Chapter 943 Maocheng

Before coming to Qingguo, Zhou Ran also read some introductions about Qingguo.

Qingguo has dense aura and richer resources than Jingguo.

Jingguo's main income comes from taxes from border towns, but Qingguo has rich spiritual resources.

There is even a Red Soul Stone Mine in Qingguo.

Zhou Ran couldn't understand why Qingguo was so concerned about Jingguo's mere border town?

With such rich resources, the people of Qing State should be able to live and work in peace and contentment.

Zhou Ran finally came to a city-state with all kinds of doubts.

The city-state is called Maocheng, but unlike the city-state of Jingguo, this city-state appears to be extremely crude, with damaged city walls and shabby houses in the city.

"How is this going?"

Zhou Ran was puzzled. Maocheng looked similar to those small star towns in the Outer Territory, and not at all like the resource-rich city-states in the Inner Territory.

After walking into Maocheng, Zhou Ran originally wanted to find an inn to stay, but he couldn't find it at all.

There is no inn in such a large city-state?

Looking at the streets of Maocheng again, there is no market at all. No one in Maocheng goes to the streets, they all stay at home.

The few Maocheng people Zhou Ran could see had empty eyes, like zombies.

This city-state gives people a very uncomfortable feeling.

After searching for a long time, Zhou Ran knew that there was no inn in Maocheng, so he could only walk into a dilapidated private house and said to the old man in the house: "Old man, I am passing through and can't find a place to stay. Can you stay here?" Just one night here? Don’t worry, I’ll pay the rent.”

The old man glanced at Zhou Ran, then nodded.

"come in."

Zhou Ran walked into the house. The furnishings in the house were extremely shabby, without even decent furniture. It could only be described as a bare house.

But even so, the old man still brought some steamed buns and handed them to Zhou Ran.

Zhou Ran was a little hungry after walking for such a long time. Although the steamed buns didn't taste very good, he still ate them happily.

While Zhou Ran was eating, the old man asked, "Young man, are you from outside?"

"Yes." Zhou Ran nodded, "I'm from Jingguo."

"Jingguo?" The old man's eyes showed an expression of fascination, "That's a really good place. Everyone in Maocheng yearns for it and hopes to go to Jingguo!"

Zhou Ran said in surprise: "Old man, Jingguo is not strong, far inferior to Qingguo, and its resources are only one ten thousandth of Qingguo. Why do you still expect to go to Jingguo?"

The old man glared at Zhou Ran, as if he thought Zhou Ran's question was childish and ridiculous.

He wanted to say more, but the old man realized something and quickly went to the window to take a look.

After confirming that no one was eavesdropping outside, the old man came to Zhou Ran.

"Young man, why do you ask questions knowingly? Maocheng is like this, and you still say that Qingguo is rich in resources! Even if there are abundant resources, it is not our turn, right? In fact, Maocheng is not the worst in Qingguo Some city-states are so devastated that there is no place to take shelter from the rain.”

The old man's words made Zhou Ran even more confused.

"Old man, I don't understand this. Where has all the Qingguo money gone? Why don't the citizens even have a house to live in?"

The old man sighed and talked about Qingguo's national conditions.

"All the money has gone into the purse of the king! Since the new king of Qing took office, the city-states have no autonomy, and taxation is all decided by the tax department. For grain, minerals, and spiritual grass resources, the tax department has to collect seven The result is that the people cannot make ends meet.

After working hard for a year, there is nothing in the end. In the end, there is no one to work! "

"The people are miserable, but the king is constantly fighting, not only in other countries, but also in the domestic sect forces. Once they disobey the king, they will send troops to annihilate them. Every year, every household must send out men to recruit soldiers. If there are no men, they will be killed. Use spiritual herbs and elixirs instead.”

"As a result, no one will farm anymore. Many citizens who can't survive have taken over the mountains and become kings and become bandits and thieves. They don't dare to rob officials, so they can only rob ordinary citizens. The citizens of Qing Kingdom , there is no way to survive at all.”

The old man's words made Zhou Ran's face darken.

The strength of Qing State's national power was originally reflected in its military strength. As for the people of Qing State, they were living in dire straits.

Dongli, the leader of the country, launched wars one after another. Why didn't he think that the people of Qing State were suffering?

After all, he is the son of Donghua Immortal. Zhou Ran is also very interested in this king. He wonders what Dongli looks like in the eyes of the people.

"Old man, in your opinion, what kind of person is this king?" Zhou Ran asked curiously.

As soon as he heard the name of the king, the old man's eyes suddenly widened.

"What kind of king? We call him the devil in private! It is said that this king never shows his true face to others. Even the closest people don't even know his name and appearance. Every year, the festival is just hidden behind the curtain. How can he become the master of a country if he is so sneaky and mysterious?"

Zhou Ran could read deep resentment from the old man's words.

In this case, Zhou Ran stopped asking.

The old man was so barren that if he ate a few steamed buns from him, he would be severely weakened.

So Zhou Ran quietly took out a Red Soul Coin from the Qiankun Ring. According to the price of goods in the inner domain, this Red Soul Coin should be enough to buy a cart of steamed buns, which would be used as accommodation expenses for him to stay at the old man's home.

Zhou Ran was about to hand the Red Soul Coin into the old man's hands, when an uninvited guest came to the room.

Zhou Ran had seen this man in the border town before. He was from the tax department of Qing State.

"Old Zhang, shouldn't you pay the taxes you owe?" the man said viciously.

Old Zhang cried and said, "Sir, I really have no money! There is nothing at home. If you continue to collect taxes by force, you will only take my life!"

"How much is your life worth? Even if I kill you, I can't pay the taxes! The Qing army was defeated in the battle of Jianjia Pass. The king was furious and was preparing to prepare his army to invade Jing State! Old Zhang, you are deferring taxes at this time, which is against the king!"

The man looked ferocious and was feeling proud, but he was hit by something.

The blow was not light, and the man's body softened immediately. It took a long time for him to catch his breath.

The man then found Zhou Ran sitting in the house and immediately roared, "It's you? Did you sneak attack me just now?"

Zhou Ran smiled slightly. A small character like this could be killed by a light slap.

But he had to leave eventually. If he offended the tax department, Old Man Zhang would have a hard time. .

So Zhou Ran took out the red soul coin that was originally given to Old Man Zhang and handed it to the man.

"This red soul coin should be enough, right?"