Madam, protect me!

In recent days, although Chang'an has been calm on the surface, underneath this calmness, it is full of depression as the storm is about to come.

Li Nuo, who was originally the minister of the Ministry of Justice and a member of the Zhongshushe, was appointed as the inspection censor. His Majesty also gave Shang Fang a sword, which can be used to kill unruly people and corrupt officials. The imperial power has granted permission to kill first and then report.

In addition, the Ministry of Rites and the Ministry of Personnel have also received notices about next year's imperial examination.

This is a sign of heads rolling in and rivers of blood flowing.

In the past, every time Shang Fang's sword appeared, it was accompanied by bloodshed.

If we think about the recent edicts from the three provinces, it is obvious that the imperial court is going to take action on the local areas.

This time, it's serious.

In just a few days, various states received messages from Chang'an one after another.

This time the reform was not aimed at aristocratic families, but at local officials.

To be a local official, you must have a good relationship with the local gentry. The gentry were unwilling to pay the grain, so they put the land in their name. As Daxia officials, they did not have to pay taxes to the court on their land.

In this way, the gentry paid less taxes, and they also benefited from it, which can be said to be the best of both worlds.

As soon as this imperial decree came out, the tax-free land for officials was strictly restricted.

The excess land has become a hot potato for them.

If he is found out then, he will be dismissed from his post at the very least.

What's more important is that the identity of the inspection censor this time is extraordinary.

That is the son of Li Xuanjing, the minister of Dali Temple. He is not a Qingliu censor without a background. If something happens to Li Nuo in their jurisdiction, the local officials, from the governor to the county captain, may not even think about the family dog. Stay alive.

Someone in Chang'an has already analyzed Li Nuo's purpose.

As a high-level Legalist, he came here not for the tax money, but for their heads.

Isn't the purpose of holding three consecutive imperial examinations just to find people to fill their positions?

This is to use their brains to practice!

For a time, officials from all over the country were panicked, and the gentry and wealthy people were called to the Yamen immediately.

"Executive officer Huang, I'll give this land back to you, I don't want it anymore!"

"County Magistrate Zhang, do you think we are not filial enough? How about you take half more of this year's grain?"

"Shut up, don't even think about harming me. When did I accept your filial piety?"

"What about these lands?"

"Take it back. For the sake of past kindness, don't blame me for not warning you in advance. There is a ruthless character coming from above. You can pay as much tax as you should this year. Don't drag me down when you are about to die... …”

…

"Whoever transfers these lands to my name should move them away as soon as possible!"

"What, no one wants it, so if no one wants it, it will be designated as public land!"

"Isn't he the censor? Just like last time, can't we just find someone to kill him?"

"Assassinating the inspection censor, are you crazy? Do you know who the inspection censor is this time? If you want to die, don't take me with you!"

"Putting the blame on the bandits? Do you think that King of Hell will reason with us? No matter who kills you, our whole family will never survive!"

…

"It's over, it's over!"

"Damn it, I shouldn't have agreed to them last year!"

"Whoever owns the land will take it back, and the missing taxes will be paid by me. If something happens to me, I will have to catch them before I die!"

…

Chang'an.

Song Mansion.

Song Zhe looked at Li Nuo holding the beauty with his left hand and the beautiful woman with his right hand. His eyes suddenly widened and he said in shock: "You, you... how can this be done!"

Yiren held Li Nuo's hand tightly and said, "Why can't this be done? He was the husband-in-law I chose!"

Song Zhe felt dizzy. Although he was very satisfied with Li Nuo as his son-in-law, he had never thought of marrying both his daughters to him.

What is this?

His lips moved, but before he could say anything, Su Qing glanced at him and said, "Okay, as long as they are willing, just leave it alone!"

Song Zhe murmured: "But..."

Su Qing said: "But what? If it hadn't been for you back then, who insisted on getting married on the fingertips, would we be here today?"

Song Zhe glanced at his wife silently. If she hadn't taken away her lover back then, he wouldn't be here today.

But he didn't dare to say this.

Although his wife was at fault, he was not without any problems either.

It seems that he doesn't want to marry her, and the beauty has no objection, so he naturally has no reason to object.

After letting out a long sigh, he waved his hand and said, "That's all, you can decide your own affairs..."

Li Nuo bowed to them and said, "Thank you, father-in-law, mother-in-law..."

