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Chapter 248 There really are some people who aren't afraid of death!
As news spread that Zhou Chen had issued an edict to abolish the tax exemption privileges of aristocratic landlords and to reclaim the private armies of these powerful families, a huge uproar ensued among them.

None of the powerful families expected that Emperor Zhou Chen would issue an edict abolishing their land tax exemption privileges, forcing them to pay taxes, and even taking back their private armies.

It should be understood that this privilege of powerful and wealthy families has existed since the founding of the nation by the founding emperor and has been maintained for over a thousand years. How can it be abolished so easily?

Private soldiers, in particular, are the most relied-upon force for powerful families.

If it were to be taken back, the power of the aristocratic families would be weakened by more than one or two levels.

But the powerful and wealthy families also knew that once the imperial edict was issued, there would be no room for maneuver.

In any dynasty, if the emperor issues an edict, it means that things have reached a point of no return.

In other words, no matter how much the powerful and wealthy families opposed it, the emperor's decree could not be withdrawn.

Therefore, upon hearing the imperial decree, powerful and influential families began to discuss the matter urgently.

Neither powerful clans nor wealthy landlords were willing to let the imperial court abolish their tax exemption privileges and take back their private armies.

Undercurrents began to flow among the powerful and wealthy families.

……

Within the jurisdiction of Sili, Luoyang.

This was the first place the imperial court began to rectify.

The day after Zhou Chen issued his decree, all the powerful and wealthy families in Luoyang's jurisdiction were ordered to have their private armies confiscated by Prince Zhou Zhan, who was also under the command of the Ministry of War.

Not only powerful and wealthy families, but also imperial relatives, meritorious officials and nobles were all included in the scope of the revocation of private armies.

The speed at which the imperial court acted caught the powerful families and influential clans in Luoyang off guard.

Before the powerful families in Luoyang could even discuss the matter, Prince Zhou Zhan arrived with an imperial decree to recall his private army.

Faced with a veteran of three reigns like the Prince of Kao Shan, and the power of the imperial court, many powerful families had no choice but to obey the imperial decree and hand over their private armies.

Although these powerful and wealthy families were unwilling, the situation was beyond their control.

They have no choice.

The Twelve Divine Martial Guards were already in full battle formation and ready for action when the imperial edict was issued.

They knew perfectly well what would happen to them if they didn't obey the order and hand over their private troops.

After all, Luoyang Sili was the central capital of the Great Zhou Dynasty, the place where the imperial court held the most power.

There are also twelve Divine Martial Guards stationed there.

To defy an imperial edict within the Sili region is tantamount to courting death.

Of course, not all powerful and wealthy families were willing to obey the imperial decree and hand over their private armies.

Some powerful and wealthy families, unable to see the bigger picture, were unwilling to hand over their private armies.

As a result, the Eastern Depot uncovered numerous crimes committed by these powerful families who were unwilling to hand over their private armies.

They seize land from the people by trickery and coercion, and disregard human life...

These heinous crimes became the death knell for these powerful and wealthy families.

It also became an example for the imperial court to make an example of and establish its authority.

For a time, the powerful and wealthy families throughout Sili were in a state of panic.

In just three days, more than a dozen aristocratic families that disobeyed the imperial decree were found guilty of numerous crimes by the Eastern Depot and were completely eradicated from the ranks of aristocratic families.

Other powerful and influential families knew the real reason why these dozen or so families had been taken down by the imperial court.

It's nothing more than disobeying orders.

Therefore, with these dozen or so families serving as a warning to others, the other powerful and wealthy families in Sili dared not have any more thoughts of resistance and could only obediently follow the imperial decree.

……

The Hall of Nourishing Heart.

Zhou Chen looked at the message sent by the Eastern Depot.

Sili was the central location of the Great Zhou Dynasty.

It was also the place where the Eastern Depot's power was strongest.

Within the entire Sili region, virtually no movement could escape the notice of the Eastern Depot.

Zhou Chen saw that more than a dozen powerful families were unwilling to hand over their private armies and wanted to join forces to resist the imperial decree, but they were all brought down.

Zhou Chen couldn't help but sneer; "There really are some people who aren't afraid of death!"

"However, it's a bit of a pity that only a dozen or so families resisted."

"It seems that most of these powerful and wealthy families are smart, and few are fearless. They know how to choose between seeking profit and avoiding harm."

Zhou Chen muttered to himself.

Originally, Zhou Chen thought that many powerful families in Sili would resist his decree.

After all, Zhou Chen's decrees greatly weakened the power of aristocratic families and powerful clans. At the beginning, many of them would definitely rise up to oppose them, trying to test the court's resolve.

