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Chapter 250 The Dugu Clan of Nanhe

The Hall of Nourishing Heart.

Zhou Chen sat upright on the dragon throne, carefully reviewing the memorials on the dragon desk.

Even with the assistance of outstanding individuals like Xiao He and Fang Xuanling, Zhou Chen has not neglected his duties in the slightest.

The way of an emperor lies in diligent governance.

Zhou Chen knew that a qualified emperor needed not only great talent and strategy, but also diligence in governing.

Otherwise, even with outstanding figures like Xiao He and Fang Xuanling assisting them, the Zhou Dynasty could not be revived.

Just as Zhou Chen was reviewing the memorials, the eunuch from the Imperial Guard entered and reported: "Your Majesty, Minister Xun is requesting an audience outside the palace."

"Announce him to come in."

Zhou Chen paused for a moment before speaking.

Previously, in the imperial court, Zhou Chen had entrusted Xun Yu and Xiao He with discussing and drafting the tax reform plan.

Now that Xun Yu has come to the palace to request an audience, it is likely that the tax reform system has been discussed and a result has been reached!

Zhou Chen thought to himself.

A moment of effort.

Xun Yu entered the Hall of Mental Cultivation.

"I have met His Majesty."

Xun Yu entered the Hall of Mental Cultivation and greeted Zhou Chen, who was on the dragon throne, with utmost respect.

"No need to be polite."

Zhou Chen put down the folding paper in his hand and looked at Xun Yu; "How have you discussed the details of the tax system and land investigation?"

Although Zhou Chen has already issued an edict to abolish the tax exemption privileges of aristocratic families and start collecting taxes per mu, and to investigate those lands that have been seized and annexed through trickery and force.

However, this is only the general direction; the specific details and regulations still need to be discussed by Xun Yu and his team.

"Your Majesty, I have come to the palace for this very reason."

"These are the specific details and regulations concerning the tax system and land survey that I discussed with Prime Minister Xiao and the senior officials of the Six Ministries."

"Your Majesty, please review this."

Xun Yu took out a memorial from his sleeve, held it up, and said...

Upon seeing this, the eunuchs and guards standing nearby immediately stepped forward, took the memorial from Xun Yu's hand, and presented it to Zhou Chen.

Zhou Chen opened it and began to examine it carefully.

This concerns the tax revenue of the Great Zhou Dynasty and the livelihood of its people; it cannot be taken lightly.

The memorial contained a great deal of information, numbering in the dozens.

Zhou Chen read through each and every one of them carefully.

After Zhou Chen finished reading all the contents of the memorial, he nodded in satisfaction. "Xun Yu, I have read all the results of your discussion. They are very good and comprehensive."

"Let's proceed according to these rules and regulations you've agreed upon. Announce these rules and regulations immediately and begin implementation!"

Zhou Chen looked at Xun Yu and said directly.

The detailed system that Xun Yu and his team came up with was very comprehensive, exceeding Zhou Chen's expectations.

Both the tax system and the penalties for land investigations are very specific.

Even the opinions that Zhou Chen had written before were taken from the essence and added to by Xun Yu and Xiao He.

This made Zhou Chen sigh inwardly, Xun Yu and Xiao He truly deserve to be called top-notch figures who have left their mark on history.

They actually changed all the systems he wrote into regulations that were in line with the current situation of the Great Zhou Dynasty.

"The minister obeys the order."

Xun Yu bowed and said.

……

After Xun Yu left the palace and returned to the Ministry of Revenue, he immediately announced the new tax system and the specific details of the land survey.

These new systems have generated considerable discussion and reactions.

The reaction was particularly strong from the powerful and influential families of the Great Zhou Dynasty.

Because the new land tax system announced by the Ministry of Revenue was specifically aimed at powerful and wealthy families.

The new tax system not only abolished the tax exemption privileges of aristocratic families and made them pay taxes, but also stipulated that aristocratic families would have to pay double the tax if their land exceeded a certain limit.

Furthermore, the detailed regulations for investigating land stipulated that any land acquired through trickery or force should not only be returned to the people by powerful families, but they should also make up for the taxes that were exempted from taxation during the years the land was seized.

Those with serious crimes will be punished by the imperial court according to law.

This is undoubtedly a devastating blow to powerful and influential families.

At the same time, Xun Yu, along with his officials, began to investigate the land within the jurisdiction of Luoyang Sili, based on the previously measured and compiled land data, which had been seized and annexed through trickery and force.

……

Nanhe Prefecture.

The Dugu family.

Inside the council chamber.

The head of the Dugu family sat in the main seat, with more than a dozen elders and high-ranking members of the Dugu family sitting below him.

Speaking of the Dugu family, like the Song family of Lingnan, they are one of the four great clans of the Great Zhou Dynasty.

