I won’t say the exact size of the Duke’s Mansion of Wei. The Zhan Garden alone, although not as big as it would be in later generations, covers an area of ​​nearly twenty acres.

Zhanyuan was originally the residence of Prince Wu where Zhu Yuanzhang lived before he became emperor. After Zhu Yuanzhang became emperor, in order to recognize Xu Da's contribution, he gave this residence to Xu Da.

Xu Da did not accept it at that time, so Zhu Yuanzhang ordered the construction of Wei Guogong's Palace and Dagongfang opposite. Later, with the continuous expansion of Wei Guogong's Palace, Zhanyuan was eventually included.

During the Jiajing period, Xu Pengju, the contemporary Duke of Wei, purchased rockery rocks, exotic trees, and flowers from all over the country to build the garden. It was not completed until the end of Wanli, when Xu Wenjue's father, Xu Hongji, took charge of the family.

Xu Hongji liked to socialize with literati and often held various literary gatherings in this garden. Later, the name "Zhanyuan" came into being.

After Xu Wenjue ascended the throne, the country was originally in turmoil, and there was no environment for a leisurely cultural gathering like his father's.

However, as Zhu Yuyao repeatedly defeated the Qing captives, and now even drove the Qing captives out of the pass, there was no longer the danger of war in the south of the Yangtze River, and the homes of the dignitaries, gentry and landlords began to sing and dance again.

Xu Wenjue was now just an empty-headed prince with no rights. He had a lot of free time, so he imitated his father Xu Hongji and invited some literati and famous Qinhuai prostitutes to hold literary parties in Zhanyuan from time to time for entertainment.

There was no literary gathering in Zhanyuan today, but Xu Wenjue still made an appointment with a few literary "friends" to accompany him.

Xu Changfu came to a pavilion by a pond and saw Xu Wenjue and three literati sitting in a pavilion.

Two of them, who are in their twenties, are two scholars with a little reputation in Nanjing nowadays; the other, a middle-aged man in his thirties or forties, is Wu Weiye, a well-known literary figure in Jiangzuo.

According to Xu Changfu's knowledge, Wu Weiye was good at writing poetry and founded the Loudong Poetry School. And because of his nickname, Meicun, his new poems were also called "Meicun Style" by his contemporaries.

It is said that Bian Yujing, a famous prostitute in Qinhuai in the past, once loved this man and wanted to marry him as his concubine, but Wu Weiye refused in order to clear his name.

Seeing that Xu Wenjue was smiling and talking about poetry with the three of them, rather than anything important, Xu Changfu walked in, bowed, and then whispered into Xu Wenjue's ear the important news he had heard.

He originally thought that after Xu Wenjue heard this, he would send these three scholars to discuss with him how to deal with it.

Unexpectedly, Xu Wenjue said unabashedly: "What does the imperial court's request to clear out the father-in-law's land have to do with the Duke of Wei?"

Suddenly hearing this question, not only Xu Changfu was stunned.

The three people next to Wu Weiye were also shocked.

By the way, does the Duke of Wei actually know how he got the money needed to support his wealthy life?

Because outsiders were around, the chief butler Xu Changfu couldn't explain it at the moment and could only cough repeatedly.

Although Wu Weiye and the others were men of letters, they were not completely ignorant of world affairs. They immediately stood up and said, "Since the Duke has important matters to deal with, we will leave first."

After all, Xu Wenjue was not a fool. He knew that Xu Changfu's report was really important, so he did not try to persuade him to stay. Instead, he said to a pretty woman sitting next to him: "Xiaoxiao, I'm seeing off my father-in-law."

"Yes, sir."

The pretty woman smiled and responded softly.

This girl is one of the famous prostitutes from Qinhuai who has appeared in the past two years, Wu Xiaoxiao. Now she is kept by Xu Wenjue, and she often goes to Zhanyuan to accompany guests.

After Wu Weiye, Wu Xiaoxiao and others left, Xu Changfu showed an anxious look and said: "My father-in-law, there are hundreds of thousands of acres of land under our family's name now, of which 10% is dedicated and hidden.

