Shuhan

Chapter 878: Bloody Conflict, Fighting for Profits with the People

Dahan, Luoyang, Pingxian, this land close to the Yellow River has the advantage of time and location. The Yellow River flows slowly and irrigation is extremely simple, nourishing hundreds of miles of fertile fields. Farms are scattered all over the place. Everywhere you look, it is fertile and fertile land.

At this time, the Han Dynasty was using Luoyang as a pilot to implement a significant initiative - measuring land and registering the people. Everything was proceeding in an orderly manner under the careful coordination of the Prime Minister's Office.

Ping County has a vast territory. Although countless people were killed and injured and fled in all directions due to the shadow of war in the past, as time passed, the dawn of peace gradually dispelled the shadow of war. More and more people, with their attachment to their homeland, embarked on the road of returning home. The population of Ping County has gradually recovered and improved a lot.

Yunlu, the newly crowned second place in the imperial examination, was a young, promising official entrusted with important tasks, and was in charge of surveying the land in Ping County.

Yun Lu was dressed in a green official robe. He had an upright posture and a handsome face with a hint of scholarly elegance. Under his sword-like eyebrows, his eyes were bright and sharp, revealing wisdom and courage.

He knew very well that this mission was related to the people's livelihood and the country of the Han Dynasty, so he did not dare to slack off. As soon as he arrived in Ping County, he quickly dispatched clerks to the grassroots level to start work on related matters of measuring the land.

However, after a few days, the clerks sent to the countryside returned one after another, looking dusty and dejected.

Yunlu was reviewing official documents in the county government office. When he heard the clerk asking to see him, he put down his pen, straightened his official robe, and calmly let them in.

The clerks filed in. The leader was thin and had a look of fear and fatigue on his face. He knelt on the ground with a plop and said in a crying voice, "Sir, something bad has happened. The people refused to allow us to measure their land. We tried to persuade them, but they just wouldn't listen and drove us out."

Yun Lu's originally calm face instantly changed color when he heard this. His sword-like eyebrows were raised, his eyes were wide open, and he slammed the table hard. With a loud "pa" sound, the pens and ink on the table vibrated. He shouted angrily:

"Why is this happening? We, the Han Dynasty, are implementing this policy for the benefit of the people. Why are they so stubborn and unyielding?"

At this time, the lawyer standing at the side hurriedly stepped forward, bowed slightly, his face full of concern and caution, and gently advised: "Sir, please calm down first. In my opinion, could it be that someone is deliberately trying to sow discord behind the scenes and mislead the people?"

After hearing this, Yun Lu's chest, which had been rising and falling rapidly, gradually calmed down. He frowned, a trace of thought flashed in his eyes, and he slowly sat down. His right hand unconsciously tapped the table lightly. After pondering for a moment, he said, "What you said makes sense. There must be something fishy about this matter."

After thinking for a moment, Yun Lu suddenly raised his head, a trace of determination flashed in his eyes, and he ordered loudly: "Quickly order the spies of the Ping County Military Department to investigate the situation. Make sure to get to the bottom of this matter. I want to see who is stirring up trouble behind the scenes!"

The lawyer nodded quickly, said "yes", and hurriedly left to make arrangements.

A few days later, the spy rushed back to the county government office and reported the information he had obtained to Yun Lu.

It turned out that there was a local tyrant named Yu Fang in Ping County. This man had great power in Ping County, and his family had countless fields and houses. He also secretly occupied a large amount of land and population.

Yu Fang was a fat man with a face full of flesh. His small eyes always sparkled with cunningness. He usually relied on his power to run rampant in the village and oppress the people.

Now the imperial court is implementing the policy of measuring land. He knows very well that once the land is measured, the land and population he has hidden will be exposed. At that time, he will have to pay huge taxes, which will be like cutting off his heart.

So, he harbored ulterior motives and secretly instigated the people to make trouble and spread rumors everywhere, saying that the court was measuring the land in order to take away their fields. The people did not know much about the court's policies and were afraid of Yu Fang's power, so they believed it and refused to let the officials measure their land.

