Eternal Immortal Dynasty: Starting as a Petty Official

Chapter 102 Collecting Land Taxes (Seeking First Subscriptions!!!)

The Hedong Pavilion was quite far from the Shanghu Pavilion, and Zhao Xian and his party did not return to Yangpingli until dusk.

After several days of absence, if they hadn't known that Zhao Xian was not a reckless person, his father Zhao Yi and uncle Zhao Li would have gone to Hedong Pavilion to look for him and the others.

Seeing that Zhao Xian had brought back a lot of valuables, everyone in the family was naturally overjoyed.

One ox was given to his uncle's family, while the other was placed in the home of his uncle Zhao Zhi.

Poultry, farm tools, and many other miscellaneous items were also divided among the families.

As for the blond-haired boy and his sister that Zhao Xian brought back, their mother, Zhao Xushi, was very distressed to learn that their parents and brothers had all passed away.

"Yellow-haired boy, yellow-haired boy!"

This way of addressing him was quite casual, so Zhao Xian gave the blond-haired boy a name: Huang Zhong.

The blond boy was naturally delighted to accept the name.

However, since their own residence was not large enough, Zhao Xian had no choice but to stay at the residence of his uncle Zhao Zhi with Zhao Hong and the blond-haired boy.

His own room was reserved for his younger sister Zhao Yu and the thin girl Huang Xia.

Huang Zhong's younger sister did not have a full head of blond hair, so she naturally had a name and surname, but Zhao Xian had never asked her about it before.

Since the family's house was not big enough, Zhao Xian took the opportunity to suggest to his father that they build a few more houses, and his father did not refuse.

Now that we have horses and oxen at home, it's time to expand!

Moreover, during the cold winter, many clansmen have nothing to do at home, so building a house is not out of the question.

This also allows impoverished tribespeople to earn some money and ease their burdens.

With this in mind, the father and son discussed it with their grandfather and others the next day and decided to build another side courtyard.

As for the required talisman money, the county government has issued a reward of two thousand talisman money, and the strong laborers in the family can save a lot of talisman money.

Two thousand coins should be enough to buy timber and bricks, and hire a few clansmen.

Uncle Zhao Li went to find the geomancer Sun Gan again and asked him to calculate an auspicious day.

Because Sun Gan found a sacred well for the Zhao family while searching for a well site, Zhao Li had murderous intentions towards Sun Gan, but he did not take action after being persuaded by Zhao Xian and others.

However, Sun Gan's actions also made Zhao Li more convinced of his abilities.

When the auspicious day arrived, construction on the house began.

Zhao Xian stayed at home for another seven or eight days, carefully instructing Huang Zhong in boxing techniques before preparing to return to his village.

With Huang Wen and Huang Liang arrested, the Yan family seemed to have done nothing more than wipe out the entire Huang family, which greatly surprised Chen Yuancheng.

Surprised, Chen Yuancheng sent Zhao Ji back to Yangpingli to warn Zhao Xian and the others to be careful.

Upon hearing this, Zhao Xian secretly told his uncle and father about it.

My uncle and father each consumed a Tiger Power Grass, and their cultivation levels have improved in recent days, but they are still far from reaching the Bone Refinement level.

However, the eldest brother, Zhao Zheng, successfully entered the Tendon Refining stage, thus securing his position as the thief seeking at Shanghu Pavilion.

After discussing it as a family, they could only proceed with greater caution in the future.

However, Zhao Xian believed that the Yan family's low profile suggested that something must have happened within the family.

By the time he returned to his country home, it was already early November.

There was nothing much going on in the village, so Zhao Xian spent his days either cultivating himself or studying Taoist scriptures under Chen Yuancheng's guidance.

The path of an official requires not only cultivation but also a deep understanding of Taoist scriptures.

Zhao Xian's talent in the Daoist scriptures can only be considered average, without any extraordinary achievements, so he really needs Chen Yuancheng's guidance.

