The sound of the door knocker was like thunder, making the servants inside tremble with fear.
"Open the door! The government is handling the case!"
Xue Xin's voice was still changing. His voice was extremely ugly, but his tone was very arrogant, and he had the momentum that a county class leader should have.
As soon as the door opened, he rushed in with his people, waving his hand and saying: "Search the warehouse, search the deeds and account books, act fast!"
Xue Bai walked behind. Seeing this scene, he felt no pride in his heart. Instead, he felt some introspection and understood what it meant to be a "broken family county magistrate".
He walked to the lobby, helped up a slave who fell to the ground in fright, and said, "Don't be afraid, the county office will handle the case in accordance with the law."
In the hall, a group of people helped the old Taigong Guo out. First, they saw a crutch touching the brick paved ground, and then a pair of trembling but firm feet, wearing woven shoes.
, colorful silk woven with complicated patterns, as bright as new.
"Xue County Lieutenant, what are you doing?!"
"To urge taxes." Xue Bai replied, "As a county captain, this is my duty."
Taigong Guo slowly sat down on the high chair. Holding back his anger, he asked the disciples around him to step back and said slowly: "What does Lieutenant Xue want? Just tell me."
He had raised many tribes and guardians, but in the end he did not dare to order them to resist. Even if he ordered them, it might not be of any use. Now the only option was to bribe Xue Bai.
Seeing that Xue Bai didn't answer, he added: "Anything that is available in this courtyard, whether it is gold, silver, jewelry, beauties and jade, is fine. Even things that are not available here are like the power of the lord of a county. If Xue County Lieutenant can let Guo go,
I will try my best to satisfy my family."
Xue Bai said: "Guo Gong is a cheerful person, but it's a pity that you can't give me what I want."
"County Lieutenant, please tell me. Whether you can give it or not is a matter for me to consider."
Xue Bai raised his eyes and looked at the sky, thinking that he couldn't even say what he wanted casually, so he waved his hand and said: "Let's talk about business, I'm here to recover the rent and taxes owed by the Guo family for many years. But I don't know if the Guo family's children have squandered it.
It will be troublesome if you don’t come out.”
Taigong Guo burst into tears and knocked on the ground with his cane.
"How come there is still money and food? The surplus money and food have been bought into fields. The county captain said that they were hidden fields and wanted to search them, but he forgot that they were the property of the Guo family. Since they took away the property of the Guo family, how could they still recover it?
"
"Bought?"
He was already old, and Xue Bai originally wanted to leave him some dignity, but after hearing this, he casually mentioned a few examples.
"In the 28th year of Kaiyuan, Guan Ayi of Guanyao Village sold 38 acres of fertile land and three acres of residential land to the Guo family. How much money did Guan Ayi actually get? Three bolts of silk and five measures of grain.
The discounted price is only one hundred cents per acre, which is different from taking it by force; in the third year of Tianbao, Ma Sanwang of Mawa Village sold 43 acres of fertile land and two acres of residential land to the Guo family, and only got two shi of grain..."
"Cough cough cough cough!"
Taigong Guo coughed heavily, interrupted Xue Bai's statement, and said: "It is said to be fertile land. It has not been left fallow for many years. The field has long lost its fertility. In addition, due to the bad years, they have lost the harvest and cannot survive.
I helped them. As for those fields, they also need to be cultivated. I haven’t let anyone cultivate them all these years, so how can I afford the rent and taxes?”
The two of them were talking, and Xue Xin came over and said, "Brother, I found the warehouse, but I haven't counted it yet. I guess 130,000 yuan is not enough. I have to sell the house as well."
This 130,000 guan is the hidden land tax owed by the Guo family since the 15th year of Kaiyuan. The annual tax in Yanshi County is only nearly 60,000 guan. According to a rough estimate, each household pays a year's tax.
The tax is about ten thousand yuan, which is not heavy. So who should bear the shortfall paid by the Guo family?
When Xue Xin reported this figure, Guo Taigong couldn't help but tremble all over when he heard it. Although the Guo family has a great business, if they spend this money, they will be in ruins.
He trembled, tried to stand up, and cried: "Xue County Lieutenant, this is my life savings! Do you really want to kill them all?"
