Fu Shanhe

Chapter 477 Locust Plague
Songjiang Mansion.

After glancing at the official document sent by the government office, Yan Mingyu threw it into the trash can.

The imperial court is in financial difficulty, and there are starving people everywhere in the northern border regions. What does that have to do with him?

The Yan family's vast wealth was accumulated through the hard work of their ancestors.

Even if I'm going to splurge, I'll splurge myself; I absolutely cannot let others benefit from it.

"Sir, this situation is special."

I heard that the imperial court has dispatched an imperial envoy to various provinces to collect taxes, and he will arrive in Songjiang Prefecture soon.

"We're a big target; if we don't make some gesture, we might not get through this."

The old butler offered a tactful reminder.

"Ok!"

"Prepare a generous gift for the newly arrived imperial envoy, but payment of back taxes is out of the question."

My Yan family is a prominent clan, with more than ten members serving as officials in the imperial court. I don't believe the newly arrived imperial envoy will show us absolutely no respect.

Despite his tough words, Yan Mingyu was still somewhat uneasy inside.

In previous years, when the White Lotus Rebellion was suppressed, the noble clique wielded their butcher's knives in Jiangnan, which truly shocked many people.

Even now, I still can't help but feel lingering fear.

However, the tax evasion operation was launched jointly by the gentry of Jiangnan, which gave him confidence.

As the saying goes, the law does not punish the masses; even if the imperial envoy came, he could not go against the entire gentry group.

"Sir, this is probably not enough."

The pressure from the imperial court is immense. If the imperial envoy is unyielding and insists on collecting taxes, we can't personally intervene.

Even if you win by showing off like this, it will leave an impression on the court that you don't care about the overall situation.

It's possible that clan members who hold official positions in the imperial court will also be affected.

If it affects my career, then it's not worth it.

The old steward tried to persuade him again.

Influenced by Confucian culture, the doctrine of the mean has long been ingrained in our bones.

Being the first to stick one's neck out is something to avoid if possible. If it's unavoidable, one should try to minimize one's presence.

Essentially, this tax evasion was a test of the imperial court by the gentry of Jiangnan.

Although the law does not punish the masses, the imperial court can still select unlucky individuals to make an example of.

The more enthusiastically you jump around now, the greater the chance of bad luck later.

“You’re right, it’s not appropriate for the Yan family to get involved in this kind of thing.”

They spread the word, inciting the petty gentry to cause trouble.

Especially those scholars we sponsor, now is the time for them to contribute!

Pick a few dimwits and encourage them to take the lead.

Then arrange for some local ruffians to respond to their actions, and have the imperial envoy petition them as soon as he arrives.

"We need to be discreet; these people can't be openly associated with us."

Yan Mingyu thought for a moment and then said.

By not getting involved personally, no matter how far things end up, it will remain within a controllable range.

Even if the imperial court takes drastic measures, only some pawns will die, and it will have nothing to do with the Yan family.

Similar operations are constantly being staged across the Jiangnan region.

Before the imperial envoy even arrived, the anti-tax army had already quietly assembled.

While everyone's attention was drawn to the rain, no one noticed that the Jiangnan region had only experienced two rain showers since the beginning of spring.

The situation in the northern provinces is even worse.

Perhaps it was because of last year's heavy rains that the Dragon King worked too long overtime and started his vacation mode.

The south has a dense network of waterways, and water can be drawn from the river.

The north was in dire straits; the once mighty Yellow River had dried up completely.

Even drinking water became a problem for ordinary people, and large areas of crops in the fields withered and died from drought.

As insect eggs began to emerge from the soil, experienced farmers realized that something was wrong.

In the agricultural era, the most terrifying natural disaster was not drought or flood, but the inconspicuous locust.

Local officials only know how to indulge in pleasure and have no concern for the affairs of the people.

By the time the imperial court realized something was wrong, the locust army had already assembled and begun to attack in all directions.

The first to suffer are naturally Shandong, Hebei, and Henan, the three traditional main battlegrounds for locust plagues.

Faced with an overwhelming swarm of insects, human resources are extremely limited.

The locust control methods passed down from our ancestors severely tested the government's organizational capabilities and required immediate action.

Unfortunately, the bureaucratic group of the Great Yu Dynasty had long been corrupt, and the court was filled with a large number of pedantic scholars and incompetent officials.

They are all lazy and ignorant of farming, spending their days only knowing classical Chinese.

Faced with natural disasters, the only course of action was to report the disaster to the imperial court.

As to how to resolve the issue, we will follow the instructions of the imperial court.

……

Hall of Supreme Harmony.

"Due to the drought, locust plagues have occurred in many parts of northern China, and large numbers of locusts are wreaking havoc on the areas."

"My lords, do you have any brilliant strategies for controlling the locusts?"

"I am exhausted," Grand Secretary Jiang Shuhan asked.

Since receiving news of the locust outbreak, the cabinet has convened an emergency meeting to seek solutions.

Unfortunately, the imperial court received the news too late. By the time local officials reported the disaster to the capital, the locust army had already spread far and wide.

Traditional methods like burning and catching with nets are only temporary solutions.

