Chapter 359: Zuo Xiang's Speculation
Although Chang'an appears calm on the surface in recent days, underneath this calmness there is a sense of oppression as if a storm is about to come.
Li Nuo, who was originally the Vice Minister of the Ministry of Justice and the Secretary of the Central Secretariat, was appointed as the Inspector-General. He was also given the Imperial Sword bestowed by His Majesty, which allowed him to kill unruly people and behead corrupt officials. It was a special permission from the emperor to execute first and report later.
In addition, the Ministry of Rites and the Ministry of Personnel have also received notices about next year's imperial examinations.
This is a precursor to heads rolling and blood flowing like a river.
In the past, every time the Imperial Sword appeared, it was accompanied by blood and rain.
Considering the recent imperial edicts from the three provinces, it is obvious that the imperial court is going to take action against the local governments.
This time, the higher-ups are serious.
Within just a few days, various states received messages from Chang'an one after another.
This reform was not aimed at the aristocratic families, but at the local officials.
When serving as an official in a local area, one must establish good relations with the local gentry. If the gentry are unwilling to pay taxes, they can register their land under their names. As officials of Daxia, they do not have to pay taxes to the court on their land.
In this way, the gentry paid less taxes and they could also benefit from it, which was the best of both worlds.
As soon as the imperial court issued this decree, the tax-free land of officials was strictly restricted.
The extra land has become a hot potato for them.
If he is caught at that time, the lightest consequence would be dismissal from his post.
More importantly, the identity of the inspector this time is extraordinary.
He is the son of Li Xuanjing, the Minister of Dali Temple, not a Qingliu Censor without background. If something happens to Li Nuo in their jurisdiction, the local officials, from the governor to the county lieutenant, and even the dogs in their homes will have no chance of survival.
Someone in Chang'an has already analyzed Li Nuo's purpose.
As a powerful legalist of a high level, he was not coming for the taxes and silver, but clearly for their heads.
Wasn't the purpose of holding three consecutive imperial examinations to find people to fill their positions?
This is to use their brains to practice!
For a time, officials from all over the country were in a panic, and the gentry and wealthy families were called to the yamen at the first opportunity.
"Mr. Huang, I'll return these lands to you. I don't want them anymore!"
"Zhang County Magistrate, do you think our tribute is not enough? Otherwise, how about you take an extra half of this year's grain?"
"Shut up! Don't try to harm me. When did I ever accept your gift?"
“What about these lands?”
"Take it back. For the sake of our past friendship, don't blame me for not reminding you in advance. A tough guy has come from above. You should pay the taxes you should pay this year. Don't drag me down when you are about to die..."
…
"Whoever has allocated these lands to me, take them away immediately!"
"What? No one wants it. If no one wants it, then it will be made public land!"
"Isn't it just the Imperial Censor? Just like last time, can't we just find someone to kill him?"
"Assassinating the Inspector General, are you fucking crazy? Do you know who the Inspector General is this time? If you want to die, don't take me with you!"
"Put the blame on the bandits? Do you think that devil will reason with us? No matter who killed him, you and my whole family will die!"
…
"It's over!"
"Damn it, I shouldn't have agreed to them last year!"
"Whoever owns the land should take it back, and pay me the missing taxes. If I have to deal with something, I will take them with me before I die!"
…
Chang'an.
Song Mansion.
Song Zhe looked at Li Nuo holding the beautiful woman with his left hand and the beautiful woman with his right hand, his eyes suddenly widened and he said in shock: "You, you..., how can this be possible!"
Yiren held Li Nuo's hand tightly and said, "Why not? This is the husband I chose!"
Song Zhe just felt dizzy. Although he was very satisfied with Li Nuo as his son-in-law, he had never thought of marrying both of his daughters to him.
What is this?
He moved his lips, but before he could say anything, Su Qing glanced at him and said, "Okay, as long as they are willing, just don't worry about it!"
Song Zhe murmured: "But..."
Su Qing said: "But what? If it weren't for you who insisted on arranging a marriage for us, would we be here today?"
Song Zhe looked at his wife silently. If she had not taken Yiren away back then, this day would not have happened.
But he didn't dare say this.
Although his wife was wrong, he was not without problems either.
It seemed that the beautiful woman was determined to marry him, and since she had no objection, he naturally had no reason to object.
After a long sigh, he waved his hand and said, "Forget it, you decide your own affairs..."
Li Nuo bowed to them and said, "Thank you, father-in-law, mother-in-law..."
He came to the Song Mansion with them today to make his relationship public to everyone.
His mother-in-law had long been on his and Yiren's side. As long as they passed the test of his father-in-law and Old Madam Song, there would basically be no obstacles.
Although everyone in the Song family was shocked by this, they did not express any opposition after the shock.
The one who was engaged to Li Nuo was Yi Ren, but the one who married him was Jia Ren. Both sisters liked him. No matter whose side they stood on, it was inevitable that the sisters would turn against each other and the family would be in discord.
This should be the best way to deal with this farce.
If it were someone else, they might object.
Even though the Song family is not a top family in Daxia, the eldest daughter of the family must be given to someone as a wife, and the only wife.
But as the top scholar in six subjects, he had achieved such high achievements at a young age. Even if the two sisters married him, it would not be a disgrace to the Song family. After all, even the royal princess was willing to commit herself to him, so the Song family naturally had no burden.
Old Madam Song held their hands, patted them gently, and said earnestly: "As long as you can be harmonious as husband and wife, and as sisters, it is better than anything else..."
