Thank you to Yuki for the ko-fi~ ♡⸜(˶˃ ᵕ ˂˶)⸝♡
The scorching sun hung high in the sky, casting intense heat everywhere. Even nestled in the gate tunnel, it was impossible to escape the oppressive sweat. Despite this, Li Lu’er dared not neglect his duty. As a gate guard of Xudu, if he dared to act dishonestly, he might face a light punishment with a military cudgel, and in severe cases, losing his head was a possibility. With the ongoing conflict in Yu County, this place could be considered a frontline, and there was no room for negligence.
Moreover, outside the city, there were so many runaway slaves.
After all, as a city guard, Li Lu’er had very accurate information. Since the new emperor ascended the throne in Luoyang last year, the situation in Yu County has undergone a significant transformation. Besides engaging in several battles with the remnants of the previous dynasty in the south, recent rumors were encouraging those who had been plundered by bandits to escape back to Zhao.
In the turmoil of the past few years in the Central Plains, first, it was the Xiongnu marauding, followed by the passage of marauding troops. Whether it was Si County or Yu County, it was ravaged like a plowed field. With the common people displaced and the added calamity of marauding soldiers, where was the chance for survival? Either they were taken captive or they surrendered to powerful landlords, becoming enslaved.
In chaotic times, there were many such unfortunate people. Even Li Lu’er himself didn’t know how many times he had changed his allegiance. First, he was with Prince Donghai, then General Gou. When the Flying Leopard Wang Mi attacked, the commanders quickly surrendered, shortly after, Li Lu’er switched sides to Shi Le. Up to this day, superiors had changed several times, but he managed to survive and live peacefully until the New Dynasty. Only now did he witness such a scene.
As long as the common people returned to Zhao, they could settle in Si County, or even the nearby Yu County and Yan County. Adult males could receive forty acres of land, while women could get half that amount. The taxes paid were only half of those in the previous dynasty! If one was poor and had nothing, they could also join the military settlements, with the state providing food, seeds, and tools. The harvest obtained was shared in a 4:6 ratio with the government. By cultivating the land in the military settlements for five years, one could obtain a permanent field of twenty acres! This permanent field could be passed down to future generations!
With the issuance of a decree to pacify the people, crowds immediately surged near Xudu. After a series of battles, Great Zhao had driven the Jin forces to Runan, and in some time, the area north of the Huai River might all become part of the national territory! The emperor of Great Zhao was known as a benevolent ruler and compassionate towards the people. His reign was considered destiny. Aligning with Zhao, wouldn’t that be far better than the previous dynasty?
Leaving aside other matters, at least reducing land taxes was much better than the countless abuses by officials and bandits in the past!
Li Lu’er, who had once been a poor peasant, could not ignore the significance of this decree. Watching the bustling crowd, he knew that many were common people coerced into moving, and others were hidden escapees from the aristocrats of Yu County. If they could all settle down peacefully, perhaps they could recreate the prosperity of the era of Taikang… No, now it should be the era of enlightenment!
Seeing officials not far away tirelessly settling the people, even under the scorching sun, it didn’t seem so hard to endure. Li Lu’er wiped the sweat from his forehead, leaned on his wooden spear, stood still, and gazed at the city gate.
Such scenes were not limited to Xuchang alone. From the conquest of Yan County to the still-held Yong County, the flow of people began to reverse. The war-ravaged Central Plains finally showed signs of vitality and population. Among them, the most vibrant was the capital of Zhao, Luoyang.
Since ancient times, only Chang’an and Luoyang could bear the title “Imperial City.” Chang’an was situated north of the Wei River, south of the Qin Mountains, surrounded by eight rivers, commanding the fertile plains of Guanzhong. Controlling this location meant holding the key to the east-west passageway and having a strategic view of the world. Luoyang, despite facing the danger of the Yellow River and having eight city gates, was in the turbulent Central Plains, with Si County and Yu County in constant chaos and a sparse population. Choosing Luoyang as the capital in such turbulent times seemed more like a pragmatic expedient.
Many people with ulterior motives were hoping for the downfall of the self-proclaimed emperor. Unexpectedly, within just a year, the former capital of the previous dynasty, Luoyang, regained its luster.
