Daming: At the start of the showdown, Lao Zhu was stunned

Chapter 1050: Death of "Fan Huai"

Logically speaking, if Hu Jinyi wanted to collect food and fodder to fight against Nguyen Du Fang, the amount of food and fodder needed to be evenly distributed among the many Annan people should not be surprising. Annan's grain production was actually quite good. Although the government and the nobles exploited it severely, the people were not without any surplus food.

But the problem is... the government will not only extort the part used for conscription.

Hu Jinyi apportioned the amount to the gentry. Since the gentry had taken charge, they naturally had to collect some hard work fees. Then the gentry presented their cards to the officials, who also had to pay something. The officials then apportioned the amount to the clerks. The clerks worked hard to collect grain, so naturally they could not leave empty-handed.

Since you have people doing the work, then it is reasonable for them to seek some benefits for you.

But after the layers of taxes were added, the burden on the common people was a mountain that they could never bear. Not to mention the gentry families like the Li family. Merchants and families with some surplus grain at home have always been the best targets for exploitation by the gentry. The officials of the court not only asked them to increase the grain tax, but also asked them to provide "military funds" for the army's departure.

The amount requested was like a bottomless pit, enough to wipe out all the wealth accumulated by the Li family over generations.

Of course, only the masters above know where this military fund ended up. Anyway, you, the ordinary people who paid for it, have no right to know.

"What a sin, what a sin!" The old country gentleman Li Taigong sat on the ground, brushing off the dust on the ground and crying in pain.

"Dad, what's wrong with you?" Li Li, dressed in a scholar's robe and with a long sword on his waist, hurried in. Seeing his father sitting on the ground with a dejected face, he was shocked.

Since he studied at Wuqu Academy, he began to regard himself as a new scholar, imitating the new scholars of the Ming Dynasty, wearing a linen Confucian shirt and a long sword on his waist, which made him look very heroic. Seeing his old father sitting on the ground, he hurried forward to help his old father up and asked, "Dad, when I came back just now, I saw a few aggressive officials leaving the house. What did they do to my Li family?"

"What a sin, what a sin!" When Li Taigong heard his son mention those officials, tears welled up in his old eyes and he was filled with grief. He immediately told Li Li about the government officials coming to the Li family to ask for grain.

"What? They want so much food? Are the officials crazy?" Li Li was extremely surprised. "They want so much food. They want to force our family to death!" He then said angrily, "Dad, we can't give them food. Our Li family is not a pushover. At worst, we will fight that damn official!"

Mr. Li was still complaining in pain. He had just touched the chair when he heard his son's words and almost slipped off the chair again. He quickly grabbed his son's hand and said, "Li'er, please don't, please don't say stupid things!"

"You...you still want to kill the officials and rebel? The imperial examination will be held this year. When you become an official, will our Li family still be afraid of not having a good life?"

"What the government wants is a little harsh, but dad will be able to make up the money by selling everything he has, including farmland... It won't end your career as an official!" said Grandpa Li emotionally.

Li Li's expression became even uglier. He was so angry that his face turned purple. He sat down next to Li Taigong and said angrily, "It's broken."

"Ah?" Mr. Li was stunned.

"My path to becoming an official has been cut off," Le Loi said sullenly. "The day before yesterday, news came from Thang Long City that Brother Fan had prayed for us to abolish the Bao Wen system, but the court refused. His Majesty even said that without Bao Wen, he would have told us not to take the imperial examination... That tyrant..."

"Oh, don't talk nonsense!" Li Taigong quickly covered his son's mouth and looked around tremblingly, as if he was afraid that a spy from the court would suddenly appear. After looking for a while, he was sure that there was no spy from the court in the house, so he let go of his hand covering his son's mouth and said, "That Hu guy has already taken over our world. He can kill our little Li family with just one finger."

"Don't talk nonsense... But why is it cut off? Last time, my son was allowed to enter Thang Long City for the imperial examination..." Li Taigong beat his chest. He felt that the family's hope was cut off.

"Dad, instead of sitting here and waiting to die, why not sell your property, pack up your gold and silver and run away!" Li Li suggested.

"Run? Where can we run to?" Li Taigong looked dejected and haggard, as if he had aged twenty years. "Isn't Annan already ruled by the Hu family? Are we going to run to the northwest to find the Ruan family? The Ruan family was sworn brothers with the Hu family in the early years. I don't think they are much better. Besides, this is the ancestral land of our Li family. Where can we run to?"

