My Nascent Soul Ran Away Again

Chapter 165: A Man Is Born Between Heaven and Earth, How Can He Live Under Others Forever?

Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation

In Qingxian City.

At the County Magistrate’s Residence.

“To the three family heads, I invited you here today to discuss the eradication of the Black Lotus heretics and the establishment of the Qingxian City militia, ” Lu Xuan sat at the head of the table, unfolding a plan.

Before him sat Gu Yang, He Youde, and Bo Chang, the heads of the three families.

This was a plan for raising funds for the militia.

“This time we plan to recruit a thousand strong men to serve as local troops. According to the laws of the Great Kang Dynasty, we need monthly allowances, annual rice, nominal grain, and silver for heart-red paper…”

Counting this way, each person would require thirty silver taels per year. The plan wasn’t written haphazardly; Lu Xuan had done his homework in advance.

Thirty silver taels might not sound like a lot.

At least compared to the pendant Bo Chang gave to Qin Fu, it was just a trifle.

But this was the life of the landlords and the wealthy.

In the Great Kang Dynasty, twenty silver taels were enough to support an ordinary family for a year.

“Now in this time of war, the prices of rice and flour have skyrocketed, so thirty silver taels definitely won’t be enough. We need to add more,” Lu Xuan calculated the costs of the militia.

“In addition to maintaining the troops, there are also expenses for weapons and armor, at least twenty silver taels per person per year.

We have to fight against the Black Lotus heretics, dangerous demons. According to the laws of the Kang Dynasty, we must pay one year’s military salary in advance.

Then there’s the condolence money, equal to one year’s salary. If we prepare for half the number of soldiers, it averages fifteen silver taels per person.

This doesn’t even include the expenses for red and white events, corruption prevention money, and the potential costs of marching expenses for salted vegetables…”

Lu Xuan calculated for a while and then decisively declared, “To maintain a militia of a thousand men for a year… it would cost at least two hundred thousand silver taels.”

Gu Yang and the others gasped in shock.

Too damn expensive.

For a thousand people, calculated as three hundred households, the normal expenditure of twenty silver taels per household per year would total only six thousand taels.

But with a slap on the table by the county magistrate, these thousand people turned into an army, requiring a levy of two hundred thousand silver taels.

And what about that corruption prevention money? A thousand militiamen only needed one commander, how many official positions requiring such funds could there be?

Even the regular army of the Great Kang Dynasty would not spend as much as you.

Gu Yang cursed in his heart.

Damn it, this is why they say it’s good to be an official. You can come up with all kinds of reasons.

However, the three family heads knew full well.

This money… Of course, wouldn’t really be used for military expenses, nor would it be borne by them.

“Magistrate Wu, ” Gu Yang spoke after pondering for a moment.

“To be honest, recently with the chaos in the Great Kang Dynasty and the soaring prices, our families don’t have much spare money…”

“Master Gu, eradicating the Black Lotus heretics is an imperial command,” Lu Xuan raised an eyebrow and set down his teacup, looking displeased.

Gu Yang knew the county magistrate was putting on a show for Bo Chang.

He smiled.

“Don’t be impatient, sir. I’m not saying we won’t pay. It’s just that two hundred thousand taels is a really large sum… It can’t just be borne by our three families, right?”

“What do you suggest then, Master Gu?” Lu Xuan asked knowingly.

“We three families will jointly contribute half, and the rest will be made up by the wealthy in the city,” Gu Yang said.

“The wealthy in the city?” Lu Xuan looked at the three men.

“You may not know, sir, but there are still quite a few wealthy people in Qingxian City… Besides, haven’t a bunch of people recently come from Qinghe County?”

Gu Yang smiled, “Since they are part of Qingxian City, contributing some silver for the city’s safety is only right.”

Lu Xuan pondered for a moment before responding, “What about the common people in the city…”

“Hey, sir, how much money can those peasants have? Even if you wanted to squeeze them, there’s nothing to squeeze,” Gu Yang said matter-of-factly.

“To make money, you naturally have to target the wealthy.”

Bo Chang sneered upon hearing this.

Of course, Gu Yang wasn’t being kind-hearted enough to spare the people of Qingxian City.

On the contrary, his target was the peasants of Qingxian City.

In a little while, the Oinzxian Festival would arrive.

The annual offerings collected from the people of Qingxian City were the main income.

This year’s Qingxian Festival was also hosted by Gu Yang.

As the current chairman, he could manipulate a lot of things and profit from them.

This was also why Bo Chang was so concerned about the position of chairman.

Only by becoming the chairman could he gain more benefits for the Bo family.

Gu Yang was saying not to touch the common people now because he wanted to harvest them on the day of the Qingxian Festival.

Lu Xuan knew what Gu Yang was thinking.

Gu Yang knew that the county magistrate knew what he was thinking.

But he didn’t care.

He was in cahoots with the county magistrate, after all.

Magistrate Wu would get half of the Bo family’s property, a huge sum of money.

As for this year’s income, the two parties had already reached an agreement, and the magistrate’s share would all go to the Gu family.

“However, I think twenty thousand taels is just barely enough to maintain the troops. If there’s an emergency, I’m afraid it won’t be sufficient,” Gu Yang pondered for a moment.

“Why not do this: we three families jointly contribute one hundred and fifty thousand taels, and the city’s wealthy people contribute another one hundred and fifty thousand, making a total of three hundred thousand taels in cash, all handed over to the magistrate. How about that?”

Lu Xuan smiled and replied, “There’s no problem with that. Master Bo, Master He, what do you think?”

“Fifty thousand taels, I can still afford it,” Bo Chang said.

“I feel the same,” He Youde replied.

“Then I thank you all,” Lu Xuan raised his cup and toasted the three men.

“Fifty thousand taels, I’ll send it to the yamen tonight,” Gu Yang stated, and the other two also expressed their agreement.

“Don’t worry, gentlemen. Whatever I receive will definitely be… Returned to its rightful owners..”