Your Majesty, please beg for mercy. The prince's rebellion was successful.

Chapter 290 Are you giving in?

Three days passed in a flash.

Today, hundreds of officials gathered at the Sheriff's Mansion.

None of the main officials in the eighteen counties and seventy-two cities were left behind.

But when they were gathered here, they didn't have the usual smiles on their faces, and they even looked a little nervous.

Because I don't know when, the county governor's mansion has been surrounded by hundreds of guards.

These guards were fully armed and full of murderous intent, which made many officials scream that something was wrong.

What's more, I have already begun to think in my mind about what reasons I will find to leave early.

"My lords, it's been a long time."

Suddenly, Zhou Zheng's voice came, and then appeared in front of many officials.

"I have met His Highness the Crown Prince!"

Everyone was not surprised, and then bowed to Zhou Zheng politely.

Everyone's eyes fell on Zhou Zheng at the front. Zhou Zheng had a smile on his face and couldn't see anything different.

But it was such a young and kind person who made everyone's hearts tremble slightly.

They already knew what happened in the past few days, and they felt a little sorry for those unlucky guys.

But what made them even more panicked and worried was the news released by the Chai family that Zhou Zheng had participated in their mutual protection meeting.

That day, there was a lot of people, and everyone's attention was on the five major families. Who would have expected that Zhou Zheng would be so courageous, quietly entering Kangning City, and hearing everything everyone said clearly.

Especially those officials who made some remarks against Zhou Zheng on the spot were even more panicked and trembling at this time.

I'm afraid that Zhou Zheng is settling the scores this time.

Fortunately, Zhou Zheng did not mention the mutual protection meeting at Ningdu Tower in Kangning City, but instead chatted with everyone.

"I heard a few days ago that all of you, my lords, are ill. This makes me very worried."

"My lords are still in good health. Otherwise, how would such a huge Xiang County function?"

The words Zhou Zheng spoke made many officials look extremely embarrassed.

They all knew that Zhou Zheng's words were clearly meant to tease them, and they could only apologize in embarrassment at the moment.

"Everyone came from afar today, and I won't talk nonsense."

"Today, I am only doing one thing, and that is the autumn tax!"

"According to the notice issued by the caretaker, all of you must know the specific content, so I am here and just want to ask, what difficulties do you have?!"

Zhou Zheng had a smile on his face, but in everyone's eyes, this smile was clearly a smile hiding a knife.

There was deathly silence below, and everyone looked at each other, but no one dared to speak at this juncture.

Although they had already signed a life-and-death certificate, everyone also knew the principle of shooting the first bird.

The silence speaks.

Absolute silence and silence are silent resistance.

This is their attitude and their choice.

Seeing that everyone was silent and no one spoke, Zhou Zheng also sneered in his heart.

Do these old guys really think that everything will be fine?

"If this is the case, then I will assume that you are full of confidence!"

"Come on!"

Waving their arms, Lei Tong and others had already walked up to the officials with pens and papers.

This form made all the officials frown and their expressions changed slightly, because it was exactly the same as the one in Corning City before!

Take a closer look at the content on the paper. It is not a life and death certificate, but a military order!

It is clearly stated above that if you fail to complete the task within the specified time, you will be punished.

If the autumn tax collection rate is less than 80%, he will resign and his house will be confiscated!

If the autumn tax collection rate is less than nine levels, you will be punished with a rod and fined!

Hiss, hiss! ! !

At this moment, the officials could no longer maintain their previous calmness. Almost everyone took a breath when they saw the contents of the military order.

This is no longer a trick, this is clearly meant to kill them!

What is the concept of the autumn tax collection rate of 80%? !

Looking at 72 cities in 18 counties and 300 years, it has never been completed!

As for 90%, I can’t even think about it!

And the severity of the punishment in Zhou Zheng's military order is unheard of!

"Prince, we will do our best to collect the autumn tax, but we cannot sign this military order!"

Finally, Ding Jiang, the county prime minister, could no longer sit still.

They have long been tied to the gentry and landlords, and it is impossible to collect them.

Even if you don't stand with the squire and landlords, you can't even hope to achieve this collection rate.

As Ding Jiang stepped forward, many officials also started talking loudly.

For a time, the whole scene was noisy.

"Officials who feel that they cannot sign this military order should stand up."

Zhou Zheng glanced at E Ruo from these people, and the disdain in his eyes could no longer be concealed.

They are a group of pickpocketing guys. The imperial court does not support them just for them to come out and sing the opposite tune today.

Ding Jiang gritted his teeth and took the lead. Soon, hundreds of officials took over.

Of course, the remaining part is not that I don't want to stand up, but that I want to wait and see how things develop.

Seeing everyone like this, Zhou Zheng sneered.

I thought that the officialdom in Xiang County was unified and twisted into a rope, but I didn't expect that they were still independent.

"Since you are unwilling to sign the military order just now, then change it."

After Zhou Zheng gave the order, Shi Sui led the people to Ding Jiang and others again. They also used pen and paper, but the content was slightly different.

There is only one thing, if the collection rate is less than 90%, the whole family will be sent to the army and sent to the frontier!

It was less than twenty, but the weight of it made Ding Jiang and others feel dizzy!

"Prince, even if you have the most noble status, it is too much to act like this!"

At this time, Ding Jiang was no longer willing to pretend!

As for this so-called military order, he doesn't even know how to sign it!

Although the other officials did not speak, they stood behind Ding Jiang with firm eyes. They were obviously in the same camp as Ding Jiang.

After all, even a fool would not be able to sign this unequal military order.

He is just a shaky prince with no real power!

If it weren't for his identity and royal bloodline, Ding Jiang and others would never have allowed him to act recklessly here.

Do you really think that when you arrive at Xiangjun, you can cover the sky with one hand? !

Ding Jiang and others looked at Zhou Zheng, causing the atmosphere in the scene to become tense instantly.

Gu Jiang and the others were sweating profusely, swallowing their saliva, and looked panicked.

The local officials were tough with the prince. This kind of thing was no longer something he, a small county governor, could handle.

"You mean, don't sign?!"

Zhou Zheng walked slowly to Ding Jiang and asked calmly.

"It's not that the lower-level officials won't sign, it's that the lower-level officials can't sign. Even hundreds of officials in Xiang County can't sign!"

Ding Jiang held his head high.

Now that he has chosen to stand up, he will not back down at this time.

He still didn't believe that Zhou Zheng could really make a difference in Xiang County by himself!

"If you don't sign, it's not impossible."

"What I don't like the most is forcing others to make things difficult for them."

Everyone's eyes fell between Zhou Zheng and Ding Jiang, and they didn't dare to take a breath.

Zhou Zheng's words made everyone frown.

What does it mean! ?

Has the prince given in? !

Or is it that today was just a way for the prince to fake a shot? !

Boom boom boom! ! !

Just when everyone was wondering, a series of rapid footsteps came from not far away.