Amidst the fierce curses of the yamen runners, the farmers quieted down, their heads bowed.
Chu Chen then continued, "The rent I just mentioned is all true! As long as you join the farm and rent land from it, this will be the rent! Of course, with such low rent, there are naturally some other conditions, but they are not asking for your money, but for you to gather and train like soldiers after the farming season!"
"Train?"
The farmers were a bit bewildered. What was the use of that? Could they expect people who couldn't even get enough to eat to fight?
"Fellow villagers, to put it in terms you can understand, these fields belong to the government, called the farm. While you cultivate them, you will be under military management! Just think of it as being a soldier to get land with low rent. Do you understand this explanation?"
Chu Chen felt that a complex explanation would be too difficult for them to grasp, so he directly gave a straightforward example.
"So, they want us to be soldiers! This is really something."
"What's there to 'really something' about? Being a soldier might mean death, but if we don't fight, won't life be comfortable after the first two years?"
"If I can eat my fill, I'm willing to be a soldier!"
"Exactly, that's the way it is!"
A group of farmers chattered amongst themselves. This time, Chu Chen did not stop them, giving them time to discuss.
After a while, the farmers finished their discussion, unified their thoughts, and felt that their lives were already worthless. Since this official seemed like a good person, they decided to trust him, thinking it was just another trick.
"Sir! I want to join the farm!"
"I want to join the farm too!"
"I want to farm the land of the farm!"
The farmers shouted in a jumbled manner.
Chu Chen's face lit up with joy; this matter was considered a success.
Then Chu Chen smiled and said, "Since you are all willing to join the farm, I have a few more pieces of good news to tell you."
This time, there was no need for the yamen runners to shout. The farmers voluntarily quieted down.
Chu Chen continued to announce, "Anyone who joins the farm before the spring plowing next year will be exempt from taxes for three years! This means you will only pay fifty percent of the rent and no taxes to the government!"
"Also, the farm will provide the seeds you need for farming! The necessary farming tools will also be lent to you! When it's time for harvest, you only need to pay a few catties of grain as rental fees. Afterwards, you can continue to rent or buy directly. If you buy, the price will not be too high, and you can even use the harvested grain to buy it!"
"At the same time! When you are training on the farm during the farming off-season, the farm will also provide meals and even money!"
The farmers were stunned. So many beneficial things! If they were all true, it would be incredible. It would be a good life they had only dreamed of, a life they wouldn't even dare to imagine in their dreams!
"With so many benefits! I have only one requirement! You must obey the management of the farm. Anyone who disobeys will be expelled! If you are expelled, all of this will no longer be related to you! Do you understand?"
"We understand!"
"Sir, I understand!"
"Sir, when does it start!"
The farmers were eager to sign up.
Seeing this, Chu Chen immediately ordered the Embroidered Uniform Guard to set up tables and chairs.
When he summoned the county magistrate Tian Cao, Chu Chen had already given instructions, so the writing materials, desks, and chairs were all prepared.
Chu Chen ordered the Embroidered Uniform Guard to supervise, Tian Cao to lead people in registration, and some Embroidered Uniform Guard members to learn on the side.
After they were set up, Chu Chen pointed to the tables and chairs and said, "Those who want to join the farm, line up over there! No cutting in line!"
The farmers excitedly lined up, craning their necks in anticipation.
In a short while, the first batch of over a dozen people finished their registration. The Embroidered Uniform Guard beside them took the contracts and led the people to identify their land. Upon their return, they wrote a rental agreement and then had the farmers affix their thumbprints.
Afterwards, tools and vegetable seeds were unloaded from the packhorses and given to these ten or so farmers.
It was almost winter, and the land here, with only one harvest a year, was not suitable for planting. However, before the snow, it was still possible to plant a batch of fast-growing vegetables. These vegetable seeds were given away for free, but the farming tools would be rented out for a few catties of grain next year.
Did these dozen or so farmers have any objections? They joyfully patted the rental contracts in their pockets and carried the vegetable seeds in their hands, so happy they were beside themselves.
"It's true! All of this is true! Everything the sir said is true! I joined the farm and was allocated twenty mu of land! Twenty mu of land! And free vegetable seeds, and the hoe, fence, and sickle lent to me! There's even the Yun Yue plow! And for the first three years, no grain tax to the government!"
"The sir said that the rental fee for all these farming tools combined is ten catties of grain, which can be paid with grain after the harvest next year! If I want to buy them, it will only cost a hundred catties of grain to buy them all!"
"This is too good! It's really too good, *sob sob sob*!"
Wang Ergou shouted to vent his emotions, and as he spoke, he broke down in tears.
At this, the other farmers finally believed. Their faces lit up with joy. Many farmers who saw hope for a better life also shed tears, thanking heaven and Chu Chen, and then eagerly shouted that they wanted to sign up to join the farm.
Princess Xinyue stood beside Chu Chen, watching the farmers' expressions change from numbness to joy. She felt happy for them and sad for their previous lives.
"N-n-now, will they be able to live good lives like this?"
"Yes, they likely will, as long as I don't fall from power."
Princess Xinyue's beautiful eyes stared at Chu Chen, and then she suddenly bloomed with a smile, "This princess believes you will not fall from power, after all, you are so capable."
"Then I'll take your good wishes, Sheng Xinyue."
Chu Chen laughed heartily, his gaze falling on the busy Zhang Chengzhu, An Xian, and the other officials.
Only the county magistrate, the assistant county magistrate, and the county lieutenant looked unhappy.
"This Prime Minister Chu, by setting up this farm and then leaving, won't we be bothered to death by the old censors? If all the peasants go to farm the land of the farm, who will farm their land?"
"Heaven, please bless that the farm's land is not too much! Otherwise, our future days will not be peaceful."
The county magistrate and the other two felt bitter and distressed. Although the farm was said to belong to the government, how could they not know that it was not at all? This was the Royal Chamber of Commerce's, not under their jurisdiction. They had no way or reason to interfere, and thus no way to skim any profit.
But damn it, they had to bear the trouble! What kind of situation was this!
Afterwards, Chu Chen stayed here for several days. Except for the initial personal involvement, the rest was handed over to Zhang Chengzhu and An Xian to announce the benefits of the farm, maintain order, and distribute land.
As news spread to the surrounding villages, more and more tenant farmers came, wanting to join the farm.
At the same time, the gentry and noble families also learned of this matter and jointly wished to meet Chu Chen to discuss it. Chu Chen pondered for a while and agreed to a meeting.
In any case, high rent was impossible. Only with low rent could the common people survive. At most, the Royal Chamber of Commerce would pay a higher price than the market price for their remaining land.
As for whether they sold it or not, and whether they suffered losses, that was their own business.