NCCnovel Chapter 272 Because, we are all poor people
Chapter 272 Because, we are all poor people
"As the leader of a party, he does not seek benefits for the people or share the worries of the court. Instead, he colludes with local powerful people and oppresses the people. This is a capital crime!"
"Working for a tiger and seeking skin from a tiger is a capital crime!"
"Deceive the superiors and deceive the subordinates, substituting one thing for another, a capital crime!"
"Gu Jiang, I'm asking you, how many heads do you have that you can chop off?!"
A sharp shout, with a huge sense of oppression, erupted from Zhou Zheng's body.
The cold killing intent made Gu Jiang, whose face was as swollen as a pig's head, tremble violently, and then knelt down towards Zhou Zheng again.
He never expected that the methods he used to mediate with the landlords and try his best to improve Zhou Zheng's political performance would actually be a capital offense in Zhou Zheng's eyes!
Gu Jiang's face was pale, he couldn't care less about his bleeding face and corners of his mouth, and kept begging for mercy.
"Prince... have mercy on me."
Gu Jiang never thought that things would develop to this point, and he looked desperate.
"Gu Jiang, you have been an official for more than twenty years, and you have been the county governor of Xiang County for seven or eight years."
"Don't you see that there is something wrong with this matter?"
Seeing Gu Jiang's attitude, Zhou Zheng took a deep breath and barely suppressed the anger in his heart.
"Please give me your advice."
At this time, Gu Jiang was still cautious. The chill that Zhou Zheng released just now made him feel the breath of death.
"If something goes wrong, there must be a demon!"
"Do you really think that when I come here, those local gentry who have always shown one thing to the court and another behind the scenes will suddenly be kind-hearted?"
Zhou Zheng sneered.
If these gentry had such good intentions and were even willing to cooperate with the court, Xiang County would not have remained unchanged for three hundred years.
In Zhou Zheng's opinion, there are only three possibilities!
The first one is that once Zhou Zheng violates the imperial court's autumn tax policy and adds an additional 30%, the news will soon spread to the imperial court. What awaits Zhou Zheng at that time will be a serious crime!
The second type is that these wealthy gentry want to drag Zhou Zheng into the water! Once the prince is dragged into the water and Zhou Zheng is held in his hands, those guys will probably shake things up in Xiang County in the future!
The third type, which is also the most serious, is when the government forces the people to rebel. The people cannot bear the 30% increase in autumn tax burden and revolt!
No matter what the possibility is, for Zhou Zheng, it is an inevitable outcome!
Hearing this, Gu Jiang was also frightened into a cold sweat!
He originally thought that all this was done by the powerful landlords in Xiang County to give Zhou Zheng face, but he never expected that there were so many risks hidden in it.
Even though none of this happened, even though it was just Zhou Zheng's guess, Gu Jiang knew very well that if any possibility arose, it would be a major crime to punish the Nine Clan or even the Ten Clan!
At this moment, Gu Jiang finally panicked!
"I ask you, if I don't agree to their request, what will happen to them?"
Sitting down again, Zhou Zheng frowned.
Since these landowners and gentry made such a request, they must have taken a back-up role.
"They won't do anything, but I think they will be the same as before."
Gu Jiang's voice became much lower.
The so-called "normal" means that this time Xiangjun's autumn tax will be the same as in previous years, with a maximum of 23 out of 10 collected.
Even these landlords and squires would do other small things overtly or covertly to make Zhou Zheng's political performance in Xiangjun even worse.
As a result, the possibility of Gu Jiang leaving Xiangjun is almost zero.
Zhou Zheng: "The autumn tax involves the country's foundation! If you refuse to pay the tax, what crime should you commit?"
Gu Jiang: "The light punishment can range from a stick to corvee service. The more severe punishment can range from confiscation of land or confiscation of the army. In serious cases, you can be beheaded!"
Gu Jiang answered honestly, but a sense of ominousness arose in his heart.
Even though Gu Jiang had heard some of Zhou Zheng's stories, when he was slapped hard by Zhou Zheng just now, he was already sure that the prince in front of him was definitely not simple.
At least, he is not a weakling but a tough one!
"In the face of national law, who is more powerful, these country gentry and local tyrants, or the law?"
"Returning to the Crown Prince, of course he is the Dharma Master!"
At this time, Gu Jiang had vaguely noticed something was wrong.
"Since you are the Dharma Master, why are you afraid?"
"I would like to see how many big landowners have heads that are harder than sharp knives during this autumn tax season!"
His eyes narrowed into cracks, and a little murderous aura escaped.
disobedient? !
It's very simple, just kill him!
"But, Prince, if this happens, I'm afraid it will cause turmoil..."
At this time, Gu Jiang could no longer care about the pain on his cheek, and large beads of sweat kept dripping from his forehead.
He really didn't expect that Zhou Zheng would be so direct and rough.
Could it be that Zhou Zheng wants to take the initiative to attack those people? !
Once that happens, I'm afraid the entire Xiang County will fall into chaos!
"So what if there's turmoil?"
"There is only one biggest reason why Xiangjun has been like this over the years!"
"That is because they have forgotten that there is only one talker in this land!"
"The present court!"
Zhou Zheng stood up suddenly, and a sharp energy roared out of his body.
He took the initiative to invite Ying to Xiang County, not to play tricks here, nor to mingle with the powerful squires here!
He, Zhou Zheng, is not here for political achievements!
He has only one purpose, and that is to completely control the entire Xiang County in his own hands.
Whoever dares to disobey him will put a long knife on whose neck!
"I, I want them to know clearly that in Xiang County, it is not their turn to act arrogantly!"
At this time, Gu Jiang was as silent as a cicada.
The weather in Xiangjun is about to change? !
"But can the Crown Prince really bring order to Xiang County?"
Sighing secretly in his heart, Gu Jiang looked bitter.
"Gu Jiang, a soldier who is not a general is not a good soldier. Do you want to go further as an official?"
Suddenly, Zhou Zheng changed the subject, and the coldness on his face was replaced by a soft smile.
"The lower officials have limited abilities and no background."
"If you can reach the position of county governor, you are already smoking in your ancestral grave."
Gu Jiang didn't know why Zhou Zheng asked such a question, but his response was unconfident and even looked decadent.
It's not that he doesn't want to, it's that he can't. He simply can't do it.
As Gu Jiang said, the county guard was already his limit.
For the rest of his life, what he wanted extravagantly was never to be promoted to an official position. He only hoped to be able to leave Xiangjun in his lifetime, which would be thankful to God.
"I'll give you a chance."
"Follow me well and you may have a different future."
Zhou Zheng stood with his hands behind his back and stepped away from Gu Jiang.
Follow the prince? !
Hearing this, Gu Jiang's heartbeat suddenly accelerated, his pupils dilated, and he looked at Zhou Zheng's back with a look of disbelief.
Zhou Zheng, the current prince.
The future prince!
The future Holy Lord!
Even if you are not favored now, even if you are weak now, so what?
At least, this is the only big tree that Gu Jiang can touch!
"Prince, why did you choose me?"
But Gu Jiang didn't understand. Zhou Zheng had countless choices, why did he choose him?
"Because you are not a bad person yet."
"Because we are all poor people..."