Opposition arose among the people, but the upper class was not as fierce as expected. The dignitaries of Dongjing City announced their support almost on the same day. In order to facilitate the emperor's "harvest", they even ordered Dongjing City and its affiliated auxiliary cities to gather the collected taxes at the city gate.
, just waiting for the emperor to come and accept it. The crow and the fox were very moved and shouted, "You are still sensible!"
In order to "collect money" quickly, Bird Man and Swing hurriedly drove the Kowloon chariot for several days and finally entered the territory of Dongjing City. In front of them was a very luxurious and solid auxiliary city, Ansu City. It was built in
At the end of the year, after the death of Emperor Yuan, the five kings of the Eastern City built a strategic city specifically to defend against enemies. The city was equipped with various military facilities and even a medium-sized defensive magic array.
There was a large pile of gold placed at the gate of Ansuan City, all paid by the rich in the city, and the amount was almost impossible to count. The eyes of the two foolish kings were so happy that they jumped into the pile of gold and "wandered" wantonly.
"I have met Your Majesty." Inside the city gate, a man and woman led a child out.
The crow popped its head out of the pile of gold and took a closer look, "Hey, isn't that who...that...hey? What did you call it?"
"Reporting to your Majesty, my name is Ji Huai, your brother." Ji Huai said.
"Oh, yes, yes. It's you. I haven't seen you for a few years and I forgot your name." Birdman and Swing walked out, "Why are you here? Who is this kid?"
"Your Majesty, this is the flesh and blood of your Majesty and his wife. His name is Ji Xiaohuai. Your Majesty also specially gave him the name when he was born." Ji Huai said, "Due to the tax on the rich, Prince Ji Xinhuai is frightened everywhere.
The officials were uncooperative and kept private property, so I asked Lord Yang Yin to send his ministers to serve as 'tax supervisors' to assist His Majesty in collecting taxes."
"Oh, that's it. Not bad, not bad. Those five wealthy locals in the East City are really aware of current affairs." Zhuqian praised. She walked to Dong'er and Ji Xiaohuai, squatted down and raised her hand to tease the children, "Here, call grandpa.
!”
Ji Xiaohuai was stunned on the spot.
"Hahaha, you're just kidding, you're kidding." The fox said, "I can barely be considered your aunt. Hahaha, I'm not your grandfather. You didn't expect it. Hahaha..."
The atmosphere at the scene was very awkward.
Seeing that Dong'er had been silent, Birdman asked: "Who is that? Why don't you look very good-looking? You seem to be hesitant to speak. What's the matter? Are you worried? Are you sick?"
Dong'er was startled and suddenly knelt down, "No, no. Thank you for your concern, your Majesty. I am fine."
Swing took a deep look at Dong'er and didn't say much to her. He turned to Ji Huai and said, "Okay, okay, that's it. You help us put the gold away. Let's go to the next city."
"Yes." Ji Huai nodded, "Your Majesty, in addition to Jingdong Avenue, there are many auxiliary cities that are not within the scope of the main road. Do you need to collect taxes? Why don't you do it for me and save you both money?
A bit of hard work."
"No!" Birdman said, "Of course you have to personally watch the collection of money. Don't worry, the more gold we have, the more excited we will be. We won't be tired or exhausted. Hahaha..."
"Okay~ okay." Ji Huai whispered.
The crow and the fox went to the city to spend money. During this period, Ji Huai carefully and meticulously took care of the taxes. After a few days, all the work was completed. The bird man and the swing also had enough fun in Ansu City, and were ready to leave Jingdong Road and take a branch road to the next city.
, Wheat Bran City.
"Hey? Ji Huai, where is your son? And Dong'er, why didn't you follow?" Birdman asked casually on the way.
"Wheatfu City is a long way away. I am afraid that my wife and children will suffer, so I have sent someone to send them back to Beijing." Ji Huai replied.
"Nonsense!" Zhuqian said, "You can come so far from the capital to Ansuan City. Is it so short of a short distance from Ansuan City to Maifu City? If you say that they just stay in the capital and don't follow you, I believe it.
We’ve come here, how hard can it be to have this little journey left? Dong’er is so free, do you like Ansuan City so much? You’ve come all the way here, just to take a look around and then go back?”
Ji Huai knelt down and replied: "Please, your majesties, please be clear. Because of your rescue, my wife Dong'er got out of the 'trap of the body rope' and entered Prince Ji's palace. Over the years, Dong'er has deeply felt the weight of the Holy Grace, and she has been frightened and unsatisfied."
I dare to forget. When you were in the capital, Your Majesty was busy with state affairs and stayed in the palace for a long time without being able to see each other.
My wife misses me day and night, and I have a demonic barrier in my heart. So after hearing that I was assisting His Majesty, I came to Ansuan City all the way, just to see the Holy One. There is an old saying, 'You cannot look directly at the face of the Emperor.' Dong'er can bring his children to see it.