It wielded extraordinary influence throughout the entire Zhou Dynasty.

Especially in Nanhe Prefecture, the Dugu family's prestige there is as unparalleled as the Song family's prestige in Lingnan.

The patriarch of the Dugu family glanced at the dozen or so elders present and said, "I presume you are all already aware of the imperial decree."

"His Majesty in the palace has issued an edict to abolish the tax exemption privileges of aristocratic families and to take back their private armies."

"The powerful families within the jurisdiction of Luoyang have all surrendered their private armies, and those who refused to obey the imperial decree have been arrested."

"Furthermore, Prince Kao Shan and Cao Zhengchun have already gone to Lingnan."

"Under Cao Zhengchun's pressure, the Song family patriarch has already accepted the imperial decree."

Upon hearing the words of the Dugu family patriarch, the expressions of the dozen or so Dugu family elders present all changed.

what?
The Song family patriarch has already received the imperial decree.
More than a dozen elders of the Dugu family were all surprised.

They knew that accepting this imperial decree meant obeying the court's orders and surrendering their private troops.

They never expected that the Song family patriarch would compromise with the imperial court and accept its decree.

"Clan leader, what's going on with the Song family?"

“We four great clans have always been closely connected. The Song family has received the imperial decree and must act in accordance with it. What about the other three of us?”

"Isn't this putting the other three of us in a very difficult position?"

An elder said angrily.

"Yes! When the Ministry of Revenue measured and counted the land, it was the Song family who took the lead, and the other three families had no choice but to cooperate with the Ministry of Revenue."

"Now, the imperial court wants to abolish our tax exemption privileges and take back our private army. The Song family has compromised again and accepted the imperial court's decree."

"What exactly is the Song family trying to do?"

"Does the Song family intend to completely surrender to the imperial court?"

Another elder said with a grim expression.

The four major clans have always been closely connected and mutually supportive.

However, the Song family has been repeatedly breached by the imperial court, which has greatly displeased the Dugu family.

If the Song family takes the lead in accepting the imperial decree and acting accordingly, how can the other three families maintain their alliance?

The patriarch of the Dugu family also sighed; "The Song family is also helpless. Cao Zhengchun personally went to the Song family and exerted overwhelming pressure on them."

"You should know the strength of Cao Zhengchun, the supervisor of the Eastern Depot. Two half-step Celestials have died at Cao Zhengchun's hands."

"What can happen if the Song family patriarch refuses the imperial decree and compromises with the court?"

"That's what the patriarch of the Dugu family said."

The patriarch of the Dugu family could understand the actions of the Song family patriarch.

Faced with the pressure from a powerful figure like Cao Zhengchun, the Song family had no other choice.

In particular, the Song family was the first destination for Cao Zhengchun and the Prince of Kao Shan. If it had been the Song family in Lingnan, Cao Zhengchun and his party would have encountered a setback and their orders would have been obstructed.

How can we proceed from here?

Therefore, if the Song family dared to defy the imperial decree, they would definitely face a swift and decisive blow from Cao Zhengchun and the court.

The Song family patriarch understood this point, which is why he dared not hesitate and had no choice but to obey the imperial decree and compromise with the court. "Patriarch, what about our Dugu family?"

"After Cao Zhengchun and his men finish collecting the private soldiers in Lingnan, they will probably come to our Dugu family soon."

An elder of the Dugu family asked in a deep voice.

The patriarch of the Dugu family glanced at everyone present and said, "This is precisely the purpose of my gathering you all today. As for how the Dugu family should respond to the imperial decree, you may all speak freely."

Such things are not trivial matters.

Even the Dugu family, one of the four great clans, had to convene a meeting to discuss the matter.

Upon hearing the words of the Dugu family patriarch, the dozen or so elders of the Dugu family present all frowned and fell silent for a while.

It wasn't that these dozen or so elders of the Dugu family didn't have their own thoughts; it was that they dared not speak up easily.

After all, this is no small matter.

Whether they obeyed or defied the imperial decree, it would have a significant impact on the Dugu family.

If the Dugu family complies with the imperial decree, their strength will be greatly reduced.

However, if the Dugu family does not obey the imperial decree, they will face the court, and the outcome will be unpredictable.

"Clan leader, this decree cannot be accepted lightly."

"The imperial court is clearly trying to weaken the power of our aristocratic families. If we accept this decree so easily, what if the court issues another decree to weaken our aristocratic families? Should our Dugu family accept it or not?"

An elderly clansman with gray hair spoke solemnly.

This is not something to be taken lightly.

Once this precedent is set, it will be difficult to stop it.

This was something that not only the elderly man with gray hair understood, but everyone else present also comprehended.

But if one disobeys the imperial decree, one will be going against the imperial court, and the consequences will be unpredictable.

