Sweep Yuan

Chapter 173 To eradicate deep-seated abuses, the butcher's knife must be sharp.
P.S.: This chapter is a transitional one, interpreting the promising prospects and potential obstacles of the Red Flag Battalion's new policies from Zhou Chang's perspective, as well as Shi Shan's strategy to break the deadlock. I should have written a longer chapter, but my shoulder pain flared up, I felt dizzy and nauseous, and simply couldn't write anymore. Besides, this kind of content isn't very appealing, so I only wrote 5000 words. Please subscribe with caution.

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After several days of continuous rain, the sky cleared up, becoming a pristine blue without a trace of impurity. The temperature rose rapidly, evaporating the remaining moisture from the ground, making the air thick and humid.

When Zhou Chang returned to his residence, his official robes were soaked with sweat, clinging to his body and outlining his slightly hunched back. He had spent the entire day with Marshal Shi, traveling along the west bank of the Hangbu River to Baimaling, busy surveying the site for the future garrison city.

Lujiang County has fertile land and good water conservancy conditions. The northwest of Huangpi Lake is a treasure trove for agricultural reclamation. It is precisely because of its stable grain output that Lujiang was able to build camps and train troops, and repeatedly repel the attacks of "Peng Zu's family".

Shishan wanted to turn Lujiang into a rear grain production base. In addition to stationing a large number of troops there, he also needed to further improve the city's defenses. Not to mention rebuilding the city, he also needed to use Baimaling, a spur of the Dabie Mountains, to build a garrison city to prevent the Yuan army from breaking into the north of Lujiang via the Yangtze River and the Hangbu River.

The location of the fortified city was crucial to the future defense structure of Lujiang. Marshal Shi personally visited and inquired about every detail. Even though Zhou Chang was familiar with the local hydrology and terrain, he had to be extremely vigilant and dared not slack off in the slightest. When he returned home, he felt a huge weight lifted off his shoulders, as if all his bones had been broken.

"Father, you're back."

The eldest son, Zhou Dan, was already waiting in front of the hall. Seeing his father's tired face, he quickly stepped forward to help him up and handed him a clean, plain-colored long gown.

"Ah."

Zhou Chang responded weakly, letting his son undo his official robes. While his father was changing, Zhou Dan, his face showing some anxiety, cautiously spoke:
"Father, the Li family of Dongmen has been raided and their property confiscated."

"understood."

Zhou Chang seemed to be discussing a trivial matter unrelated to himself. He unfolded his long robe, put it on, and tied the belt before turning around. His gaze swept over his son's uneasy face, and he added:
"Marshal Shi informed me of this today at Baimaling."

Zhou Chang's calmness only made Zhou Dan more anxious. He stepped forward, his voice involuntarily rising as he said:
"But Father! Li is Ru Niang's cousin!"

Ru Niang was Zhou Dan's legal wife. When Li Shi suffered a misfortune, his wife was crying her eyes out at home, filled with worry and fear. The pressure brought by this marriage relationship was really weighing on Zhou Dan's shoulders, leaving him no choice but to be anxious.

Zhou Chang changed his clothes, walked to the table, picked up the prepared iced tea, and drank it all in one gulp. The icy tea slid down his parched throat, but it couldn't quench the nameless restlessness in his heart.

Then, Zhou Chang poured himself another cup, sat down, took a small sip, and then looked up at his eldest son, his eyes filled with scrutiny and a hint of barely perceptible disappointment. He said in a flat tone:
"So what? Wasn't it the Li family members who seized the fertile land of Xiwei and drove Liu's third daughter to hang herself? The evidence is irrefutable, with witnesses and physical evidence. How could Marshal Shi be a man who indiscriminately kills innocent people?"

Zhou Dan paused for a moment when asked the question, but his face still showed a dismissive expression. His lips moved as if he wanted to say a few more words in defense of Li Shi.

Looking at his eldest son's bewildered yet stubborn expression, Zhou Chang felt a surge of powerlessness mixed with deep guilt.

His wife passed away early, and he had been focused on his career and officialdom all these years, neglecting the education of his eldest son. As a result, his son was neither good at literature nor martial arts, and only knew how to scheme for connections when faced with problems. He was out of touch with reality and could not see the earth-shaking changes in the world.

“Does Ru Niang consider the Li family to be cousins? In the past, the Li family relied on their Mongolian masters to back them up. When did they ever take our Zhou family, this roundabout relative, seriously? When they were in power, they gave your father a hard time. My father’s reputation was almost ruined by the Li family.”

Now that they're down on their luck, they finally remember they have relatives like us to cling to? Too late!

These words were both an explanation and a venting, fully revealing the bitterness of the coldness and indifference in officialdom in the past.