A month passed peacefully like this, and by December, the village had begun collecting land taxes.

Liu Maogao, a village official, was promoted to the county government, and Zhao Xian will be in charge of collecting land taxes this year.

As night fell, after practicing his archery skills, Zhao Xian prepared to meditate and cultivate his inner energy.

Just then, a few soft sounds came from outside the door.

Zhao Xian listened intently for a moment, then opened the door, where two officials stood.

"Sun Jun, Ying Jun, is something the matter?"

Zhao Xian looked at the two of them and asked with a smile.

"Mr. Zhao, may I have a word with you in private?"

The minor official surnamed Sun immediately smiled and said.

Seeing this, Zhao Xian stepped aside to open the door and invited the two into the room.

After closing the door, the three of them politely declined each other's invitations and then took their seats.

"Lord Zhao, how do you intend to collect the land tax this year?"

As soon as Fang sat down, the minor official surnamed Sun asked with a smile.

"Naturally, land taxes will be levied according to the acreage registered in the fish-scale register."

Zhao Xian was slightly taken aback, then smiled calmly.

"Should we follow the same practice as in previous years?"

The minor official surnamed Sun pressed for more information.

"As usual~"

Zhao Xian pondered for a moment, a look of doubt appearing on his face.

Seeing that Zhao Xian seemed not to understand the implied meaning of the minor official surnamed Sun, the other man immediately smiled obsequiously and said, "Lord Zhao, you are unaware of the fact that the old practice we mentioned is an additional levy."

"Additional taxes?"

Zhao Xian was taken aback again, but then he understood. He narrowed his eyes, looked at the two people in front of him, and smiled, "In previous years, was an additional forty talismans levied on each household?"

"Zhao Jun has a keen eye!"

Upon hearing this, the two men naturally offered a compliment.

In Wohu Township, there are seven pavilions and forty-one villages. There are more than 3,500 registered Taoist households. Each household is charged an additional 40 taels of silver, which amounts to more than 100,000 taels of silver!

Upon thinking of this, Zhao Xian couldn't help but feel a surge of greed.

"Zhao Jun~"

Seeing that Zhao Xian was deep in thought, the two people in front of him called out softly.

"Lord Zhao, this is the usual practice, it's the same every year!"

As if thinking Zhao Xian didn't understand, the minor official surnamed Sun spoke up again.

Zhao Xian snapped out of his reverie, a smile spreading across his face. He recalled the small tokens of appreciation Liu Mao and the others had given him when he first arrived at the village house, as well as the basket full of golden talisman coins in Chen Yuancheng's inner room.

"Lord Sun, Lord Ying, and Lord Cao, are you aware of this matter?"

Zhao Xian nodded toward the main hall of the central courtyard, then asked in a low voice.

"Cao Jun is also aware of this!"

Zhao Xian nodded slightly, then asked again, "How was the additional tax levied last year distributed?"

Upon hearing this, the two minor officials made no attempt to conceal their intentions. One of them immediately whispered, "Lord Zhao, according to custom, the land registered in the households of us village officials, as well as the heads of various pavilions and hamlets, should be taxed in reduced amounts."

"The deficit was made up by the additional taxes levied."

"Taking Huting as an example, last year we received 16,000 coins. Of these, 4,000 coins were given to the village magistrate, 2,000 coins were taken by Cao Jun, 2,000 coins were used for public purposes in the village, and we officials divided 8,000 coins in total."

Zhao Xian showed no unusual expression upon hearing this.

The additional land tax levied affected the interests of local officials, as well as the heads of various pavilions and villages, and Zhao Xian had no way to deal with it.

Even if this matter is reported to Chen Yuancheng, nothing will change.

Upon thinking of this, Zhao Xian smiled and said, "In that case, let's follow the old practice!"

"Zhao Jun is wise!"

The two men praised each other, and then the three chatted for a few more minutes before the two men got up to take their leave.

After seeing the two off, Zhao Xian sat upright on the bed, took out a pill of vital essence, closed his eyes slightly, and continued to practice meditation.

