Chapter 19: Military Affairs and Tax Collection

Wen Yunhe struggled to recall the events depicted in the book. Pingyang Pass in Jingshan County was the gateway between the Great Shun Dynasty and the Yu Kingdom.

Their current location was in Changshan County, directly adjacent to Jingshan County, specifically under the jurisdiction of Danyang County in the eastern Lai Prefecture. Although they were quite a distance from the border, the situation was still perilous.

The Yu Kingdom had a strong and valiant army but lacked resources. They had long coveted Jingshan County and Changshan County to expand their territory and use them as their backyard.

The Yu troops were constantly provoking hostilities, with flames of war never truly dimmed. Recently, they had been testing the waters, and a major battle seemed imminent.

The court’s decision to raise taxes and conscript soldiers was merely the beginning; life was only going to become increasingly difficult in the days to come.

Around this time, a significant event shook the Great Shun Dynasty: the emperor fell ill, and the crown prince attempted a rebellion, even breaking into the imperial palace. The search of his residence yielded a dragon robe.

The crown prince was found guilty and committed suicide in prison.

With turmoil both inside and outside the Great Shun, the Yu Kingdom prepared to seize this opportunity to attack Pingyang Pass aggressively.

Consequently, the sudden tax increases by the court served two purposes: to gather grain and supplies and to ramp up the conscription drastically in anticipation of the coming conflict.

These were military secrets, not widely known yet, so the common people remained unaware; in reality, chaos had already unfolded at Pingyang Pass.

In the book, He Mingzhang took the opportunity of this turmoil to fake his own death and infiltrate the enemy camp. He subsequently burned the enemy’s stored grain and gained recognition for his contributions, catching the attention of the general and being promoted to a sixth-rank lieutenant.

Later, the commander at Pingyang Pass died unexpectedly, leaving the military in disarray, and the former general went missing without a trace.

He Mingzhang showcased remarkable talent in leading troops and, alongside other lieutenants, successfully repelled multiple assaults from the Yu Kingdom, defending the front lines.

As the vanguard, He Mingzhang led his forces fiercely, impressing the newly assigned general with his prowess and quickly rising to the rank of general, a fifth-rank position.

The previous commander of Pingyang was the sixth prince, Yuan Ruo, who had trained in martial arts from a young age, mastering a remarkable set of skills and studying military tactics. He displayed both bravery and wisdom, leading troops into battle at just fourteen years of age—formidable and fearless.

In battle, Yuan Ruo acted like a fierce tiger descending a mountain, charging into the fray, instilling dread in enemy troops.

His strategic deployments and ingenious tactics often led to victories against seemingly insurmountable odds, always maintaining his composure and calm regardless of perilous situations, showcasing an exceptional blend of intellect and valor.

At merely eighteen years of age, he was named the Wolf Appointing General, leading the Pingyang Army.

During his four-year tenure, he successfully repelled the Yu army on numerous occasions, instilling terror in their hearts.

Once, the Yu Kingdom even risked everything in an attempt to win but came up empty-handed, further solidifying Yuan Ruo’s reputation as an invincible warrior and protector in the eyes of the common people.

It was hard to imagine that such a valiant young general’s life would come to an end at merely twenty-two—truly a poignant tale.

Upon learning of his sudden death, the entire Pingyang Army and the populace of Jingshan County dressed in white as a sign of mourning, illustrating the profound impact he had made.

When Wen Yunhe first read this in the book, she felt a sense of loss; it seemed the authors had intentionally paved the way for He Mingzhang’s rise to prominence.

If the illustrious Wolf Appointing General hadn’t died, how could He Mingzhang have emerged?

He Mingzhang’s success was certainly a product of his times.

The Pingyang army had only recognized the Wolf Appointing General; the newly appointed general, eager to establish his own faction quickly, could only appoint newcomers and suppress the veteran loyalists of the Wolf Appointing General.

Thus, He Mingzhang’s rapid rise to prominence was facilitated.

However, in the end, they couldn’t hold Pingyang Pass. The war lasted two years, depleting both nations’ resources.

