"The increase in tax is by the Emperor’s decree. As long as Lord Zheng carries it out, he’ll be safe and sound. If he tries to protect you, he’ll only land himself in trouble. So while my lord is still standing on your side, you’d better cherish it and don’t make trouble!" Qin San Lang was afraid they wouldn’t understand, so he broke it down for them bit by bit.

Fortunately, everyone did understand. Crying, they begged, "Company Commander Qin, we were wrong, we won’t make a fuss anymore. We’ll wait properly for Lord County Magistrate."

However, some villagers felt this tax was a disaster out of the blue and that they shouldn’t have to pay it, so they said, "Company Commander Qin, can’t this tax just not be collected? Even if the new bank lends us money to pay the tax, we’ll still be saddled with debt... Ever since the drought in the Northwest, the tax in our southern parts has become much heavier. We’ve already been unable to hold on. If it comes again, we really will have to sell our sons and daughters."

By the end, they were so upset they were wiping away tears.

The other villagers, seeing this, also began to shed tears one after another; some even covered their faces and sobbed in pain.

"Granny, don’t cry... Brother Qian is scared."

"Grandpa, if we can’t pay the Silver, will we be sold off? Wuu wuu wuu, don’t sell us. We’ll go find work and earn Silver for the family."

These old folks had brought quite a few children with them, wanting the Lord County Magistrate to take pity on them for the children’s sake. But the children were timid; seeing their own grandparents crying, they too burst into loud wails.

For a time the entire government gate was filled with the sound of crying.

Quite a few Government Officials, soldiers, and onlooking commoners started crying along with them. Luo Wu, though he forced himself to hold back and tried not to think of the past in the Northwest, still had reddened eyes.

Only Qin San Lang’s expression did not change. He looked at them and said, "The tax is what the Emperor wants to collect. If you don’t pay, you are defying the imperial will, and the outcome is execution of your entire clan by implication. Only by paying the tax can you stay alive. I’ve said all I can; you must fend for yourselves now."

After Qin San Lang finished, he instructed Zhang Zhong and Luo Wu, "You two stay here and keep watch. Guard it well; don’t let anything go wrong."

"Yes." Zhang Zhong’s eyes were red as well, but he believed in Company Commander Qin; he was certain he would never harm the villagers.

Qin San Lang did not linger. He lifted his feet and left, but he did not go out through the main gate of the government office. Instead, he detoured to the back gate, entered from the rear, and went to see County Magistrate Zheng.

County Magistrate Zheng had not rested for a whole day and night. At this moment his eyes were bloodshot, and dark circles ringed them. Together with the Financial Clerk and ten clerks, he was working through the government office’s accounts, trying to scrape out some Silver to hand in as tax.

It didn’t matter how much they could scrape together; as long as it could lighten the people’s burden a little, it would do.

After two days of calculations, they finally finished.

"My lord, our government office is not in deficit. We even have an extra eight thousand three hundred and seventy-four tael of Silver!" The Financial Clerk shouted in delight, but because he hadn’t slept all night, his voice was hoarse and unpleasant.

"Truly?!" County Magistrate Zheng snatched the account book from the Financial Clerk’s hand. When he saw the amount of Silver at the bottom, he burst out laughing. "Good, good, good. With these more than eight thousand tael, the commoners can pay a bit less tax."

Don’t think eight thousand tael is little. In many county seats of Great Chu, the accounts are in deficit; having surplus Silver at all is already rare.

As Qin San Lang walked into the courtyard, he heard this and knocked on the door before entering. He asked, "My lord truly intends to use this Silver to pay the tax for the people?"

"San Lang, you’re here." County Magistrate Zheng was very pleased to see Qin San Lang. If not for him guarding the government gate these past two days, he would never have been able to work in peace. At Qin’s words he nodded and said, "Mm. With this Silver, the people’s burden can be a bit lighter."

