kvmb Chapter 475 Focus
Chapter 475 Focus
Moreover, the White Lotus Sect is currently at war with the Qingzhou Army. The two sides have fought dozens of battles, large and small, along the border, and it would not be an exaggeration to say that they are bloodthirsty.
Under such circumstances, how could Xia Yuanying, who commanded the Qingzhou Army, possibly sell Python Bone Grass and Python Blood Grass to the White Lotus Sect to strengthen his enemies?
"That's a problem."
The old man frowned, thought for a moment, and said, "If we go to Qingzhou, we must not go in the name of our sect, otherwise we will inevitably be in mortal danger."
The name of the White Lotus Sect might work elsewhere, but in Qingzhou...
They were already bloodthirsty with the Qingzhou army. If they entered Qingzhou as members of the White Lotus Sect, let alone obtaining the Python Bone Grass and Python Blood Grass, their very survival would be in big question.
"Elder Ren is right."
Xiao Mingwang nodded and said, "We cannot miss the Python Bone Grass and Python Blood Grass. Those who go to Qingzhou must conceal their identities."
After speaking, Xiao Mingwang began to discuss with everyone the specific personnel to be sent to Qingzhou.
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In Qiongzhou, at a pork stall, a burly butcher is skillfully cutting pork.
"Boss, give me two pounds of pork."
"okay."
"Boss, give me a pork knuckle."
"no problem."
The butcher's stall was clearly doing very well, with a constant stream of people coming to buy his products.
By dusk, the butcher's stall had sold out of pork.
Just then, a thin man hurried over and said, "Butcher Zhu, I have news about what you asked me to find out."
"really?"
The butcher suddenly looked up, his expression excited.
On the surface, he appears to be a butcher selling pork, but in reality, selling pork is just his hobby, or rather, a habit.
His true identity was a fourth-rank martial artist. Ever since he advanced to the fourth rank half a year ago, Zhu the Butcher had been asking people to help him find information about the breakthrough herbs, Python Bone Grass and Python Blood Grass, hoping to use these two herbs to help him break through to the next level. However…
Python bone grass and python blood grass are medicinal herbs that only grow deep in the Cangmang Mountains and on the grasslands, so how easy is it to obtain them?
Six months have passed, and Butcher Zhu is almost in despair.
Unexpectedly, I suddenly heard about these two medicinal herbs today.
"real."
The thin man nodded and said, "News just came from Qingzhou that the King of Qing has a large amount of Python Blood Grass and Python Bone Grass. Martial artists who want to obtain Python Blood Grass and Python Bone Grass can go to Qingzhou to discuss it with him in detail."
"King Qing..."
A meaningful look flashed in Zhu the butcher's eyes.
It is common knowledge that python blood grass and python bone grass only grow in the depths of the Cangmang Mountains and grasslands, but the Green King has a large amount of python blood grass and python bone grass in his possession, which makes it hard not to suspect that he has some secret contact with the barbarians.
After all... it's unrealistic to venture deep into the Cangmang Mountains to obtain Python Blood Grass and Python Bone Grass; trading with the barbarians is the only way to acquire these two medicinal herbs in large quantities.
Of course, Butcher Zhu didn't intend to investigate further. He took out a few pieces of silver and handed them to the thin man, saying, "I understand. You can take this silver!"
"Thank you, Butcher Zhu."
The thin man, having received the silver, left with a beaming smile.
Zhu the butcher hurriedly returned home, retrieved his luggage, and headed straight out of the city for Qingzhou.
It was clear that the White Lotus Sect and Butcher Zhu were not the only ones attracted by the Python Bone Grass and Python Blood Grass. A large number of mid-level martial artists also set off for Qingzhou after hearing the news.
For a time, the eyes of a large number of martial artists in the Nine Provinces were focused on the land of Qingzhou.
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Qingzhou.
On the official road north of Taicang County, a sizable caravan was slowly making its way forward.
In the middle of the caravan, inside a lavishly decorated carriage, Zheng Qing looked worried and troubled.
"Father, are you troubled by the additional taxes?"
Sitting opposite her, Zheng Qiuyan asked softly.
"Yes."
Zheng Qing sighed. Not only Xu Zhiwen and Li Qingyun had received news about the increased grain tax, but he, as the prefect of Taicang County, had also been notified.
As the governor of Taicang County, Zheng Qing knew all too well how difficult it was for the people to survive. The 50% grain tax was already an unbearable burden for them, and now they wanted to add another 20%. This was practically forcing the people to rebel!
"This imperial court truly leaves no way for the common people to survive!"
Zheng Qing said helplessly, "The people's livelihood in Taicang County has just recovered somewhat, but the imperial court is going to increase the grain tax again. Once this is announced, Taicang County will definitely be in uproar, and then... I'm afraid there will be trouble again."
To be honest, Zheng Qing believed that he had done his best as the prefect.
Since joining forces with Chen Dao and the Suiyue Martial Arts School to eliminate the Wang family, Zheng Qing, who has a large amount of money and grain in his hands, has been dedicated to restoring people's livelihood. He put a large amount of grain into the market at a low price, which stabilized the grain price in the county town. As a result, the grain price in other counties also fell, allowing the people to finally be able to barely have enough to eat.
Afterwards, Zheng Qing took out a large amount of land that he had obtained from the Wang family and organized those landless people to cultivate it.
Just when it seemed like harvest time was almost here, the imperial court issued another order to increase taxes...
The people of Taicang County had barely survived the long winter and were counting on the autumn harvest to have enough to eat. But the imperial court wanted to increase taxes, and by 70% at that. What difference was there between this and forcing the people to die?
“It’s not just our Taicang County that’s being taxed.”
Zheng Qiuyan scoffed, "In order to rebuild the three major camps in the capital, the entire Qingzhou, and even the entire Kyushu, will have to increase grain taxes. This court has truly lost its mind!"
"The imperial court...sigh!"
Zheng Qing shook his head, utterly helpless.
He knew that the court was in a difficult situation, but he still disagreed with the court's order to impose additional taxes.
The repeated levies in recent years have already spurred out ruthless heroes like Yang Zheng. Now that the court intends to continue levying more taxes, it is likely that before long, a large number of rebels will emerge in the land again.
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Yuzhou.
In a wide river channel, if viewed from above, one can see a large number of laborers, like tiny ants, diligently clearing and moving silt from the blocked waterway.
Since ancient times, Yuzhou has been a prosperous land with fertile soil and thriving commerce. Therefore, hundreds of years ago, the government at the time spent a lot of manpower and resources to dig the Yujing River, which connects Yuzhou to the capital, in order to facilitate the transportation of grain and goods from Yuzhou to the capital to replenish the capital's supplies.
It can be said that the existence of the Yujing River played an indispensable role in making the capital city the number one city in the Nine Provinces and able to support a population of 200 million.
Such a vital river would have unimaginable consequences if it were blocked, therefore...
Whenever the Yujing River became blocked, the imperial court would immediately mobilize laborers to dredge it.