He came to the Song Mansion with them today to reveal their relationship to everyone.

His mother-in-law has long been on his and Yi Ren's side. As long as he gets past the hurdles of his father-in-law and Mrs. Song, there will basically be no obstacles.

Although everyone in the Song family was shocked by this, they did not express any objection after the shock.

The one who was engaged to Li Nuo was a beautiful woman, but the one who married him was a beautiful woman. Both sisters liked him. No matter whose side they were on, the sisters would inevitably turn against each other and the family would be at odds.

This should be the best way to handle this farce.

If it were anyone else, they might still object.

Even if the Song family is not the top family in Great Xia, the legitimate daughter of the family must be the first wife, and the only first wife.

But as the top scholar in six subjects, he has achieved such high achievements at a young age. Even if both sisters marry him, it will not be considered an insult to the Song family. After all, even the royal princess is willing to commit herself, and the Song family naturally does not What baggage.

Mrs. Song held their hands, patted them gently, and said sincerely: "As long as you can be harmonious as husband and wife and sisters as one, it is better than anything else..."

Seeing Brother Li Nuo holding Sister Jiaren with his left hand and Sister Master with his right hand, Song Ning'er opened her mouth in surprise, looked up at her mother, and asked, "Sister Master, is also going to marry Brother Li Nuo?"

Mrs. Song gently touched her head and said with a smile: "Your sister Yiren promised you brother Li Nuo when she was very young."

Song Ning'er thought for a while and then asked: "Then can I marry Song Mu'er in the future?"

Song Hao said with a dark face, "No!"

Song Ning'er asked in confusion: "Why?"

Song Hao snorted and said, "If you are not the number one scholar in six subjects, you are not worthy of marrying my two daughters!"

Song Ning'er thought about it carefully and then asked: "Brother Li Nuo is the number one scholar in six subjects. When I grow up, can I marry brother Li Nuo?"

Song Hao became anxious and immediately said: "Of course not!"

Song Ning'er pouted and said angrily: "Why..."

Brother Li Nuo is good-looking, can play the piano and draw, and plays house with her. Why can't she marry him?

Song Hao said angrily: "If I say no, I can't. You are only eight years old. Children, don't ask so many questions. Wait until you are eighteen before you talk about getting married!"

Song Ning'er was very unhappy and pursed her lips and stopped talking.

Song Yu envied Li Nuo very much. His brother-in-law could marry whomever he wanted. Even if both the beautiful woman and the sweetheart married him, the family would not have any objections.

My father disagreed with me at all costs regarding my relationship with Yuanyang girl.

After today's lunch, Li Nuo was invited to the room by Song Yu.

Song Yu held his wrist and begged: "Brother-in-law, please help me persuade my father. If he doesn't agree with me and Miss Yuanyang, I will never get married in this life..."

Li Nuo looked embarrassed and said: "This..."

In fact, Phoenix also mentioned this matter to him.

Song Yu and Yuanyang could be said to be in love, but even if Song Yu was not the eldest son of the Song family, Yuanyang's identity would be difficult for a prestigious family like the Song family to accept.

This is a family matter of the Song family, and it is not easy for Li Nuo to interfere.

But looking at Song Yu's pleading eyes, he couldn't refuse.

Song Lian was reading in the room when he heard a knock on the door. He thought it was the traitor who was bothering him again. When he raised his head, he immediately stood up and said with a smile: "Li Nuo, why are you here? Sit down quickly..."

After Li Nuo sat down, the two chatted for a while. Then, Li Nuo clasped his fists and said, "Thank you, uncle, for agreeing to the matter between me and Yi Ren."

Song Lian smiled and said, "As elders, we, as elders, have no reason to object to what you two agreed upon?"

Li Nuo paused and spoke again: "Actually, it was Song Yu who asked me to come here. He just told me that if he can't marry a mandarin duck girl, he will never get married in this life..."

Song Lian was stunned. He would not refute what he had just said at this moment.

He was silent for a long time, then sighed and said: "This bastard, he didn't do his job properly before, but after he got to know this Yuanyang girl, in order to have something to talk with her, he actually read the military books thoroughly, and he didn't know what good things about that girl. , even his soul was taken away..."

He looked at Li Nuo and asked, "You and Miss Phoenix..."

Li Nuo said: "We, ahem..."

