The Moon Over Tang Dynasty

Chapter 186: Death is inevitable, something must be done

Looking at Pei Xingjian's increasingly serious expression after the case, Zhang Gao, a member of the Cangcao army, could no longer sit still. He stood up and wanted to say something, but he opened his mouth but couldn't find a suitable word. Liu Yue, a member of the Hucao army, also stood up quickly. Only Zhang Huaiji, a member of the army, could still sit firmly. He raised his head and glanced at Zhang Gao and Liu Yue coldly.

 Zhang Gao was already wary of this clan brother and superior, so he was so frightened that he immediately sat down.

Pei Xingjian didn't seem to notice all this. After a while, he raised his head from the paperwork and looked at Zhang Gao solemnly, "Zhang joined the army, Xizhou's taxes are in arrears to this extent?"

 Zhang Gao stood up with excitement, his face slightly red, "Reporting to the long history, this matter is a long story..."

Zhang Huaiji also stood up and interrupted Zhang Gao without hesitation, "Chang Shi, the taxes of Xizhou began to be in arrears as early as the Zhenguan period when Cai Duhu commanded Xizhou. At the beginning of the third year of Yonghui , when Qu Duhu was ordered to arrive in Xizhou, there was already no money and no food in the Xizhou warehouse. In the past three years, from the top to the Duhu and down to the handymen, the expenditures of the Xizhou Duhu Mansion have been reduced again and again, and they can barely survive. The current situation has been improved, but taxes have been in arrears year after year, so it needs a long history of rectification!”

Pei Xingjian frowned and looked at Zhang Huaiji, "In view of joining the army, how should we deal with it?"

Zhang Huaiji's eyes were stern, "The people of Xizhou are fierce and fierce, and they cannot be frightened without heavy rituals. The long history should focus on the Wucheng with the most arrears and resort to thunderous means, just like Guo Duhu did back then, refusing to surrender." Only by confiscating double the amount of property of the tenants, killing them as a warning to others and frightening the unruly people in the surrounding areas can this trend of arrears be reversed!"

Pei Xingjian thought for a moment and nodded, "The idea of ​​joining the army... seems to make some sense."

Zhang Gao was startled and wanted to say something, but when he saw the look in Zhang Huaiji's eyes, he lowered his head again. Zhang Huaiji's face relaxed slightly, "Chang Shi, in an emergency, you can only use extraordinary means. Otherwise, when the army arrives, there will be no food and grass. How can it be child's play? As the official in charge of political affairs in Xizhou, Chang Shi will inevitably end up in a bad situation." A serious crime."

Pei Xingjian sighed, nodded and said, "You are right about joining the army!"

Zhang Huaiji couldn't help but reveal a smile on his face, and just as he was about to say a few more words, Pei Xingjian looked at him with a smile, "In that case, I will leave this matter to the army. I think joining the army will not disappoint me. The Protector is disappointed!”

Zhang Huaiji couldn't help being stunned, and after a breath he said hurriedly, "What Chang Shi said is wrong. How can a subordinate be so virtuous and capable as to take on such an important task? Naturally, this matter can only be solved by Chang Shi's intervention. !”

Pei Xingjian smiled calmly and said, "Why should Zhang Canjun be too modest? You come from a famous family in Xizhou, and now you are the leader of the Six Cao Army. In terms of foundation and popularity, what point do you lose to Pei? Just now you said so categorically. , of course he is confident, could it be possible that he deliberately made this move to trap me into injustice? "

Zhang Huaiji stared at Pei Xingjian, completely confused as to why Chang Shi, who was usually the gentlest, suddenly became so sharp-tongued. He could only shake his head hurriedly, "I don't dare, I don't mean this. only…"

Pei Xingjian stopped him categorically and said, "It would be better if you go to Wucheng to pay taxes. Please ask Zhang Canjun to be responsible for it. Since you have to offset it with your family property, I will limit you to seven days to collect the taxes from Wucheng." After the five hundred families were found out, the collection started seven days later.”

