A Good Landlord in the Tang Dynasty: Starting from the Village Chief

Chapter 737 Defying the Imperial Decree and Attacking
In the sixth year of Wude,

September 4th.

Nearly a hundred days after the new emperor ascended the throne, two imperial edicts were formally issued by the Secretariat-Chancellery.

The maple leaves at the foot of Zhongnan Mountain have not yet turned red, but the undercurrents in Chang'an City are already surging like a tide.

Land occupation quotas were set, with each mu (unit of land area) required to pay two liters of grain for the public granary.

On Bailuyuan, in the southern suburbs of Chang'an.

At sunset, in the Li family manor, Li Yizong, the Duke of Pingkou County, returned from hunting.

"Li Si,"

Li Yizong jumped off his horse and shouted at the village head.

Li Si, hunched over, came to greet him, "Young Master, you've returned laden with spoils, you've had a very fruitful harvest!"

A pack of hunting dogs was still running around excitedly, while Li Yizong's servants on horseback carried a large amount of prey, including wild boar, deer, rabbits, and pheasants, making it a very fruitful haul.

Li Yizong jumped off his horse and said proudly, "These hounds I train are no pushovers. I bought these two gyrfalcons for fifty taels of gold each and trained them by hand for three years. Now I won't sell them for a hundred taels of gold each."

A single gyrfalcon is worth more than this entire estate.

And those greyhounds, they're also meticulously trained.

Li Yizong's hunting team cost a lot of money. In addition to the pair of magnificent gyrfalcons and dozens of Guanzhong greyhounds, he also had hawks, falcons, and a specially trained hunting crew.

Village head Li Si looked at the pair of gyrfalcons, which he had bought for fifty taels of gold each—more valuable than even a ton of gold!
How much does a mu of wheat field in this village cost?

The hunting team led by Dalang, including its hawks, hounds, slaves, and horses, would be worth several hundred taels of gold.

"Li Si, quickly have people carry all the game into the manor. First, remove the internal organs and skin them, but don't tear the skin."

"The offal will be given to the slaves and tenants on the estate as an extra meal..."

Li Si thought to himself, "This young master saves the good meat for his hounds, but only gives the offal to the servants."

“My lord, today Wannian County sent the clerk of the Household Department to the countryside, along with the village head, the village assistant, and the village head. They said they want to measure the land in our village and check the land deeds, so they can re-register and issue new deeds.”

"They also said that the imperial court issued an edict requiring the collection of two liters of millet per mu, and that we should pay the grain tax before winter."

Li Yizong sneered, "Damn it, they're even requisitioning grain from my father now? Do they think he's an easy target? Where is he?"

"They're still in the fields, checking the boundaries and measuring the acreage," Li Si said.

Li Yizong was furious.
"How dare you! A mere lowly official dares to run wild in my Prince Yi'an Manor. Do you think my manor is easy to bully?"
Does he not know that this manor belongs to me? Does he not know that I am the Duke of Pingkou County under the imperial court, that my father is the Prince of Yi'an and the Governor of Lizhou, and that my cousin is the current Minister of Works and Chancellor?
How dare they cause trouble here?

Li Yizong shouted and ordered his hunting servants to mount their horses again.

They led the charge towards the clerk who was measuring the fields.

In the wheat fields on the plateau,
Several servants followed behind Wang Lingshi, the county magistrate, with beaming smiles. "Magistrate Wang, this land belongs to the eldest son of the Prince of Yi'an's mansion, totaling five hundred mu."

“They all have land deeds, so there’s no need to go through all this trouble measuring them. Why don’t we go to the estate for tea first? I’ll have someone slaughter a sheep, and we can have mutton and some wine.”

"Five hundred acres of land?" Wang Lingshi, dressed in a crimson robe, sneered, "Do you really think you can deceive the government?"
The county authorities were already aware that this manor had been acquired in exchange for 800 mu of wheat fields. In recent years, the manor had also annexed over 300 mu of land from surrounding villagers, bringing its total holdings to over 1,100 mu.

According to further investigation,
Of these 1,100 mu of land, a considerable portion is large, measuring 360 steps per mu, and each mu is equivalent to one and a half mu of standard land.

Do you really think you can hide it?
"Just because it's not registered in the county doesn't mean we don't know?"

“You will now cooperate in measuring the land, registering it, exchanging it for a new contract, and then paying the grain to the granary accordingly, and then past transgressions will be forgiven.”

If you refuse to cooperate and deliberately obstruct the court's new policies, you will bear the consequences!

The magistrate of Wannian County was a fifth-rank official, and there were six county lieutenants who oversaw the six departments.

The assistants and scribes of the Six Ministries were low-ranking, miscellaneous officials.

But when faced with the estate of the Crown Prince of Yian, this royal official showed no fear.

He came under orders from his superior, Wang Xu, the magistrate of Wannian County.

