Liang Xiao suddenly recalled recent intelligence.
The land reclamation efforts in the Great Liang Kingdom had undergone numerous revisions in their rent collection policies.
In current Great Liang, for reclamation farmers using official oxen, the rent was six parts for the government and four for the people. For those using their own oxen, it was a fifty-fifty split. This was the ratio Liang Xiao had initially proposed in his State Affairs policy.
However, during actual implementation, the populace was likely to face layered exploitation, akin to the Cao Wei and Jin dynasties. In later stages, it could evolve into a staggering eight parts for the government and two for the people.
After all, the Great Liang Kingdom was unlike the Great Qian. The aristocratic clans had been gradually eliminated by Liang Xiao, with various supplementary details refined and garrisons stationed in different regions to ensure that landlords and officials dared not exploit the populace.
Xiao Qing also possessed a substantial treasury to support military and financial expenditures, ensuring the nation's prosperity in the short term and its ability to face various challenges.
The Great Liang Kingdom, however, only had contract taxes, salt administration, and increased revenue from reclamation reforms. It also had to support military equipment reforms, leaving little funds for disaster relief across various regions.
Most crucially, even the best policies, when implemented layer by layer, were prone to various issues. Officials at the grassroots level could not all be virtuous; corruption, extortion, and trickery were commonplace.
Such matters, even in modern times, were impossible to eradicate globally, let alone in ancient times with underdeveloped communication and transportation...
The Great Liang Kingdom's emulation of the Great Qian was not entirely a failure to imitate, but it ultimately failed to achieve the ideal results of the Great Qian, leaving many problems unresolved.
Furthermore, Mu Cheng had clearly not fully suppressed these aristocratic clans, preventing them from causing trouble behind the scenes.
"Zhuo Lingjun, how has Marquis Anguo been recently?"
Finally, a middle-aged man nearby dared to ask, looking expectantly at Zhuo Zifang.
Liang Xiao and Zhuo Zifang were both taken aback. Zhuo Zifang quickly nodded, "As usual, in good health. Thank you all for your concern..."
Zhuo Zifang's voice trailed off, as these common people, barely making ends meet themselves, were still concerned about Liang Xiao, and their capacity to help was limited.
Perhaps their lives had been even more difficult before, but influenced by Liang Xiao, Great Liang had abolished the head tax, alleviating their tax burden. Yet, their lives were merely slightly better than before, far from abundant.
Exploitation still persisted, and the Great Liang Kingdom did not have enough official land to distribute for reclamation to everyone.
The successful implementation of land reclamation and the "tan ding ru mu" (reallocation of taxes based on land) policy in Great Qian relied on the thirty percent official land redline established at the founding of the nation, as well as Xiao Qing's repurchase of over 120 million mu of land, not to mention the confiscation of over thirty million mu of Xichuan land from the Helian family and their associates.
Those who were destined to starve still starved, just a little less than before.
Yet, despite their hunger, they continued to care for Liang Xiao, who had indirectly benefited them.
Liang Xiao's heart was touched.
Perhaps the reason Mu Cheng was not in a hurry to speak with him alone was to allow him to first witness the true spirit of the Great Liang populace?
But he was a high-ranking official of Great Qian, not of Great Liang. He had no reason to help Great Liang become prosperous and strong. Mu Cheng would also not willingly surrender to achieve unification.
This was a seemingly insurmountable paradox.
The middle-aged man, accompanied by his wife and two children, gathered his courage and approached, holding a mud figurine with trembling hands.
The brother and sister followed their parents, looking timidly at Zhuo Zifang, their faces filled with gratitude.
The middle-aged man knelt down and presented it with both hands, "This is a mud figurine that my two children made together for Marquis Anguo, as a token of gratitude. Could Lord Zhuo please deliver it on my behalf?"
Liang Xiao looked closely; the mud figurine was quite exquisite, inscribed with "Wishing Marquis Anguo peace and longevity."
Zhuo Zifang immediately agreed and dispatched someone to carefully place the mud figurine into a small box.
More people from the surrounding crowd came forward, presenting mud figurines made by their own children.
