Chapter 89

When Zheng Ruqian heard Chang Yan’s analysis, the small courtyard fell silent for a moment.

Zheng Ruqian looked up in alarm, his voice suppressed as he asked, “Xiao Wu, how do you know so much?”

Could it be...

“What is Er Ge thinking?” Chang Yan said with an odd expression, “There is no such thing in my family.”

“That’s good then, that’s good then.” Zheng Ruqian patted his chest in relief.

He didn’t notice when Chang Yan lowered his eyelashes.

Xu Mo stepped forward to summarize, “So the person behind this should be Old San’s aunt, but the Bian County Magistrate was unwilling to say it outright, so let’s just pretend we don’t know.”

Fang Heng hesitated and nodded slowly.

He still felt there was something strange about the matter, but couldn’t figure out exactly what it was. He could only suppress it for now.

“Getting tax exemption will likely be very difficult.” Xu Mo was still thinking about the earlier matter. He looked to Zheng Ruqian, “Er Ge, go to Yunshui County and explain this matter to the Pang County Magistrate.”

If the two counties could jointly apply for new taxes together, the chances of success should be greater.

He then looked to Fang Heng, “The Bian County Magistrate may lose his temper tomorrow. Come with me.”

Having both force for protection and more bargaining power from numbers.

Although Bian Wenxuan still erupted in anger.

At the county office.

The young county magistrate jumped around like a flea, yelling, “How can you say such things? How can you submit such a request? How can the Prefect possibly approve it? If the Prefect approved it, what kind of pressure would he face?”

There had been no examples of tax exemption for wandering children in decades. Master Xu’s mouth opened and closed, shifting all the pressure onto the officials.

Bian Wenxuan waved his sleeve with one hand. “No, I don’t agree.”

Xu Mo had predicted this already. His expression was still relatively calm as he said, “Your Honor, if thousands of wandering children could gain residency, they would be able to live normal lives in the future, pay taxes and work. The contributions they could make to the county would only increase, not decrease.”

Calculated properly, exempting them from a year of taxes was an extremely cost-effective matter.

“I haven’t seen the contributions they’ve made, but thousands of people’s worth of taxes for a year is tangible silver and coin.” Bian Wenxuan also calmed down. “How can the dynasty’s rules be changed so easily? If you change it, what about others? Other places would also want to imitate it. How much would the national treasury lose in a year?”

“Laws are dead, people are alive. If a policy benefits the country more than harms it, why can it not be changed?” Xu Mo argued reasonably.

Bian Wenxuan was about to jump up and down again.

Standing in the back, Fang Heng coughed. He lifted one knee and snapped a newly made wooden stick in half.

Bian Wenxuan’s expression twisted, from anger to shock, and then a trace of grievance.

“This official, this official can stick my neck out and apply on your behalf, but whether the Prefect approves or not has nothing to do with me!” His voice grew shrill.

This was exactly what Xu Mo wanted to hear. He let out a long sigh of relief, put his hands together respectfully, and bowed, “Your Honor, thousands of wandering children will thank you.”

“Who wants their thanks.” Bian Wenxuan mumbled under his breath.

Xu Mo pretended not to hear, only waiting for the county magistrate to write out the application letter. But he didn’t immediately send it to Anshui Prefecture, but held onto it for four days.

Four days later, he had someone deliver the sealed letter to Anshui Prefecture.

After another four days, Zheng Ruqian returned with a whole cart of vegetables, happily announcing, “Big brother, the Pang County Magistrate agreed. Before I arrived, he had already submitted an application to Anshui Prefecture.”

Counting the timing, the letters from the two counties should have arrived at Anshui Prefecture one after the other.

Xu Mo nodded slightly. He felt the chances of success had grown somewhat.

He was no longer hesitant. He began a massive census, first needing to use the clerks from the county office, ordering them to notify each village and have the village chief assist in notifying every household.

During this time, all kinds of difficulties were unavoidable. Some were uncooperative, some too lazy to help. When book knowledge was no longer useful, even the most knowledgeable scholar had to roll up his sleeves and personally resolve problems.

Visibly, Xu Mo had grown thinner from busyness.

But the result was good. About a month later, the Prefect finally painfully approved this new tax regulation.

All the beggars in Xieyang County were excited.

“I can really gain residency now? Get land? And be exempt from this year’s taxes?” Pang Dashan couldn’t believe it. The eyes of his four younger brothers also reddened. Although they had earned money following Zheng Ruqian for a year, and could now pay taxes, the county’s issuance of this policy let them know they were cared about.

Those nameless beggars who would die without anyone asking after them could finally hold their heads high and live as human beings.

“Those who are still young and truly unable to work to pay next year’s taxes can wait.” Xu Mo closed the dossier. “Checking every ten years is too long. It would be good to shorten it to five years, or even three.”

It was just that the Prefect had painfully approved one item already. It wasn’t good to apply for a second right away.

Some breathing room had to be given to the Anshui Prefect as well.

Pang Dashan nodded repeatedly, not daring to hope for anything else.

This census, later known as the “Dayu Dynasty Taxation Turning Point”, took three months, from early autumn to early winter. The cold air brought rain and snow, settling over Xieyang County once more.

When those who were previously nameless and without household registration now had residency and land granted by the state, as well as exemption from the first year’s taxes, they all knelt outside the Xieyang County Offices and kowtowed.

“Thank you, County Magistrate. Thank you, Master Xu.”

The not completely uniform voices sounded from outside. Behind them, Bian Wenxuan fluttered about like a fly, repeatedly rubbing his hands, both excited and lost. “Are they really thanking me? Really thanking me?”

Xu Mo smiled and nodded.

He had said before that if this policy was truly issued, it would definitely receive the people’s gratitude and esteem.

“So this is what it feels like to do real things for the common people.” Bian Wenxuan’s eyes grew moist.

In the past at the Bian household, he was an unambitious wastrel. His parents didn’t look favorably upon him at all. No one took him seriously. Even this county magistrate position was bought with money.

Bian Wenxuan didn’t feel he could really be a good magistrate. He did indeed place the common people at the back of his mind, until now — he seemed to understand what it meant to love the people as one’s children.

He straightened his magistrate’s hat and robe, cleared his throat, and had Wang Xi open the county office gates.

He had expected to be greeted by thousands bowing down.

But unexpectedly, over ten matchmakers squeezed in. They were dressed up ostentatiously, wearing large red lips, with moles purposefully placed at the corners of their mouths. Their enthusiasm overflowed as they loudly called, “County Magistrate, we heard you’re twenty-five and still unmarried. Our county has so many young ladies in their prime as blossoming flowers. Have you considered...?”

“The cattle merchant outside Shili Town, his family has tens of thousands in wealth. His only daughter is still at home. Do you want to meet her? She would match well with you.”

Bian Wenxuan was squeezed into a pancake.

Behind him, Xu Mo reacted quickly to avoid it.

But unexpectedly, a matchmaker with a shrewd gaze blocked his path, smiling as she said, “You must be Master Xu. Such a young scholar is rare. Have you considered marriage? If not, you can first get engaged and hold the ceremony when you’re fifteen or sixteen. That’s good too.”