Three Kingdoms: A Million Soldiers Grown from the Fields

Chapter 100 A Heart Full of Concern (Please read 4k words)

The next day.

Zhang Xian took over the administration of Luqi County.

Previously, all the yamen runners, clerks, and minor officials of the county government were served in front of the hall.

Zhang Xian glanced at Han Ji, who then leaned closer and whispered something in his ear.

"Yesterday, the sons of the He and Xu families in the yamen were cleared out. Now, there are 43 yamen runners, 17 clerks, and 22 minor officials, all of whom are sons of the other five families."

Zhang Xian nodded and strode forward.

"We pay our respects to the County Lord!"

As soon as he entered, nearly a hundred yamen officials called out in unison.

Zhang Xian waved his hand, his bearskin cloak fluttering slightly: "You all perform your duties. The yamen runners patrol the streets, and the clerks organize and compile the land registers and household records. I want to see detailed figures by today!"

"I will strictly abide by the county's laws and regulations!"

Inside the county government office, nearly a hundred people shouted in unison.

They were all aware of yesterday's shocking events. Both the He and Xu families were now in prison, and many had died. Faced with the county magistrate's tough and ruthless methods, they dared not be negligent in the slightest.

Zhang Xian looked around, nodded slightly, and entered the main hall.

"My lord, Lu Ci is currently intimidated by your prestige. We should seize this opportunity to quickly reclaim our power."

After the three of them sat down, Han Ji spoke frankly.

Zhang Xian naturally meant the same thing: "Hansheng."

"The lieutenant is here."

“We took over the military power of Luqi, included the soldiers of Taoyuan in the county army, integrated the original county soldiers, and found those who were paid without working.”

"Furthermore, make arrangements with the village chiefs of Lüsi as soon as possible, and you will be fully responsible for apprehending thieves and suppressing bandits!"

"promise."

“Gongzhi,” Zhang Xian turned his eyes to Han Ji.

"Your Excellency is here."

"The county government is now in your hands."

"To share the ruler's burdens,"

The three briefly confirmed the division of responsibilities.

After noon.

Only Han Ji and Zhang Xian remained in the county government office; Huang Zhong had already gone out to reclaim power.

The bamboo slips were piled up one by one. Zhang Xian and his companion each had a pen and paper and copied the numbers on the bamboo slips onto the paper.

These are the number of farmland and households in Lüqi County.

The entire Lüchi County covers an area of ​​approximately 600 square kilometers, with 50% of its terrain being mountainous. The Wufeng Mountain (Wutai Mountain) within its borders is the main source of iron ore and salt.

Twenty-five percent of the terrain is river valley plains, and the tributaries of the Hutuo River irrigate a large area of ​​major agricultural land.

The remaining 25% is swampy wasteland, and within the territory of Lüqi there is a swamp with a circumference of 20 li.

There are 2,300 registered households and a total population of over 13,000.

When copying the population data, Zhang Xian's first reaction was that something was wrong.

Luqi County covers such a large area, so how come its population is only a little over 13,000?

He asked Han Ji, and the answer he received was that this was about all.

Of course, there must be a large number of people hidden in the hands of powerful families, but the average population of each county in Bingzhou is indeed this number.

It took Zhang Xian and his colleague most of the afternoon to complete the compilation and transcription of all the data.

Zhang Xian then used this data to compile a table to clarify any unclear points.

The result is that everything is blurry.

On the table piled high with bamboo slips, Zhang Xian's fingertips tapped heavily on the hemp paper form he had just copied. The numbers, still wet with ink, gleamed eerily in the candlelight.

“Sir, look at this land acreage—” He grabbed two sheets of paper and spread them out side by side, “The registered fertile land along the banks of the Hutuo River is 13,000 mu, but the private deeds found in the He family's cellar alone amount to more than that!”

Han Ji stroked his beard and smiled wryly: "Your Excellency, I have examined the old records and found that the county's land registers have never been properly clarified since the flood of the sixth year of Yonghe (141 AD)." He pointed to a certain place on the table, "Look at this 'twenty-five li of marshland,' which was actually cultivated into mulberry fields by the Xu family ten years ago."

