Three Kingdoms: A Million Soldiers Grown from the Fields

Chapter 151 Taiyuan Ding

Time seemed to freeze at this moment.

The rage on Zhang Yu's face receded like the tide, leaving only a deathly pale look of fear and bewilderment.

He opened his mouth, his throat making a hissing sound like a broken bellows, and the mad rage that had threatened to destroy everything had vanished without a trace.

Exterminate nine generations of relatives... slaughter the entire family... grind their bones to dust... a sinner for all time... these words swirled wildly in his mind, gnawing at his nerves like venomous snakes.

He wasn't reckless enough; years of scheming and intrigue had made him used to weighing things carefully, which is why he was stunned by that one sentence.

If he were stupid, he should have stormed into the county government office and started killing right now, regardless of what would happen later.

His fingers, gripping the carriage window frame, were white at the knuckles from excessive force and trembling violently.

He looked into Zhao Shi's eyes, which were devoid of emotion, like a deep, cold abyss, where there was only a chilling, resolute declaration of death.

He knew this person wasn't threatening him! If he said it, he would definitely do it!

The heads that Zhang Xian hung on the walls of Jinyang are the best proof!

A crisp "clang!" was heard.

The ring-pommel sword in Zhang Fu's hand was the first to fall to the ground. His face was deathly pale. He looked at Zhao Shi, then at Zhang Yu in the carriage, who seemed to have had all his energy drained away in an instant. His legs began to tremble.

Immediately afterwards, a series of crashes followed.

Like dominoes falling, the private soldiers at the forefront dropped their knives, spears, and clubs, their fierceness replaced by immense fear.

They were working for the Zhang family for money and to intimidate the villagers, not to be executed along with their patriarch and have their bones crushed and scattered to the winds!
The group of over three hundred people, who had been so aggressive and fierce just moments before, now seemed to have lost their backbone, standing silently and frozen in place, unsure of what to do.

Only heavy breathing could be heard.

Zhao Shi remained standing in the same spot, like a cold, cast-iron statue.

The guards behind him still pointed their blades outwards, their eyes as sharp as ever, but their taut muscles had relaxed somewhat.

The people inside and outside the hall, recovering from their extreme fear, watched this dramatic reversal and saw Zhang Yu, who had been so arrogant just moments before, now looking pale as death. After a moment of deathly silence, they erupted into deafening cheers and shouts!
"Zhao Yuanshi is mighty!"

"Take down Changyu!"

This overwhelming roar became the final straw that broke Zhangyu's back.

His body swayed violently, his vision went black, and his obese body, as if all its bones had been removed, slid limply out of the carriage window, collapsed inside, and completely lost consciousness.

"Master! Master!" Zhang Fu was so frightened that he rushed into the carriage.

Outside the county, the sound of horses' hooves echoed again. The soldiers of Lüqi County, stationed forty miles outside Yangqu City, arrived just in time. They had received the secret letter yesterday and arrived last night.

Zhao Shi felt a complete sense of relief. A cold glint flashed in his eyes, and he shouted sternly, "Zhang Yu is muddleheaded and disorderly, roaring in the courtroom and letting his servants commit violence and storm the government office! The evidence is conclusive! Guards! Seize him! Take him to the county jail and keep him under strict guard! The rest of the Zhang family members must disarm immediately! Anyone who dares to resist will be killed without exception!"

"Yes, sir!" the guards of the Judicial Office shouted in unison, their voices shaking the roof tiles.

They pounced on him like wolves and tigers, dragging the unconscious Zhang Yu out of the carriage like a dead dog, and putting heavy shackles and chains on him.

Meanwhile, a group of soldiers from Luqi County, led by Taoyuan soldiers whom Zhao Shi was familiar with, took over the defense of the county government.

Those private soldiers and servants, who were already terrified, dared not resist any longer. They dropped their weapons, knelt on the ground, and trembled with fear.

