Three Kingdoms: A Million Soldiers Grown from the Fields

Chapter 141 Xun Yu and Guo Jia

Upon entering the county government office, Xun Yu and Guo Jia once again sensed something different.

The interior of the government office was equally simple, but the layout was reasonable, and the officials walking around hurriedly but in an orderly manner.

Everyone seemed to have something on their mind; they greeted each other with nods and there was no idle chatter or noise.

Wooden signs hung under the eaves, bearing the names of officials such as "Household Affairs Officer," "Works Officer," "Judicial Officer," "Warehouse Officer," and "Military Affairs Officer."

This structure of dividing affairs into departments is clear, efficient, and far surpasses that of a typical county government office.

"Wenruo! It really is you."

In the main hall of the county government, Han Ji smiled with delight at Xun Yu, who had been led in.

"Is Gongda still well?"

He put down his official duties, stood up, and clasped his hands in greeting.

Xun Yu also smiled and, after stepping into the main hall, cupped his hands and replied, "Gongda has gone to Luoyang and is currently making friends with scholars from all walks of life. Everything is fine."

Han Ji's face showed a hint of reminiscence: "It's good that you're all well. I haven't seen Gongda for seven or eight years, and I miss him very much. Wenruo has also grown into a handsome young man in the blink of an eye. Time waits for no one."

"This must be Fengxiao, I often hear Zhicai mention him."

His gaze fell upon Guo Jia.

Guo Jia stepped forward and bowed, saying, "Guo Jia, Guo Fengxiao of Yingchuan, greets Chief Secretary Han."

"Not at all, since we are friends, Fengxiao, you can just call me Brother Gongzhi."

Han Ji, with a kind face, greeted him and said, "Wenruo Fengxiao must be tired from the journey. Please have a seat and I will have someone serve you tea."

After saying that, he called out to the outside, and soon someone came in carrying an iron kettle from a coal stove in the corner outside the main hall.

"Come, try my Luqi tea. It was personally brewed by my lord. Although it doesn't have the strong flavor of tea soup, it has its own unique taste."

Han Ji invited the two to sit down and went down the wooden steps to personally pour them tea and water.

Xun Yu smiled and cupped his hands in greeting: "It is indeed my wish, but I dare not ask. I am only troubling you, my esteemed brother."

He knelt down on one side, and Guo Jia naturally sat down beside him as well.

"How could I possibly bother you! I've been waiting for you for so long!" Han Ji said warmly.

"Here, have some tea to refresh yourself."

The boiling water collides with the tea leaves, and the tea leaves unfurl in the cup, giving it a rather refined feel.

“Brother Gongzhi.” Guo Jia, being impatient, couldn’t help but ask as soon as he sat down, “We saw and heard quite a lot on the street just now.”

But when asked about the tax system, most of the locals became wary.

Han Ji smiled slightly: "Fengxiao, are you interested in Luqi's tax system?"

"It's not just the tax system. We've come all this way and seen that Luqi is both similar to and different from other places. We're really eager to learn more, so we'd like to ask you, Brother Gongzhi, to enlighten us."

Guo Jia was a little impatient.

Xun Yu chuckled to himself upon seeing this, though he was also incredibly curious.

I picked up the teacup, which had been filled and refilled with water, and smelled it. The delicate aroma of the tea was indeed quite unique.

“I would also like to ask you, Brother Gongzhi, for clarification.”

"Haha, alright, since Wenruo Fengxiao wants to hear it, then I will tell you."

Han Ji laughed heartily, handed the iron-spouted kettle to the clerk, and returned to his seat.

“Let’s start with the tax system.” He held up one finger.

"The tax system of Lüqi only includes the major taxes set by the imperial court."

"After my lord passed away, he abolished all the exorbitant taxes and levies imposed in various regions and only implemented the imperial tax system."

"Another reason why the local people don't tell you is that the land tax here is seven-tenths of the total."

"Seven out of ten!?" Guo Jia's eyes narrowed.

Xun Yu was also surprised: "Isn't this like skinning someone alive?"

Han Ji chuckled and shook his head: "But what if after taking seven out of ten, the remaining three belong entirely to the farmers, and there are no other taxes?"