At the Mengjin ferry crossing, masts crowded the river, and boats followed one after another. Small and large vessels came in fleets along the river, a result of the hard work of tens of thousands of refugees, finally connecting the North to the heartland. Traveling from the newly-built Ji County New Port in Ji County, one could take a boat directly to Luoyang!
At the Qianjin Weir, several massive water wheels worked tirelessly day and night, not only pounding rice and grinding wheat but also producing pulp and smelting iron. Along the riverbanks, workshops stood side by side. The flow of goods seemed to be as abundant as the flowing water, allowing all the caravans coming to Luoyang to return fully loaded.
While the smooth flow of trade brought wealth and popularity, the lifeblood of the state did not lie solely in commerce.
“…Since the beginning of the year, the combined increase of new residents in Yu County and Yan County exceeds 87,000. Among them, there are no fewer than 30,000 runaway slaves who have come from Yong County. If more submit, next year we can add tens of thousands of acres of arable land!”
Beside Shiqian Hall, a new hall had been established, named “Chuigong.” It served as the place where the new emperor handled daily political affairs and met with ministers. Inside Chuigong Hall, the current influential Prime Minister, Duan Qin, spoke confidently.
The number is quite astonishing. You see, Yan County has just been pacified, and the flames of war in Yu County have not yet subsided. Such a “dangerous land” is not a place where common people willingly go. However, a decree came down, changing the difficult situation.
The new emperor issued an edict to pacify the people!
Reducing taxes, equalizing land, and changing the garrison system. For any country, the most crucial factor is always its people. The Central Plains have experienced slaughter, and the people have been displaced. Once-fertile lands lay fallow, and villages fell into silence. To solidify the foundation of the new dynasty, it was necessary to restore cultivated lands, reviving the national tax base. And for that, they needed a population, a large population!
Thus, the edict to pacify the people and equalize land became the first established policy after the new emperor’s ascension. Although the allocated land for the common people seemed less than the previous dynasty’s “land assignment” policy, the required tax payments were reduced by more than half, easing the burden. Additionally, with the increased use of refugees and surrendered prisoners for labor, corvée labor also decreased. In this way, wouldn’t the hearts of the people be swayed?
Not to mention those common people who were coerced by the Jin army or the Xiongnu in the past, even in the remaining aristocratic families in Yu County and Yan County, many hidden servants and slaves escaped, reclassified, and became citizens.
As long as the government did not oppress the common people, who wouldn’t want to live openly as a virtuous family? And this also solved the issue of the Central Plains’ emptiness. With a large number of ownerless uncultivated lands being redistributed, those aristocratic families who had fled south faced countless losses in cultivated lands.
However, this good news did not receive appreciation. On the imperial throne, the emperor frowned slightly, “Are the various forts in Yu County still encroaching on land?”
The emperor, now in his thirties, still had no facial hair. His lower jaw was smooth, and his features were elegant, appearing exceptionally youthful. However, when he spoke, no one dared to underestimate him. His pair of pitch-black eyes were sharp, profound, and penetrating. The majestic aura was indomitable, not to be scrutinized, making people forget about his appearance.
Duan Qin’s voice paused, “Reporting to Your Majesty, there are individuals secretly occupying farmland. However, Yu County has a complex network of fortifications, and to root out these issues, it will take some time…”
While Yong County was still in enemy hands, there were already thirty thousand runaway slaves. Compared to that, the newly added population in Yu County was too small. The fundamental reason lay in the countless forts within its borders. Those influential families living in fortified villages could endure over a decade of turmoil because they could fight! Nearly every family had over a thousand warriors, with some having tens of thousands, enough to form an army! Those powerful clans had at least four or five fortified villages and tens of thousands of clients. Strong and cunning, they could resist for years. Even formidable generals like Shi Le could only make them surrender and couldn’t completely conquer them all.
Now that the Zhao dynasty has occupied several commanderies in Yu County, those fortified villages have become a headache for them. Due to their merits in suppressing bandits, many people were rewarded with official positions, turning the situation in Yu County into a quagmire with progress but nowhere to go.
With a large number of people surrendering, how could these chaotic aristocratic families remain indifferent? Unlike the carefully screened Bing County, Yu County had not undergone such a thorough inspection by Liang Feng. Therefore, after the founding of the new dynasty, Zu Ti, who had made achievements in suppressing bandits, was promoted to the position of Governor of Yu County to stabilize the situation following the army.
