Chapter 1283 Secret talks between the two families
At night, a carriage slowly stopped in front of Dugu Mansion. Changsun Nanfang got out of the carriage, said a few words to Dugu Jinyang who greeted him, and the two of them quickly entered the mansion.
As a Guanlong noble who openly supported Li Ye, the eldest grandson's family was doing well. The eldest grandson Nanfang was named Taiwei and Duke of Xu. His nephew eldest grandson Quanxu was appointed as the Yin of Henan and was granted the title of Zijin Guanglu doctor.
Of course, it is still a little worse than the Dugu family, and if the grand master Pei Fang had not died of illness last year, the eldest son's family would still be ranked behind the Pei family.
But compared to other families, it's still much better.
The house was relatively dark, and there were no large lanterns installed. The Dugu family was still in mourning, and there were no lanterns or decorations. A maid led the way with a lantern.
The eldest grandson Nanfang was led to the outer study by Dugu Jinyang. Dugu Lie was already waiting at the entrance of the courtyard.
Dugu Lie cupped his fists and said with a smile: "If you miss me from afar, please don't blame me!"
"Where! I disturbed my brother's rest."
The two exchanged polite words and went into the house to talk. Dugu Jinyang also followed him in. He did not participate in the conversation, but sat at the door and waited. He would see off his father's guests later.
The two sat down respectively as guest and host, and a maid came in to serve them tea.
After the maid retreated, eldest grandson Nanfang whispered: "This morning, officials from the Ministry of Household Affairs came to my house to verify the number of manors. Does brother know about this?"
Dugu Lie chuckled, "Every household must verify it. The Dugu family confirmed it ten days ago, but I advise you not to hide it, as it will be self-defeating!"
"Why?"
"It's very simple. The county government knows better than anyone how many manors there are in a county. For example, if the eldest grandson's family has a manor in Yunyang County, but they deliberately conceal it, the Ministry of Revenue will treat it as an ownerless manor and confiscate it. You say it is your eldest grandson's manor.
It belongs to the family, but if it is not on the list you provided, the court will not recognize it, do you understand?"
“So you must register honestly and don’t take any chances.”
"Yes! Disclosing assets openly is actually a kind of protection for oneself. Especially for a large asset like the farm, unless it is not in Guanzhong, it will be jointly investigated by the government in Guanzhong, and there is no way to hide it."
"Before, we were inspecting the clan's property, but now we are inspecting the Guanlong nobles. Why is it so harsh?"
Dugu sighed, "This is all the trouble caused by the clan. The clan has farms in various places in Guanzhong. There are a hundred thousand armed villagers in total. In Jingzhao Mansion alone, there are more than 50,000 villagers. They are all wearing armor.
Wearing helmets and holding spears, you can’t imagine it! The city gate of Chang’an is not closed now, and there are no square gates. If these 50,000 troops suddenly attack Chang’an, what will be the consequences?”
"No way!"
"No? How did Li Lin die? He was training 8,000 troops in Hu County, and he was planning to attack Chang'an at night after the regent came back. This was their plan.
The same goes for Li Yu, who trained five thousand troops in Lantian County and planned a mutiny. Fortunately, their plan was discovered by the inner guards in advance. If the inner guards had delayed their attack for two days, the rebels would have invaded Chang'an City."
"I understand, so the imperial court confiscated the Guanzhong Manor owned by the clan!"
"Yes! Even the regent's two manors were handed over to the Ministry of Household Affairs, as well as the Imperial Manor!"
Changsun Nanfang felt sad and said after a while: "The Changsun family has a total of five manors in Guanzhong, covering an area of about 40,000 acres. Will the imperial court forcibly confiscate them?"
Dugu Lie shook his head and said: "Generally, there will be no forcible confiscation, unless the total number of your villagers exceeds 500, or you have accumulated a large number of weapons in the manor, which would be suspected of rebellion, then it is not as simple as confiscating the manor.
I believe you should understand what I mean."
"We have not violated these two prohibitions, we have not exceeded the minimum number of 150 people, and we have not stockpiled weapons in large quantities. All our weapons have been turned in."
"That's okay. The regent will not forcibly seize the property of the Changsun family. If you don't sell it, the court will not force it, but"
"But what?" Changsun Nanfang asked nervously.
