Dominating Martial King
Chapter 265 - 265 199 Setting Rules_3

265: Chapter 199 Setting Rules_3 265: Chapter 199 Setting Rules_3 Chu Xisheng then burst into a sarcastic laugh, not taking it seriously, “This is West Mountain Town.

You may choose not to come, but if you do, you must abide by my rules.

I spoke to you nicely, and no one listened, so we had to resort to arms.

Also, I do not like others being late.

Today is our first meeting, and since you all are unaware of my character, I will not hold it against you.

However, if it happens again, do not say that I didn’t warn you.”

At this moment, the entire building was dead silent.

The crowd’s expressions were grave, and they pondered that although this young man had the appearance of a pretty boy and spoke gently, his style of operation was indeed domineering, fierce, and ruthless.

It is no wonder he was able to kill Liu Dingtang and take down West Mountain Town.

The three men who were kicked down from the restaurant by Li Shenshan, although landowning magnates themselves, now lay incapacitated on the ground with broken ribs, unable to stand up.

Their several followers were also blocked by a group of Iron Banner Gang members wielding broadswords, unable to assist.

All they could do was watch helplessly as the three men struggled in the muddy ground.

“That’s much better.”

Seeing everyone quiet down, Chu Xisheng nodded in satisfaction, “The matter for discussion today is the land tax and poll tax.

I’ll make this quick.

The county government has set the amount at 850,000 stones of land tax and 470,000 taels of poll tax, to be paid within a month.

Over the past few days, I’ve sent people to negotiate with the government.

The land tax has been reduced to 500,000 stones, and the poll tax to 310,000 taels.

It can’t be reduced any further.

The county government office states the figures recorded in the Yellow Book must be adhered to.

Being new here and having shallow connections in the county office, there’s nothing more I can do about this matter.

If any of you have objections, you might pool your efforts to negotiate with the government.

You shouldn’t rely solely on me.”

At this point, a cold sneer appeared on the faces of the people in the building, yet they said nothing.

The amounts for the poll tax and the land tax had increased by a quarter compared to previous years.

But what did that additional part have to do with them?

Chu Xisheng didn’t care and continued, “Moreover, I have reviewed the tax records of West Mountain Town from Emperor’s reign.

According to the accounts, during the Emperor’s reign, peasants with less than ten acres bore a poll tax of 110,000 taels and a land tax of 70,000 stones.

This is the most detailed tax record of West Mountain Town, so I plan to collect from them based on these figures from last year.

The rest of the amount will be covered by each of your families proportionally—”

At this point, someone in the crowd cried out in shock and anger, “Why should we?”

Chu Xisheng immediately raised his eyebrow, glancing over.

The person caught by his gaze suddenly felt choked, a chill running through his body, and he silently sat back down.

Chu Xisheng’s words then carried a cold tone; “I am appointed by the government as the village chief of West Mountain Town, and I have the final say on how the taxes should be collected.

Remember, next time wait until I finish speaking before you start, and mind your manners.”

“Master Chu, your words are rather overbearing,” Wen Tiance said from across, with a feigned smile, “You are unfair in your dealings, yet you won’t allow us to speak?

The increase in the land tax and poll tax by more than twenty percent naturally should be shared by everyone.

Why should we bear the extra part?”

The people inside the restaurant deeply agreed and felt sympathetic.

However, with the example of the three men downstairs, they all just silently watched Chu Xisheng, not daring to make a noise.

Chu Xisheng looked at Wen Tiance with a smile, “The way of heaven is to take from the surplus to supplement the insufficient.

It’s not easy for commoners to make a living; this extra part can only be borne by the large families.

That is the rule I have set.

You may comply or choose to resist the tax.

Liang Chen—”

Chu Xisheng, holding a teacup in one hand, asked, “According to ‘Daning Law,’ what should be done with those who resist tax payment?”

Liang Chen, indifferent, replied, “All who resist paying taxes, all household heads and adult males will be conscripted into the border army, their lands confiscated at market value to offset the grain tax.”

He was the legitimate son of the Coastal Zhou Family, well-versed in the court’s tax decrees.

However, this decree, established during Grand Ancestor’s reign, though still officially in place, was effectively obsolete.

Whether the local government could confiscate the lands of local magnates and conscript them depended on relationships and local power.

The Daning Government could not trouble the local magnates, thus shifting the majority of the tax burden onto the lesser households.

In today’s world, large households bore scant land tax, virtually exempt from the poll tax.

The rich owned endless stretches of farmland, while the poor lacked even a place to stand.

Upon hearing this, Chu Xisheng smiled, his voice as cold as ice, “The government gave me a month’s deadline, now seven days have passed.

I’m giving you all twenty days to pay.

That’s not unreasonable, right?

If I don’t see the money by then, you can’t blame me for acting according to ‘Daning Law.’ Also, if you want to pay less tax, there’s another way—go to the county office and have a word with the Household Department Rubber.

That’s all for today’s meeting.

Bring in the wine and dishes!”

The crowd was taken aback upon hearing this; they had not expected Chu Xisheng to be so domineering.

The meeting was over, and they weren’t given any chance to argue or discuss.

Their faces darkened like ironclad, their expressions grave.

In Daning, the ‘village chief’ position roughly equated to the ‘grain chief’ of the Da Hao Dynasty 7000 years ago and the ‘Three Elders’ of the Heavenly Han Dynasty 17,000 years ago, generally held by local magnates.

The village chief not only had the responsibilities of measuring land, compiling Fish Scale Maps and Yellow Books but also encouraged plowing and sericulture, reported and punished tax evasion, reported disasters and asked for tax exemptions, exposed illegal officials, and stubborn locals.