Daming: Brother, there is no future for monks, let's rebel

Mr. Zhou snorted, his tone was a little sarcastic: "Support? When did the court need us country folk to make decisions?"

Liu Tingsong was not irritated by his attitude, but patiently explained: "Master, you are too kind. The land inventory involves thousands of households. Without a squire like you to coordinate, many things will be difficult to carry out smoothly. The people trust you, and we respect you, so we specially ask for your assistance."

Mr. Zhou raised his eyebrows and said in a slightly slower tone: "You are good at talking. I wonder how Mr. Liu plans to deal with the interests of those gentry?"

"That's why I came to visit you." Liu Tingsong's voice was full of sincerity. "As long as we count fairly, the real gentry don't have to worry about being harmed. On the contrary, those who try to conceal their land and oppress the people will be eliminated. If Mr. Zhou is willing to cooperate, it will be a blessing for the people."

Master Zhou was silent for a moment, then slowly said, "Well, since you said so, I will try to believe you for once. However, if the court treats the villagers and gentry unfairly, Master Liu, please don't blame me for being heartless."

"Tingsong will never let you down!" Liu Tingsong replied with a bow.

Liu Tingsong stood at the gate of the county government office, looking at the people who came into the city in an endless stream. His face was calm but he was secretly thinking.

Last night, he received a secret report from the capital, saying that a group of people of unknown origin were spreading rumors about the land inventory in various places, trying to sow discord between the gentry and the common people.

An attendant stepped forward quickly and reported in a low voice: "Sir, we have found out that the people who spread rumors at the market yesterday are foreigners and are currently resting in an inn in the west of the county."

Liu Tingsong nodded: "Okay, tell the patrol team to go to the inn immediately and bring those people back to the government office. I will interrogate them personally."

The attendant left immediately. In less than a quarter of an hour, several panicked men were brought to the county government hall. They were dressed in ordinary clothes, but they could not hide their inner panic. Liu Tingsong sat in the hall, his eyes like torches, and slowly said: "Why did you spread the rumor that 'the court counted the land and intended to increase taxes'? Who instructed you?"

The leading man's expression flickered, and he said stubbornly: "Sir, we are just wandering performers, how can we know anything about farming? Those words are just heard randomly."

Liu Tingsong sneered, his eyes full of majesty: "Since you heard it, then tell me who told you. Otherwise, I have plenty of ways to make you talk."

The yamen runner beside him immediately swung the ruler in his hand, making a crisp sound. The men turned pale, and one of them could no longer hold back and said tremblingly, "Please spare us, sir! We were also instructed by someone. That person said that as long as we spread those words, we can get the reward..."

"Who is it?" Liu Tingsong's eyes narrowed.

"It was a man who claimed to be a merchant. He didn't tell us his name and only asked us to spread rumors in the market." The man said, with a flash of fear in his eyes, "Sir, we really don't know anything more!"

Liu Tingsong looked at them coldly for a moment, then waved his hand and ordered his men to detain them temporarily.

He turned his gaze to the county magistrate standing beside him: "I'm afraid this matter is not that simple. Immediately send someone to thoroughly investigate this person's background, and at the same time closely monitor the surrounding markets to prevent similar incidents from happening again."

The county magistrate nodded quickly: "Yes, sir."

At the same time, in the capital, Zhu Biao was discussing countermeasures with Zhu Han in the study of the Prince's Mansion.

Spreading out the secret reports on the desk, Zhu Biao looked solemn, "Uncle, my fourth brother really refuses to give up. This time, he even directly instigated the local gentry and the people, trying to use rumors to destroy our efforts."

Zhu Han took a sip of tea and said calmly, "Biao'er, this game was destined to be difficult from the beginning. You must remember that the more difficult the situation, the more it will test your ability to control the overall situation. How do you think this matter should be dealt with?"

Zhu Biao pondered for a moment, a hint of determination flashed in his eyes: "First, we must quickly put an end to the source of the rumors. Secondly, I will personally issue an order to order the scholars in various places who counted the land to make the results public to the people, especially those villages and towns that benefited from the count. They must explain the situation in detail. Only by letting the people see the real benefits can we completely disintegrate the conspiracy of Fourth Brother."

Zhu Han nodded, his eyes showing approval: "Yes, using facts to dispel rumors is far more powerful than making excuses. However, this is not enough. Biaoer, have you ever thought about what else this incident can win you?"

