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At the same time that Zhao Junchen swept away a huge sum of four million taels of silver from the northwest provinces, the people of the northwest provinces were eager to donate another amount of silver to build a monument for Zhao Junchen and shape the golden body!

For Zhao Junchen, he has accomplished many things during this time, infiltrating military power, building contacts, improving reputation, establishing merit, and so on, and so on! The harvest of four million taels of silver is only a small part of this.

But for the people, after Zhao Junchen visited the northwest provinces this time, he mainly accomplished two things, one is to prevent the begging and appeasement of the governors of the northwest, save the people who are about to become victims, and keep the relief grain and grass of the people in the northwest, and the other is to completely annihilate the Mongolian coalition army, not to mention the significance of this matter.

These two things have benefited the people of the northwestern provinces.

Because of the locust eradication in those years, Zhao Junchen's reputation among the people in the northwestern provinces was originally mixed, and it was not just a mess like other provinces.

Now that these two things have happened, coupled with the fact that some forces have done their best to create momentum for Zhao Junchen and praise his merits, Zhao Junchen's folk reputation in the northwest provinces has reached its peak in an instant!

Therefore, in the eyes of the people of the northwestern provinces, Zhao Junchen is simply a rare blue sky in a century!

Especially the refugees fleeing the famine in the northwest provinces, they have completely lost count of how many times Zhao Junchen has saved their lives! If it weren't for Zhao Junchen, they would have been given to the Mongols as slaves by the governors of the northwest; If it weren't for Zhao Junchen, it would be impossible for them to get the relief grain and grass distributed by the imperial court; If it weren't for Zhao Junchen, they might have died in the raids of the Mongols......

In short, the feelings of these victims for Zhao Junchen are no longer something that can be described in four simple words: "Thanksgiving".

However, Zhao Junchen still feels that it is not enough, and he will do more for these victims!

Although it was largely selfish, Zhao Junchen's approach really benefited the victims again!

*

Outside Xi'an, there is a refugee camp, which is also the largest refugee camp in Shaanxi.

The camp is huge, about 300 hectares in size, but the interior is still overcrowded because it is home to more than 50,000 people who have fled the famine.

So many people fleeing the famine, who have nothing to do all day long, are not willing to return to their hometowns, just waiting for the government to provide relief, not only has consumed a lot of grain and grass from the Shaanxi government, but also may cause a large-scale civil uprising at any time!

Even if there is no civil uprising, in such a crowded and dirty environment, the outbreak of plague and disease is a high probability event.

As described by Shaanxi Governor Zhang Shengde, this refugee camp has become a hidden danger in Xi'an City, and the officials of Xi'an City have not been able to sleep well for a long time because of the existence of this refugee camp!

said that on this day, when Zhao Junchen and the Jin merchants reached a dirty political deal of money and power, a team of people entered the refugee camp with Zhao Junchen's warrant.

There were about 200 men in this group, all of them were strong and strong adult men, these people were well-behaved and well-organized, and they seemed to be from the army, but each of them was more or less physically disabled, or had lost a finger or missing an eye, although it did not affect daily life, but it was also extremely conspicuous.

These people are naturally the disabled soldiers of the new army recruited by Zhao Junchen.

The leader of the team is also Zhang Cheng, whom Zhao Junchen has high hopes for!

After being recuperated by the divine doctor Zhang Decheng, Zhang Cheng's physical condition has recovered a little, and his image has become much more energetic than before.

However, after the team entered the refugee camp, they quickly built a wooden platform, and then beat gongs and drums to attract all the nearby victims.

However, when the victims gathered near the wooden platform, most of them had numb expressions.

They have seen similar situations countless times, and most of them are sent by the government to encourage them to return to their hometowns.

Under the repeated instigation of the government, it is true that many victims could not help but want to leave their homeland, and finally left the camp and were repatriated to their places of origin by the government, but most of the victims were still indifferent.

Even if they are willing to return to their hometowns, they are unable to support themselves, and according to the consistent urine behavior of the local government, when they flee the famine and leave their hometowns, their fields and houses have been seized by others, so it is only a dead end for them to return to their hometowns.

In contrast, although the environment in the refugee camp is a little worse, there are porridge shacks run by the government every day, and you can receive a bowl of gruel, at least there is hope of survival.

After seeing the victims crowded in front of him, Zhang Cheng looked around, and everywhere he saw were some people with dirty faces, numb expressions, and thin bodies, Zhang Cheng even felt that he was surrounded by a group of walking dead for a moment, and he couldn't help frowning.