The King of Wannian was a legend.

He once served as the magistrate of Chang'an and was ordered to lead 4,000 infantry and cavalry to Hebei to fight against Dou Jiande under the command of the Prince of Qin. He was a fierce man who was both literate and martial. He was also from the Wang clan of Taiyuan and was a cousin of the husband of the Grand Princess of Tong'an.

He was known for his strong will and fearlessness in the face of authority.

He had previously offended too many powerful figures and was demoted after a short tenure as magistrate of Chang'an, but now he has been recalled by the emperor to serve as magistrate of Wannian County.

It was his fearlessness in the face of authority that attracted people.

Wang Lingshi
But this magistrate Wang was a member of the same clan, and he had fought on the battlefield before. He was not some weak and helpless clerk; he had crawled out of piles of dead bodies on the battlefield.

"Wang Lingshi, could you possibly give my young master some face?"

Wang Lingshi didn't buy it. "I am acting on His Majesty's edict issued by the Secretariat and the Chancellery. I am doing this for His Majesty, Your Highness."
Doesn't the crown prince have to abide by the court's rules and national laws?

A thunderous roar suddenly came from afar, "Law? You bastard, you dare to talk to me about law?"

Li Yizong charged forward on horseback, his hooves flying and kicking up clouds of dust. Dozens of riders swept through the freshly watered wheat field like a whirlwind.

The lead knight, clad in fine robes and a jade belt, rode a tall horse with a bow, arrows, and wine pouch hanging beside his silver saddle. His face was contorted with anger and intoxication.
He spurred his horse and almost crashed directly into Wang Lingshi.

Wang Lingshi managed to dodge the impact by rolling over like a lazy donkey, relying on the skills he had honed in the military.

Li Yizong, however, was completely unfazed. Reeking of alcohol, he lashed out with his whip, shouting, "Where did this dog of a lackey come from, daring to run wild on my turf!"

Wang Lingshi dodged the charge of Li Yizong's horse, but not the whip.

A whip lashed across his face, leaving a bloody welt that stung painfully.

Wang Lingshi, enduring the pain, stood up straight, cupped his hands, and said, "I am Wang Ren, the Registrar of Wannian County, here by imperial decree to survey the land. Who are you, and how dare you assault a government official!"

Li Yizong raised his whip again, "Yeye is the eldest son of the Prince of Yi'an, and the Duke of Pingkou County."

He gritted his teeth when he spoke of the four characters "County Lord Pingkou".

Originally, his title was Duke of the Commandery. However, the emperor had previously issued an edict that all the princes of the imperial clan who had not rendered meritorious service would be demoted to Dukes of the County. His father, Prince Yi'an, Li Xiaochang, was among the eighteen princes whose titles were not demoted.

But he, a duke of the prefecture, was directly demoted to a duke of the county.

His brothers, who also held the title of duke, were not even granted the title of county duke; instead, they were only granted the title of viscount.

Li Yizong harbored a deep resentment.

I've angered this county official again today.

With red eyes, he lashed out with his whip.

The local village head was also whipped several times, but ignoring the pain, he quickly stepped forward and grabbed Li Yizong's whip, pleading, "Your Excellency, please calm down!"
Wang Lingshi is Magistrate Wang's cousin, and he even holds a fifth-rank official title; he can't be hit." Others also gathered around to persuade him, "Young Master, let's talk this out."

Li Yizong glared at Wang Ren and said, "Get out of here now! If you dare to cause trouble on my turf again, I'll unleash the dogs and make you their food next time."

Wang Renqi trembled with rage; he had never seen such an arrogant person.

"The county magistrate is really arrogant, daring to openly defy the imperial edict. Very well, I want to see how long the county magistrate can be so arrogant."

Li Yizong suddenly drew his sword.

The blade gleamed.
The sight caused countless people present to turn pale.

"The county magistrate cannot,"

Everyone quickly tried to stop them.

Although that person was just a minor official in the county, he was the magistrate's cousin. Not only did he have five merits, but he also came from the Wang family of Taiyuan, one of the five surnames. Even if he was a collateral descendant, he was still one of the five surnames.

Moreover, was Magistrate Wang merely a fifth-rank county magistrate in the capital? He was the brother-in-law of the Grand Princess of Tong'an.

Magistrate Wang had fought alongside the current emperor in battles.

You have to consider the owner before beating a dog, why are you drawing your sword against Wang Ren?

Upon seeing this, several clerks turned pale and quickly pulled Wang Ren away, saying, "Wang Lingshi, let's go quickly."

A wise person avoids standing under a crumbling wall, and a hero doesn't suffer immediate losses.
If this county magistrate really gets into a rash act, who would be willing to risk their neck to test the sharpness of his knife?

Wang Ren gritted his teeth and finally turned and left with the clerks.