When Yun Lu learned about this, he was furious and wanted to lead his troops to capture Yu Fang immediately.

But he was a meticulous man after all. He suppressed his anger and calmed down to think about countermeasures.

He knew very well that the most urgent task was to let the people of Ping County know that measuring the land did not mean to take away their land. Only by eliminating the people's misunderstanding could the problem be fundamentally solved.

Therefore, he ordered people to prepare a large number of notices, detailing the purpose and significance of the court's land measurement. This was to make taxation more fair and reasonable so that the people would no longer bear excessive burdens. It was also to better govern the country and allow the people to live a stable life.

Notices were posted in every street, alley, market and village in Ping County. Yunlu also arranged some clerks with good eloquence to go deep into the villages to patiently explain things to the people and answer their questions.

While comforting the people, Yunlu was also busy preparing for the encirclement and suppression of Yu Fang.

He knew very well that Yu Fang's forces were huge and would not be easily defeated, so he went to the military camp in Ping County in person to discuss military deployment with the generals stationed there.

Inside the military camp, military flags fluttered, soldiers lined up in neat rows, and their armor gleamed coldly in the sun.

Yunlu and the generals sat in front of the map in the tent, carefully studying the distribution of Yu Fang's forces and the terrain.

Yun Lu pointed to the location of Yu Fang's residence on the map and said seriously, "Yu Fang has occupied this place for many years, so he must have taken precautions. We must not let our guard down. This time, we must ensure that there are no mistakes and not let any rebels escape."

The generals nodded one after another, indicating that they would obey Yunlu's command. After careful planning and preparation, Yunlu decided to launch a surprise attack on Yufang on a dark and windy night.

On the night of the operation, the sky was covered with dark clouds, and the moonlight was completely blocked. The whole earth seemed to be covered by a huge black cloth. Yun Lu, wearing silver armor, holding a long sword, riding a tall black horse, stood majestically in front of the team. He looked firmly in the direction of Yu Fang's mansion and shouted loudly: "Soldiers, this operation concerns the country of the Han Dynasty and the peace of the people. We must bring the traitor Yu Fang to justice and eliminate the harm to the people of Ping County. Do you have confidence?"

The soldiers shouted in unison: "Yes!"

The sound echoed through the night sky, shaking the earth slightly.

Following Yun Lu's order, the army rushed towards Yu Fang's mansion like a tide.

The sounds of horse hooves and footsteps intertwined together, sounding particularly loud in the quiet night.

Soon, the army surrounded Yu Fang's mansion.

Yu Fang was discussing countermeasures with his minions in the mansion at this time. When he heard the shouts and horse hooves coming from outside, he was immediately frightened and his face turned pale, and his fat body could not help but tremble.

He stood up in panic and shouted, "Quick, organize people to resist, we can't let them rush in!"

However, his men were so frightened at this time that they had no intention of resisting the ferocious imperial army.

Yun Lu commanded the soldiers to quickly break down the gate of Yu Fang's mansion. The soldiers rushed into the mansion like a tiger descending from a mountain, searching everywhere for Yu Fang and his followers.

Seeing that the situation was hopeless, Yu Fang tried to escape by climbing over the wall, but his fat body made it difficult for him to move and he was caught on the spot by the soldiers.

Yun Lu looked at Yu Fang who was brought before him, his eyes full of contempt, and said coldly: "Yu Fang, as a commoner of Ping County, you do not think about serving the court, but instead collude with the rebels and intend to disobey Du Tian's strategy. Today is the day you will die!"

Yu Fang was so frightened that he collapsed to the ground and kept kowtowing and begging for mercy, but Yun Lu remained unmoved and ordered Yu Fang and his main accomplices to be taken back to the county government office to await punishment.

After this incident, the land surveying work in Ping County was able to proceed smoothly.

The people also understood the good intentions of the court and actively cooperated.

But in Gucheng, the situation is completely different.

