My house was confiscated and I was exiled. I emptied the emperor's warehouse and fled.

After drinking and eating, the shopkeeper invited Zhou Mu, Qin Junyi and others to move to the teahouse.

Amid the aroma of tea, Dong Jian began to get down to the topic: "General Qin was brave and powerful. He was able to drive Beidi out of the country in the past, and the northern barbarians who invaded Youzhou's territory must also be in trouble. I hope General Qin can help to protect the country." This country will have long-term peace and stability."

Qin Feng said calmly: "My lord, you are ridiculous. Qin just benefited from the support of all the soldiers. Now that the Zhenbei Army has been disbanded and returned to the field, without them sacrificing their lives for righteousness, Qin Mou is far less brave than your lord, and it may be difficult to compete with him." The northern barbarians resisted.”

Mr. Dongfang took over the topic: "Although the Zhenbei Army has been disbanded, there are still many soldiers who follow General Qin. They are all first-rate heroes and will definitely be able to protect the safety of the people of Youzhou."

Chu Yi confronted him: "General Qin's current manpower can only barely protect himself. If you want to fight the enemy, you will inevitably recruit troops, and the corresponding food, fodder, and military pay will also need to be allocated by the state animal husbandry."

Sima immediately said: "We, the people of Youzhou, are poor and have poor harvests all year round. It is difficult to guarantee the military pay at the moment, and it is really difficult to supply General Qin."

"I want the horse to run, but also the horse not to eat grass. I dare to ask Master Sima, where can such a good thing happen?" Chu Yi had a smile on his face and looked at Sima as if he were watching a joke.

Sima was humiliated by an exiled man, and he shouted angrily: "You are presumptuous!"

Mr. Dongfang immediately added more tea: "Master Sima, please drink a cup of tea first to vent your anger. If you have anything to say, please speak it carefully. Don't hurt your harmony."

Sima glanced at him and Zhou Mu, took the warm tea and drank it in one gulp, the anger on his face hard to go away.

Seeing that the atmosphere was tense, Dong Jian said at the right time: "I have been in charge of Youzhou for many years, so I naturally understand the principle of food and grass going first before the troops are moved. However, the current government finances cannot allocate military pay. If General Qin has other demands, , I will give my full support.”

Qin Junyi said: "Qin saw that Youzhou was developing a military and garrison system. If you can cultivate and farm fields, you can raise your own troops and there will be no need for state funding."

"How much land do you want?"

"The entire Youzhou is vast and sparsely populated. Qin wants 10,000 hectares of arable land."

Sima shouted: "Ten thousand? This is equivalent to the cultivated land area of ​​a county!"

Dong Jian looked gloomy and looked directly at Qin Junyi: "With so much farmland, can you finish planting it?"

"To be honest, Qin has sent people to hire tenant farmers in other places, so he will not waste the land." Qin Junyi met his gaze and did not shy away.

"If you can't grow it..."

"Qin will pay the land tax according to the court regulations."

In other words, he does not recognize local assessments and miscellaneous taxes.

Since the founding of the People's Republic of China, the Zhou Dynasty has pursued a policy of recuperation and recuperation, and the field tax has been set at one tax per fifteen, which is about 6.6% of the harvest.

However, the land tax was not much, but the poll tax and corvee were very heavy. In addition, the local government also had many exorbitant levies and miscellaneous taxes.

More than half of a farmer's harvest must be handed over to the government directly or converted into money. If they could not pay taxes during times of famine, they would have no choice but to sell their land or people and become tenant farmers or slaves of wealthy gentry families.

As a tenant farmer, the rent was as high as 60% to 70%. After paying the land rent, less than 20% of the grain was left to feed the family.

However, these wealthy gentry households only recognized the taxes stipulated by the imperial court, and also hid the population of tenant farmers and slaves to avoid land taxes, poll taxes, etc.

According to the power of the Qin family, it has become one of the powerful people in Youzhou.

Therefore, what he said was not excessive.

But when it fell into Zhou Mu's ears, it was difficult to accept it.

The Qin family must have wanted this large area of ​​land to support and hide the old tribe, and those refugees must also be disguised as the old tribe.

If the Zhenbei Army continues to move to Youzhou, then the entire Youzhou will become the territory of the Qin family.

The negotiations reached a deadlock, and Mr. Dongfang tried to turn the tide: "General Qin, you said last time that all employed refugees will follow the government order and settle in Beiling Village."

"Indeed." Qin Junyi nodded.

"It's winter now, and most of the victims fleeing the famine have stopped. Otherwise, you can buy some land first, and then buy it later when there are more people and less land."

Qin Junyi was noncommittal and asked instead: "I wonder which border area Master Zhou Mu wants Qin to guard."

Dong Jian stated what was needed for the peace talks: "With Beiling Village as the center, it is one hundred miles east and west."

These two hundred miles were the area outside the capital city where the Northern Barbarians' sneak attacks were most serious.

Qin Junyi nodded: "Then the population and land of all villages within a radius of two hundred miles will be under the jurisdiction of Qin. In this way, Qin can set up defensive formations according to local conditions."

"You want jurisdiction?!" Dong Jian's face turned completely dark.

Qin Junyi said calmly: "You can also move all the people within this area."

Dong Jian's face was tense. If this land was given away, it would be difficult to take it back.

Seeing that the atmosphere was frozen again, Mr. Dongfang asked: "How many people do you want to settle in this land?"

"The current plan is to provide between 10,000 and 20,000."

"That's enough population to create a county."

After listening to Mr. Dongfang, Chu Yi laughed casually and said, "It would be a good idea to establish a new county."

Qin Junyi glanced at Chu Yi with a puzzled expression. Chu Yi's smile froze slightly, showing an annoyed look.

Their reactions were seen by Dong Jian and others, and they thought about it in their hearts.

Rather than letting the Qin family become a local power that hides its population and establishes private armies, it is a good strategy to establish a new county and use official methods to keep an eye on the situation in the Qin family's territory in the name of supervision and investigation.

However, the specific pros and cons need to be carefully considered...

Dong Jian concealed his thoughts and ended the negotiation: "General Qin, I still have official business to attend to, so I will talk about this today. At the same time tomorrow, Mr. Dongfang will negotiate on my behalf."

Qin Junyi stood up: "Qin also has something important to do. After that, Chu Yi will negotiate with Mr. Dongfang."

After everyone dispersed and went downstairs, Qin Mu, who heard the commotion, walked out of the backyard and stood next to Qin Junyi, watching Zhou Mu and others leave.

Afterwards, Qin Mu apologized: "Brother, I'm sorry, I left the show midway."

"It's okay, is she Miss Ruoshu?" Qin Junyi knew that his third brother had been obsessed with him for many years, so how could he blame him.

Qin Mu showed a rare bright smile: "Yes, I guessed it."

After saying that, Yin Ruoshu and Aman, who put on their masks again, came from behind.

"Shu'er, this is my eldest brother, and this is the Sixth Young Master of Chu." Qin Mu immediately introduced her.

After greeting each other, Qin Junyi said: "This is not the place to talk. Miss Ruoshu, can you come over to talk to me?"

"Okay." Ruoshu went with them to the Qin family's residence in Dongcheng.

After arriving, Qin Junyi asked about her current situation and invited her to stay here for safety reasons.