A bloody conflict that could have turned Yangqu County government office into a battlefield was thus averted with a single shout from Zhao Shi.

That night, the Yangqu County government office was brightly lit, as bright as day.

Zhao Shi gave no one a chance to breathe or collude.

After imprisoning Zhang Yu and taking control of all his confidants and henchmen, he immediately ordered all the clerks of the Judicial Office, Sun Qian and all the other able-bodied clerks in the county government, plus more than a hundred county soldiers urgently transferred from Luqi, to be mobilized! Target—Zhang's mansion and all his estates, shops, and warehouses!
Seize the property! Take inventory!
There are no cumbersome procedures, and no unnecessary chatter.

Amidst the spontaneous gathering of countless Yangqu people holding torches, and under the watchful eyes of those who had just beaten drums, avenged their grievances, and whose eyes still burned with excitement and anticipation, the vermilion gate of the Zhang family, symbolizing the power of "Zhang Half-City," was smashed open with a heavy battering ram!

The moment the door opened, a complex aroma, a mixture of sandalwood, perfume, and a faint musty smell, wafted out.

However, when the officials and soldiers carrying torches poured in, the air of wealth was quickly replaced by gasps of surprise.

The first thing that catches the eye is the front yard.

Artificial hills and ponds, pavilions and towers, carved beams and painted rafters, all exuding extreme luxury.

But this is just an appetizer.

The real shock came from the warehouse.

When the heavy iron-clad wooden door of Zhang's largest and most secretive main warehouse was forcibly pried open, even the most valiant soldiers, who had witnessed the cruelty of the battlefield and personally beheaded enemies, couldn't help but shrink their pupils in shock!
The flickering flames illuminated the suffocating scene inside the warehouse.

The warehouse was enormous, several times the size of an ordinary house.

Against the wall were rows of huge rosewood frames that reached the roof beams.

The shelves were neatly categorized and piled high with a dazzling array of items.

At the innermost part, hundreds of gold ingots were neatly stacked! Each one was about the size of an adult's palm and about an inch thick. Under the firelight, they shone with a heavy, golden, and alluring luster. At a rough glance, there were no fewer than five hundred!
Beside it were dozens of open lacquered wooden boxes, filled with gold and silver ingots and silver cakes of various colors, as well as strings of "Wuzhu" copper coins, like small mountains, almost bursting the boxes! The unique metallic smell of copper coins mixed with dust permeated the air.

There were also several boxes specifically for holding exquisite gold and silver utensils—wine vessels, bowls, plates, candlesticks, jewelry… inlaid with pearls, agate, and glass, shimmering and dazzling, clearly fine items intended for gifts or personal use.

On the other side, layers upon layers of brocades and silks of various colors were piled up on the wooden shelves. The magnificence of Shu brocade, the softness of damask, the fineness of Qi silk... red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo, and violet, as if a dye vat had been overturned, dazzling and magnificent.

Most of these silks were wrapped in moisture-proof felt, piled up like mountains, their sheer quantity enough to make even the largest cloth shop in Jinyang City blush with shame.

Many of these bolts of fabric also bear the special markings of royal tribute!
More valuable items were displayed on several shelves near the entrance.

There was a golden crown inlaid with a huge luminous pearl, a pure white fox fur coat without any blemishes, and even several rare coral trees with lush green leaves placed in jade basins!
These things are clearly not something a local powerful family like Yangqu should possess; their origin is self-evident.

In the corner, many ancient bamboo slips and writing implements were scattered haphazardly.

Expensive inkstones, ink, and brushes were carelessly discarded aside like junk.

Zhang Yu, indulging in refined tastes, amassed a great deal of fine goods, but clearly did not cherish them.

"My goodness..." An old clerk in charge of counting the money trembled, nearly dropping the abacus, his voice shaking, "This...this is worth so many strings of cash..."

Meanwhile, the teams dispatched to seal off Zhang's various estates and shops also brought back astonishing news.

