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Chapter 221 The Song Family of Lingnan
With the support of the Marquis of Donghuang's mansion, Xun Yu's land surveying and accounting speed was indeed much faster than before.

After Xun Yu finished measuring and surveying the land of the Marquis of Donghuang, he began to measure and survey the land of some generals and noble families of Donghuang Army.

Under the leadership of the Marquis of Donghuang, even if these generals and noble families of Donghuang were unwilling, they ultimately had no choice but to cooperate with Xun Yu in measuring and surveying their land.

After all, even the land of the Marquis of Donghuang had been measured and counted by the Ministry of Revenue, so most aristocratic families had no choice but to comply.

of course.

Some powerful landowners did not respect the Marquis of Donghuang's family.

In their view, whether the Eastern Wilderness Marquis's Mansion is willing to obediently listen to the imperial court is its own business.

These aristocratic landlords were not willing to accept this.

The land was their private property; what right did the imperial court have to measure and survey their land?

However, the result was that these aristocratic landlords who were unwilling to cooperate with the Ministry of Revenue in measuring and counting land became prisoners of the Eastern Depot, and became targets for the Eastern Depot to make an example of them.

"Eunuch Cao, get ready, we can leave the Eastern Wilderness and head to our next destination."

After measuring and surveying the land of the prominent family in front of him, Xun Yu glanced at Cao Shaoqin and said.

Leave the Eastern Wilderness?

Cao Shaoqin was taken aback.

"Lord Xun, the land surveying and accounting in the Eastern Wilderness is not over yet, it has only just begun. Why are we leaving the Eastern Wilderness?"

Cao Shaoqin looked at Xun Yu with a puzzled expression.

I don't quite understand Xun Yu's meaning.

Xun Yu smiled and said, "The situation in the Eastern Wilderness has been opened up. Those prominent aristocratic families and landlords have been mostly cleaned up by your Eastern Depot. The rest can be left to the officials of the Ministry of Revenue."

"With the support of the Marquis of Donghuang, things should go smoothly from here on out, and there shouldn't be any problems."

"We can leave now and head to our next destination to begin surveying and statistics, and open up new possibilities for our next destination."

"His Majesty has instructed me to complete this matter as soon as possible, and I cannot delay."

Xun Yu explained.

Xun Yu has now opened up the situation in the Eastern Wilderness.

Those prominent aristocratic landlords have all been dealt with; the rest can be left to the officials under the Ministry of Revenue.

There's no need for Xun Yu, the Minister of Revenue, to stay here any longer.

If Xun Yu, the Minister of Revenue, had to do everything himself, it would take him forever to survey and count all the land in the country.

Therefore, delegating authority appropriately and handing it over to subordinates is the best option.

Xun Yu only needs to set a good example and open up the situation.

With the assistance and supervision of the Imperial Guards, Xun Yu was not worried that the officials of the Ministry of Revenue below him would not do their job properly.

Only after hearing Xun Yu's explanation did Cao Shaoqin understand what Xun Yu meant.

"Lord Xun, where is our next destination?" Cao Shaoqin asked.

Xun Yu's eyes flickered; "The Marquis of Donghuang has set a very good example. In that case, our next destination is Lingnan."

Lingnan?

Upon hearing this, Cao Shaoqin's eyes flickered slightly.

Lingnan is no ordinary place; measuring and surveying its land is no easy task.

Because there was a powerful clan, one of the four great clans, in Lingnan.

Cao Shaoqin did not expect that Xun Yu's next destination would be to start with the powerful clans.

"Yes, it's Lingnan."

Xun Yu nodded.

"To hunt, you must first take down the leader of your prey."

"If we can get the four major clans and the remaining three of the seven great families to cooperate in measuring and surveying their lands, then the resistance in various places will be reduced by half."

Xun Yu's meaning was clear: since there was great resistance in various places, they should start with these top aristocratic families.

As long as these top aristocratic families obediently comply and cooperate with the Ministry of Revenue in measuring and surveying their land, the resistance from local aristocratic families will be much less.

After all, even the most powerful and influential families had to yield, so no other local aristocratic families would dare to object.

Cao Shaoqin nodded in agreement with Xun Yu's words.

They thought Xun Yu's plan was good. As long as the powerful families at the top were subdued, the powerful families and landlords at the bottom would not be a big problem.

Afterwards, Xun Yu and Cao Shaoqin made arrangements for the land surveying and accounting in Donghuang, then bid farewell to the Marquis of Donghuang and left Donghuang.

……

Lingnan.

The Song family are the true uncrowned kings of Lingnan.

Throughout the entire Lingnan region, no one dared to challenge the Song family's authority.

Even the government in Lingnan had to tremble and survive under the Song family's authority.

