Chapter 238 Field Investigation
Why did Zhang Chong appear here?
To answer this matter, we have to start with Gao Sheng.
Gao Sheng is really a bit of an "insider". As early as Dong Fang was determined to handle the land harvesting work by donating soil, Gao Sheng had already reported the situation to Zhang Chong.
Zhang Chong only replied with four words:
"Look back."
Since Qu Shuai said to look at it later, let’s continue reading. Later, Gao Sheng checked for Dong Fang's mistakes and filled in the vacancies, and on the other hand, he reported the situation to Zhang Chong. All he got in exchange was:
"Look back!"
Later, when Gao Sheng reported about the Sun and Zhao clans fighting over water in Juan County, Qu Shuai's reply was as follows:
"Look again!"
When a large-scale civil uprising broke out in Juan County, Qu Shuai’s reply was already as follows:
"Don't worry, we are on the way and will be there soon."
Gao Sheng was shocked when he received the reply. Unexpectedly, Qu Shuai couldn't sit still and wanted to come in person. This place is five hundred miles away from Yingyang. How could Qu Shuai come here?
Qu Shuai, of course, rode faster and changed four horses along the way. The chaos broke out on the 11th, and Zhang Chong was already on the road on the 12th. It only took two days, that is, July 14, for Zhang Chong, Cai Que, and Guo Zu to arrive in Juan County and live in Gao Sheng's mansion.
On that day, Zhang Chong and others did nothing and slept all day.
I'm really tired.
Although the postal messengers in this world can theoretically travel at a speed of three hundred miles a day, you must know that they are set up every thirty miles on the post road, and they change horses and rest when they arrive. As for Zhang Chong and the other three, they were free to run away. Even an iron man like Zhang Chong was a bit overwhelmed, let alone Cai Que and Guo Zu.
After the three of them arrived, they slept for the next day.
On July 15th, the day when the Han army withdrew, Zhang Chong woke up and began to listen to Gao Sheng's report on the situation in the past few days. Zhang Chong was not surprised when he heard that the Han soldiers in Jiyin County took advantage of the civil unrest to go north. In fact, when he received reports of armed fighting in Juan County, he had already set off.
A series of events led Zhang Chong to conclude that this was not an isolated incident. Coupled with Dong Fang's policy deviation, Zhang Chong had to come to Juan County.
But what surprised Zhang Chong was that Ma Wu only led a hundred knights to attack once at night, and the Han army on the opposite side retreated. He knew that Ma Wu was a capable general, had cultural literacy, and could be cultivated. Then he wrote down Ma Wu's name in a small book he carried with him. There were all outstanding talents who had emerged over the years, such as Li Gan from the Forbidden Department and Zhang Kai from Wang Han's Department. They were all on the book.
When Gao Sheng was reporting, a person suddenly came, it was Wang Han.
Gao Sheng wanted Zhang Chong to hide behind the screen first, but Zhang Chong shook his head. This is not his style. This is not how he tests his subordinates.
So when Wang Han entered the room and saw Zhang Chong sitting in the hall with a smile on his face, he was immediately shocked. Who would have expected that Qu Shuai would be here? What's even more frightening is that Qu Shuai did not go to the envoy, but came to the chief registrar.
Combined with the letter he received today, he summoned the envoy and it was over.
Thinking of this, Wang Han directly told Zhang Chong about today's situation.
Looking at the two letters on the desk, Zhang Chong did not believe that Dong Fang would betray him. He still knows how to look at people. Dong Fang is a smart man, he knows good and bad. But people change, and the greatest harm is often a stab in the back from the person you think is least likely to betray you.
So Zhang Chong arranged all this, and Dong Fang obviously seized this opportunity.
When Zhang Chong walked into Dong Fan's lobby, Dong Fan was sweating. He couldn't dwell on this matter, he couldn't stop sweating just thinking about it.
Zhang Chong walked up to Dong Zhao and said with a smile:
"Dong Sheng, you came all the way to visit your relatives, but our Taishan Army has neglected you. Don't worry, we will get to know each other in a while."
Dong Zhao had calmed down after experiencing the initial shock. Looking at his brother's expression, it was obvious that the person in front of him was Commander Qu of the Taishan Army and Zhang Chong, the soaring general of the Yellow Turban Army.
