pαndα,noνɐ1,сoМ “My lord, if you don’t trust me, you can send someone to Xinyuan Restaurant in Datong town and ask about the actual situation from Shopkeeper Zhang. In recent months, the fish he sold were all from me. And I also said, the quantity for now isn’t big, at most thirty a day. But I have already dug a five mu pond in the backyard of my house and started to raise medicinal fish. I believe that next spring, I can supply all the fish that all branches of Xinyuan through the whole Qingyang county.”
When he mentioned it at the beginning, he knew he would ask, so he looked quite unruffled when answering him, with that pair of long and thin phoenix eyes glittering with confidence. Negotiation also needed chips, especially when with those officials. Although Hu Lizhi was that that kind of sly and venal official, he was not a fool. Without enough chips, he couldn’t convince him that he could grow things out of the half-saline land. As long as he could convince him, or maybe he got swayed, he would have a chance to buy the land without paying taxes.
“No need, I am not that ignorant to have no judgment. But, Doctor Ling, are you sure that barren land can grow out things? Like you said, once you purchase that land, you’d have to start paying the taxes. Even if I make the decision for exempt you for the first few years, you still have to pay then. Unlike other land, which could still be used as homestead. You know, every October, the sea water would flow backward, if you build a house there, it’d get soaked. So, if you can’t grow out of anything, it’d be difficult to sell it.”
Hu Lizhi's expression was quite serious. Of course he also wanted to make some big achievements by the end of his term. But, he was not that kind of venal official, he really didn’t want to watch him lose everything, or might even have such a burden on his back for the rest of his life. Once he couldn’t afford the taxes, he would go to jail, or even get beheaded. No one could owe the court money.
“Well, I can only say I want to have a try, before I can grow out anything, even if I say the most beautiful words, you wouldn’t completely believe me. On the contrary, when some day I really grow out something, one word of explanation would be redundant.”
There was no such absolute, and if there were, he couldn't really say it, for he still wanted him to exempt him from taxes for two years.
“How about this, Dr. Ling? I'll set aside a plot of land for you to experiment on. Even if you can't grow out anything, you won't have to bear the burden of taxes. And if you do, it’s not late to buy it.”
After pondering a moment, Hu Lizhi made the proposal with a deep tone, first, he was doing good for him, second, it was a gamble of him, in case he really grew out something, the land still belonged to the court, the credit would also have his share.
“I really appreciate that, my lord, but I am a man who has strong territory consciousness, for things that don’t belong to me, I always feel insecure, and I also can't do my best. So, my lord, if you are really considering it for me, it would be better to exempt me for a few years’ taxes. And if I really can't grow things, I will not put the blame on you, and pay the corresponding taxes as stipulated.”
How could he hide his good intention and the selfishness hidden in the good intention from Ling Jingxuan's eyes? It was not that he wanted to steal his credit, but that if he really grew out something, he would definitely put all the credit on his own head, and he couldn’t say what, on the contrary, he should perform happy. He never wanted to do conspicuous things. But if he accepted his suggestion, in the future, not only the land wouldn’t be his, even things he grew out wouldn’t be his. He didn’t want to do it for nothing finally. Even if finally he could buy the land, the price would be doubled or tripled. He was not that stupid to dig a pit for himself.
Hu Lizhi really didn’t understand him. If he is really doing an experiment, why take such a big risk? Or is it possible he has already mastered the skills of growing out things on the barren land and doesn’t want to pay taxes? But that’s impossible! If he has really experimented it out, it’s impossible I have never heard about it. If that barren land is really usable, even a beggar would generate some thoughts about it. So, it’s impossible he could hide it from people. But why would he insist buying that land?
Seeing that he didn’t speak, Ling Jingxuan also didn’t urge him, but just casually enjoyed his tea. Although Ling Jingpeng and Zhao Dalong who had been worried didn’t say anything all the way, they always performed quite poised. Having been with Ling Jingxuan for so long, they had also learnt something more or less, but just far away behind him.
“How much land do you want to buy?”
No one knew how long it had passed, about a whole minute, or maybe half an hour? Hu Lizhi again raised his head seriously, and his firm eyes showed that he should have made the decision.
“It depends on how much for one mu you’d like to sell at.”
Graciously putting down the teacup, Ling Jingxuan calmly replied, according to the view of Yan Shengrui, the whole territory of Qingyang county should have at least 50 thousand mu or so of half-saline land, at present he had about 40 thousand taels of silver, plus Zhao&Han couple’s three thousand and two hundred, it would be impossible to buy it all.
“Judging from you tone, you will buy a lot. Fine. If you want, and are not afraid of shouldering the responsibility, I will sell it to you at the price of homestead, official deeds, and three years free of any tax. Doctor Ling, I will remind you for the last time. Think carefully!”
Seeing that he was so determined, Hu Lizhi took a deep breath. That was all he could do for him. But whether he could really grow out things, it was on his own.
“My lord, may I ask how much wasteland the whole county has?”
Unexpectedly, he gave him three years, Ling Jingxuan couldn’t help feeling thrilled, but he tried not to show it, the priority now was to buy the land first.
“Well, I remember last year my assistant reported 52,000 mu. It's really a pity. Many of the people have no land to plant, while this vast area of land is deserted. Doctor Ling, if you can really grow things out, you would make big merit. By then, I will definitely report it to His Majesty and claim the credit for you.”
Speaking of those lands, Hu Lizhi looked quite low. He was not the kind of idle official who only stayed in the yamen doing nothing. He often went to the countryside to walk and see, and every time he saw those wasteland, he felt unspokenly awful. If those wasteland could be used, the civilians wouldn’t have to starve.
“Lord Hu, if I want to buy all the wasteland in Qingyang county, can you give me a favorable price?”
“What? All of it?”
One had to say, this time Hu Lizhi really got scared, eyes wide open like he couldn’t believe his ears. He even had never dreamed that he would buy it all. That’s over fifty thousand mu, which takes nearly one fifth of the area of Qingyang County! He really has the balls!
Not only he, even Ling Jingpeng and Zhao Dalong got severely scared, originally they thought he would at most buy about ten thousand mu, but expected that…he is really so confident? Fifty-two thousand mu! So scary even to think about!
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