The imperial cause at the end of the Han Dynasty was not one of partial peace.

Chapter 74 The Storm Brewing in Taishan County

By the time Cai Yong's sensational lecture ended, it was already May.

At this time, everyone from the prefectural and county governments to the powerful and common people was already preparing for the summer harvest.

The winter wheat planted last year is almost ready for harvest, and this is the first bumper harvest since Liu Bei arrived in the prefecture. The whole prefecture attaches great importance to it.

In particular, Liu Bei established a policy of taxation based on acreage, so the land officials and powerful families were all working hard to clarify this year's taxes.

However, nothing can withstand scrutiny, and once you start scrutinizing things, it can be quite nerve-wracking.

At this moment, within the territory of Fei, Wang He, the patriarch of the powerful Wang clan, watched his clan's accountant with trepidation, his eyes fixed on his abacus.

This powerful clan leader, who had held sway over the country for over a decade, now had a fine layer of cold sweat beading on his forehead.

Only after the clerk stopped working did he nervously swallow and ask, "How is it? Has Zhang Dian calculated it all? According to Liu Bei's system of levying taxes by the acre, one-fifteenth of the land is taxed. How much land tax do we need to pay this year? I'm in charge of this matter. Is everything going smoothly?"

The accountant is a trusted confidant of the powerful and wealthy to manage their accounts. After all, the powerful and wealthy own many properties, and even they themselves do not know exactly how many acres of land and rent they own. They usually hire an accountant to manage the land rent income, various expenses and cash flow of the entire estate.

In the past, powerful clans like the Wang family didn't care about things like rent and taxes at all.

Wang He's father was formerly a county clerk. He was a member of an old and powerful family with more than a thousand guests. He was a thief when he was out and a troublemaker when he was in charge of administration.

Within the territory of Feiguo County, they are the heavens! Not to mention the county magistrate, even the prefectural officials and governors have always dared not offend or restrain them.

But things changed completely after Liu Bei, the governor of Mount Tai, entered the prefecture.

Who in the world doesn't know that Liu Bei's martial prowess shook Hebei? He defeated and pacified the Yellow Turbans who spanned multiple prefectures and counties, and the Black Mountain bandits who numbered a million.

Compared to the million-strong Black Mountain bandits, his mere thousand or so guests were indeed insignificant!

So when the prefectural government issued an order for the land officials to inspect the fields, he dared not obstruct it! If it were any other prefect, or according to past practice, he would have already beaten those officials who came to inspect to death and left their corpses to rot in the wilderness!

Now, he can only try to bribe the county magistrate and local officials.

The county officials, as always, protected him.

These local officials were accustomed to favoring the powerful and wealthy while oppressing the weak, causing the people to complain and resent.

After Wang bribed the county officials with 300,000 coins, the officials concealed a large amount of land for them.

However, before he could even feel at ease, Liu Xuande dismissed all the officials of Fei County!

Meanwhile, county officials were arrested one after another for corruption, and Tian Cao was almost completely wiped out.

Then the newly appointed county magistrate of Xingfei and the officials in charge of land administration went directly to each household with their accounting books, checking each household's records and measuring each acre of land without showing any favoritism.

Therefore, with the summer harvest approaching, these powerful clans must truthfully declare their land holdings and pay land taxes according to the new system.

Wang He dared not hide any longer—but he dared not face the real number even more.

Just as Jian Dian finished his calculations and was about to speak, Wang He felt a sharp pain in his chest and quickly raised his hand to stop him, panting heavily, "Don't say anything yet. Let me catch my breath. Let me give you an example—for instance, if my beloved dog died, please don't just blurt out 'died,' it'll be too much for me to handle."

Zhang Dianji held the counting rods and nodded blankly.

Wang He took a deep breath and slowly said, "You have to tell me first that it was playing on the roof—give me something to think about. Then tell me it accidentally fell and was seriously injured. Next, say it's being treated. Finally, say it's beyond medical help and has died. Take it one step at a time, give me some breathing room, do you understand?"

Zhang Dianji nodded emphatically.

Wang He then patted his chest, picked up the honey water on the table, took a sip, and, catching his breath, asked, "Now tell me, how is the clan's tax situation now? My son is in charge of this matter; is it going smoothly?"

Zhang Dianji glanced at the clan leader, then took a deep breath and said, "Young Master is playing on the roof."

