58: Raise taxes

Xiao Ran looked at Zou Ming and Xue Hu, "Two Senior Brothers, has the identity of that mysterious Foundation Establishment Cultivator from before been verified?"

Xue Hu and Zou Ming shook their heads simultaneously. Xue Hu spoke up, "This person is skilled in sword control techniques and did not reveal any other methods, making it difficult to determine their identity."

"Sword control techniques!"

Xiao Ran gave a cold snort, "It shouldn't be the Nether Fire Sect; I estimate it is one of the three Sects bordering us."

The Ice Pool Sect, Zizai Sect, and Duanjiang Sect—these three Golden Core Sects all border the Red Pine Sect, and they are all subordinate Sects of the Nascent Soul Sect, the Heavenly Sword Sect.

The Nether Fire Sect belongs to the Nascent Soul Sect, the Cloud Top Sect. If they were to participate in Red Pine Sect affairs, it would easily attract the attention of the Heavenly Sword Sect, so the possibility is very low.

The greatest possibility for this mysterious Foundation Establishment Cultivator is one of those three Sects, because since they all belong to the Heavenly Sword Sect, they would have fewer qualms about taking action.

"I intend to forcibly subjugate all the cultivation families in Yongning within three months. Taxes will be increased by fifty percent. Those who do not submit... will be killed!"

The Sect's tax system is very crude, and the power of the county government is weak. Local taxes are levied directly from the cultivation families; it is impossible to implement them on an individual basis.

Generally, a fixed amount is determined based on the Family's scale, the rank of their Spiritual Vein, the size of their industries, and so on, to be collected annually.

The Red Pine Sect's taxes are not low. Previously, it was about thirty percent of each Family's output. Now, increasing it to fifty percent means it is almost fifty percent of the total output!

"Junior Sister Xiao, now that the Chen Family of Yongning has been destroyed, subjugating the remaining cultivation families is not a big problem, but..."

Zou Ming said with a serious expression, "What I fear is that other counties within our territory will take the opportunity to cause trouble."

"Then let them cause trouble!"

Xiao Ran's face showed not a hint of fear, "If a Qi Refining Family dares to step forward, kill the Qi Refining Family. If a Foundation Establishment Family dares to step forward, kill the Foundation Establishment Family. The Chen Family's fate today is the outcome for those who dare to resist!"

Zou Ming did not say much more, only sighing inwardly, 'The Red Pine Sect is likely going to become increasingly chaotic; the chaos in Yongning is just the beginning...'

He understood that all of this was the will of Revered Master Xiao Changfeng; he could not stop it, nor could he prevent it.

...

Three days later.

The Law Enforcement Team army changed its previous gentle style and became exceptionally overbearing.

Anyone who dared to express even a hint of dissatisfaction with the new tax policy, or had ties to Robber Cultivators and could not prove their innocence, would be executed by the Law Enforcement army.

In two months, under the leadership of Xiao Ran and several Foundation Establishment Cultivators, the Law Enforcement army swept through the entire Yongning, killing over a thousand Cultivators.

The entire Yongning became instantly calm. The Lu Family surrendered, the Chen Family was destroyed, and no one dared to stand out at this time.

Xiao Ran's iron-fisted methods intimidated the entire Yongning, and everyone was too afraid to speak out despite their anger.

Not only Yongning, but the neighboring counties of Gumu, Heshan, and Nayun all fell silent, and illegal activities decreased significantly.

Until the Sect issued a decree: taxes throughout the territory would be increased by fifty percent, for a duration of five years.

Once the decree was issued, it was like throwing a pebble into a calm lake; news of Robber Cultivator disturbances immediately increased significantly.

For some families that were already poorly managed, a fifty percent tax increase was equivalent to cutting off their means of survival.

Working hard for a year only to end up at a loss—no one could do that. It would be better to be a carefree Robber Cultivator.

Once there are many Robber Cultivators, they will in turn affect other families. If the Sect does not deal with it, the situation will only get worse.