Qin San Lang said, "This is a drop in the bucket; it can’t save all the people of the county, and it is very likely to bring a mortal disaster down on you, my lord."

The Kangrong tax alone was one tael of Silver per person, not per household, and there was also the doubled poll tax and grain tax. Spread across every head, it was at least two tael per person. Tianfu County was a large county near Jiangnan with a population of no less than thirty thousand. What could a bit over eight thousand tael of Silver do?

County Magistrate Zheng felt as if a basin of cold water had been poured over his head; his face grew ugly. But he knew San Lang was speaking for his sake... The Emperor lacked Silver, and according to the Great Chu Criminal Law, any surplus Silver in a county government or government office was to be sent to the Capital along with the two taxes of money and grain.

"I’m sure I won’t be the only one doing this. I’ll submit a memorial to the Capital in advance. With Lord Zheng there, nothing will happen~" County Magistrate Zheng’s voice grew weak toward the end. 𝐟𝐫𝕖𝗲𝘄𝚎𝗯𝕟𝐨𝕧𝐞𝚕.𝕔𝕠𝐦

At such a time, what Old Master Zheng most ought to do was stand firmly on the Emperor’s side. Otherwise, he could very well lose the Emperor’s trust, and once Old Master Zheng lost the Emperor’s trust, it would be the beginning of the Zheng Family’s decline.

The great noble families and Rich Families, and the lords in the Capital all knew full well what would happen if they helped the common people. So one by one they played deaf and dumb, turned a blind eye, and thought only of self-preservation.

"Company Commander Qin, you too come from a farming family. How can you say such things? You’ve faced those villagers outside carrying coffins and bringing their children for two days, and you don’t feel heartsick?" County Magistrate Fang was young and still had the hot-blooded spirit of a scholar. He was very disappointed by Qin San Lang’s words and reproached him harshly.

Qin San Lang did not get angry. He let out a short laugh and cupped his fists to County Magistrate Zheng and County Magistrate Fang. "My humble self thanks you both, my lords, for caring about the people. But diverting the county government’s Silver will indeed bring danger upon Lord County Magistrate. Since I’ve seen this danger, I naturally must speak of it. Moreover, I already have a twofold solution, so I cannot let my lord divert the county government’s Silver."

"A twofold solution? What twofold solution? San Lang, out with it quickly." County Magistrate Zheng’s eyes lit up. He hurried over and grabbed Qin San Lang’s arm.

Qin San Lang said, "A house raid: raid the Gao family of Xianggui Town."

He then recounted what he had found—that Old Master Gao had colluded with Elder Shi, planning to stir up trouble at the government office and then buy up the villagers’ fields and persons at low prices.

"Old Master Gao makes his living in shady ways; all the money in his household is ill-gotten. This time, taking advantage of the tax chaos, he means to buy the villagers’ fields and sons and daughters cheaply. His family deserves to be raided, to warn the other Evil Men who are hoping to seize the villagers’ property at rock-bottom prices."

Qin San Lang looked at County Magistrate Zheng and said, "The Gao family’s property in Xianggui Town is well over ten thousand tael. If we raid them, the Silver we get will be much more than what’s on the government office’s books."

After hearing this, County Magistrate Fang sucked in a breath of cold air. Looking at Qin San Lang, he unconsciously took several steps back. "No wonder others gave you the nickname King Yan. You brat really aren’t someone to be trifled with."

Ah, San Lang, I just scolded you a moment ago as your elder brother. You mustn’t take it to heart.

"Hahaha, what King Yan? San Lang is only doing things for the villagers. Besides, the Gao family brought this on themselves. If that fellow Gao hadn’t played these crooked tricks, there wouldn’t be evidence in our hands, and the government office couldn’t very well raid his house!" Jiang Qi strode in with big steps, patted Qin San Lang on the shoulder, and said, "Good lad, well done. I truly didn’t misjudge you—you’re someone who can accomplish great things."