The land deeds and land contracts found in the Zhang family manor's accounting office and various hidden locations were piled up to several meters high!
After preliminary investigation, it was found that the Zhang family and their core vassal families had concealed, illegally occupied, or forcibly bought and sold a total of more than 23,000 mu of fertile land, forests, and ponds in Yangqu County!
This accounts for almost 40% of the total registered land area in Yangqu County! Behind every land deed lies the blood and tears of countless small farmers.

The various account books were vast, including land rent accounts, usury accounts, shop turnover accounts, and bribery accounts (which recorded in detail the "tribute" given to officials at all levels over the years, with the time, name, amount, and reason clearly stated!).

These ledgers, containing accounts of personal favors and exchanges, not only confirmed Zhang Yu and his family's various crimes of exploiting the local people, oppressing the common folk, and bribing officials, but also acted like a giant spider web, firmly attaching some officials in Yangqu and even Taiyuan Prefecture to them!

When the officials seized the Zhang family's three largest estates and granaries, they were once again shocked.

Inside the enormous granaries, golden millet and wheat were piled up like mountains, reaching all the way to the top! A rough estimate suggests that these three granaries alone held more than 15,000 shi (a unit of dry measure) of grain!

It's enough to feed all the people in Yangqu County for more than half a year! While grain prices soared last winter and this spring, the Zhang family's granary was overflowing!

This stark contrast chilled the hearts of all the officials involved in the inventory.

First came the Wang family, then the Zhang family—how similar they are to powerful clans!

The inventory work lasted for three days and three nights.

Zhao Shi worked almost non-stop, personally overseeing the work.

The clerks of the judicial office, the temporary scribes, and even some literate soldiers were all mobilized, lighting oil lamps and candles, and working diligently amidst mountains of wealth, contracts, and account books.

Lists were quickly compiled and delivered to Zhao Shi's desk.

"Clerk! The main treasury has completed its preliminary inventory! There are 947 gold cakes, over 1,000 catties of silver ingots, and high-quality Wuzhu coins... The preliminary estimate is that they are worth about 6.8 million strings of copper coins! Various gold and silver utensils, jewelry and jade artifacts... The value is incalculable, at least... at least another 4 million strings of copper coins!" A clerk's voice trembled with excitement.

"Clerk! Land statistics: Concealed, encroached upon, and illegally obtained land totals 23,674 mu! Forests, ponds, and residential lands are counted separately!"

“Clerk! The total grain reserves in all granaries are: 11,000 shi of millet, 4,300 shi of wheat, and 2,000 shi of miscellaneous grains, for a total of 17,300 shi!”

"Clerk! The seized assets and goods from various shops are estimated at approximately 500,000 strings of cash! There are also countless land deeds and property deeds used as collateral for loans, which are still being sorted out..."

As astronomical figures were reported one after another, Zhao Shi remained remarkably calm.

Is it too much?

many!
But compared to the Wang family's wealth that was seized in Jinyang that day, this Zhang family of Yangqu was nothing more than a cat or a dog.

Once again, he thought of his lord, the man Xian Ge often talked about with his fellow villagers in private.

The weakness of the common people is not due to laziness, but to the powerful landlords.

He may not have understood it clearly enough in the past, but after these several raids on his home, he finally understood it completely.

The powerful and wealthy are all giant parasites that leech off the common people!
Whether in the Central Plains or on the frontier!

When the final main list was compiled into Zhao Shi's hands, he took a deep breath, picked up his pen, dipped it in ink, and solemnly wrote down the shocking figures and a summary of the evidence on a report document that had already been prepared and sent to the Jinyang Prefectural Governor's Office.

He deliberately added at the end: "The wealth of the Zhang family surpasses that of the state and county treasuries, and their crimes are too numerous to mention! The people of Yangqu have suffered under the Zhang family for too long! Now, thanks to the might of the magistrate and the efforts of Magistrate Xun and the judicial officials, this century-old ice has been broken! All the gains from this battle—money, grain, weapons, and land—have been recorded and sealed in full, awaiting the judgment of the magistrate and the county magistrate!"

