I picked up skill fragments in the demon world.

Chapter 1031 Reform
Peasant uprising?

How ancient is this word?

Since Zhang Chen came into this world, he had never heard of the word "peasant uprising".

Why?

The reason is simple: farmers have never mastered the power of bloodline. They are all ordinary people, and they have no power to resist the bloodline families who have mastered the power of bloodline and are like gods.

Zhang Chen glanced at the letter in his hand, casually placing it aside without paying it any attention. Although the disappearance of the extraordinary power had brought the powerful down from the heavens to the earth, infinitely narrowing the distance between them and the common people, the gap between the two sides was still enormous. From weaponry to command capabilities, the difference between the two sides was worlds apart.

Even in Zhang Chen's previous life, in a world where there was no supernatural power at all, in the great five-thousand-year-old Chinese civilization, although there were peasant rebellions, no one had ever succeeded. All those who succeeded in rebellion were led by aristocratic families.

Farmers are always just cannon fodder.

"It's unexpected that the peasants would have the courage to rebel. In my eyes, it's something to celebrate." Zhang Chen shook his head and ignored him. He was now a beneficiary of the system, perhaps even the biggest beneficiary in the North. He couldn't possibly betray his class.

If he were to betray his class, not only would his subordinates object, but even his wife Zhong Xiang and his son Zhang Xiang would never agree.

"Tell Wang Ye not to engage in indiscriminate killing. Just disperse the rebellious people." Zhang Chen wrote a letter and handed it to a guard beside him: "Take this letter to Wang Ye."

Zhang Chen did not want to cause bloodshed among ordinary people. After all, ordinary people just wanted to survive, so what wrong had they done?

The guards left in compliance. Zhang Chen stood in the room for a long time, lost in thought, before finally looking up at the distant blue sky. He couldn't bear to see so many ordinary people separated from their families. He said, "Please invite Xie Xuan, Xie Lingyun, Zhong Xiang, Zhong Wubai, and Zhou Qiucheng to come here."

With Zhang Chen's order, the powerful figures in the North soon gathered in Zhang Chen's courtyard. Although there were few people in the courtyard, they held the fate of the entire North in their hands.

Seeing that everyone had arrived, Zhang Chen spoke up: "Have you all heard about the peasant rebellion under Wang Ye's command?"

“I’ve heard about it, but there’s no need to worry about it. They’re just a bunch of insignificant vagrants. We can wipe them out in the blink of an eye. Those vagrants are no army and will hardly amount to anything.” Zhong Xiang chimed in from the side.

"Those refugees are certainly no match for a regular army, but have you all considered this? Now that the supernatural power has vanished, we have lost our absolute control over the common people. This uprising by the refugees may fail, but they can rise up a thousand times, ten thousand times. If they succeed even once, our rule will be overthrown, and all our wealth and glory will vanish." Zhang Chen's gaze swept over the crowd: "Those people can fail countless times, but if we fail even once, it will be enough to plunge us into utter ruin. Can you all guarantee that our descendants will not decay amidst prosperity, but will forever remain wise and infallible?"

After Zhang Chen finished speaking, the entire courtyard fell into a deathly silence, and everyone was seriously considering the matter.

Without the absolute advantage of superhuman power, ordinary people would have a very high chance of turning their hundreds of thousands of years of heritage into ashes.

"Since you've pointed out the problem, do you have a solution?" Zhong Xiang, who knew Zhang Chen well, asked after hearing his words.

“Of course.” Zhang Chen nodded: “The reason why the people rebel is because they can’t get enough to eat. As long as they are fed, all the chaos will naturally disappear.”

"I have gathered you all here today to discuss something with you. I intend to reform the Northern Lands, taking all the land under state ownership. All land owned by nobles, landlords, and wealthy households will be nationalized and then leased to ordinary people." After Zhang Chen finished speaking, he glanced at the crowd and saw that everyone's expression changed.

For the powerful and wealthy, land is equivalent to inheritance and their lifeline. Confiscating their land is tantamount to taking their lives. Everyone present is a beneficiary of the system, and Zhang Chen's actions are also harming their interests.

"What do you all think?" Zhang Chen asked.

Hearing this, Xie Xuan sighed softly, "The Xie family is willing to hand over the land, but the powerful and influential people of the entire North will likely not agree. This will inevitably lead to great chaos, even forcing the major families to secretly rebel. These families maintain private armies; if they unite in rebellion, our North will be turned upside down. Moreover, the Huangtiandao faction is also secretly coveting our land. If they take advantage of the chaos to launch an attack, the consequences will be unimaginable..."

"So what if they rebel?" Zhang Chen sneered. The next moment, the belt at his waist transformed into a series of small knives that darted around him. "They're nothing but ants. They're no different from ants in front of me! My move will not only seize the land of all the powerful and wealthy, but also abolish all the private armies of nobles. From now on, no one except the royal family will be allowed to keep a private army."

"Extraordinary power!!!"

Seeing the cold light emanating from Zhang Chen, everyone in the arena felt a chill run down their spines, their eyes filled with fear. Who could have imagined that Zhang Chen, in this era of declining Dharma, would possess extraordinary power?
Seeing Zhang Chen display extraordinary skills, everyone looked at each other in disbelief.

"My Zhong family is willing to hand over all our land to the royal family and disband all our private soldiers." Zhong Wubai was the first to react, and he quickly bowed respectfully to Zhang Chen.

