Three Kingdoms

As the dust of the Zheng family's rebellion settled, the area around Chang'an seemed to have regained its vitality. After all, people had to live, eat and clothe themselves. Moreover, the collapse of several small gentry nobles who were involved with the Zheng family also made people A considerable part of the materials were able to circulate on the market, which alleviated the original shortage of materials in the Sanfu area.

Just like Heshen fell to Jiaqing after eating.

Although the Zheng family, Pang family and others did not want to be as fat as He Shen, it was still quite comfortable to just let the Sanfu area of ​​Chang'an eat. If Fei Qian, the general of the Western Expedition, had not decided to put down his sword for the time being, Jia Xu might not have Xu Shu and Pang Tong were somewhat addicted to eating.

The market has stabilized, and with the autumn harvest gradually unfolding, the entire Sanfu area has regained its vitality, including Zhongfu, which was originally lifeless.

However, in the current Zhong Mansion, it is no longer Zhong Shao who calls the shots, but Zhong Jie. Zhong Jie is no longer the dull-headed young man he was back in Bingbei. After Mr. Zhong died, the heavy responsibility of the Zhong family fell on his shoulders, and he unknowingly restrained his temperament.

Zhong Shao has been buried, and the period of filial piety has passed. The black and white lanterns at the door have also been removed. Although there is no red or colorful decoration, he can be regarded as entering a normal rhythm of life.

Zhongjie stood in the courtyard, looking at the square sky, and let out a long breath.

Although the Zhong family touched the power, they were unable to hold it and eventually it slipped from their hands. Even so, the Zhong family remembered the texture and fragrance of the power in their hands, which was unforgettable.

One person is inferior to ten thousand people.

Standing on the high hall, looking down at all living beings.

If you have never tasted such a taste, you are just imagining it, and it may not be so uncomfortable, but after you have experienced such a sweet taste, it is not easy to forget it again.

"Young Master, Wei Hucao is here..." the Zhong family's servant reported.

"Ah, please..." Zhong Jie said subconsciously, and then quickly changed his words, "No, no, I'd better go and greet you personally..."

After a while, Zhongjie walked into the hall chatting and laughing with Wei Duan. Both of them were smiling, but if you look closely, Zhongjie's waist seemed to be a little more bent.

Wei Duan is now the Hucao of Jingzhao Yin. Although it is only a position of 400 shi, this is the land of three auxiliaries. It is three points higher than the Hucao of ordinary counties, so it has swept away all the previous expectations. Fei Qian, the general who conquered the West, looked like he was pointing his finger. If he said something, he would definitely arch his hands upward to show respect.

Wei Duan had a lot of criticisms about General Zhengxi before, and even used Fei Qian's last name to criticize him, but it is different now. Speaking of which, Wei Duan also has the style of a professional manager of later generations, and whoever eats his food will be his fan. , at least on the surface, he does a good job, and it can be said that he has quite professional ethics, unlike some white-eyed wolves in later generations, who smile when eating and curse when putting down the bowl and chopsticks.

In the Han Dynasty, the official-oriented and people-oriented ideas coexisted without much conflict. For officials in the Han Dynasty, their positions belonged to the state and the court, but they also belonged to superior officials. This was a national policy formulated when Liu Bang founded the country. It lasted for three to four hundred years and has become a solid thinking mode. , no one thought anything was wrong.

Therefore, Wei Duan, as an officer subordinate to Jingzhaoyin, the third assistant, naturally became a subordinate of the Zhengxi official. So even if he had any opinions about Fei Qian before, he must still ask Fei Qian, the Zhengxi general, when talking to others. Qian showed due respect. Otherwise, it would be tantamount to openly declaring that his character was not good. This would be more embarrassing than killing Wei Duan. Even if Wei Duan was shameless, the Wei family would also be ashamed.

Of course, these are just what you see on your face. As for what you think in your heart, that's another matter.

Compared with Wei Duan, his temperament is much inferior. Now he is just a white man without any official position.

The old man Zhong Shao Zhong couldn't bear the death. As a son, he naturally needs to observe filial piety. Although Confucianism in the Han Dynasty was not that perverted, it stipulated that if an old man dies in the family, he must observe filial piety for three years, and for two, it will be six years. If future generations follow the perverted Confucian rules , then the only child will face a terrifying career blank period of six to twelve years, and there will be several twelve years in life...

In the Han Dynasty, observing filial piety was basically within the normal range, and there were still periods of intense filial piety. As for special people, such as the emperor, they can use the sun instead of the month. After thirty-six days, they will be considered to have observed mourning for three years.

