We have fought to the Arctic Circle, and you want me to inherit the throne?

Li Che stepped onto the platform and looked down.

When the people saw Li Che wearing the royal robe, their eyes lit up and they became even more excited.

In a short while, the platform was already crowded with people, and countless people stretched out their hands and waved to Li Che.

A father held his child high up so that the child could see Li Che clearly.

Yang Xuan, who was in charge of security in the venue, gripped the long sword at his waist tightly, his face solemn and serious, his fingers as thin as scallions turned white.

There were at least tens of thousands of civilians present, but there were only 500 National Protection Army soldiers responsible for security.

If the people had bad intentions, they could overwhelm the soldiers in an instant and capture the platform.

However, what Yang Xuan was worried about was destined to never happen.

The people below simply gathered around the stage, shouting "Your Highness!" loudly. All kinds of noisy voices filled the air, and the almost tangible enthusiasm seemed to be drowning the stage.

Li Che had a warm smile on his face and looked at the people patiently without urging them.

He waited until the people had quieted down on their own before he spoke:

“A month ago, I arrived in this city and made a promise to you.

The people of our Ninggu County and State should have food to eat, houses to live in, and fields to farm.

Now, I have barely fulfilled the first two promises. Although it is not good enough, I and my subjects are still working hard.

Today, I come to you to fulfill my third promise."

Li Che looked beyond the platform at the fertile land beyond the Great Wall stretching for a thousand miles, and waved his hand proudly, saying:

“I am not a god, so I cannot grant you land out of thin air. Therefore, I can only use your own hands to create it!

Behind you, there is a wasteland now, but from today on, it will become thousands of acres of fertile fields!

This king promises you that you will get as many acres of good farmland as you can reclaim.

Within three years, all taxes are waived!

After three years, apart from the taxes prescribed by the court, no additional miscellaneous taxes may be levied, and no taxes may be levied in advance!

This is the promise I made to you, and it will be valid forever!"

The people almost stopped breathing, totally unable to believe what they heard.

Tax exemption within three years?

Three years later, no more miscellaneous taxes?

What is this concept?

It’s the same old saying, a harsh government is more ferocious than a tiger.

In ancient times, the heaviest burden on farmers' shoulders was not the agricultural tax levied by the imperial court, but the miscellaneous taxes collected by local officials under various pretexts.

There are also taxes collected one, two, five, or even ten years in advance.

Under the layers of burdens, farmers were struggling to breathe, and even after working hard for a year to harvest grain, they still owed grain to the government.

If there were no such exploitation, the people would either die or not if they had something to eat. Who would rebel?

Before the people could cheer, they heard Li Che speak in a sonorous and powerful voice:

"If you can't sell the grain you harvest, I will buy it from you at a fair price!"

"If you don't have seeds, I can give them to you!"

"You don't have oxen, farm tools, or fertilizers. I can lend them to you!"

"Even if you have never farmed before, the palace will send agricultural officials to teach you how to farm!"

Li Che took a deep breath and looked at the excited people with a smile:

"The only thing everyone needs to do is to survive. Follow me and transform this bitter cold land outside the Great Wall into a paradise for the people of Ninggu County!"

silence.

There was silence on the stage.

Before this, no one knew that Li Che would do this.

During the regular meeting, Li Che only said that he planned to exempt the people from taxes for three years, and did not say that there would be so many policies.

This person is not here to be a vassal king, this person is here to be a bodhisattva!

Qian Bin couldn't help but look bitter. As the financial director of Ninggu County, he was the one with the most difficult situation.

Li Che raised his arm and called for action, which was a relief, but which of these policies did not require money?

Where can I get so much money?

There was also silence in the audience.

The people seemed not to believe their ears.

Until a gust of spring breeze blew, awakening the restless hearts in the audience.

"Wuwuwu." A choked sound rang out among the crowd.

"Mother, has your spirit in heaven seen this? Ninggu County has finally welcomed a wise and virtuous prince. Good days are coming for our family!"

The crying sound penetrated into everyone's ears and reached deep into everyone's heart.

"Your Highness, sage, we now have hope!"

Some people danced and shouted loudly.

"Your Highness, I cannot speak. You have given us a way out. I kowtow to you on behalf of my entire family."

Some people knelt on the ground, crying and kowtowed repeatedly.

"Three years of tax exemption, no tax increase ever? Hahahaha, hahahaha!"

Some people looked excited and laughed heartily.

Until the end, there was a scene where tens of thousands of people knelt on the ground and kowtowed to Li Che sincerely.

Qian Bin on the stage looked at this scene with a complicated expression, and couldn't help but sigh in his heart:

"It's worth it!"

With such public sentiment, if Li Che gave an order, these people would risk their lives to help him.

With these loyal people, it’s worth spending any amount of money!

Li Che frowned and looked at the people kneeling on the ground below the stage, wondering what he was thinking.

"Quiet!" he suddenly shouted.

However, the noise at the scene was too loud and completely drowned out his voice.

Li Che turned around and looked at Yang Xuan.

Yang Xuan understood and nodded slightly, then said, "Repeat the young commander's order: Be quiet!"

Five hundred National Protection Army soldiers shouted in unison: "Quiet! Quiet! Quiet!"

Amid the shouts of the five hundred soldiers, the people gradually calmed down.

Li Che slowly walked to the edge of the platform and looked at the people expressionlessly.

After taking a deep breath, he suddenly shouted sternly, "Everyone, stand up!"

The people had never seen such harsh words before, and they couldn't help but look at Li Che timidly, not understanding why he was angry.

"I know that before this, you and the others were always kneeling."

"The family that oppresses you makes you kneel."

"The barbarians who bullied you will be made to kneel."

"The biting cold wind outside the pass makes you kneel."

Li Che's voice was high and his eyes were sharp.

“And now, I’m here, and I’m asking you to… stand up!!!”

"From now on, the people of Ninggu County will kneel to heaven, earth, and our parents. No one else can make you kneel!"

"You are not slaves, you are the people of Ninggu County, the subjects of Li Che!"

"My people do not need to bow their heads, my people do not need to rely on others, my people do not need to wag their tails and beg for mercy!"

"Stand up and let me conquer this land and become its true master!"