Through the troubled times and famine, I just want to farm peacefully

Feng Yongyan took a sip of tea and said in a low voice, "Master Yun, we are colleagues, and I will not hide it from you. The Crown Prince is currently the regent and the Prime Minister is assisting in the administration. In the final analysis, the Prime Minister has the final say on all matters of the court."

"The Central Plains is engulfed in war, and the imperial court is powerless to resist. Cities have been lost one after another, and the relocation of the capital has left the treasury empty. The prime minister has re-employed you this time in order to make up for the grain taxes owed last year and this year."

Yun Zhenchuan was stumped. After he was removed, Fan Xueli and the Yu family took over the storage affairs of the two prefectures in the south. Last year's grain tax had already been divided up by the two families. How could they get any money out?

The ministers appointed by the court are all shrewd men. The journey is long and the roads are so chaotic nowadays that it is still unclear whether they can reach the south.

It seems that this hot potato has finally fallen on his head.

Yun Zhenchuan sighed and told Feng Yongyan all his concerns. "Master Feng, you also know the current situation of my Yun family. I am like a rootless duckweed in the South. How could the Yu family spit out the fat meat that has been eaten?"

"Last year, the Southland recruited a large number of refugees. They just settled down in those desolate villages. The officials did not supervise the agricultural policies. Many families did not even know how to grow rice. The grass on the mountains was stripped clean. How could they pay taxes? The aristocratic families in the Southland recruited a large number of good slaves and hidden households. I am afraid that this year will be the same..."

Feng Yongyan was also in a dilemma. Before coming to Nanzhou Prefecture, he had already found out about the current situation of the Yu family.

"I have heard about the Yu family's affairs before I came here. I didn't expect that they relied on their connections in the military government to do whatever they wanted, regardless of the lives of the people, and privately adjusted the salt price, treating human lives as nothing. I will definitely report it to the court and let the prime minister make the decision!"

"In this case, I would like to thank Lord Feng on behalf of the people."

"Last year's grain tax was taken over by the Yu and Fan families in the south, so I will urge them to hand it over to the court."

The Yu and Fan families had taken over the South Land for a year without consulting him, and it was obvious that they did not take Feng Yongyan seriously.

A sneer appeared on Feng Yongyan's lips. He had heard that Yun Zhenchuan's two nephews and nephews who had luckily survived in the north had caused quite a stir in Longtan.

"I heard that Nandi and Cangwu County launched two low-priced salts this year. Does Lord Yun know about this?" Feng Yongyan glanced at Yun Zhenchuan, holding the tea bowl in his hand and gently skimming the tea foam in the bowl with the tea lid.

Yun Zhenchuan's body stiffened slightly, and his hands on his legs clenched and relaxed.

Yunkang just talked about this with him last night, and Feng Yongyan brought it up today. Did Yunkang and the others know that Feng Yongyan was coming?

"That's true. To be honest with you, it was my two nephews who escaped death who promoted these two affordable salt products. They told me about it before." He said calmly.

Feng Yongyan rolled his eyes, "Oh? Then why didn't you report it?"

"Sir, you don't know that I have no one to rely on in the South. The Yu and Fan families regard me as a thorn in their eyes and flesh. How could they listen to me?"

Just as Yunkang said, Longtan lacks the opportunity to stand in front of the world in an upright manner. If Longtan rises, then his life in Nanzhou Prefecture will be better. Now the opportunity has come.

Feng Yongyan stared at the tea bowl in his hand in a daze, not knowing what he was thinking about.

Yun Zhenchuan took the opportunity to promote Longtan's salt. He said tentatively, "My nephew and his family settled in the barren Longtan. The Japanese people in Xihe always came to bully them. One day, by chance, they discovered that there was a salt field in Xihe County occupied by the Japanese. After several battles, they finally took over the salt field."

"You are truly worthy of being a descendant of the Yun family! If you are bullied, you must fight back hard." Feng Yongyan slapped his thigh and couldn't help but give a thumbs up to praise.