The old man had been saving all his life, and suddenly it was all in vain, which seemed extremely pitiful.
Xue Bai didn't think he was pitiful. Although the Guo family didn't kill anyone with a knife, there were countless old people whose families were ruined or their life savings were wiped out in an instant. Who wouldn't be more pitiful than him?
~~
After Xue Bai left, it took a long time for Guo Taigong to recover from his loss and murmured: "No? No, there is still an opportunity...Did Duke Song agree to see me?"
He had sent a letter of greeting to Song Zhiti, hoping to climb Shouyang Mountain to pay him a visit in his old age.
In terms of foundation, the Song family may not be as good as the Guo family in Taiyuan, the Cui family in Boling, and the Zheng family in Xingyang, but in Yanshi County, all other families are branches, and Luhun Villa is indeed the most prominent family.
"Not yet...not yet, Aweng, don't be impatient."
"Alas, Song Gong hasn't seen me yet." Guo Taigong's chest heaved with anger, "I'm so dizzy."
He fell down on the chair, and when he spoke again his tone was sad.
"There is a story in "Zuo Zhuan" that the Jin State wanted to annex the Guo State, but was afraid that the Yu State would send troops to stop it, so the official Xun Xi proposed to give the Yu State good horses and beautiful jade as a way to conquer the Guo State. Waiting for the Jin State
After destroying the Guo Kingdom, he stationed in the rear Yu Kingdom when he returned to his army. The Duke of Yu was still unsuspecting and soon became a prisoner. Xun Xi took back the good horses and beautiful jade he had given as a gift.
It’s grown.”
At this point, Guo Taigong slapped the case and cried out sadly, "I should tell this story to Song Gong! How unwise is Song Gong?!"
~~
Luhun Villa.
Song Mianzheng handed a stack of land deeds to Song Zhiti.
Song Zhiti was old, his eyes were very turbid, and he couldn't see clearly the words on it. Song Miansui took out a drawing and gestured: "Uncle, please look at this field in the southeast at the foot of Shouyang Mountain, which is connected to our original one."
, the water canals are all open, Xue Bai allocated one hundred and eighty-seven hectares for us."
"It was just an ordinary transaction, right? With such an unexpected surprise, what does Xue Bai want?"
"Power." Song Mian answered firmly, "Although this man is young, he refuses to submit to others. He hopes that we can help him seize Lu Linghao's power and make Yanshi County the final say."
Song Zhiti did not comment, but still looked at the drawings, thinking that the Song family already had such a family business, and hoped that future generations could live in harmony and pass on the family business for a long time.
Song Mian waited for a while but did not receive an answer, and continued: "After taking Guo Huan this time, Xue Bai hopes to have his staff Yin Liang record the affairs. Can my uncle help him recommend it to Henan Prefecture?"
Song Zhiti did not answer, but asked: "Isn't the Guo family's hidden fields more than this?"
"Yes, after excluding what each family wants to share, there are still two hundred hectares left for us."
Song Zhiti then spoke slowly: "I can write a letter to Wei Fuyin, as long as Xue Bai is trustworthy."
"He is one of our own. He took our stolen money and sold it to us. He will die as soon as possible."
"I asked, how long can he help the Song family in Yanshi?"
Song Mian pondered for a while and said: "Uncle, don't worry, there is Yang Dang behind him. Now the Yang family has spread its business to Yanshi County. It is just starting now. There are many opportunities for cooperation in the future."
"That's good."
The matter was discussed and everything went well. Just when Song Mian was about to leave, Song Zhiti suddenly said: "Let someone put Gao Chong's head and body together and bury them in Mangling."
"Uncle, Gao Chong is the murderer of Eight Lang..."
"People are dead, so we can't ruin the friendship between living people." Song Zhiti said: "Gao Shang has written. He will come to Yanshi to visit me in a while. He is no longer what he used to be. Leave some room for him."
There were several greeting cards placed on the table to his left, and the one handed by Gao Shang was placed at the top.
As for Taigong Guo's invitation, it can be thrown away.
~~
Xue Bai also had a drawing of Yanshi's farmland. He and Du Wulang studied it for a long time and visited it on the spot, and finally allocated forty-eight hectares of land from the Guo family's hidden farmland to all the fugitive households.
