"Pah! Who were you hinting at? Who dared not seek revenge? His Majesty and the late Emperor were brothers bound by deep affection; not a moment passed without them thinking of avenging their bloodstained hatred. It was only because the treasury stood empty and the army had no shortage of problems that they endured humiliation and bore heavy burdens. How had it become, in your mouths, that they dared not seek revenge?"
"Don't make it sound so noble. In royal struggles, no one knew the truth. An empty treasury? That only fooled petty commoners like you. The Imperial Court levied such heavy taxes every year—how could the treasury possibly be empty?"
"That makes sense. Last year, our township imposed two additional taxes. If the treasury is still empty after that, then we ought to consider where all that tax silver went."
"Where are you from?"
"Ji'an, Jiangxi."
"Our Laizhou, Shandong, also added two taxes."
"See? Everyone's taxes have gone up. It isn't just my own claim."
"If you ask me, this so-called land survey is also meant to increase state revenue. In the end, the ones suffering will still be the common people. Better not to survey it at all."
"I'm afraid the ones who suffer won't be the common people, but certain corrupt officials and gentry who prey upon the countryside?"
One man sneered. "Foolish. Do you truly think surveying the land can increase treasury revenue and lighten the people's burdens? I'm afraid all the land they uncover will belong to the poorest people."
Pan Yun could not help looking over. She asked the scholar seated at the neighboring table, "Who is that?"
"You don't know him? He's Shang Lu from Chun'an, Zhejiang. He took first place in the Xiangshi in the Tenth Year of Xuande and has been