The Ming Dynasty started with caution

The yamen runners dragged the old man into the yamen jail.

"He is not an official at all, he is the death of the god who wants his life!"

The gentry could never imagine that Zhang Xian was different from ordinary scholars, and he killed people like a warrior without blinking an eye.

They heard that the land of Ningshou Hou and Changning Bo was taken back by the court, and they were scared.

Even Ningshou Hou and Changning Bo could not do anything to Zhang Xian, so what could they do?

"Whoever dares to take our land, we will beat him to death. Anyway, we can't live without the land."

The refugees knocked on the farm tools, their faces were normal. They had seen too many people starved to death, and even saw the cruel scene of cannibalism.

That's why they didn't want to be refugees anymore.

Another old man hurriedly said: "Whatever the lord says, please let us go!"

"What do you mean, my father is still in there!" The old man's sons cried: "Please return my father to us, we will not make trouble again."

Zhang Xian smiled bitterly and shouted: "My blood is not blood? In your eyes, what is a human being!"

"This man actually committed a crime against an official appointed by the court in public. He should be dealt with according to the law of the Ming Dynasty!"

The county magistrate Li Yuan said: "If the people of the tribe murder the prefect, prefect, or county magistrate, those who have been executed will be beaten with 100 sticks and exiled for 2,000 miles. Those who have been injured will be strangled."

The old man's son fainted when he heard it.

"Execute according to the law!"

Zhang Xian killed the old man in order to implement the land tax distribution. As long as he was a little lax, these gentry would be lucky.

When the old man was the head of the village, he bullied the villagers and no one dared to sue him.

The gentry dispersed, and the refugees stayed, all kneeling on the ground: "Thank you, Lord Zhang, for taking care of us!"

"I am the parent official of Liangxiang, so I should do this. You all stand up."

………

In the capital,

Yan Chengjin was frightened when he heard that the gentry of Liangxiang took weapons to the government office and punched a hole in Zhang Xian.

Many of these gentry did not understand the laws of the Ming Dynasty.

They thought that if they beat someone up, they would just pay some money, so they were not vague at all when they started fighting.

Fortunately, he was more stable and did not go to Liangxiang.

"Zhang Xian was too careless. If the refugees had not come, I am afraid he would have a hard time ending the situation. His IQ is far from that of Wang Shouren."

Yan Chengjin thought to himself, I am afraid that His Majesty has already known.

Fengtian Palace,

Emperor Hongzhi sat in front of the imperial desk, somewhat absent-minded, with the words "dividing the land tax into acres" always lingering in his mind, "How is the implementation in Liangxiang going?"

Mou Bin said: "The gentry gathered with people at the government office and injured Zhang Xian."

"Is Yan Chengjin in Liangxiang?"

"No, he has been at home in the capital these two days."

Emperor Hongzhi fell into deep thought. This guy must have expected the reaction of the gentry in Liangxiang. If the implementation of the new law hurts the interests of the gentry, they will definitely resist.

"What happens in Liangxiang will happen in the world." Emperor Hongzhi sighed.

The gentry in Liangxiang is far less than the world, and it is easy to quell the rebellion. If the gentry in the world want to resist, it will be difficult to quell it.

Zeng Mansion,

Since Song Jing went to Liangxiang County, he has never come back. Seeing that the autumn examination is coming, Zeng Jian is secretly anxious. Today, he asks for a day off from His Majesty and prepares to go to Liangxiang County.

Song Jing is humble and gentle, which makes him very happy. Before leaving, he also ordered the housekeeper to prepare some cakes.

Zeng Jian took a sedan chair to Liangxiang.

It was hot in the sedan chair, so he had to stop and rest after walking for a while, sitting in the shade by the road.

He had been to Liangxiang when he was the Minister of Works.

Liangxiang was poor, with only three streets, and a crooked rice character with one horizontal line removed.

In such a poor and remote place, there were very few caravans on the official road.

But after sitting on the roadside for a while, four teams of carriages and horses passed by.

"It's really better to see once than to hear a hundred times."

He had to go to court every day, and even though he heard that there were workshops and caravans in Liangxiang, he didn't have time to come and see.

He took the sedan chair and set off, and not far away he encountered a checkpoint.

Liangxiang set up a tax checkpoint, and goods passing through had to pay commercial taxes.