The two paused for a moment, then quickly calculated the result in their minds.

Xun Yu took a sip of tea and murmured, "This 'seven-tenths' tax sounds harsh, but if the remaining thirty percent truly belongs to the common people and other taxes are waived, it would be a benevolent policy."

"That's true," Guo Jia said. "Exorbitant taxes and levies are what really kill people."

"The reason why the lord abolished the exorbitant taxes in Luqi was to reduce the burden on the people and encourage land reclamation."

"With the new government established and everything in need of rebuilding, and the population newly gathered, only by reducing taxes and corvée labor can we quickly stabilize the people's hearts. However, although miscellaneous taxes have been abolished, the levy of seven-tenths remains harsh. After this year's tax grain is deposited, this levy will be gradually reduced in the following years."

"Zhang Zhonglang is indeed kind and benevolent," Xun Yu said admiringly, taking another sip of tea.

Guo Jia, however, was more concerned about Lü Si's differences. He asked, "When we entered the county government office, we saw various departments set up under the covered bridge. What are these departments for?"

"This?" Han Ji took a sip of tea and continued.

"The purpose of setting up various departments is to allow clerks to focus on handling one or two tasks, thus avoiding the possibility of errors due to overlapping tasks."

"The Household Registration Officer was mainly responsible for household registration, census, and record keeping."

"The official in charge of the Ministry of Works is responsible for overseeing the construction of all industries."

“The head of the granary.”

"As for the Chief Justice," he paused, then said seriously,

"It was established by the lord, specializing in civil and criminal litigation, independent of other affairs of the county government. The chief official is directly appointed by the lord and is only responsible to the lord and the law."

It had legal officials, clerks, and runners under it, who were responsible for investigating and collecting evidence, recording case files, summoning witnesses, and executing judgments.

We strive to ensure that "all disputes are heard, all cases are judged, and all judgments are made fairly."

A glint of light flashed in Xun Yu's eyes: "Judicial independence, free from the constraints of local tyrants or the administration... this is truly a great thing!"

But...it won't be easy to implement, will it?

"It really wasn't easy," Han Ji said frankly.

"Initially, there was considerable resistance due to local malpractices and personal relationships, but the lord was determined and personally oversaw the handling of several thorny cases involving the legacy of powerful clans. He was decisive in his actions, clear in his punishments, and established his authority among the people."

Meanwhile, the selection of legal officials prioritizes impartiality, adherence to the law, and fearlessness in the face of powerful figures. Now, after half a year of operation, it is gradually becoming well-established and enjoys a high reputation among the people.

Guo Jia admired him, but still kept asking questions like a studious child: "What are work points?"

Han Ji chuckled and explained, "This was also established by our lord, considering that all industries need to be developed, and the labor required for government-run workshops, mines, city construction, road repair, etc. is enormous."

If all payments are made in cash, firstly, there is a concern that the circulation of currency is insufficient, and secondly, the value of currency is easily affected by external factors.

Therefore, the lord implemented the 'work point system'.

Those who contribute to state-run industries will have their work recorded as "work points" according to the amount of work, the technical difficulty, and the length of time worked. "These work points are neither money nor grain, so how do they circulate?" Xun Yu asked, showing his great interest in this novel system.

"Work points themselves are not circulated; they are only recorded in the archives of the county government's Works Department," Han Ji explained in detail.

"Workers could use their work cards to regularly visit the 'work point exchange office' designated by the county government to exchange their work points for necessities such as grain, cloth, salt, ironware, farm tools, and even honeycomb briquettes."

The exchange rate is regularly announced by the county government based on the cost of each product and market conditions, and is relatively stable.

In this way, workers can directly exchange their earnings for their necessities, eliminating intermediaries and the risk of currency devaluation, thus ensuring their basic living standards.

At the same time, the county government could more effectively coordinate resources and quickly transform labor output into construction power. For example, much of the stone used for city construction, fuel for brick making, and raw materials for honeycomb briquettes were paid to the laborers involved in mining and transportation in the form of work points.

