"Marquis of Anguo, everyone is just showing respect..." Yang Xi awkwardly smoothed things over.
Liang Xiao waved his hand and repeated, "Everyone, rise!"
More than three thousand people, with trepidation in their hearts, stood up one after another, gazing at Liang Xiao with awe.
"You are not my slaves, but the people of my fief. From now on, you need not kneel to me," Liang Xiao said sternly, leaving everyone present stunned.
"Thank you, Marquis!"
Some of the cleverer villagers quickly expressed their thanks, and the three thousand people followed suit.
Yang Xi summoned his courage and cupped his hands towards Liang Xiao, "Marquis of Anguo, the people of Anxi County are poor. We beg you to be merciful and collect less tax in the future."
"Tax?"
Liang Xiao looked at the sweating Yang Xi with confusion, then burst into laughter and declared loudly, "I do not collect taxes!"
Everyone was surprised again. Yang Xi forced a smile, "Your humble subordinate knows this. Marquis of Anguo is very busy and has trusted subordinates who handle tax collection."
Liang Xiao smiled, "Magistrate Yang misunderstands my meaning. I mean, they do not need to pay me any food tax!"
Liang Xiao's words struck the crowd like a thunderclap out of the blue.
He was not collecting taxes on the fief granted to him by the Emperor?
What was the point of the fief then?
Yang Xi repeatedly confirmed with Liang Xiao, and Liang Xiao remained firm in his stance that he would not collect taxes.
More than three thousand people were moved to tears of gratitude and knelt to kowtow to Liang Xiao.
"I said, do not kneel!" Liang Xiao said helplessly, urging everyone to rise.
Chen Shaoling and the others behind Liang Xiao could not help but cast looks of admiration towards him.
Jian Qinwan's eyes, however, flickered, and the corners of her lips under her veil curved upwards.
The good impression she had of Liang Xiao, which had been shattered, had unintentionally increased by another bit!
"However, I still need to send people to manage you. After all, it is my fief. From now on, my trusted subordinate, Liang Si, will manage the affairs of the fief. Firstly, you must not commit any wicked deeds."
"Secondly, I plan to acquire a large amount of land in Yanzhou. When the time comes, we will be short of people to till the land. You can sign up to cooperate, and I will consider it as hiring you to farm. The harvest will be split fifty-fifty. Of course, if you cannot afford to eat, I can provide you with food first, and it will be deducted from your share at market price after the harvest."
After speaking, Liang Xiao signaled his trusted subordinates to step forward.
This Liang Si was a man in his fifties, a confidant of Liang Qing, and reliable in his work.
More than three thousand people were overjoyed and choked back the urge to kneel, bowing to Liang Xiao instead.
Yang Xi wiped his tears and nodded repeatedly, praising Liang Xiao's virtue.
After dismissing the villagers, Liang Xiao left Liang Si and a group of Liang Mansion guards to manage the fief. Before leaving, he instructed Liang Si, "Calculate the money, purchase some grain, and assist Magistrate Yang in helping the famine-stricken people."
Yang Xi was overjoyed and immediately pledged his full support.
Only then did Liang Xiao depart with peace of mind.
Upon returning to the main hall of the Liang Mansion, before Liang Xiao and the others could even settle into their chairs, a guard reported, "Second Young Master, Dean Zhuo of the Yanzhou Academy has brought all the scholars to apologize!"
Jian Qinwan remained silent.
When she was in the capital, she had heard about Liang Xiao's past from Yue Lian and Zhen Mi, and she couldn't help but feel indignant.
The scholars of Yanzhou Academy, who had advocated for surrender, had been severely beaten by Liang Xiao. He had also instigated the academy's teachers and dean to expel Liang Xiao from Yanzhou Academy...
And now they had come to offer an apology?
Chen Shaoling and the others sat in the hall, looking at the scholars behind Zhuo Wentao with curiosity, then shook their heads in disappointment.
Compared to Liang Xiao, these scholars were like fireflies trying to compete with the sun and moon!
"Marquis of Anguo, we were blind and did not recognize your greatness. You are magnanimous..."