Wang He immediately spat out a mouthful of honey water, staring dumbfounded at the accountant, and shouted angrily, "Zhang Dianji! My Wang family has treated you well for generations, regarding you as a confidant, entrusting you with the important task of managing the clan's accounts, and sharing wealth and honor with you—how dare you curse my beloved son!"

Zhang Dianji was so frightened that he knelt down with a thud, almost crying: "Clan leader, please calm down! Clan leader, please calm down! It's not that I dare to curse the young master. It's that the young master is currently colluding with the notorious bandit Chang Xi of Mengshan and has also contacted the powerful Zhou family of Nanwuyang, plotting to start a rebellion!"

Upon hearing this, Wang He felt a wave of dizziness and almost choked.

He swayed a few times, but luckily the maidservant beside him caught him in time, preventing him from falling to the ground.

It took him a long time to catch his breath. Then, in a fit of rage, he slammed his fist on the table and shouted, "That unfilial son! He's trying to kill my entire Wang clan!"

"I sent him to cooperate with the prefectural government in verifying land ownership and collecting taxes, and he used the money and grain to collude with Chang Xi?! And he even plans to start a rebellion?!"

Zhang Dianji knelt on the ground, not daring to raise his head.

Otherwise, why would he have directly said that the young master was on the roof?

Who was Liu Bei? He was a powerful figure in Hebei, repeatedly defeating millions of bandits.

How dare this arrogant and powerful young master confront him on the battlefield?

Wang He felt like he was about to explode, and roared hoarsely, "Where is this unfilial son? Go and bring him to me! Now! Immediately!"

Before long, a young man was brought into the hall; he was none other than Wang Du, the eldest son of Wang Fan!

He was in his early twenties and quite handsome, but his brows were full of arrogance.

After striding into the hall, he saw his father's face was ashen, and Zhang Dianji was kneeling on the ground, and he knew what had happened.

He glared at Zhang Dianji, snorted, and shouted, "I'll settle accounts with you, you old servant, later!"

Wang He immediately berated him: "You unfilial son! Zhang Dianji has been a loyal subject of the Wang family for generations. How dare you, a mere child, insult him? Hurry up and apologize!"

"And what a mess you've made! I sent you to cooperate with the prefectural government in paying taxes, and you dared to collude with Chang Xi and contact the Zhou family to plot a rebellion. Do you want my Wang family to die even sooner?"

Wang Du, however, had no intention of backing down. He was young, impetuous, and unruly.

With a sudden flick of his sleeve, he pointed towards Fenggao, filled with righteous indignation: "How many years has the Wang family been rooted in Fei State? Since my grandfather, we have been county magistrates, an old and powerful clan, with over a thousand guest families! When we go out, our carriages block the road; when we return, our banquets are filled with distinguished guests. Not to mention Fei County, even in the entire Taishan Prefecture, who doesn't respect the Wang family?"

"But what is Liu Bei? He's an outsider governor who's been in office for half a year now. Not only has he not paid us a single visit, but he's also demanded we truthfully declare our land and pay the full amount of taxes with just a single official document. What does he take the Wang family for? What does he take our generations of hard work for us for?"

"Father! Do you know how much he has slighted us? Not only did he not visit us, he didn't even send a messenger. Instead, he sent his own clerks from the land administration department to measure the fields. Those clerks, who are only worth a hundred bushels of grain, dare to walk into our Wang family manor with their heads held high, acting as if they own nothing!"

He sneered, "Now everyone in Feixian is laughing at us. They say the once powerful Wang family is now being bossed around by an outsider governor, and they can't even maintain a decent facade. As a result, we younger generation can't even hold our heads up when we go out."

"But if it were just a matter of pride, I wouldn't risk a fight to the death with him. But Father, do you know how much grain my Wang family will have to pay this year according to his tax system? Our clan owns 760 hectares of land, and at a tax rate of one-fifteenth, the land tax alone will amount to 13,000 bushels of millet!"

"Thirteen thousand coins, Father! And that doesn't even include the taxes for our guests! Our family has over a thousand guest households, and according to the new system, they all need to be registered and pay an annual tax of three hundred coins. That alone amounts to three hundred thousand coins! There's also the poll tax and the tax on taxes; the prefecture requires us to pay half of the guests' taxes, which is another two hundred thousand coins!"

"If we calculate it this way, in the year Liu Bei governs the prefecture, my Wang family will lose 13,000 bushels of grain, which is equivalent to nearly 500,000 coins! If we add rent, taxes, and corvée labor, the loss will be close to one million coins!"

He abruptly flung his sleeve, almost roaring, "A million coins! Father, how can this be tolerated!"