However, as he left, he still glared fiercely at Li Yizong.

His eyes were filled with murderous intent.
This matter is not over yet.

Li Yizong felt extremely uncomfortable under that glare.

The sun sets in the west.

Li Yizong returned to the manor, took off his wine flask, and drank it down in one gulp.

That look in his eyes was unforgettable.

A vicious thought gradually formed in his mind.

Anger arises from the heart, evil comes from the courage.

Even a lowly county official dares to do this.

The servant whispered, "Brother, although Wang Ren is just a minor official, he is, after all, a nephew of Wang Xu, the magistrate of Wannian, and also a member of the Wang clan of Taiyuan."
It is better to resolve enmity than to let it fester.
"Should we send someone over with some gifts to smooth things over?"

Li Yizong, his eyes red and reeking of alcohol, glared at his trusted aide and demanded, "Are you teaching me how to do things?"

"Young ones don't dare."

"Hmph, damn it, a mere county official dares to be so arrogant just because he's from one of the Five Clans, completely disregarding me."
A county official dares to shit and urinate on my neck? This is intolerable!

"Let's just go all the way and not stop now."

A terrifying glint appeared in his eyes. "Before they've gone far, chase after them, kill them all, chop them up, and feed them to the dogs!"

"Big Brother!" the confidant exclaimed in alarm.

Li Yizong glared at him, then suddenly kicked him to the ground. "You want to ride on my neck and poop and pee too?"

"Young ones don't dare."

"Then hurry up and make the arrangements! No, I'm going with you! I want to personally chop off that dog's head!"

The next day, early in the morning.

Li Yi still rose early to attend court. Since being brought back to the capital by the emperor, his plan to become the Chancellor every few days had been thwarted.
During this period, he was on duty as the scribe of the Political Affairs Hall.
Those who are skilled can host; those who are not can be on duty.

Although he resigned from his positions as Attendant-in-Ordinary, Minister of War, and Grand Tutor to the Crown Prince, his governorship of Yongzhou was merely a nominal one.

But I'm still very busy.

The Council of State Affairs was strengthened by imperial decree. Originally, six new offices were to be added, but at the suggestion of the prime ministers, it was changed to five offices: the Office of Personnel, the Office of the Privy Council, the Office of Military Affairs, the Office of Revenue, and the Office of Justice and Rites. There was no dedicated workshop.

The emperor also ordered that the four Left and four Right Grand Counselors, as well as the Grand Censor, attend the Council of State Affairs meetings.

He also ordered that officials of the fifth rank and above in the capital take turns serving in the Inner Secretariat, both to assist the Chancellor of the State Affairs Hall in handling affairs and to facilitate the Emperor's summons and inquiries.

With the Secretariat and the Chancellery working together, the Hall of State Affairs suddenly became bustling with activity.

Li Yi, who doesn't hold the official position of Pingzhang (a high-ranking official in charge of the three provinces), now has to sit in the Hall of State Affairs to oversee things.

After the morning court session,

Li Yi returned to his inner quarters and, upon entering his office, before he could even brew a pot of tea or eat some snacks...

As a result, a scribe from behind the hall rushed in.

"Minister Situ, the magistrate of Wannian reported that Wang Ren, the clerk of the Wannian County Household Department, went to Bailuyuan to measure the fields the day before yesterday, but did not return overnight. Yesterday morning, we sent people to investigate."

After a day's search, a mutilated body was found in Jingyu Gully below Bailuyuan.

Wang Ren and his group of seven were all murdered. An investigation revealed they were shot with arrows, then mauled by dogs, and finally their bodies dumped in a ravine to be eaten by wolves…

Li Yi frowned.
"Bailuyuan is only thirty li away from Chang'an, right under the emperor's nose. Who would be so audacious?"

"Any leads found?"

The scribe behind the hall whispered, "It is said that before the incident, Wang Ren went to the estate of the county magistrate in Pingkou County on Bailuyuan to check the land area. Someone revealed that the estate was registered as having 500 mu of wheat fields, but in reality it had more than 1,000 mu, and there were also large mu being used as official mu."
The result was that they never returned, and this tragedy occurred.

"The Duke of Pingkou County?" Li Yi felt that the name sounded familiar.

"It is Li Yizong, the eldest son of the Prince of Yi'an. He was originally a duke, but was later demoted to a county duke."

Li Yi looked at the main book, "What else do you know?"

"I heard that the magistrate of Pingkou County returned to his estate on Bailuyuan from hunting in the South Mountain the day before yesterday."

Li Yizong is the prime suspect.
The suspect was Li Yi's cousin, and the matter happened to involve the new policy of surveying and measuring land and grain in public granaries.

This really does seem like a storm is brewing.

The chief scribe lowered his voice and said, "I heard that the Hundred Riders have already headed to Bailuyuan."

(End of this chapter)