Chapter 523 Use heavy sanctions in troubled times! (5k)
Zhao Duan got up, threw down the fat goose that had eaten most of the time, washed his hands in the pool water, and walked towards the yard where the Lu family mansion was hosting a banquet.
The reason why he had a meal here in the afternoon was to be strong in doing things at night.
Sun Xiaozhun hurriedly followed and said in fear: "The governor must think that these gentry can beat them, but if they do it too ruthlessly, I'm afraid..."
Zhao Duan smiled and asked back, "What are you afraid of? They dare to surrender to the enemy?"
Sun Xiaozhun said with a wry smile:
"The governor was joking, but at this critical moment, it is not enough to rely solely on the government to maintain stability in the entire front line, and it has to rely on these people to contribute."
Why were the gentry in the places so powerful and domineering in the context of the ancient feudal dynasty? In the final analysis, the imperial court has poor grassroots mobilization capabilities.
The so-called "imperial power does not go to the countryside" is not possible under the existing conditions, so as to be instructed by the grassroots. If many specific matters are to be implemented, they must rely on the cooperation of these gentry.
This is also the reason why Sun Xiaojun, a fourth-rank prefect, gave in to the Lu family when it comes to collecting grain.
Zhao Du'an's face facing the sunset, and was reflected in particular red.
He was silent and said:
"I know that any change must take into account the times. If you take too much steps, all your ideas will only become castles in the air. So I don't plan to really put aside the gentry, but gentry can exist, but who will do this gentry has room for maneuver.
Do you know, what have you done in the capital court in the past few years since His Majesty ascended the throne? Just two words, "blood exchange"!
Step by step, letting the old ministers abdicate and supporting new officials to the throne is like slowly replacing the 600-year-old dynasty in order to regain vitality, abolish the old cabinet, and establishing a Xiuwenguan are the top priority!
Including since the implementation of the new policy, local officials have also been laid off and replaced. You must have seen all these prefects in your eyes.
But this is just the beginning.
Not only the officials from the government and the country have to change their blood, but also the gentry in the local area have to change them, so the imperial merchants in Huting...
Today, I am not only asking for food for tens of thousands of Beijing soldiers in the city to raise military expenses to suppress the rebellion, but also to take the opportunity to change their blood...
Your Majesty changes the blood of the court, and I will change the blood of the gentry. "
After saying this, Sun Xiaozhun was completely stunned. His blood was inexplicably turbulent, and his heart was surging.
He suddenly understood that Governor Zhao was willing to say these words to him, one was to affirm his ability and show his respect for him.
The second was to tell him the real purpose of dealing with these gentry so that he, the prefect, could cooperate.
"The official... I understand! ”
"Just understand," Zhao Duan smiled. He liked to talk to smart people. After walking a few steps, he suddenly remembered something: "By the way, you can also give me a clear idea and tell me what illegal and irregular cases are there in the gentry in the city. Don't tell me you don't know."
...
...
...
On the other side, with the setting sun, the entire Lu Mansion became lively.
A famous maid from the courtyard shuttled back and forth and arranged a banquet.
The gentry with identities in the city who received "invitations" outside the mansion also arrived one after another.
Red lanterns were hung under the eaves. Looking at the scene inside the lively mansion, I could not imagine that outside was the front line of war between the two armies.
However, Old Lady Lu was not among the crowd. At this moment, the most famous celebrity in the city met with several other gentry in the secluded side hall in the mansion. "Old lady, please tell me what is the truth. This King of Yan Zhao will gather us all tonight. What does it mean?"
Qian Manwai from Datong Money House asked.
He is rich in figure, but now he is not as calm as before. "Yes, Taicang is the territory we are waiting for. We should deal with it together." Li Dadongjia, who is from Kangzhuang Rice Station, also frowned.
Old Lady Lu sat upright in the main seat and was powerful without anger.
There was no cusp in front of Zhao Duan at all.
At this time, his face was dark and he glanced at everyone and said, "Governor Zhao came this time to raise military expenses and military rations. Now tens of thousands of troops have entered the city. Next, we will suppress the rebellion. You can imagine the consumption.
I advise you not to play tricks tonight. What does Governor Zhao want? Just nod, don't think about making money in this matter. You will lose your life. Don't blame me for not saying it in advance."