Considering the possibility of Hui Chun Sect members among the populace, and for Liang Xiao's safety, Zhuo Zifang said apologetically, "Marquis Anguo appreciates everyone's kindness, but it is inconvenient for him to accept so many gifts. For him, the true gift would be for everyone to live in peace and prosperity in the future. We will strive for friendly relations between our two nations and avoid conflict to prevent bloodshed."
The crowd realized and bowed gratefully, "Thank you, Your Majesty, and Marquis Anguo for the 'tan ding ru mu' and smallpox prevention!"
Watching the commoners carefully store their mud figurines and voluntarily make way, Zhuo Zifang and Liang Xiao felt a mix of emotions.
They already knew that Mu Cheng had, through the newspapers, informed the entire nation that "tan ding ru mu" was an emulation of Liang Xiao by the Emperor.
This was also the reason for Yan Liu and others' anger. Mu Cheng repeatedly strengthened the sense of identification the Great Liang military and populace had with Liang Xiao, even to the point of openly confronting them.
For their existing power, they could only endure this grudgingly, as this matter had not yet touched their bottom line: wealth and power.
After passing through the official road, Liang Xiao stopped his carriage, lost in thought.
The populace, though simple and unsophisticated, clearly remembered who treated them well.
After Mu Cheng's death, the future of the two nations was uncertain. He certainly could not nurture a potential threat by allowing Great Liang to become too powerful. He could only do things that were beneficial and necessary for the people of both nations, such as eradicating the Hui Chun Sect.
Once one holds a high position, excessive benevolence and universal love before the grand undertaking is accomplished can lead to greater disasters.
To achieve a great enterprise, one must bear pain. The path to prosperity is inevitably paved with helplessness, compromises, and even sacrifices.
The optimal solution Liang Xiao could currently conceive was to let the Great Qian Kingdom increasingly demonstrate its overwhelming strength, forcing Great Liang to voluntarily submit and thus unify the two realms.
With no one else around, Zhuo Zifang could not help but whisper, "Why is the Emperor of Great Liang not afraid of falling out with the aristocratic clans, repeatedly elevating your prestige among the Great Liang populace, and even sending his own prince to our Great Qian as a guest, essentially a hostage... Could he be hoping for you to become the Emperor of Great Liang?"
Liang Xiao was stunned, then shook his head, "Certainly not. If he is a wise ruler, how could he not understand that I would never agree to such an absurd request?"
"Then I truly cannot fathom him," Zhuo Zifang sighed.
Liang Xiao pondered.
Even the seasoned Zhuo Zifang couldn't figure it out?
Suddenly, a thought flashed through Liang Xiao's mind, and he immediately shook his head, "Impossible..."
"What is impossible?" Zhuo Zifang asked urgently.
"Nothing..." Liang Xiao replied vaguely.
At this moment, a strange idea suddenly struck him.
This idea could not be told to anyone, for it was too treasonous...
Anyone could say it, but not him, not Xiao Qing, not Mu Cheng.
Perhaps, this was Mu Cheng's intention?
Zhuo Zifang no longer inquired, but looked towards the Sword Tomb in the distance.
There were hundreds of graves there, each with a sword or saber planted on it. Most of these blades and swords were already rusty. A gust of wind blew, making them sway.
However, there were no weeds around these graves. Fresh offerings were placed before some of the tombstones, indicating they were regularly cleaned and commemorated by dedicated individuals.
Zhuo Zifang explained, "The Great Liang Sword Tomb is a famous historical site in Great Liang. Legend has it that it is where successive chivalrous heroes and renowned swordsmen from the founding of the nation are buried, representing the nation's acknowledgment and commendation of them. The twelve righteous individuals who sacrificed themselves for the Emperor of Great Liang are also buried here. If chivalrous heroes from both nations visit Great Liang, they must first pay their respects at the Sword Tomb."
Liang Xiao and his party immediately entered the Sword Tomb and found ten nearby tomb keepers, asking for the location of the graves of the twelve righteous individuals.
At this time, Liang Xiao was still disguised as a carriage driver. Thus, the oldest tomb keeper looked at Zhuo Zifang, his old eyes lighting up, "Are you Zhuo Lingjun?"
Upon receiving Zhuo Zifang's affirmative reply, the old man said excitedly, "Please follow me! Those twelve nameless righteous individuals were all close friends of the Northern King of Great Liang!"