He can't divide more for the time being. Any more will easily make the Song family doubt his intentions, and now he needs to rely on the Song family's strength to fight for power.
Fortunately, Xue Bai took over the designated fields in the name of "Jiminshe". In addition, high-ranking families often disdain those poor people. Those who didn't know it thought that the forty-eight hectares of fields were taken by Xue Bai himself.
For farmers who have lost their fields, this is an unprecedented event, and the excitement is self-evident.
On the other hand, farmers are also deeply worried about rent and taxes. After all, this is not abandoned farmland that can be rented free for three years, but fertile farmland.
Therefore, Xue Bai's next step is to stop "chasing death", that is to say, farmers will pay the rent and taxes for the number of acres of land they have, and they will no longer have to bear the part that was allocated to them due to households running away.
To do this, it was necessary to re-measure the land and register the household registration. This was originally done by Guo Huan, but now that Guo Huan was in prison, Xue Bai took the opportunity to install his confidants in the county office.
After working hard for several days, Xue Bai personally brought a bottle of wine and went to the county jail to visit Guo Huan.
After this incident, Guo Huan's originally gray hair turned almost completely white, and his forehead was covered with wrinkles, making him look extremely sad.
"I checked the Guo family's 130,000 yuan." Xue Bai said straight to the point.
"Wha...what?"
"What are you surprised about? You don't think the Guo family should be able to come up with this money?"
Guo Huanzhi was stunned for a long time, picked up a drink and tried to drown his sorrows, crying: "I never thought that the family could collapse overnight."
"Wealth is like clouds." Xue Bai comforted him, "Fortunately, everyone is fine. Although Guo Taigong is old, he is able to handle things. He also disciplines the children in the family well, and there is no evil behavior. Otherwise, , you are not the only one who is imprisoned this time."
Guo Huan stared at him with hatred in his eyes.
"It's okay for you to hate me." Xue Bai didn't care and said, "It's a blessing in disguise. Maybe after this incident, the children in your family will be able to live up to their expectations in the future, and they will change from just waiting for death to determined to make a career. "
"Are you doing this to humiliate me?"
"No, since the Guo family has paid back the debt, I will let you go because Guo Lushi has done his best for the county affairs."
"Let me go?"
"You used your power and position to seek land for others and traveled three thousand miles, but you are allowed to redeem your sentence." Xue Bai took out a sentence from his arms and said, "Find someone to redeem your sentence."
Guo Huan read the sentence and showed surprise. He looked up at Xue Bai again, with hatred still in his eyes, but also with the hope of survival.
Xue Bai said: "Also, what I said to you still stands. If you have nothing, you can come to me and I will give you a chance to come back again."
Guo Huan thought Xue Bai was joking, but after the pot of wine was finished, Xue Bai actually asked his son Guo Jing to come to see him in prison, and generously allowed the father and son to talk alone.
"Grandma!"
As soon as Guo Jing arrived in prison, he burst into tears and said, "Master... everyone in the family is blaming you. The second uncle kicked us out of our house, and the third uncle even sold your house in the city..."
"Don't cry anymore, you first go and pick up a thousand strings to redeem your punishment."
"No, grandpa, the family has no money."
Guo Huan was stunned for a moment, swallowed the bitterness in his mouth, and said: "Go to Mingfu and just say... I know it was Mingfu who put pressure on Xue Bai and gave me the opportunity. I will remember it in my heart. Ask him to be here Fill the county office account with one thousand guan and let me out."
~~
After being moved for many days, the 130,000 yuan of property confiscated from the Guo family was finally moved to the county department warehouse on this day.
Lu Linghao was originally strongly opposed to this matter, but seeing that he couldn't change it, he had no choice but to accept it.
After all, this is also his political achievement.
A chief official should have this kind of detached mentality. He will not go out to fight in person like Xue Bai and Gao Chong, because he is indispensable for all the credit in the county; and if something goes wrong, he can find a way to clear it up first. responsibility.
Therefore, although Xue Bai dealt with Guo Huan in this matter and made Lu Linghao feel dangerous, Lu Linghao could easily turn a bad thing into a good thing.
It was only in the winter that Guo Wanjin's "50,000 yuan" was confiscated and given to the court, and in the spring he recovered the Guo family's accumulated debt. With these two great achievements, he could already be promoted as long as he worked hard to do one or two more.