"Brilliant!" Guo Jia clapped his hands in admiration. "Using existing tangible assets as collateral to convert the virtual into the real, and the real into the virtual, not only avoids the problems of insufficient currency and devaluation, but also directly converts labor into construction resources and livelihood security! Isn't Zhang Zhonglang a military general?"

Xun Yu also agreed: "This method seems simple, but it actually contains great wisdom."

Firstly, it guarantees the basic livelihood of grassroots workers, allowing them to work without worries and with peace of mind.

Secondly, it greatly improved the county government's efficiency in allocating manpower and resources, avoiding intermediary exploitation.

Thirdly, work points were only used to exchange for resources controlled by the county government, which implicitly strengthened the county government's authority and control over the economy.

However… the operation of this system places extremely high demands on the county government's organizational capabilities, resource reserves, and logistical allocation; the slightest mishap will result in a loss of public trust.”

"Wenruo's insight is truly remarkable; his words hit the nail on the head," Han Ji praised.

"The success of this system is entirely due to the support of Lüchi's current pillar industries. Taoyuan Winery is highly profitable and is an important source of money and grain. The coal mines have huge output, which not only supplies the local area but also generates profits from exports. Lüchi's agricultural and livestock output is stable and can provide a large amount of meat, eggs, poultry, and livestock. In addition, the newly opened honeycomb briquette workshops, brick kilns, and lime kilns ensure that resources are relatively abundant."

Furthermore, the lord highly values ​​good governance and efficiency, and the departments of Works and Granaries operate with perfect efficiency, which is essential to maintaining this system.

Even so, it's essential to maintain a constant balance.

Just then, steady footsteps came from outside the door. Han Ji's ears twitched and he immediately stood up: "My lord is back."

Xun Yu and Guo Jia also quickly got up and straightened their clothes.

A tall and upright young general walked in.

He was dressed in black casual clothes, without armor, with a handsome face and deep, calm eyes. He had an air of profound composure as he walked. This was Zhang Xian.

"Xun Yu (Guo Jia) of Yingchuan pays his respects to Zhang Zhonglang!" Xun Yu and Guo Jia bowed respectfully.

Zhang Xian was taken aback for a moment, then revealed a gentle smile and quickly stepped forward to help them up: "Mr. Wenruo, Mr. Fengxiao, please rise! I have long heard of Zhicai's talent, and seeing him today, I can see that he truly has an extraordinary bearing!"

His voice was clear and bright, and his attitude was humble, without any arrogance.

But inside, I was pounding with excitement.

Xun Yu was Cao Cao's anchor. As long as he was in charge of the rear, the rear would not be in chaos. Historically, when Cao Cao's rear was on fire and Chen Gong and Zhang Miao betrayed him, attracting Lü Bu, if it weren't for Xun Yu's wisdom, Cao Cao would probably have had to withdraw from the scene.

Guo Jia was a mixed bag, but at his age he was able to correct his bad habits.

He quickly and briefly reviewed it in his mind.

"Thank you, General Xie." Xun Yu and Guo Jia stood up.

Upon closer inspection, Zhang Xian's extraordinary demeanor becomes even more apparent; his composure reveals a sharp edge, and his gentleness conceals an air of authority.

They sat down again.

Zhang Xian got straight to the point: "I have only been governing this place for a year, and many of my measures may be inadequate or novel. I hope you two gentlemen will not hesitate to give me your guidance."

Xun Yu cupped his hands and spoke earnestly: "General, you flatter me. I and Fengxiao have traveled together and have observed that the fields of Si are lush and the cities are prosperous. The people live in peace and the government is clean and efficient. Furthermore, I have heard that you, General, have reduced taxes and levies, upheld the law, and pioneered the work-point system. Your policies are beneficial to the people and practical, which is truly admirable."

Such achievements in governance are rare even among the wealthy counties of Bingzhou, let alone the border regions. I dare not presume to offer my guidance; I have many questions and wish to consult the General of the Household.

“Oh? Mr. Wenruo, please go ahead.” Zhang Xian said sincerely.

Xun Yu pondered: "With the local powerful clans deeply entrenched in their networks, how can the judicial office ensure its independent adjudication without interference and with orders being strictly enforced? And how can it select and train competent legal officials?"