The scholars scrambled to kneel and beg for forgiveness from Liang Xiao, but they were also called up by Liang Xiao, "Do not kneel!"
Liang Xiao could not stand the sight of people kneeling.
"If Marquis of Anguo does not forgive us, we dare not rise!" they all said.
Jian Qinwan shook her head helplessly, finding these people an eyesore. She then looked at Liang Xiao, comparing him to this "lecherous scoundrel," these scholars were truly pathetic.
Liang Xiao said sternly, "As long as you possess the integrity and responsibility befitting scholars, and stand tall, why should you care whether I forgive you or not?"
The crowd fell into thoughtful silence.
Zhuo Wentao then sternly reprimanded the scholars, "Did you hear that? To establish virtues for the heaven and earth, to secure the fortune of the people, to continue the lost learning of the past sages, to open peace for all generations – this is the teaching of the Marquis of Anguo!"
The scholars shed tears on the spot, vowing to remember it, and then withdrew.
Zhuo Wentao breathed a sigh of relief and bowed to Liang Xiao, "Liang Xiao, I apologize to you again..."
"Dean Zhuo, I understand your intentions. There is no need for guilt," Liang Xiao said with a smile, inviting Zhuo Wentao to be seated.
Zhuo Wentao sighed, "I am still ashamed! Is there anything our academy can do to help the Marquis of Anguo?"
Liang Xiao then said solemnly, "The Sage said: 'Education for all.' I hope you can mobilize all the academies in Yanzhou to not refuse any ordinary people seeking knowledge. In future education, students must be made to understand deeply that the barbarians are ambitious and cannot be appeased; the enmity between our two nations is irreconcilable."
Zhuo Wentao pondered, then nodded, "I understand what the Marquis of Anguo means. If anyone spreads words of surrender in the future, I will expel them from the academy!"
After Zhuo Wentao left, the twenty Tianshan swordsmen, led by Chen Shaoling, bowed to Liang Xiao with profound admiration.
"Education for all!"
In the current Da Gan, how many common people were allowed to study?
"The Marquis of Anguo truly possesses a chivalrous heart with tender feelings. As for us, our little..." Chen Shaoling began, but met Jian Qinwan's deadly gaze and shivered, then chuckled, "It is only right for us to express our small respect to the Marquis of Anguo. From now on, we shall be at the Marquis's command!"
Liang Xiao was overjoyed, while Jian Qinwan breathed a sigh of relief.
In fact, she had been worried that her senior brothers and sisters would only care about her and not take Liang Xiao seriously.
But now, it seemed these senior siblings were truly "up to no good," always trying to push her onto Liang Xiao!
Liang Xiao thanked them gladly, but Chen Shaoling turned the conversation, "It's our duty, our duty. After all, our junior sister was in tears begging us to serve the Marquis of Anguo."
Jian Qinwan: ...
In the afternoon, Liang Xiao went to the Prefect's Mansion with only Liang Wen.
Upon learning that Liang Xiao intended to buy a large amount of land, Liu Anmin was surprised, "Marquis of Anguo, Yanzhou's land is barren. Are you truly planning to hoard so much land? This could very well be a business venture that results in a complete loss!"
Purchasing land also required paying taxes to the court annually!
The land was infertile, and the grain yield was not high. If it encountered a year of natural disaster, it would be even more disastrous!
Liang Xiao nodded, "Not just land, I also plan to buy a thousand oxen. This matter also requires the support of Prefect Liu. Please tell our steward the amount of commission and taxes to be paid. We will prioritize buying land from landlords."
Seeing Liang Xiao's persistent desire to buy land, Liu Anmin no longer tried to dissuade him and agreed on the spot, "Your humble subordinate will notify the landlords immediately. The Marquis can discuss prices with them at the mansion tomorrow!"
At the same time, in the capital, Ouyang Ji, the Minister of Revenue, was summoned to the Imperial Study by Xiao Qing.
"Minister Ouyang, how have recent land transactions in the country been? How has your Ministry of Revenue approved them? I wish to review them."