The problem is that Lu Linghao neither wants to go to Chang'an to look at people's eyes, nor wants to go to a neighboring state or county to serve as an assistant officer... After all, he is used to being the chief official of a place, which is too aloof.
When Guo Jing came to find him, he was changing from bad to good.
"Atonement?"
"Yes, please save my grandfather's life. He is old. How can he come back if he is exiled for three thousand miles?"
"You are confused." Lu Linghao helped Guo Jing up and said sadly: "Xue Bai has caught all the evidence that your grandpa used power for personal gain. Can he be so kind as to let your grandpa go? Just to let you plead for mercy.
He is so good at following the clues and getting more leverage from the Guo family!"
Guo Jing was stunned. Faced with such sincere remarks from the county magistrate, he didn't know what to do.
To put it simply, it doesn't help.
When Guo Jing had no choice but to leave, Lu Linghao's aide Yuan Yiheng reminded him: "After all, Guo Lushi has been assisting the Ming Dynasty for many years in the Ming Dynasty. If he refuses to save his life, will he lose the hearts of the people?"
"This is obviously Xue Bai's trick to drag the county into trouble. What's more, the Guo family has lost power and Guo Huan has lost his position. What's the use of his people's hearts?"
"Can……"
As the chief officer, Lu Linghao's best strategy was to stay still. Seeing Yuan Yiheng's advice, he couldn't help but look at him suspiciously.
When Yuan Yiheng saw this look, he couldn't help but feel shuddered and did not dare to say any more.
On this day, Lu Linghao did not go to see Guo Huan, but specially invited Xue Bai to come and have a detailed discussion, intending to turn him into the next Guo Huan.
"Hahaha, Xue Lang is here, sit down. Recently there are rumors that Xue Lang captured Guo Huan in order to compete for power with this county, but this county has never believed this. This county believes that Xue Lang did what he did and decided the case impartially and honestly.
According to the laws of the Tang Dynasty, the hidden fields were inspected and the people's plight was relieved."
After the meeting was just like this, Lu Linghao showed his demeanor as a chief official and asked: "Also, Xue Lang is a prime minister. His ambition is not to be a master. He has made great achievements one after another. Is there any prospect of promotion?"
Xue Bai asked: "You still have to ask the county magistrate for support, don't you?"
Lu Linghao sneered in his heart, secretly thinking that the Right Prime Minister hates you so much, how can he allow you to be promoted?
However, he acted very cordially and said with a smile: "This county has indeed sent a letter to Chang'an. According to what my beloved son-in-law said, Wannian County Lieutenant is about to leave, and he will make plans for you. But Xue Lang should be here as well."
You should be more diligent in your work.”
With such a show of goodwill, he almost said it bluntly - whether it is to seize power or perform meritorious service, Xue Bai, just touch Guo Huan, but don't mess with this county, and maintain peace with each other until you are promoted.
Xue Bai had no reason not to agree anymore. For his personal future, he had already done enough in Yanshi. If he continued to deal with officials, he would go too far and be ostracized by the officialdom.
~~
After another three days, Guo Huan was able to redeem his sentence and be released from prison.
In the past, he would never have imagined that one day he would not be able to produce even a thousand guans.
What made him even more unbelievable was that no wealthy family in Yanshi County was willing to pay for his atonement. It should be noted that he had been working hard for them during the twenty years he had been an official in the county office.
The Guo family is not the only one who owns the hidden land. The hidden land occupied by each family is even greater than that of the Guo family. Even because he, Guo Huan, works in the county office, he still pays the most in taxes every year.
In the end, if something went wrong, only his family would be responsible for it, so that was fine. When he encountered someone as unreasonable as Xue Bai, he could only admit that he was unlucky. However, each family betrayed their trust and divided up the Guo family's land.
They refused to pay any ransom money.
On the day he was released from prison, only Zhao Liu was waiting for Guo Huan outside the county office with a mule, and handed him Hu cakes wrapped in lotus leaves.
"Guo Lushi, your house in the county town has been sold. It's time to go back to the town. It's a long way, so ride this mule."
"The county captain asked you to come here to win people's hearts?"