It wasn't that the Song family wanted to challenge the authority of the Great Zhou Dynasty, but rather that this was a tacit agreement that had been passed down between powerful clans and the imperial court.

Rather than saying that Lingnan Prefecture was the territory of the imperial court, it would be more appropriate to say that Lingnan Prefecture was the fiefdom of the Song family.

Song House.

Inside the council chamber.

The patriarch of the Song family sat in the main seat.

Below sat eight heads of various branches of the Song family.

Each person in charge was an elderly man over fifty years old with gray hair.

The Song family patriarch glanced at the heads of the various branches below and said, "You are all probably already aware of the imperial decree to measure and survey the land throughout the country."

"Xiao Qi from the Wuzhi family has sent back a message that his Eastern Wilderness Marquisate has cooperated with the imperial court to measure and survey the land in the Eastern Wilderness."

"Xiao Qi wants our Song family to cooperate with the court's actions as much as possible. What do you think?"

The Song family patriarch looked at the eight people in charge below and asked.

"Clan leader, this land has always been the foundation of each family's survival; it's no exaggeration to say it's their lifeline."

"The purpose of the imperial court's plan to measure and survey the land of the entire country is not yet clear, but it is unlikely to be a good thing."

"Xiao Qi of the Wuzhi family is the Marquis of Donghuang of the Great Zhou Dynasty. He is a member of the court, and it is his business to cooperate with the court."

"But our Song family is not affiliated with the imperial court."

“If the imperial court really has its eye on the land, and we cooperate with the court, then without the land, how will our Song family survive in the future?”

One of the people in charge spoke up.

"Yes! Moreover, the four great clans have always maintained a tacit agreement with the imperial court."

"This is also why we have always maintained peaceful relations with the imperial court."

"Now that the one in the palace suddenly wants to measure and survey the land of the whole country, our clans are included in it."

"This breaks the long-standing agreement between powerful clans and the imperial court."

Another person in charge said with a slight frown.

“Clan leader, Xiao Qi’s point is not without merit.”

"We are all aware of what has happened in the imperial court recently."

"Putting aside everything else, the fact that the Yuan family of Runan, the Zheng family of Rongyang, and the Fan family of Jiexiu were all exterminated by the imperial court already demonstrates the methods of that person in the palace."

“If our Song family doesn’t cooperate with the court, that person in the palace will definitely not let it go.”

"The current imperial court is not the same as the previous one. There are already four people who have reached the half-step Celestial Realm, and we don't even know if there are any hidden ones."

"At that time, if the four half-step Celestials make a move, even if our four great clans join forces, the outcome will be unpredictable."

The words of the third person in charge caused everyone present to grimace. They were all aware of the changes in the court; its power and influence were no longer what they used to be.

Whether it was powerful ministers in the imperial court or powerful families of the seven great clans, they all became victims of the imperial court's blade.

Even when foreign tribes launched a joint invasion, the imperial court annihilated three of them, and one of them retreated.

It is clear that the imperial court is no longer the same as before.

If they do not cooperate with the court's actions this time, the court will definitely not remain indifferent.

The Song family patriarch, sitting in the main seat, listened to the words of the heads of the various branches below, but did not immediately express his own opinion. Instead, he continued, "There is another piece of news: Xun Yu, the Minister of Revenue of the Imperial Court, has arrived in Lingnan, accompanied by Cao Shaoqin, the second supervisor of the Eastern Depot."

"They should be visiting my Song family soon."

"Therefore, our Song family needs to come up with a plan as soon as possible."

As soon as the Song family patriarch finished speaking, the Song family's head steward walked into the council hall.

"Clan leader, Xun Yu, the Minister of Revenue of the Imperial Court, has come to pay his respects."

The head steward of the Song family reported this.

what?
Xun Yu was appointed to a high-ranking official post?
The patriarch of the Song family and the eight Song family leaders present were all taken aback.

They hadn't expected Xun Yu to arrive so quickly.

It's true what they say, speak of the devil and he appears.

The Song family patriarch pondered for a moment, then said to the steward, "Steward, go and welcome Lord Xun in."

"Yes, patriarch."

The butler bowed and left.

The Song family patriarch then looked at the eight branch leaders present and said, "You may all step down now!"

"I'll meet with this Minister of Revenue later to find out more about him, and then we can discuss this matter further."

The eight heads of the various branches of the Song family didn't say much, and all got up and left the council hall.

The patriarch of the Song family remained seated in the main seat.

Xun Yu, as the Minister of Revenue of the imperial court, may have held a high position and great power, but he was not qualified to have the patriarch of the Song family personally come out to greet him.

To get the Song family patriarch to come out and greet you, you would need sufficient status, position, and prestige.