Everyone was shocked by these serious words: "How much blood is appropriate?"
Old Lady Lu was silent and said, "
"This is not something we can decide. It depends on how much Governor Zhao wants."
Dongjia Li frowned and said, "Is it possible that he has to give it to us all his wealth?"
Old Lady Lu glanced at him:
"I said it for the last time. Don't treat Governor Zhao with Prefect Sun and Secret Eunuch Xue. I have a premonition that he came with murderous aura this time, so he should pay money to buy his life. That's all."
Buy life? Is it really so evil?
The gentry looked at each other, a little disbelief.
The court asked them for money once or twice. It was common for some to act blushing and some to act blushing.
The current situation is tense, and stability is the top priority. At this critical moment, Sun Xiaozhun and Xue Shence are very tolerant of them. Could it be different if Zhao Duan is replaced?
Some people even suspect that it was Zhao Duan and the Lu family who secretly cooperated to cheat them... There are many precedents in this kind of thing. "Father, that Zhao...Governor is out." The second young master rushed over.
Old Lady Lu stood up, walked out, sighed, "Let's go, it's a disaster that can't be avoided."
The gentry inside the house had to get up and walk out in groups.
…
When I arrived at the banquet venue, the last ray of afterglow fell in the sky, and the night shone across the city.
Under Qingming's sky is a brightly lit banquet hall.
Mosquitoes fly around the red lanterns.
The main table for the banquet was placed in a lobby, with the door open, and several round tables were placed outwards in the yard.
The gentry and celebrities in the city sat down from the inside out according to their wealth.
Prepare at any time, but with the Lu family's background, the dishes on the round table were still extremely rich in just a few hours.
When Mrs. Lu entered the table, the entire yard was full of people, with dense heads scattered and a strong sense of anxiety surged in the air.
The grain supervisor Zhao Shande was also present and was arranged to sit at the door, accompanied by the eldest son of the Lu family.
At the entrance of the courtyard, there was also a team of government officials whom Sun Xiaozhun brought with him when he came. "Governor Zhao is here!"
I don't know who yelled softly, and the audience suddenly became quiet, and their eyes were set at the end of the corridor.
I saw two figures coming, one was Zhao Duan and the other was Sun Xiaozhun.
However, Zhao Duan changed into a set of clothes at some point. He was no longer dressed as a noble man, but was wearing the robe of the Shaobao military official, with a black gauze on his head. The crimson official uniform was under the lantern, like a ball of fire burning through the night.
His right hand gently supported on the hilt of the knife around his waist—
The ancient and gorgeous sword-suppressing sword was hanging on his waist.
Old Lady Lu's eyes shrank and she stood up first: "Welcome to the Grand Governor!"
The rest of the people imitated and welcomed him.
Zhao Duan had a smile on his face, and walked into the hall to look at the main seat of the banquet that was reserved, but he did not sit down.
But he ordered the maid on the side, who was stunned for a moment and hurriedly walked out. Soon, the servants of the Lu family brought in a table and placed it at the top.
In an instant, the lobby suddenly became a bit similar to the court for trial.
Zhao Duan held the knife and walked to the back of the table, raised his foot, stepped on a low stool, casually untied the knife on his waist, and placed it horizontally on the table with a "bang".
He looked around everyone and asked Sun Xiaozhun with a smile: "Are you all in this?"
Prefect Sun stood aside and nodded.
"Very good," Zhao Duan smiled brightly: "It seems that you are all trying to give me some face to the governor. When I sent someone to deliver invitations to you in the afternoon, many people said that there was something wrong at home and could not leave it and could not go to the appointment, but you still arrived on time."
Everyone squeezed out an awkward smile, and someone flattered him: "The governor quelled the rebellion for the people, and it is a blessing to be granted. Compared to the hard work of the governor, what are we going to do with some difficulties?" "That's right."
A piece of searching for a fill of sound.
Zhao Duan smiled unchanged, as if he didn't mind this matter. When a group of compliments and flatteries fell, his eyes turned to Old Lady Lu, who was very close to him, on the main table.
And the table full of delicious food, I sighed: "I came to Taicang once last year, and there was a banquet at that time, but it was for the investigation of the case, so I never met you well.