Dong Zhao was naturally curious about Zhang Chong. Among all the commanders in the world, the Taishan Army of General Soaring to Heaven can fight. Every time he moves, the world will look at him with side eyes. Not to mention, it seems that all the generals of the Han Dynasty who fought against him were defeated by him. One by one, he was truly a hero.
It is precisely because of this that his younger brother Dong Fan was bewitched by him, but this younger brother is really stupid. People don't believe you until you see him. After this performance, can you still stay?
Of course Dong Zhao saw this, but didn't say anything. He still loves and protects this younger brother. Otherwise, if he breaks it now, the relationship between this younger brother and the Taishan Army will be broken.
After Dong Zhao was taken away, Dong Fang lowered his head and kept shaking.
Zhang Chong took a picture of Dong Fang:
"Why are you shaking, staying by my side for so long? I trust you just as you trust me. You are wrong in this matter, but not guilty. You are wrong in thinking that what we do is so gentle, and you accept what others think. I took a green onion from someone else's stall. It's going to kill someone. Some things can only end if someone dies. As for the surrender letter written to Han Ting, I've already burned it for you. It’s just a divorce plan!”
Dong Fan raised his head after hearing these words. This brave man's eyes were slightly red at this moment, especially the words "I trust you just as you trust me" made his heart warm.
Patting Dong Kan's shoulder, Zhang Chong said frankly:
"But, Ah Fang, let me tell you the truth, you can't do this job. You should be clear about the reason, so I won't say anything. If you have any ideas about the subsequent arrangements, you can also talk to I said.”
Dong Fan shook his head:
"Everything is at the discretion of Qu Shuai."
He was already prepared for the recruitment to deprive him of this position. After all, there are only a few senior military officials in a military government. One fell out with him, one investigated him behind his back, and one directly sent a letter to Commander Qu. If he still retains his authority, let alone authority, this is the job There is no way to proceed.
"Boom, click, boom..."
The sound of thunder broke the dullness, and the heavy rain dissipated the sultry July heat.
The sky turned to dark clouds, and none of the soldiers waiting outside the hall left to take shelter from the rain. The heavy rain hit their cheeks and their armor, making them feel cool, but it still could not drive away their confusion.
They were all Dong Kan's guards. They didn't know why their general suddenly fell to his knees and shed tears. The disputes between big shots always eluded them.
Dong Fang walked out of the hall wearing a martial arts trousers and walked into the rain. Suddenly he turned around and knelt on the ground. He kowtowed three times to Qu Shuai who was looking at him in the hall.
The rain wet Dong Fan, mixed with tears and poured into the corner of his mouth. Dong Fan yelled:
"Qu Shuai, Dong Fang made a mistake."
Zhang Chong smiled and walked out into the heavy rain. He picked up a straw hat and put it on Dong Kan's head:
"Well, just correct it if you're wrong. Don't catch a cold. How can you lead my troops when you're sick?"
Dong Fang hugged Zhang Chong's legs and cried loudly without saying a word.
——
After August 15th, Zhang Chong took charge of the work in Juanxian and Linqiu.
When Xi Shen, who was stationed in Linqiu, learned that Commander Qu had arrived in Juan County, he came on horseback to listen to Commander Qu's instructions.
At this time, Zhang Chong called back many military officials and field officials in Heji to arrange the focus of the next stage of work.
That is Cha Tian. At that time, many people were wondering, hadn't the fields been inspected and the fields divided? Should it be divided again?
That's exactly what it means.
In Zhang Chong's view, although the Heji area had launched a massive land distribution operation two months ago, in Zhang Chong's view, this was unqualified.
In the past two months, there were probably hundreds of docks in the Heji area that overthrew the rural tyrants and confiscated their land, but this failed to clean up their power in the countryside. On the contrary, because of Dong Fang's appeasement in implementing the policy, many sons of local tycoons have infiltrated into the local ranks of the Taishan Army.
These people took advantage of their clan relations and their influence on rural Guizhou leaders to hide land, buy money and goods, deceive in the name of warmth, or intimidate through public opinion and force, leaving a large amount of land in Guizhou and poverty alleviation in name. In fact, the income from the land is still in the hands of the rural tyrants. Therefore, this field inspection is to eliminate this part.
Of course, another important reason is why this time the local tyrants easily persuaded many Guizhou leaders who had already divided their land to rebel together? It stands to reason that the Taishan Army gave them land. If they didn't say they were grateful, why did they pick up a plow and a hoe to attack the Taishan Army?
