Chapter 274 Xinye is about to change? Liu Bei is ruthless and kills him in court!
"Master Ben, our current pulp is not beaten well enough. We need to beat it into water and break up all the fibers in it. This is the first shortcoming."
"There is also the matter of fishing paper out of water. Don't look at it. This process is relatively simple, but it requires a lot of skills. Once it is not controlled well, the thickness of the paper that comes out will be uneven, which is not good-looking and wastes material."
"Of course, this requires accumulated practical experience over time, and it tests the worker's touch. It is not possible to fish out qualified paper simply by relying on movement standards. This has to be done step by step and slowly."
"..."
A trip to a paper mill.
Experts from the Military Advisor Alliance put forward seven or eight opinions, and each one is very important and affects the quality of paper molding. Once there is a slight error, the resulting paper will be waste paper.
Liu Bian originally thought that after building a paper mill, he would be close to producing qualified paper. However, he did not expect that even with ancient papermaking, it would not be easy to make every step correctly.
"Don't worry."
Liu Bian recorded all the experts' opinions in a notebook and nodded affirmatively: "I will urge them to make corrections as soon as possible. Using bamboo slips and silk books every day is really a waste of money."
Although Liu Bian confiscated the Kong family and obtained a large amount of start-up capital, even a golden mountain would be exhausted at some point. He could only find ways to achieve the highest efficiency within limited funds.
"Master Ben, don't worry."
The Military Advisor Alliance followed up and said: "These are all things that should be spent. Once we build what should be built and Nanyang Hanting is basically on the right track, we will then consider making money."
"When the time comes, we will burn porcelain and turn soil into money, and it will definitely surpass the celadon and black porcelain of the Eastern Han Dynasty. This will be a hugely profitable business, and it will even be more cost-effective than the Shu Brocade of the Shu Han Dynasty."
The level of porcelain in the Eastern Han Dynasty basically remained at the celadon and black porcelain stages. It was finely processed, hard in texture, non-absorbent, and had a layer of cyan vitreous glaze on the surface.
Compared with the level of ceramics in our country, this level is basically in a preliminary stage of development. It has not even reached white glaze porcelain, let alone underglaze color, overglaze color, multicolor, and doucai.
The Military Advisor Alliance's random skills are enough to help Liu Bian support a country. Things like money are not a problem at all and are not considered by the Military Advisor Alliance at all.
"Master Ben."
The Military Advisor Alliance said softly: "What we have to do now is all basic, but it is very necessary work. This thing cannot be measured by money."
"kindness."
Liu Bian nodded affirmatively: "Don't worry, experts, I understand! If we can't even meet the hardware conditions such as organizational structure, how can we talk about supporting the Han Dynasty and establishing the strongest dynasty in history!"
"Just be mentally prepared."
"certainly!"
The Military Advisor Alliance emphasized: "The most important point is that experts formulated the development plan based on the current level of the national treasury. Since there was no perfect financial system in ancient times, the balance of payments was basically maintained and there was no fiscal deficit."
"ah?"
Liu Bedun was surprised: "Don't leave any surplus?"
The Military Advisor Alliance could only hehe: "Now Nanyang is about to develop rapidly, why do you want a surplus? Every copper coin must be spent on the cutting edge, so that rapid development can be achieved."
Liu Bidan smiled: "Don't worry, I understand the truth. It's just a joke. It has been so long and there is no progress at all. How can it still work?"
The Military Advisor Alliance said softly: "Okay, let's continue. There are also problems with movable type printing. We will also record them all and let them improve them. We will take a look when we have time."
"good."
Liu Bian responded, took the bamboo slips, and continued to record: "That's it."
The Military Advisor Alliance continued: "Okay!"
"..."
Just as Liu Bian was writing down the notes.
"Report—!"
A long announcement sounded outside the hall.
He raised his eyes and looked up.
But then, Zhu Tong pushed the door open and walked in. He bowed and held his hands in his hands: "Your Majesty, Xun Lingjun wants to see you."
Liu Bian put his pen aside and waved his hand: "Let him come in."
Zhu Tong responded: "Here."
Immediately.
Exit the main hall.
Not long after.
Xun Ou came to the palace and stepped forward: "I am a humble minister, Xun Ou, please see your Majesty."
Liu Bian waved his hand and motioned for him to sit aside, and said softly: "But there is news coming back from the direction of Xinye?"
