On the same day, Li Hongji's uncle and nephew entered Yansui Town from Zhenyuan Gate to ask for an audience with Chen Jiawu.

Li Hongji gave Huang Xiao's handwriting to Chen Jiawu.

After looking at it, Chen Jiawu said: "The Marquis asked me to cooperate with you two. Since we have to do such a big thing, we have to have a few people under my command, and we need a few backbones. You wait a moment, I will call Er Niu."

The two of them were overjoyed!

Not long after, Liu Erniu walked in.

"General, Liu Erniu reports!"

Chen Jiawu smiled and nodded.

"Hongji, Li Guo! Are you back?"

Liu Erniu was also very happy to see Li Hongji's uncle and nephew.

"Yes, Captain!"

The three of them met affectionately.

Chen Jiawu said: "Li Hongji has the secret order of Marquis Zhongyi. Erniu, you are their original corps commander. You choose two people to go with Li Hongji to do things. This matter is top secret and cannot be spread outside."

Liu Erniu's heart trembled, and he said: "Yes! Since it is the secret order of Marquis Zhongyi, I want to participate in person, is that okay?"

Chen Jiawu nodded.

Liu Erniu was overjoyed and went.

Li Hongji said: "General, we are new here. I wonder what the situation is in Shaanxi now? General, please tell me."

Chen Jiawu sighed: "Yansui Town is surrounded by four vassal kings. The situation is very complicated. The drought has intensified this year. We, Yansui Town, can only survive with what we produce. However, after the influx of a large number of people from the surrounding areas, and the vassal kings,

Intentionally, all the worthless old and weak people were driven towards us. As a result, the population of Yansui Town increased nearly eight times, making it difficult to make ends meet. However, the feudal princes took advantage of the opportunity and hesitated to sell, so that the price of food remained high and the promotion of the New Deal could not be carried out.

open."

Li Guo's face changed color: "Eight times more? What a vicious strategy!"

Li Hongji also said: "Yes, the land remains unchanged, the output is not high, and the population has increased so much, it is really embarrassing for the general!"

Chen Jiawu shook his head: "These old and weak people are all the people of the Ming Dynasty. They are ordered to guard one side and can only maintain it with all their strength!"

Li Hongji asked: "I learned from Daming Daily that Yansui Town's border trade is doing well, so there shouldn't be such a shortage."

Chen Jiawu said bitterly: "For the Mongols, we follow the arrangements of Marquis Zhongyi and conduct fair transactions. Most of the profits from the wool textile mill and the steel mill are used to purchase food from the vassals. Without this support, I would not be able to support Yansui."

The general is in even greater hardship. Although the Marquis has sent food support, do you think we can accept this kind of support with peace of mind?"

He sighed: "I have failed the Marquis' great trust, and the new policy is not going well!"

Li Hongji nodded: "This support is really hard to come by. General Chen, don't belittle yourself. You must be worried about the feudal kings, so you are restrained. Now that the Marquis and the empress have a purpose to deal with these feudal kings, things will definitely get better in the future.

"

Chen Jiawu was in high spirits and nodded: "Having said that, it is my fault that I am not doing my job well. The Marquis and the Empress did not punish me. Instead, they sent two of them to take action. I will give my full support!"

Li Hongji asked: "Master Hou's new tax rate of 10%, is there no movement?"

Chen Jiawu shook his head and said: "Take the King of Qin as an example. His land is extremely vast. Seventy percent of the land in Xi'an belongs to the King of Qin. In the past, officials at all levels and even the gentry sent their land to the prince's palace, so that the land in Xi'an was

Almost all of them are controlled by King Qin!"

"After the promulgation of the Marquis's New Deal, these officials and gentry felt that it was not worthwhile and wanted to take back the land they had sent. They continued to collect high taxes from the people and paid them to the court according to the New Deal. The profits were huge, and the New Deal enriched these people.

Shuo Shu! The people still don’t get the benefits!”

Li Hongji cursed angrily: "They are all dog officials!"

Chen Jiawu continued: "This is called policy from above and countermeasures from below. I admire the King of Qin very much. He did not allow the officials and gentry to take back the land. Instead, he re-formulated the tax policy and directly reduced taxes. All land taxes in Xi'an Prefecture

Down to 40%!

Because the palace does not have to pay taxes, these 40% are all earned by the King of Qin, and the fees that the officials and gentry need to pay to the palace for sending land are exempted. In other words, after the officials and gentry hand over the land to the King of Qin, they can also enjoy four

With the huge income, we can save a lot of things, and we don’t have to face the pressure of reform from the imperial court!”

"The King of Qin has a condition. He requires that all the grain on these lands must be purchased by the prince. The other three vassals also act in the same way. Therefore, except for our Yansui Town, almost all the land in Shaanxi is controlled by these four vassals.

In the hands of the king, some landowners, officials and gentry who had previously been kept for themselves have also attached themselves to the palace, and the people are satisfied with the 40% tax, so naturally there is not much movement."

Li Hongji and Li Guo were both silent.

Li Hongji sighed: "So that's it! It seems that these vassal kings are not just idle people. They control a large amount of land and food, and they also appease the people under their rule. These things have blocked us in Yansui."

The town’s destiny, no wonder the general encountered setbacks in his actions.”

Chen Jiawu said: "In response to this matter, I have reported to the Queen and the Marquis a few days ago that the King of Qin and other people have money and food. I am afraid that they have disloyal intentions. They secretly imitated our Yansui Town and also trained a militia.

, they are actually soldiers, but according to the laws of the court, the vassal king is not allowed to support troops, so they use this as an excuse!"

Li Hongji's face also darkened. This was completely different from his and even Marquis Zhongyi's plan, which caught him off guard.

Li Guo said: "No wonder they dare to write a letter to force the palace. It turns out they have the confidence!"

Chen Jiawu was stunned.

Li Guo explained: "When we left the capital, the Marquis and the empress summoned us and said that all the vassal princes were pretending to come to the capital to visit your majesty, but in fact they wanted to force the empress to step down out of righteousness. At that time, I was still thinking, could these vassal princes be eating?

They have the heart of a bear and the courage of a leopard, and now it seems that they have something to rely on!"

Li Hongji snorted: "These relies are like chickens and dogs in front of our strong army in Dahuangzhuang!"

Chen Jiawu nodded: "It's just that they didn't start an attack blatantly, and we can't act rashly. Where are you going to start?"

Li Hongji said: "The original plan has to be changed. This matter is really tricky. I want to inquire first and get a feel for the situation. Although the land tax is said to have been reduced to 40%, compared with the 10% under the New Deal,

It’s still many times higher, but I don’t believe it and can’t instigate it! I will definitely create this rebellion!”

Chen Jiawu said: "Yes! If we don't eradicate them, it will be a blow to the prestige of the empress and the marquis, and it will also increase their arrogance! They have blocked the passage of grain merchants from all over the world, coerced me with high prices, and sought to make steel.

The technology of the textile factory is even more daring, and they vaguely propose to exchange firecrackers for food!"

Li Hongji said angrily: "They are really greedy and daring!"

While they were talking, the soldier announced that dinner was ready.

Chen Jiawu said: "Now, except for the soldiers, everyone else has two meals a day. Let's go. Let's talk about it after eating. It's just that the conditions are difficult and I'm neglecting you."

Li Hongji said: "General, needless to say, we are also from poor families and are not so particular."
Chapter completed!