I have an endless army of warriors, rampaging across the heavens.

Chapter 84 Open the door! Checking household registration!
But the tree may wish to be still, but the wind will not cease.

Zuo Jing longed for silence and to lie low.

But some people don't want to.

……

Outside of the ten prefectures.

In Jiujiang City.

On this day, Han Yinglong took control of Jiujiang, serving as the Left Vice Minister of the Ministry of War and concurrently the Right Vice Censor-in-Chief of the Censorate, overseeing all military, political, criminal, and civil affairs in Jiujiang. He was tasked with thoroughly investigating the "Underground Society" case and stabilizing the ten prefectures of Jiujiang. The emperor issued a clear order to ensure the stability and peace of Jiujiang, the granary in the heart of the Great Yan, without any mishaps.

Han Yinglong was a renowned minister of the Great Yan Dynasty. He was given a very heavy responsibility, but he was capable and decisive. He accepted the mission in a time of crisis without being arrogant or servile. He held the imperial sword and had the power to execute officials below the third rank without prior approval.

This time, we're about to make a big splash.

Within ten days of his arrival, he quickly clarified the priorities, deciding to focus on the major issues and let go of the minor ones, and to address the root causes—

There are two priorities at present:

"Firstly, many tax collectors in Jiujiang have been assassinated, causing the autumn tax to be delayed. You all say that the gang of thugs who assassinated the tax collectors is an underground society, but I think that there may be some who take advantage of the chaos."

"Secondly, Jiujiang has many unregistered and hidden households, and the tax evasion is alarming. The members of this underground society are either farmers from remote counties or hidden households with no names or identities, which has brought great trouble to the investigation by the Six Doors and the Criminal Investigation Department, and urgently needs to be resolved!"

Han Yinglong grasped the key points and hit the nail on the head.

He looked at the assembled officials and asked, "What advice do you all have for me?"

Upon hearing this, Peng Qifeng, the Right Councilor of the Jiujiang Provincial Administration Office, said loudly, "I have a plan, please listen to it, Your Excellency."

Han Yinglong nodded: "Please speak freely."

Peng Qifeng said, "The two taxes in Jiujiang were originally the responsibility of the county government. The government sent tax collectors to the countryside to collect taxes. To save trouble, many tax collectors would give the task to the local landlords and gentry. The landlords and gentry had been in the countryside for a long time and knew the situation of each household and even many unregistered households very well. They could often collect the full amount of taxes."

Peng Qifeng was clearly well-versed in the autumn tax issue that had recently plagued Jiujiang. He had come prepared and spoke eloquently: "In my humble opinion, rather than continuing to levy more tax collectors and increase casualties, it would be better to formally assign the task of tax collection to the gentry in each county and township, and set tax quotas based on the population and land recorded in the county. If they diligently collect all the taxes, that would be ideal. But if they don't, it's alright, these gentry have considerable wealth and can make up the difference."

That's a real beast!

The officials all turned a sidelong glance at him.

Han Yinglong was also 'amazed' by this plan—

"How can we coerce those highly respected and virtuous landlords and gentry?"

The gentry were deeply entrenched and deeply entrenched.

They've offended them all; do they even want things to be alright?
"Among the landlords and gentry, there are many who are greedy, unscrupulous, and disregard the law. If they take the opportunity to levy taxes and levies arbitrarily, it will not only tarnish the reputation of the imperial court, but also cause suffering to the people. What should we do?"

Where are the good landlords and gentry?

If they dare to delegate power, they will dare to play dirty tricks. I'm afraid the public resentment will boil over and become uncontrollable. If it corrupts all ten prefectures, then Han Yinglong will become a sinner in the history of the Great Yan!

No, no!

This is seriously inappropriate!

Peng Qifeng, however, was confident: "Minister, please rest assured. This move is a diversionary tactic. Ostensibly it's for tax collection, but in reality it's to deal with that underground society."

Han Yinglong pondered for a moment, then his eyes suddenly lit up.

Peng Qifeng laughed and said, "Rumor has it that the underground society is lawless, assassinating tax collectors and resisting taxes. If the tax collection is entrusted to those landlords and gentry, the underground society's targets will naturally shift from tax collectors and the government to those big landlords. And those gentry and landlords are entrenched in their respective areas, with their influence in all aspects being deeply intertwined. How can they be easily provoked? If the underground society does not restrain itself, it will surely have nowhere to hide in Jiujiang."

