Northern Prefecture Rivers and Mountains

Chapter 349 Chaos

“This land has belonged to the Cao family since the time of Emperor Yuan. How can the court investigate it at will?”

Four or five hundred members of the Cao clan, carrying various weapons, blocked the officials who were inspecting the fields. The twenty or so people at the front were clad in iron armor.

The project encountered resistance right from the start, and that resistance came from Hushu, southwest of Jiankang.

The Cao family of Jiangzuo was also a branch of the Northern Prefecture. When the gentry migrated south, Cao Yan, the seventeenth generation descendant of Cao Can, led more than 1,300 family members and clansmen south and settled in Hushu. With the recommendation of Wang Dao and Zhou Yi, he was appointed as a Hanlin Secretary by Emperor Yuan of Jin and later entered the court as a Secretary of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices.

Although so many years have passed and the Cao family's status has long since declined, even a fallen camel is bigger than a horse. Through the accumulation of several generations, they have become a powerful local force, with tens of thousands of acres of registered land and countless others unregistered.

There were also various households registered under the Cao family's name, numbering no less than three or four thousand, who were exempt from paying land taxes to the imperial court and from performing corvée labor.

The officer stepped forward and said, "This is the order of the General of Chariots and Cavalry. I urge you all not to be confused!"

"The General of Chariots and Cavalry is from our Northern Army, and my Cao family is also from the Northern Army. Seven members of our clan are in the army, and four of my sons died in battle at Xiangcheng!"

Cao Jingzhi ordered the divine tablet to be brought out.

This move made the military officers unable to bring themselves to do it. They were also from the Northern Army and had participated in the Battle of Xiangcheng. After capturing Jiankang, they were promoted to clerks in the General of Chariots and Cavalry's office.

He bowed to the altar and could only turn and leave.

The crowd cheered, "So what if he's a General of Chariots and Cavalry? We're the ones who helped him get there!"

Cao Jingzhi also became smug, thinking that the people in the General of Chariots and Cavalry's mansion were nothing special. He turned to one of the people behind him and said, "Thanks to General Luo's guidance, otherwise my family's foundation would have been taken away by outsiders!"

The man had a fierce face with a scar under his left eye, and he looked menacing. "You can all make trouble without worry. Someone above will help you. If you make a good scene, you might even be able to become an official in the court in the future."

Cao Jingzhi was taken aback, "General Luo is not a former subordinate of the General of Chariots and Cavalry, why..."

General Luo sneered, "The General of Chariots and Cavalry has suffered a relapse of his old injury and is now bedridden."

No secret can stay hidden forever. Liu Yu's serious illness and bedridden state could not be kept from those who were interested.

The matter of the land was entrusted to Liu Muzhi, but Liu Muzhi was not from the Northern Army and was only the Chief Clerk of the Chariots and Cavalry, with neither real power nor prestige.

Such reforms and innovations are inseparable from a strong monarch.

When Liu Yu fell seriously ill, all sorts of monsters and demons resurfaced and stirred up trouble.

If Liu Yu hadn't been seriously ill, Cao Jingzhi wouldn't have dared to provoke such a tiger even if he had ten times the courage. Sima Xiu, Wang Yu, Wang Kai, and Diao Kui were all exterminated along with their entire families. Three days ago, even the Prince of Wuling and General Sima Zun had his entire family wiped out...

"The fierce tiger has become a sick cat, hahaha..." Cao Jingzhi laughed loudly.

Unexpectedly, General Luo cast a cold glance at him, and his laughter stopped abruptly. "If you want to live longer, don't ask what you shouldn't ask, and don't say what you shouldn't say."

"General, rest assured!" Cao Jingzhi was sweating profusely. These men from the General of Chariots and Cavalry's mansion were like demons, sending chills down one's spine...

Jiankang.

Liu Yu did not attend court for several days in a row, and Liu Muzhi was left to fend for himself, while the resistance he encountered in the campaign against the enemy grew stronger and stronger.

Even many of the Northern Army soldiers had grievances.

Liu Muzhi planned to bypass Jingkou and Guangling and first implement the land tax in the eight counties of the Three Wu regions. However, this unexpectedly aroused the opposition of Yu Xiaofu, a gentry from the Wu region. Yu Xiaofu wrote to the court, denouncing it as an evil law and requesting the court to reduce or exempt the land tax in the eight counties of the Three Wu regions so that the people could rest.

During the chaos caused by bandits and rebels, the population of the eight prefectures in the Wu region was dwindling, and land taxes relied entirely on the support of powerful clans.

Yu Xiaofu claimed to be acting for the common people, but in reality, he was acting for the interests of the powerful and wealthy families of the Wu region.

But if they disagree, it will push these people to the opposite side...

"Although the land reform is beneficial to the country and the people, it is important to consider the timing. Now that Huan Chu has just been destroyed, the people are suffering, and it is not advisable to launch a large-scale war."