Seeing Zhang Huaiji still standing there, he stood up with a smile, stepped forward to hold Zhang Huaiji's arm, and sent him out the door with a smile, "It's better to go back early to prepare for joining the army. Pei is waiting for good news!" "

Zhang Gao and Liu Yuecheng stood up in fear. Pei Xingjian turned around and said warmly, "Sit down, Zhang Canjun. You have been responsible for the taxation in the past few years..."

Zhang Gaogang was about to sit down and straightened up in a hurry. Thinking of the difficulties and hardships in the past few years, and just as he was about to argue, Pei Xingjian sighed softly, "It's really hard work!"

Zhang Gao was stunned, looking at Pei Xingjian's gentle eyes, thinking of the complaints he had made in the past few years, his nose suddenly felt a little sore, and he quickly lowered his head.

Pei Xingjian picked up the document compiled by Zhang Gao and Liu Yue and said with emotion, "Today, on average, each household in Xizhou owes rent and local taxes for three years, and owes transfers for five years. However, Xizhou can have enough grain and silk. , It’s all the credit of the two of you. But before this autumn, the army will arrive, but I have to bother you two to deal with the difficult situation at hand. After you go down, you should also think about how to overcome the difficult situation at hand. "

Zhang Gao and Liu Yue looked at each other, feeling a little excited in their hearts. But thinking of the current situation, they could only bow their heads and say "yes" and retreat silently.

Pei Xingjian sat for a while, looked up at the sky outside the window, sorted out the documents in his hands, put them aside, stood up and walked out of the house. Just as he was about to walk out of the house, Bai San, who was guarding the door, whispered, "Chang Shi, there is someone Looking for you.”

Pei Xingjian was startled. Following Bai San's glance, he saw a thin figure emerging from the corner. He saw that Pei Xingjian had already seen him and disappeared in the blink of an eye.

Pei Xingjian looked at the corner, thought for a while and then said, "You guys go out first."

Bai San hesitated for a moment, but finally nodded, greeted a few other people, and headed out of the house. Someone couldn't help but whisper, "Have you ever seen the woman who lives in the back alley of the Protector's Mansion? Is it possible that she is more handsome than our wife?"

Bai San sneered and lowered his voice, "What are you talking about! Which of us men are not like this? That woman doesn't need to be more handsome than the madam, as long as she is not exactly the same as the madam, that's enough!"

Although their voices were low, Pei Xingjian heard them clearly. He couldn't help but reveal a wry smile on his face. After standing for a moment, he turned to the back door and turned into the alley in a familiar way, feeling somewhat puzzled. But when the door opened and I saw Liu Ruyue in the yard, I couldn't help but pause.

After not seeing each other for half a month, Liu Ruyue's sweet and beautiful round face had become so thin that her cheekbones were exposed. The spring shirt she had just put on looked empty, as if she was wearing someone else's clothes, but her eyes were still extremely clear. When she saw Pei Xingjian Come in, bend your knees slightly and bow your body, but your movements are still extremely elegant.

Pei Xingjian lowered his eyes and returned the salute. He thought for a while and then said, "Pei once told Ajian that he has never seen Brother Fang's appearance and cannot say for sure, but Ajian should have a good future. I hope Ajian can relax his mind. take care."

Liu Ruyue smiled calmly, "Don't worry, Chang Shi, now I have figured it out. To me, he just went to a farther place. If we are destined, we will meet each other sooner or later. If not, we can also look forward to the next life. Today. I take the liberty of inviting Chang Shi to come here, because I have a piece of information that I would like to ask Chang Shi." After saying this, he made a gesture of invitation and turned around to sit next to the table where the chessboard was placed in the courtyard.

At least half of the chessboard is covered with chess pieces. A quick glance shows that the white chess piece clearly has the advantage everywhere, while the black chess piece is just struggling to survive. Liu Ruyue didn't say much. She picked up the white chess piece and placed a piece on the chessboard. Then she raised her head and said, "When I went out the day before yesterday, I heard that the Duhufu has moved to the eighteen townships in the five counties of Xizhou in the past few days. Notices have been posted, saying that Chang Shi will come forward to rectify the taxes and recover the rent owed by the people of Xizhou over the years. "

Pei Xingjian sat upright on the other side of the chess game, picked up his pieces and responded, "That's true. I wonder what Ajian has to say."

