Xiao Jing had just asked casually, but to his surprise, Niu Yang replied with great seriousness, "My lord, I was just about to report this matter to you!"
"Originally, most of the farmland in Da Liu Town belonged to the common people. But in recent years, with continuous disasters, many civilians have been forced to sell their land to survive. The former 'Bailiff' of Da Liu Town, Liu Ku, used the troops under his command to seize the opportunity, expropriating the vast majority of the farmland through trickery and force. He became the largest landowner in Da Liu Town overnight. At the same time, relying on his position as 'Bailiff' and his control over the town's army, he gradually began to deceive his superiors while oppressing those below, evading taxes..."
After a pause, Niu Yang cautiously glanced at Xiao Jing's expression. Seeing that he was still relatively calm, he continued, "And because of this, Da Liu Town's tax revenue has gradually..."