The clerk tapped the goods lightly, "Ninety single-tube Song telescopes, two taels of silver each, a total of six taels of silver, and I'll give you the bill."

The leading merchant quickly took out six taels of silver, took the bill, and continued to drive the car.

When Liangxiang implemented the new tax, Zeng Jian was surprised that all the merchants who passed by voluntarily handed over the silver.

He didn't know that there were patrol roads and military roads near the checkpoints. If there was anything wrong, the soldiers would come to arrest people.

The merchants didn't have to go against the court for this little silver. Liangxiang was like a big treasure house with many novel things. They could earn back the silver by selling them elsewhere.

When he arrived in Liangxiang, Zeng Jian opened his mouth. The bustling crowds and convoys blocked the middle of the street. There were merchants and vendors everywhere, and he couldn't get through at all.

The shops were lined up on both sides, and every shop was crowded.

There was a brand new shop, and the crowds of people were three layers inside and outside, surrounding the door of the shop.

"Boss, what is this?"

"This is a new thresher from Liangxiang. Step on this pedal and put the rice stalks into it. The drum can thresh the rice and sorghum."

"If this thing is sold to Jiangnan, it can make a lot of money."

Zeng Jian looked at it for a while.

If I guessed correctly, it must have been made by Song Jing.

This kid looks dull, but he is very dexterous and is proficient in mathematics.

The key lies in this cowhide belt. Zeng Jian looked at it for a long time before he figured out the structure of this thing. When the guy stepped on the pedal, the drum started to turn.

Another vendor in a shop shouted: "If you have a hot temper, use Yunnan Black Medicine Toothpaste, which contains herbal essences. Those who have used it say it is good."

Toothpaste?

The waiter was holding a bottle in his hand, and some black and white powder was poured out of it.

Zeng Jian had bad teeth, so he couldn't help but think about it.

The servant reminded him: "Master, if you delay a little longer, it will be dark when you go back."

Reluctantly, he moved away and found the government office in Liangxiang. He introduced himself and asked the gatekeeper Song Jing where he was.

The clerk took him to the suburbs, where many refugees gathered, using iron tools to cultivate and transport.

"What are you doing?" Zeng Jian wondered.

The clerk reported: "Build a canal to cultivate more good land."

Song Jing took a ruler to measure the width of both sides of the canal. Zeng Jian was delighted and coughed dryly standing behind him.

Song Jing looked back and saw him, and hurriedly saluted: "Teacher, why are you in Liangxiang?"

"What are you doing here? It's so dirty, how can it be so shameful?"

"I want to make a waterwheel, but the water level in the canal is too low, and the fields on the high ground can't get water. If I set up a waterwheel, I can open up more fields."

"Take a break." Zeng Jian didn't sit down, because there was mud all around, and there was really no place to sit.

Song Jing was ashamed: "Teacher, you care about me, and you troubled me to come to Liangxiang."

"I also brought you a handout that I compiled for you. I guess I don't have time to explain it to you. You should read it carefully."

Song Jing was grateful: "Thank you, teacher!"

"Why don't I see Yan Chengjin?" Zeng Jian wondered.

Song Jing raised his hand and pointed, Yan Chengjin was not wearing an official uniform, and he was gesticulating in front of a county magistrate, who nodded repeatedly.

"The location of the canal should not be too low. If it is too low, the irrigation will be insufficient. The embankments on both sides must be reinforced to prevent the water level from rising and washing away the embankments."

"Your Excellency is right." Zhang Xian still had a white cloth wrapped around his head.

Yan Chengjin saw Zeng Jian coming over and sent him away.

"Hello, Master Zeng."

"I heard that my nephew promoted the land tax system and caused a lot of trouble. This is not a trivial matter. Many ministers in the court are eyeing Liangxiang. Do you want to promote it throughout the country?" Zeng Jian asked.

If it is to be promoted, it should be promoted by Your Majesty. I, Yan Chengjin, am limited to technical guidance. "Don't worry, Master Zeng. I will not promote it throughout the country."

Zeng Jian was relieved: "That's good. You don't know the depth. It may cost lives."

How could I not know? If I really didn't know, I would have done it like the army of time travelers, with golden fingers full, and drastically. Why should I be so cautious?