From Hoarding to Time-Travel: My Supplies Saved Him

Chapter 557: Chapter 559: Taxation

With the Emperor’s permission, Ancient Wen Heng immediately began making sweeping changes.

He conscripted labor to build roads, repair water channels, and reclaim wasteland. A stream of edicts was issued, and after finishing the autumn harvest, Lu City entered a new phase of intense activity.

It was all thanks to the bandits, who had become his new, vital workforce.

They were assigned all the most dangerous and grueling tasks.

"We still don’t have enough men," He Gaofei said, rubbing the goosebumps on his arms. It had been getting colder each day since autumn began. "We have to rush to get this done before it snows. Otherwise, once winter sets in, the ground will freeze, and we’ll have to postpone the work."

He had finally experienced the full force of winter here and wanted nothing more than to finish the work and hole up in the warmth of the government office.

Even handling business in the government office would be better than running around this frozen, desolate wilderness.

Ancient Wen Heng frowned as well. Relying solely on manual labor was definitely delaying the project.

But there was no helping it. Without machinery, everything had to be done slowly.

"How many prisoners are still in the jail?"

"In our government office’s jail, there are about forty. The various county governments should have some more."

Wu Yichen immediately knew what Ancient Wen Heng was planning, but it was just a drop in the bucket.

Ancient Wen Heng said, "It doesn’t matter how many. Put them to work first, but don’t forget their shackles."

"But many of them are desperate criminals. I’m afraid they won’t be obedient."

Ancient Wen Heng replied, "Then make it clear to them: if they work hard, they’ll get a serving of braised pork each day."

He knew better than anyone what the daily meals in the jail were like. It was just enough to keep the prisoners alive, and nothing more.

’After suffering for so long,’ he thought, ’those men would surely be willing to work themselves to the bone for a piece of meat.’

"Our government office doesn’t have many Silver Taels left..." He Gaofei clutched his chest, feeling a pang of anguish.

They had collected some tax silver in Lu City after the harvest, but it couldn’t possibly withstand Mr. Gu’s extravagant spending!

"Go back and post a public notice. We’ll procure pigs from the villagers nearby who raise them. As long as they supply pigs to the government office, we’ll let them offset their taxes at a set price next year."

"That’s not acceptable! We can’t mess with matters of taxation..."

"Have you forgotten, Mr. He? I have a Holy Decree. For the next two years in Lu City, what I say goes."

He Gaofei wanted to argue further, but Wu Yichen pulled him to a stop.

When it was just the two of them, He Gaofei couldn’t help but ask, "Why did you stop me? This is no small matter! If something goes wrong down the line, none of us will be able to escape the consequences."

"Are you just going to let him carry on so recklessly? Be careful, or we’ll all be ruined with him..."

"Mr. He, haven’t you figured it out yet? There’s a clear logic to everything Mr. Gu does."

"While it may seem like we’re taking an advance on next year’s tax silver, if you do the math, we’re not actually losing out."

"For the price of a meal, we’re getting all this labor. The work is getting done, so it’s not as if we’re getting nothing in return."

"Besides, as long as we get these roads repaired this year, we won’t have to worry about the nearby fishing villages being unable to sell their catches next year."

"And with better roads, merchants will naturally be willing to make more trips. Slowly but surely, it will revitalize Lu City."

"Maybe Mr. Gu’s ’reckless’ plans will actually pay off this time. The potential benefits are plain to see, so why would you want to stand in his way?"

He Gaofei had calmed down by now. "I... I’m just worried... what if we can’t collect the taxes next year..."

"You’re forgetting the Holy Decree. For now, as long as we follow his lead and do our jobs well, this could be an opportunity for us, too..."

***

When Ancient Wen Heng returned home that night, he was chatting with Jin Qianqian and brought up the matter of procuring pork.

It was only then that Jin Qianqian remembered she still had tens of thousands of pounds of pork piled up in her personal dimension. She had acquired it bit by bit from several slaughterhouses, and if Wenheng hadn’t brought it up today, she would have completely forgotten about it.

"Sigh, I do have a lot of pork stored away, but I don’t have a good excuse to bring it out now."

Ancient Wen Heng said, "It’s good to keep it in storage. It’s not time to use it yet."

"It’s just that once I post this notice today, it will likely impact the local market for a while."

"Your restaurant will probably have to source its supplies from farther away."

Jin Qianqian wasn’t too concerned. "Coincidentally, you’ve just repaired the roads to several of those villages. I’m planning to have the restaurant focus on seafood, develop some new seafood dishes, and indirectly help open up the market for them."

’If my husband wants to do good for the people of this region,’ she thought, ’then of course I have to support him.’

’I might not be able to do big things, but I can at least create a subtle, positive influence.’

Ancient Wen Heng put his arm around her shoulder. "Thank you, my dear wife."

"I’ve troubled you to worry so much and put so much thought into this for my sake."

Jin Qianqian rolled her eyes at him. "A person needs something to do, no matter where they are. Besides, you’re doing good deeds and accumulating merit, so of course I’ll give you my full support."

"I’ve read a lot of novels, you know, and I actually have a little secret wish of my own."

"Do you think if we accumulate enough merit, we might be able to be together in our next life?"

A determined look appeared in Ancient Wen Heng’s eyes. "Of course. I’ve already called dibs on you for the next life, and the one after that."

"Besides, thanks to you, my dear, I likely won’t have to worry about my livelihood in this life. So why not do something meaningful?"

"For our future, and for the blessings our children will receive, I have to become a Lord Qingtian."

"Yes, my great Lord Qingtian." Jin Qianqian smiled, pressing her lips together. "This humble woman has a case of injustice to report. I pray that the great Lord Qingtian will seek justice for me."

"Then you must tell me, who is it you wish to accuse?"

Jin Qianqian said, "Gu Ben Can and Gu Benluo. They napped with this humble woman this afternoon."

"When I awoke, I discovered the entire bedding was soaked through."

"I asked them who did it. Gu Benluo looked at Gu Ben Can, but Gu Ben Can just shook his head and denied everything."

"Then, to my surprise, both of those little rascals looked at me."

"Of course, I wasn’t going to admit to something I hadn’t done."

"But then the two of them got desperate and both burst into tears, wailing that it wasn’t them! They caused such a scene that this humble woman had no choice but to take the blame."

"So tell me, have I not been grievously wronged?"

Ancient Wen Heng said, "Then why didn’t you check which of the two little rascals had wet pants?"

Jin Qianqian lowered her voice and whispered in his ear, "All three of our clothes were wet. But looking at them, Gu Benluo’s pants were much wetter."

Ancient Wen Heng scoffed, "How could that little rascal do such a thing? A real man should be brave enough to admit what he’s done."

"Rest assured, my lady. In a moment, this official will help you get even and make sure that little rascal doesn’t dare do it again."

Jin Qianqian said, "Well, you have to be gentle. He’s still so little, and things like this are just a normal part of growing up."

"He’s probably just too proud to admit it. A subtle hint should be enough. You can’t make a big public spectacle of it."