Jinyang, the study of the prefectural governor's office.

The candlelight was soft.

Xun Yu did not rest. He was discussing with Wang Lie and Chen Ji, who had just settled down, the specific regulations for promoting agriculture and sericulture, building water conservancy projects, and reorganizing the county school in Taiyuan Prefecture after the start of spring.

Gu Yu slipped in silently and gently placed a thick, sealed document bearing the wax seal of the Yangqu County Judicial Office on Xun Yu's desk.

Xun Yu stopped talking with Wang Lie, picked up the document, and removed the sealing wax.

He read quickly, his gaze sweeping across the astonishing figures and the concise yet weighty summary of the charges. When he saw phrases like "nine hundred gold cakes, and a total estimated value of ten million strings of cash in taxes and land..." his gentle, jade-like face remained calm, but a complex glint, one that he had anticipated, flickered in his deep eyes.

Wang Lie and Chen Ji noticed the subtle change in Xun Yu's expression and stopped talking, casting questioning glances at him.

Xun Yu did not explain immediately, but gently handed the document to Wang Lie.

Wang Lie took it, and after just one glance, his gaunt face revealed undisguised shock and heartache. He sighed deeply, "It's appalling... The people's hard-earned money has been used to this extent!"

He then handed the document to Chen Ji.

Chen Ji quickly scanned the document, his brow furrowed. His eyes held both anger at the crimes of the powerful and the shock at such enormous wealth. Finally, he let out a cold laugh: "Giant rats and vermin! They deserve to die! Clerk Zhao, well done!"

Xun Yu picked up the slightly warm teacup beside him, his fingertips gently stroking the delicate porcelain surface. His gaze was cast out of the window at the tranquil night sky of Jinyang City, as if he could see through hundreds of miles to the brightly lit scene of the Yangqu County government office, where crimes were being investigated.

He smiled slightly and said softly,

“If Yangqu is broken, the people of Taiyuan will be at peace.”

The execution of this villain should serve as a warning to the powerful and influential people of Bingzhou. Their wealth should be returned to the public and their land to the people. This is a solution to the urgent needs of the new policy and a cautionary tale for those who come after.

Zhao Shi, Zhao Yuanshi.

He paused, a smile of approval appearing on his face.

"He is resolute and decisive, and can be of great use. Our lord has gained another good official."

He took a sip of tea, and amidst the fragrant aroma, his voice carried a calm acceptance, as if the dust had settled: "Bingzhou, the overall situation is settled."

Inside the study, the candlelight burned quietly.

Wang Lie and Chen Ji exchanged a glance, both seeing deep shock and sincere admiration in each other's eyes for this "Xun family's prodigy" who could strategize and win battles from afar.

The complete eradication of Yangqu, this malignant tumor, not only signifies the injection of massive amounts of wealth and land into the new policy, but also demonstrates Zhang Xian's authority and his iron fist over local powerful figures.

You can't beat me in terms of military force, and you can't beat me in terms of rules either!

Two strikes, precise and vital.

Xun Yu's seemingly casual remark, "The overall situation is settled," concealed a series of intricate plans, a precise understanding of human nature, and a perfect grasp of timing.

The winds of change in Taiyuan Prefecture, and even the entire Bingzhou, were completely altered from the moment the Zhang family of Yangqu collapsed.

Xun Yu gently placed the document recording the astonishing harvest of Yangqu and Zhang Yu's heinous crimes on the table. The candlelight flickered on the plain silk, reflecting his calm face.

He turned to Wang Lie and Chen Ji, his voice calm yet carrying an undeniable weight.

"Lord Wang, Brother Yuanfang."

With the dust settled in Yangqu and Zhang Yu brought to justice, his ill-gotten gains were all confiscated and returned to the public treasury. The land he had exploited was also returned to the public register. The gains from this battle, combined with the wealth of the Wang family that the principal had entrusted to him, were truly a welcome relief for the new policies.