"No." Zhao Liudao: "When my grandpa passed away, it was Guo Lu who made the decision and asked me to work in the county office. At least I had a monthly salary, so my grandma didn't starve to death."
"Alas." Guo Huan sighed and murmured: "I am old, and my eyesight is not as good as that of you young people."
"Guo Lu is not old, he still has a chance to start over." Zhao Liudao: "This is what the county captain said."
Guo Huan squinted his eyes, still feeling that Xue Bai was hateful, but he couldn't get angry anymore...
When he arrived in Huiguo Town, the atmosphere was very different from the past. The family's savings were gone, the clan members seemed nervous, and many people pointed at him.
Faintly, they were saying something like, "It's all his fault for offending the county captain."
"Sister-in-law Thirteen, it's not that I offended the county captain, but they were against our Yin Tian..."
Guo Huan wanted to explain before he spoke, but everyone had already avoided him in disgust.
He was stunned for a while, thinking that in recent years, no one in the clan had asked him for help, big or small. At that time, he often heard that "you are the most capable, and you are in power in the county office. My sister-in-law also knows that I owe you a lot."
Relationships are overturned. No one could have imagined it would be like this before it was overturned, or it would be hard to believe it even if they thought about it.
"Where's the uncle?"
On the contrary, the slaves in the main courtyard were willing to pay attention to him and responded: "The master is in the study."
Guo Huan's footsteps were heavy. When he arrived at the study, he pushed the door open and saw Taigong Guo sitting there. He looked old and seemed to be about to wither, but he was still alive.
The old man was probably worried about passing away and hoped to lead his family through this disaster himself.
Guo Huan looked up again and saw that the agate incense burner placed on the table had disappeared. It was one of Guo Taigong's favorite objects and was worth a lot of money.
"Uncle, my nephew can't help you!" Guo Huan cried and fell to his knees.
Taigong Guo was fine at first, but when he heard the crying, he felt sad and lost his mind again.
"There is nothing left... The Guo family has nothing but this empty house."
"Uncle, my nephew is going to kill Xue Bai and then thank the clan with his death!"
Taigong Guo waved and asked Guo Huan to come closer and said slowly: "It won't work if you act on your own initiative. Before you came back, someone came to see me."
"who?"
"Now that the matter is over, you have to figure out who wants to skin and bones you, and who can give you a chance."
Speaking of this, Taigong Guo felt unwilling to give in, and tears flowed down into his deep wrinkles.
"The danger of the Guo family has not passed yet. If a beast falls down in the herd, it will be eaten by other beasts."
Guo Huan was stunned for a moment, feeling that the tone of these words sounded familiar. He had only heard them not long ago.
"Abo."
"well."
Guo Huan was a little unsure and asked slowly: "Isn't it...Xue Bai has been here?"
~~
February is coming to an end in the blink of an eye.
No matter how Yanshi's fields are divided, farmers and tenants have already cultivated the county's fields.
Seeing that the power struggle in the county did not delay spring plowing, Xue Bai breathed a sigh of relief.
At the end of February, an official document was also delivered.
Xue Bai read it, handed it into Yin Liang's hand, and said: "Yin Lu, your complaint has arrived."
Yin Liang was stunned for a moment and asked: "Is it really possible for the Young Master to do it?"
"It's not my fault." Xue Bai said, "It was Song Mian who asked Wei Fuyin to do it. The job of recording affairs in a county is still easy to handle."
Having said that, when Yin Liang followed Yan Zhenqing to Liquan as a staff member, even Yan Zhenqing couldn't get him such a job. It can only be said that the talent is better than the talent.
Seeing this situation, Du Wulang lamented and muttered: "In this case, I'm afraid I will have to do more."
Of course, his skills have improved recently, otherwise there is no need to worry.
"Don't worry, I've also hired a few staff."
"But there are not many people as trustworthy and talented as me..."
At the end of the conversation, Du Wulang felt a little unsure.
Not long after, the staff came in. He glanced around and saw an acquaintance, but it was Wang Yi.
Although Du Wulang had some friendship with Wang Yi, mainly because he was kidnapped, he still pulled Xue Bai over first and reminded him in a low voice: "He is Wang Yansiam's entourage. If you use him, won't Song Mian be jealous?"