"The independence of the judiciary depends first and foremost on the determination and support of the presiding official."

Zhang Xian stated firmly, "Whenever legal matters are involved, I will personally intervene and do my utmost to eliminate any interference."

"The primary qualities of a judicial officer are 'enlightened understanding of the law,' 'integrity,' and 'selflessness.'"

The selection process involved choosing literate and upright individuals from the military. Currently, most of the legal officers in Cao are either wounded veterans or impoverished scholars with a reputation for integrity and knowledge of laws.

After joining the company, you will be guided by experienced staff to learn practical skills in law enforcement, document processing, inspection, and adjudication.

At the same time, detailed regulations were formulated to constrain their behavior, and anyone found to have abused their power or violated the law would be punished by death.” He paused.

"Of course, this is just the beginning, and there is still a long way to go before it is perfected. If Mr. Wenruo is well-versed in the law, do you have any good ideas? I am all ears."

Xun Yu was deeply moved. Zhang Xian's emphasis on and efforts to promote judicial independence far exceeded his expectations. He cupped his hands and said, "General Zhang has thought things through thoroughly. I have no good suggestions to offer at the moment, but I hope you will persevere."

“Of course.” Zhang Xian nodded and smiled.

At this moment, Guo Jia interjected, “General, I am very interested in the work point system. It is ingenious, but the people only have work points and cannot exchange them for other goods. Doesn’t this put the people’s livelihood entirely in the hands of the county government?”
If the county government lacks supplies or the exchange rate changes, wouldn't that breed public resentment? Furthermore, if this continues, the circulation of currency among the people will cease, wouldn't it be tantamount to forming a self-contained country, isolated from the outside world?

Guo Jia's questions were sharp and insightful, directly addressing the core risks and potential drawbacks of the work-point system.

Zhang Xian looked at Guo Jia, a hint of admiration flashing in his eyes.

He tapped on the table.

Fengxiao asked the crucial question: the work point system does indeed have its limitations and risks.

Firstly, it was highly dependent on the reputation and material support capabilities of the county government. Therefore, the primary task of the county government was to vigorously develop production and ensure a sufficient and stable supply of basic materials such as grain, cloth, salt, and coal.

Secondly, the exchange ratio should strive to be fair and stable, and should be jointly discussed by the Ministry of Works, the Ministry of Warehouse, and the Ministry of Revenue, and made public and subject to supervision. Any adjustments must be explained in advance.

Third, the work point system did not completely exclude money; small-scale transactions and trade with foreign merchants could still be conducted using money.

The county government also obtained a large amount of money from the export of Taoyuan wine and coal, which was used to purchase materials that Luqi could not produce itself, or to pay foreign craftsmen.

The work-point system mainly circulated within state-run industries and large-scale projects. It was a supplementary and transitional means in a specific period and region, rather than a complete replacement of currency.

Considering the greater prosperity of commerce and the more abundant the circulation of currency, adjustments could be made gradually to increase the proportion of currency payments.

Is the work point system adopted because it is convenient?

No, actually money is the most convenient, but Luqi has iron and coal, but it has no copper and therefore cannot mint its own coins.

Each time the Taoyuan Wine business brought back goods, they brought back a small amount of copper coins and a large amount of gold ingots.

We can't just implement gold coins directly in Luqi, that would be too extravagant.

He frankly stated: "This system is like walking on thin ice and requires constant vigilance. However, since the Luqi Kingdom has just been established, there are many newly arrived migrants with no surplus wealth, making the monetary system fragile."

The work-point system can quickly organize people, get them involved in production, and earn their living expenses, preventing them from being unable to participate in construction or falling into poverty due to lack of funds. It is a powerful remedy, but also a crutch. Once the foundation is solid, people have surplus wealth, and commerce flows smoothly, this crutch should gradually be put down.

Zhang Xian's candid analysis and clear understanding of the advantages and disadvantages made Xun Yu and Guo Jia nod in approval.

This person not only has ideas, but also a clear mind and a profound grasp of reality.

"General Guo's thoughts are profound; I admire them greatly," Guo Jia said with a rare seriousness.

(End of this chapter)