There are indeed complex factors in this area, that is, there are many clans, they live together, and the clan power is strong. But this cannot cover up a problem, that is, there is only kindness without power, and kindness does not last long.
Judging from the results of Chief Bookkeeper Gao Sheng's own investigation. Before and after the division of land, the enthusiasm of the Guizhou leaders to support the army in this area dropped significantly.
Just when Gao Sheng visited a few settlements, he found that one settlement could originally support one hundred pairs of straw sandals for the army, but after the land was divided, the number dropped to sixty pairs. Originally, in addition to setting up a military household, a supporting household would also be appointed. This was because we were worried that the Taishan Army would fight the Han Army in the future, so that some injured soldiers could be placed in the supporting household to recuperate. However, after Gao Sheng went down to investigate, after dividing the fields, there was no one planned to be the farmer.
Gao Sheng also asked the leader of the collision team about the situation. They all said that after many farmers in Guizhou head were allocated land, they thought about marrying a wife, building a home, and then closing the door and living a peaceful life. As for the Taishan Army who divided the fields to them, they did not object, but they were not so enthusiastic.
Gao Sheng reported all these situations to Zhang Chong. As for the short-sightedness of farmers in the capital of Guizhou, Zhang Chong has long known that for thousands of years, Chinese farmers have only seen the soil under their feet and cannot see the changes outside.
What time is this? Not when their Taishan Army has conquered the world. They, the heads of Guizhou who have been allocated land, think they have obtained the land. Without the Taishan Army to make the decision, they can live their own lives behind closed doors? Without the Taishan Army to call the shots, these people and their land would be like a kid holding gold in a busy city. In the blink of an eye, they would be swallowed up by the powerful Han Dynasty.
Only the Taishan Army, which took the initiative to allocate land to them, would truly protect their rights and interests. But if the Taishan Army wants to win this war, how can it win if it does not control and mobilize the manpower and material resources in the countryside to the greatest extent possible?
In fact, in Zhang Chong's view, he cares about every specific person, but most people are unlikely to let him know their details, so many times, Zhang Chong considers issues from the perspective of abstract groups.
For Zhang Chong, the division of land was certainly due to the sad life of Qian Shou, but more importantly, it played a role in reorganizing social resources in the entire system. Quite a bit, I am good to you, it has nothing to do with you.
And to be honest, as far as Zhang Chong's experience in later generations is concerned, the leaders of Guizhou who got Tian in the early stage may not really get much benefit. After all, the power of the Han Dynasty is too strong at this time, and even the Taishan Army may not be able to survive. Go down, let alone them?
But it is all worth it, because their descendants will live in an era they never dared to imagine, and all they have to do is stand with the Taishan Army and fight for the future of all poor people. Many of them may die, but this is life, this is this era, even if Zhang Chong does nothing, countless people will die like dogs in this civil strife that lasts for hundreds of years.
Therefore, since some people do not cherish what they have now and are not willing to follow the Taishan Army and work hard for the poor in the world, then they are not Zhang Chong's brothers. After all, all gifts have their prices marked by fate. If you want to prostitute Zhang Chong for nothing, you are really thinking too much.
It was under this circumstance that Zhang Chong decided to investigate the land. Completely solve the hidden dangers of local tyrants in this area. The Heji area will bear a huge task in Zhang Chong's future plans, and he will not allow such an incident to happen again.
Therefore, Zhang Chong stated at the military meeting that the focus of this land investigation was to cleanse all the local tyrants and their spies who had infiltrated the Taishan Army, and to promote a group of Guizhou leaders who followed the Taishan Army in this incident.
At this moment, all the military officials present understood. Checking the land is not about redistributing the land, but checking the identity. The land of the nonconforming will once again be reclaimed, and new loyalists will be promoted.
In short, this time the Taishan Army will establish a grassroots organization in the countryside that truly belongs to the Taishan Army.
In addition, regarding the policy of field guards, on the original basis, Zhang Chong ordered that in the future, one out of every seven households would be selected as a field guard. Then from the field guards, tall and brave ones were selected to join the Heji Army Corps.
In terms of specific implementation, the remaining six households who divide their fields will give priority to farming for the military households, and then farm for themselves. The original field guards will be selected from the loyalists, and these people will be released from work to specialize in military training. The outstanding ones among them will be paid by the public office every month after joining the Heji Army. In short, we must enable the pro-military elements to gain advantages at the grassroots level.