By the time action was taken in the face of the already rampant locust swarm, it was already too late.

Unable to find a solution, the only option was to bring the matter to the imperial court for discussion.

"Prime Minister, what is a mere locust plague worth mentioning!"
The methods for controlling locusts were already recorded in books like "Qimin Yaoshu" and "Nongshu"; all that was needed was to order local governments to implement them.

The moment the white-haired old man spoke, Jiang Shuhan was furious.

As it turns out, a pedantic scholar is a pedantic scholar; his personal abilities will not increase with age.

If the locust control strategies in books like "Qimin Yaoshu" and "Nongshu" could solve the locust problem, then locust plagues wouldn't be considered the number one disaster of the agricultural era.

“Lord Cui is right. Our ancestors left us a solution long ago. We just need to follow the steps.”

The widespread disaster must be due to the lack of knowledge among local officials.

He should advise his officials to read more of the books of sages and understand the great principles of the sages…

After the Chancellor of the Imperial Academy echoed this sentiment, a group of pedantic scholars followed suit, as if they had accomplished a great feat.

These people all had one thing in common: they grew up in wealthy and powerful families, and after passing the imperial examinations, they all stayed in the capital to take up positions.

Those who have gained experience in local areas and then return to the central government are in a much better position.

Although I don't know the solution, I at least know that forcibly applying textbook knowledge won't solve the practical problem.

It is politically correct to promote the "books of sages and worthies," and even if people know that the content is unreliable, they cannot openly oppose it.

After all this commotion, the topic was completely steered off course.

However, it wasn't without its gains; through this incident, the imperial court efficiently completed a round of talent selection.

After exchanging glances, the cabinet ministers instantly labeled these pedantic scholars as "idiots."

Regardless of factional affiliation, such a "fool" should definitely not be given important responsibilities.

No one can guarantee what stupid things these people might do on a whim.

Upon closer inspection, it becomes apparent that these individuals seem to be quite favored by the retired emperor.

Almost all of them were promoted during the reign of Emperor Yongning.

"Now that we have a solution, let's implement it!"

The second-in-command, Bai Jilin, said in an annoyed tone.

Whether or not the problem can be solved is not important; the key is that the cabinet must do something in this situation.

In the imperial court, passing the buck is an essential skill.

The imperial court provided a solution, but if the locust plague was not eradicated, then it was the responsibility of the local officials.

If the lower-ranking officials want to criticize, they should criticize the person who proposed the plan. It's not that the cabinet is forcibly pushing it forward; it's entirely the will of the people in the court.

A group of Confucian scholars were making pronouncements, while the cabinet was merely going along with the trend.

The political responsibility has been pushed aside, but the court still needs to take responsibility for dealing with the aftermath of the locust plague.

Due to the locust plague, it is certain that the tax revenue from these regions this year will be unreliable.

Not only will they be unable to collect the money, but they will also have to spend another sum on disaster relief to maintain local stability. If they are unlucky and the locust plague continues to spread to other areas, the situation will become even worse.

The financial pressure on the imperial court has intensified once again.

……

Southern Zhili.

The imperial envoy, who was tasked with collecting the debt, had just arrived in the area when he received an official document from the court.

By the end, Wan Huaijin's hands were trembling uncontrollably.

Collecting taxes is already a difficult job, and once the money has entered the pockets of the gentry, it's very hard to get it out again.

On the way there, he thought of joining forces with local officials to levy an additional tax on the people, so as to fill part of the hole ahead.

The imperial court only wants money; it doesn't care who collects it from.

Once the hole is plugged, the matter is over.

After completing the task, he went back to report.

What happened next had nothing to do with him, the imperial envoy who was tasked with collecting the debt.

The situation has now changed; the north is suffering from a locust plague, greatly increasing the financial pressure on the imperial court.

Simply plugging last year's deficit isn't enough; we must also ensure that this year's taxes are paid in full.

The pressure suddenly fell on him, the imperial envoy, and now Wan Huaijin was in a dilemma.

He even considered resigning and leaving, but he immediately dismissed the idea as soon as it arose.

There are rules in officialdom, and some things you can't avoid just because you want to.

At this point, resigning his post would not only mean losing his official position, but also his life.

When the imperial court investigated, even skipping school as a child could be considered a serious crime of blasphemy against the classics of the sages.

The reason he was able to take on the arduous task of collecting taxes was mainly because he moved between various factions in the court.

In normal times, he can be friendly with anyone he meets, and everyone who sees him will say that he has a wide circle of friends.

His shrewd and worldly personality seemed perfectly suited for navigating the officialdom, but unfortunately, he didn't have the good fortune to follow.

At critical moments of intense partisan struggle, failing to take sides completely is tantamount to not taking sides at all.

The fact that they weren't killed immediately is all thanks to their good interpersonal relationships.

With various factions in the court passing the buck, the arduous task of collecting imperial taxes fell to him.

Of course, the job wasn't done for nothing; he was directly promoted to the rank of Minister of Revenue.

Unfortunately, the prefix "Nanjing" reduced his power by more than half.

Once the task is completed, the position can be officially filled.

Although the Six Ministries in Nanjing were mostly government offices for the elderly, the Ministry of Revenue was an exception.

