Ouyang Ji dared not refuse, and quickly beckoned his subordinates from outside the door to push a cartload of official documents in.
This was prepared by Xiao Qing after sending someone to notify him in advance.
"So much?" Xiao Qing frowned, her tone displeased.
Ouyang Ji mumbled, "Land sales have been frequent in recent years, and it's difficult to prohibit them. His Majesty and the late Emperor have always allowed normal land transactions."
Xiao Qing nodded, "Have these documents been approved?"
Seeing Ouyang Ji nod, Xiao Qing smiled, "Very well, from now on, all approved official documents will be sent here for safekeeping. In the future, all land transactions in the prefectures and counties north of the Yangtze River and south of the Tianjiang shall require review by the Prime Minister's Office before being sent to the Ministry of Revenue."
Ouyang Ji did not understand her intention, nor did he dare to object. He could only meekly agree, but his heart grew increasingly uneasy.
Was she trying to dilute his power as the Minister of Revenue?
Through the manipulation of land sales, he could skim a considerable amount of profit!
The Ministry of Revenue could be considered the wealthiest department.
Wang Canghai, standing by, stared at the official documents with trepidation.
In truth, Xiao Qing's intention was not focused on the trivial matters themselves. She did not need to micromanage these琐事.
Leaving the imperial study, Ouyang Ji felt a shadow cast over him. With a grim expression, he returned home, drenched in sweat.
He pondered deeply, still unable to fathom Xiao Qing's intentions.
Did she intend to investigate how much he had embezzled?
The next morning, in the main hall of the Yan Prefecture Governor's Mansion, landlords and wealthy gentry were seated.
Everyone was waiting for the arrival of a fool!
Marquis Anguo, Liang Xiao!
Upon hearing that Liang Xiao intended to purchase a large amount of farmland from them, these landlords and gentry beamed with joy.
Among them, some found their land to be a hot potato, unsalable, while others had hoarded land, waiting to resell it at a high price, but could not find suitable buyers.
They knew that Liang Xiao was from a military family, and this was an opportunity to make a fortune!
As Liang Xiao, accompanied by Liang Wen, appeared in the hall, everyone rose to greet them and introduce themselves.
Liang Xiao impatiently waved his hand, "Did Governor Liu inform you of the detailed arrangements?"
Everyone nodded, took out the documents they had prepared, which meticulously recorded the acreage, quality of the land, and prices.
"These are all certified by the government, and Governor Liu can vouch for them! We would not dare to deceive someone of Marquis Anguo's stature!" explained a portly gentry.
Liu Anmin nodded, "Marquis Anguo, your subordinate has also sent people to inspect the land deeds. The contents are accurate. Please make your decision on the purchase."
Liang Xiao then said with satisfaction, "Let's start by discussing the poorer land first."
All the landlords and gentry's eyes gleamed.
Was this Liang Xiao truly a fool?
Who would bring a large sum of money and choose to buy poorer land first instead of good land?
Liu Anmin was also puzzled, but out of respect for Zhuo Zifang, he reminded Liang Xiao, "Marquis Anguo, poorer land yields very little grain, and it is not suitable for building houses. After all, this is Yan Prefecture, which has suffered from war. You understand..."
"It doesn't matter, let's buy the poorer land first!" Liang Xiao stated decisively.
Liu Anmin had no choice but to comply.
After all, no matter what kind of land was sold, the government could collect taxes, especially with the recent implementation of the contract tax.
"Two taels per mu? Mr. Bai Wan, are you joking with me?"
Upon seeing the first list, Liang Xiao's face fell, and he scanned everyone with cold eyes.
Everyone trembled in their hearts.
The landlord Bai Wan chuckled, "The land is priced at this rate..."
"Slap!"
Liang Xiao slammed the table and rose in anger, "Do you really think this Marquis is a fool? Yan Prefecture has endured severe wars, especially in the north where the population has dwindled. Who are you trying to sell your hoarded land to? Do you think you've finally found this fool to swindle a large sum?"
Sensing Liang Xiao's fury, Bai Wan nearly suffocated and stammered, "The price, the price can be discussed, everything can be discussed!"
Liang Wen was also angered, "Mr. Bai, even in the fertile lands of Jiangnan, poorer land is priced around this. Are you trying to sell wasteland as prime real estate?"
