Daming: The system rejected my request for salted fish

Chapter 1003

Didn’t you see that Bao Yu is still kneeling? If he says something wrong, there won’t be just one person kneeling in the court.

Looking at the expressions on the faces of these wealthy businessmen and gentry, Wei Wu understood what they were thinking, and he just smiled slightly.

Then, under everyone's terrified gaze, Wei Wu slowly spoke:

"I'm sure you all have heard about the land tax system in Shandong, right?"

You've heard of that, right?

Is this a statement or a question?

Should we speak up or just listen?

Due to Wei Wu's powerful deterrent power, everyone present was nervous after he said this.

In the end, with no one being able to confirm the answer, no one dared to speak and they just nodded in response.

"What are you afraid of? I'm an easygoing person and I won't hit you. You shouldn't be so scared that you can't speak!"

Wei Wu suddenly stopped talking here, then turned to look at Zhu Zongshan beside him and asked:

"Oh, by the way, Master Zhu, among the people you notified this time, are there any who didn't come?"

Zhu Zongshan, who had been sitting there silently, immediately looked at the legal advisor beside him when he heard Wei Wu's question.

The lawyer was also a smart man. Without waiting for Zhu Zongshan to ask, he took out a booklet.

"Reporting to you, sir, we notified a total of fifty wealthy merchants and gentry in Suzhou, but only forty-three have shown up so far."

"There are still seven people who haven't arrived yet. They are the Gong family who are in the silk business, the Xiong family who are involved in cotton and linen weaving, and the Li family who are involved in shipbuilding."

"Four other gentry families are coming, namely the Zhang family, the Jin family, the Wang family, and the Xu family. The others are all here."

After listening to the master's report, Wei Wu nodded and said:

"Okay, remember these companies and remind me later so I can talk to them."

"Yes!"

After the lawyer finished speaking, he picked up a pen and wrote something in the booklet, while the wealthy businessmen and gentry on the other side were frightened again.

Many people were secretly glad that they had come, otherwise they would have been included in the master's writing.

Looking at the reactions on these people's faces, a smile flashed across Wei Wu's eyes, but quickly disappeared.

Afterwards, Wei Wu acted as if nothing had happened and said to them with a smile:

"I came to Suzhou this time in compliance with the order of His Majesty to promote the equalization of land tax and the good cause that benefits both the country and the people."

"In the whole of Suzhou, most of the arable land is in the hands of you wealthy merchants and gentry, so I called you here."

"What's next? I hope everyone can cooperate with me so that we can complete this task better and faster."

The repeated intimidation and threats had frightened these people so much that they no longer dared to have any other opinions.

So after Wei Wu finished speaking, these people were afraid that they would be punished if they were slow to express their opinions, so they all spoke up to agree.

"Please rest assured, Your Excellency. I will immediately arrange for people to measure the land and property when I return. I will not slack off in the slightest."

"Yes, I've heard about the land tax system. It's a great thing. The people of Shandong are now living a good life."

"We will make arrangements as soon as we get back and get the measurement results out as soon as possible and hand them over to the prefect for record."

"I have some business friends who also have land in Suzhou. I will notify them to measure it as soon as possible."

Clap clap clap!

When these wealthy businessmen and gentry expressed their opinions, Wei Wu suddenly raised his hands and applauded them a few times.

Hearing the applause, everyone immediately stopped talking and looked at Wei Wu, who then spoke again:

"Very good! Seeing you all being so understanding and righteous, I am very pleased!"

As soon as these words were spoken, everyone responded in unison.

"It should, it should!"

Hearing this, Wei Wu's face showed satisfaction again, and then he said:

"In that case, I won't keep you here any longer. Go back and do what you need to do!"

As he spoke, Wei Wu waved his hand, and the people in the court quickly stood up, saluted Wei Wu, and then left quickly.

Seeing this, Bao Yu also wanted to leave, but with Shen Lin and Zhang Hai pressing down on him, he couldn't move at all.

At the same time, Wei Wu also looked towards him.

"Shen Lin, Zhang Hai, let him go. I want to see if he dares to walk out of this door."

Upon hearing Wei Wu's order, Shen Lin and Zhang Hai immediately withdrew their hands and took two steps back to distance themselves from Bao Yu.

But even if no one was suppressing him, Bao Yu didn't even have the courage to stand up and could only kneel silently.

However, the wealthy businessmen and gentry who were leaving did not dare to even fart, and most of them did not even dare to look at Bao Yu.

A few people just took a look and left quickly, because they knew that Bao Yu was completely doomed this time.

Even though the Bao family does have a deep foundation in Suzhou, many people in the family have achieved great achievements.

Some of them are even in official circles, but this background is only for businessmen or other gentry like them.

For a duke of the current dynasty, and a duke who has just made great achievements, these backgrounds are of no use at all.

Even if this matter were to reach the Bao family, the most likely scenario is that the Bao family would simply give up on Bao Yu and would not take risks for a younger generation.

Soon, all the people who were summoned left, and only Bao Yu and Wei Wu's side were left in the court.

At this time, Wei Wu, who had been sitting, stood up and slowly walked to Bao Yu, looking down at him and said:

"I heard that you drafted a contract. As long as the Sihai Chamber of Commerce signs it, they won't have any trouble building the road here."

"You're very arrogant, and what I hate most is someone who's more arrogant than me. So, now you're in trouble."

"You're coveting a cement road, aren't you? Very well, then I'll satisfy you and let you do some forced labor and build the road yourself!"

Corvée!!

When he heard these two words, Bao Yu's face instantly turned into one of extreme fear. He had indeed heard this word before.

But he never thought that one day this word would be used on himself. He had lived a life of luxury since childhood, so how could he be destined to do corvee labor?

When Bao Yu heard that Wei Wu wanted him to do corvée labor, he panicked and quickly looked at Wei Wu and said:

"Sir, may I not be obliged to do the corvée?"