Although the old man has lived in his hometown all his life, he is old and wise, and he can still see things clearly. When Le Loi heard his father say that Nguyen Duo Fang and Hu Ji Li were not good people, he was silent. Indeed, Nguyen Duo Fang was tolerant of the nobles and used their financial resources to fight the war, so he would not be much better to a poor family like him.

"Oh, right! Dad," Li Li suddenly remembered something and said happily, "We can go to Wu Qu Port!"

"Wuqu Port is a concession of the Ming Dynasty. Although it is also in the territory of Annan, it is actually under the jurisdiction of the Ming Dynasty. I studied there before and know what it is like."

"The officials there are honest and upright, commerce is prosperous, and the people who moved there live and work in peace and contentment. And the people of the Hu family have no control over that place!"

"We can settle there. I heard that my teacher, His Royal Highness King Zhou, is currently stationed in Wuqu. If we can meet him, maybe he will allow us to move to Daming!"

Le Loi's eyes showed longing. Ever since he had studied in the general department of Wuqu Academy, he had been fascinated by the descriptions of the Celestial Empire by the teachers. He dreamed of being born in the powerful and civilized Ming Dynasty.

If he were in the Ming Dynasty, he would be able to realize his ambitions instead of being blocked by a piece of protection letter.

It's hateful. Why was Annan separated from China by some people with ulterior motives? If Annan had always belonged to China, I could have been born a Ming person...

Le Loi thought angrily.

There was a flash of excitement in the eyes of Le Taigong, but he was reluctant to leave his homeland, so he rejected Le Loi's suggestion. He said to his son Le Loi with a bitter face, "Lei'er, I also hope to be born in Ming Dynasty."

"But our home is in Annan after all. If we seek refuge in Ming, the people of Ming may not welcome us wholeheartedly. They may even regard us as a burden."

"Besides, our ancestors had a hard time starting their business. I really don't want to abandon the family business that they worked so hard to build... Don't you have a good classmate who is now an official in Thang Long City?... Go and tell him about this and see if he can ask for justice for us in the court."

"Perhaps His Majesty Hu just doesn't know about this. If he knew, he would issue an order to punish these corrupt officials?"

Li Li was unwilling to do so. His classmate, Mr. Fan Huaifan, was the only one from the poor family to serve as an official in the court, and was the spokesperson for the poor in the court. But he had just been rejected for his efforts to abolish the Baowen system for the poor students a few days ago, and it was really a bit unreasonable for him to come forward and impeach the gentry for their excessive taxation.

But... looking at his father's eager eyes, Le Loi couldn't bear to refuse him. So the next day, he packed his bag, carrying the sword that symbolized his new Confucian identity, and headed for Thang Long City.

To his surprise, he met many of his former classmates on the way. These classmates from poor families had almost the same purpose as him: they were preparing to file a complaint to the emperor to expose the exploitation of the people by the officials of the aristocratic families on the grounds of collecting grain, or they were just like Li Taigong, hoping to use their classmate "Fan Huai" to push the court to reject this bad policy. They had studied Confucianism and were full of lofty spirit. Because the former King Zhou of the Ming Dynasty told them that scholars should have lofty spirit. The scholars of the Ming Dynasty were all like this. Only with lofty spirit in their hearts, and with injustice when seeing it, could they level the injustice.

They gathered more and more, and when they arrived at Thang Long City, they found a group of former classmates gathered there. It seemed that the merchants and poor people in various parts of Annan were over-exploited. Their leader in the academy was Fan Huai, so they decided to seek the opinion of their leader Fan Huai first, unify their actions, and then take the next step.

A few days later, Fan Huai came to meet them.

Fan Huai was very happy to see his former classmates. They chatted about the past, as if they had returned to the happy days in Wuqu Academy. Then everyone changed the subject and told Fan Huai about their situation in their hometown, and asked for advice from the only court official among the poor children, asking him what he should do.

The smile on "Fan Huai"'s face disappeared, replaced by a deep bitter smile and fatigue.

He thought for a long time and said to these people: "Leave this matter to me."

"Tomorrow, I will advise His Majesty on this matter at the court meeting. But... whether it will succeed or not is unpredictable."