But to his surprise, only a dozen or so companies were ultimately taken down, which left Zhou Chen somewhat disappointed.

"Your Majesty, some of these powerful families have converted some of their private soldiers into servants, and have only handed over a portion of them. Should we take them all down?"

Cao Zhengchun, who was standing to the side, spoke up.

Faced with the imperial decree to take back their private soldiers, powerful families resorted to trickery and secretly converted some of their private soldiers into their servants.

Such actions by powerful and influential families could not be kept secret from the Eastern Depot.

Zhou Chen shook his head; "No need, the rope is too tight, it will break."

"If we push these powerful and wealthy families too hard, they will really cause unrest."

"As for converting some of their private soldiers into servants, it won't affect the overall situation. Let them remain servants forever!"

A cold smile appeared on Zhou Chen's lips.

For powerful and wealthy families to try to hide and leave behind their private soldiers using this method is nothing short of wishful thinking.

Once the initial steps are right, and most of the private armies of the powerful families are taken back on the surface, then those families will no longer be able to cause any trouble. Zhou Chen has plenty of ways to slowly subdue these powerful families.

As soon as Zhou Chen finished speaking, a palace eunuch came in and reported, "Your Majesty, Prince Kao Shan is requesting an audience outside the palace."

"Summon the King of Kao Shan."

Zhou Chen glanced at the eunuchs and guards and said.

"Yes, Your Majesty."

The eunuchs and guards bowed and withdrew.

moment.

Prince Zhou Zhan then entered the Hall of Mental Cultivation.

"I have met His Majesty."

Prince Zhou Zhan entered the Hall of Mental Cultivation and bowed to Zhou Chen on the dragon throne.

"Uncle, there's no need for such formalities."

Zhou Chen put down the news about the Eastern Depot in his hand and looked up at Prince Zhou Zhan, the Prince of Kao Shan; "Uncle, how is the collection of private soldiers from aristocratic families going?"

Prince Zhou Zhan immediately cupped his hands and said, "Your Majesty, I have already collected the private soldiers of those powerful families in the Luoyang region."

"This is the detailed information on the private armies of the powerful families and wealthy clans within the jurisdiction of Luoyang. Please take a look, Your Majesty."

As he spoke, Prince Zhou Zhan took out a memorial from his sleeve.

Upon seeing this, Cao Zhengchun immediately stepped forward, took the memorial from Prince Zhou Zhan, and presented it to Zhou Chen.

Zhou Chen opened it and glanced at it.

The memorial reported a staggering 50,000 private soldiers, which made Zhou Chen raise an eyebrow.

Fifty thousand may not seem like a lot, but if such a force were to cause unrest within Sili, it would bring considerable trouble.

Furthermore, this doesn't even include the private soldiers from powerful and wealthy families who were converted into servants. Zhou Chen closed the memorial and looked at Prince Zhou Zhan, "Uncle, have you handed over these private soldiers to the Ministry of War?"

Prince Zhou Zhan nodded; "Yes, Your Majesty."

"I have handed over these private soldiers to the Ministry of War."

"Subsequently, these private soldiers will be added to the Divine Martial Guard or other large armies."

"It was King Zhou Zhan who was backed by the mountain," he said.

These private soldiers, taken back from powerful families, can not only weaken the strength of these families, but also replenish the troops of the various armies of the Great Zhou.

It can be said to serve multiple purposes.

Upon hearing this, Zhou Chen nodded. "Now that the private armies of those powerful families in Sili have been taken back, let's take back the private armies of the powerful families in other regions next!"

"Let's start with the four major clans. I will have Cao Zhengchun cooperate with you."

Zhou Chen knew that recruiting private soldiers from various local powerful families was not as easy as it was within Sili.

After all, Sili was the central hub of the imperial court, and the court held the strongest power in Sili.

But it's different in different places. These places are where powerful and wealthy families are based, and they are deeply rooted in each other.

It can be said that recruiting the private armies of various local powerful families will be the biggest test for King Zhou Zhan.

Especially for top-tier families like the four great clans, who have many private armies, they are the least likely to compromise with the imperial court.

Therefore, Zhou Chen wanted Cao Zhengchun to cooperate with King Zhou Zhan.

As long as we take down the private armies of the four major clans.

Then, things will be much easier and less stressful going forward.

"The minister obeys the order."

Both Prince Zhou Zhan and Cao Zhengchun bowed and accepted the imperial decree.

Originally, King Zhou Zhan was also worried that he would be unable to cope with the situation.

After all, powerful families like the Four Great Clans were deeply rooted in the Great Zhou Dynasty. Even though King Zhou Zhan of Kao Shan was a veteran of three dynasties, he couldn't gain any advantage when facing powerful families like the Four Great Clans.