However, after breaking down the old, building the new is essential; the autumn harvest is just around the corner, and the off-season for farming is approaching—time waits for no one.

He lightly tapped the map of Bingzhou on the table with his finger.

"Firstly, encouraging agriculture and sericulture is the most urgent task."

Prince Wang is of high moral character and prestige, and is in charge of education; therefore, a decree to encourage agriculture should be drafted as soon as possible.

Of the land confiscated from the Zhang and Wang families, a portion of the best fertile land was allocated and given priority to rent to impoverished tenants who had little or no land.

Following the precedent set by the county government, the county government provided oxen, iron farm tools, and some improved seeds free of charge. In the first year, the county government would waive all exorbitant taxes and levies and only take 50% of the produced grain as rent. The amount would be determined based on the harvest in the following year.

This is the policy of 'granting land to the people and reducing taxes to support them,' which was specifically instructed by the lord.

The notice must clearly state that this land is not a gift, but a lease, intended to help the tenant settle down and rebuild their life.

This decree must be led by a prince or nobleman, who will dispatch capable officials to various villages to spread the word, ensuring that even women and children are aware of it.

Upon hearing this, Wang Lie stroked his beard and nodded, his eyes gleaming: "Excellent! This is the foundation for consolidating the foundation and cultivating the people. I will personally draft a proclamation, using the teaching of 'people's livelihood as the basis' as a guide, so that the villagers will know that the magistrate's benevolent rule is not limited to killing and warfare."

“Secondly,” Xun Yu turned his gaze to Chen Ji, his eyes sharp as a sword.

"The clarification of officialdom is of utmost urgency. Brother Yuanfang is in charge of the Gongcao (a minor official position), responsible for the selection and evaluation of officials. This is the backbone of governance."

The Yangqu case has far-reaching implications; most of the county clerks and officials have connections with Zhang. Now is the perfect opportunity to remove this powerful and uncontrollable figure!

His tone turned cold: "We should seize this opportunity presented by the thunderous momentum, taking Yangqu as a model, and implement the 'Three Purities' strategy."

One must eliminate redundant personnel. Anyone involved in the Zhang case, negligent in their duties, incompetent, or with a bad reputation, regardless of their background, must be dismissed!
The second phase of the cleanup of long-standing malpractices, based on the bribery ledgers confiscated in Yangqu, will thoroughly investigate all county officials and clerks in Taiyuan Prefecture. Anyone who has accepted bribes from the Zhang and Wang families or abused their power will be severely punished!

With the selection of officials for the Three Pure Ones and the establishment of the Judicial Office, a large number of officials who are well-versed in laws and regulations and are impartial and selfless are needed.

Brother Yuanfang, you should broaden the channels for talent, regardless of social status, openly selecting and employing scholars from humble backgrounds, sons of good families, and even literate and meritorious soldiers!

Chen Ji perked up and straightened his back: "Ji, that's exactly what I meant!"

"However, this move may threaten the foundations of other powerful families in the county and townships, and the resistance will be great."

Xun Yu smiled calmly, a smile that contained both confidence in controlling the overall situation and a hint of coldness: "Obstacles? The Zhang family of Yangqu and the Wang family of Jinyang are both examples of what should be learned. The implementation of the new policy needs such stubborn rocks to hone its sharpness."

Zhao Shi in Yangqu was like a sword hanging over the heads of all those with ulterior motives.

Brother Yuanfang, act with complete freedom! Anyone who obstructs the new policies, feigns compliance while secretly opposing them, or even colludes to oppose them, will find the guillotine of the Judicial Office ready to pounce! Our lord's intention is to eradicate the filth and corruption throughout Bingzhou!

A sharp glint ignited in Chen Ji's eyes. He stood up and solemnly cupped his hands in greeting: "Ji Mingyi!"

(End of this chapter)