Chapter 162 New Deal
Chapter 162 New Policy

Because this was the first time in all the years he had worked at Beishan Imperial Farm that he saw so much disbelief and ecstasy in the eyes of the people. Originally from a farming family, he was also happy for these farmers.

Hearing this, Wang Sanquan did not remember to read the notice, but patiently explained it.

"That's right, it's just as everyone thought. From today on, all land rents will be restored to 10%!"

At this point, Wang Sanquan could not help but say viciously: "Anyway, that dog official Li Guodong has been convicted, and I am not afraid to tell you that the court has always only collected 10% from us, and the extra 20% was pocketed by Li Guodong himself! As for various tributes and exorbitant taxes, they will be abolished!"

When the people heard Wang Sanquan say that the 30% of the land rent collected before was actually done by Li Guodong himself and that the court had never increased it, they could not help but gnashed their teeth in hatred.

However, when it was confirmed that the land rent would be restored to 10% from now on and all kinds of exorbitant taxes would be abolished, the people could not help but cheer. It was simply a repeated tug of war between two extreme emotions.

After the farmers had almost digested the money, Wang Sanquan continued, "Secondly, as the saying goes, there are unexpected events and people are subject to misfortunes at any time, so the captain decided to use a sum of the recovered stolen money to establish the Beishan Royal Farm Mutual Aid Association, which is specifically for the people in the Royal Farm who are in urgent need of money to borrow money."

The farmers looked strange when they heard this. Before, no matter which family in the manor needed money, they would usually ask Wu Qizao for a loan. The news that Wu Qizao had been arrested and imprisoned by Ye Xuan had spread throughout Beishan Royal Manor in the past few days.

Originally everyone thought that Wu Qizao was arrested because he had colluded with Li Guodong before.

Everyone was both happy and worried. They were happy that Wu Qizao was arrested, but they were worried that if they had an emergency in the future, they would have no place to borrow money.

Although Wu Qizao was a greedy person, charging high interest rates and with short loan terms, it was at least a way to get by when things got tough.

But now when I heard the notice saying that Ye Xuan was going to set up some mutual aid association, although it sounded good, wasn't he just doing the same thing as Wu Qizao?
Now it seems that Wu Qizao’s arrest might not be that simple, but because he blocked Ye Xuan’s financial path.

However, it would be the same no matter who lent the money. Instead, Ye Xuan cancelled the additional land rent and miscellaneous taxes. Even if Ye Xuan really wanted to make some money from lending, the people of Beishan Royal Farm thought it was right.

But the next moment, Wang Sanquan's words once again overturned their imagination!
"The mutual aid society only charges 3% interest from everyone, and all the interest earned goes into the mutual aid society. If there is any surplus at the end of the year, it will be used to help the poor people in the village."

"What? Only three cents!"

Before Wang Sanquan finished speaking, some people couldn't help but exclaim in surprise.

The so-called three-cent interest, for example, if someone borrows one or two taels of silver, then at the end of the month, he only needs to repay the principal of one or two taels of silver, and only an additional three cents of interest will be charged.

This interest rate can be said to be almost non-existent. You should know that Wu Qizao's lowest interest rate at the beginning was 3%, and the interest was compounded.

And from what Wang Sanquan said, even if it is the 3% interest, Ye Xuan will not put it into his own pocket, but save it. After some people's death debts are paid off or they are really unable to repay, if there is any surplus, he will use it to help those people in difficult circumstances.

Now the farmers finally understood why Ye Xuan called this a mutual aid association. It really is a serious mutual aid!
The reason why Ye Xuan set up this mutual aid association was mainly because he was inspired by seeing the situation of Yun Fang's family.

Anyway, Ye Xuan himself had no shortage of money, and he didn't dare to embezzle the stolen money from Wu Qizao, so he simply took it all out and considered it a good thing.

But even though they understood it, the people of Huangzhuang, who had long been shrouded in the shadow of Li Guodong, still couldn't figure it out.

"Master Wang, if the captain doesn't make any money, what good will it do him?" "Yes, isn't this three percent interest the same as not asking for anything?"

Wang Sanquan sneered at the words and said, "Our captain is from the Imperial Guard. Do you know what the Imperial Guard is? They are the ones who kill corrupt officials. The emperor trusts the imperial guards the most!"

"Think about it, can someone who works for the Emperor and specializes in catching corrupt officials be like Li Guodong, trying to find ways to steal food from the mouths of poor people like you?"

The people of Beishan Huangzhuang knew nothing about the affairs of the imperial court such as the Jinyiwei, but when they heard that it was the emperor's most trusted agency, the people immediately thought of the "Eight Prefectures Inspector" and "Judge Bao" in operas, such as the great officials who specifically served the people!
What's more, the two points issued by Ye Xuan were indeed for the consideration of the people of Beishan Imperial Farm and actually affected everyone's interests.

Therefore, everyone had no psychological burden and immediately compared Ye Xuan with "Judge Bao". Some people knelt down immediately and shouted loudly towards the official residence.

"Master Qingtian, thank you, Ye Qingtian!"

"The elder master is truly the adopted parent of the people of Beishan!"

"Thank you, Heaven! Thank you, Heaven!"

…………

In the official residence, listening to the shouts of the people outside the courtyard, Ye Xuan raised his head and smiled knowingly.

In fact, the two things he did were not difficult at all for him and did not require him to pay any price.

For example, reducing land rent and abolishing excessive taxes and levies are all clear regulations of the court, and Ye Xuan is just restoring order.

As for the mutual aid society, it is indeed a good thing.

However, the principal was not paid out of Ye Xuan's own pocket, but came from the stolen money accumulated by Wu Qizao through corruption and lending over the years.

In other words, it was actually the people's own money.

Ye Xuan was simply taking the people's money and giving it back to the people.

The only thing that might bring trouble to Ye Xuan is that Ye Xuan did not directly hand over the stolen money to the court, which is likely to lead to impeachment from some people.

But Ye Xuan believed that even if this matter was brought to the attention of Zhu Yuanzhang, Zhu Yuanzhang, who came from a peasant family and did not even have the money to bury his parents, would definitely understand.

Even if it is a punishment, it is at most a minor punishment or a serious warning.

As long as Zhu Yuanzhang is not involved, the Jinyiwei is not affiliated with any government office, and as long as his immediate superior Mao Xiang does not cause trouble for him, there will be no trouble.

For Ye Xuan, all of this was just a favor.

But for the common people, it is tantamount to a life-saving grace!
(End of this chapter)