Xun You nodded affirmatively: "That's right! News came back from the Xinye direction that Uncle Liu distributed all the public land to the people in just half a day. At present, people have been organized to measure the wasteland and prepare to open up wasteland on a large scale."
"good!"
Although Liu Bian had expected it, when he heard that Liu Bei was so capable, he couldn't help but be happy: "Uncle Huang really did not disappoint me. I hope he can persevere."
"yes."
Xun You took a deep breath and shared the same concern: "This year it is just a small noble family like the Zhao family and the Li family, but from next year it will be a big family like the Deng family and the Yin family."
The Xinye wealthy families have little land and weak capabilities. They can only spend a little money at best, but the big family wealthy families are different. They have endless means. Only you can't think of it, and you can't do it without them.
Liu Bei may be able to deal with wealthy families like the Zhao family and the Li family, but facing wealthy families such as the Deng family, the Yin family, the Lai family, etc., it may not be as easy as imagined.
call-
Liu Bian took a long breath and said softly: "We can only wait and see."
Xunhe nodded: "Your Majesty, don't worry, Fengxiao Society will always pay attention to the situation in Xinye."
Liu Bidan smiled: "Yes, I understand."
******
Early next morning.
Xinye.
The wasteland reclamation area in the south of the city.
Snap—!
On the street in the field, a man in rich clothes riding a tall horse raised his whip and whipped the farmer in coarse linen clothes hard, until his clothes were ripped to pieces and bright red blood stains oozed out:
"Whoa-!"
The farmer gritted his teeth and screamed in pain, and kept kneeling down and begging for mercy: "Mr. Zhao, please let us go. Your farm rent is too expensive, and we can't afford it!"
"snort!"
The man in rich clothes, who was called Mr. Zhao, snorted angrily, pointed at the local farmers, opened his mouth and cursed: "Things like dolphins and dogs, how dare you bargain with our Zhao family?"
"Want to leave?"
"Can!"
Mr. Zhao said coldly: "You have owed our Zhao family a total of fifty stones of grain and grass over the years. If you pay back all the grain, I will let you go. If not, you will go back to plowing the fields!"
"ah?"
The farmer who was kneeling on the ground stared with astonishment in his eyes: "We...we...we only owe sixteen dan of grain. When did it become fifty dan?"
ah!"
"Cut the nonsense!"
Mr. Zhao was furious and retorted without hesitation: "How long have you been owed this food? Don't you need interest? The compound interest has already turned into fifty dan!"
"You still haven't paid it back?"
At this point, Mr. Zhao was already furious, and he said coldly: "If you don't pay back, immediately go back to farm with me, otherwise don't blame me for being rude!"
"Mr. Zhao, please spare us!"
"I can guarantee that!"
The farmer kneeling on the ground quickly raised his hands, with a trace of longing in his eyes: "Two years! I only need two years! Isn't it enough to pay back all the fifty shi of grain within two years?"
Snap!
Another whip hit the farmer, and Mr. Zhao shouted sternly: "No! If you leave, then who will plant the fields of my Zhao family? I am going to do it!"
"I'm telling you!"
Mr. Zhao ignored the eyes of the people around him and continued to curse: "Either you return the fifty shi of grain, or you go back to farming immediately, or I will beat you to death, you dolphin-like thing!"
"Pooh!"
"A pariah!"
"I will beat you to death."
Mr. Zhao waved his whip, whip after whip, causing the farmer to curl up and let out a very tragic wail:
"ah-!"
"Master Zhao, please spare my life."
"Whoa-!"
"Spare me, please, please spare me."
"..."
The people who were clearing up wasteland around them all dared not speak out in anger, for fear of offending Mr. Zhao. After all, the Zhao family was the largest wealthy family in Xinye besides the Deng family, the Yin family, and the Lai family.
And Zhao Meng, the nephew of his clan leader Zhao Yan, is worthy of his name. He has been practicing martial arts since he was a child. He has a big body and a round waist. He can be called arrogant and domineering in all the villages in Xinye.
"What a Zhao family, how disgusting it is."
"The Zhao family who drinks human blood will surely suffer retribution sooner or later."
"Isn't this forcing people to go back to plowing the fields? His family's land rents ten and two taxes, plus oral taxes, calculated taxes and other taxes. If there is a good year, he will pay it back. Once he encounters a famine year, he can only wait for death!"