Fortunately, some people recognize the face of this official. The reason why this banquet is today is thanks to the busy and hard work of the Grand Duke of the Lu family. If it were not for the Lu family, it would not be easy for me to invite you here. "
As soon as these words were said, many people looked at the Lu family, and there was a cold look in their eyes.
The face of the eldest son of the Lu family changed slightly, and there was a faint anger in his eyes.
The words Zhao Duan had thrown out. In the eyes of outsiders, the Lu family had become a loyal dog of the court. Today's "fundraising" made the Lu family also become an accomplice of the court.
However, outsiders would know how frustrating the Lu family was?
Not only was he used as a gun, but his wife and concubines were called to serve by Zhao Duan, which was a great humiliation... But the eldest son did not dare to show any of them. He felt Zhao Shande's curious gaze and also squeezed out a smile.
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Zhao Duan praised it, suddenly changed his mind, looked at the delicacies, and sighed: "The only thing that's not good is that the dish is too rich. Now there are wars outside, and Ning'an and Wenshui counties are occupied by the kings and even set fire to burn farmland and massacre the people!
Although it is not too hungry, I have also heard that the prices of rice and grain on the market are growing rapidly and materials are becoming increasingly short of materials.
The people are slack in their food, and the soldiers are in a difficult situation. Not to mention eating meat, even military rations cannot be managed enough. However, the governor is here to eat and drink...
In this way, how can he repay His Majesty's grace? How to face the world? "
A group of people listened, their faces turned black, and they cursed wildly, saying that it was you who ordered the banquet, and it was you who pretended to be white lotus now.
Is it shameful to the people of the world?
How bad is your reputation? Do you have no credit for yourself?
Shameless, too shameless.
Old Lady Lu said ashamed: "What the governor scolded is that the old man made a poor arrangement, to express his sins and to suppress the rebellion, the Lu family is willing to offer half of the granary in the clan, as well as 100,000 taels of silver and a number of various materials to serve as the governor."
Half of the grain of the whole clan, 100,000 taels of silver! What a big deal!
You should know that a large family like the Lu family is not a heavy asset that is difficult to cash in a short period of time. The total amount of silver in the account is only a maximum of more than 100,000 taels.
Just this time, donate half of the property directly?
Crazy?
As soon as these words came out, all the gentry were shocked. "Okay!" Zhao Duan smiled with satisfaction, "The Lu family is worthy of Taicang's goodness, and such righteous deeds should be an example."
He looked around his face:
"The governor is a military man. He doesn't like to talk and talk, so he is straightforward.
Today I am summoning you here to raise military rations, military pay, and all kinds of supplies to quell the rebellion.
You are local gentry, and you must be willing to do your part to protect the village. Of course, the fundraising is all voluntary, and the more you donate, it is all your wish."
Sun Xiaozhun glanced at him and suddenly felt a little embarrassed.
If you are so shameless and shameless, how did Governor Zhao say so righteously?
What if the warriors had a simple and pure mind?
Although the gentry also felt that the last sentence was too fake, they were relieved and gave it to each other.
What? Refer to the Lu family’s standards?
Ha, think everyone is stupid?
The Lu family was conspiring with Zhao Duan at first sight and was singing a double act. The so-called half of the property is just a lip service. It would be good if you can really take out one-fifth of it.
So, no one really imitates this ratio.
However, just as everyone was about how much blood was spent to satisfy King Yan of Zhao, Zhao Duan suddenly changed his subject: "However... although it was voluntary, the property of all of you here is different, some are more, and some are less. If you want you to imitate the Lu family to donate 100,000 taels, it means that this governor is not favored."
"Well... let's do this, this governor set a sum, and this fundraising will not be the general. Depending on the proportion, everyone here is like the Lu family. Donating half of the property to suppress the rebellion is enough. "
"Oh, by the way, I would like to mention that there are also a large number of warriors and sorcerers in the rebels. Therefore, in order to fight the situation, this governor needs to collect all the treasures, objects, and magic weapons related to cultivation in the city... All the families here must have treasures, so they will send them together. That's it."
After saying this, the whole banquet was silent and the needle could be heard.
Everyone's expression froze on his face.