Such a thing is something that even the Yunlan Sect could not prevent, let alone myself.

Perhaps only when Emperor Qian first established the Qian Dynasty and implemented sweeping reforms, weakening powerful clans and aristocratic families, when the social atmosphere was clear and the people lived in peace and prosperity, could such a thing have been prevented from happening.

Of course, it's only a possibility!

As he pondered, Zhao Xian's lips curled up slightly, a half-smile playing on his lips, as he became completely absorbed in his cultivation.

The next morning, the sun rose in the east.

After breakfast, Zhao Xian, along with the minor officials surnamed Sun and Ying, directed several village soldiers to carry tables, bamboo slips, straw mats, and other miscellaneous items to the open space in front of the village house.

The collection of land taxes still started from the village pavilion.

The two minor officials, surnamed Sun and Ying, sat behind a desk, calculating land taxes based on the number of acres recorded on bamboo slips, while the other counted the coins and millet in front of them.

As for Zhao Xian, he stood aside, surveying the surroundings.

After searching around, Zhao Xian couldn't find the familiar desk. The Yan family hadn't sent any guests to lend money this year.

With Huang Liang arrested, the entire Yan family couldn't find another literate guest?

Zhao Xian would not think that way. As the saying goes, a barking dog doesn't bite. Since Huang Liang was arrested, the Yan family has only wiped out the Huang family, which can be described as extremely low-key.

"Could there be another motive?"

While Zhao Xian was pondering, he heard a cry and saw a Taoist priest kneeling on the ground, kowtowing repeatedly.

"Yan Liubing, your family's land tax is 1,040 talismans, but you have only paid 300 talismans, leaving a shortfall of 740 talismans!"

The official surnamed Sun, standing behind the desk, had a somber expression. He looked down at the kowtowing Taoist priests and shouted sternly.

"Even if you kneel here until you die, you still need to pay the full amount of the talisman fee!"

Zhao Xian glanced at the Taoist priest and suddenly felt that if the Yan family had guests here today, they could help the Taoist priest out of his predicament.

"Why hasn't the Yan family come here this year?"

"The Yan family has never been here before, what should we do!"

Seeing that the Yan family guests had not arrived, many Daoist practitioners showed a hint of doubt, and some even showed a hint of panic.

Clearly, these Taoists who looked panicked must not have brought enough talisman money and wanted to borrow it from the Yan family.

Thinking of this, Zhao Xian suddenly had a thought. He raised his hand and summoned a village soldier, whispered a few words in his ear, and the village soldier immediately went towards the village house.

"Lord Sun, spare this Daoist!"

Zhao Xianfu then looked at the official surnamed Sun and said calmly.

The official surnamed Sun immediately waved for the Taoist priest in front of him to step down and then called the next Taoist priest to come forward.

As for Zhao Xian, he looked towards the direction of the village. Sure enough, not long after, a minor official rode his horse towards Yandeli.

More than half an hour later, a group of people carrying a table came toward the country house, led by a guest of the Yan family who looked somewhat familiar.

When the Yan family guests arrived at this place and saw Zhao Xian holding a knife, their expressions immediately changed slightly.

After instructing his servants to arrange the table neatly, the Yan family guest stepped forward and bowed to Zhao Xian.

Zhao Xian returned the greeting, exchanged a few pleasantries, and then the guest returned to his desk.

Seeing that someone from the Yan family had finally arrived, many Daoist practitioners breathed a sigh of relief.

When Dao Min borrowed money from the Yan family, Zhao Xian did not stop him. When the Yan family guests tampered with the loan receipts, Zhao Xian simply pretended not to see it.

When it came time to collect the land tax from Shanghuting, Zhao Xian's large family, which owned nearly a hundred acres of land, had not paid a single grain of millet.

Compared to last year, the Zhao clan members in Yangpingli paid 100 catties less millet per household. 100 catties of millet is enough for a family of four to get through the lean season.