Chapter 104: Zhang Bing Treats, Playing the Relationship Card

Beiping Prefecture, Commander’s office.

Ping An had been feeling quite irritable lately. He couldn’t eat or sleep properly, and every day, he walked around the Commander’s Office with dark circles under his eyes.

Sheng Yong didn’t like pacing around, so every day when the city gates opened, he would bring a small stool and sit by the city gates, his eyes fixed on the road ahead, hoping that the imperial messenger would arrive soon with news.

The fate of the new army policy, how could they be not anxious?

Soldiers could wait for the court’s decisions, but the crops in the garrison’s lands couldn’t wait.

Although Ping An had obtained some money from Zhang Bing and entrusted various garrisons to coordinate irrigation without missing a single field, it was only a temporary relief. Their worries would return sooner or later.

Zhang Jing looked at the dejected Sheng Yong, who had returned with his small stool, and then at Ping An, who sat under the tree without any commandant demeanor. He sighed and said, “Selling the garrison lands is already a risky move. The court will surely be in turmoil over it. To reach a conclusion, it will take at least half a month, and considering the travel time, we won’t have news until the end of March at the earliest.”

“I’m worried about the outcome!” Ping An stood up, his face showing deep concern.

Sheng Yong watched the setting sun in silence.

While selling the garrison’s land was the most viable option at the moment, once implemented, the military settlement system would cease to exist.

Without the support of garrisoned land, the military settlement system would collapse. The abolition of military settlement system would harm the interests of garrison officers, and would they accept it?

What would become of the soldiers?

Could the soldier household system be broken?

A series of problems were like entangled ropes, tying the court’s hands and feet.

Sheng Yong could imagine that the court not only wouldn’t agree, but would also issue orders to punish him, Ping An, and Zhang Bing. After all, such actions would undermine the foundation of the military settlement system.

Zhang Bing sighed and, seeing that these two were not planning to stay for dinner, prepared to leave. But before he reached the door, he heard the sound of hurried horse hooves, accompanied by a loud voice shouting, “Eight hundred mile urgent report!”

Ping An and Sheng Yong, who had been motionless, jumped to their feet as if electrified. They rushed to Zhang Bing’s side, their eyes fixed on the court messenger.

The messenger was not an ordinary postal courier but a member of the Great Ming Security Bureau dressed in a red robe.

“Zhang Bing, Commissioner of Beiping, Commandant office’s commander Ping An and Sheng Yong, receive the imperial decree!”

Zhang Bing, Ping An, and Sheng Yong all quickly knelt down, and the people in the Commandant’s Office also knelt.

The messenger unfolded the imperial decree and began to read, “By the grace of Heaven, the Emperor decrees: The new army policy is the foundation of a strong military and a strong nation, and it must not be neglected for a single day… Beiping Prefecture shall be the first to implement these measures, abolishing the garrisons, and selling garrison land. All soldiers shall have the freedom to choose based on their own will and physical fitness. The best will be incorporated into the Beiping Garrison, while the rest will be changed to civilian households, craftsman household, and sent back to their hometowns…”

“Supervise the buying and selling of garrisoned land, clarify the sources of the land, and record all transactions in the registers. Tax them according to the new commercial land tax laws… Land that is deemed unsuitable for farming will be returned to forests and wetlands as state property…”

Ping An was overwhelmed with excitement. The Emperor not only approved the buying and selling garrison’s land but also boldly abolished many garrisons in Beiping prefecture and its surrounding areas.

This meant that he could continue to implement the new army policy and select the most elite soldiers while eliminating the weak.

As a military man, who wouldn’t want all their soldiers to be elite?

Zhang Bing took a deep breath, and his excitement was difficult to contain.

He had received approval!

The Emperor had actually agreed!

Zhang Bing couldn’t fathom how the Emperor had made such a swift decision, but he was well aware that the Emperor had bestowed upon him immense trust and honor.

If the sale of the garrison’s lands proceeded smoothly, if the garrison system was abolished, and if the New Army policy was unobstructed, then his and Ping An’s names would be engraved in the annals of history.

“I’ll immediately summon the prominent gentry of Beiping Prefecture,” Zhang Bing said after receiving the imperial decree and bidding farewell to the imperial courier.