The newly crowned number one scholar, Su Ran, dressed in a red robe and looking handsome, should be full of vigor and vitality.

But he made a big mistake in the matter of land measurement.

After Su Ran arrived in Gucheng, he was proud of his talent and thought measuring the land was just a trivial matter.

He did not go deep into the people to explain the situation like Yunlu did, but directly ordered the clerks to start measuring the land.

The people of Gucheng were caught off guard and filled with confusion and anxiety when faced with the clerks who suddenly came to their doorstep.

"What rights do you have to measure our land?" An old farmer stood by his own field, holding a hoe, looking angrily at the clerk who came to measure the land.

"This is an order from the court. Stop talking nonsense and cooperate!" The clerks were tough and had no patience to explain. When the local tyrants in Gucheng learned about the land measurement, they were secretly dissatisfied.

They usually annexed land and hid the population, and accumulated a lot of wealth through these means.

Now that the imperial court wants to conduct an investigation, isn’t that disturbing their interests?

So, secretly, they began to instigate the people to resist land measurement.

One day, hundreds of people, instigated by powerful people, holding farm tools, confronted the officials who were measuring the land on a field.

The scene was chaotic, the people were outraged, and the clerks were not willing to be outdone.

"You fools, this is the order of the imperial court, how dare you disobey it!" a clerk shouted.

"What imperial decree? It's obvious that you are taking advantage of this opportunity to oppress us!" The people roared in response. Both sides became more and more emotional, and the conflict broke out in an instant during the pushing and shoving.

In the chaos, a clerk was accidentally beaten to death by angry citizens, and five other clerks were also injured.

When Su Ran learned about this, he became furious.

Instead of calmly thinking about the cause of the incident, he immediately mobilized the garrison of Gucheng to quell the rebellion.

For a time, the army was rampant in the streets of Gucheng and the people were fleeing everywhere.

The soldiers, armed with weapons, rushed towards the so-called "rioters" without mercy. The streets were dyed red with blood and screams were heard everywhere.

The people of Gucheng fell into fear, their originally peaceful life was completely disrupted, and their hearts were divided.

Although Su Ran eventually completed the land measurement, during this process, the powerful people still concealed a large amount of land and population by various means.

They either bribed clerks or forged land deeds, greatly reducing the effectiveness of land measurement.

Su Ran caused great public outrage because of his cruel methods.

When the news reached the court, many officials submitted impeachment petitions.

"Your Majesty!" A loud shout broke the silence in the court, and an old minister dressed in crimson court robes and with a tall and burly stature stepped out. This man was none other than the Imperial Censor Zhang Heng. His eyes were sharp and his face was full of seriousness and indignation.

"The newly crowned number one scholar, Su Ran, acted tyrannically while farming in Gucheng, causing the people to suffer and countless deaths and injuries. Such a cruel official must be severely punished to appease the public anger and uphold the law!"

After saying this, he raised the impeachment memorial in his hands high with both hands, his body trembling slightly, showing his inner excitement.

There was a sudden uproar in the court, and many officials echoed it. For a while, voices accusing Su Ran rose one after another.

"Your Majesty, Su Ran's actions are truly disrespectful and unworthy of Your Majesty's grace!"

"Yes, the people of Gucheng are suffering because Su Ran acted too hastily and used cruel methods!"

Amidst the chorus of condemnation, Liu Chan sat upright on the dragon throne, listening quietly.

He had a fair face and clear eyes that revealed a certain calmness and depth. He wore a crown on his head and a bright yellow dragon robe. The golden dragon on the robe seemed to be about to take off into the sky under the candlelight.

Liu Chan frowned slightly, tapping the armrests of the dragon throne with his fingers, thinking secretly in his heart: Su Ran is the number one scholar selected in the first imperial examination of our Han Dynasty. He went to Gucheng to survey the land, which was an important task for him. He had to check the land and population, which would inevitably affect the interests of those powerful people and some officials.

There must be some hidden story behind his impeachment.