Your two benefactors, Your Majesty, are already satisfied and do not dare to stay any longer, so they leave happily."
"Is that so?" Swing said to himself, "Dong'er is indeed a good boy who appreciates kindness."
………………………
The Lord's Mansion of Ansu City.
"Mother, mother, why don't we follow father?" Ji Xiaohuai said, "Those two foolish kings are so interesting."
"Pah!" Dong'er waved her hand and slapped her son.
"Mother, mother, why are you doing this?" Ji Xiaohuai has been favored since he was a child and has never been spanked. I don't know why he made his mother angry and received such a slap today. But this child is considered "strong". This is the first time.
Not only did he not cry when he was beaten, but he was very calm. When he realized that his usually gentle mother had an unprecedented mood, he immediately knelt down and kowtowed, showing weakness and asking for forgiveness.
"Who taught you the words 'faint king'?!" Dong'er asked angrily, "I have always taught you that your two majesties are my mother and my benefactors, why don't you respect them?!"
"That's what they say on the street." Ji Xiaohuai whispered.
Of course Dong'er knew that the Jade Birds and the Jade Swings were dangerous to the country, but after all they had saved her, she didn't want to speak ill of them.
The mother and son were silent for a long time. Finally Dong'er said, "Your father has something important? If we follow him, we will drag him down."
"Oh, I understand, kid." Ji Xiaohuai didn't ask any more questions.
"Alas~" Dong'er touched the top of his son's head, "On one side is the benefactor, and on the other is the husband. I... alas~"
……………………
Wheat Bran City, a big grain city in the east.
The tax situation here is also good. All the wealthy people pay in accordance with the regulations, and no one dares to object. Birdman and Swing still play in the city for a few days, while Jihuai collects taxes. After a few days, they go to another auxiliary city, Xianjing
city.
"What's going on! Where's the money!" Birdman looked at the empty city gate and shouted, "What? Resisting taxes?!"
Ji Huai entered the city and negotiated with the city lord. He came back half a day later and said, "Report to Your Majesty. You guessed it right. The people of Xianjing City...resisted taxes."
"How brave!" Swing shouted, "Come here, arrest all the rich people."
As soon as he finished speaking, several royal ministers appeared out of thin air and flew into the city with a "swish". In less than a cup of tea, several wealthy leaders were captured.
"How many of you are guilty?!" Birdman asked angrily, "The state collects taxes as a matter of course, why don't you pay them?!"
Rich Man A raised his head with cold eyes: "The emperor is in power, and the taxes are heavy, unfair, and inconsistent with the law. Even if we pay taxes, the result will be nothing more than being squandered by you and helping the people."
"Bold! How dare you scold me!" Swing was furious, "Come here, kill them!"
"Wait a minute!" At the critical moment, Ji Huai stopped him, "Your Majesty, please calm down."
"Quit your anger!" Birdman said, "If you still scold me for not paying taxes, you are courting death."
"Your Majesty, if you kill them, I'm afraid the taxes in Xianjing City will never be collected again," Ji Huai said.
"What do you mean?" Swing said, "You know, killing chickens to scare monkeys? If I kill them, other people will definitely be afraid. How can they dare not pay taxes?"
"Your Majesty, you don't know something." Ji Huai said, "Xianjing City is different from other cities. It is the first human gathering area in East Border City and is also the clan territory of the New Year Kingdom. The so-called 'Xianjing' refers to
Here is the first well in the Eastern District that nourishes the people. This city has a long history, the clan power is stable, and the concept of family is highly respected. The sinners in front of you are the leaders of the current families. If they die, the remaining people would rather die.
I won’t give in.”
"Oh, I can't cure you yet." Birdman thought for a while and shouted, "Come here, go directly to the city to check the warehouses of each family and bring all the finances here! Grandma, I don't need you to pay taxes.
I'll grab it!"
The royal family came in to search again, but soon everyone reported, "Your Majesty, nothing was gained."
"Huh? How come there is no harvest?" Birdman asked.
"Hahahaha..." Rich Man B suddenly laughed, "Young Master, you didn't expect that. We have hidden the gold and silver property for a long time. Your bad behavior is known to the world, so we guessed that there would be an 'open robbery'. Haha.
Ha ha……"
"Pah!" Swing called out the magic whip and whipped it hard, "laughing at your grandma and grandson!"
Birdman said angrily: "You think there is nothing we can do about this?" He ordered again, "Go to the city and arrest some old people and children. If you dare not pay the 'protection fee', grandma, I will kill your whole family in front of you!"
"The gangsters have directly called the tax "protection fee."
"Hunjun! Hunjun! You can't be so abominable!" The rich people panicked. They never expected that the emperor was so evil and used such despicable means to force people into submission, "Hunjun! Hunjun!"
"You dare to scold us?!" Swing shouted, "Believe it or not, I tortured the elderly and children before killing them!"
"You! You!" the rich people were furious, but they did not dare to say more. "We will pay, we will pay. Please let go of the elders and young children of our city."