Chapter 4635 Sharpening the knife
Duan Baoyuan still shook his head: "These are all leftover problems caused by the troubled times in the late Sui Dynasty. It cannot be explained clearly in a few words. I wonder if each family's land has been cultivated for decades and they are measured rashly. Who can be convinced? This matter is not for the governor. It’s not okay to take the lead.”
These words are really not a threat to anyone. For such a big event, without Pei Huaijie, the "spokesperson" of the famous families, there will definitely be resistance. It will be difficult to measure the fields of these famous families.
Especially because of the salt pond in Hedong, the Luoyang family is also complaining. The anger over the loss of profits in the salt pond has not yet subsided, and the fields of various families have begun to be measured. Do you really think that the Luoyang family is just a fool?
Xu Jingzong asked curiously: "Isn't the land in the whole world the royal land? Doesn't the land in Luoyang belong to the Tang Dynasty? Is the land on the shore of the land not the royal ministers? Aren't the aristocratic families in Luoyang the subjects of the Tang Dynasty? Why do you know that the land around Luoyang has been annexed and enclosed? Occupy, the center wants to measure but cannot get it? ”
Duan Baoyuan spread his hands: "If you tell me this, there is nothing I can do."
Xu Jingzong sneered and said: "Isn't it just that the law is not punishable? I want to see who dares to risk the world's disapproval!"
He looked at Jia Dunyi and asked, "I want to measure acres from around Luoyang. What does Jia Prefect think?"
Jia Dunyi was not in the same group as Pei Huaijie, Duan Baoyuan and others. He nodded and said: "Xiaguan will ask people to prepare land account books and personally take people to various places to cooperate with measurement. However, Xiaguan people are very gentle. If there is resistance, they may not be able to push forward forcefully. ”
Although he has an outstanding reputation, in the final analysis he is just the governor of a state and cannot overpower those noble families.
Ashina Zhong said decisively: "I will lead the Luoyang garrison to follow up. Anyone who dares to resist or even cause trouble will be arrested! Anyway, several big bosses of the 'Sanfa Division' are in Yanchi, east of the river. You can ask for support and try them nearby."< br>
He is not afraid of offending people, so why would an inner Hu Jiang want so much popularity? Being wholeheartedly loyal to His Majesty and implementing His Majesty's will is the foundation of his life.
Li Tai made the final decision: "Every government office is ready to start measuring the acres in Yanshi in three days."
"Here."
……
Duan Baoyuan hurried back to the Henan government office and saw Pei Huaijie in regular clothes drinking tea in the official mansion. He said with a worried look: "Xu Jingzong has decided to start measuring the acres in three days. Since Yanshi, my efforts to persuade him are useless."
Pei Huaijie poured him a cup of tea from the pot and put it in front of him, thinking thoughtfully: "Master Yan, this place is well chosen."
In the fourth year of Wude, the General Administration Office of Luozhou was established in Luoyang, with jurisdiction over nine prefectures including Luo, Zheng, Xiong, Gu, Song, Guan, Yi, Ru, and Lu. Among them, Luozhou administered Luoyang, Henan, Yanshi, Fengshi, Gong, Nine counties including Yangcheng, Songyang, Luhun and Yique.
Yanshi is located thirty miles east of Luoyang and is a tributary of Luoyang.
Seventy-eight percent of the land in Yanshi belongs to the Yu family in Luoyang. The head of the Yu family in Luoyang is none other than the current imperial master, Shangshu Zuopushe, and the Duke of Yan State Yu Zhining...
The Yu family in Luoyang is also a member of the Guanlong clan. They are of Xianbei descent and have settled in Luoyang for several generations. They are deeply rooted and powerful. The land they belong to is crisscrossed and covers an area of tens of thousands of hectares. Among them, there are countless acres of land that are not on the account books. Most of them are It has been obtained through clever plunder and plunder over the years. Once measured, there is nothing to hide.
But facing a behemoth like Zhining with infinite merit, qualifications, and reputation, I wonder if Xu Jingzong can persevere to the end?
Duan Baoyuan said: "Should we inform the surrounding aristocratic families in Luoyang in advance so that everyone can prepare in advance?"
Pei Huaijie asked: "What do you want to do? Collude in private and resist the imperial edict?"
"But if we can't unify in advance, if we can't advance and retreat at the same time, wouldn't we be in chaos?"
This time to measure the acres, the central government came with a huge force. If some families could not withstand it and died out, wouldn't it cause the Luoyang family to split from within? If the family members cannot unite to resist the central government, they may be left to their own devices.
Pei Huaijie put down his tea cup and said: "Even if you go out to contact various families at this time, I'm afraid no one will meet you. Xu Jingzong's measurement of acres is a great trend and justifiable. To fight against it is to boycott the central government, boycott His Majesty, and give people the truth. There are some things that cannot be said. I think everyone understands this. ”
Duan Baoyuan was stunned.
Although it is impossible for each family to be willing to have the court measure the acres of land, they openly support it. However, they must have means to prevent it, but they will never be superficial and give the imperial censors in the court a chance to impeach.
Although the Luoyang family was not directly involved in the management of the Hedong Salt Pond, they made a large profit every year. Now that the Salt Pond was forcibly taken over by Fang Jun, the interests of each family suffered a great loss. This was the time when the anger was overwhelming, and Xu Jingzong was forced to measure the acres of land. , the anger is very likely to burst out in a concentrated manner.
No one dares to rebel, but it is very possible to resist with a strong stance.