The Ministry of Revenue in Nanjing was responsible for collecting grain taxes from the four provinces of Southern Zhili, Zhejiang, Jiangxi, and Huguang, which accounted for about half of the national tax revenue.

After tax reform, this proportion has increased to 60%.

In years when Guangdong and Guangxi provided aid to Annam and the north suffered frequent natural disasters, the proportion of these contributions in the national fiscal revenue could even reach three-quarters.

In addition, the Nanjing Ministry of Revenue was also responsible for managing the national grain transport and the national salt permit survey.

The transport of grain from the south to the capital and the issuance of salt industry permits nationwide were all handled by the Ministry of Revenue in Nanjing.

In addition, the Nanjing Ministry of Revenue was also responsible for collecting the national Yellow Registers.

It was a bit inferior to the Ministry of Revenue in the north, but it was still a position of considerable power and influence.

"Master, issue official documents to local government offices in the name of the Imperial Envoy."

They were ordered to pay all outstanding taxes within half a month, and to prepare for a thorough tax investigation!

Wan Huaijin decisively gave the order.

He's under pressure from above, and now he can only pass that pressure down to others.

If the problem can be solved, everyone will be happy.

If the task is botched, more people can be brought in to share the responsibility.

"My lord, the situation is dire."

A large number of scholars gathered outside, carrying plaques bearing the name of the sage.

Before the order could be delivered, the constables brought bad news.

Holding up a plaque bearing the name of a sage to stir up trouble was practically standard practice among scholars of the Great Yu Dynasty.

In earlier feudal dynasties, civil official families had not yet fully risen to prominence, and scholars could not enjoy as many political privileges as they do now.

Confucius's status wasn't as high as it is now.

During the Great Yu Dynasty, the power of the civil service group reached its peak, and the status of scholars also reached its zenith.

Dissatisfied with the policies of the central government, the students gathered together and went to the government office to protest, carrying a plaque inscribed with the name of the sage.

Officials often tremble with fear when faced with such situations.

If not handled properly, the consequences could range from losing one's job to complete disgrace.

In its later stages, under the manipulation of the Qingliu Group, it gradually evolved into a tool for factional struggles.

However, such major commotions usually occur in the capital.

Once they arrived in the provinces, most of the scholars with official titles studied diligently at home or in academies, hoping to one day pass the imperial examinations.

Gathering a large number of scholars is no easy task.

The number of scholars in the academies was indeed large, but the academies were also a key focus of the imperial court's supervision.

In the event of a serious incident in which a large number of students from the academy gather and cause a disturbance, the imperial court will hold the academy's leaders accountable, regardless of the final outcome.

At best, the person involved will be punished with a beating; at worst, they will be imprisoned and the academy will be shut down.

To become a renowned academy, one must not only have strong teaching abilities, but also learn to be discreet.

Those once vibrant academies have all become history in round after round of political struggles.

Most of the time, even if the academy was involved in the planning, it would bring in a large number of scholars from outside the academy in order to reduce its own visibility.

Wan Huaijin didn't know who the scholars gathered outside were, but he knew they had ill intentions.

"What are you standing there for? Quickly get the soldiers to disperse them!"

After hesitating for a moment, Wan Huaijin decisively gave the order.

Regardless of what the other party's plans are, his current status makes it unsuitable for him to meet these scholars.

Based on past precedents, whenever he made a public appearance, the scholars would make an unreasonable demand that seemed reasonable but was completely unfeasible.

"My lord, those scholars outside all have official titles and honors."

Besides, they're carrying a plaque commemorating a saint; if they accidentally offend someone, it could lead to serious trouble!

The middle-aged constable answered nervously.

Scholars held a very high status in the Great Yu Dynasty, and these low-level servants dared not provoke them at all.

Although the imperial envoy may seem to hold a high position and great power, he is ultimately an outsider.

If they cause trouble, they can simply walk away, but the local constables will be in real trouble.

"Bastard!"

"If I tell you to do it, then do it right away."

"Can't you at least put the plaque commemorating a saint away from it a little!"

Wan Huaijin couldn't help but scold him.

The scene before me filled me with a deep sense of powerlessness.

If I had known this would happen, I shouldn't have let the Imperial Guards escorting us leave.

Although being with the Embroidered Uniform Guard might damage his reputation, those people really dared to do things!

Even a weakened version of the Embroidered Uniform Guard would not hesitate to expel a group of scholars.

When I was in the capital, I would encounter similar scenes every few years.

When factional strife is intense, it can happen several times a year.

Factory Guard has extensive experience in handling such matters and knows how to resolve this thorny problem with minimal cost.

The constables in Southern Zhili were all recruited from the common people a few years ago.

Back then, the nobility were in power, and they had their own elite armed forces. If they disagreed, they could instantly turn into remnants of a rebellion and wipe out entire families.

The gentry and powerful families were terrified and dared not cause any trouble.

Naturally, there wouldn't be a farce like scholars gathering to protest, and the constables also lacked experience in dealing with such situations.

"Sir... calm down!"

"Your Excellency, I'll take care of it right away!"

……

(End of this chapter)