Chapter 436: Chapter 436

Out of friendliness, before parting, Zhu Chuan still reminded, "Governor Zhao might encounter quite a few merchants from the south along the way. At this moment, they might be blocked within Nanyang Country."

Zhao Hanzhang squinted upon hearing this, "Oh, so there are many bandits in Nanyang’s territory?"

Zhu Chuan replied meaningfully, "Those aren’t bandits; it’s regular taxation."

Zhao Hanzhang’s smile slightly faded, "Oh? I wonder what taxes Mr. Zhu paid along the way?" She wanted to broaden her knowledge.

"There are many items, carriage tax, goods transit tax, road damage tax, oh, and foot tax."

Zhao Hanzhang was confused, "Foot tax?"

"Some small traders have low costs, lacking livestock and carts, relying on their shoulders to carry goods, thus missing the carriage tax, so naturally, they have to make up for it with a foot tax."

Fu Tinghan was also stunned and instinctively asked, "For those like you with carriage tax, don’t you need to pay foot tax?"

"Of course pay. Although there are carriages, most people still need to walk, so however many people stand on the ground, that’s how many foot taxes are paid."

Zhao Hanzhang reached out to rub her forehead, headache incessant, and asked, "Mr. Zhu came all the way from Shudi, is it only Nanyang Country , or..."

"It’s not just here. Shudi is okay. Out of Shudi, various business taxes increase, and Nanyang Country is just one among many, slightly... more." Zhu Chuan said with a smile, "This time, I saw many merchants along the way. Small traders have increased by more than threefold, all heard that the Yu State Governor has a treasure, spends generously, and those who supply goods face no worries about selling, business taxes are reduced, so they come."

Zhao Hanzhang raised her lips, nodding, "Yes, I did reduce business taxes. I wonder how much business tax Mr. Zhu paid passing through Nanyang Country this time?"

Zhu Chuan replied, "I paid 1.2-million money in transit tax upon entering Nanyang Country, which allowed smooth passage through, but beyond Nanyang Country, in other counties, it may not be recognized."

1.2 million, which is about 1,200 taels. Now money is expensive, hmm, calculating this way, the heart doesn’t ache much.

Zhao Hanzhang reassured, "Mr. Zhu rest assured, entering Ru Nan County, there’s no business tax along the way, proceed freely."

Zhu Chuan then smiled.

He now only had three carts of valuable goods left, most of his assets were on them. Just d thirty carts of supplies to Zhao Hanzhang. Truthfully, he was still somewhat pained. If this taxation continues, even families as big as his couldn’t bear it.

Zhao Hanzhang glanced at the small merchants, lowered her eyes in contemplation.

After Zhu Chuan left, Fu Tinghan said, "With merchants like these small traders, they can be entirely exempted from business taxes."

Zhao Hanzhang nodded, "I thought so too, I’ll outline details later and inform every county."

She raised her lips, "Originally thought Nanyang Country, being close to Ru Nan County, always part of the five counties within Yu State, would have fewer issues. But now it seems, not lacking."

Fu Tinghan also fell silent, sensing the faint killing intent on Zhao Hanzhang, but looking up at the refugees sitting nearby, squeezed together for warmth, too weak to move; then he looked at the barefoot children, or those wearing straw shoes, ragged but bright-eyed, darting through the forest picking up wood, he suppressed his urge to speak. Get full chapters from 𝗻𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗹✶𝗳𝗶𝗿𝗲✶𝗻𝗲𝘁

Zhao Hanzhang also watched these displaced people, both standing shoulder to shoulder silently observing.

Zhao Erlang suddenly appeared, leaves all over his head, rabbits in each hand excitedly rushing towards them, "Sister, Brother-in-law, look at the rabbits I caught!"

Lv Hu behind him carried a deer, grinning foolishly at the two, Zhao Erlang loudly shouted, "This was caught by Lv Hu, the deer was so silly, seeing us catching rabbits, it ran around wildly, and ended up just about to crash into Lv Hu’s arms, knocked unconscious by a punch from Lv Hu."

Zhao Erlang had a wonderful time today, stuffed the two rabbits into his sister and brother-in-law’s hands, while asking Lv Hu to throw the deer to other aides, still wanting to play in the forest.

"Sister, lend me your bow, alright? Your bow is bigger, shoots further, I too want to catch deer. I heard there are deer in the mountains, maybe I can hunt some."

Zhao Hanzhang looked at Qiu Wu.

Qiu Wu immediately brought her bow and arrows.

Zhao Hanzhang handed it to him, asking, "Can you pull it open?"

Zhao Erlang stepped forward, raised his hand, and then tried to pull it open for her to see.

His neck veins bulged, slightly trembling as he pulled to a semicircle.

Zhao Hanzhang saw, reached out to hold his hand, helping him pull the bow fully before letting go.

She squeezed his arm, "Still need practice, don’t push yourself."

Zhao Hanzhang took back the bow, handed it back to Qiu Wu, patted his shoulder, "You’ve grown another year, soon you can use herbal medicine to strengthen your body. Then regularly train with sandbags on your arms to build arm strength, soon you’ll be able to pull my bow."

Zhao Erlang’s eyes lit up, "I can soak in the herbal bath Sister uses? I wanted to before, but Uncle Qianli didn’t allow it."

"It’s a custom formula for me, and you’re young, growing rapidly. Soaking in herbal baths now wouldn’t be good. After the new year, let Uncle Qianli prepare a new formula for you."

Zhao Erlang agreed, moved his arms, and obediently went to take his bow and arrow, calling on Lv Hu to enter the mountain again.

Zhao Hanzhang didn’t stop him, instead summoned Qiu Wu, asking him to send some guards along, loudly saying, "Catch more, tonight we shall eat well!"

But now it’s deep winter, and there aren’t many animals active outside. Zhao Erlang has great wilderness survival skills, knowing to follow the water source.

Sure enough, following the water source inward, they found many traces of animals, going further ahead to a large swamp, lifting the tall weeds revealed a group of wild deer inside.

Zhao Erlang’s eyes shined brightly, excitedly calling to those behind him, "Look, it’s deer! I will hunt deer for my Sister!"

Zhao Hanzhang envied Zhao Erlang’s carefree hunting in the mountains. She too wanted to go, so she turned to Fu Tinghan, "Let’s hunt in the mountains when encamping tomorrow."

Anyway, things are arranged, left to Fan Ying and the others to follow routine, as long as these refugees are managed tonight, no need for her to stay specifically to intimidate tomorrow.

Fu Tinghan also liked occasional outdoor activities, allowing him to relax, so he nodded.

The sky gradually darkened when Zhao Erlang and his party jubilantly carried two deer back, the camp was already filled with the aroma of food.

Shudi mainly grows rice, but there’s also wheat, so this time Zhu Chuan primarily brought rice.

Fan Ying and the others simply boiled the rice with shells. No choice, removing the shells swiftly is too troublesome.

But they cooked for a very long time, shells burst open, even the rice inside popped, thick porridge breathing a sweet tempting aroma, everyone stared fixedly at the pots.