Thinking of this, Duan Baoyuan became worried: "Luoyang now is like a huge oil pan. If a drop of water falls into it, it will explode, and our bodies, including ours, may be blown away. It is extremely dangerous."
Luoyang is the eastern capital, the center of the "Land of Three Rivers". The interests of all parties converge here, and even affect half of the Tang Dynasty. If Luoyang is unstable, Hedong, Henan, Shandong and other places will be unstable. Luoyang was chosen as the center In his opinion, criticizing a wealthy family is not a good idea. Success will get twice the result with half the effort, but once it fails, the consequences will be disastrous.
Pei Huaijie sighed and agreed: "Yes, Your Majesty is too eager."
"Suppressing the powerful families" was a national policy formulated by Emperor Taizong, and His Majesty is still following it now. There is nothing wrong with this. The powerful families themselves can also realize the harm that their own growth brings to the country. Although they are unwilling to do so, if the central government is in a certain position, To this extent, the power of the gate valve is suppressed and weakened, and the gate valve can accept it.
But as soon as the King of Jin's rebellion was suppressed over there, Fang Jun used thunderous means to forcefully take over the Hedong Salt Pond, cutting off the family's financial resources in one fell swoop. Then he asked Xu Jingzong to measure the acres of land, sharpening his sword to directly target the inheritance that the family relied on. The foundation has no buffer at all, how can it not send chills down the spines of the family members?
No one wants to sit back and die, and a fierce struggle will definitely ensue.
The eyes of all the clans in the world are focused on Henan and Luoyang, and they are all watching how the situation in Hedong and Luoyang will end. Everyone must be secretly giving all kinds of help, hoping to get the clans in Hedong and Luoyang to stand up against the center.
If not, everyone is prepared and can accept greater losses.
If successful, they can continue to develop strength and accumulate foundations in various places to compete with the center.
"This is a war between the center and the clan. Neither side can accept defeat."
Pei Huaijie sighed deeply, but it was a pity that he, the second-largest border official in the world, had not officially entered the stage in this magnificent war, but was sidelined by villains with extremely despicable frame-ups. He was really depressed.
*****
The feedback from Hedong Family came faster than Fang Jun expected. Xue Mai had already set off from Fenyin and arrived at Yanchi in Hedong to meet Fang Jun.
After getting off the bus outside the Yanchi, Xue Mai walked to Guansha surrounded by a group of disciples. Along the way, he saw well-manned navy, busy technicians, and civilians going back and forth. Although the entire Yanchi has not yet resumed production, it has A prosperous scene has emerged.
Xue Mai then said to the people around him: "Even without us, the salt pond will resume production within ten days. I heard that the Duke of Yue has a new method of making salt, and I think the production will also increase. Now it is not that we cooperate with the Duke of Yue, but The Duke of Yue is giving us a chance.”
The children of the Xue family kept silent, but they made no secret of their dissatisfaction.
After all, this is the Hedong Salt Pond that the Hedong family relies on for their survival. It means huge wealth and influence. How can you be willing to give it up now?
Xue Mai naturally understood the reluctance of his children, but he didn't say much, just shook his head and sighed.
What made the children of the Xue family even more dissatisfied was that Fang Jun did not come out to greet them at all. Instead, he waited at the official residence and then went out to meet Xue Mai and his entourage after they arrived...
Waving his hand and leaving all the children in the family outside the door, Xue Mai followed Fang Jun into the official mansion alone.
After they sat down separately, Fang Jun made tea himself and said with a smile: "Now that I have become a villain in the eyes of the Hedong family, I think the children of this noble family would like to eat my flesh and drink my blood to satisfy their hatred."
Xue Mai knelt down and sat on the table by the window. He reached for the tea and took a sip. He sighed and said, "My descendants are unworthy, stupid and naughty. Compared with you, Duke of Yue, I really can't stand up to you. I'm afraid that after I die, my family will The disciples will remain dormant and fall into the mortal world.”
Fang Jun was holding a tea cup and drinking water. Hearing this, he smiled and said: "The Xue family in Fenyin has a good academic background and is strict in running the family. Many of their children are diligent in studying. The age when imperial examinations became popular was when the children of the Xue family came out on top. You The eldest brother can live a long life, but the good days of the Xue family are yet to come.”
Since Xue Mai came in person and condescended to Yu Zun, it meant that the other party agreed to his conditions and exchanged the imperial examination for the ownership of the salt pond in Hedong, and in a sense supported the central government's policy of "suppressing the clans".
Those who understand current affairs are heroes, and Xue Mai is courageous.
Xue Mai narrowed his eyes with a smile and said slowly: "I am old and can't live for a few days, but I still have to worry about the future of my children and grandchildren. So don't use those general words to prevaricate me, give me a specific Quota, let me die in peace.”
Fang Jun was a little embarrassed: "This kind of thing can only be agreed upon in private, how can it be made public? Once it is leaked, the imperial examination will become a laughing stock, which is extremely unwise."
Xue Mai shook his head and refused to give in: "I trust Duke Yue's integrity and character. All I need is a promise. Who will make a fuss about the promise?"
Xue of Fenyin promised to take the imperial examination in exchange for the loss of the salt pond in Hedong, but he could not just say "preferential treatment during the imperial examination". He wanted a specific quota, specific to how many years in the future there would be. No matter how many Xue children get what kind of rankings, even if they can't sign and pledge, they still need Fang Jun's personal commitment. (End of chapter)