However, the current impact is not significant. As long as True Person Xiao is still alive, the situation will not spiral out of control immediately.

It is only for five years, not a permanent tax increase; some families felt that they could just endure it and it would pass.

The Sect's Law Enforcement Team frequently mobilized, and several Foundation Establishment Cultivators were stationed in the county seats; the current situation is still acceptable.

The chaos in Yongning could be considered over, but the Law Enforcement Team was not completely withdrawn.

Xiao Ran led a thousand Disciples along with a second-tier cloud-breaking flying ship to garrison the Chen Family's White Crane Lake, while Foundation Establishment Elder Zou Ming and his Personal Disciple Zhao Deliang led a thousand Disciples to garrison the county seat, ensuring that no one would dare to continue causing trouble.

...

Liu Xuan was very depressed. The chaos in Yongning had ended, and most of the Sect Disciples had withdrawn. He also thought he could return to the Sect; it just so happened that Lin Anqi and the maid Xiaoyue were about to give birth.

But he could not leave; his name was not on the list of withdrawing Disciples, and he still had to continue working under Zhao Deliang.

County Government Hall.

"Senior Brother Zhao, the matter in Yongning has ended. Do you think you could let me return to the Sect?"

Liu Xuan and Zhao Deliang had spent over half a year together and had become much more familiar with each other. Coupled with his relationship with Xia He, he spoke a bit more directly and casually.

"You cannot leave!"

Zhao Deliang looked at Xia He, who was to the side, "If you leave, what will happen to my Disciple?"

"Also! If you leave, what about those families that defected because of you? Will they think I want to go back on my word?"

"This..."

Liu Xuan was dumbfounded!

"That shouldn't be the case, Senior Brother Zhao. Those families have nothing to do with me; I just took in a few ordinary women. As long as you haven't left, what kind of thoughts could they have?"

These families paid more than just a fifty percent tax; they basically handed over all their output for five years.

Before, they wouldn't have had any thoughts, but now that Yongning has stabilized, will they harbor resentment in their hearts?

Liu Xuan felt that Zhao Deliang kept him behind just to attract hatred on his behalf.

If he had known things would end so quickly, he shouldn't have gotten involved in this mess in the first place.

"Little Liu, don't overthink it. I am actually doing this for your own good!"

Zhao Deliang said slowly, with a look that saw right through Liu Xuan's thoughts.

"For my own good?"

"Yes!"

Zhao Deliang reminded him, "You should have seen the Sect's decree on increasing taxes, right? Do you think you could just stay in the Sect peacefully if you go back?"

Liu Xuan was stunned!

That's right! Once the Sect decree was issued, there would certainly be many disturbances, big and small, everywhere. After returning, he might be assigned new tasks to handle matters in other counties.

"Do you understand now?"

Zhao Deliang picked up his spirit tea and took a sip, "Right now, Yongning is the most stable place. With me covering for you, what are you afraid of?"

"That makes sense!"

Liu Xuan thought about it carefully and felt that it indeed made sense.

If he went back to the Sect, he would just be an ordinary Inner Sect Disciple. How could that be as carefree as being in Yongning?

Even if the Sect didn't assign him tasks to go out, it wouldn't be as good as staying in Yongning!

In the current Yongning county seat, except for Elder Zou Ming and Zhao Deliang, no one had a higher status than him. He could do whatever he wanted; wouldn't that be wonderful!

"Have you thought it through?"

"If you've thought it through, go back and do your job well. Pacify those families for me, and don't let them cause any trouble!"

Zhao Deliang instructed.

"Thank you for your guidance, Senior Brother!" Liu Xuan bowed and continued, "However, I would like to ask for leave to return to the Sect once. My children are about to be born!"

"Huff~"

"You brat!"

Zhao Deliang steadied his breathing, "I'll give you ten days at most. When you're done, get back here!"

"Alright!"

"Thank you, Senior Brother!"

Liu Xuan agreed with a smile, then chatted and spouted nonsense for a few sentences before pulling Xia He away to return to his own courtyard.