Zhongjie is not the emperor. By the time he has passed the period of filial piety, General Fei Qian's banner has been planted all over the Third Assistant. There is no need for the Zhong family to do anything...

Although I didn’t go out in the house, my servants would bring some news back, or some correspondence, but after all, these were indirect sources of information, and Zhongjie himself was not the kind of extremely smart person. Just relying on some information can deduce the future development from clues, so the entire Zhong family will inevitably experience some news lag.

I had heard before that there was some conflict between the Guanzhong nobles and Fei Qian, and then the Zheng family, who was originally jumping up and down and making a lot of fun, was gone in the blink of an eye, and Wei Duanyi, who was originally dissatisfied with Fei Qian, In the blink of an eye, he became a subordinate of General Zhengxi, which made Zhongjie feel uncomfortable.

More importantly, when Zhongjie opened the door and took a look at these carrot pits in Sanfu, he found that the suitable and good positions were almost filled, leaving only a few corners, such as those by Su County was almost massacred...

How does this affect the kind of people who were originally on the edge of top power?

"Brother Wei..." After the two parties sat down, they chatted for a few more words and gradually got to the point, "I have been closed for a long time. I don't know the current situation of the third assistant. I hope Brother Wei can give me some advice..."

Wei Duan waved his hand and said with a smile: "How dare you? Brother Zhong is so affectionate and filial, I admire you very much. Brother Zhong can ask, but I should tell you everything."

"So, I do have something unclear..." Zhongjie also smiled and said, "There are many changes in the current land administration, which is really confusing to me... I wonder if Brother Wei has any good advice to give?"

Wei Duan's smile suddenly stiffened. Sure enough, he guessed correctly and understood why Zhongjie was looking for him.

The Zhengxi Tianzheng was also known as the Jue Tian system.

In fact, for most of the current noble gentry, the Jue Tian system has not changed much of their current situation. On the contrary, it has reduced a lot of taxes, because the tax standard of Fei Qian, the general who conquered the west, has not actually been increased. , but decreased.

Although it is a good thing to reduce the amount of tax collection, the Sanfu area is different from the area to the north. The noble nobles in the Sanfu area of ​​​​Guanzhong are not too willing to accept this emerging land system. The reason is very simple. There is an emerging military merit system in the north. They originally have nothing in their hands, so it is natural to collect the newly granted acres. Zhengxi alone has the final say, and they are all extra anyway.

And here in Sanfu, the original land tax system has lasted for decades, even hundreds of years. How can we easily accept the land system of the descendants of General Fei Qian who conquered the West?

Three generations of Jue Tianyin.

Sounds pretty good.

The nobles and nobles of the Guanzhong gentry would like to raise their arms to support the true benevolent descendants. But the problem is that Zhengxi stipulates that only the benevolent descendants can be blessed, and what these old guys in Guanzhong want is endless benevolence to the descendants...

Although most people will not live to have children and grandchildren, and they also know that there are two opinions on what the family will be like when they have children and grandchildren in the future, it does not prevent them from feeling that if they just agree to switch to the new Tianzheng, it is tantamount to eating. Big loss.

It is for this reason that when the Zheng family was making trouble, although most of the Guanzhong nobles and nobles were not directly involved, they stood by and watched, and there were many people who even made secret glances at the Zheng family. However, they did not expect that the so-called rumors of Zheng Xi's death were just Jia Xu's. A pit dug by a few people was filled with many lives in an instant.

Only then did the nobles in Guanzhong, including Wei Duan, become anxious. Although they knew that it was impossible to conquer the west, and they would not kill all the noble nobles in Guanzhong, no one wanted to become the next Zheng family!

Therefore, without much hesitation, many Guanzhong nobles, including Wei Duan, took the initiative to stick to Zheng Xi, saying that there would be no problem in making beds, warming beds, etc...

For a time, the army and the people were enjoying themselves and being very harmonious.

China has been governed by humans since ancient times, so there are naturally many mysteries in this.

Because of the Zheng family, Wei Duan and others expressed their willingness to serve under Fei Qian, the general who conquered the west, so Fei Qian put down his sword. This was a deal that everyone could accept, so Wei Duan changed his previous attitude towards Zheng. Fei Qian, the general of the West, was in a state of raising his nose and eyes. When he mentioned Zhengxi, he was respectful. This is etiquette and rule. There is nothing to say. But should Zhengxi’s Juetian New Deal be implemented to the letter? That's another thing.

