Chapter 85: The People’s Sentiments in the weathered Smile

Wuying Hall.

Liu Changge held a stack of documents and handed them to Shuangxi. Shuangxi gently placed the documents on Zhu Yunwen’s desk, then quietly stepped aside, waiting.

Zhu Yunwen reviewed a memorial, then pointed to another one nearby. He said to Shuangxi, “Deliver these to the office of transmission and inform them that these documents must not be moved.”

“As you command.”

Shuangxi collected the memorials and arranged for them to be sent out of the palace.

Zhu Yunwen went through the intelligence reports brought by the Security Bureau. His expression grew darker as he read. He turned to Liu Changge and said, “The policy to curb land consolidation has not yet been fully implemented, but there are already individuals colluding with the Agricultural Tax Office, Provincial Administration Office, and Inspection Bureau. If this is the way they intend to truly implement it, are they merely saying one thing and doing another? Are they taking me for a fool?”

“Your Majesty, news has leaked, and local officials are finding ways to respond. Some officials and wealthy landowners have begun to return land, but based on reports from places like Southern Zhili and Jiangsu-Zhejiang, the numbers are not significant. Most officials and landowners are choosing to wait and see. Some Gentry, tempted by substantial rewards, have colluded with the Agricultural Tax Office, Provincial administration office, and Inspection Bureau in an attempt to secure their land.”

Liu Changge replied solemnly.

Zhu Yunwen gave a bitter laugh. Indeed, where there’s a policy, there will be countermeasures.

These individuals were willing to spare no expense, knowing that bribing just the Agricultural Tax Office wouldn’t be enough, so they decided to bribe officials from the Provincial administration office and the Inspection Bureau as well.

Waiting and watching?

Let them continue to wait. They’ll have their moment to cry.

On 12^th of February, the Grand Secretariat’s Yu Xin, Zhang Dan, and Xie Jin submitted a joint memorial titled “Policy to Measure Land and Trace Property Origins to Curb Land Consolidation and Contributions.” After Zhu Yunwen approved and stamped it, the decree was officially announced to the entire realm on the 15^th of February.

Countless couriers rushed across the country’s roads on swift horses, carrying the imperial decree.

Changzhou Prefecture, Yixing.

Wu Guang from the County Agricultural Tax Office, Wan Biao from the Administration office, and Meng Zhiyuan from the Inspection Bureau, along with more than sixty members of the land measuring team composed of officials and commoners, received the imperial decree titled “Policy to Measure Land and Trace Property Origins to Curb Land Consolidation and Contributions.”

Under a nearby willow tree, five or six wealthy landowners gathered together. After exchanging glances, smiles emerged on their faces.

“Is everything prepared?”

Zhao Qipin, a retired official for three years, asked casually.

Qian Fushen tightened his belt, his jowls quivering, and said, “Of course. This is the foundation of our livelihoods. How could we easily part with it? It cost us some, but we’ve managed to settle everything.”

Sun Funong cleared his throat and hoarsely said, “After ten years of hard work, with your guidance, we’ve gathered scattered pieces of land. Now that we’ve finally consolidated so much land, how can we just give it back to those penniless peasants? Up above, they’re still too young.”

“Be careful with your words; we mustn’t talk lightly about matters above.”

Li Fushang cautioned, looking around cautiously. He then lowered his voice and said, “Stick to the plan. We can’t let those tenant farmers get away. Otherwise, we’ll be in big trouble.”

“Ha, don’t worry. The tenant farmers are all waiting in the prefectural office. They’ve heard about rewards today, so they won’t dare to leave their homes. Furthermore, they won’t know about the land measurement today. As long as we get through the next couple of days, we’ll be safe and sound.”

Zhao Qipin said confidently.

Qian Fushen squinted his eyes and reminded, “Shh, they’re coming.”

The wealthy landowners ceased their conversation.

Wu Guang, Wan Biao, and Meng Zhiyuan let their team wait in place and walked toward the wealthy landowners.

Zhao Qipin was the first to step forward, bowing and saying, “Gentlemen, you’ve worked hard. I wonder when the land measurement will begin. We could prepare some tea to offer as refreshment.”

Wu Guang’s face was stern. He took out a weighty money pouch from his sleeve and threw it to Zhao Qipin. Wan Biao and Meng Zhiyuan also pulled out money pouches and handed them to the landowners.