As dusk deepened outside the window, the contradictions on the form became increasingly glaring.

Zhang Xian glanced at the wall in frustration and muttered, "I'm not going to deal with it anymore. The more I try to fix it, the more chaotic it gets. I might as well tear it all down and start over!"

"When you arrive, arrange for trusted men to begin measuring the fields of Luqi, and make sure that all the fields are properly marked!"

"What should we do with the land deeds that were found by the He and Xu families?"

"This is all the people's hard-earned money. Do you know the number of the two families who are hiding their wealth?"

Han Ji nodded: "The two families have 7,000 unregistered households and 300 open tenant households."

"Ha! Look at this, the population swallowed up by these two families alone is equivalent to half the population of Luqi County, not to mention there are five more such powerful families."

Zhang Xian's eyes flashed with anger: "Haven't those five families sent their land registers yet?"

"My lord, please don't be angry. It's better to give them some time to prepare. If they all openly reveal themselves like the He and Xu families, it would be inappropriate for you."

"what for?"

Zhang Xian glanced at Han Ji.

"My lord, don't forget what we have to do!"

Zhang Xian suddenly realized that he had been so blinded by the words "land annexation" that he had forgotten that he himself was now one of the parasites of the Han Dynasty.

"Look at my brain."

He slapped his forehead, but still said something.

"The lands of the He and Xu families have all been registered, and the hidden households have also been recorded. We must now set an example of loyalty to the Han Dynasty!"

"As for the other five, we'll give them some time, but Gongzhi should also give them a warning."

Han Ji cupped his hands in greeting: "Your Excellency is aware."

"What should be done with the people from these two families who are imprisoned?" he asked again.

Zhang Xian stroked his chin thoughtfully and said, "The He and Xu families are so arrogant and domineering; there must be quite a few people who have been oppressed by them, right?"

"Of course there will be no shortage, not to mention that the powerful and wealthy love to lend money. If the poor are unable to repay, they will eventually become the hidden households."

"Since you are so eloquent and have such a good writing style, I'll trouble you to visit each and every household, stir up their emotions, and get them to recount the evil deeds of these two families!"

"What does Lord Si mean?"

Han Ji began to understand what his lord was about to do.

"The He and Xu families deserve to die, but they cannot die in vain. I will use their deaths to win over the hearts of the people!"

"However, you should not nitpick over words. When you are trying to persuade the oppressed, the more direct you are, the better!"

Han Ji cupped his hands in greeting: "I understand, my lord's plan is quite ingenious."

"It's just parroting what others have said."

"When Hansheng returns, you should also teach him the rhetoric. When he tours the countryside, have him bypass the clan and organize a gathering of the villagers to denounce the harm caused by these powerful local tyrants!"

"My lord, you intend to pit the two against each other!" Han Ji gasped.

Zhang Xian bluntly stated, "Aren't the two sides adversaries?"

"Well, that's true, but no one has ever stood up for them before."

Zhang Xian waved his hand: "Let it be so. We have not been in charge for long, so we still need to put in a lot of effort. In another eight or nine days, Brother Yun and the others should arrive, and then we will have more manpower."

"To lead the vanguard for our lord, why bother with such worries?" Han Ji chuckled.
-
With swift and decisive action, Zhang Xian eliminated the He and Xu families, coerced the powerful clans of Lüqi, and successfully seized control of most of Lüqi's power.

For three consecutive days, Lüchi's administration was carrying out sweeping reforms.

First, the county government reclaimed 20,000 mu of private land belonging to the He and Xu families, and all the hidden tenants totaling 10,000 people were also registered in the household register.

The land belonging to the He and Xu families was allocated to the hidden households of the He and Xu families. The Han Tianling (a local official) now has one man with five people to manage twenty mu of land.

Zhang Xian and his men naturally obeyed the Han Tian decree, distributing all 20,000 mu of land to these hidden households and landless people in Lüqi County.