Upon hearing this, Wang He felt a sharp pain in his chest.

This million dollars is a completely unjust loss!

Although the Wang family was a large clan, their expenses were also high, and they could not save up several million coins a year.

The county government levied a million coins on him, no wonder his son was willing to take such a risk!

Cutting off someone's livelihood is like killing their parents.

How can the younger generation, who have never experienced hardship, endure this?

But he had been through countless trials and tribulations, witnessing the rise and fall of powerful clans with their grand mansions, and the downfall of renowned scholars and heroes, who were reduced to ashes and their entire families wiped out.

Therefore, he had long understood a principle: temporary prominence is nothing; only stability and longevity are the foundation of a powerful clan.

Seeing his son's domineering and stubborn nature, he had no choice but to patiently persuade him: "I know my son has a strong and unyielding nature, and his principles are inviolable. When I was young, wasn't I just as spirited and arrogant, looking down on everyone else?"

"But that's Liu Bei, after all!"

"He is a nobleman of the Han dynasty, a renowned scholar throughout the land. Zheng Xuan himself praised him for the strategies of Sun Tzu and Wu Qi, and the integrity of Yan Hui and Zengzi." The high officials, including the General of Chariots and Cavalry and the Minister of the Imperial Secretariat, lauded him highly, saying he possessed far-sighted vision and the virtues of ancient sages. Such a person has long enjoyed the esteemed reputation of the scholars of the realm; how could you or I possibly challenge him?"

"Furthermore, his literary and military talents are unparalleled. Since he raised his army in Zhuojun, he has been invincible in every attack and battle, winning dozens of battles large and small without ever suffering a defeat!"

"The Yellow Turban rebels, numbering in the millions, were utterly routed by him; none of the more than ten leaders of the Black Mountain tribes could withstand his onslaught. He could strike a cup and the enemy would tremble in fear; he could don armor and the bandits would flee in terror. His reputation for terror in Hebei was earned through these two great victories against a million rebels, battle after battle!"

Seeing that his son was still unconvinced, he stepped forward and grabbed his arm tightly: "Let's not talk about the distant past. Just look at what he did after he arrived at Mount Tai! The Hu family of Fenggao and the Shen family of Liangfu, powerful clans with deep-rooted connections for decades—did he hesitate for even a moment when he wiped them out? Now their families have been confiscated and they've been exterminated. Where are these once-powerful clans, whose houses were always filled with guests, now!"

"The notorious bandits of Mount Tai, upon hearing of his arrival, either surrendered or fled, none daring to confront his might. Each of these men was a hero of their time, yet before his army, they all fled in terror! And you and Changxi's rabble think you can contend with him? That's not courage, that's courting death!"

At this point, he looked at his son with deep paternal affection and slowly said, "My son, I'm getting old now. I don't have so many ambitions anymore!"

"A moment of patience brings calm, a step back opens up a vast sky. No matter how powerful Liu Bei is, he's just a prefect. How many years can a prefect serve? Three? Five? He'll eventually leave. Once he's gone, Taishan Prefecture will still be our Taishan Prefecture."

"You can do whatever you want then, your father will not interfere. But now, you must not act impulsively. If he wants land tax, we will give it to him. If he wants corvée labor, we will comply. No matter how expensive money and grain are, they are not as valuable as human life. A million coins may be a lot, but as long as he is alive, we can earn it back sooner or later."

"Don't do anything foolish right now!"

But Wang Du couldn't listen to any of it at this moment. His father's earnest advice was nothing more than that of an old woman! His father's composure and steadiness were nothing more than that of an old, weak, and decaying person.

His eyes burned with ambition as he roared, "Father! You can tolerate this insult, but I cannot! If we were to outlast Liu Bei like this, wouldn't that confirm our reputation for fearing him?"

"The county is in turmoil right now, with many powerful clans dissatisfied with Liu Bei's administration."

"The Zhou clan of Nanwuyang, the Ge clan of Gaixian, and the Wang clan of Nancheng are all of the same bloodline as us! Chang Xi and Yin Li of Mengshan are the most valiant in the counties, commanding no fewer than two thousand elite troops. As long as we take the lead in raising the banner, the powerful clans in the twelve counties of Mount Tai that have been suppressed by Liu Bei will surely rise up in response. At that time, with forces from within and without, how can we not drive Liu Bei out of Mount Tai!"

"At that time, not only will we not have to pay taxes, but even the new governor will not dare to disrespect us. This Taishan Prefecture will truly be ours!"