"The evidence has been handed over to Song Mian, why not?" Xue Baiyun responded calmly, "They are chasing Wang Yi, but I can bribe him, which shows my ability."
In fact, Wang Yi knew more about some things than Du Wulang.
The reason why Wang Yi was appointed as a staff member was not only because Xue Bai had recently observed his talents, but also because Wang Yi had hatred towards the Song family.
After the New Year and the beginning of spring, Wang Yi had learned to hide this feeling of hatred. In private, he called Xue Bai "Alang".
"Alang, Luhun Villa sent someone to Fenghui, saying that the matter promised to Alang has been settled."
"Okay, I will give the land deed to Song Mian."
This was indeed agreed upon long ago. The Song family would find a job as a recorder for Xue Bai in exchange for the Guo family's remaining land.
"Also, next time they plan to release 10,000 copper coins directly, and they need our trading firm to go to Yangzhou to buy some light goods..."
While talking, Xue Shiyilang ran to the county office to find Xue Bai, and said mysteriously: "Brother, a man named Guo Huan came to the house and wanted to see you."
After hearing this, Xue Bai's eyes became determined.
Now he finally seems to have sorted out Yanshi County, but the real owner of Yanshi County is not him yet. If Guo Huan, a veteran official of more than 20 years, helps, he will dare to have a chance with the old owner.
…
Up to this day, Xue Bai and Lu Linghao were getting along in harmony. When he left the county office and went home, he happened to meet Lu Linghao outside the flower hall.
"Is Xue Lang leaving first? By the way, please congratulate Yin Lu for me."
"The county magistrate doesn't blame me for planting his confidants?"
“Mr.
"Yes, having the county magistrate in charge and commanding properly is the most important thing."
Regardless of whether Xue Bai was sincere or not, Lu Linghao burst out laughing.
In his opinion, this is the best way for the two of them to get along at the moment. Compared with the beginning, he has actually made a lot of concessions.
Unfortunately, Lu Linghao sent him to Xue Bai's house to keep an eye on Xue Bai's maids. The maids had already been sent back. Unexpectedly, Xue Bai met Guo Huan again on this day.
And he had forgotten that it was Guo Huan who had been trying his best to help him over the years and managed the county affairs in an orderly manner...
~~
The next day, notices were posted on the county's cross streets, four city gates, docks, and several towns.
The county office promised that the land will be cleared again within one month and the household registration will be checked. Subsequent rent adjustments will be based on the newly registered household registration of land, and there will no longer be "chases to death".
This means that ordinary farmers no longer have to share the lack of taxes due to households fleeing.
But it will take time for ordinary people to realize the significance of this. Some illiterate farmers passed by, and some didn't pay much attention. Some gathered around the notice and listened to it, but they didn't understand it very well.
The first person to react was Lu Linghao. He was responsible for collecting taxes and directly faced the Henan Prefecture. The first question before him was, if he didn't pursue death, who would make up for the shortfall in taxes?
Xue Bai's move almost stretched his hand directly into the bowl of his county magistrate.
Once Xue Bai is exempted from the death penalty in Yanshi County, he will bear the risk and gain great popularity among the people. This has seriously affected his prestige as a county magistrate.
It was difficult for Lu Linghao to be furious in his heart, but his face had recovered and he gave Xue Bai a last kind reminder.
"If you think about the serious consequences of your misbehavior, which state or county in the world is not chasing death? There is a fixed amount of tax collected by local officials every year. If a small household escapes, if the shortfall is not distributed, can they pay it themselves?
If you are too independent, you will become a thorn in other people's throats and seek your own death."
"If a fish has no spines, it is like a human being whose bones have been removed. How is it different from a pile of rotten meat that has been chewed randomly?"
"You don't know what is good and what is evil!" Lu Linghao finally got angry and shouted angrily: "What are you going to do? Are you going to openly oppose this county?!"
"Yes." To his surprise, Xue Bai admitted frankly, "I hope the Yanshi County Office will let me have the final say. Will the county magistrate agree?"
"You...you're crazy."
Xue Bai was not crazy, he just had the confidence to declare war after devouring Gao Chong and Guo Huan one after another.
This time, what he wants to do is to completely capture Yanshi County.