"This..." The Linshui County Magistrate was momentarily speechless.
"What can this prove?" he said, feigning composure. "It's merely accumulated dust. Don't make baseless accusations!"
"What can this prove?" Chu Chen sneered.
"It proves that you did not follow the Emperor's orders, but instead embezzled the Yanzai plow for personal gain."
"You also attempted to deceive the Princess and the Emperor. This is the crime of deceiving the sovereign!"
"You deserve death!"
"Slander! This is pure slander!" The magistrate's eyes widened. Then, he knelt down, weeping and pleading with Princess Xinyue.
"Your Highness, you must uphold justice for this humble servant! He is slandering me. How could I, who is loyal to His Majesty, do such a thing!"
Chu Chen, quick-handed, stepped forward, placing himself between Princess Xinyue and the Linshui County Magistrate, preventing the snot and tears from soiling the Princess's gauze skirt.
"Whether it is slander or not, we will know by going to the countryside and asking the people," Chu Chen said with a mocking smile. "Only the true commoners can prove your innocence now."
"You wouldn't dare, would you?"
The Linshui County Magistrate lifted his tear-streaked face, looking at the cold-faced Chu Chen. He then turned to see a look of disgust on Princess Xinyue's face. He gritted his teeth fiercely.
"Fine, we'll go!"
"My conscience is clear, and I fear no shadow. Going there will prove my innocence!"
"Your Highness, you must then judge me severely and punish this damned eunuch!"
The Linshui County Magistrate muttered as he struggled to rise.
"Someone, prepare the carriage and take Her Highness to Hegou Village!"
"Wait," Chu Chen raised his hand. "Since you are confident of your innocence, I presume it doesn't matter where we check?"
Chu Chen produced a map of the Linshui County area and lightly pointed to a spot.
"Is it alright to go here as well?"
The Linshui County Magistrate peered at the map and saw that Chu Chen's finger was on a village furthest from Linshui County.
Cold sweat instantly broke out all over his back.
He couldn't go. He absolutely could not go to that village.
He had no influence whatsoever in that remote and impoverished village. If they went there, his deception would be exposed.
The Linshui County Magistrate, thinking quickly, said, "That village is too remote, so the promotion of the new plow has not yet reached there. Even if you ask, you won't find anything. It's better to go to Hegou Village."
"In that case, let's go to Hegou Village," Chu Chen nodded.
This, surprisingly, delighted the Linshui County Magistrate.
"Someone, prepare the carriage!"
Watching the Linshui County Magistrate's confident expression, Chu Chen couldn't help but let out a scoff.
"Laugh now, laugh now. You'll be crying soon!"
Coincidentally, the Linshui County Magistrate thought the same.
"Once we reach Hegou Village, it will be whatever I say it is, won't it? Who would dare object?"
"At that time, I will surely have Her Highness severely punish you! Have your head cut off!"
Outside Linshui County, no more than four or five li away, was Hegou Village.
At the entrance of Hegou Village, the local gentry and landlords, having received the news, were waiting.
As they traveled, they could indeed see people in the fields using the Yanzai plows to cultivate the land. This part was not false.
After the gentry and landlords paid their respects, the Linshui County Magistrate eagerly stepped forward.
"Ask me anything you wish, and see if I have followed His Majesty's instructions!"
He even put on an act of impartiality, not speaking himself, and letting Chu Chen ask.
"You said it yourself, so I will ask," Chu Chen said with a smile.
However, he did not approach the gentry and landlords. Instead, he turned and walked towards the commoners working in the fields.
Chu Chen knew the character of the gentry and landlords all too well.
Even if the Linshui County Magistrate had followed the Emperor's decree, without direct supervision, these gentry would still turn it into a profitable business.
Therefore, to truly understand the situation, one could only ask the commoners.
In a short while, Chu Chen returned with a few commoners.
"Repeat what you just said."
Facing the important officials, whom he rarely saw, the man was clearly nervous.
"Don't worry, speak boldly. Her Highness is here. As long as you don't lie, I guarantee nothing will happen to you."
"Yes, sir."
The man took a breath and slowly said, "The landlord said that His Majesty provided us with new farming tools, which greatly improved efficiency compared to before, so they want us to exchange money and our old farming tools for them."
"See? I was right, wasn't I? I acted according to His Majesty's wishes!"
"Silence!" Chu Chen said coldly. "Let him finish speaking!"
Then, Chu Chen turned and asked, "How much silver did they ask you to pay, and how did the exchange work?"
The honest man shrunk his head. "They said these new farming tools are very useful, so the price is naturally a bit higher, and they want to charge us one tael of silver."
"And the original plows are useless and will be discarded, so the loss fee is another tael of silver. Thus, the total is two taels of silver!"
"What if you couldn't afford that much silver?" By now, Chu Chen's face was icy.
The Linshui County Magistrate and the surrounding gentry and landlords were sweating profusely.
They were about to open their mouths to argue, but Chu Chen glared them into silence.
"None of us can afford that much silver!" the man said with a mournful face. "But they said it was mandatory. If we couldn't pay, we had to use our land as collateral. If we had no land, we could owe it and pay it back after the autumn harvest."
Chu Chen took a deep breath and said coldly, "I recall His Majesty stipulated that the exchange price for each plow should not exceed thirty copper coins?"
Generally speaking, one tael of silver could be exchanged for one guan of cash, and one guan was usually around one thousand copper coins.
This number would fluctuate slightly depending on the region, but it was generally between nine hundred and twelve hundred, not exceeding this range.
Thirty copper coins compared to two taels of silver was eighty times more!
As for the policy of tax reduction for three years after reclaiming wasteland, these people didn't even mention it!
His Majesty's intention was to reduce the burden on the commoners and ensure they had enough to eat. Yet, in the hands of these people, it had become a burden on the commoners!
His Majesty's benevolent policy had become their means of extortion!
"Your Highness, please let me explain. It's not like that!" the Linshui County Magistrate said, sweating profusely. "It wasn't me, it wasn't me!"
"Kill them all!"