Liu Ruyue said lightly, "I don't know what kind of situation I have to face now?" Pei Xingjian was silent for a moment and said with a smile, "Today, the military personnel of the Xizhou Protectorate have reported their accounts for the past years. The situation is similar in all prefectures and counties, and the amount of rent arrears is staggering. If they are forced to pay up, about six or seven households out of ten will have to flee. "

Liu Ruyue nodded, "It would be good if the chief minister knew about it. After I heard about this, I asked the master of the Great Buddha Temple by offering incense yesterday. Only then did I learn that the tax arrears in Xizhou have been in arrears for a long time. Since the death of Guo Duhu It started when Xizhou and Chai Duhu took over, and it intensified after the Qu family returned to Xizhou. In the past three years, the Duhu Mansion only collected 30% of the rent every year, and the rest was said to be collected every year, but in fact it was no more. It’s just a show-off every year, and that’s why we’re here today. Now it’s clear what Chang Shi’s purpose is in ordering it to be reorganized in such a big way.” After saying that, he glanced lightly, and a small piece of black chess was immediately eaten. , Black's situation is even more ugly.

Pei Xingjian didn't mind. After thinking for a moment, he took a step forward and said, "I have heard a little bit of what Ajian said."

Liu Ruyue stopped the black chess without hesitation, "Then history tells us why this situation came about?"

Pei Xingjian was startled and said with a smile, "I know a little bit about it, I would like to hear the details."

Liu Ruyue's expression was a little heavy, "If Chang Shi talks with older Xizhou people a few times, he will be able to understand Guo Duhu's ruthless tactics in promoting the Tang Dynasty system in Xizhou. It was only more than two years ago. , which made Xizhou the same as other states and counties in the Tang Dynasty. There were cities and towns in the cities, and farmland in the villages. The political achievements were reported to the generals, which naturally made the late emperor very happy, but the people of Xizhou were miserable! "

Seeing that Pei Xingjian had already agreed, she stopped him immediately, and then continued, "Chang Shi naturally knows that according to the system of our dynasty, every male member of a household is granted a hundred acres of land, and pays two stones of millet in rent and two feet of silk every year. In addition, there is a land tax of two liters per mu. In terms of a hundred acres of land, paying four stones of corn and two feet of silk every year is nothing. How much land?”

Pei Xingjian sighed calmly, "I spent more than a month traveling through the most populous, least populous, richest and poorest townships in Xizhou. On average, the land that can really be used is the most. More than ten acres, the smallest is only about ten acres.”

Liu Ruyue was startled and almost dropped the chess piece in her hand, "You already know Chang Shi?"

Pei Xingjian still looked at the chess game and nodded, "Of course we all know it. In my dynasty, the land granted was divided into Guangxiang and Narrow Township, and the land granted to young people in Narrow Township was low. However, Guo Du protected the great achievements and granted the land with sandy hills and barren hills. To make up for it, Xizhou was designated as Guangxiang. Since ancient times, cultivated land has been rare in Xizhou. In addition, during the Zhenguan period, a large number of refugees and border troops moved into Xizhou, and the land became increasingly tight. For those who were recently granted land, ten acres would be considered a good deal. , Not to mention the people, even those honorable officials in Xizhou are mostly meritorious and have nothing to show for their fame. "

"I also know that the climate in Xizhou is warm, with two crops a year, melons and fruits are easy to obtain, and cattle and sheep can be grazed. Therefore, although the land is only about ten acres, in a good year, the rent and tax of four stones can be barely paid, but In the event of a famine, most poor households find it difficult to survive, and it is not easy to grow mulberry and raise silkworms in Xizhou, and it is even more difficult to pay for one of the tasks. They often have to spend money to buy high-priced silk from other places and hand it over, so that Xizhou The situation of underpayment is more serious than rent arrears.”

