Surveying Landholdings

"Of course!"

"None of you need feel any pressure. If you truly abide by the Great Song Code, truly obey His Majesty, then I, the Prefect, will be able to see it."

Seeing their expressions constantly change, Han Sui added another line.

"Yes, yes!"

The crowd nodded one after another.

"Yes."

Verdant Green Maiden echoed him.

The moment she spoke, everyone promptly shut their mouths again.

This one... perhaps she should refrain from opening her mouth?

Seeing how badly Verdant Green Maiden's earlier words had frightened them, Han Sui prepared to get to the point.

He cleared his throat, glanced around, and waved for several documents to be brought over.

"Come!"

"Everyone, take a look."

"These are some regulations I have drafted over the past few days on how we can govern Sheng Prefecture together. According to the Great Song Code, all of your landholdings within Sheng Prefecture must be registered, filed in the archives, and taxed according to the land."

"Each year... the two taxes shall be assessed according to the fertility of each mu of land."

"Additionally!"

"Since Jiangnan was only recently pacified in past years, the tax system has been in disarray!"

"None of you have paid much in taxes either."

"We may as well use this opportunity to take stock of it all and make up every last bit!"

As Han Sui spoke, the more those people read, the tighter their brows drew together.

Their landholdings were all prime fields!

If taxes were set according to fertility, how much would they have to hand over?

They flipped through the registers Han Sui had given them. The more they read, the more shaken they became, and they could not help whispering among themselves.

Han Sui was in no hurry.

He simply waited for them to talk.