He grew increasingly agitated as he spoke, his voice filled with fervor: "Father! Liu Bei was nothing but a commoner in Ji Province. He only rose to his current position by serving under Lu Zhi. If he could succeed, why can't I? If he could lead righteous troops to punish the rebels, why can't I gather heroes to protect myself?"

"That Liu Bei is nothing but a mat weaver and sandal seller. My Wang family has a long history of chivalrous heroes, how can we remain subservient to anyone for long? Why should we bow and scrape before him?"

Looking at his son's confident expression, Wang He sighed, "Young people are just like that. They only think about the glamorous side of things and never consider the worst-case scenario."

"You only think about how powerful and triumphant you will be after driving out Liu Bei, but you never consider—what if things fail? Who will save the lives of my entire Wang family, more than a hundred people?"

"My son, although I am not a hero of this era, I have read a few military books. As Sun Tzu said, 'First make yourself invincible, then wait for the enemy to become vulnerable.' Even the great generals of old would first establish an invincible position before seeking out the enemy's weaknesses."

"Have you ever considered that taking this step is like stepping into a mountain of knives and a sea of ​​fire? What will you use to protect yourself if things don't go smoothly? How will you escape?"

Wang Du remained unmoved after hearing this; instead, he straightened his back and a composed smile appeared on his lips.

"Father, do you think I'm just a reckless man, prone to acting on impulse? How could I not consider the consequences of failure? It's precisely because I've thought it through repeatedly that I've decided to unite with heroes, raise an army of righteous men, and advance and retreat together!"

"Taishan Commandery is located at the intersection of the four provinces of Qing, Xu, Yan, and Yu. If things go wrong, the Zhou family of Nanwuyang can retreat to the State of Lu, the Ge family of Gaixian can retreat to the State of Qi, and the Wang family of Nancheng can retreat to Pengcheng. My Fei State is only a few dozen miles from the border of Langya Commandery, and can also retreat to Langya at any time!"

"Liu Bei is merely the Prefect of Mount Tai. According to Han dynasty regulations, prefects are not allowed to leave their prefectures without authorization. Even if he has thousands of troops, what can he do to me?"

"Moreover, there is Mount Meng here as a natural barrier. Chang Xi has been operating in Mount Meng for many years. The mountain fortresses are connected and there are many secret passages. We can retreat to defend ourselves in the mountains or advance to plunder the counties."

"Father, we rely on this place and defend it from this strategic position. This is not taking a risk; it is having a plan for both advance and retreat. As long as we unite as one and hold this retreat route, we will be invincible."

"As for Chang Xi, Yin Li, and their ilk, they have been trapped in the mountains for months. Their food supplies are exhausted, and they are already suffering from hunger and thirst. The autumn harvest is just around the corner, and the fields are fertile for miles around. Do you think they can still endure it, Father?"

"At that time, Changxi will be plundering outside, and dozens of powerful clans will be raising troops inside, launching an attack from both inside and outside! Even if Liu Bei were Sun Quan or Wei Qing and Huo Qubing were reborn, what could he do? Could he possibly kill everyone in the entire prefecture?"

"With everyone turning against him and the situation in disarray, his expulsion from Mount Tai was inevitable! He was utterly powerless to reverse the tide!"

Seeing his son's resolute determination, Wang He finally collapsed weakly onto the bed, muttering, "If my son cannot bring great prosperity to our family, then our clan will be utterly ruined."

Wang Du looked at his limp father, a hint of disdainful pity in his eyes.

My father is indeed old and frail. How can he achieve great things with such timidity and hesitation?

While Wang Du was brimming with confidence, Liu Bei, in Taishan Prefecture, was also extremely excited for days!

Looking at the various reports submitted by the prefecture and twelve counties, he couldn't help but burst into laughter for several days in a row.

Today, after an official document from the county magistrate arrived at the prefectural government, Liu Bei smiled and said to Ju Shou, the chief clerk stationed there, "With the harvest imminent, the whole prefecture is filled with joy! This year is sure to be a bumper year. Have you already started building granaries, sir? Otherwise, with the abundant rice harvest, there won't be enough room to store it all!"

Ju Shou smiled and said, "Since Your Excellency entered the prefecture, the various plans you have been devising over the years are finally about to bear fruit!"

"May this year be a year of abundant harvest for you, my lord! It will be a year in which your name will resound throughout the Central Plains and you will be respected by all corners of the world!"

"Heroes from the Central Plains and virtuous men from various prefectures and counties will surely come upon hearing the news and vie to submit to us."