Seeing that his father was deeply prejudiced against the Li family, Zhou Dan knew that mentioning marriage again would be useless. He rolled his eyes and came up with a more "clever" but also more dangerous excuse.

“Father, if they can deal with the Li family today, who knows if they can’t deal with the Fang and Wang families tomorrow? Father, you are now in Lujiang. If you can’t even protect your relatives and friends by marriage, who will still be willing to rely on our Zhou family in the long run? Your foundation in Lujiang will be—”

"Bastard!"

Zhou Chang's pent-up frustration of the past few days exploded like a spark thrown into an oil drum. He slammed his hand on the table, making the teacups jump around, then grabbed the rough porcelain teacup in front of him and smashed it hard at Zhou Dan with all his might.

Bang!

With a crisp sound, the teacup struck Zhou Dan squarely on the forehead.

Tea mixed with shards of broken porcelain splashed everywhere. Zhou Dan let out a miserable cry as a burning pain shot through his forehead. Warm liquid, whether tea or blood, flowed down his brow bone, blurring his vision.

The deeper fear came from his father's furious gaze, which he had never seen before. His long-standing fear of his father's authority overwhelmed everything in an instant. Ignoring the pain, he knelt heavily on the ground with a "thud," his body trembling like a leaf, his voice trembling with sobs.

"I...I misspoke! Please punish me, Father!"

Zhou Chang's anger dissipated almost entirely, replaced by a deeper heartache and an indescribable sorrow. He had indeed lost his composure today; this was not his true nature. He took a deep breath, forcefully suppressing his turbulent emotions.

“Foolish child! Do you still think this upheaval of dynastic change and earth-shattering upheaval is just a petty game of infighting in the officialdom during peaceful times? Your thoughts of ‘relations and friends’ and ‘connections’ are, in today’s world, a path to death!”

Zhou Chang saw his eldest son, who was already in his thirties, kneeling on the ground, his eyes still filled with confusion and lingering fear, clearly not truly understanding the weight of his words. Knowing he could no longer be soft-hearted and had to make his point clear, Zhou Chang's tone suddenly became stern.

"I can support you for half your life, but I can't control you forever. Lujiang has changed! If you don't want to bring about the extermination of my Zhou family, from today onwards, you should stay at home and study. If you dare to associate with others or make connections in my name again, don't blame the family law for being ruthless!"

Zhou Chang's furious outburst today was actually foreshadowed, but Zhou Dan, being dull-witted, had not noticed the growing gloom and weariness in his father's eyes these past few days.

On the day the city surrendered, Shi Shan did indeed publicly promise that Zhou Chang would still serve as the "county magistrate".

The difference between a county magistrate and a county governor is only one word. With the removal of the meddlesome Darughachi from his list of superiors, he became the de facto chief administrator of Lujiang County, which should have been a happy thing.

But Zhou Chang knew better than anyone that after surrendering the city, his days of having a commanding presence in Lujiang were over.

Needless to say, he also controlled the military. Lujiang originally had a standing army of nearly two thousand men. If they encountered a strong enemy, Zhou Chang could quickly mobilize several times that number of local militia, thanks to his prestige. He controlled both the military and the government.

The local militia had been given money and rations by Shishan on the grounds that they had "missed the farming season" and were dismissed on the spot. The standing army was uniformly reorganized into the Red Flag Battalion, and the military commanders after the reorganization were also Shishan's trusted generals. Without the order of the Marshal's Office, the county magistrate was not allowed to enter the military camp without permission, let alone inquire about military affairs.

The separation of military and political power was an essential aspect of the centralized power reform of the new dynasty. Zhou Chang's practice of holding both military and political power, which resulted in de facto local separatism, was a distorted product of the Yuan court's loss of control over the local areas.

Any wise and capable ruler would never allow such fertile ground for warlordism to continue to exist. Although Zhou Chang was somewhat disappointed at being stripped of his military power, he was mentally prepared for it.

What truly made him uncomfortable and even vaguely uneasy were the sweeping reforms implemented by Shishan in civil affairs.

With the slogan of "abolishing regular taxes and levies," the Red Flag Battalion abolished all kinds of "miscellaneous taxes" and "customs" levied by local governments. This move pleased the people, but it also drastically changed the way local governments operated.

The most direct impact is that without the gray income from these "slush funds," the previous practices of local governments handling welcoming guests, sending them off, and entertaining them have suddenly become difficult to maintain.

More importantly, the daily official expenses that maintain the normal operation of the government—from small items like writing brushes, ink, paper, lamp oil, and charcoal, to large items like bridge and road repairs, disaster relief, and poverty alleviation—all require budgeting first and then being reported layer by layer to the Marshal's Office's Revenue Department for approval and allocation.

Once the matter was completed, every expense still needed to be documented with accounting records, and the accountant sent by the Ministry of Revenue would come to verify and reconcile the accounts.

