Springtime Farming: A Happy Wife At Home-Chapter 1698
Chapter 1698: This Is a Lot of Bad Accounts
Chapter 1698: This Is a Lot of Bad Accounts Editor: Henyee Translations
The scribes were either silent, spoke in seemingly logical but empty words, or excessively flattered the Lord of the Prefect, attributing wisdom and divine insight to him.
They all hung onto the Lord’s every word.
Upon reexamining the state treasury booklet, Shao Yunduan discovered the absence of seeds.
This implied that he would need to spend money to purchase them from the three families this spring.
While the three families had verbally agreed to supply seeds to the government at market prices, there were no contractual instructions that could serve as evidence.
This lack of formal agreements highlighted the considerable influence of the three families in Anze Province, as well as the former Prefect’s indifference towards this matter.
The account book presented an even grimmer picture.
Not only was there no money recorded, but it was also evident that significant debts were owed to the three major family clans and two additional family clans.
As Shao Yunduan perused the list, he found detailed entries of various expenses: building bridges, paving roads, digging canals, aiding victims, and post-flood reconstruction.
Yet, these matters were virtually impossible to investigate or scrutinize.
In essence, it amounted to bad debt—an accumulation of chaos left behind by the previous Prefects.
After years of unchecked growth, the total debt had ballooned to over 700,000 taels of silver.
While this might be a trivial sum in the prosperous state capital of Jiangnan, it loomed as an insurmountable burden for Anze Province.
The few influential families wielded unchecked power in Anze Province!
Over 700,000 taels— even if his wife could amass such wealth, she had only earned slightly more than a million taels!
Shao Yunduan’s expression darkened as he scrutinized the account book.
Had it not been for the considerable financial resources at his disposal, nearly matching those of his wife, he wouldn’t have felt the need for immediate caution.
The mere sight of this account book was enough to induce a headache.
Against the formidable backdrop of the three great clans, he found himself incapable of taking a firm stance.
It seemed utterly unreasonable to confront someone after accumulating debts.
As the Lord of the Prefect, any attempt to assert authority, credibility, or character was rendered futile.
Observing this, the scribes exchanged subtle glances, remaining as impassive as mountains.
They had grown accustomed to witnessing such expressions from the Prefects.
The outcome was inevitable—they would all bow before the three families.
The spring plowing couldn’t be delayed.
Quick preparation and transportation of seeds to various towns were imperative.
Villagers from different areas would present their land deeds and purchase seeds according to their land measurements.
Government-bought seeds were not only of high quality with excellent germination rates, but they were also reasonably priced.
Prioritizing the people’s livelihood had always been a focus of Great Qin.
Local officials dared not tamper with the distribution of spring and autumn seeds, as any discovery would lead to expulsion and a three-generation ban on entering officialdom for their descendants.
Therefore, the majority of farmers opted to purchase seeds from the government, leading to an extensive demand.
Unfortunately, Anze Province’s warehouse was entirely devoid of seeds.
Facing this dire situation, Shao Yunduan, despite being prepared for it, couldn’t contain his fury.
This discussion naturally ended without reaching any conclusive decision, as none were willing to voice their thoughts openly.
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