Meng Chang was born in Anqiu, Dongguan, and was considered a fellow townsman of Liu Muzhi, who was born in Ju County, Dongguan.

Many matters concerning land acquisition had to go through the Ministry of Personnel, and involved dealing with Meng Chang, who was the Minister of Personnel.

Liu Muzhi's eyes shone brightly. "The General of the Flying Cavalry has wiped out Huan Chu, and the General of the Chariots and Cavalry has eliminated the Wang family of Taiyuan, thus intimidating the powerful families. Isn't this the best time?"

Meng Chang smiled slightly, "Recently, I have recommended you to His Majesty and the Prince of Langya many times. Daohe has the talent of a king's advisor. How can you be relegated to the position of a mere clerk? This empire ultimately belongs to the Sima family, not the Liu family. When the government is returned to His Majesty in the future, how will Daohe conduct himself?" The impact of Liu Yu's old wounds recurring was far greater than the deterrent effect of Sima Zun's execution of his entire family.

Meng Chang was both trying to win him over and threatening him.

Ultimately, the world belongs to the Sima family. Once Liu Yu falls, Liu Muzhi's life, fortune, and future will all be lost.

Conversely, if he agrees, the Liu family of Ju County will be enjoying wealth and prosperity.

If it were anyone else from a humble background, they would have obediently submitted after such intimidation and enticement. But Liu Muzhi remained unmoved. He advised Minister Meng not to trap himself in his own trap. The General of Chariots and Cavalry only suffered a minor injury. He should rest and recuperate. If things succeed in the future, how will Minister Meng face himself?

In essence, Liu Muzhi was not Liu Yu's man, but rather a former subordinate of Liu Daogui.

Only he knew Liu Daogui's strength. As long as Liu Daogui still held military power, these people wouldn't be able to cause any trouble.

Liu Daogui not only held military power in the Northern Army, but also rebuilt the Western Army.

With control of Yan, Yu, Xu, and Jing provinces, and occupying most of the Central Plains, their military might surpasses that of the past.

If Liu Yu's three battles at Xiangcheng, Jingkou, and Fuzhoushan hadn't been so dazzling that they overshadowed Liu Daogui, the person sitting in Jiankang might not have been so famous.

"Daohe remains so stubbornly unenlightened. Well then, we'll wait and see." Meng Chang said with a half-smile.

With the news of Liu Yu's serious illness spreading, the forces supporting the Jin dynasty gained considerable strength.

This showed the aristocratic families another possibility.

Liu Mu waved his sleeve and said, "I'm sorry I won't see you off any further."

"Farewell."

No sooner had Meng Chang left than his subordinate general Luo Bing rode back to the yamen and shouted from afar, "Reporting to the registrar, in Hushu... there has been a peasant uprising; they are driving away the officials surveying the land!"

"Is that so?" Liu Muzhi frowned.

The task of pacifying the land was a major one entrusted to him by Liu Yu, as it was related to the future Northern Expedition.

Unexpectedly, the policy was only implemented around Jiankang before it sparked a popular uprising.

"You have three hundred men, why don't you quell the rebellion?" Liu Muzhi's gaze fell on Luo Bing, his face full of suspicion.

Ordinary people, upon seeing the Northern Army, were like mice before a cat, utterly daring not to resist.

Luo Bing was transferred to Liu Yu's command. He had three hundred elite troops from the Northern Army under his command, and he could run rampant in Jiangzuo. Yet he couldn't even deal with a few rebels.

Liu Muzhi was no ordinary civil official. During his time as the chief clerk of Langya, he had come into contact with all sorts of strange and monstrous people. With his keen eye, he could naturally see that this subordinate general had a problem.

"Your subordinate..." Luo Bing was speechless for a moment, lowering her head and not daring to meet Liu Muzhi's gaze.

In which year did you begin to follow the General of Chariots and Cavalry?

"In the fifth year of the Long'an era, I served under the General of Chariots and Cavalry in Kuaiji to defend against the demon bandits," Luo Bing answered honestly.

"So, you are from the Luo family of Kuaiji?"

"Yes!"

The Luo family was a prominent clan in Kuaiji. During the Eastern Wu period, they produced a famous minister named Luo Tong, who led troops to garrison Ruxuwu and, together with Zhu Huan, defeated Cao Ren, making him famous throughout Jiangzuo.

If Luo Bing was caught in the mud, then he was definitely not alone.

The deeper Liu Muzhi thought about it, the more chilled he became. Even Liu Yu's troops were in trouble, so how could Tu Duan continue?

His voice suddenly softened, "General, you've worked hard. Go and rest. I will send someone to investigate the matter of the rioters in Hushu."

"Thank you, Registrar." Luo Bing bowed and withdrew.

(End of this chapter)