To ensure the smooth operation of this system, the Marshal's Office had to maintain a professional team, which increased administrative expenses. The Marshal's Office couldn't conjure money out of thin air; these financial burdens would ultimately be passed on to the local areas. Shi Shan wasn't indifferent to the local people; on the contrary, he attached great importance to improving people's livelihoods, allocating considerable budgets for public welfare projects such as water conservancy construction, land reclamation, and the establishment of charitable granaries in newly attached areas like Lujiang.

Officials could still handle money through these projects, and theoretically, there were still ways to "make money".

But with the pre-accounting system hanging over our heads like a sword, we have to be constantly wary of comparative inquiries like, "Why did your county spend a thousand strings of cash and still not see results when the neighboring county could do it with three hundred strings?" Who would dare to be as unscrupulous as before?
If caught red-handed by the clerks in charge of household affairs, the consequences range from a reprimand and salary deduction to dismissal and imprisonment.

For example, the huge "labor service" workforce that originally depended on the Yuan court's system of exorbitant taxes and levies lost their jobs almost overnight.

The Yuan court did not pay these people salaries, but tacitly allowed and even condoned their extortion and embezzlement during the process of collecting taxes and donations. Their behavior was exactly the same as "the court did not pay salaries, but tacitly allowed the soldiers to plunder".

This not only led to a massive loss of national tax revenue, but also caused the government to be completely viewed as a wolf in sheep's clothing by the people, severely undermining the foundation of the imperial court.

Shishan knew that if he couldn't physically eliminate these people, he had to find a way for them to survive.

He offered three options: the best option was to pass the examinations to become a formal clerk in the Marshal's Office and receive a salary from the Red Flag Battalion; the middle option was to return to farming and work diligently; and the worst option was to participate in large-scale projects such as repairing city walls and clearing river channels to earn a meager living.

Although the Marshal's Office needed many officials, there were clear requirements for their character and knowledge. They were not people who could easily pass the examinations, but rather those old-fashioned servants who only knew how to fight and exploit the villagers.

After the exemption of miscellaneous taxes, as long as one is willing to put in the effort, honest farming can indeed support a family, and in good years, there may even be a slight surplus.

But how many of those servants who are used to deceiving their superiors and living idle lives can truly bend down and settle down to tend the land?
As for the backbreaking work of repairing city walls and clearing canals, which involved being exposed to the elements like hard labor, they avoided it like the plague.

Therefore, in the newly attached areas of the Red Flag Battalion, there were old servants who were unwilling to lose their "privileges" and tried to cause trouble.

However, the Red Flag Battalion had already won over the hearts of the people at the grassroots level by "exempting them from taxes," and these menial laborers were mostly hated by the people, so they could not gain any support and it was difficult for their riots to gain momentum.

Meanwhile, the Red Flag Battalion soldiers stationed in various places were just looking for military merits to earn, and they were eager for these reckless clowns to jump out, so that they could make an example of them and serve as a warning to others.

Is Marshal Shi's system good or not?
In the long run, Zhou Chang had to admit, it was excellent!

The central government firmly grasped the purse strings, greatly strengthening its control over local areas.

Local officials who want to achieve political success no longer need to cater to the whims of local powerful figures and rely on their "donations" to get things done, as they did in the past.

Now, all that is needed is to come up with a feasible project plan and apply for funding from the central government; in the future, there will be fewer obstacles and concerns when implementing various policies of the central government, especially when there may be conflicts with the interests of local powerful families.

This system has just been implemented, has many loopholes, and has encountered even greater resistance. Under the Yuan Dynasty, such a reform, which affects the vested interests of countless people, would never have been possible.

However, the Red Flag Battalion's territory was still small at the moment, and the sky was low while the marshal was close. No matter how unaccustomed or uncomfortable the local officials were, they had no choice but to bite the bullet and learn to adapt to this new set of rules that restricted their "freedom to spend money" in every way.

However, all policies inevitably revolve around the most fundamental question: Where does the money come from?
The great Confucian scholar Sima Guang of the previous dynasty once said, "The wealth of the world is limited to this amount; if it is not in the people, it is in the hands of the officials." Zhou Chang did not entirely agree with this statement.

However, whether the Red Flag Battalion is currently using charges such as "colluding with the Mongol Yuan" and "oppressing the local people" to confiscate the property of corrupt officials and gentry, or abolishing the deeply entrenched system of miscellaneous donations, the essence is still "wealth redistribution" and seizing the "people's property" of the "old vested interest class".

In times of crisis, one must act expediently; in conquering the world, it is always necessary to sacrifice the interests of a portion of the population in exchange for broader support.

Zhou Chang was able to control Lujiang by doing similar things, but he wasn't as bold as Shi Shan.