A look of understanding appeared on Song Lian's face, he breathed a sigh of relief and said, "That's all, it's his own choice who to marry, as long as he doesn't regret it in the future."

Song Yu, who was eavesdropping outside the door, heard this and immediately ran in and said happily: "Thank you, dad!"

Judging from the second uncle's reaction, even if Li Nuo didn't help Song Yu, he would eventually agree.

After returning to Ningxinyuan, he immediately informed Fenghuang about the matter.

"Very good!"

Phoenix hugged his arm and said with a smile: "Yuanyang will be very happy if he knows about it!"

Feeling full pressure on his arm, Li Nuo couldn't help but glance down.

Phoenix's face turned red, and he immediately let go of his hand and said, "I'm going to find the beautiful lady!"

Seeing her running away in panic, Li Nuo couldn't help feeling that Fenghuang seemed to be the most open-minded among them, but in fact, she was even thinner-skinned than Yiren.

This contrast between appearance and interior is quite interesting.

Li Nuo had talked to her about marriage two days ago. Fenghuang had no requirements for these matters. He just said that he would wait until the beautiful lady officially entered the house.

The wedding to Yi Ren has to be next year anyway.

Li Nuo has already made a plan. When the time comes, he can take the opportunity to go out for inspection and hold a wedding in Zhao State.

I don’t know how Her Majesty the Queen is doing after being away from Zhao for so long.

While Li Nuo was thinking about it, the awe-inspiring energy in his body suddenly grew several times stronger.

After returning to Daxia, although the cultivation level of Legalism did not increase much, the cultivation level of Confucianism was visibly increasing every day.

On the one hand, his cultivation is still shallow, and he can detect even the slightest changes in his cultivation.

On the other hand, whether he improves farmers, soldiers, Mohists, or carries out various reforms, as long as the goal is for the people, he can also promote Confucian practice.

Just now, his Confucian cultivation had quietly broken through to the third level.

This means that something he did should have achieved obvious results.

Zhongshu Province.

On the table in front of the left prime minister, there were memorials.

These memorials were all submitted from various prefectures.

In the past, when the court wanted to carry out tax reforms, local officials did not cooperate at all. Most of them would take the way of concealing land to evade the court's review.

But this time, before the provisions of the tax reform were officially promulgated, officials from various states took the initiative to submit a petition. In order to respond to the call of the court, they donated all the excess land under their names for use as public land.

The grain produced by the public land all belongs to the national treasury.

And the local gentry also followed suit and donated a large amount of land.

The contents of these tax reforms were all tried by the court before. The same contents had all failed before, but this time it was unexpectedly smooth, and they even took the initiative to cooperate without the supervision of the court.

Li Nuo's words were verified again.

Any reform is inevitable with bloodshed and sacrifice.

When he was appointed as the inspector with the imperial sword in hand, those stubborn local officials immediately understood the court's difficulties.

However, the concessions of these officials and gentry could not fundamentally solve the problem of the people having no land.

More land was in the hands of those big families.

But at least, in the repeated failures, he saw a little hope...

He slowly raised his head and realized something belatedly.

The reason why the court has been able to carry out various reforms smoothly these days, unlike before, every step would encounter many obstacles, is the most important for two reasons.

The powerful people who can intervene in the government have died.

The major families, especially the most prosperous Wang family, have little power left in the court.

Could it be?

Thinking of a certain possibility, it made his usually calm heart a little throbbing.

Dali Temple.

Temple and Qing Ya.

Li Xuanjing stood in the yamen, with his left hand behind his back and a "Medical Handbook" in his right hand. At a certain moment, a figure walked in from outside and said, "Sir, the left prime minister is here."

As soon as he finished speaking, another figure had already walked into the yamen.

The left prime minister glanced at the young man and said, "You go down first."

The young man looked at Li Xuanjing, and Li Xuanjing nodded slightly.

The young man slowly retreated, Li Xuanjing put down the book in his hand, clasped his fists to the left prime minister, and said, "What's the matter, sir, the left prime minister?"

The left prime minister did not speak, and when Li Xuanjing clasped his fists, he suddenly stretched out his hand and held his wrist.

A trace of righteousness followed his hand and entered Li Xuanjing's body.

This righteousness entered his body, like a mud cow entering the sea, without any response.

The left prime minister retracted his hand, and his face was full of disappointment.

Did he guess wrong...