Sun Xiaozhun looked at him in shock and took a light breath.
Zhao Shande was so scared that his heart skipped a beat. He looked at the young man on the stage, suspecting that he had heard it wrong.
The old lady of the Lu family was stunned and could not hide her shock.
The governor's appetite...is so much bigger than he expected?
He not only targeted the Lu family, but everyone... How dare he? Are you not afraid of arousing public grievances? !
Yes, this time he only asked the gentry for fundraising, and did not plunder the people at all, so there would be no public grievances at all...
"Wow—"
No surprise, the entire lobby inside and outside exploded, and all the gentry changed their faces, and some people stood up directly, astonishment and anger appeared on their faces!
Forced confiscation of half of the property, plus all the strange things they treasure!
What is the difference between this and a house search? The rebels are not so cruel!
This has completely exceeded the limits they can accept.
The big boss of Kangzhuang Rice Store stood up and shouted: "Are Governor Zhao kidding? Half of his family's wealth? Never heard of such a fundraising in the world!"
Qian Manwai of Datong Money House also had a bitter face: "Governor, don't joke, it's not that we don't want to support the suppression of rebellion, but that many industries such as us will be unable to operate if we withdraw half of the funds. As for the strange things, they are accumulated by generations in the family..."
Someone took the lead, and a famous gentleman immediately expressed his dissatisfaction, as if he gathered people to resist.
In their subconscious, they still believed that the court could not do without them in order to stabilize, so as long as they work together, they could compete.
More people think that this is a kind of "bargaining". Zhao Duan called out a high price and had to cut it down.
Zhao Duan listened to the noisy sound, but the smile on his face disappeared little by little.
At some point, he quietly picked up the knife on the table and leaned it gently. When the sound was slightly calmed down, he said coldly:
"Do you think this governor is joking?"
His sharp eyes swept across everyone, and finally he was too lazy to hide it anymore, and sneered:
"I said, I am not a civil servant, I will tug with you. My patience is very limited. I have already given you face. If you just now, it is not a discussion, but a notification."
Li Dadong's family from Kangzhuang Mixing is a hot temper. In addition, some of the family are officials in the court, so they have more confidence and said coldly: "Governor Zhao is too domineering to act like this! I believe that the emperor today doesn't know if it is forcibly confiscating our property like this?" Zhao Duan stared at the thorn with a strange look, and he smiled: "Are you teaching me to do things?"
Li Dadong's family was inexplicably panicked, and felt that they were targeted by a beast, but they could only bite the bullet:
"I dare not, I just feel that there is no precedent." Zhao Duan stared at him with a dangerous look and suddenly said: "I know you, there are several people in your clan serving in Beijing, but their positions are not high. The only one who can barely speak to His Majesty is the only censor, so do you want to impeach me?"
He smiled, smiling "rampantly", with a look of contempt, as if looking at a clown: "Yuan Li must treat him with courtesy in front of me. When will a small censor be qualified to point fingers at me? I will reiterate that this is the wartime moment!
This official is the commander-in-chief of the rebellion and supervising the entire army to seal the way! Have the right to act cheaply! If you talk more about it..."
Li Dadong's family was angry and angry, pointing at him and said, "You do this..."
Before you finished speaking, a silver light suddenly flew out of the dark night.
A thin silver thread flashed in front of everyone, accompanied by the "clang" out-sheathing sound that pressed through all the sounds.
Li Dadong's family stood there, still maintaining the posture in front of his fingers, but a blood line slowly emerged from his neck.
Then, this celebrity gentleman who was in the top ten in the entire Linfeng Road made a "splash" and fell down with a head tilted!
The eyes were wide open, and there was still fear, and I was already in awe on the spot!
Kill with one knife!
Zhao Duan held the knife and looked around everyone with a smile, but said:
"Master Sun, read it."
Sun Xiaozhun was stunned for a moment, then walked forward with a little bit of a silence and said:
"Kangzhuang rice shop hoarded food, blatantly violated the court's laws, took advantage of the war to raise the price of grain to seek profit, but did not change it repeatedly. The evidence was conclusive. According to the Dayu Law, he should be sentenced to... beheading."
Zhao Duan smiled and said: "Who else?"
The whole hall was silent.
(This chapter ends)