Zhu Biao was a little confused: "Who do you mean, Imperial Uncle?"

Zhu Han smiled softly, his tone more profound: "Behind the rumors lies not only resistance, but also opportunities. You can take this opportunity to let those gentry who were originally on the sidelines of the court see your determination and skills. Turning enemies into friends has always been an important part of governing a country."

Zhu Biao was shocked when he heard this and nodded repeatedly: "Uncle's teachings are like a beacon of light. I will learn from them!"

A grand public display was held in Tongzhou. People crowded the square in front of the county government office and talked about it. Liu Tingsong stood on a high platform with a huge notice beside him, which listed in detail the data comparison after the land inventory and the tax reduction of some villages and towns due to the re-measurement.

"Fellow villagers!" Liu Tingsong said in a loud voice, "Counting the land is not for raising taxes, but to find out the truth and protect your rights. Today, I will announce the results to you, and please judge for yourself!"

The audience was immediately excited. An elderly farmer asked loudly, "Master Liu, how should I calculate the value of my land?"

Liu Tingsong smiled slightly, turned around and motioned his subordinate to hand over the record book: "Master, your family's original record of land is 30 acres, but after we re-measured it, the actual area is 33 acres. The extra three acres are the land you didn't register before, and you don't have to pay the tax for the part that should have been paid."

The farmer was surprised and said, "Really? In the past, the government always said that we underreported our land, but they never told us where the extra land came from. This time, thanks to Lord Liu, I am convinced!"

On the other side, a splendidly dressed gentleman also spoke up: "Sir Liu, can the land of us gentry also enjoy such fair treatment?"

Liu Tingsong turned and looked at him, his eyes firm: "Gentry is also the people of the court. The land inventory will never be treated differently because of their different status. As long as the data is true, the court will naturally handle it fairly."

The gentry nodded slightly after hearing this: "If that is true, then Lord Liu's move has given us more confidence in the court." At night, Liu Tingsong sorted out the records of the day in the county government office. A gentry came quietly and said with a bow: "Lord Liu, today's demonstration has shown us the sincerity of the court. If there is any need in the future, I hope you can give us more advice."

Liu Tingsong stood up and returned the greeting, his tone full of sincerity: "Master Zhou, every measure taken by the court is for the well-being of the people. As long as we work together, we will surely make Tongzhou a place that everyone praises."

The gentleman nodded, with a little more admiration in his eyes.

Late at night, in Zhu Han's study, the candlelight flickered, reflecting on Zhu Han's stern face. He was reading the latest secret letter in his hand, which was a detailed report on the inventory of land from Tongzhou. He carefully pondered every line of the words with a deep gaze.

The attendant Zhang Heng stood aside cautiously and asked in a low voice: "Your Highness, Liu Tingsong of Tongzhou seems to have handled the matter quite well, and the gentry has gradually sided with the Crown Prince. Should we push this matter further?"

Zhu Han put down the document in his hand and gently stroked the edge of the letter paper. His tone was calm but full of meaning: "Tingsong made a good move, but it is not enough. He only solved a local problem, but I want the whole situation. Since he can open up the situation in Tongzhou, we should take this opportunity to spread the prestige of the prince further."

Zhang Heng immediately showed a trace of doubt: "Your Highness means... to promote the experience of Tongzhou to more places?"

Zhu Han smiled slightly and looked up at him: "It's not just about promotion, but also about letting those who have been waiting to see the results with their own eyes. The trust of the people is the most precious. What we need is to lead by example and prove with facts that the prince is the future they can rely on."

Zhang Heng suddenly understood and nodded repeatedly: "I understand. I will arrange for people to compile the specific operation methods of Tongzhou into a book and distribute it to various places."

Zhu Han waved his hand, signaling him to be patient: "There is no rush for this matter. The problem now is that Fourth Brother will not give up, he will definitely try every means to disrupt the situation. We must predict his movements in advance."

At the same time, in the Prince of Yan's Mansion, Zhu Di sat in the main seat with a secret report in front of him. His face was gloomy, and he glanced coldly at the staff below. The atmosphere in the room was so solemn that it was hard to breathe.

"You all know about what happened in Tongzhou, right?" Zhu Di's voice was low and chilling.