"In broad daylight, with the sky clear, you dare to commit murder on the street. It is simply unreasonable! Is there any royal law? Is there any law? I have to report it to the official."
"Someone has already reported it to the official, so don't go along and cause trouble. We must not get into trouble. If the new county magistrate gets along with them, we will be the ones who suffer in the end."
"If no one can defeat Mr. Zhao today, there will be Mr. Li, Mr. Wang, and Mr. Lu tomorrow. Is the opportunity that we people have been waiting for so hard for us to stand up like this shattered?"
"Damn! I can't be angry."
"Don't be impulsive!"
"..."
Just when the people around were furious.
suddenly.
At the end of Qianmo Street, a patrol team rushed over.
The leader was none other than Liu Bei's general Zhang Fei.
Zhang Fei galloped his horse and raised his whip, pointed at the Zhao family master, and shouted loudly: "Where did this thief come from, dare to commit murder in broad daylight, in the clear sky?"
"snort!"
Zhao Meng stopped his hand, raised his eyes, and snorted indifferently: "You are so blind that you don't know who I am? Do you dare to point a riding crop at me and seek death?"
"Hey young!"
Zhang Fei was not annoyed at all, he raised his head and looked at the other party, and said coldly: "I didn't expect that you, a young boy, can be so arrogant. I really don't know you."
"But so what?"
Zhang Fei was relying on Liu Bei, and Liu Bei was relying on the emperor, and he was afraid of his eggs: "The county has issued an order. Anyone who dares to interfere with the land reclamation will be directly detained. If you dare to resist, you will not be killed."
"Brothers!"
Zhang Fei moved his hand without any fear: "Take it down for me!"
Zhao Meng really couldn't believe that this guy in front of him actually dared to take action. His eyes widened and his whip cracked in the air. He was so frightened that the county soldiers did not dare to take a step forward: "I want to see who it is."
dare?!"
no way!
This group of people were all Xinye County soldiers. Naturally, they knew that Mr. Zhao was arrogant and tyrannical, and his character of retaliating against the other party made them quite afraid and did not dare to step forward!
Snap!
Zhang Fei whipped his own soldiers and became furious. He opened his mouth and cursed: "Cowards! They are all cowards! You are county soldiers, why should you be afraid of ordinary people?"
"General Zhang!"
A soldier reminded timidly: "He is Zhao Meng, the son of the Zhao family in Xinye. He is famous for being domineering and arrogant in all the villages in this country. We really can't afford to offend him!"
"snort!"
When Zhao Meng heard the soldier introducing himself in this way, he was not ashamed, but proud. He said with a proud face: "Boy, don't think that the new county magistrate will change the world of Xinye! As long as my Zhao family is here, Xinye will always be the same."
Nothing will change!"
"today......"
At this point, Zhao Meng held his fists in his arms, raised his head and looked arrogant to the extreme: "I, Zhao Meng, want to see how you can kill me!"
Zhang Fei knew that he couldn't count on these cowardly soldiers, so he immediately turned to glance at Zhao Meng: "Because of your arrogance, I didn't know, I thought you were from the Deng family or the Yin family."
“I didn’t expect that!”
Zhang Fei let out a scornful laugh and didn't take the little kid in front of him seriously at all: "It turns out that he is a kid from the Zhao family. If you want to be born into the Deng family or the Yin family, don't you have to overthrow Xinye?"
Zhao Meng looked at Zhang Fei carefully, a trace of doubt flashed in his eyes: "Why do I feel... like I have seen you somewhere?"
Zhang Fei snorted coldly and rode up to him: "Then take a closer look. Have you seen me in the county government or Huangtian?"
"County government office?"
Zhao Meng's eyes suddenly widened and he raised his hand and pointed at Zhang Fei: "I remember, you are the guy next to the new county magistrate. You seem to be called...what is your name?"
?”
"I am your third uncle!"
The sound is like a bell, and the sound is like thunder.
Zhang Fei didn't speak, but he surprised everyone when he opened his mouth.
At the same time, he struck out as fast as lightning. He pointed the riding crop at Zhao Meng's body and swung it directly. With a loud snap, Zhao Meng's body turned over and he fell off the horse.
Bone!