Most of them are more than that.

If the imperial court comes to our family to clear the land from our father-in-law, in the best case scenario, we may not be able to keep those fields.

If His Majesty intends to deal with our family, I am afraid that you, the Duke of Wei, may not be able to keep your title."

"Ah?!" Xu Wenjue stood up in shock when he heard this, and said: "It's not like that, is it? As far as I know, aren't the fields donated by others on their own initiative? What does it have to do with my Duke of Wei? As for hiding the fields

, I shouldn’t have much at home, right?”

Xu Changfu was speechless for a moment after hearing this, his face full of helplessness.

He felt that compared to his old father-in-law, the young father-in-law was really inferior, and he didn't even know the source of his family's wealth.

He organized his words and said: "Master, our family has been in the family for hundreds of years, and we have always lived in Yingtian Mansion. The masters and slaves are all spreading their branches and leaves. The number of acres of fields below has also changed again and again, and it cannot be reported.

In time, hidden fields will inevitably appear."

Xu Wenjue blinked his eyes and said: "Since the hidden fields are caused by the delay in reporting the number of acres of fields, why don't you hurry up and report it?"

When Xu Changfu heard this, he wished he could slap Xu Wenjue in the face.

This is what I said about the origin of Hidden Field. Do you, the master, really believe it?

Although the hidden fields under the Wei Guogong Mansion are not as large as the fields donated by others, it is conservatively estimated to be about 100,000 acres.

If you live in a place like Yingtianfu with many people and little land, no matter how much the number of acres of farmland changes over the past two hundred years, it is impossible to add 100,000 acres out of thin air.

So, do we need to explain clearly how the 100,000 acres of hidden land came from?

That's all what we servants have worked so hard to "occupy" for you, the Duke of Wei, from generation to generation!

Xu Changfu knew that it was useless to explain this to Xu Wenjue now. Instead, Xu Wenjue might throw them out as scapegoats.

After thinking for a while, he said earnestly: "My father-in-law, don't you understand yet? How our family got the extra land is not important. What is important is whether His Majesty will take this opportunity to deal with our family.

If your Majesty wants to, those extra fields are just an excuse, no matter how you explain it, it will be useless."

Xu Wenjue frowned after hearing this and said hesitantly: "Then do you think His Majesty wants to deal with my Duke of Wei?"

Xu Changfu felt really tired. Even after talking about this, Xu Wenjue still didn't fall for it.

He could only continue: "My lord, please think about Duke Baoguo, Marquis of Xincheng, and Marquis of Lingbi. They were just getting some extravagant money from the capital camp, and they were severely punished by Your Majesty.

You are now the greatest nobleman in Nanjing City. His Majesty has been on the throne for half a year. Not to mention being an official for you, he has not even summoned you a few times. So, do you think His Majesty will take this opportunity to deal with you?"

"Yes?" Xu Wenjue was still not sure.

"Definitely." Xu Changfu could only help Xu Wenjue confirm the situation.

"Ah? Then what should I do?" Xu Wenjue panicked all of a sudden, "It doesn't matter if it's just a fine of silver or a reduction in rank, but if I'm exiled to Qiongzhou Island like Baoguo Gong, I can't bear the crime. I'm afraid I'm going to die.

On the way!"

Seeing this, Xu Changfu smiled secretly, came closer and said: "My lord, for the present plan, the only way is to prevent the Qing Zhang Tian Mu from continuing, so that His Majesty will not find an excuse to deal with you."

"You mean to prevent the imperial court from clearing the land?" Xu Wenjue thought, "Isn't that bad? Wouldn't it be more dangerous to go against the imperial court?"

Xu Changfu smiled sinisterly and said: "My lord, it would be dangerous if we, the Duke of Wei, were the only ones to stop this matter.

But the Qing Dynasty is not only aimed at our family, but also against all nobles, gentry, and landlords in Yingtian Mansion.

If all these people can unite to oppose this matter, how can Qingzhang Tianmu continue to proceed?"
Chapter completed!