Zhang Chong is naturally aware of the consequences of this policy. It is equivalent to the former rural tycoons being overthrown, but the pro-military elements will become small rural tycoons to fill the previous gap. In other words, the country tycoon is still here.
But what Zhang Chong knows better is that at this stage, all policies are based on survival. If you can't survive, there will be no future. For Zhang Chong, at this stage, it was a victory to replace the Han court country tycoons who had gone their own way in the past with small country tycoons who supported him.
As for the rest, don't worry, Zhang Chong will naturally have a solution, and he has many policies in his bag.
The field officials who were present knew exactly how to check the fields later. Propaganda is one aspect, and persuasion and reporting are another. In short, as long as the material benefits and status benefits of following the Taishan Army are clearly explained, there will be many people who will come forward to do this.
What Zhang Chong mainly emphasized this time was how not to talk empty words, but to say something that the leaders of Guizhou could understand and care about. For some scholars with world vision, Zhang Chong could use the highest ideals of Confucianism to describe a peaceful world. But this cannot be said for the leaders of Guizhou, who face the loess and turn their backs to the sky, and only have one-third of an acre in their eyes. They have their own conflicts and demands. Find what most people hate and what most people want. In short, it is to catch the vast majority of people.
The field officials present understood this. Their explanation of what Qu Shuai said was:
"If the people are angry, deal with them."
This time there was a military meeting, and Dong Fang also participated. Zhang Chong hadn't figured out the arrangements for him yet, so he asked him to participate in the field inspection operation, so that he could understand the spirit of dividing the fields during the operation.
Therefore, Zhang Chong specifically talked about one thing, and that was violence.
To be honest, Zhang Chong believes that there must be some grievances among the thieves during this civil unrest. For example, he heard from Gao Sheng that because there were not enough mature fields to be divided, the land that originally belonged to the farmers was also taken over by the land allotment officials, and this situation was not uncommon.
It stands to reason that these self-cultivators smashed eight petals with a drop of sweat to get the little grain. All harvests depend on their own efforts, and the land is passed down from their ancestors. The situation of these people is the same as that of Zhang Chong and his family. They were all allocated business fields by the Han Court when the Han Court organized land reclamation.
For example, if someone wants to seize Zhang Chong's family's land now, with Zhang Chong's father's character, he will definitely have to gather people and those bad guys to do it. Oh, not for sure, but for sure. Four years ago, when Zhang Chong arrived there, Zhang Tiehu and his family wanted to seize the land of homesteaders like Father Zhang. Why didn't these people just band together and fight Zhang Tiehu?
The situation is the same now. How can those peasants who have been deprived of their land be willing and tolerant? It is normal for them to come together with the local tyrants to riot.
But Zhang Chong told all the soldiers present:
"Any detailed rules on land allocation that have been decided before the riots, no matter whether they are reasonable or not, are not allowed to be overturned, and those that have been overturned are also invalid."
Zhang Chong told these field officials:
"Now is the most critical period for the life-and-death struggle between Taiping Dao and Han Ting. In order to win this war, violence is necessary, and persuasion is also necessary, but it must be persuasion through violence. Even if our violence will cause individual injustice , this is also inevitable. Because after all, if we fail, how many people will die in the world. It will not be unfair to a few people, but unfair to the whole world, and no one will speak out for this injustice. , because they are all dead."
"What we are doing is a violent thing, to use violence to overthrow the local tyrants, and to use violence to obtain justice. We should not be benevolent as women, and should not think that tenderness can change the world. We must be prepared to sacrifice, sacrifice Others, even at the expense of oneself.”
"Today I, Zhang Chong, will tell you that if one family cries or the whole world cries, I will always choose the former. Even if that family is my Zhang family!"
"What is my Huang Tianzhi?"
"Raise swords and soldiers, exchange for peace, and restore the Qingming Dynasty to the world."
"What is my Huangtian career?"
"There are fields to cultivate, houses to live in, and only health and well-being will be left to all the people."
"Gentlemen! Why should you and I die for this cause?"
The group of military officers stood up and bowed to Commander Qu at the head:
"I would like to follow Qu Shuai to create peace again!"
At this point, with Zhang Chong in charge, a new round of land survey in the vast areas of Juan County and Linqiu was launched.
This is Zhang Chong’s violence! Systemic violence! It is also violence that Bourgeois will never understand!
(End of chapter)