Bai Wan's old face flushed, and he quickly apologized.
Another landlord, Wei Jiuling, who was eager to sell his land, presented his list and said, "Marquis Anguo, buy mine! My poorer land is definitely cheap!"
Liang Xiao glanced at it and sneered, "One tael per mu? In the barren lands of Yan Prefecture's northern border, you call this cheap?"
Wei Jiuling was stunned, "It's already very cheap..."
Liang Xiao said sternly, "This land you hold has just experienced war. Yan Prefecture is the gateway to resisting the barbarians. Are you sure anyone else would dare to want it? To put it nicely, it's poorer land, but to put it bluntly, it's simply wasteland!"
Everyone looked at each other, their faces flushed with shame.
How could they not understand? But they were unwilling to sell at a loss!
This was land they had forcibly taken from the poor through great effort!
Liang Wen said sternly, "Our young master is kindly helping you clear your stock, but you insist on trying to make a profit. If this is the case, there is no business to be done! The land will be a burden on your hands, and you still have to pay taxes to the state each year, right? Yan Prefecture has experienced the barbarian chaos. Which noble families would still covet the land here?"
Everyone was speechless.
Liang Xiao grew impatient and asked Liu Anmin, "Governor Liu, are there any other lands in the northern region that can be purchased from the government?"
Everyone panicked, but then heard Liu Anmin say, "There are hundreds of thousands of mu in total..."
"Marquis Anguo, wait! The price can be discussed, it can be discussed!" Bai Wan was the first to become anxious.
Liang Xiao ignored him and asked Liu Anmin about the land prices.
Liu Anmin said with a wry smile, "The court's official document has been issued. Those barren lands in the northern region are priced at five hundred coins per mu. If the quantity is large, there can be further discounts..."
The landlords present felt even more guilty.
Liang Xiao turned and stared at everyone, saying sternly, "Poorer land in the northern region, four hundred coins per mu. Poorer land not in the northern region, seven hundred coins per mu. Are you selling or not?"
"This is too low! The northern region should sell for at least four hundred and eighty coins, and those not in the northern region, nine hundred per mu!" everyone shook their heads and began to bargain.
"Sell, or not sell?" Liang Xiao simply stared at everyone, tapping his fingers on the table, a smile on his face.
Everyone dared not meet Liang Xiao's gaze. The weather in Yan Prefecture was cold, and they were still sweating profusely.
Facing Marquis Anguo Liang Xiao, who held the positions of Minister of Works and Guanglu Physician, they felt an inexplicable pressure!
Finally, someone couldn't hold back, gritted their teeth, and said, "Sell!"
Liang Wen was overjoyed, "That's more like it! If you don't sell to our young master, what's the difference from having it sit idle? The barbarians are always watching!"
Everyone wore a mournful expression, having no choice but to accept the reality. They then began to bid, and in the end, due to their eagerness to unload their poorer land, the prices were driven down to an outrageous extent by themselves.
Poorer land in the northern region sold for only three hundred and fifty coins per mu, and poorer land not in the northern region sold for six hundred and fifty coins per mu!
Watching the increasingly competitive landlords and gentry, Liang Xiao inwardly rejoiced, but outwardly remained calm, letting Liang Wen calculate with an abacus on the spot.
Finally, Liang Xiao purchased one hundred thousand mu of poorer land in the northern region and one hundred thousand mu of poorer land in southern Yan Prefecture, costing over one hundred thousand taels.
According to Great Gan law, the acquisition of more than one thousand mu of land by an individual requires review by the Ministry of Revenue.
Therefore, Liang Xiao sent Liang Wen to discuss the details with everyone. Liu Anmin, seeing the opportunity to collect a large tax, also beamed with joy and waited on the spot. Once all parties had negotiated, official documents would be drafted and sent to the court.
Liang Xiao would only await the court's official document for these lands to become his.
Three days later, the news that Marquis Anguo Liang Xiao intended to acquire two hundred thousand mu of land in Yan Prefecture reached the capital.
Even Xiao Qing felt a prickling sensation on his scalp.
He had only just arrived in Yan Prefecture and dared to acquire two hundred thousand mu of land? And all of it poorer land that no one was interested in!