The Rebellious Officials and Traitors of the Late Han Dynasty

Chapter 573 Population
The bloody three days in Kuaiji City finally came to an end. The water in the moat gradually faded from its dark red color, but the air was still filled with the rusty, fishy smell. Sima Yi stood in the study of the prefectural governor's mansion, with the Wei family mansion being searched outside the window, the firelight illuminating his sharply defined profile.

"My lord, this is the last batch of files." Wang Ling walked in carrying a stack of bamboo slips, beads of sweat still on his forehead. "The land, shops, and residences of the four great families have all been registered, but..."

Sima Yi turned around, his deep, unfathomable eyes sweeping over Wang Ling's hesitant expression: "But what?"

Wang Ling put down the bamboo slips and pulled a thin booklet from his sleeve: "While checking the population records, I discovered an anomaly. According to the official Yellow Register, the registered population of Kuaiji Prefecture should be 120,000 households, approximately 480,000 people. However, the number of servants and tenant farmers confiscated this time far exceeds expectations."

Sima Yi frowned slightly, took the booklet, and quickly flipped through it. His gaze moved rapidly between the numbers, his finger suddenly stopping on a page: "The Wei family has added thirteen thousand tenant farmers?"

“It’s not just the Wei family,” Wang Ling said in a low voice, “the Kong family, the Yu family, and the Xie family are the same. The four great families combined have added a staggering 60,000 people. These people don’t even exist in the official register; they are all ‘hidden households’ concealed by these families.”

The study fell silent suddenly, save for the crackling of the burning torches. Sima Yi tapped his fingers lightly on the table, the rhythm like a war drum. He walked to the window, gazing at the still-burning Wei family mansion in the distance, a sharp glint in his eyes.

"Wang Ling, do you know what this means?" Sima Yi's voice was as cold as ice.

Fine beads of sweat appeared on Wang Ling's forehead: "This humble official is dull-witted."

"This means that the actual population of Kuaiji Commandery is nearly one-eighth larger than the official records." Sima Yi turned around, his eyes gleaming. "These people have been hidden away by powerful clans, exempt from taxes and corvée labor, and have become the private property of these clans."

Wang Ling suddenly realized: "No wonder these powerful families were able to organize resistance so quickly! It turns out they've been secretly raising such a large population!"

Sima Yi sneered, picked up another booklet from the table, and tossed it to the other person.

"Take a look at this again. This is the annual tax record of Kuaiji Prefecture, found in Zhou Mingde's secret chamber. The accounts show consecutive years of poor harvests and insufficient tax revenue, forcing the court to reduce or waive taxes. But what's the reality?" He slammed the booklet on the table and sneered, "The taxes owed to these 100,000 hidden people have all flowed into the pockets of powerful families and Zhou Mingde!"

A gust of wind blew in through the window, causing the torches to flicker and casting Sima Yi's shadow long, like a ferocious beast about to pounce on its prey.

"My lord, this matter is of utmost importance," Wang Ling said, his voice trembling. "If all the prefectures in Jiangnan were in this state, the tax revenue lost by the imperial court would be astronomical."

Sima Yi did not answer immediately. He walked to the bookshelf, took down a map of Jiangnan, and slowly unfolded it. He drew a line from Kuaiji Commandery to Wu Commandery, Danyang Commandery, and Yuzhang Commandery, marking each of the commanderies and counties that had reported disasters.

"Wang Ling, do you still remember His Majesty's decree?" Sima Yi suddenly asked.

Wang Ling was taken aback and quickly said, "His Majesty only said to thoroughly investigate corruption in Jiangnan and punish those responsible severely."

“No.” Sima Yi shook his head, a complex light flickering in his eyes, and said calmly, “Your Majesty said back then, ‘Jiangnan has suffered from floods for years, yet it only seems to be getting better and better. I want to see who is really sucking the blood of the court.’ Now that I think about it, Your Majesty had long suspected that the powerful families of Jiangnan were concealing their population.”

Wang Ling gasped, "So this investigation into corruption related to disaster relief is just a facade? His Majesty's real purpose is..."