"However, the Dugu family is not the only powerful clan in the world."

"The Song family has already received the imperial decree. Aren't there two other powerful families besides them?"

"We can discuss it with the other two companies and see what they think."

The white-haired elder spoke again.

“That’s right, clan leader.”

"We can see what the other two companies think."

“If the other two families share the same opinion as the Song family, then even if my Dugu family is unwilling to obey the decree, we will be left with no other option.”

The other elders nodded solemnly.

"Clan leader, what does the ancestor mean?"

One of the elders spoke up and asked.

In the entire Dugu family, the one with the most influence is undoubtedly the family's patriarch.

It can be said that the opinion of the Dugu family patriarch is the final decision that can influence the Dugu family's decisions.

Therefore, the dozen or so elders present all looked at the patriarch of the Dugu family who was sitting in the main seat.

They all wanted to know what the meaning of their Dugu family's ancestor was.

Upon hearing this, the patriarch of the Dugu family spoke up, "Because the Song family received an imperial decree, our ancestor has already gone to Lingnan."

"The ancestors of the other two families have also gone to Lingnan. We will only know their intentions when they return."

As soon as these words came out.

The expressions of the dozen or so elders of the Dugu family present all turned solemn.

They never expected that their ancestor had already gone to Lingnan.

Furthermore, the ancestors of the other two families also went to Lingnan.

They weren't naive enough to think that the three families' ancestors had gone to Lingnan at the same time because they had nothing better to do than go sightseeing.

It seems we must decide whether to obey the imperial decree or defy it.

We'll know the answer once the ancestors of the three families return from Lingnan.

……

Langya.

Wang family.

One of the seven great families of the Great Zhou Dynasty.

Wang Yangming, the Minister of Justice, came from the Langya Wang family.

at this time.

Inside the Wang family's council hall.

All the key figures in the Wang family were gathered in this huge hall.

At the head of the table, the patriarch of the Wang family looked at the people seated below and said in a deep voice, "You all know the imperial decree, and you have all read the letter that Yangming sent back."

"The imperial court wants to abolish the tax exemption privileges of our aristocratic families and also take back our private armies."

"Any aristocratic families within the jurisdiction of Luoyang who dared to disobey the imperial decree have been apprehended."

"Our Langya royal family, as one of the seven great families of the Great Zhou, is definitely the first to bear the brunt."

"What do you think we should do about this?"

The patriarch of the Wang family looked at the people seated below and asked.

The core members of the Wang family present exchanged glances and then fell silent.

No one rushed to speak.

Everyone looked somewhat serious.

"Clan chief, judging from the imperial court's stance, this decree is inevitable."

"The armies from all four border regions have been stationed inside the pass, which clearly indicates that the imperial court is prepared to use force."

"If anyone dares to defy the imperial decree and go against the court's orders, the army stationed inside the pass will likely be dispatched immediately."

"A key figure in the Wang family said solemnly."

"how?"

"You've been frightened by this little action of the imperial court?"

"So you mean our Wang family must obey the imperial court's decree and hand over our private army?"

"If our Wang family truly obeys the imperial court's decree, then our Wang family's strength will be weakened by a significant amount."

"Will our Wang family still be the Langya Wang family, one of the seven great families of the Great Zhou Dynasty, by then?"

Another key member of the Wang family spoke up in an annoyed tone.

They were locked in a sharp confrontation with the core member of the Wang family who had spoken first.

It's not that the two have any personal grudges.

Rather, the two had different ideas about the imperial decree.

"Then what do you suggest we do? Disobey the imperial decree?"

"Don't forget the fates of the Yuan family of Runan and the Zheng family of Rongyang. Do you think my Langya Wang family can withstand the imperial army?"

"Hmph, my Wang family cannot stop the imperial army, but we cannot simply obey the imperial decree so easily."

"If the imperial court issues any further decrees requiring my Wang family to relinquish other powers, must my Wang family comply?"

The two key figures in the Wang family argued back and forth.

The Wang family patriarch, sitting in the main seat, saw this and waved his hand impatiently. "Alright, stop arguing. I called you here to discuss matters, not to quarrel."

"I heard that Prince Kao Shan and Cao Zhengchun have already gone to Lingnan."

"Let's first see what the four major clans have to say."

"If even the four great clans cannot resist the imperial decree and compromise with it, then our Langya royal family cannot resist either and can only obey the decree."

The Wang family patriarch's eyes flickered as he spoke.

Although the Langya Wang family is one of the seven great families of the Great Zhou Dynasty, there are four other powerful clans above them.

If even the four great clans cannot defy the imperial court's decree, then the Langya Wang family has no choice but to go along with it.

Upon hearing their patriarch's words, the core members of the Wang family present all nodded and said nothing more.

(End of this chapter)