Ping An nodded solemnly. “Please do.”

Zhang Bing nodded back with gravity. Since the court had granted the policy and permission, he needed to ensure that everything was executed properly.

The Prefectural administration office was hosting a banquet, and the gentry of Beiping prefecture couldn’t avoid it. They arrived feeling somewhat uneasy.

What surprised these guests was that Prefectural Commissioner Zhang Bing had indeed organized a banquet.

The food was fragrant, and while it wasn’t extravagant, it was still delicious.

When most of the guests had arrived, Zhang Bing stood up, cleared his throat, and said, “This banquet is worth two hundred taels of silver. I, as the Prefectural commissioner, cannot afford to pay for it entirely. Therefore, before you leave the banquet, kindly contribute some silver.”

The gentry were dumbfounded, looking at each other in astonishment.

What did he mean?

You sent the invitations, you arranged the banquet, and now, before we even start eating, you want us to pay for it?

They had never encountered such a shameless Prefectural commissioner

“Ah, commissioner, our Liang family, in response to the court’s national policy, has suffered a loss of five thousand taels of silver. We don’t have any spare money now. Why don’t we just cancel the banquet? You can say whatever you have to say directly,” said Liang Jun, a wealthy gentry in his sixties, who had twelve cloth businesses in Beiping prefecture alone.

With their business growing, it was natural for them to buy land. Although they had all signed land deeds, the prices stated in those deeds were actually quite low, not even reaching one of silver per mu of land.

Normally, this would have been a great advantage for them, but under the policy of land curbing, it was now a matter of life and death.

At a single glance, Zhang Bing could see through the deception. He then dispatched people to investigate, discovering that the lands they had purchased were top-quality fertile fields. The price for an acre of land, as per the land deeds, should have ranged from eight to twenty taels of silver, and it won’t be less than five taels.

But the actual price they paid for one acre was less than one tael. It was clear that they were extorting by trick.

Under the national policy, the Liang family had to give up a large portion of their land and suffered a heavy loss of over five thousand taels of silver. It was indeed a significant financial setback for them.

“Elder Liang is right. This feast is unclear, and we won’t partake!” protested Wu Hui, another gentry who had also been cut deep.

Others joined in the commotion, displaying signs of leaving the banquet altogether.

Zhang Bing smiled at their reactions, his gaze shifting from person to person before settling on Liang Jun. He calmly said, “The national policy is being implemented, and every piece of land in Great Ming is being properly regulated. If any of you bear grudges against me, Zhang Bing, I have no objections.”

“If any of you wish to leave, you can do so now. However, once you leave this door, you will have no part in the garrison’s land trade, nor will you enjoy the benefits of low taxation. If you want to leave, go ahead!”

Liang Jun and the other gentry were taken aback.

Wu Hui couldn’t believe his ears and cautiously asked, “Commissioner Zhang, what did you just say? Garrison’s land trade and low taxation?”

Zhang Jing smiled calmly and continued to drink on his own.

Wu Hui looked at Liang Jun, and Liang Jun looked back at Wu Hui. Other people also began to discuss the matter, creating a buzz of conversation.

Liang Jun waved his hand, and the others quieted down. He looked at Zhang Bing and asked with seriousness, “Are you trying to amuse us? Selling the garrison’s fields? Those fields belong to the garrison soldiers, how could they be sold?”

Zhang Bing carefully picked out a fish bone, took a bite, chewed, and swallowed before speaking slowly, “What’s the matter? No one’s leaving? If no one leaves, then you’ll have to pay for this meal.”

“I’ll cover 200 taels! Please, explain it clearly!” eagerly shouted Wu Hui.

Zhang Jing smiled satisfactorily, revealing his pearly white teeth. He took a sip of wine and said, “I understand that while the national policy benefits the common people, it may harm the gentry. Both the gentry and the common people are citizens of our Great Ming, and they should be treated well. However, the national policy is based on the long-term prosperity of the Great Ming and serves as its foundation for a glorious era. It is something that must be done…”

Zhang Bing’s words moved these wealthy gentry who had suffered losses, and they couldn’t help but shed tears. They secretly sighed and thought Commisioner Zhang is indeed a good man…

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