Clearly, Xun Yu still had some shortcomings.

soon.

The Song family's steward led Xun Yu and Cao Shaoqin into the council hall.

"Xun Yu greets Chief Song."

Upon entering the council hall, Xun Yu bowed to the Song family patriarch, who had already stood up.

Cao Shaoqin did not pay his respects to the Song family patriarch.

It wasn't that Cao Shaoqin was ignorant of etiquette, but rather that he knew in his heart that he was different from Xun Yu.

Xun Yu was an official of the imperial court, while Cao Shaoqin was the supervisor of the Eastern Depot.

Officials could greet certain aristocratic and wealthy families with courtesy, but the Eastern Depot could not.

Because the Eastern Depot represented imperial power.

"Lord Xun, you are too kind. How can I, a mere commoner, accept such a courtesy from you?"

"Please, both of you, have a seat."

The Song family patriarch spoke with a smile and sat down again.

"Serve the best tea."

After they sat down, the Song family patriarch immediately instructed the steward to serve tea to Xun Yu and Cao Shaoqin.

As for Cao Shaoqin's lack of polite greeting, the Song family patriarch seemed not to care at all.

After the butler served tea, he stood beside the Song family patriarch.

The Song family patriarch looked at Xun Yu with a smile and said, "It is a great honor for the Song family to have Lord Xun grace our residence with his presence!"

Xun Yu picked up his teacup, took a sip of tea, and said with a smile, "As long as Chief Song doesn't treat Xun Yu as an unwelcome guest, that's fine."

"To be honest, Clan Chief Song, Xun Yu has come to visit the Song family this time to ask for their help."

Xun Yu put down his teacup and said.

"Oh?"

"Lord Xun is the Minister of Revenue of the Imperial Court, a high-ranking and powerful official. If there is anything you need to ask my Song family for help with, then you should ask for help."

"Isn't this an honor for my Song family?"

The Song family patriarch said with a look of surprise.

The expression he made was incredibly lifelike.

Seeing the Song family patriarch's feigned ignorance, Xun Yu couldn't help but curse him inwardly as an 'old fox'.

Xun Yu refused to believe that the Song family patriarch couldn't guess his purpose in visiting the mansion.

"Clan Chief Song is too modest. It's not that Xun Yu is praising the Song family too much; it's just that the Song family can indeed be of help to Xun Yu."

"His Majesty has ordered the Ministry of Revenue to measure and survey the land throughout the country. Chief Song must already know this."

"As the Minister of Revenue, Xun Yu bears a great deal of pressure!"

"Xun Yu hopes that the Song family can support and cooperate with him in measuring and surveying the land in Lingnan Prefecture."

Xun Yu was deeply grateful.

Xun Yu stopped beating around the bush with the Song family patriarch and stated his purpose directly.

Xun Yu didn't have the extra time to play these riddles with the Song family patriarch.

Upon hearing Xun Yu's words, the Song family patriarch's expression also turned serious; "I am indeed aware of this matter."

"Logically speaking, if His Majesty issues an edict, I should support and cooperate with the court even if it means my own death."

"However, if I may not be laughed at by Lord Xun, although I am the patriarch of the Song family, I cannot make a decision on matters concerning the Song family with a single word."

"Furthermore, the Song family has some reputation in Lingnan, but they do not have the power to influence other prominent landlord families in Lingnan."

"If I may ask, what is His Majesty's purpose in issuing the decree to measure and survey the land throughout the realm?"

The Song family patriarch looked at Xun Yu and asked.

Xun Yu shook his head and said, "Clan Chief Song, how could I, as a subject, possibly know His Majesty's intentions?"

"Whatever decree His Majesty issues, we, as his subjects, will do as he commands."

“However, since Chief Song cannot make a decision on his own, Xun Yu can wait for Chief Song’s news.”

"Clan Chief Song can discuss this with the other clan members. Xun Yu still hopes to get the support and cooperation of the Song family."

Xun Yu's purpose in coming to the Song family was to gain their support and cooperation in measuring and surveying the land, so how could he let the Song family patriarch easily brush him off?

"Alright."

"I will discuss this with the other clansmen and then give Lord Xun a message."

Since Xun Yu had already put it this way, the Song family patriarch could only say the same thing.

"Then Xun Yu will thank Chief Song in advance."

Xun Yu stood up, cupped his hands in greeting, and said.

"Lord Xun, you are too kind. It is an honor for the Song family to be able to do our bit for the court and His Majesty."

The Song family patriarch said with a faint smile.

Afterwards, Xun Yu chatted with the Song family patriarch for a while before taking his leave.

Cao Shaoqin didn't say a word from beginning to end; he just listened to Xun Yu and the Song family patriarch speak without interrupting.

(End of this chapter)