0p0 Chapter 498 Understanding
Chapter 498 Understanding
In the Xia Kingdom, monks and Taoist priests were extremely rare groups because these people who had left home to become monks and priests often did not engage in production and were not required to pay taxes, which was clearly not in the interests of the imperial court.
Therefore, the imperial court cracked down on them very severely. If ordinary people wanted to become monks, they had to have a certificate of ordination issued by the Ministry of Rites of the imperial court.
Obtaining a degree certificate issued by the Ministry of Rites was clearly not an easy task.
Therefore, monks and nuns within the Xia Kingdom either have deep connections or are powerful in their own right; otherwise, it would be impossible for them to become "legitimate" monks and nuns.
This is also why the soldier was so respectful to the Taoist priest in front of him.
"The old Taoist's name is Li Qingsong, and he is a Taoist priest from the Qingsong Temple in the capital."
The Taoist priest took out his travel permit and ordination certificate, and handed them to the soldier as he spoke.
Qingsong Temple!
Upon hearing the name, the soldiers were all taken aback, and their expressions visibly turned serious.
The common people of Qingzhou might not have heard of Qingsong Temple, but as soldiers guarding the city, they had access to a wide range of information and had heard of its reputation.
Qingsong Temple is one of the most famous Taoist temples in Jingzhou. It has a long history and even has high-level martial arts. No Taoist who comes out of Qingsong Temple is an ordinary person!
Not to mention, this Taoist priest's name is Li Qingsong, the same as the Qingsong Temple!
"So it was Abbot Li."
The soldier in charge of the inspection quickly saluted Li Qingsong, who was the current abbot of Qingsong Temple, with strength... peak of the fourth rank!
"Ah."
Li Qingsong nodded slightly and asked, "May I enter the city now, old Taoist?"
"That's fine, Abbot Li, please proceed."
The soldier gestured for Li Qingsong to enter the city.
The soldiers outside the city gates breathed a sigh of relief only after Li Qingsong's figure disappeared from sight.
"Damn it, these people are all incredibly powerful. I didn't even dare to breathe loudly just now."
One soldier couldn't help but complain that both Butcher Zhu and Li Qingsong had put immense pressure on them.
After all... these powerful martial artists don't like to reason with you. Once you offend them, even the Azure King might not be able to save their lives.
"We need to keep our eyes open and avoid offending the wrong people."
A soldier solemnly instructed them. Of course, ordinary martial artists guarding the city were not afraid, after all, they had the Qingzhou Army and the Qing King behind them. Ordinary lower-rank martial artists would never risk provoking the Qingzhou Army and the Qing King to attack them.
However, even martial artists like Butcher Zhu and Li Qingsong still need to be treated with some fear.
Because for martial artists who have reached this level, the deterrent effect of the army, the law, and power on them is negligible. Once you offend them, they will not care who the Green King is behind you. They will take your life without hesitation, and they will not care who is behind you at all.
"Alright, let's continue the inspection."
Soon, order was restored at the south gate, and the guards systematically checked the people entering the city.
Meanwhile, at the north gate, Chen Dao and his entourage, having shown their travel permits and offered two taels of silver to the guards, re-entered Qingzhou Prefecture.
The city was still as prosperous as ever, with people and vehicles coming and going on the streets, and shouts and cries of vendors filling the air. But beneath this prosperity, Chen Dao seemed to see the sorrow on the faces of the people.
Unlike the bustling Chenjia Village, the villagers of Chenjia Village may not have the same income as the people in the prefectural city, but they do not have to bear a lot of exorbitant taxes from the imperial court and government. The 500 coins per month is a real income that they can actually pocket.
Therefore, although the villagers of Chenjia Village are exhausted from their daily work, they are ultimately relaxed in spirit. In Chenjia Village, almost everyone's smile comes from the heart.
In contrast, the people of the prefectural city may have higher incomes, but the heavy taxes levied by the imperial court weighed on them, making them feel suffocated. The faces of passersby were devoid of smiles, only numbness.
Not only Chen Dao, but even Zheng Qiuyan noticed this.
With the imperial decree that 70% of the grain tax be paid, it is no exaggeration to say that the people of the Nine Provinces were living in misery. Just look at how many rebels emerged in places like Yuzhou, Qiongzhou, and Haizhou.
All ordinary people want is to have enough to eat and live a peaceful life. If they really couldn't survive, who would be willing to risk losing their head to rebel?
Although the presence of the Qingzhou Army prevented anyone from rebelling in Qingzhou, the area was still safe.
But the lives of ordinary people were clearly not much better.
Just look at the expressions of the people on the street. There is not a smile on anyone's face, only worry. It seems that everyone is worried about where tomorrow's food will come from. The expressions are completely different from those of the people that Zheng Qiuyan saw in Chenjia Village.
At that moment, Zheng Qiuyan seemed to understand her father's choice.
My father's idea of amassing an army and becoming powerful might seem rebellious, but he was genuinely thinking of the people and trying his best to find a way for them to survive.
After all... a 70% grain tax is just too high. If this evil policy continues, who knows how many more people in Taicang County will starve to death.
"Young Master Chen, Miss."
Qingying asked, "Where should we go now? Should we head straight to the Qing Prince's Mansion?"
"No!"
Zheng Qiuyan shook her head, thought for a moment and said, "Our status is far below that of the Green King. If we go there rashly, we may not get what we want. Let's find a restaurant and ask for some information first."
What is the identity of the Azure King?
That was the high and mighty Prince of Xia.
As the daughter of Prefect Zheng Qiuyan, if she were to visit him rashly, she would surely be turned away.
After all, even if Zheng Qing came in person, the King of Qing wouldn't take him seriously, let alone Zheng Qing's daughter.
Of course, if Chen Dao were willing to reveal his strength, with his fourth-grade strength, he would definitely be able to meet the Azure King.
It is obvious that Chen Dao is a low-key person and would definitely not reveal his strength.
In this situation, it would be better to inquire about the situation first before making a hasty visit. Since the Green King intends to spread the news that he has Python Blood Grass and Python Bone Grass, he must be planning to sell them. We should find out the process before going to purchase them.
"Which restaurant should we go to?"
"Let's go to Wangjing Tower then."
About fifteen minutes later, Chen Dao and his three companions arrived at Wangjinglou, where they had stayed once before. Led by a waiter, they went up to the second floor of Wangjinglou.
As soon as Chen Dao stepped onto the second floor of Wangjing Tower, his steps faltered slightly.
However, the second floor of Wangjing Tower was already packed with people. When Chen Dao stayed at Wangjing Tower last time, there were quite a few diners on the second floor, but it was not as crowded as it used to be.
But at this time...
The second floor was not only crowded with people, but also contained a large number of powerful figures.