In a short time, Zhang Xian's reputation for goodness spread among the people of Luxi.

Han Ji was also busy. As Zhang Xian had said, he led several soldiers to visit households day and night.

He bitterly denounced the harm done by the He and Xu families, blaming them for the increasingly difficult life he was living, which surprisingly resonated with many people.

Whenever Han Ji made a visit, a group of Luqi people would follow behind him. They did it not for any other reason than to cry along with Han Ji when he recounted the stories of the two families.

Two more days passed.

The land and property records of the other five powerful families were also sent to the county government.

The combined hidden land of the five families increased by 10,000 mu, and the number of hidden households increased by 5,000.

In reality, many people who conceal their household registration did not do so because they were oppressed.

There are some advantages to seeking refuge with powerful families; at least they don't have to pay taxes themselves every year.

The exorbitant taxes and levies were numerous, and each county magistrate had his own set of taxes.

These taxes, in fact, were also an aid to the powerful and wealthy in annexing people.

The Liu family is undoubtedly the most powerful family in the area!

Zhang Xian spent five days finally eliminating all other exorbitant taxes and levies besides those set by the imperial court.

Land rent, tax, poll tax, straw tax, and other taxes.

These alone mean that a family of five would have to pay ten bushels of millet a year to make ends meet.

And this is what taxes should be.

There was also corvée labor.

Gengzu: Repairing city walls and transporting grain, at least three days a year.

Regular soldier: This is a military service for men aged 23-56 who are trained and sent to guard the border. Each term lasts for two years, but they can only serve once in their lifetime.

Miscellaneous labor: Temporary conscription for tasks such as repairing mausoleums and managing rivers, with approximately thirty days of service per year.

Combining taxes and corvée labor, the annual tax expenditure for a family of five, calculated in kind, would be around fifteen to twenty shi of millet plus a thousand coins.

The annual yield of one mu of land in Lüqi is about three shi. Even if a family of five has a full 20 mu of land, the yield would only be 60 shi.

After paying taxes, they barely managed to make ends meet.

You might say the court is incompetent, but the taxes they set are just enough to satisfy the people's basic needs.

You may think he's a sage, but you don't care where the huge amount of tax revenue goes each year; you only focus on the common people.

Zhang Xian looked at the list of court taxes that had been recorded on a single bamboo slip to his right.

Then he looked at the exorbitant taxes and levies that hadn't even been fully recorded on the dozen or so bamboo scrolls on his left and sighed.

"Those who eat meat are despicable."

"These powerful families have all shifted the tax burden they should have borne onto the common people, which explains why there are so many hidden households."

"The official population of Luqi County is only 13,000, but the number of hidden households that have been taken back from the hands of powerful families has already exceeded the official population."

"And let's not even talk about how many of these five families haven't handed over their money yet."

Giving these five powerful families time was tantamount to tacitly allowing them to continue hiding some people and land, which could be considered a gesture of goodwill from Zhang Xian.

He sighed, picked up his pen again, and began to seriously consider the new policies of Lusi.

the next day.

A government decree was widely disseminated throughout Lüsi County and its surrounding countryside.

Regarding taxes, Luqi County rejected all exorbitant levies and miscellaneous taxes, recognizing only the official taxes levied by the imperial court.

After a brief explanation from the yamen runners and county soldiers, the people of Lüqi understood the meaning of this new policy.

In short, the only taxes to be paid in the future are land rent, tax, poll tax, straw tax, and maintenance tax!

The only duties one has to perform are: night watchman, regular soldier, and miscellaneous servant!

You say that the common people don't understand literature, but they are quick at calculating these taxes. After a brief explanation, they all know the specific amount of taxes they need to pay from the beginning of spring to the winter solstice next year.

In an instant, voices of gratitude resounded throughout the countryside.

The saying, "With Magistrate Zhang here, there is justice," perfectly encapsulates the bitterness weighing on the hearts of the people of Luqi.
-
At 3:45 AM, the thin mist along the Hutuo River had not yet dissipated.