After the ministers' voices died down, Liu Chan spoke slowly, his voice calm but with unquestionable majesty: "I already know what you said. As the top scholar, Su Ran should have acted prudently, but this land survey did cause many incidents."

At this point, there was another round of whispers in the court, with everyone guessing how His Majesty would deal with Su Ran.

"Pass on my decree. Although Su Ran's method of measuring farmland in Gucheng was inappropriate, considering that he had just entered the official career and measuring farmland is inherently difficult, and he may have offended many people, I will deduct his salary for three years as a warning to others." As soon as Liu Chan's words came out, the court suddenly became quiet. No one expected that His Majesty's punishment would be so light.

"Your Majesty, this punishment is too light and may not convince the people!" Zhang Heng stepped out again with an anxious look on his face, and he knelt down with a plop.

"Su Ran's mistake concerns the lives of ordinary people and the stability of the Han Dynasty. How can we let it go so easily?"

Liu Chan smiled slightly, glanced at the ministers, and said, "Don't worry, my dear Zhang, I haven't finished yet. Although Su Ran made mistakes, he is not afraid of the powerful and dares to implement the land measurement. His heart is commendable. I will reward him with another 100 gold coins to encourage him to act more cautiously in the future and continue to serve our Han Dynasty."

As soon as these words came out, there was an uproar in the court. "This... this back and forth, isn't it equivalent to no punishment?"

"Your Majesty, what is the purpose of this action?" The officials whispered to each other, their faces full of confusion and dissatisfaction.

Liu Chan looked at the reactions of his ministers and understood in his heart that these officials were impeaching Su Ran on the surface, but in fact it was because the land measurement issue affected their interests, and they wanted to use this as an excuse to stop the Han Dynasty from measuring land.

He coughed lightly, and when the court was quiet, he slowly said: "My dear ministers, since I ascended the throne, I have been determined to revitalize the Han Dynasty and let the people live and work in peace and contentment. Land measurement is the foundation of the prosperity of our Han Dynasty. Only by checking the land and population clearly can we levy taxes reasonably, reduce the burden on the people, and enhance national strength. Although Su Ran made mistakes, his starting point was good. If I punish him severely, who will dare to share my worries and work for the Han Dynasty in the future?"

Liu Chan's voice gradually became louder, and his eyes revealed firm determination.

At this time, Prime Minister Zhuge Liang, who was standing aside, nodded slightly, with a hint of appreciation in his eyes.

He stepped forward and said, "Your Majesty is wise. The land survey is related to the foundation of the country. Although there are twists and turns, it cannot be abandoned halfway. After Su Ran's experience, he will surely act more prudently in the future. Your Majesty's decision this time not only punished his mistakes, but also gave him encouragement. It is really a win-win strategy."

With Zhuge Liang's support, the voices of opposition in the court gradually weakened.

But some officials were still unwilling to give in. They had gloomy faces and flickering eyes, and were thinking about how to continue to resist the land transfer.

After retiring from court, Liu Chan returned to the inner palace, sat in his study, and fell into deep thought.

He was well aware that the road to land measurement was fraught with difficulties. Not only would he have to face resistance from local tyrants, but he would also have to balance the various forces in the court.

Su Ran’s matter is just the beginning, and there will be more challenges waiting for him in the future.

But he had a firm belief in his heart, that is, he must make the Han Dynasty rise again and let the people live a good life.

At this time, Su Ran felt mixed emotions after receiving the punishment and reward from the court.

He knelt on the ground, looking towards the capital, his eyes full of gratitude and guilt.

I am grateful for your Majesty's tolerance and trust, and I feel guilty for the mistakes I made during the land measurement process.

He secretly vowed to be more cautious in the future, live up to His Majesty's expectations, and continue to work hard for the Han Dynasty's land management business.

On the land of the Han Dynasty, the land measurement is still going on. Although it is full of difficulties and obstacles, Liu Chan's firm determination is like a bright light, illuminating the road of reform. The turmoil in the court is just a small episode on the long journey. The fate of the Han Dynasty is quietly changing with the progress of the land measurement...

(End of this chapter)