"Now, Your Majesty needs to win over the nobles and contain Ruan Duofang..."

Everyone was silent. Some of them wanted to understand this simple truth. Someone said angrily: "Does it mean that you can win over the nobles and ignore the lives of us poor people?"

Everyone was silent... They were all native Annamites and knew what kind of country Annam was.

In order to win over the gentry, the lives of these poor people... of course can be ignored!
"Brother Fan, your suggestion to abolish the Baowen system was just rejected the day before yesterday. If you make another suggestion tomorrow... is there any harm?" Li Li said with some concern.

"..."Fan Huai remained silent and did not answer.

"Anyway, you guys just wait for my news tomorrow." After a long while, Fan Huai managed a smile and said, "Whether it succeeds or not depends on God's will... But, you guys need to promise me one thing."

Everyone looked over, and Fan Huai said solemnly: "Remember, no matter what, you must not go alone to speak up about the exploitation of the nobles!"

"If my advice is successful, there will be nothing to complain about. But if my advice fails..." His voice paused slightly.

"Leave Shenglong City immediately and return to your hometown. The farther away the better... Don't get involved in this matter."

"This..." He said it very seriously, and everyone looked at each other in bewilderment. Someone said helplessly: "But... if we return home, how can we survive after we return home?"

"Can we just sit there and watch as those soldiers and corrupt officials exploit us?"

"...You can collect your wealth and go to Wuqu to find His Royal Highness Prince Zhou." Fan Huai said. "His Royal Highness Prince Zhou is our mentor. Just like the Hongwu Emperor of the Ming Dynasty, he cares about the people and is never afraid to speak up for them. He is the most benevolent person in the world."

"With him here, he will definitely not tolerate the behavior of those nobles and corrupt officials. Even if we are Annanites, he will definitely provide us with shelter."

"Wuqu Port is a Ming concession. We, the Annan court, cannot interfere... We can guarantee your safety."

Everyone was silent. This was indeed the last resort.

Seeing that he had convinced everyone, Fan Huai looked deeply at these former "classmates". He smiled and bowed to these Annan scholars: "Everyone, the green mountains remain unchanged, and the green waters flow forever."

“It is the greatest blessing of my life to have the honor of studying with you all.”

"I will... bid farewell to you all. I hope that one day you will still be as ambitious as ever."

"I'll give you one hand... in exchange for the blue sky."

Hearing this, everyone was in high spirits, and they all bowed to "Fan Huai" and said, "Brother Fan, please do as you please, and take care."

"I will come to visit Brother Fan another day."

Fan Huai thanked them one by one, then looked around at these "classmates", finally walked away without any lingering thoughts.

"Brother Fan?" Only Li Li felt that Fan Huai seemed to have something else to say. He wanted to ask more and chased him out the door. However, Fan Huai's figure had already disappeared into the night and could no longer be found.

……

On the second day, the former number one scholar Fan Huai came to the palace to make a petition, but Emperor Hu refused to accept it. He was thrown out of the palace after making another petition.

Fan Huai was not discouraged. He knelt outside the palace to make his appeal, but his advice was still not accepted. Fan Huai knelt outside the palace gate until nightfall.

At night, Hu Cang, the second son of the Hu family, saw Fan Huai still kneeling to make a plea, and insulted him. Fan Huai turned a deaf ear to him, and Cang became angry and pushed Fan Huai into the water.

The cold caused by the Huai River is difficult to cure.

"My fellow classmates, Brother Fan...Brother Fan!" In the inn, a former ordinary scholar rushed into the inn with a sad face.

"What's wrong? What's wrong with Brother Fan? Tell me now!" someone asked anxiously. Ever since they knew that Fan Huai was pushed into the water by Hu Cang and caught a cold, they were extremely worried. Every day, they sent people to visit him. Now it was already the third day.

"Brother Fan, Brother Fan he..." The man burst into tears and hesitated for a long time before finally uttering a word: "Brother Fan he... passed away!"

"Ah?" Everyone was stunned, and then this inn, which was full of ordinary scholars, immediately exploded.

"How is it possible...Brother Fan, Brother Fan is a great man among us, and he is only thirty years old..."

"God is jealous of talents, God is jealous of talents, Brother Fan..."

"No, it's impossible, I don't believe it!"

For a moment, the whole room was filled with sorrow.

(End of this chapter)