The Hidden Immortal

The so-called Wasteland Reclamation Decree, as the name implies, was to expand cultivated land, ensure sufficient food, and strengthen the military. The imperial court opened up ownerless wastelands across the world, including barren mountains, barren slopes, and saline-alkali land.

All commoners of the Kingdom of Jing could apply to reclaim them, in order to stabilize the people's livelihood and consolidate the foundation of the state.

Ordinary wasteland could be exempt from grain tax for three years, riverside tidal flats for five years, and if it was saline-alkali land, it would be exempt for as long as seven years.

Even after the tax exemption period passed, not only would taxes be collected at only seventy percent of the rate for fertile land, but one could also apply to the government office for a reclamation loan.

The limit for each household was five taels, to be used for purchasing farm tools, and to be repaid together when taxes were collected.

Li Shoutian said, "You know the land in our Pinecone Village. There are quite a few barren mountains and slopes. If we can reclaim a few more acres of fertile land, it would be a good deed that benefits our descendants."

"But right now, half of the male adults in the village haven't grown up yet, and the other half were injured a few years ago, leaving mostly the elderly, weak, women, and children."

"The county office requires us to reclaim at least sixty acres of wasteland a year, otherwise we'll be punished. It's really putting me in a difficult position."

With the imperial court's decree, local officials naturally wanted to produce results early to give their superiors an account.