In the famine, others ate Guanyin soil, but he had space to build a farm.

As the cups and plates were exchanged, the laughter and chatter gradually died down, and Chen Jun was carefully helped into the guest room by two graceful women. He walked unsteadily, obviously drunk.

Sun Ying looked at Chen Jun's back, a sly smile appeared on the corner of his mouth, and he turned to Lin Haoyue and said, "Brother Lin, with such a beautiful scenery, why don't you relax?"

Lin Haoyue frowned, his heart full of worries. He shook his head and humbly responded: "Boss Sun, now is a troubled time, and there are many things to do at home. How can I have the mind to enjoy these. If it weren't for your help, I'm really afraid that my family would not be able to get through this difficult time."

Upon hearing this, Sun Ying took a sip of wine, a gleam in his eyes: "Let Chen Jun have a good sleep here, I will find him tomorrow to settle today's expenses." His words revealed his calculations towards Chen Jun, and it was obvious that he already had a plan.

Lin Haoyue knew very well that the "liquidation" Sun Ying was referring to was to occupy Chen Jun's warehouse. He secretly thought that he could use this opportunity to make things go more smoothly.

"Boss Sun, I have an idea." Lin Kunlun suddenly spoke with a sly smile on his face, "If we can get these women to keep Chen Jun for one more day, our plan may be more successful."

Sun Ying's eyes lit up and he clapped his hands in approval: "What a good idea! After the success, you will naturally get all the benefits." He became more and more proud, but he did not realize that his desire for power had become stronger. He felt that Da Kun's kingdom was about to fall into chaos.

At this time, the atmosphere in the government office of Xishan County was solemn. Seven pavilion chiefs gathered together. They were all prestigious figures in the local area with large families, and they were worried about the upcoming imperial taxation.

County Magistrate Chen sat on a chair, holding a teacup in his left hand and stirring the tea leaves with his right hand, looking calm. The pavilion chiefs complained to him one after another, worrying that the tax would affect their own interests.

County Magistrate Chen shook his head and sighed, "You all should also understand the difficulties of the court. The northern barbarians invaded our borders, and we exempted taxes once last year. Now collecting taxes is a decision made by the court, and it is not something that small people like us can influence." His eyes were deep, as if he was thinking about a deeper issue.

"I don't want to force you too much." County Magistrate Chen continued, "Just hand over 20% of the taxes, and I will raise some donations from the wealthy families in the county. At least the county magistrate can have an explanation." His words revealed helplessness and compromise, but also showed his wisdom and determination.

"But where will we get these 10% from? Lord Chen should also know that only one out of ten grains can be preserved this year! Many families are now living on wild vegetables! How can we get them to hand over the grain?" After hearing this, the several pavilion chiefs still thought it was difficult to do.

"Yes! Let alone two layers, even one layer will cost them their lives! What is the imperial court thinking? There is no relief food for such a big disaster! Now they are even collecting taxes!" Another pavilion chief couldn't help but say at this time.

When County Magistrate Chen heard this, he placed his teacup heavily on the tea table. The tea in the cup spilled out, and the noisy pavilion chiefs quieted down.

These pavilion chiefs are all locals. Who doesn't know the methods of County Magistrate Chen?

"Let me tell you, asking you to pay 10% is the least we can get for you! If you are still unwilling to pay %, then you can pay %! There are still three pounds of grain in the rat's hole. Who doesn't have some at home? Go and force them, and they will naturally give it to you! There are many grass roots, tree barks and wild vegetables on this mountain. Are you really afraid that they will starve to death?" County Magistrate Chen was not afraid of any trouble from those mud legs. What he was really afraid of was that he could not complete the dishes, or even fail to hand in any grain, and the higher-ups would investigate. County Magistrate Li would not let him go either.

Those guardsmen walked out of the county government office helplessly.

"Old Zhou! What should we do from now on? The villages I manage have not only handed over their food, but all the wild vegetables have been dug up! Many families rely on grass roots and tree bark!" The headman who spoke at the beginning sighed and asked. These heads of the pavilions are all from the local area. Naturally, they don't want to offend the villagers too much.