"Ouch!" Li Si suddenly shouted, startling Zhao's son, who was urinating on the snow-covered ridge, so much so that he stumbled.

"Fourth Uncle, what are you howling about so early in the morning?" Zhao's son complained, pulling up his pants.

Li Si acted as if he hadn't heard, his rough fingers repeatedly tracing the bright red "Zhang" official seal on the boundary stone, muttering, "It's real. It's really real."

Old Mrs. Wang from next door, carrying a bamboo basket, passed by and sneered, "Old woman, it's been three days and you're still acting like you've seen a ghost!"

"You know nothing!" Li Si suddenly looked up, his cloudy old eyes gleaming. "At this time of year, those bastards from the He family would have already come with sticks to collect 'spring planting money'! Yesterday I specifically waited at the village entrance until dark—and didn't see a single ghost!"

Granny Wang scoffed, "Look how happy you are! Be careful not to let your joy turn to sorrow."

"Pah! Pah! Pah!" Li Si spat three times on the ground. "You jinx! Magistrate Zhang said that from now on, these twenty acres of land belong to me, Li Si, and even the Heavenly King himself can't take them away!"

"Four coins each?!" The porter carrying the firewood gaped, nearly dropping his load. "Zhao Dalang, have you lost your mind? They were nine coins a few days ago!"

Zhao Dalang slammed his hand on the bottom of the earthenware jar, making the bowls and plates on his stall clatter: "Buy it or don't! The county magistrate has waived the 'market tax' and 'stall tax,' so I'm happy to sell cheap!"

Widow Sun, who sold cloth nearby, chimed in, "That's right! Yesterday I went to pay my cloth tax, and the tax collector actually calculated it at the actual price, not even taking the 'fire loss'!" She lowered her voice, "I secretly slipped him ten extra coins, and guess what? The tax collector was terrified, like he'd seen a ghost, and threw the money back on the spot!"

Zhao Dalang glanced sideways at the porter: "Did you hear that? What, you think it's too cheap?"

"Hey, there's one here, there's one here, it's great, give me one."

In a food stall on a street corner, several old soldiers were counting their accounts on their fingers.

"An additional three hundred coins will be levied, and three days of actual service will be provided." Old Zhou, with his limp, counted on his dark, calloused fingers. "Not only do they provide meals for repairing the city wall, but they also give out salt!"

Old Qian, the one-eyed man, slammed his fist on the table: "County Magistrate Han said it himself yesterday: from now on, anyone who dares to charge 'transport fees' or 'fire loss' will be beheaded!"

"We've finally caught up with some good days."

"Who says it isn't?"

"Lord Zhang, remove the exorbitant taxes! Why have the people's fields fallen?" A group of naked children ran and sang on the threshing ground, their clear voices startling a flock of sparrows.

The village head, squatting by the wall, listened when he suddenly remembered the county soldier's warning from yesterday: "If you dare to collect 'farmer incentive money' again, we'll stuff you into the empty coffin in the He family's house!" Trembling, he went from house to house to return the money he had in his arms.

Sunset.

"Father! Father!" The young man from the Li family rushed into the courtyard carrying a pottery urn, nearly tripping over the threshold. "I still have half a pint of millet left over from the rations!"

In front of the stove, Li Si's wife was stuffing a blackened wooden plaque into the firebox.

"Oh my god!" Li Si rushed over in a flash. "What are you burning?"

"The He family's longevity tablet." His wife didn't even look up. "They've been making offerings for ten years, and it's been utterly useless."

Li Si paused for a moment, then suddenly burst into laughter, kicking open the window: "Good riddance! Tomorrow we'll get a new wooden plaque and write 'Zhang Gong's Longevity Tablet' on it!"

The sound of the night watchman's clapper could be heard in the distance. Unlike in the past, tonight the yamen runners patrolling the streets stood up straight under the watchful eyes of the county soldiers, and no one dared to go door to door asking for "lighting money".

　The next chapter will be later.

　　
　
(End of this chapter)