"Guo Duhu had an extravagant temperament and powerful methods. At that time, people in Xizhou even sold their houses and land and did not dare to default on their debts. Half of the reason why he died in a foreign land was the strategy of the rebels, and the other half was also due to deep resentment among the people. After Chai Duhu took over, he faced this kind of dilemma. If he continued to press for payment, he was afraid that public resentment would boil over. If he didn't press, the money and food for the Duhu Mansion, especially the army, would be unsustainable, so it was tight for a while. After a while, signs of rent arrears in Xizhou have begun to appear. In the past few years, the Qu family has been appeasing the people while building workshops and being lenient to businessmen. In order to increase revenue and reduce expenditure, although Xizhou has only collected 30% of the rent, fortunately, Xizhou has two. There has been no major war, but the current situation has been maintained.”

"Nowadays, the people in Xizhou owe far more rent than they did back then, and both the rich and the poor owe it. If I forcefully call for payment, once public anger is aroused, the fate will probably be no better than that of Guo Duhu. If I don't Call for payment. When the army arrives this autumn, Xizhou will not have enough money to supply the army. Naturally, I, who is responsible for taxation, will be guilty of an unforgivable crime. "

“So, in this game of chess, I should die, and I shouldn’t die. It’s a dead game. Even if I’m as powerful as you, I can’t stand up!”

Pei Xingjian put down the black chess piece in his hand and sighed, "I lost."

Liu Ruyue looked at him blankly, "Chang Shi, I thought you were new here and didn't know what was going on, so you rashly took over the tax affairs. I have a secret medicine in the palace that can make people suddenly fall ill. I couldn’t see any clues, so I wanted to give it to Chang Shi, but since Chang Shi already knew it, why did he still respond to this situation? "

Pei Xingjian smiled faintly and pointed to the chessboard in front of him, "Because the chess game is already here!"

"The taxation situation in Xizhou is already dead. What can the Qu family do? As the royal family of Gaochang, how dare they say no to the land equalization system and the taxation of rent transfers? Of course I can pretend to be sick today, or even I was deliberately injured to avoid this game. What about tomorrow? As long as I truly become the Western Governor, I will have to take over this game sooner or later. Besides, today's game is already a dead end, but if it drags on, the situation will only get worse. , if someone else takes over in the future, if it is not handled properly, Datang’s more than ten years of operation in Xizhou will be ruined!"

"Ajian also knows that this autumn there will be a battle between the Tang Dynasty and the Helu tribe of the Western Turks. Ashina Helu's 100,000-strong army is waiting in full formation. By then, Xizhou will be the back camp of the Tang army. If this back camp is in danger due to money, food and taxes, , was instigated by someone with malicious intentions and caused turmoil. How could the former army win this battle? "

“Therefore, in this round, I can only accept the challenge and there is no way to escape.”

Liu Ruyue frowned in confusion, "What does Chang Shi mean?"

Pei Xingjian stretched out his hand and made a random move on the chessboard, "This game is indeed a dead end. There is no way to solve it, we can only break it!"

Liu Ruyue couldn't help being startled, "Pei Changshi, what are you...do you know that this matter may break the situation, but it will do a lot of harm to yourself and no benefit at all?"

Pei Xingjian laughed and stood up, "You can't always care about whether things in this world are good or bad for you. You should do what you need to do and take responsibility for what you need to do. As Pei is the governor of the West, I won't do this. , who will teach you to do it? Pei Mou appreciates Liu Ajian’s kindness!”

 Xiao Fu’s tea had not yet been brewed, so she couldn’t help shouting, “Chang Shi, please wait a moment…”

Pei Xingjian smiled and said, "Today I am not partial to Xiaofu's good tea. Pei also got good tea two days ago. I remember that I haven't cooked it for my family for a long time. Today is sunny and sunny, so it is a good day to make tea."

Seeing Pei Xingjian smile and cup his hands, striding out of the door without hesitation, Xiao Fu couldn't help but feel a little confused and asked softly, "Sister, what is this Chang Shi going to do?"

Liu Ruyue was stunned for a while, looking at the chessboard that had been mixed into a ball by Pei Xingjian casually, and sighed softly, "He wants to play with fire."

There are things that a real man should not do, but there are things that he must do, that's all.

 (End of this chapter)