But now things are much better. With Cao Zhengchun cooperating with him, Zhou Zhan, the Prince of Kao Shan, has nothing to worry about.

"besides."

"Issue an order to the armies stationed at the borders in all directions to deploy their troops within the pass."

"I want to see how many powerful and influential families in various regions dare to defy my imperial decree."

Zhou Chen spoke again.

Upon hearing this, both Cao Zhengchun and Zhou Zhan, the Prince of Kao Shan, exchanged a strange glance.

Obviously.

Cao Zhengchun and Zhou Zhan, the Prince of Kaoshan, both understood Zhou Chen's intention.

"Yes, Your Majesty."

Cao Zhengchun bowed again.

……

Lingnan.

Song family.

Inside the council chamber.

The head of the Song family sat in the main seat, glanced at the heads of the various branches of the Song family below, and said, "You are all probably already aware of the imperial decree."

"The one in the palace issued an edict to abolish the tax exemption privileges of aristocratic landowners and to take back the private armies of these powerful families."

"The private armies of the powerful families in Luoyang have all been taken back. Those who disobeyed the imperial decrees have been investigated and arrested by the Eastern Depot for numerous crimes."

"What are your thoughts on what should happen to the Song family next?"

The Song family patriarch looked at the heads of the various branches below.

This was no small matter, and even the head of the Song family had to immediately convene the heads of the various Song family members to discuss it.

They dare not make decisions lightly.

“I knew it; the imperial court had ulterior motives when they measured and surveyed our land.”

"And now it has indeed come true."

"The imperial court wants to abolish our tax exemption rights, make us pay taxes per mu (unit of land area), accept complaints from the people, and investigate the encroachment on the people's land. Isn't this a way to target powerful and wealthy families like us?"

One of the heads of the Song family said with a grim expression.

Leaving aside the abolition of tax exemption rights and the implementation of taxes per acre, just the act of accepting lawsuits from ordinary people and investigating the encroachment on their land is enough to give powerful and wealthy families a run for their money.

No matter which powerful or wealthy family it is, they have all used shady methods to seize land from ordinary people to some extent.

Even the Song family, one of the four great clans, was no exception.

Such situations also exist.

If this gets investigated, the Song family will be in serious trouble!

"Yes! The more land there is, the more taxes will increase, which is simply outrageous and unprecedented."

"Most importantly, the one in the palace wants to take back our private army."

"If we hand over our private army, will our Song family still be the powerful Song family?"

Another person in charge of the Song family said with a grim expression.

This could be any of the following: abolishing land tax exemptions, changing the tax system, or taking back private armies.

For ordinary established landlord families, the impact was negligible.

But for top-tier aristocratic families like the Song family, the impact is much greater.

Because those who can afford to support numerous private soldiers and occupy vast tracts of land are all powerful and influential families like the Song family, who occupy the top of the pyramid.

Ordinary aristocratic families cannot afford to maintain too many private soldiers, and the land they occupy is also limited.

The imperial court issued an edict abolishing the tax exemption rights of powerful and wealthy families, changing the tax system, and withdrawing private armies. This was undoubtedly the biggest blow to the powerful and wealthy families who stood at the top of the pyramid.

The other members of the Song family also looked grim.

They all understood what the two leaders of the Song family meant. If they obeyed the imperial decree, the Song family's strength would inevitably decline significantly.

"Clan leader, the tax exemption rights and private armies of aristocratic families were established when the Great Zhou Dynasty was founded."

"It has been maintained for over a thousand years now, how can it be abolished or taken back so easily!"

"Furthermore, our four great clans are different from other aristocratic families. Our four great clans have an agreement with the royal Zhou family."

"I simply don't believe that the royal family would dare to break the agreement and treat us four great clans in such a domineering way."

"It was a gray-haired leader who spoke in a deep voice."

The person in charge, with gray hair, was the most senior and oldest among those present.

It also provides some information about the four major clans and the royal family.

Therefore, this gray-haired leader did not believe that the Song family would disobey the imperial decree and that the Great Zhou royal family would really dare to deal with the four great clans.

“That’s right, our four great clans have a long-standing agreement with the royal family.”

"The royal family probably wouldn't dare to act recklessly. I'm afraid His Majesty in the palace doesn't know about these things yet, after all, he's only been on the throne for a few years."

"It would be best to find a way to get that person in the palace to rescind the decree."

Another elderly person in charge spoke up.

Of all the heads of the various branches of the Song family present, only these two elderly heads knew some of the Song family's secrets.

The other people in charge were completely unaware of this.

(End of this chapter)