After rolling seven somersaults in succession, when he got up, there was a bloody gash on his left arm. The pain made Zhao Meng immediately cry out:
"ah-!"
"You...how dare you hit me?"
Zhang Fei turned over and dismounted, stepped forward, and kept whipping Zhao Meng with the whip in his palm: "Hit you? I can't beat you to death! Don't say you are not a member of the Deng family. Even if it is true, I, Zhang Fei, have nothing to fear!"
"
Zhang Fei raised his whip and swung it, one whip after another, causing Zhao Meng to curl up and roll on the ground, letting out extremely tragic wails:
"ah-!"
"Stop hitting, stop hitting."
Snap!
"ah-!"
"I am the son of the Zhao family, I am the son of the Zhao family!"
"The one the labor and management are beating is Young Master Zhao!"
Snap!
"ah-!"
"I, Zhang Fei, will do justice for heaven today and beat you to death, you little brat!"
Snap!
"ah-!"
"..."
Zhang Fei became so violent that even he was scared.
Dozens of whips were applied in succession, and Zhao Meng was beaten until his skin was torn and his flesh and blood were covered with blood. He passed out directly. Even the farmer who had been beaten by Zhao Meng before was a little scared and hurriedly begged for mercy:
"General!"
"Stop fighting. If you fight again, someone will die."
Zhang Fei refused to comply. He glared at the farmer fiercely, opened his mouth and cursed: "It's the same with you kid. If he hits you, you won't fight back? Just let him hit you like that?"
"Why are these guys so arrogant?"
Zhang Fei's eyes widened, and his eyes were like sharp swords as he swept over the crowd: "You are all accustomed to this. At such a young age, you actually dare to mount a horse and commit murder. How unbecoming is that?"
"No matter how powerful the Zhao family is, how can it be bigger than the imperial court?"
“Farming is His Majesty’s national affairs!”
Taking this opportunity, Zhang Fei shouted loudly and started to publicize: "Don't talk about the small Zhao family, even if it is the young master of the Deng family or the young master of the Yin family today, I will definitely hit you!"
"You guys remember everything for me!"
"You are plowing fields for the imperial court. The government is your biggest support. If anyone dares to force you to plow your own fields in the future, go to the government and sue him. My eldest brother will definitely make the decision for you!"
In an instant, the people all over the fields started shouting along with the mountain:
"I knew that the new county magistrate would definitely make the decision for us."
"That's great, we are plowing fields for the imperial court!"
"Today the county magistrate makes the decision for us, who will dare to bully us in the future?"
"That's right! No one dares to bully us!"
"..."
Zhang Fei reached out and grabbed Zhao Meng on the ground, as if he were picking up a little chicken.
He glanced back at the beaten farmer: "Fellow, do you dare to go to the county government with me to file a complaint?"
The farmer mustered up his courage and nodded affirmatively: "Dare! How dare you not!"
Zhang Fei then softened his expression: "Well, we can still be saved. Let's go back to the county government office and let the county magistrate make the decision for you!"
The farmer burst into tears of gratitude: "Thank you, General."
look back.
Zhang Fei glanced at the people: "If you are willing, come here and testify for this villager, and witness how the new county magistrate makes decisions for you and others."
"Okay, I'll go!"
"I'll go too!"
"Let's go together!"
"It's just a half-day delay. I'll make up for it in the evening."
"It's rare to find a good county magistrate, let's go together."
"..."
A large wave of common people walked out of the fields with hoes on their shoulders, followed Zhang Fei, and headed straight for the county seat with great pride.
Xinye County Government.
At this moment, Liu Bei was sitting on top, with Zhao Yan, the head of the Zhao family, standing proudly below him. Next to him, the Zhao family members were all fierce and looked like they wished they could tear down the county government.
"County Honor."
Zhao Yan's anger surfaced on his face, and he bowed his head in a pretentious manner: "I am Zhao Yan, the head of the Zhao family in Xinye. Today, my nephew Zhao Meng just went to ask for food, but he was beaten by this man for no reason.
Please also ask the county magistrate to enforce the law impartially and execute the punishment according to the law!"
"Can!"
Liu Bei nodded without hesitation: "As the magistrate of Xinye County, I must enforce the law impartially and execute the punishment according to the law! Let me ask you, since farmer Li Ergou has signed up to open up wasteland, why do you want to stop him?"