Lonely Lie said calmly: "But the eldest grandson's family has given up their future for a few manors. In another year and a half, the eldest grandson Quanxu will definitely be changed to the general of the Twelve Guards. Don't wonder why the regent treated the eldest grandson so coldly.
Home? In fact, these five manors have already given you face?"
The eldest grandson Nanfang was speechless. He gave up his official career for the sake of five manors. How to settle the score?
"What about the Guanzhong Manor of the Dugu family?"
Dugu Lie smiled slightly and said: "Of course I gave up. We have eight manors in Guanzhong, involving 200,000 acres of land. I chose the replacement method. The regent promised to give me an island as big as Jingzhao Mansion, or
In the far west, give us a piece of land about the same size as Jingzhao Mansion."
Changsun Nanfang was stunned for a moment, "Brother, I don't understand. Can you explain it in detail?"
Dugulie smiled and said: "If I choose Hebei, it will replace the manor of 200,000 acres. If I choose Hexi Corridor or Fengzhou, the land replacement will become 400,000 acres. If I choose Beiting or Anxi
, the replacement land became 500,000 acres.
But if I choose the west of Congling, I will be given a city, and the city lord will be appointed by the Dugu family for generations. If I choose the west of the Aral Sea, then I will be given a mansion with an area equal to Jingzhao mansion, and the Dugu family can be a marquis for generations.
Local officials are recommended by the Dugu family and appointed by the court."
Changsun Nanfang was surprised and said: "Isn't this a vassal state?"
"Of course it is not a vassal state. The Emperor of Zhou is empty-handed, and the Tang Dynasty is not empty-handed. The army also belongs to the imperial court. I only have the local autonomy inherited from generation to generation. I am called the Marquis of Guanwai."
"I think it's still a vassal state, a vassal state without military power!"
Dugu Lie smiled bitterly, "Without military power, it wouldn't be called a vassal state."
"What happened to the island?"
Dugu Lie sighed, "I'm confused now! You can't have your own army in the Western Region, and you can't be called a king, but you can have an army on the islands, you can confer overseas kings, you can even build your own kingdom, appoint officials, etc.
Report to the court, as long as you come to Chang'an to see the emperor every three years and pay tribute to some special products every year, the court will not care. This is a true vassal state."
“The island is in good condition!”
Dugulie shook his head, "The imperial court will not give such good conditions in vain. The key is that the islands are all deserted. Although they are large, there are no people there. They have to invest a lot of wealth in construction and recruit Han people to be islanders.
"It won't take hundreds of years to become an island nation, mainly in the early days. There are a lot of forest snakes on the island. Who should I ask to cut down the trees and reclaim the land?"
Changsun Nanfang lowered his voice and said: "I have a business in Quanzhou. I heard from the manager that when Liuqiu Island was first developed, they went to Japan and Silla to recruit laborers. Each person was given a certain amount of money per month. They broke their heads and rushed to get them.
Come.
The Dugu family can recruit 10,000 people, which will only cost more than 300,000 guan in three years. One island can be almost dealt with, and the county seat has been built, and then farmers will be recruited from the Tang Dynasty."
"I'm afraid that ordinary Han people won't want to go!"
"That's easy. Bring all the slaves from the Dugu family there, and there will be thousands of families. Then get some young women from Japan and Silla to reproduce. If it doesn't take a hundred years, I think a small country will appear in ten years.
Already."
Dugu Lie was really tempted. He mainly felt that the west of the Aral Sea was not safe. There were threats from Western powers such as Dashi and Daqin, but the island was different. He could build his own army and was not afraid of pirate attacks. The key was that the Dugu family
The dream of founding a country that has lasted for more than a hundred years can be realized in his hands.
"Then the Changsun family has any idea. How about you replace an island and our two families become neighbors. I will build the Dugu Kingdom and you will build the Changsun Kingdom?"
How could Changsun Nanfang not be moved? When he was trying to think of a solution for Dugu Lie, his mouth was almost watering.
"We have too little land in Guanzhong, only 40,000 acres. How big of an island can we replace it with?"
Dugu Lie smiled slightly and said, "You are confused. Your eldest grandson's family has manors in Hedong, as well as manors in the Central Plains, and even in the south of the Yangtze River. How can we not have two to three hundred thousand acres in total?"
The eldest grandson Nanfang woke up like a dream for a while.