Liang Feng naturally understood the intricacies of the situation. Dealing with the struggles of influential families was also one of the significant problems he had to face.
Since the Eastern Han Dynasty, influential families had risen, and the imperial power had been gradually eroded, with various powers grabbing a piece of the pie. It continued until the fourth generation of the Three Excellencies led by the Yuan family rebelled, completely shattering the country. The saying “A country usually perishes when it is weak, but Han alone perished when it was strong” sounds good, but in essence, it was just central decay, and regional separatism reached its peak, eventually leading to downfall.
This chaotic situation, Cao Wei failed to rectify, and the Sima family indulged in it. By today, it was a mess of entangled problems. If the influential families were not handled properly, it would immediately lead to endless internal strife, making it difficult to control. Not to mention conquering them by force, even slightly damaging their interests could trigger a backlash.
The land equalization decree was one such issue. Making those influential families swallow it obediently was not that easy.
But however difficult, it had to be done.
“They’ve already swallowed enough, and they’re still not satisfied?” With a cold snort, Liang Feng said, “Let Zu Ti increase manpower and widely disseminate decrees. Without households, even if they occupy more land, it’s futile. If some disregard the orders, investigate whether they have any connections with the Xiongnu or the Sima family.”
Even with commercial trade, supporting such a large population still required abundant grain production. If the Central Plains’ population could not be quickly restored, the consequences would be unimaginable in the event of natural disasters. Having just established the country, many influential families were still hiding in the South. If progress was not accelerated at this opportunity, it would undoubtedly become more troublesome in a few years.
The last sentence was full of murderous intent.
On the side, Chi Jian immediately said, “Yu County has been in chaos for several years, and there is no shortage of those causing trouble at both ends. Now that the army is outside, acting rashly might lead to unforeseen consequences.”
Although there have been several battles in Yu County, it is not a strategic focal point. You County, a thousand miles away, is the key. The Duan tribe has no intention of surrendering, and Cui Bi in Ping County insists on recognizing the Southern Dynasty as the legitimate successor. Cui Bi has significant connections with the Cui family in Qinghe. If influential families like the Qinghe Cui have ill intentions, it could spell trouble for Ji County. Therefore, after the summer harvest, a force of forty thousand troops mobilized to jointly attack You County with the support of the Tuoba and Murong tribes. The aim is to eliminate remnants in one fell swoop and stabilize the northern frontier.
This battle is particularly crucial, even the General of Chariots and Cavalry, Yiyan, is leading troops into battle. If the influential families in Yu County take advantage of the situation, it could lead to significant trouble.
Before Chi Jian’s words settled, Zhang Bin, the Minister of the Central Secretariat, stepped forward: “What Chancellor Chi said is not wrong. Matters in Yu County are intricate and need to be carefully planned. Governor Zu has always been loyal to the royal cause, never slackening. It might be appropriate to instruct him to submit a memorial and then make further plans.”
This suggestion, rather than being a simple agreement, seemed more like a safeguard for Chi Jian’s words. Chi Jian also came from a prestigious background, and Zhang Bin was well aware of the emperor’s attitude toward noble families. With the pressure of the Northern Expedition and someone being sent to battle, if the emperor, in a fit of anger, acted recklessly, it could pose a problem.
Liang Feng glanced at Zhang Bin and finally nodded, “Fine. For now, let’s prioritize pacifying the people in Yu County.”
Governor Zu was adept at political maneuvering, and with assistance from Xinling, they could temporarily proceed cautiously. After You County’s submission, they could then deal with the chaos.
Seeing that the advice was effective, everyone breathed a sigh of relief and continued reporting on other matters. After another busy hour, the session finally came to an end.
As the courtiers left, Liang Feng retained Zhang Bin. Among the Three Departments, the Ministry of Central Affairs was most favored by the emperor. Zhang Bin, as the Minister of Central Affairs, also enjoyed imperial favor. Since the time at the hidden mansion, Zhang Mengsun had been the emperor’s confidant. Thus, although others might envy him, they dared not speak much.
In the vast Hall of Chuigong, only the sovereign and the minister remained. Tapping his fingers lightly on the desk, Liang Feng suddenly said, “Have you investigated how many people within the court are colluding with the influential families in Yu County?”
