That night.
Starry sky.
In the dark streets of Longyang Prefecture.
A carriage moved slowly forward in the night.
Not long after, it stopped outside a remote courtyard.
Wang Shouyuan, dressed in a black robe, carefully got off the carriage.
After making sure that there was no one around, he immediately walked into the courtyard.
He is now.
He has become the representative of the Longyang gentry, and his every move is closely watched, so he has to be cautious.
The courtyard that Wang Shouyuan entered was the meeting place he had agreed to meet with Song Gongwen long ago.
This place is rarely visited all year round, and sometimes no one comes here for almost a month.
Therefore, it can be said to be quite safe.
As he walked into the courtyard and entered the inner hall, he saw a figure under the candlelight, holding something in his hand and reading it carefully.
He took off his hood and said, "Brother Gongwen, why are you in such a hurry to meet me so late at night?"
The figure in the inner hall was naturally Song Gongwen, who had turned Longyang Prefecture upside down in recent days.
When Song Gongwen saw Wang Shouyuan coming, his eyes immediately lit up.
He took out the item in his hand and said excitedly, "Brother Shouyuan, this is a handwritten edict from His Majesty. It was just delivered today. His Majesty said that he would fully support me and told me to do it boldly without any worries. I told you, you don't have to worry."
"What?" Upon hearing this, Wang Shouyuan hurriedly took the imperial edict and read it carefully.
Sure enough, the content above is exactly the same as what was said.
Your Majesty also said.
The distribution of land tax was in charge of Song Gongwen, which made people feel very solid and assured.
"Excellent! Your Majesty is truly a wise and enlightened ruler!"
Wang Shouyuan also sighed.
Before that, he joined forces with the Longyang gentry and officials to write hundreds of memorials.
He used almost every kind of unfavorable remarks to impeach Song Gongwen.
I was thinking about it.
Will doing so make Your Majesty feel pressured and choose to suspend the land tax system?
There are actually many reforms in history books, but most of them failed.
It’s not that some emperors were not wise enough.
This move offended certain interest groups and caused turmoil in the court, so they had to take action.
But later, Song Gongwen told himself that the current emperor was an extremely determined and wise ruler of all ages.
I will not compromise just because of a few words or a few memorials.
And the fact is just as it is said.
How could Wang Shouyuan not sigh?
"Now, with the support of Your Majesty, I feel more confident." Song Gongwen laughed.
In fact, because many nobles and some officials were arrested in recent days, the entire Longyang Prefecture began to be in turmoil.
He was actually a little panicked, afraid that this would cause unmanageable trouble.
After all, the power of those noble families is too great.
Not only Longyang Prefecture.
Even officials from other places in Jiangnan could be contacted.
Even now he is a cabinet minister.
He also holds the title of father-in-law of the emperor.
But this is the first time I have faced this situation, so it is understandable that I feel unsure.
But now, His Majesty is standing firmly behind us and giving us strong support.
The gloom that had been over Song Gongwen's mind for the past few days was completely gone.
Only a determined heart remains.
"As Brother Gongwen said, the current emperor has an extraordinary ambition. He wants to benefit the people and bring happiness to all people in the world. Even in the face of turmoil in the court, he remains unshakable. I think that this time the land tax can be implemented." Wang Shouyuan said, feeling very happy.
His goal was to improve the lives of ordinary people and completely suppress the aristocratic faction.
The plan was already underway during the reign of the previous emperor, but unfortunately things did not go as planned.
In the end, this goal had to be shelved temporarily.
now.
After seeing this handwritten order.
Wang Shouyuan's ambition was ignited once again, knowing that he finally had a chance to achieve his goal.
"That's right, so now we have to intensify our efforts and strive to complete it as soon as possible."
Song Gongwen said: "In the past few days, I have arrested many nobles and a group of officials who are loyal to the nobles. It is obvious that I have frightened them."
"It just so happens that there are several important people on Li Fang's list. As long as we catch all of them, the nobles will definitely be shaken."
The most difficult part of distributing the tax on land is the aristocratic faction. Once these people are dealt with, there will basically be no problem.
Just as Zhang Zhengming said at the beginning, the gentry are nothing but soft persimmons.
When a knife is placed on your neck, you will feel scared.
And the fact.
Just as expected.
Although there has been little progress in the land tax system in recent days.
But some landlords and gentry were already considering obedience.
"However, now the nobles have begun to confuse the common people, causing them to be completely deceived."
Wang Shouyuan thought for a moment and continued, "If this continues, I'm afraid something might go wrong. I heard that Eunuch Wang returned to the capital a few days ago to report."
The East Factory was an important part of this plan and the key to the successful implementation of the land-based tax system.
Because only by gaining the support of the people can you gain control of the general situation.
But the other party left a few days ago.
He was afraid something might go wrong.
"This is the brilliance of Eunuch Wang."
Song Gongwen smiled and said, "After all, Eunuch Wang had previously captured Li Fang. With him around, the nobles dared not act rashly. Knowing this, Eunuch Wang had already reached a plan with me privately. He would choose to take his men away, thereby relaxing the nobles' vigilance."
"But what's the reality? The people from the East Depot didn't leave. Instead, they disguised themselves as civilians and went among the people during this period."
"Now we have achieved initial results and gained the trust of the people. We just need to start planning."
"The people of the East Factory will raise their voices and let the people know the benefits of the land tax."
"In this way, we can completely reverse the situation and turn public opinion in our favor!"
"Before leaving, Eunuch Wang said he was waiting for news from us."
"So that we can tell His Majesty the good news and make him happy!"
"I see!"
Upon hearing this, Wang Shouyuan's eyes suddenly lit up.
I couldn't help but sigh at the cleverness of that eunuch Wang.
No wonder he became His Majesty's confidant and the person in charge of the East Factory.
So awesome.
You must know that if you can reverse public opinion.
Plus Brother Gongwen's iron-blooded tactics these days.
As long as the time is right, we can defeat the entire Longyang clan in one fell swoop!
"Brother Shouyuan, how are your preparations going?" At this time, Song Gongwen spoke.
The three of them were an indispensable part of the plan formulated earlier.
He was responsible for openly attacking the gentry and some officials.
The East Factory was responsible for restoring public opinion.
As for Wang Shouyuan.
It was on this basis that the final blow was dealt to the Longyang gentry, completely destroying their confidence.
"Brother Gongwen and Eunuch Wang have done so much, how can I not contribute at all?" Wang Shouyuan laughed heartily upon hearing this and continued, "The four great families of Longyang Prefecture have shown their complete trust in me and have asked me to meet them in a few days."
"And that will be our final blow to the Longyang nobles!"
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