After all, things in China have been like this since ancient times. One code belongs to the other, and everything cannot be bundled together or lumped together. Just like there is nothing wrong with repaying the kindness of a drop of water with a spring of water, but there is no reason to repay the water of the entire Pacific Ocean.

The nobles and nobles in the Sanfu Land certainly don't dare to think about going the old way of the Zheng family again, but it is appropriate to negotiate, stretch, and give in to each other, isn't it?

In addition to the new Juetian land administration, as for other government affairs, such as resettlement of refugees, compilation of household registration, coordination of projects, promotion of production, etc., including Wei Duan, the new wave of Guanzhong gentry children who joined General Zhengxi did not have any He is vague, tries his best, does not cut corners or is careless, and does a pretty good job.

So, generally speaking, there is no problem now, everyone is smiling, and the relationship is not tense, but the problem will soon become apparent, because Zhuanghe has matured and has begun to harvest. The amount of taxes to be paid next has become the focus of this new round of competition between the two parties.

And Zhongjie, at this moment, opened the door of his house, invited Cao Weiduan, a householder in Jingzhao, to come to his home as a guest, and then raised this question...

"Ah ha, there are all kinds of things about land administration, and they are extremely numerous," Wei Duan's eyes flickered for a few times, and then he asked, "I wonder what Brother Zhong is referring to?"

"I recently heard that Sanfu Land intends to check the number of acres of land to determine the endowment..." Zhongjie said slowly, "...I have been at home for a long time and have no news. I dare to ask Brother Wei if he has this matter?"

It's only been two days, and you still have the nerve to say that you don't have any information?

Wei Duan murmured in his heart, but remained calm on the surface and said, "This is the order of Pang Shijun, and we will naturally obey it."

Pang Shijun? Was it just an order given by that young man Pang Tong?

Zhongjie looked at Wei Duan, trying to figure out what Wei Duan meant. He pondered for a moment and said, "Does General Zhengxi know about this?"

Wei Duan smiled slightly, cupped his hands upward, and said, "General Zhengxi is busy with his affairs. If we need to bother the general with such trivial matters, isn't it because we are incompetent?"

Understood.

"So..." Zhongjie nodded and said, "The autumn harvest has just begun, and there is no need to delay in harvesting grain. We also need to check the fields... Brother Wei is lucky to have such complicated matters..."

"Alas..." Wei Duan cupped his hands upward again and said, "Serving General Zhengxi, how can I say it's hard work? It's just that there are many things to do, and checking the land affairs, I really don't have enough time... I thought hard today, and finally I don’t know how to do it, I wonder if Brother Zhong has a good remedy?”

How could Zhongjie jump from such a big fire pit?

Therefore, Zhongjie excuses himself by saying that he has filial piety.

Wei Duan originally asked this question not really to ask Zhongjie to think of a way out, but just to confirm Zhongjie's attitude. Seeing Zhongjie say this, he probably had some confidence in his heart, so he praised Zhongjie with a smile. Pure filial piety, and then some words of comfort...

At this moment, suddenly a guard of Wei Duan, led by Zhong's servants, rushed towards him, fell to the ground and reported: "Pang Shijun sent an order! Hu Cao please come to the government office as soon as possible to discuss the matter!"

Wei Duanyi frowned and said, "What's the matter?"

The guard bowed again and said: "The envoy didn't say anything, I don't know, but..."

"Nothing, to be honest..." Wei Duan said.

"The water dragons from Zhuque Street were dispatched before, saying that the pavilion was flooded..." the guard replied, "I think the fire was not big, and it has been extinguished..."

"The pavilion is leaking?" Wei Duan and Zhong Jie repeated, and then they both saw the other's look a little strange.

Wei Duan stood up, bowed and saluted: "Brother Zhong, I'm sorry... Commander Pang has summoned me, I'll take my leave..."

"Brother Wei, you're welcome..." Zhongjie hurriedly stepped forward to help him and said, "Of course we should prioritize important matters...Brother Wei, please..."

The two of them were polite, and Zhongjie personally sent Wei Duan to the front door of the mansion. Wei Duan couldn't refuse, so he accepted it, and then said goodbye to Zhongjie in front of the mansion gate and hurried to Jingzhao Yin Mansion Office.

The pavilion is a place where all kinds of books and documents are stored, which naturally includes data on the fields of various households in the surrounding area...

This fire is strange!

Zhongjie shook his head, and then said: "When you come, close the house! Everyone in the house must report to someone when they come in or out!"

The limelight is not good, let's avoid it...