Longzang

Chapter 749 Strategies for Governing the Territory
During the three months of great changes within Qingming, Wei Yuan shuttled back and forth between the northern mountain gate, Qingming, and the five southwestern prefectures of Jin Kingdom, wishing he had a teleportation array to get there instantly.

However, these ultra-long-range formations are all immortal formations, and they require transit through grotto-heavens. The higher the cultivation level, the greater the consumption. Although Wei Yuan is currently in the Dharma Aspect stage, the consumption of standing on the teleportation array is calculated based on the Ascension Realm. The teleportation fee is so high that it hurts him, so he can only rely on his physical body to fly.

The new system has been operating well since March.

Wei Yuan also established special courts in each major city to handle disputes among ordinary people and cases of all sizes. The courts would first review the cases in the everyday context; those that were clear and uncontroversial would be judged directly, while major cases or those with significant disputes would be reviewed by the newly established Censorate.

The Censorate was established in Ding'an City and was headed by Bao Yun. No matter how difficult the case, or how cunning and ruthless the parties involved, no secret could be kept from Bao Yun's wondrous appearance.

In addition, Wei Yuan established a circuit court, which regularly traveled to various towns and villages to handle local cases.

Now all cases are handled by the Criminal Court, and the jurisdiction of the local officials has been taken back. At the same time, any ordinary citizen can file a complaint with the Circuit Criminal Court. From then on, the local officials have lost most of their power and have no room to maneuver.

With these multiple measures combined, the chaos that had just begun to emerge in the Azure Netherworld was finally nipped in the bud. Wei Yuan's aura and fortune increased day by day, and in the blink of an eye, it broke the million mark again.

By the time everything was completed, it was late autumn or early winter. That day, Wei Yuan was diligently studying the Five Elements Daoist Art of War when suddenly a thought struck him; he sensed someone requesting an audience at the courtyard gate. A quick scan with his divine sense revealed that it was Yuan Qingyan and Niu Jinbao.

These two, along with several county magistrates who were originally sent as cannon fodder, have now become the backbone of Wei Yuan's governance of the region. This time, Wei Yuan's focus is on Qingming, and he plans to gradually conquer the five southwestern prefectures. Therefore, he first sends these people there. Yuan Qingyan is in charge of the affairs of the five prefectures, while Niu Jinbao and others are each responsible for one prefecture to scout ahead and understand the local situation before making any further moves.

Three months passed in the blink of an eye, and they had returned to report on their progress. Wei Yuan then invited them in and seated.

After exchanging greetings, Yuan Qingyan said first: "This time, I was ordered by you, sir, to go with General Cui to take over all military affairs in the five southwestern prefectures. General Cui was in the open, while I disguised myself and spent two months traveling to all the key places in the five prefectures. I also carefully inquired in various places and bribed some minor officials in key positions. Finally, I have roughly figured out the situation of the five prefectures. This is the list, sir, please take a look."

Wei Yuan took the list and saw that it was densely packed with information on the population, resources, terrain, army, aristocratic families, and officials of the five prefectures. The data was detailed and comprehensive, showing that a great deal of work had been done and that they had not been idle for three months.

Of the five prefectures, two were on the periphery of the Xu family's influence, while the remaining three were intricately intertwined with powerful clans, including the Xu, Cui, and Zhao-Li families, as well as the estates of upright officials and capital officials led by the Left and Right Chancellors. Among the five prefectures, the Left Chancellor alone had 1.8 million mu of land that had been verified, while the Right Chancellor had less, but still 900,000 mu.

The combined landholdings of the Qingliu officials in the capital exceeded ten million mu, accounting for 40% of the five prefectures. The landholdings of the aristocratic families also exceeded ten million mu, accounting for 40%. The remaining 20% ​​was largely in the hands of wealthy officials and powerful monk families, leaving ordinary people with virtually no land.

The taxes collected from the noble families and the elite were minimal; the combined tax revenue from the five prefectures was less than one million taels of silver, equivalent to less than one tael of silver from twenty acres of land. The mines, local specialties, and even the mulberry silk industry that Wei Yuan had spent nearly two years promoting, were all included in this one million taels.

Local wealthy officials paid slightly more taxes, but not by much. They could always find a powerful or influential family to rely on, and when tax collection became urgent, many simply joined the ranks of these powerful or influential families.

After reviewing Yuan Qingyan's list, Wei Yuan took out another document containing data recorded in the official register. Putting the two together, the problem immediately became apparent.