"Don't you know that this county has posted a notice yesterday that anyone who dares to interfere with the land reclamation plan will be directly detained. Anyone who resists and refuses to comply will be shot without mercy."
"how......"
Liu Bei's cold eyes swept across Zhao Yan, like a sharp sword piercing his heart: "How dare your Zhao family openly disobey the county's orders? Obstruct the imperial government's farming plan?"
Zhao Yan was stunned and felt something bad!
but......
But he felt a little lucky. After all, at this time, there were people inside and outside the county government office. The county magistrate couldn't openly favor his own soldiers, and the farmer, right?
"Please also ask the county magistrate for his advice."
Zhao Yan hurriedly cupped his hands and clasped his fists, and said sonorously: "My nephew Zhao Meng just ordered him to pay back the long-arrears of grain. He definitely did not prevent him from clearing wasteland for the imperial court."
Liu Bei smiled sternly.
At this moment, Zhao Meng had passed out.
But Zhao Yan could tell the purpose of Zhao Meng's trip.
Obviously!
This was what they had communicated in advance. Zhao Meng was just a chess piece in Zhao Yan's hand, specifically to test the county magistrate's methods. Otherwise, how could the head of the family easily appear in court.
How did Liu Bei not know about the collusion between the county magistrate and the Zhao family? The other party must have been resentful because his money was wasted, so he came up with such a clumsy way to undermine his prestige.
What a pity!
Liu Bei has been working in county-level units since he started the army. He has rich experience at the grassroots level. This little trick cannot escape his eyes.
Now, not only is it a good time to establish his own prestige, but it is also a perfect opportunity to scare the tigers and scare the monkeys. As long as the Zhao family collapses, no one will dare to stop farming in the future.
As for the Deng family and the Yin family, this farming operation has not harmed them for the time being, so they only look at Liu Bei's methods as bystanders.
"oh?"
Liu Bei turned to ask: "I wonder how much food Li Ergou owes your Zhao family?"
Zhao Yan raised his hand and said, "Sixteen stones in total."
"Li Ergou."
"exist."
"But is that true?"
"kindness."
Li Ergou nodded and hurriedly explained: "The villain does owe the Zhao family sixteen stones of food, but the villain will pay it back, and he will definitely pay it back, but can it be given an extension of two years?"
"This year, the villain has contracted twenty acres of land. It can take as little as one year or as many as two years. I can definitely pay it off. I also ask the head of the Zhao family to let the villain go and give him a way out."
Zhao Yan refused without hesitation: "I will give you a way to live, but who will give me a way to live? You can either return the food immediately, or you can come back and continue to plow the fields for my Zhao family. You can only choose one of the two!"
"I......"
Li Ergou was in trouble and stared at Liu Bei bitterly.
Liu Bei waved his hand to interrupt Li Ergou, and immediately said coldly: "Zhao Yan, right? You are so brave. You dare to lie openly in court. Before, you said that you did not force Li Ergou to farm, but now you let him
He chooses one of the two."
"You know that he can't afford to pay back the food and grass. How is this any different from forcing him to go back to plowing the fields and blocking the imperial government's farming strategy?"
"snort!"
Liu Bei snorted angrily and retorted directly: "Let me tell you, today the thief Cao Zhangfei failed to beat his nephew to death. Even if he did beat him to death, he deserved it!"
"But he is short of food..."
Before Zhao Yan could finish speaking, Liu Bei immediately waved his hand and interrupted: "The food arrears must be repaid. This is a matter of course. However, how to repay must comply with the law. If you force Li Ergou to stay here, you will hinder the plan of farming. This county
You will be dealt with according to law!"
"in addition!"
Liu Bei said coldly: "I ordered my nephew Zhao Meng to commit murder and injure others on the pretext of lack of food. This is really a heinous crime and has a serious impact. According to the law, he should be punished twenty times with a stick to serve as a warning to others."
"Yide!" Liu Bei greeted.
"exist."
"Both crimes will be punished together, and I will kill you with a cane in court!"
"Here!"
Zhao Yan was impatient and hurriedly handed over his hand: "The county lord, the clan nephew..."
Liu Bei ignored him and shouted: "Hit me!"
Zhang Feidan smiled: "Here!"
－－－－－－Digression－－－－－
Thanks to [GarongSoong] for the 5,000 coin reward!