NOVEL WEB Chapter 764 New Policies
As Lin Rui skillfully piloted the demon dragon to a gradual landing, he laughed heartily towards Zhang Tianchang and Zhuang Mingyue: "Tianchang, it's been two years since we parted in Wang City, hasn't it? Have things been well for you these past two years? And Ming Yue, it's been almost half a year since we last met, I have missed you dearly as a brother."
Zhang Tianchang felt a slight relaxation in his heart at that moment, although Lin Hao calling him by his full name wasn't much better than 'Little Zhang', it still eased his mind a bit.
He first cupped his hands and bowed respectfully in a grand ceremony: "Subordinate Ming Wei Colonel Zhang Tianchang greets Duke of the Nation!"
Zhang Tianchang then raised his head, smiling slightly: "With Duke of the Nation and Heavenly Official Zhuang watching over, naturally everything is smooth and steady for me, the subordinate."
He indeed had been living a comfortable and pleasant life back at the local level.
With the official title of Ming Wei Colonel of the Fifth Grade under Imperial City Department, he took up the post of Imperial Dragon Colonel in the city of Fuzhou.
The Imperial Dragon under the Imperial City Department already held significant power and, coupled with his own deep roots and Lin Hao, a top figure in the court standing behind him, even the Governor of Fuzhou had to show him some deference.
Nevertheless, people truly are incomparable among each other.
Three years ago, they were both constables in Silver Moon County, and now Lin Hao has become the Regent, personally granted the title of Duke of the Nation by the Divine, while he, Zhang Tianchang, has just reached Sixth Realm Dragon Transformation, with his position still stuck at a Fifth Grade rank.
However, his career prospects still left ordinary people awestruck, with many viewing him as a rising star of tomorrow.
Zhuang Mingyue also gave a graceful bow, her sleeves flowing elegantly like a gentle willow swaying in the wind: "Ming Yue greets Senior Brother Lin; your charisma surpasses that of the past."
When she lifted her graceful head to look at Lin Rui, her eyes couldn't help but show a slight focus.
Indeed, Senior Brother's demeanor and aura greatly surpassed what it was half a year ago; his every gesture contained undeniable decisiveness and power, with his entire bearing even more unfathomable.
Zhuang Mingyue's gaze became unusual, a mix of admiration and gentleness, with an inexplicable emotion gently rippling in her eyes. A slight smile appeared on her lips, carrying a hint of joy.
She then sighed quietly, feeling an inexplicable loneliness, unconsciously fiddling with her clothing edge, as if wanting to deeply hide that hopeless emotion.
Zhuang Mingyue understood that it was best not to express her feelings outwardly, and could only stop there.
Moreover, it wasn't her place, her dream Senior Sister is now often troubled over matters concerning Lin Hao.
Lin Rui nodded slightly: "It's inconvenient to talk here, let us return to the Duke's Residence to reminisce further."
Afterwards, he carried Zhuang Mingyue with the demon dragon along with Zhang Tianchang, and his sister Lin Yi, who had undergone fifteen sessions of 'Divine Grace Refinement' at the postal station, back to the Duke's Residence.
Once the four of them were seated in the public hall of the Duke's Residence, Zhang Tianchang initially felt a little cautious and awkward, but as soon as the servants of the Duke brought a cup of hot tea, Lin Rui intentionally led Zhang Tianchang to talk about past interesting events, inserting a few jokes, and Zhang Tianchang's facial expressions gradually relaxed, with a smile appearing.
At this time, Lin Rui, sipping tea, inquired about the local situation: "Tianchang, since you're in Fuzhou, you must know if there have been any changes in the burdensome taxes in Fuzhou in recent years? How have the decrees I issued since this January fared in Fuzhou?"
Upon hearing this, Zhang Tianchang became solemn and replied resolutely: "The changes are significant! It's been almost a year now in Fuzhou with no taxations or levies, and exemptions have been granted on car and boat tax, fishery tax, vinegar tax, and soy sauce tax. The people of Fuzhou city are spared from paying up to 153 cash in taxes per year."
This is exactly where Zhang Tianchang admires Lin Hao.
This so-called 'New Policy' which he fully implemented after becoming Regent has indeed made a significant impact in the court and the people, but if examined closely, it shows no substantial new content.
Besides promoting open port trade, flourishing industry and commerce, rectifying governance, and checking and reorganizing reserves and transportation of military supplies, Lin Hao has drastically reformed the tax system, simplifying and consolidating complicated tax items, and ordered the Imperial City Department to publicly list the types and amounts of taxes, requesting scholars to explain it to the people, dealing strictly with anyone who violates the orders.
One must know that aside from official taxes, there have been numerous coercive levies at the local level.
During the 6700 years since the founding of the Great Song, officials at various levels have not refrained from creating excuses to repeatedly impose levies for administrative funds and personal gains, exploiting the people with any pretext, be it vinegar tax, soy sauce tax, medicine tax, egg tax, rainwater tax, shoe tax, vat tax, even charging taxes based on how many windows are in a house or how many beams a family installs.
Moreover, there have also been 'voluntary' donations and levies for claimed military fees, disaster relief, road repair, and flood control, but no one knows where these funds ultimately go.
Lin Hao's actions have redirected public resentment towards local officials, away from the court he governs.
Moreover, his governance is very steady, avoiding hasty attempts to succeed immediately and aiming to accomplish everything in one stroke, currently utilizing the Imperial City Department and the Imperial Censor's support, abolishing several local miscellaneous taxes with high pressure.
Even though the taxes abolished aren't many, totaling just over a hundred cash, for common people, it's their sustenance for ten to several dozen days.
And these provisions can greatly reduce resentment among the local populace and many demon transformations.
So now not only do the people feel gratitude for his grace, with public opinion favoring him, but most of the gentry and intellectuals in various places also highly commend Lin Hao, appreciating his steady reforms.
Lin Hao's governing principle is simplifying the complex, lightening corvée, reducing exploitation at the local level, and encouraging flourishing trade and commerce, leading to greater resource abundance within Great Song compared to before the war, consequently benefiting the local gentry.