"What can we do? The imperial court will need food to fight a war! If we don't hand it over at all, we will have no explanation!" Chief Zhou also sighed.

"It seems that we can only offend these villagers!" Another person sighed. After all, they all knew very well how many family members each person had here.

The headmen of each pavilion here passed the news from the county down one level at a time.

The head of Qinghe Village also got the news from the head of the village: the county was going to officially start collecting grain.

Under the old locust tree at the entrance of the village were sat all the people who had power in the village.

"Old village chief, what should we do? How can we survive if we hand over the grain?" At this time, a villager was the first to stand up and ask.

"Yes! The usual tax is 15% tax to 1! But this year's tax is 10% tax to 1. Why is the tax increasing?" Some villagers also raised questions at this time. Now everyone relies on wild vegetables to survive, and the court has increased taxes.

"The court's notice clearly states that because the soldiers in the north are in short supply, some anti-barbarian taxes will be increased to resist the invasion of the barbarians!" The old village chief sighed. He also knew the situation of each family in the village.

"If we calculate this way, we have to pay at least 20 kilograms of grain for every acre of land! That family has nearly 100 kilograms of grain! Even if we irrigate 20% of the land, it will still take 20 kilograms! How can we afford this!" An old man sighed.

"This is what the court has stipulated now! In order to reduce our burden, Master Xie only needs us to hand over 20% of the food, and the rest will be temporarily donated by the wealthy families in the city!" The old village chief couldn't say anything more. With so much food, let alone other families, his own family would probably only be able to eat grass roots and tree bark after giving out the food. It's okay for adults, but how can children bear it?

"What should we do? I think we should just not pay any tax! I don't believe anyone from other villages will pay. I went to the neighboring Pomegranate Village a few days ago. Their situation is similar to ours. Nothing grows in the fields. It is said that they peeled the pomegranate trees and cooked them to eat!" said another villager at this time.

"Everyone, please be quiet! Let's find a way to get together! We will definitely not be able to get by without paying this little! Even if a family pays a pound or two, it is better than not paying at all! If the county government sends soldiers to collect the taxes from house to house, I'm afraid they will arrest people to take the blame!" The old village chief knew very well that if you don't pay taxes according to Dakun's laws, you can be arrested by conscripting civilians. He knew about a newly discovered mineral in the county. If it was sent to the mine, it would not be easy to get it out.

"What should we do? The rice jar in my house has been empty for a long time! If I hadn't exchanged some food from Lin Sanwazi, I don't know if my family could have survived until now!" Uncle Liu, Lin Kunlun's neighbor, said at this time!

"Yes! Doesn't Lin Sanwa have food? Let him find a way to help us. We are all related, he can't help us!" Old Man Qian stood up and said. Although everyone knew that Old Man Qian wanted to take revenge because he failed to rob food from Lin Kunlun's house the day before yesterday. But everyone felt that it made sense. No one could pay the tax, only Lin Kunlun's family could pay it. How could everyone feel balanced?

"What are you talking about, old man Qian? He earned his own food! Why should I give it to you? I can ask Kunlun if he has a way to help us get through this difficult time together, but if he doesn't have a way, don't force him!" The old village chief knocked his cane heavily on a stone in front of him. Everyone fell silent.

"Dashan! Where is your third son? Why didn't he come to the meeting?" The old village chief turned around and asked Lin Dashan who was sitting there.

"My third brother went to the county town! He wanted to see if he could find an opportunity to earn food for everyone!" said Lin Er, who was sitting next to Lin Dashan!

"You mean your third son still has a way to get food!" Everyone got excited when he said this.

"I said this third kid is capable! The last time he delivered food, it was in a horse-drawn carriage!..."

"I didn't say that! It's just that you still have to figure out how to pay the taxes! Besides, no one has food to pay the taxes, so what are you afraid of!" Lin Er shook his head. In fact, what he said was what the villagers thought. They all thought that the law could not punish the masses. It was not just their village that had no food. The same situation was happening throughout Xishan County, and even in the western part of his entire empire.