"The salt field is made directly from seawater. Although the output is not high, it is stable. Therefore, the Southland and Cangwu County no longer need to transport salt from other places. Not only is it a waste of manpower and resources, but the road is not safe now..."

Both of them understood what was left unsaid.

Yun Zhenchuan was not talking nonsense. Yun Kang secretly told him that the imperial convoys transporting goods to the south had been robbed by bandits many times this year, and people were sent to investigate but could not find any information.

This kind of thing is known to everyone, and it can be basically concluded that it was done by people from the court working together, but the traitor is hiding so deeply that he cannot be found.

Feng Yongyan nodded, "Everyone understands the truth, but if we just leave it alone, how can we explain it to the court?"

"Lord Feng, can you suggest to the court that a tax law be implemented on the Southland?"

"Taxation law?"

"Yes, I looked through the classics, and there was a city in the previous dynasty that implemented this method due to various reasons. In this way, the tax silver can be paid to the national treasury without any effort." Yun Zhenchuan appealed to his emotions and explained the situation with reason.

Feng Yongyan's hand, which was stroking his beard, couldn't help but tremble, and he suddenly pulled out a strand, causing him to hiss in pain.

"That's not a bad idea. I'll discuss it in detail with the salt official then." There was a cunning gleam in his eyes.

This way, he has room to maneuver inside.

Yun Zhenchuan took the opportunity to ask, "Do you want me to help you make an appointment with the people at the salt farm?"

Feng Yongyan hesitated for a moment and said, "It's better to do it today than to wait for a day. I think tomorrow is a good day. I'm sorry to bother you, Lord Yun."

"It's no trouble, just a little help."

After the two of them had discussed the details, Yun Zhenchuan arranged for Feng Yongyan to rest in the most luxurious inn in Nanzhou Prefecture.

At noon the next day, Yun Si arrived as promised and had dinner in the restaurant with Yun Zhenchuan and Feng Yongyan.

Earlier, he corresponded with Lin Yinan and the Yun brothers.

Yun Si was very generous. He gave the inspector Feng Yongyan a big red envelope as soon as he came up. After he politely declined, Feng Yongyan cleverly put the red envelope into his sleeve pocket.

Therefore, the two sides had very smooth talks and were extremely satisfied with the results of the negotiations.

The tax originally paid by Longtan was changed to be paid mostly by each merchant agent, with Longtan only accounting for 10% of the tax.

As soon as Feng Yongyan left the restaurant, Yun Si spread the news to the Yu family.

At this time, the Yu brothers and sisters were concentrating on studying the powerful weapon used by Longtan.

The steward who got the news came in in a hurry, "Miss, Second Young Master, something bad has happened. Supervisory historian Feng came to Nanzhou Prefecture yesterday and chatted with Yun Zhenchuan for half a day. Today, he dined with him in the restaurant again."

After hearing this, Yu Shida stood up suddenly and angrily said, "Useless! Why did you only receive the news now?"

"I don't know, but in the afternoon, Yun Zhenchuan and Lord Feng were seen by our people when they walked out of the restaurant."

The manager lowered his head, he also felt very wronged, as if a ghost had covered his eyes, Feng Yongyan suddenly appeared right under their noses.

"You are so good, Yun Zhenchuan. It turns out that the dog that doesn't bark is the best at biting. He must be the one behind this!" Yu Xunmei stared at him with her beautiful eyes and said viciously.

"Go quickly. I don't care what method you use. I will host a banquet for Master Feng at Haitang Pavilion tonight."

"My subordinates will do it now!"

The manager knew that he had failed miserably, so he turned around and ran out.

"What do you think Lord Feng Yongyan said to Yun Zhenchuan?" Yu Xunmei stroked the wrinkles on her skirt, her beautiful face revealing a nonchalant look.

Yu Shida gritted his teeth and said, "It's nothing more than two things, reinstatement or division of the Yu family's power."

"The imperial court has not sent anyone to take over the affairs of the two prefectures in the South for a long time. Now that Feng Yongyan has come, I'm afraid what you said will come true."

Yu Xunmei didn't care about the power and official positions that men were obsessed with. These were intangible things to her. She only wanted to eradicate those who were against her.