The officials in the capital who were in power actually discovered at least ten million mu of farmland, while the official registers only recorded four hundred thousand mu. The discrepancy was so huge that even Wei Yuan was speechless.

Wei Yuan shook the two sheets of jade paper and exclaimed, "How could they dare to conceal over ten million mu of land as only four hundred thousand mu? Do they think everyone in the world is blind?"

Having been immersed in officialdom for a long time, Yuan Qingyan said, "The officials who speak out are all upright and honest. As long as they turn a blind eye, then Your Majesty will not be able to see it either. As for whether the people of the world are blind or not, it doesn't matter at all. Even if they see it, they can't say anything or it can't reach the ears of the Emperor. It's better for them to be truly blind so as not to feel heartbroken from seeing too much."

Wei Yuan then examined the army. There were 200,000 garrison troops in the five prefectures, all regular soldiers. In addition, there were 500,000 registered militia, making for a formidable force. However, it was uncertain how many were actually soldiers. Yuan Qingyan said, “I selected three military camps in each of the five prefectures and secretly infiltrated them to investigate. I found that the actual number of soldiers was generally around 20%, with 10% being able-bodied men and 10% being the elderly, weak, sick, or disabled.”

"There are also strong, muscular men?"

Yuan Qingyan said, “These people are the face of the army. When the superiors come down to inspect, they need to be on guard at the city gates and other places to deal with bandits and refugees in the territory. As for the old, weak, sick and disabled, they are useful in their own way. The old and weak were used to make up the numbers when they were in training. They don’t get much money. Many of them just need to be given a meal. With them, the army can look imposing. The disabled show that the army cares for its soldiers. Even if they are wounded or disabled on the battlefield, they will still stay by their side.”

Wei Yuan was somewhat surprised: "You even know how to win over the troops? You're quite something!"

Yuan Qingyan shook his head: "No, these wounds are for the superiors to see. When those upright officials see these wounded soldiers, they will naturally think that their subordinates love their soldiers like their own children. Then, they will have the wounded soldiers tell their stories of injury before the banquet. As a result, the scholars at the table will all seem to have experienced the battlefield. Everyone will be deeply moved, some drinking, some composing poems. Of course, after sobering up the next day, everything will be the same as before."

Wei Yuan remained silent for a moment before saying, "I have learned a lot."

Yuan Qingyan chuckled and said, "I did the same thing back then, otherwise I wouldn't have become a prefect."

The regular army only makes up 10%, and the situation for the militia is not much better.

Wei Yuan asked, "Have all the checkpoints been set up?"

Yuan Qingyan said, "Checkpoints have been set up at the main intersections leading to all directions in the five prefectures. Currently, as instructed by the lord, only small merchants and vendors are taxed, and the caravans of aristocratic families and upright officials are not being monitored. Therefore, the operation is proceeding smoothly. In fact, the amount of freight passing through the customs has been reduced by 40%."

Wei Yuan calculated the time, pointed to the northern border of the five prefectures, and said, "The imperial court's winter pay is coming soon. Tell Cui Yu to intercept it at the border. From now on, this military pay will belong to us. We cannot let a single tael of silver fall into the hands of outsiders. If necessary, we can use force. It doesn't matter how many people we kill. I only want the winter pay!"

Yuan Qingyan cupped his hands in greeting: "General Cui will be notified in two days."

Wei Yuan glanced at the map again and said to Niu Jinbao, "This prefecture you're in charge of is going to be tough!"

Niu Jinbao immediately stood up and said, "This county is mainly inhabited by the families and protégés of upright officials in the capital. They are all bad-tempered and stubborn, protecting each other and helping their relatives instead of those in the right. It is indeed difficult to make a move against them."

Wei Yuan said, "Well, if it's tough, then tough it out. Your prefecture has eight main roads leading to the surrounding areas. Set up checkpoints at all of them. Take 80% of the goods from all passing caravans, regardless of their status, and use the proceeds as military funds. This will inevitably lead to conflict."

Find another remote checkpoint, kill some bandits and prisoners, dress their corpses in our military uniforms, and claim that the checkpoint has been destroyed and our people have been killed. Then, under the pretext of apprehending the murderers, arrest the entire families of the most stubborn and troublesome locals.

Then, on the pretext of dereliction of duty and ineffective governance, arrest all the deputy commanders of the garrison in the prefecture. Once they are arrested, immediately send them to our garrison camp for detention. I will send men to assist you; the action must be swift, understand?

Niu Jinbao immediately patted his chest and said, "Don't worry, sir! I'm an expert at framing people!"

(End of this chapter)