Zhang Chen's extraordinary abilities shattered everyone's illusions in an instant. Everyone knew that in the face of Zhang Chen's extraordinary abilities, all resistance was just a paper tiger.

Even if Zhang Chen couldn't withstand an army of thousands, wouldn't you be unable to bear it if the enemy carried out a decapitation strike alone, slaughtering people in your home?

With Zhang Chen displaying extraordinary power, all dissent was shattered, the situation was settled, and no one could resist Zhang Chen's methods. Zhang Chen's gaze swept over his son Zhang Xiang: "You will be in charge of this matter, with the Xie and Zhong families providing assistance. All forces that dare to obstruct will be wiped out with iron-fisted methods by dispatching a large army."

Upon hearing this, Zhang Xiang bowed respectfully and said, "Rest assured, I will carry out your wishes and do everything well."

Zhang Chen nodded upon hearing this and waved his hand: "Go and do it."

"Wait, I have something to say." Xie Xuan suddenly spoke up, stopping the group of people who were about to leave.

Everyone turned to look at Xie Xuan, wondering what else he wanted to say. Then they saw Xie Xuan look at Zhang Xiang and ask, "Nephew, you're fifteen years old this year, aren't you?"

Upon hearing this, Zhang Xiang bowed respectfully and said, "My nephew is exactly fifteen years old this year."

"It's time to consider marriage. My Xie family has a legitimate daughter, fourteen years old, who is graceful and beautiful, a perfect match for you..." Xie Xuan said, turning to Zhang Chen with a smile, "What do you think?"

Hearing this, Zhong Xiang objected, "How can Zhang Xiang marry the Xie family's eldest daughter? My Zhong family also has a direct descendant, who is beautiful as a flower, and is a perfect match for Zhang Xiang."

Zhong Xiang also had his own selfish motives. He believed that if his son married someone from his own family, his family could continue to prosper and strengthen their ties through marriage.

Xie Xuan was displeased upon hearing this: "Although Zhang Xiang is your son, you can't be so domineering. You have to give us all a chance. The women of your Zhong family may not be as good as the women of my Xie family. Zhang Xiang should choose the best one to marry."

“The women of my Zhong family have been well-versed in poetry and literature since childhood, and have received education from various great scholars. Their appearances are also first-rate. How could they be inferior to the women of your Xie family?” Zhong wanted to retort, but inwardly she thought she had made a mistake. She never expected that her son, who was just beginning to blossom, would be targeted by someone. She also did not expect Xie Xuan to act so quickly.

Although Zhang Xiang is her son, his every move is related to the overall situation in the North and has political considerations, so she, as his mother, cannot make decisions on his behalf.

Zhou Qiucheng, who was standing nearby, also joined in the fun: "Ahem, you two, please stop arguing and let me say something fair."

Zhou Qiucheng's words drew their attention. Zhong thought to himself, "Mr. Zhou, you are a highly respected person. Please be the judge."

"Yes, we'll listen to what you say, sir," Xie Xuan echoed.

Zhou Qiucheng stroked his beard and said unhurriedly, "What you both say makes sense, but Zhang Xiang is the Crown Prince of the North, and his marriage is a matter of great importance. We cannot make a decision lightly. I do have a distant granddaughter who has been well-versed in literature since childhood, is also understanding and reasonable, and can embroider beautifully. She is a year older than His Highness Zhang Xiang, and is the truly suitable match for him..."

"Tch~" Xie Xuan rolled his eyes upon hearing this, turned his head away from Zhou Qiucheng, and looked at Zhang Chen instead: "You are the ruler of the North, say something."

The North is Zhang Chen's North, and Zhang Chen is also the only extraordinary being in the North. Zhang Chen's words can make a final decision, and even Zhong Xiang cannot refute them.

Upon hearing this, Zhang Chen fell into deep thought. Without a doubt, whichever power allied with Zhang Xiang through marriage would rise to prominence and become a family second only to the royal family.

Zhang Chen turned to look at Zhong Xiang and Zhong Wubai. The Zhong family was now an in-law family with great influence. If they were to form another marriage alliance, they might become too powerful to control in the future.

After all, Zhang Chen had seen plenty of instances in history of relatives of the emperor interfering in politics and seizing power.

So after a moment's hesitation, Zhang Chen looked at Xie Xuan and said, "Each of you send over the name cards of the women. I will examine them carefully before making a decision."

After Zhang Chen made his decision, the farce abruptly ended, and everyone left Zhang Chen's courtyard.

After leaving the Zhang family mansion, Zhong Wubai looked at Xie Xuan and asked, "Zhang Chen said that the land policy really cannot be changed?"

"As you've seen, Zhang Chen is an extremely powerful figure. Once he's made up his mind, who can change it?" Xie Xuan sighed softly.

"The North has finally calmed down, but I'm afraid a major upheaval is about to occur," Zhong Wubai sighed from the side.

"With Zhang Chen around, he is the only extraordinary being in the world. Who can cause trouble? Not to mention open and aboveboard battles, even if he secretly carries out assassinations, who can be his opponent? Who can stop him?" Xie Xuan shook his head: "If the major families in the North know what's good for them, then so be it. You're good, I'm good, we're all good. But if they don't know what's good for them, then they'll have a hard time."

“However, if Zhang Chen can accomplish this, his Zhang family dynasty will surely last for ten thousand years,” Zhong Wubai muttered.

(End of this chapter)