Sister Han is good at farming

Chapter 151 Mysterious Letter

After dealing with the troublemakers in Zaoziling, the people in Zaoziling once again had a bumper harvest, and the per-acre yield was still among the best. Ruan Qingqing's family and the old house took the first and second place in the autumn harvest evaluation respectively. The people in Zaoziling also won some good places, and almost every family received a reward.

However, this reward is not free. Families who get good rankings must sell the harvested grain to the court at the lowest usual price, and the amount sold must not be less than 50%.

As soon as the news came out, everyone's joy of winning the grand prize was somewhat diluted. Especially after experiencing three years of drought and plague, everyone valued food very much. The food left in hand should not only be enough for the current year, but also enough for the next year, in case of emergency.

Once 50% of the grain was sold, the remaining grain was a bit stretched. What was even worse was that the court did not accept sorghum, corn, peanuts, and soybeans, but only rice, wheat, and the like. Those who planted sorghum, corn, peanuts, and soybeans converted them into rice at the market price and sold them to the court.

For a moment, everyone was filled with resentment.

"This emperor is too cunning. First he used the big prize to entice everyone, and then he tried to empty the people's food bags."

Ruan Qingqing was also very unhappy. She worked hard to make everyone's fields produce high yields so that everyone could have enough food to eat, not to be plotted against by those in power.

"This is the only solution. Now that the border war is imminent, the national grain supply is extremely tight. Compared with raising everyone's taxes, this is the most moderate way to collect grain."

Zhou Zheng heard Ruan Qingqing's whispered complaints and smiled helplessly.

"Sir Zhou, I just complained a few words." Ruan Qingqing didn't expect that she had accidentally expressed her true feelings, so she hurriedly made amends.

"It's okay. The current emperor is the most enlightened monarch in history. You must have confidence in him! But the situation in our Yunqing country has been a bit serious recently. You should hold more food in your hands just in case." Zhou Zheng couldn't help but remind the little girl in front of him.

Ruan Qingqing's eyebrows trembled slightly, "Is there going to be a war somewhere else?"

"Well, in addition to the barbarians in Jiangxia who are fighting us to a standstill, the seven countries neighboring our Yunqing Kingdom, namely Moliang, Qingrong, Fangying, Fengshuo, Yuque, Dianming and Weijing, are also ready to make a move. I am afraid that they will unite and attack our Yunqing Kingdom. The emperor is so anxious to collect grain, I think he is preparing for this."

Zhou Zheng explained.

"Why has this situation come to our Yunqing?" Ruan Qingqing couldn't understand. Yunqing was not weak in strength, so why was it coveted by neighboring countries?

"Because the grain yield is high!" Zhou Zheng looked at Ruan Qingqing and said word by word.

"This……"

"In recent years, not only has our Yunqing country experienced a rare three-year drought, plague, and snowstorm, but the surrounding countries have also suffered from natural disasters. Their food production has dropped sharply, not to mention that some places can't even grow crops. In order to have enough food, they all set their sights on our Yunqing country."

Zhou Zheng explained patiently.

Ruan Qingqing lowered her brows and thought for a while, "So Lord Zhou came here this time to remind us?"

"No! I am here to investigate the owner of the Good Luck Casino in Qingping Town."

Ruan Qingqing frowned, "The owner of the Good Luck Casino in Qingping Town?"

"Yes, this man is most likely a spy planted by the emperor in Qingping Town. However, four years ago, you and your father exposed the disaster relief silver and grain he hid in the gambling house, so he must have held a grudge against you. Now he is trying to take revenge on you. I'm afraid that destroying your autumn harvest is just an appetizer."

Ruan Qingqing was shocked for a moment, "Such a big thing happened, but he was able to escape from that turmoil safely?"

Zhou Zheng nodded carefully, "So I have to arrest him as soon as possible, otherwise I don't know how he will deal with you!"

"But why did the emperor send him to Qingping Town? Was it the emperor's order that Haoyunlai Casino hid the disaster relief money and grain?"

"It's hard to say whether the hiding of disaster relief silver and grain was instructed by the emperor, but it is an indisputable fact that the emperor used it to rectify the officialdom in the south. As for why the secret agents were sent to Qingping Town, I guess it may be related to Yan the Carpenter and Chi the Hunter who live in Zaoziling.

We all thought that the emperor didn’t care about those two people before, but we were too naive.”

"Isn't Hunter Chi the leader of the wrongly accused Chi family army? Carpenter Yan is just a craftsman. What's there to monitor?" Ruan Qingqing had some vague guesses, but still couldn't be sure.

"There are some hidden reasons behind the injustice done to the Chi family army. Perhaps the emperor is not very confident about them. As for Carpenter Yan, I only heard that he was the illegitimate son of the last Mohist master. Although the Mohist disciples were arrested, killed, or escaped, the master's order that commanded the Mohist disciples disappeared. I guess the emperor probably got the news that the master's order was with Carpenter Yan. That's why he wants to secretly monitor them."

Ruan Qingqing touched the token in her sleeve, and cold sweat dripped down her body. How could this be a token? It was clearly a token that would cost her her life. Ruan Qingqing secretly swore in her heart that she would never take out the token unless it was absolutely necessary. She would take a wooden box and lock it up later.

She just wanted to farm quietly and lead her family and neighbors to become rich, but she didn't want to be involved in the conspiracies and intrigues of the court.

"Don't worry, just cultivate your land. I will definitely help you eliminate all life-threatening situations." Zhou Zheng comforted him when he saw this.

"Thank you, Mr. Zhou!"

After seeing Mr. Zhou off, Ruan Qingqing couldn't calm down for a long time. They had just survived three years of drought and snowstorms, and now they had only lived a few years of peace?

Another war is about to come, and it may be that the eight countries will unite to attack Yunqing Kingdom!

This time, not only do we have to prepare a cellar, but we also have to dig a tunnel for escape.

That day, Ruan Qingqing discussed the matter of digging a tunnel with Ruan Wantie.

"It would be best if the tunnel could lead to Wudaoling. If that doesn't work, we can all escape to the mountain where we avoided the plague before." Ruan Qingqing suggested.

"If that's the case, you should renovate the place where you used to live in advance to avoid being in a rush when the time comes."

"I'm just worried that we won't have enough time. Just digging the tunnel is a huge project."

"Don't worry about these. I, your father, will find a way. Just focus on doing what you want to do!" Ruan Wantie waved his hand and took charge of everything.

On the other side, Fu Yuanhao and others sensed the tense atmosphere of the situation and prepared to return to the capital to visit their families and ask for more life-saving means from their families.

They temporarily handed over the affairs of the county government to the people below them.

Shortly after Fu Yuanhao and others left, a letter from the capital was delivered to Mr. Ruan in the old house.

That night, Mr. Ruan held a family meeting and Ruan Qingqing's family was also invited to the old house.