complaint, he was beaten to death."

"What about going to Xingzhou City to inform the government?"

"I've been there too." Zheng Ling's eyes turned red, "My father went there..."

She burst into tears: "They are in front of me..."

Zheng Xi suddenly ran over and shouted at Zhao Ning: "Stop asking! Why are you asking so many questions! What's the use!"

"You are brave!" Jing Chao pointed at Zheng Xi and said angrily. He wanted to go over and teach Zheng Xi a lesson, but was pulled over by Zhao Ning.

Zheng Ling burst into tears and whispered, "Are our lives really so lowly?"

There was silence all around, and no one answered the question.

Zhao Ning took a deep breath, walked up to the malnourished little girl, squatted down, and touched her head.

Looking at her hungry and helpless eyes, it seemed to remind her of her mother's childhood.

When my mother had no food to eat when she was a child, was she still this thin?

"Don't be afraid, I'll get the food back for you!"

After saying that, he stood up and left with the others.

Zheng Xi said: "Don't be ridiculous, if you are willing to help us get the food back, why didn't you do it just now, but you were chatting and laughing with Wang Mazi! You and Wang Mazi are the same!"

"None of you officials are good people! They are all the same!"

Zhao Ning ignored him and just said: "Not only do I want to get back the food that I will go up to you today, but I will also get back all the food that I have handed in over the past two years!"

"I advise you not to meddle in other people's business!" Zheng Xi shouted loudly, "These are what the government wants. Even if you have money, you can't fight against the government!"

"The imperial court is undergoing restructuring, and I believe there will be good officials who are willing to petition for the people!" He turned and looked at Zheng Ling: "Kill to pay with your life! Whoever kills your father, I will make him pay with his life!"

After saying that, he took the people and left the village.

No one took Zhao Ning's words seriously.

How could a foreigner really help them?

Zhao Ning had mixed feelings in his heart.

He returned to the camp all the way and headed towards Julu County with his people.

In the evening, fire clouds dyed the western sky red.

Wang Rende, the magistrate of Julu County, said with a smile on his face: "Liu Shicao, come here, I will give you a drink."

Liu Wangxun, a soldier from Xinde Prefecture who joined the army, raised his glass and drank it all in one gulp.

"Liu Shicao, I know that you like to eat mutton, so I ordered someone to slaughter a sheep."

"Oh, no wonder it smells so good."

"Liu Shicao doesn't like it?"

"Haha, I like this kind of taste." Liu Wangxun picked up a piece and said, "I heard that Su Zizhan liked to eat mutton back then. Unfortunately, after he was demoted, he was a poor man and couldn't afford it, so he went to do it himself.

Meat!"

"It seems that I am better than Su Zizhan!"

"Su Shi is just a frivolous and dissolute scholar, how can he compare with you, Liu Shicao."

"Yeah! Not bad! This mutton is good!" Liu Wangxun took a bite and said, "Isn't it said that there is a shortage of sheep now? Where did you get it?"

Wang Rende showed a mysterious smile: "Liu Shicao doesn't know something. There have been a lot of sheep in the north recently."

"Oh, how come?"

The two looked at each other and smiled.

"Do you have a way?"

"To be fair to Liu Shicao, there is still a way."

"Then get a few more and I'll bring them back to Magistrate Zhang."

"No problem, it's just..." Wang Rende became embarrassed.

"Don't worry, as long as you prepare everything, Prefect Zhang will write you a letter of recommendation for your promotion."

"Thank you Liu Shicao!"

Liu Wangxun said: "How much can we collect this time?"

"This county can collect at least ten thousand stones!"

"Ten thousand shi?" Liu Wangxun was shocked, "How much per household?"

"Each household has more than one stone."

"Is there so much food?"

"In the past few years of war, the fields have been abandoned. Those who stayed have received more fields. As long as those people have fields, they work hard to cultivate the land and there is plenty of food."

Liu Wangxun nodded and said, "By the way, there is something you need to deal with."

"Liu Shicao, please speak."

"The fields in Julu County must be put up for sale, and there will be a buyer to take over the fields."

"no problem."

"Those farmers just got their fields, they won't have any complaints, right?"

Wang Rende smiled and said: "What complaints can they have? What if they have complaints?"

Liu Wangxun also laughed: "That's good."

At this time, Wang Mazi came back.

"Wangzhi County."

When Wang Mazi saw that Liu Wangxun was there, he immediately bowed and said, "See Liu Shicao."

"Wang Mazi, why are you so happy?"

"Most of the food in Zheng Village has been collected and brought up."

"You have nothing to do with this little thing, so just leave it to the people below to handle it."

"I heard that there is a pig in Zheng Village. Aren't I greedy?"

"Come and sit."

Wang Mazi came over and said, "I met a person in Zhengcun today. He came from Gyeonggi Province."

"Oh?" Liu Wangxun immediately became wary when he heard the word "Gyeonggi".

"What are you here for?"

"He is a merchant, planning to go to the north to do business."

"What kind of business are you doing?"
Chapter completed!