Confucian and Taoist scholar

Chapter 513 Taking from the surplus to make up for the deficiency
According to the regulations of the Kaiyang County government, anyone who wanted to do business or settle down in the area, regardless of whether they were a prominent family, a local gentry, a cultivator, or a demon, had to pay a certain amount of money or perform a service.

These taxes do not exist in other states and counties.

The Kaiyang County government also offered an explanation: since people live in the county, those with more ability and resources should contribute more to making the area better so that everyone can enjoy the benefits.

The way of the sky is more than damage but not enough to make up for.

Luo Qianji and the others also roughly understood why the ordinary people here lived a more prosperous life than people in other places.

Because the local government exploits those who are richer, more powerful, and more capable.

Despite this situation, many merchants came and went to do business, and cultivators and demons from other places also came.

The reason is simple: Kaiyang County is indeed more stable than other places.

That alone is enough to attract many people, and it's worth spending more money.

Besides stability, Kaiyang County's development far surpasses that of nearby prefectures and counties.

With its extremely convenient transportation and rapidly developing agriculture, commerce, and industry, even those engaged in spiritual practice can find a suitable way of life here.

Of course, not everyone was willing to contribute money and effort at the beginning; there were always short-sighted people who did not want to abide by these new policies and regulations.

Those people and forces were naturally and forcefully eliminated by the government.

Some were confiscated and sentenced for past offenses, while others had their household registration removed from the county.

Because of the special circumstances of Kaiyang County, those people couldn't even find anyone to help them.

After all, this place was designated as a pilot area by the imperial court. Even if some people's backers also opposed the new policies, they would not openly target them.

If you're a chess piece, you must be prepared to be one.

As Luo Qianji and his group listened to others recount stories about Kaiyang County, they gained a deeper understanding of the place.

After staying at the post station for a while, the group headed to the county town together.

Along the way, they saw teams building water conservancy roads.

The vast majority of the team members were highly skilled in Taoist arts, and some of them were even demons.

The monsters were the most enthusiastic about their work, seemingly enjoying it immensely.

Some people hummed tunes while working, and others happily joined in.

This was the first time Luo Qianji and the others had ever seen someone so cheerful while performing corvée labor.

In the past, I have seen some people serving in the labor service, and they all had lifeless, dead faces, because the labor service could really kill people, and no one could be happy about it.

Further on, you come to a flat plain where a vast city is slowly being built.

This is a new city planned by the government, specifically to house cultivators and demons.

After the autumn harvest next year, Kaiyang County will also hold a spiritual exchange conference in the new town.

Those who perform exceptionally well will receive a Four Realms cultivation technique suitable for them.

In the cultivation world, low-level cultivators still make up the majority, and such cultivation methods are enough to make many people flock to them.

This is one of the reasons why Kaiyang County can attract cultivators and demons from other places.

When Luo Qianji and his group arrived in the county town, they happened to see County Magistrate Li Yuan inspecting the farmland.

The group paid their way into the city, and as soon as they entered, they felt that the atmosphere was very good and gave them a sense of vitality.

As they walked and looked around, they discovered many new and interesting things, including charitable halls that provided for the orphans, widows, and disabled, and academies that provided education for poor children...

Before long, they arrived at Lu Zheng's residence. Outside the courtyard, there were patrolling guards.

It's not that I'm worried about anyone damaging this place; it's just that enthusiastic people always come here and leave some gifts.

If it weren't for the officials guarding the place, the courtyard would have been piled high with goods long ago.

Upon seeing the simple courtyard, one of them couldn't help but whisper, "Brother Lu used to live in a place like this?"

No matter how simple their lives were, the places they lived in were treasure lands full of spiritual energy. It's hard to imagine what kind of life Lu Zheng had lived before.

One of them chuckled and said, "How can a gentleman's dwelling be considered humble? Brother Lu is a man of great ability; even if he lives in a shabby place, he still exudes an air of nobility."

Luo Qianji exclaimed, "The officials and the people here are as close as fish and water. The people live in peace and contentment, the elderly have support, and the children are cared for... It is truly a scene of a prosperous age!"

Upon hearing this, someone remarked, "It's a pity that this is just a pilot site in Anguo. There are many obstacles along the way, and it may not last long!"

They knew that developing this area would be difficult and would face various obstacles.

One of them said quietly, "This is indeed a good place to come from. It is what I want. Brother Lu said that the prosperous era was built by everyone together. I want to stay here and not go back to Chu."

Upon hearing this, the others couldn't help but show surprise.

Apart from Luo Qianji, they all came with the intention of traveling, but surprisingly, someone took the lead in making up their mind to stay in such a small county town.

Luo Qianji's expression shifted slightly. "Brother Lu You, have you made your decision?"

Lu You nodded slightly and said, "I feel quite good here. I don't want this city to become like other places. What about you, Brother Qianji?"

Luo Qianji said, "I want to go to Tai'an to see if that academy will accept me. If I'm not capable enough, then I'll come back here..."

Luo Qianji also thought this place was good, but if the academy in Tai'an needed someone like him, he would prefer to go there to make the most of his talents.

Seeing that the two had made their decision, the others did not rush to express their opinions and planned to stay there for a while to see how things went.

In any case, the one thing they have no shortage of is time.

Luo Qianji and his companions toured the county town and then found Li Yuan, who had just returned to the city.

Luo Qianji gave Li Yuan a heavy box containing a letter from Lu Zheng.

When Li Yuan learned that these people were cultivators from the Chu Kingdom and had brought a letter from Lu Zheng, he couldn't believe it for a moment.

After examining the seal on the box, it was confirmed that it was left by Lu Zheng.

Li Yuan asked happily, "You know Lu Zheng? Where is he now? How is he doing?"

Luo Qianji replied, "Brother Lu is still traveling abroad, and even we don't know where he is."

Li Yuan was a little disappointed upon hearing this, as Lu Zheng estimated that he would have to travel abroad for a long time.

I've done so much, but I haven't found a chance to share it.

Li Yuan opened the box and took out a letter.

After opening and browsing through the letter, it was discovered that Lu Zheng already knew about the situation in Kaiyang County. The letter also praised him for his diligence in governing the people and said that he would become a role model for officials throughout the country.

Li Yuan was overjoyed. Lu Zheng's words were even more pleasing to him than any commendation from the imperial court.

After reading the letter, Li Yuan took out several pieces of paper money from the box, which were for his self-defense.

Li Yuan carefully unfolded the papers and felt the vast aura emanating from these literary treasures, causing his own literary energy to involuntarily increase slightly.

Li Yuan looked astonished, thinking to himself that Lu Zheng could now write such a masterpiece, even Dean Xiao probably couldn't compare.

(End of this chapter)