An aide stepped forward and bowed, answering, "Your Highness, I have already found out that Liu Tingsong has indeed made a breakthrough in Tongzhou, and several gentry have also begun to support the prince. This is indeed a considerable threat to our plan."

Zhu Di sneered, his eyes like knives: "Threat? It's only temporary. The prince wants to use Tongzhou as an example to promote it to the whole world, but he doesn't know that the complexity of the world is far beyond his imagination. What I want to do is to completely tear this beautiful picture of his into pieces."

Another staff member asked tentatively: "Your Highness, do you mean that we should create chaos somewhere else?"

Zhu Di turned his gaze and looked directly at the man. His voice was low and slow, but it was filled with an endless sense of oppression: "Creating chaos is not the goal. I want the people to see with their own eyes how the prince's policies have failed. Find a few key places, especially those prefectures where the prince employs the most people, and add fuel to the fire to make him lose his composure."

Everyone nodded in agreement. A young aide hesitated for a moment and said, "Your Highness, the prince's reputation has indeed improved among the scholars, but the local people may not trust him so much. We only need to guide public opinion and stir up the relationship between the local gentry and the prince, and we can easily shake his foundation."

Zhu Di sneered and nodded: "Well said. But don't just stop at instigating. I want to see actual results and make those who stand on his side regret their choice."

In Zhu Biao's study, he was discussing the next plan with Liu Tingsong and others. The table was filled with farmland inventory reports from various places, each of which recorded detailed data and progress.

"Tingsong, I have seen your efforts. The situation in Tongzhou has opened up beautifully. Next, we will spread this success to more places." Zhu Biao said with some relief in his tone.

Liu Tingsong stood up, bowed, and said modestly: "Your Highness, thank you for your praise. This is the result of the joint efforts of local gentry and the people. I have only done my little bit."

Zhu Biao smiled slightly: "Don't be modest. Your achievements deserve recognition. However, the challenges ahead will only be greater. Fourth brother will not give up easily. He will definitely find ways to sabotage our plans. We must prepare for a rainy day."

Another scholar stepped forward, his tone revealing some worry: "Your Highness, I have received news that some gentry in the southern suburbs seem to be beginning to resist our inventory work. I am afraid that the people of King Yan are fanning the flames behind the scenes."

Zhu Biao frowned slightly when he heard this, but soon regained his composure: "Resistance is inevitable, especially in a place like the southern suburbs, where the gentry are deeply rooted. We must face their doubts, but we must also take practical actions to dispel their concerns."

Zhu Han walked slowly into the study and said calmly, "Biao'er, since you have realized the root of the problem, you should take the initiative. Why are the gentry resisting? They are just afraid of damaging their interests. If you can let them see that counting the land will not only not affect their interests, but will bring more benefits, they will naturally change their position."

Zhu Biao's eyes lit up, and he quickly asked, "Does the emperor's uncle mean to communicate directly with these gentry?"

Zhu Han nodded: "That's right. Just call together several gentry in the southern suburbs and hold an open symposium to let them see the results of the land inventory with their own eyes. Remember, your words must be sincere and your attitude must be firm. You are the prince, you must let them see your breadth of mind and courage."

Zhu Biao smiled and said solemnly: "I will remember your teachings."

A forum for gentry was held in the hall of the Nanjiao County Government Office. Several local gentry sat on both sides, with a look of scrutiny and vigilance. Zhu Biao, dressed in the court robes of the crown prince, walked into the hall, his every move exuding majesty and composure.

"My fellow countrymen, I have come here from the capital specifically to listen to your opinions. If you have any questions about counting the acres of land, please feel free to speak up and I will do my best to answer them." Zhu Biao spoke in a gentle tone and with a calm look in his eyes.

A gentleman stood up and said with a bow, "Your Highness, since you asked, I dare not hide it. The land inventory is certainly for fairness, but if it is not carried out properly, will it disturb the people? Especially those small farmers, they don't have much land to begin with, and if the inventory adds an additional burden, I am afraid it will cause dissatisfaction."

Zhu Biao nodded and said in a deep voice: "I understand your concerns. But I can assure you that the purpose of counting the land is only one, which is to ensure fair taxation. The court will never increase the burden on the people because of the inventory work."

Another elderly gentleman said, "Your Highness is right, but counting the land involves many aspects. The records in some places have long been in disarray. How can these problems be solved?" (End of this chapter)