Then, Zhang Cheng picked up the megaphone invented by Zhao Junchen and shouted loudly: "Fellow villagers, I am the leader of Zhao Junchen's personal soldiers under Lord Zhao, and I am here to visit you today on behalf of Lord Zhao!" ”

After hearing Zhang Cheng mention Zhao Junchen's name, the victims suddenly had a commotion, and their numb expressions were a little more emotional!

There is excitement, gratitude, and hope!

"Is it Lord Qincha Zhao who completely annihilated the Mongol coalition army?"

"Zhao Qingtian? The one who saved us, Zhao Qingtian! ”

"It's Zhao Shengren! Zhao Shengren has sent someone to visit us! ”

"I know that Lord Zhao is a good official who cherishes the people, and he will definitely not leave us here to die!"

Seeing the fierce reactions and discussions of the victims, Zhang Cheng's expression flashed a hint of pride.

Zhang Cheng is already Zhao Junchen's protégé, and he is the kind of henchman who only works for Zhao Junchen, and now that he sees Zhao Junchen's prestige so high, he only feels honored.

In fact, for today's affairs, Zhao Junchen has laid the shadows and made a foreshadowing very early, since the end of the Weishui War, Zhao Junchen has sent people to lurk in the refugee camp, and constantly spread Zhao Junchen's exploits to the victims, and even the appeasement and begging plans of the governors of the northwest have also been revealed.

In the end, under the repeated encouragement and praise of these latent personnel, the victims all understood the fact that Zhao Junchen had saved them many times, so Zhao Junchen's image in the hearts of the victims was close to that of a saint.

In fact, the ancient people did not have any news channels, they could only believe what they saw and heard with their own eyes, especially in the extreme environment of the refugee camp, Zhao Junchen wanted to create a momentum for himself It is really simple.

After the excitement and discussion of the people finally came to an end, Zhang Cheng shouted again: "People! You're right, Lord Zhao, he has never forgotten you! After Lord Zhao learned that tens of thousands of you were crowded in the refugee camp, he has been worrying about your daily food and clothing, and worrying about your future life! ”

After a pause, seeing that the victims were all listening attentively to their speeches, Zhang Cheng continued to shout: "Folks! Staying in the refugee camp like this and refusing to leave is not a long-term solution! There will be a day when the government's food runs out! You can only use one or two bowls of gruel a day to satisfy your stomach, and you won't last long! The environment here is so harsh that you might get a disease outbreak at any point! At that time, even the imperial court will not be able to help you survive! You're just sitting back and waiting to be killed if you stay here! ”

As Zhang Cheng's words fell, the victims were in an uproar again.

Could it be that Zhao Junchen also wants to persuade them to return to their hometown and wait for death?

However, before the victims could raise questions, Zhang Cheng shouted again: "Of course, Lord Zhao also knows that letting you return to your hometown is also waiting for death!" Therefore, Lord Zhao, he has been working hard these days, and finally found a clear way for you! Lord Zhao has now scattered all his family wealth, and even borrowed a lot of silver, in Shaanxi, Gansu, Shanxi, and Beizhili, he has purchased many fields and built many granges!

With these fields and granges, there is a place for you! These fields and granges are now short of manpower to cultivate, and Lord Zhao has decided to hire you as tenants, cultivate land, and grow food! Until you receive the food next year, you can still receive relief food from the imperial court! Don't worry about starving!

Lord Zhao promised you that as long as you are willing to go to Lord Zhao's land to cultivate grain, in addition to the annual imperial court tax, Lord Zhao will only ask you for an additional rent of Sanchengtian! In addition, with the support of Lord Zhao, the local government will not increase taxes on you, and in addition to paying the two taxes of the imperial court and the rent of Sanchengtian, the rest of the grain will be all owned by you! Lord Zhao will even send a trading house to buy the surplus grain in your hands at a fair price! ”

After a pause, Zhang Cheng shouted in a louder voice: "All in all, as long as you follow Lord Zhao, you will never be afraid of not being able to live from now on!" You don't have to sell children and daughters! Don't worry about bullying and bullying! Don't go hungry all day! Under the protection of Lord Zhao, you will build a new and beautiful home with your own hands! ”

As Zhang Cheng's words fell, only to hear the sound of "boom", all the victims shouted and talked excitedly.

You must know that for these people who make a living from farming, the imperial court is not too much pressure to collect taxes, if they only pay taxes and grain to the imperial court, the remaining food is enough for them to live without food and clothing for a year.

The real exploitation actually lies in the landlords' tenant rents and the private tax increases of the local government!

Zhao Junchen only asked for 30% of the tenant rent, which seems to be a lot, but in fact, the landlords of this era generally collected more than 50% of the tenant rent, and even asking for 70% of the tenant rent is a common thing.