“What is the meaning of this?”

Zhao Qipin was flustered.

Wu Guang spoke in a deep voice, “By imperial decree, we have been reassigned to oversee land measurements in Changxing County, Huzhou. We are no longer responsible for Yixing. The land measurement in Yixing will now be conducted by officials from Changxing. They will take over.”

“Ah?”

The wealthy landowners turned pale instantly, filled with fear.

This took several days, wining and dining, just when we’ve established good connections, and now you’re changing places?

Can the newcomers be as greedy as you are?

What if there’s one who isn’t greedy? Won’t our plans fall apart?

Meng Zhiyuan looked at these wealthy landowners and cautioned, “Don’t even think about bribing officials from the Agricultural Tax Office, provincial Administration office, or Inspection Bureau anymore. The court has announced that a hundred top-quality land measurement teams will be selected from across the nation. They will not only enjoy the honor of being among the first to bear the national emblem of Ming, but their names will also be inscribed on a monument outside the palace gates. This concerns matters for generations to come, and no one will give up on it. Take care of yourselves!”

After speaking, the three officials turned and left. They left one person to manage the land measurement team and coordinate with the incoming officials from Changxing. The rest of the team mounted horses and headed straight for Changxing.

The wealthy landowners were left with no way out. They stumbled back to their homes and began returning the land. They couldn’t afford to waste any more time.

Although the tenant farmers couldn’t read, they still sensed that something unusual was happening. In the past, these landowners either barged in forcibly confiscated their remaining grain or even whipped them. Even when they were sick, they had to go work in the fields.

Had there ever been a day when they smiled at them and even offered land contracts?

The tenant farmers found it hard to believe. Who knew if anyone dared to reach out, they might be taken away and fed to the dogs.

The wealthy landowners tried to hand the land contracts to each person’s embrace, but the contracts fell to the ground, and no one dared to pick them up.

“Please take them back and go home. Isn’t that enough?!”

“Someone, give each of them one tael of silver and let them take the land contracts!”

“Master, these land contracts are useless to them…”

“What?”

“These land contracts are under your name, Master.”

“Then quickly have someone write new land contracts! Go fetch the official Wang from the government office!”

“But, Master, according to the new court regulations, land transactions must be managed by the Agricultural Tax Office, supervised by the Inspection Bureau, and reported to the Provincial administration office. The officials from the Agricultural Tax Office have already left…”

“Something’s not right, Master fainted.”

After arriving in Yixing, Hu Jun wasted no time. After discussing with Yang Chengxuan, the office manager, and Wang Wenfeng from the Inspection Bureau, he divided the land measurement team into three groups and began measuring the land on the same day.

In just ten days, they measured forty thousand mu of land. Among them, three wealthy landowners compensated tenant farmers with as much as five thousand taels each. One landowner compensated three thousand taels, there was no more wealth left to compensate.

Hu Jun didn’t give the Landowner a hard time. He priced their remaining land, turning it into silver, and transferred it to the tenant farmers. If it wasn’t enough compensation, then their remaining property would be sold off.

Even if they had to exhaust their wealth, there was no need to hurry. First, see how many family members they had. If there were ten people, no problem. The eighty mu of land over there would be theirs. The county office would provide them with oxen, seeds, farming tools, and basic provisions.

Work diligently, 1/15 tax rate, not like the two-tax-one you were used to. Just work for a year, and your family’s food problem will be solved.

The self-sufficient farmers who gained land and freedom, voluntarily brought eggs, food, and even a very old man who slaughtered their only remaining hen, personally bringing it to the Agricultural Tax Office and the Inspection Bureau.

Hu Jun ate an egg and took a sip of chicken soup. The old man smiled happily, while tears streamed down the faces of the officials from the Agricultural Tax Office.

The people’s sentiment, this is the people’s sentiment!

The people’s sentiment is in this egg, in this chicken soup, in the weathered smiles of this old man and the elderly farmer!

Choked up, Hu Jun turned around, picked up a brush, and wrote: “I, Hu Jun, bow deeply in Yixing. As national policies are implemented, the people’s sentiment is harmonious. At this moment, I finally comprehend that while obtaining land is easy, winning people’s hearts is difficult…”

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