Regarding Liu Bei's mention of abundant rice harvests, he calmly replied, "The prefectural government is already accelerating the construction of granaries, preparing three hundred granaries to prepare for a bumper harvest and to store land taxes. According to the land administration department's estimates, this year alone, land taxes will bring in more than 500,000 bushels of grain."

Upon hearing this, Liu Bei was greatly encouraged.

Five hundred thousand bushels of grain!

The harvest of this year is enough to feed the entire county for three months!

If used as military rations, it would be enough to support an army of 10,000 for years.

Compared to when we first entered Mount Tai last year, when the prefecture had only 4,000 bushels of grain and 60,000 coins, now, in just one year, the grain reserves have increased a hundredfold!

All of this will cement his reputation as a wise and capable man.

But how could there be such a perfect thing in the world? What would be the price?

What was the price behind his bountiful harvest?

Ju Shou composed himself slightly, cupped his hands, and said, "My lord, our policy of levying taxes based on acreage has doubled the annual revenue of the prefecture, which is certainly gratifying. However, this policy also mobilizes the powerful clans, causing resentment among the people. Are there really no problems with these powerful clans secretly plotting rebellion? Is my lord truly prepared?"

Liu Bei smiled calmly, saying that when one is in dire straits, one must think of ways to change one's situation.

In times of peace, the imperial court primarily levied taxes based on the number of people. However, during periods of chaos, when the population drastically decreased, the court began to levy taxes based on the number of acres of land.

This has been true in every dynasty. How big of a problem could it be?

Then Liu Bei said with a smile, "That's why I asked you to build more granaries. This year, what we need to store is far more than just the taxes collected from the fields."

Liu Bei smiled and pushed the official document he had just received in front of Ju Shou.

Ju Shou unfolded the official document and glanced at it. It was about a report submitted by the county officials of Gaixian County, stating that powerful local magnates were showing signs of rebellion and requesting the prefectural government to take precautions.

The county official of Zhuo County once delivered the official document concerning the illegal activities of Liu Bei, a powerful local tyrant, to Prefect Liu He on horseback.

Now Liu Bei has completely changed roles; he has become the prefect sitting behind his desk, dealing with matters concerning the rebellion of powerful local clans.

The phrase "officers on horseback" refers to the most urgent official documents within a prefecture or county, which are delivered by dispatching officials on horseback day and night.

This proves that the situation of rebellion has reached a point where it is about to break out!

But Liu Bei still smiled and said, "It is said that things are accomplished in secrecy and ruined by leaks, but it seems that these powerful clans do not understand this principle at all. They have not even started a rebellion yet, but they are already making a great fuss and the whole county knows about it."

In fact, it wasn't just these powerful figures who didn't understand.

Throughout the Han Dynasty, there has always been a tradition of openly plotting rebellion.

For example, Liu Chang, the King of Huainan, was a typical example of someone who openly plotted rebellion. He acted in a high-profile manner, without any attempt to conceal it. Before the rebellion even began, the entire Han Dynasty, and even the Xiongnu and Minyue, knew that the King of Huainan was planning a rebellion.

These powerful figures from Mount Tai also inherited the traditions of their ancestors.

As early as a month ago, Liu Bei had already heard that powerful local figures were plotting something sinister.

For the past month, powerful figures have been running around, making extensive contacts with various parties, and spreading the news of the rebellion throughout the city. They're practically making a big show of it.

In fact, as the governor of a prefecture, Liu Bei, who was in charge of the entire prefecture, probably knew the full picture of their rebellion better than the local powerful figures.

Therefore, Liu Bei smiled confidently and said, "Let them make a scene! This will draw out the bandits of Mount Tai. In the past, they hid deep in the mountains of Mount Meng, defending their strongholds. I found it difficult to subdue them. Now that they have come down from the mountains, it will be a perfect opportunity to display the might of my iron cavalry!"

At that time, all these bandits and powerful figures will be wiped out in one fell swoop, which will not only bring peace to Mount Tai, but also allow people to leave their doors unlocked at night.

Furthermore, it can confiscate their wealth, replenish the treasury, and provide relief to the people!

Then Liu Bei turned to Guan Yu and asked, "Yun Chang, is the entire army ready?"

Guan Yu stroked his beard, his phoenix eyes filled with laughter: "Brother, rest assured! How could the armies miss such a grand event?"

"The three armies are all ready to go, just waiting for the powerful and tyrannical to rebel, then we will give them a surprise! We will make sure they never forget it!"

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