If you have your own land, many times it will be more troublesome, because the local government is often more insatiable than the landlords and gentry, the court only levies a grain tax of 30%, the local government will often increase to more than 50%, and the following officials will do some tricks on the scales, and the final tax payment is often as high as 6 or 70% or more, and the people are miserable!

In addition, there are all kinds of messy taxes, which are even more overwhelming for the people.

Therefore, Zhao Junchen only asked for 30% of the tenant rent, and also guaranteed that the local government would not add taxes to them privately, and this kind of life is undoubtedly a paradise for the people!

However, Zhang Cheng's promise was too beautiful, and the victims were excited, but they also didn't believe it.

Under Zhao Junchen's repeated efforts, the victims believed in Zhao Junchen's character and reputation, and thought that Zhao Junchen was a great good man and a great blue sky, and would never deceive them!

Their thoughts are very simple, since Zhao Junchen has saved them countless times, how can he harm them now?

Therefore, the victims were only suspicious of Zhang Cheng's origins, and some were worried that Zhang Cheng was not the leader of Zhao Junchen's personal soldiers, and such a promise was just to send them back to their hometown!

In the end, after a heated discussion among the victims, they raised questions one after another.

"Are you really Lord Zhao's subordinate?"

"You can't be disguised, can you?"

"What proof do you have to prove your identity?"

For this, Zhang Cheng also expected this, raised his hand and raised Zhao Junchen's warrant, and said: "This warrant is written by Lord Zhao himself, and there is also Lord Zhao's official seal on it!" If I had been sent by the local yamen, I would never have dared to forge Lord Zhao's handletter and official seal! If you don't believe it, you can find some literate and knowledgeable people to come to me to confirm the truth or falsehood! ”

In the end, after searching for a long time, the victims finally found a few literate people and came to Zhang Cheng to confirm Zhao Junchen's warrant.

After confirming Zhang Cheng's identity, and recalling Zhang Cheng's promises, the victims were excited.

"Zhao Qingtian! O living bodhisattva! ”

"It is our blessing to be a tenant of Lord Zhao!"

"Lord Zhao really came to save us!"

"With Lord Zhao's protection, we can finally live!"

Eventually, with the help of some people, the voices of all the victims came together.

"Willing to follow Lord Zhao!"

"Willing to follow Lord Zhao!"

After seeing the enthusiastic expressions of the victims, Zhang Cheng was satisfied and shouted loudly: "If you are willing to follow Lord Zhao, go back and pack your bags now, leave here with me, and rush to Lord Zhao's grange!" I've prepared the food for the road in advance! Also, if any of you have any skills, you can also come to me to register, and Lord Zhao has other arrangements for you! ”

With Zhang Cheng's shout, the victims began to take action.

Seeing the performance of the victims, Zhang Cheng secretly breathed a sigh of relief in his heart, only feeling that he had finally successfully completed Zhao Junchen's task.

When Zhang Cheng stepped down from the wooden platform, he took a pot of water bladder from the hands of the people around him, but drank it all.

Such a long and loud shout made Zhang Cheng's body a little unbearable.

Just as Zhang Cheng raised his head to drink, the person who gave him the water bladder couldn't help but mutter: "Boss Zhang, you said that this Lord Zhao's heart is too good, he saved the lives of these victims and gave them a place to live, which is enough!" But he still only collects 30% of the tenant rent, isn't it too much of a loss? ”

This person's name is Huo Gang, and he is also a disabled soldier from the New Army of Soldiers, and he is naturally loyal to Zhao Junchen, he doesn't care about whether these victims will live well in the future, he only cares about Zhao Junchen's interests being lost.

After hearing this person's complaint, Zhang Cheng smiled and said, "I also mentioned your doubts to Lord Zhao!" But Lord Zhao is worthy of Lord Zhao, and his vision is far from being comparable to us!

According to Lord Zhao, these people will only live in his grange in the future, and the surplus grain can only be sold to the trading house designated by Zhao Junchen, and the silver earned can only be used in Lord Zhao's shop. At the same time, Lord Zhao can still earn a good reputation, why not? ”

This kind of concept involves the economic theory of later generations, Huo Gang thought for a long time before he understood, and suddenly said: "Lord Zhao is really smart!" ”

*

In this way, under the encouragement of Zhang Cheng and others, more than 43,000 of the more than 50,000 refugees in the camp were finally willing to follow them out of the camp and become tenants of Zhao Junchen.

By the afternoon of this day, the victims had already packed their bags, and then they were led by Zhang Cheng and others to the east.

There is the direction of the military town of Xuanfu.

Under the secret operation of Zhao Junchen, Jubao Commercial Bank has bought a large amount of military land in Xuanfu Military Town, which happens to be the best place to settle these people.

However, when the victims followed Zhang Cheng out of Xi'an, they ran into a special team!

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