Traveling through time and space to meet a replacement bride? But I’m a man!

Think again.

Wang Zeren nodded heavily: "You are right. Even if I can bear this huge mess, there is no need for me to bear it for others for no reason."

"Er Mazi, gather the refugees."

Ermaizi didn't say much. He stood up, bowed and left.

"Let's go, let's go wait at the entrance of the ancestral hall."

After arriving at the ancestral hall, refugees gradually gathered at the door of the hall. The condition of these refugees was much better than when Xu Wenyan came to the village a few months ago.

They no longer keep their heads down all the time, and you can notice that they have started to pay attention to hygiene. Although they still can't eat enough, at least there is something to eat.

During the New Year holidays, Ermazi led the whole village to eat together, and those were the days when everyone was really full.

"Everyone, I have two pieces of news to inform you." Erma stood in front of the refugees and said in a cold voice: "First, General Huo has already attacked the border of Lin State and is preparing to launch a general offensive. The war will soon end."

As Ermazi finished speaking, the hearts of the refugees below gradually became hot.

"Really? We can go home soon?"

"Woo woo, finally I don't have to live in fear anymore."

The refugees were talking at once, and Ermazi did not stop them. Here he wanted to build up the refugees' psychological strength by praising them first and then criticizing them. Why not talk about the tax issue first? Ermazi and Xu Wenyan had also considered it carefully.

The refugees are now in a state of exhaustion. If we talk about increasing taxes first, it is likely to further damage their psychological defenses. However, if we talk about good things first, it will temporarily ease their mood and prevent them from breaking down.

"but--"

Ermazi dragged out the two words he said.

The refugees below also instantly quieted down because of his roar.

"A general offensive in the war requires a large amount of food and fodder reinforcements. If we don't go to the battlefield, we will have to contribute now. In the future, tax revenue will increase by another 50%." Before the refugees underground could discuss it.

Xu Wenyan even added: "But it's only for a few months. After a few months, we will no longer be refugees and can return to our normal status.

The country has promised to exempt taxes for one year after the war. Our good days will naturally come then.

Moreover, I will take you to the mountains to find more edible wild food. As long as everyone cooperates, we can all have food to eat."

Suddenly, the refugees surrounding the ancestral hall fell silent.

"No, what right do you have to promise? You are not an official, why should we trust you?"

Half a minute later, a questioning voice came from somewhere in the crowd.

Once there is one sentence, there will naturally be a second and a third sentence.

"Yes, we have to tighten our belts and save money to barely fill our stomachs. How can you guarantee this?"

"That's right, who are you?"

"What can you promise?"

......

The crowd started talking about it.

Wang Zeren gave Ermaizi a wink.

"Shut up!" Ermazi was a soldier. He was the one who punished the refugees who made mistakes before.

In fact, compared to Wang Zeren, these refugees are more afraid of Er Mazi.

Sure enough, after Ermazi finished speaking, the crowd gradually quieted down. Although there were still some whispers, they were very small.

"I am not anyone but a villager from Jixiang Village. I am familiar with the terrain of Jixiang Village. I am also half a doctor and know what can be eaten and what cannot be eaten.

And I can't guarantee that I can feed you, the best I can do is to give you something to eat."

Xu Wenyan chuckled, then his face darkened: "To be honest, what right do you refugees who have occupied our village have to make decisions?

If you ask me, Commander Wang is kind. He gives you human rights, allows you to move freely, and allows you to use the houses in our village freely. He also patrols every night to protect your safety.

I believe you also know about the affairs of Guihua Village. Their leader's position is not as high as that of Leader Wang. How do the people in their village eat?

Queuing up for food, sleeping in shacks, to be honest, you are really lucky to be able to maintain this in times of war."

After being silent for a few seconds, Xu Wenyan stopped talking. The long string of words he just spoke gave them too much information, and they needed to digest what he said.

No one made a sound at the entrance of the ancestral hall for a full quarter of an hour.

Villagers, doctors, Osmanthus Village, sleeping shacks, refugees, these pieces of information repeatedly appeared in the minds of the people below.

Xu Wenyan was actually also nervous. There were thousands of refugees under his command. If one of them was not controlled properly, they would rebel and become a considerable force.

"Since there is no objection, let's make it like this. After we finish harvesting the potatoes tomorrow, I will take everyone to the mountains to look for wild grains. You must understand how much wealth it is to learn to recognize wild grains."

Obviously, Xu Wenyan controlled the emotions of the refugees very well.

At this time, we need to let them think constantly, weigh the pros and cons, and compare themselves with people who are not as good as themselves. This will make them tolerate and accept this half tax to the greatest extent.

Moreover, being able to recognize edible foods is lifelong knowledge. This is truly useful and valuable knowledge that can be passed down.

"Okay, okay, let's get busy. We'll have a snack tonight." Er Mazi also relaxed and dispersed the crowd.

"Xu Wenyan, you are really capable! You make me feel that this half tax is nothing." Luo Sanyuan walked forward with a smile and was about to put his arm around Xu Wenyan's shoulder.

Chen Sanlin pulled Xu Wenyan over and looked at Luo Sanyuan expressionlessly.

"I am really sorry to trouble you with this matter. I will prepare the things I promised you as soon as possible." Wang Zeren finally felt relieved.

After saying that, he went back. He had been dealing with these trivial matters during this period of time. It was time to have a good rest.

Xu Wenyan also breathed a sigh of relief: "Xiaoman, go call the brothers who are not busy, and ask them to go to the pond to call Xiaohu, Rong Xiaoliu, and Zhou Jianye."

Spring is the time when wild vegetables grow out, especially in the south where wild vegetables can be dug almost all year round.

But there are so many people in this village, it is impossible for Xu Wenyan to take so many refugees with him at once.

This involves group management. Today, we will first divide the area and divide the more than 1,000 refugees into two groups, each with 500 people. Then, we will select 50 people from these 500 people who will work honestly and conscientiously.

The five of us can each lead twenty people to identify wild vegetables tomorrow. After we have taught the remaining two people how to do it, we can let them lead ten people each to look for wild vegetables.

While one group was looking for wild vegetables, the other group was responsible for work in the fields, after all, farming was the main source of food.

This will also greatly improve efficiency.

Moreover, the scope of Jixiang Village is divided into ten areas, each area has one hundred people and is managed by Wang Zeren's soldiers. Those who know how to identify vegetables will take the refugees to find vegetables, and the soldiers will be responsible for protecting their safety and preventing them from secretly storing food.

"Luo Sanyuan, let your soldiers follow along tomorrow. You will also have to keep an eye on them to prevent them from hiding food. Also, count the food collected by each group, and use 5% of what they collect every day as a reward for their labor." Luo Sanyuan was confused by Xu Wenyan's professional words.

"What, what is one hundred and five, what is the count?"

Xu Wenyan also came to his senses: "Sorry, I didn't think it through." If he said that, they definitely wouldn't know how to understand it.

"Xiao Man, you can understand it, right? It means dividing something into 100 portions, and then distributing 5 of the 100 portions equally to the refugees. If it is really not evenly distributed, cook the remaining 5 portions into rice and then distribute them."

Xiaoman nodded: "Yeah, I understand, I can handle it."

Thank God, otherwise it would be said that reading can change one's destiny.

"Hehe, you educated people have very useful brains." Luo Sanyuan put his hand on Xiaoman's shoulder and smiled foolishly.

Now everything is ready, it all depends on tomorrow's practice.