"Investigate hidden households." Sima Yi continued, a cold smile playing on his lips. "What a clever tactic of feigning one step while secretly advancing another. His Majesty, under the pretext of disaster relief corruption, sent me south to wreak havoc, but in reality, he wanted to dig out the people these parasites were hiding."

Silence fell again in the study. Wang Ling felt his back was soaked with cold sweat. He had thought this trip south was just a routine investigation, but he hadn't expected such a deep political scheme to be hidden behind it. Sima Yi's gaze returned to the map, and he coldly snorted, "Since there are nearly 100,000 hidden households in Kuaiji Commandery, the other commanderies probably have even more. Issue my order to expand the scope of the search, focusing on the population records of various aristocratic families. Anyone found to have concealed persons will be treated as a traitor!"

Wang Ling's heart skipped a beat, and he exclaimed in shock, "Treason? This..."

“Extraordinary times call for extraordinary measures,” Sima Yi said coldly. “These powerful families are concealing their populations and evading taxes; how is this any different from treason? What Your Majesty wants are the people; the specific charges are irrelevant.”

“Zhongda, you also come from a powerful and influential family!” Wang Ling’s face showed a complicated expression.

It wasn't just Sima Yi; Wang Ling also came from the Langya Wang clan. It was common practice for these powerful families to conceal their populations. The powerful families of Jiangnan were doing it, but weren't the Langya Wang clan and the Henan Sima clan doing it too?
If Sima Yi were to investigate the powerful families of Jiangnan at this time, he would offend even more people.

However, since this matter involved the emperor, Wang Ling did not know how to handle it.

"Who dares to disobey the emperor's command?" Sima Yi shook his head.

Wang Ling fell silent for a moment. The Tang emperor before him was no ordinary person; he was a figure who had emerged from mountains of corpses and seas of blood. He slaughtered powerful families like pigs and sheep.

Sima Yi stood alone before the map, his fingers lightly tapping the location of Kuaiji Commandery. His gaze gradually deepened, as if he were seeing into the distant future.

"Hidden households, taxes, and military manpower," Sima Yi muttered to himself, then suddenly sneered, "What a brilliant plan to kill three birds with one stone! Your Majesty, you are trying to completely sever the foundation of the aristocratic families."

He understood that the Tang emperor's move was not merely aimed at increasing taxes. These hidden people were not only a source of labor but also a potential source of soldiers. Investigating these hidden households would not only replenish the national treasury and weaken the power of aristocratic families, but also reserve soldiers for possible future wars.

Sima Yi's gaze appeared exceptionally deep in the candlelight. He slowly rolled up the map, his fingers gently stroking the bamboo slips.

"Wang Ling, convey my secret order," he said in a low voice. "Immediately seal off all passes in Kuaiji Commandery, strictly prohibiting anyone from entering or leaving. At the same time, send men to secretly monitor the movements of other aristocratic families, especially those that have formed marriage alliances with the Wei, Kong, Yu, and Xie families."

"Is Your Excellency worried that the news might leak and other powerful families would destroy the evidence?"

Wang Ling's expression hardened.

Sima Yi sneered, "Not only that. These powerful families are deeply entrenched. Once they learn that the court is investigating hidden households, they will surely act desperately. Remember, it's better to kill the innocent than let the guilty go free." A ruthless glint flashed in his eyes, filled with murderous intent.

Cold sweat beaded on Wang Ling's forehead, but he dared not utter a word. He could only bow and reply, "This humble official will take care of it immediately."

After Wang Ling withdrew, Sima Yi stood alone by the window, gazing at the still-burning firelight in the night. He understood that the Tang Emperor's actions were tantamount to declaring war on the powerful clans of the land. And he himself was nothing more than a knife in the emperor's hand.

"Your Majesty, Your Majesty, you intend to use me to sever the foundation of the aristocratic families. But what will happen after this weapon is used up?" Sima Yi muttered to himself, a bitter smile playing on his lips.

(End of this chapter)