Wonderful!

This plan kills two birds with one stone: to shift the conflict from the original conflict between the government and the people, and between the government and underground societies, to the ubiquitous landlords and gentry in every county and township.

By the time--

Regardless of which side wins, the government can sit back and relax, easily bringing the matter to a close.

"Wonderful!"

Han Yinglong clapped his hands in praise, and he also saw that Peng Qifeng's plan had a deeper meaning: "The biggest obstacle to checking household registrations and investigating hidden households was originally a group of landlords and gentry. If we don't make them suffer, how can they be willing to cooperate obediently?"

This is not killing two birds with one stone.

This is definitely killing three birds with one stone.

Han Yinglong was overjoyed: "Lord Peng has relieved my worries!" He immediately said: "His Majesty has bestowed upon me the Tiger Tally to control the troops of the three towns and eighteen fortresses within Jiujiang. This household registration census will be scheduled after the autumn tax and will be handled by Lord Peng. If there are any rebels, I will be able to mobilize elite troops to suppress them at any time. In addition, I have already dispatched troops to guard all the key roads within Jiujiang, just waiting for the household registration census to begin. From now on, all travel will require a travel permit."

Crackdown!

it has started!

……

"Open the door!"

"Checking household registration!"

"I know you're home. Don't stay silent, open the door!"

Zuo Jing possessed a bodyguard and saw a group of clerks leading a troop of soldiers breaking into the Zhao residence.

That was one of the wealthiest families in Xiayang City, on par with the Yang family, mainly engaged in the business of cosmetics. Now that their home had been broken into, the leader shouted, "Who's in charge? Get everyone out of the house!"

The head of the Zhao family was named Zhao Debang. He recognized the clerk leading the group, Li Han, a clerk in the household affairs office of Xiayang County, Xiayang City, Xiayang Prefecture.

Zhao Debang gave Li Han a wink: "Secretary Li, may we speak in private for a moment?"

"No borrowing!"

Li Han, with a stern face, said in an official tone: "Let me introduce these three to you, Master Zhao. One is General Han, the governor's personal guard; another is General Zhu, the sentry officer of Wude Town; and the third is Clerk Chen from the prefectural government. This population census is being conducted jointly by the governor's office, Wude Town, the prefectural government, and the county government. I advise you to cooperate honestly!"

Zhao Debang broke out in a cold sweat, wiped the sweat from his forehead, and hurriedly said, "I will definitely cooperate, I will definitely cooperate!"

He hurriedly ordered the steward, "Quickly, bring everyone out here!"

Not long after.

Men and women, masters and servants, crowded the front yard.

Good guy.

There are dozens of people.

That's truly a great family business.

"Oh!"

"Sir! This soldier is groping me!"

The officers and soldiers stepped forward to verify their identities. Don't expect these thugs to be of good character. When they saw the women of this wealthy family, their eyes were already wide open. How could they be polite when they were allowed to touch them?

They practically wanted to shove their hands up the crotch of women!
Zhao Debang's expression changed: "Checking household registration is fine, but doing it like this is inappropriate."

"What nonsense?"

"Who's acting recklessly?"

Li Han's face darkened.

On the other side, Zhu Chong, the sentry officer of Wude Town, said with a gloomy face: "I think this family is very likely harboring underground rebels. Search them thoroughly!"

Zhao Debang's face fell, and he quickly begged for mercy: "Please, General, have mercy! My family has absolutely no connection with the Underworld Society."

Whether it's related or not is none of your business to decide.

Zuo Jing possessed a bodyguard, and this bodyguard was none other than an inconspicuous servant among the Zhao family's servants. He had sold himself into the Zhao family as a servant several months ago, and now he had witnessed all the actions of the clerks and soldiers.

A surge of anger rose within me.

'If they can treat the Zhao family like this, they can treat the Yang family like this too.'

'If he can lay hands on the women of the Zhao family, he can lay hands on the women of the Yang family.'

Zuo Jing's eldest sister lives in Xiayang City, in the Yang family.

these people!
He's courting death!
Zuo Jing thought for a moment, and a level nine assassin arrived alone.

……

(End of this chapter)