His concern was that confiscating the property of corrupt officials and local bullies was ultimately a temporary measure. He couldn't possibly rule the country and continue relying on confiscating assets to maintain the national treasury; what difference would that make them no different from bandits and outlaws? How could such a regime maintain long-term stability?

Now that Zhou Chang had surrendered the city, his life and fortune were tied to the Red Flag Battalion. Naturally, he hoped that Shishan would achieve great things, that the Shi family would rule for generations to come, and that the Zhou family could also prosper and enjoy lasting wealth and honor alongside the nation.

In a private report, he had mentioned this hidden concern about "sources of revenue" to Shishan in a very subtle way, under the guise of discussing local finances.

Shi Shan emphasized that the Red Flag Battalion "encourages industry and commerce," and gave Zhou Chang a breakdown of the costs: the Yuan court had numerous checkpoints and privately set up checkpoints throughout the country, allowing merchants to travel freely. Even a 50% tax rate was considered low, which greatly inhibited the flow of goods.

The Red Flag Camp abolished all private checkpoints and only established tax offices in major towns. With smooth trade routes and reduced costs, it was bound to stimulate commercial prosperity, and the total amount of commercial tax revenue would inevitably rise accordingly.

Although Zhou Chang did not understand the meaning of the word "work", he understood that promoting trade and commerce could indeed bring in substantial tax revenue, which was far better than focusing on land tax and forcing farmers to sell their children.

However, "expanding the industrial and commercial sector" is not something that can be achieved overnight. It requires a stable environment, strict laws and regulations, and other objective conditions, as well as time to accumulate experience.

The Red Flag Battalion is currently in a period of rapid expansion, and this expansion and preparation for war requires substantial financial investment.

No matter how wonderful the blueprint for developing industry and commerce that Shishan painted for him was, the bulk of the military expenditure at present still came from the ruthless purge of stubborn forces like the Li family who "brought it upon themselves." This was the lifeline that kept the Red Flag Battalion, this war machine, running.

Zhou Chang was already frustrated and powerless because his power was greatly reduced after surrendering the city, and he was facing a completely new and unfamiliar administrative system.

At this critical juncture, the eldest son, Zhou Dan, dared to plead for the Li family, whose guilt was undeniable, and even said things like, "If we can't protect our relatives and friends, we will lose our foundation," which could drag the entire Zhou family into the abyss.

This was tantamount to pouring hot oil on Zhou Chang's anxious heart; how could he not be furious?
But setting aside these military and political changes and family concerns, Zhou Chang had to admit that the Red Flag Battalion's discipline was indeed strict.

If it weren't for the increased street patrols after taking over Lujiang, most people would hardly even be aware of the existence of the Red Flag Battalion.

Whether training or resting, the army usually stayed in the camp. When they left the camp, they were supervised by the soldiers of the Embroidered Uniform Guard who accompanied them on the expedition. The original Lujiang Army also received training in the camp and was not allowed to leave.

After the war, Lujiang's market did not decline; on the contrary, the elimination of the exploitation by Mongolian nobles and local bullies brought order and presented a peaceful scene rarely seen in times of war.

Marshal Shi himself only summoned former officials of Lujiang for a briefing on the day the city fell, to understand the local situation and explain the policies and discipline. After that, he devoted himself to military and political affairs.

Even when implementing fundamental reforms such as tax exemptions, reorganization, and changes in officialdom, he focused on the issues, not the individuals. He did not deliberately humiliate former officials to assert his authority, nor did he display the arrogance of a victor. This pragmatism and restraint impressed Zhou Chang, who became convinced that this man was indeed a capable leader who could accomplish great things.

Of course, the Red Flag Battalion was a force determined to change the dynasty, and its reform and innovation would inevitably result in a bloodbath.

After the city fell, the authorities showed no mercy in purging the Mongols, Semu nobles, and their lackeys, and did not spare any effort in collecting evidence against those who caused great public resentment. This left the remaining officials, gentry, and wealthy families in Lujiang feeling insecure and trembling with fear.

In stark contrast, the people at the bottom of society displayed an almost fanatical enthusiasm.

The abolition of exorbitant taxes relieved them of a heavy burden, and the purge of the Mongol nobles and corrupt officials who used to ride roughshod over them made them applaud. In the discussions on the streets and alleys, words such as "the imperial court" and "the Great Yuan" quickly disappeared, and were replaced by words such as "Marshal Shi" and "Red Flag Battalion".

In public, Zhou Chang remained a respected patriarch, but he clearly sensed that an old era had collapsed and would never return. His Zhou family was standing on the edge of the vortex of transition between the old and the new; if they advanced, they could hope to become dukes and marquises, but if they retreated, they would be doomed.

(End of this chapter)