Especially for the Great Shun Dynasty, with the emperor’s death and the new emperor’s ascension, the nation was struggling to rebuild. They were unwilling to expend more energy and resources on another war.

Consequently, the Great Shun proactively sought peace, offering to cede Jingshan County to the Yu Kingdom in exchange for a lasting truce.

In return, the Yu Kingdom agreed to pay annual tributes to the Great Shun.

Thus, the war subsided, securing several decades of peace.

Of course, the book focused mainly on the romance between He Mingzhang and the county princess, giving little detail to the border war.

Wen Yunhe felt that such a land concession could never yield lasting peace; it only invited future troubles.

However, as an ordinary commoner, her role was just to watch the unfolding drama.

The war had already begun in earnest, and the court’s reactions were telling, though most people remained oblivious to the gravity of the situation.

Wen Yunhe knew her time was running short.

Before long, food and other essentials would become hard to come by, and people would likely leave their homes in search of a living.

However, she could not directly tell her younger brother that she had crossed over from another time and knew their fate.

She had to approach it gradually.

Once back home, the siblings relayed the village head’s announcement to their family.

The atmosphere was filled with worry, and the frowns were deep.

“Our family has three mu of land, which means we’ll need to pay one stone and eight dou in taxes, leaving us with seven stones and two dou of rice. We should hold back two stones for ourselves and sell the rest,” Mother Wen said with a weary voice, clearly troubled.

According to Danyang County’s grain pricing, one stone of rice was worth 400 wen, which meant five stones would yield only two taels of silver.

Once they paid the one tael of substitute tax, the family had just one tael left.

Times were indeed challenging.

How would they afford Wen Qing’s education and exam fees going forward?

In the past, when their father was alive, the family could make a living selling pottery, but now they were left relying on meager harvests from their fields.

Wen Yunhe was about to speak when Wen Qing spoke up first.

“Mother, I don’t agree with selling grain right now.

The land tax has risen without any reason, and now that the military conscription starts early and the substitute tax has increased so much, it indicates the court might have significant plans ahead. If anything happens, having grain on hand will be vital for our survival.”

Wen Qing had already picked up on some of the ominous signs but, fearing to frighten his family, he only hinted at his concerns.

Wen Yunhe didn’t expect her brother to be so politically aware; after all, he was a scholar, and it was essential to understand current events.

This worked out well for her; she didn’t need to elaborate any further.

“I think what you said makes sense, Qing. Let’s hold off for now and observe the situation,” Wen Yunhe added.

Mother Wen, being traditional and having accepted her husband’s death, was easily swayed by their reasoning.

However, the taxes still had to be settled.

The three siblings carried their grain to the drying yard to pay the land tax, and they also had to pay the substitute tax, which totaled one tael of silver—an expense that pained Wen Yunhe immensely.

“This ridiculous Great Shun Dynasty is going too far! Military conscription every three years, and now they want it a year earlier! All the hard-earned money goes straight to the officials.”

How she longed for her homeland, where life had been simpler.

Aunt Hua’s family came to pay taxes as well. Looking at her face, it seemed she had been crying; her eyes were slightly red and puffy.

Daniu trailed silently behind her, carrying grain, while a young woman beside them, presumably his wife, showed off a small baby bump but wasn’t carrying anything.

One tael of silver could stump even the bravest bandits. For a peasant family, how much grain would they need to sell to come up with that amount?

The atmosphere in the area was heavy with despair.

Many others nearby were arguing and crying out.

“The grain I just gathered is only enough for one tael of silver. Go ahead and take my life too!”

“How can we come up with a tael of silver from our home?”

“You heartless bastards! This is a matter of life and death for us!”

The village head remained unyielding, retorting sharply, “You have two sons; if you don’t want to pay the silver, just send one to serve in the military! What are you making so much noise for?”

Both sons clung to their mother, pleading, “Mother, I don’t want to go serve!”

Whether it was for labor or military service, it wasn’t a desirable fate. There were no guarantees of return, and many who went off might never come back.