"Get the donkey ready, and let's go to the village,"
A moment later, Wei the Great set out with the steward and a house servant toward the valley entrance. From Wei Mansion to the valley entrance was just eight li. Beyond the valley entrance lay Lower River Village, adjacent to Tong River, harboring the finest fields in the county. If it didn't rain soon, Lower River Village would likely be the only village in Ye County with a harvest.
As they left the mansion gate, they were greeted by a vast expanse of glaring yellow.
The fields were yellow, the roads were yellow, the trees were yellow, the hills were yellow, even the wind was yellow.
All around, only the ancient tree behind the Wei family's courtyard remained lush and green, the sole patch of green in this corner of the world. If it were not for the house servants guarding it day and night, this tree too would have been stripped bare: in just one night, its bark could have been peeled off by desperate hands.
Suddenly, a gust of wind stirred up a yellow haze of dust, smothering Wei Youcai's face.
Wei Youcai spat several times to rid his mouth of the dirt. Wiping his face, he dismounted from the donkey and walked to the fields on either side of the road, digging vigorously into the soil with his hands, only to unearth dry earth; the seedlings on the soil ridges had all withered.
Wei Youcai, supporting himself on his knees, struggled to stand up as the steward hurried over to assist him.
Wei Youcai gasped for air, then asked, "How are the tenant families faring?"
"My lord, the year before last was just hot, but last year there was scant rainfall; the fields yielded little, and the court didn't reduce the tax levies, so each family not only consumed all their stored grain but also fell somewhat into debt to us for grain. Looking at it this way, this year is likely to be a total crop failure, but our family's grain reserves are also running low—I fear people will start dying..."
Wei Youcai's expression darkened as he said, "If we don't start relief efforts soon, it will be too late. Any news from the county office?"
The steward replied, "A few days ago, I specifically went to the county to see Mr. Zhao at the government office. The steward said there's no news of relief efforts from above yet, and this year they're going to impose several more taxes including something called the foot soldier tax, barbarian tax, and cattle tax."
"What, a cattle tax?" Wei the Great tugged at his ear.
"A cattle tax," the second steward nodded, having confirmed it several times with the steward then.
Wei Youcai, puzzled, asked, "Have we ever had cattle in our county?"
The second steward replied, "At least not for the past several decades, no cattle have been reported."
In fact, not only Ye County, but Fengyuan County has never had cattle since ancient times. The area, adjacent to the mountains to the south with its unique land energy, isn't conducive for cattle survival; agricultural labor here employs a type of animal that resembles donkeys but is smaller, known as Ding Luo. Not to mention Fengyuan County, only about two or three out of ten places in Ji Country have cattle, unlike the northern countries where oxen are widespread.
"With no cattle, what's the point of a cattle tax?"
The second steward, noting Wei the Great's mood, said softly, "Mr. Zhao said, even if there are no cattle, that doesn't prevent the court from levying a cattle tax."
Wei Youcai, with a grave face, inquired, "What exactly is going on?"
"Mr. Zhao said that the court has recently employed a Great Scholar from the North, highly renowned for his literary skills. Upon his arrival, he initiated reforms and introduced a 'Uniform Tax per Capita' system, which entails taxing per capita. For every fifty households, it's assumed that there collectively exists one ox, hence the cattle tax. Apparently, fishermen and ship crew are also required to pay the cattle tax," the steward explained.
Wei Youcai laughed out of sheer exasperation, "What kind of demons and monsters are crawling out now! Known for his writings? Does being able to write justify committing such iniquities?"
The steward indignantly added, "Maybe it's precisely because he can write that he can be so unscrupulous!"
After swearing a few times, Wei Youcai fell silent, eventually saying, "Let's go back."
"Not going to Lower River Village?"
"No more. It won't be long before the weather changes, you go up to the mountains and call back Lao Liu."
The steward, surprised, asked, "You want to call back Sixth Master?"
"In a year of great disaster, there will definitely be refugees. Without Lao Liu, we would have to flee."
The steward, his complexion altered, dared not ask further. Leading the donkey, he headed back to the mansion under the blazing sun.
Mr. Zhao's information was indeed accurate; just two days later, the court's decree to raise taxes reached the county. Located in a remote area, Ye County was the last to receive the decree; other places had received the imperial edict a half-month earlier. Instantly, public resentment boiled everywhere, and naturally, many who saw no chance of surviving began considering other means of livelihood.
In the region of Yong State, historically, there were no good citizens who would just obediently starve to death.
That morning, Little Weiyuan had his breakfast and then ran toward the open ground where the house servants trained. He had only just reached the edge of the open ground when suddenly a pair of large hands descended from the sky and whisked him away as if riding the clouds.
This was a Bald man with a face full of horizontal scars, sporting a long scar down his right cheek. Holding Weiyuan aloft, he glared down at him fiercely.
Glancing around, Little Weiyuan realized he was much higher off the ground than when others usually held him; all he could see were the tops of heads, which made him burst into laughter.
The Bald man twisted Weiyuan's small face back to face him and asked curiously, "Aren't you afraid of me?"
Little Weiyuan, puzzled, replied, "Why should I be afraid of you?"
Though it was their first meeting, Weiyuan could sense that in this manor, aside from Wei Youcai and the steward, this Bald man was the third person to show him great affection. Regardless of how the Bald man grimaced, Little Weiyuan only found it amusing.
The Bald man laughed heartily and said, "Good boy! Come, let's go find your dad!"
Carrying Weiyuan, he walked to the corner tower. Wei Youcai was there, having changed into a short robe and testing the string of a hunting bow; however, it was evident Mr. Wei was hardly diligent physically, as he quickly grew breathless after a few attempts and had to put it down.
The Bald man approached Wei Youcai and announced, "Big brother, I'm back!"
Wei Youcai tilted his head upward, scanning the man who towered a full head above him, then gazed at Weiyuan sitting quietly in the Bald man's arms. A smile finally appeared on his weary face as he said, "Lao Liu, good to have you back!"