Now that the Five Poisons Sect had retreated to their old nest, the imperial troops had returned.
But the situation didn't seem to have improved.
Although the Miao people's exploitation was gone, the imperial levies followed closely.
This year, due to the conscription of too many civilian workers in Hengyang Prefecture, the grain production of summer and autumn was greatly reduced. There was not only insufficient grain supply for the army, but even feeding their own families had become a problem.
Under such circumstances, Lu Yuan couldn't continue to exploit the people either.
After all, they had sent 80,000 people to help him in the war, providing grain and money in the process, doing everything they could.
To levy grain and taxes on them now would be driving the people of Hengyang Prefecture to their deaths.
Lu Yuan now regarded Dongting County as his own territory, and the people of Hengyang Prefecture would be his people in the future too.