After Li Jinbao occupied those few territories, he immediately began implementing various reforms. For instance, he wasted no time in abolishing a variety of harsh taxes and levies. Beyond that, he took action against the wealthy elites in those Daozhou. He rounded up every one of those unrighteous, avaricious individuals, had them beheaded in public, and confiscated all their family assets.
In his own words, "Not one of the people I had beheaded was innocent. Whose hands weren't stained with the blood of the common people? Which one of them wasn't standing on the heads of the people, bullying them without restraint? Therefore, there is not a single innocent person among them."
Once he had confiscated their wealth, he used it to establish various silver treasuries. These treasuries were specifically intended to provide funds to the common people, enabling them to resume agricultural production. Soon after, a banking institution was established: the Hongyun Bank. Once the bank was up and running, it began to attract private capital by offering interest to those who deposited their silver. Following that, they would lend this silver out to the commoners. As long as you could bring collateral to the bank, you could walk away with a certain amount of silver. Then, all you had to do was repay the principal plus interest within the stipulated time.
Chapter 186