Seeing Brother Li Nuo holding Sister Jia Ren with his left hand and Sister Shifu with his right hand, Song Ning'er opened her mouth in surprise, looked up at her mother, and asked, "Is Sister Shifu going to marry Brother Li Nuo too?"
Song Wang gently touched her head and said with a smile: "Your sister Yiren was promised to your brother Li Nuo when she was very young."
Song Ning'er thought about it and asked again: "Then can I marry the same person as Song Mu'er in the future?"
Song Hao said with a dark face: "No!"
Song Ning'er asked in confusion: "Why?"
Song Hao snorted and said, "If you are not the top scholar in six subjects, you are not worthy of marrying my two daughters!"
Song Ning'er thought about it carefully and asked again: "Brother Li Nuo is the top scholar in six subjects, so when I grow up, can I marry Brother Li Nuo?"
Song Hao was anxious and immediately said, "Of course not!"
Song Ning'er pouted and said angrily, "Why..."
Brother Li Nuo is handsome, can play the piano and paint, and can play house with her. Why can't she marry him?
Song Hao said angrily, "I said no, it means no. You are only eight years old, don't ask so many questions, kid, wait until you are eighteen, then talk about getting married!"
Song Ning'er was very unhappy. She pouted and kept silent.
Song Yu envied Li Nuo very much. Her brother-in-law could marry whoever he wanted, and his family would have no objection even if the most beautiful woman married him.
However, his father would never agree with his relationship with Miss Yuanyang.
After lunch today, Li Nuo was invited to Song Yu's room.
Song Yu held his wrist and pleaded, "Brother-in-law, please help me persuade my father. If he doesn't agree with me and Miss Yuanyang, I will never get married in this life..."
Li Nuo looked embarrassed and said, "This..."
In fact, Fenghuang also mentioned this matter to him.
Song Yu and Yuan Yang can be said to be in love with each other, but even if Song Yu is not the eldest son of the Song family, Yuan Yang's identity would be difficult to be accepted by a famous family like the Song family.
This is the Song family's family affair, and Li Nuo should not interfere.
But looking at Song Yu's pleading eyes, he couldn't refuse.
Song Lian was reading in the room. When he heard the knock on the door, he thought it was that rebellious son who came to bother him again. When he raised his head, he immediately stood up and said with a smile: "Li Nuo, why are you here? Come and sit down..."
After Li Nuo sat down, the two chatted for a while, then Li Nuo clasped his fists and said, "Thank you, second uncle, for agreeing to my relationship with Yiren."
Song Lian smiled and said, "As elders, what reason do we have to object to something you two are willing to do?"
Li Nuo paused and spoke again: "Actually, it was Song Yu who asked me to come here. He just told me that if he can't marry Miss Yuanyang, he will never get married in this life..."
Song Lian was stunned. He would not refute what he had just said.
He was silent for a long time before he sighed and said, "This bastard used to be idle. After meeting this Yuanyang girl, he actually read military books to have something to talk about with her. I don't know what's so good about that girl. Even his soul was seduced..."
He looked at Li Nuo and asked, "You and Miss Phoenix..."
Li Nuo said: "We, ahem..."
Song Lian showed understanding on his face, breathed a sigh of relief, and said, "Forget it, whoever he marries is his own choice, as long as he doesn't regret it in the future."
Song Yu, who was eavesdropping outside the door, heard this and immediately ran in, saying happily, "Thank you, Dad!"
Judging from his second uncle’s reaction, even if Li Nuo didn’t speak up for Song Yu, he would have agreed in the end.
After returning to Ningxin Garden, he immediately informed Fenghuang of the matter.
"Very good!"
Fenghuang hugged his arm and said with a smile: "Yuanyang will be very happy if he knows!"
Feeling a full pressure on his arm, Li Nuo couldn't help but look down.
Fenghuang blushed, and immediately let go of his hand, saying, "I'm going to find Yiren!"
Watching her running away in panic, Li Nuo couldn't help but sigh, Fenghuang seemed to be the most open among them, but in fact, she was even more thin-skinned than Yiren.
The contrast between appearance and inner qualities is quite interesting.
Li Nuo talked to her about marriage a few days ago. Fenghuang didn't have any requirements on it, but just said that she had to wait until her beloved officially entered the family.
My wedding with my beloved will at least be next year.
Li Nuo has already made a plan. When the time comes, he can take the opportunity of going out for inspection to hold a wedding in Zhao State.
I have been away from Zhao State for so long, and I don’t know how Her Majesty the Queen is doing.
While Li Nuo was thinking, the great righteousness in his body suddenly increased several times.
After returning to Daxia, although the cultivation of the Legalists did not improve much, the cultivation of the Confucians was growing visibly every day.
On the one hand, his cultivation was still shallow, and he could sense even the slightest change in his cultivation.
On the other hand, whether he was improving agriculture, military science, Mohism, or carrying out various reforms, as long as the goal was for the people, he could also promote Confucian practice at the same time.
Just now, his Confucian cultivation had quietly broken through to the third level.
This means that something he did should have produced obvious results.
Secretariat.
On the table in front of the left prime minister were letters of remembrance.
These memorials were all submitted from various provincial capitals.
In the past, when the imperial court wanted to carry out tax reforms, local officials simply refused to cooperate and most of them would conceal their land properties to circumvent the court's scrutiny.
But this time, before the tax reform provisions were officially promulgated, officials from various states took the initiative to submit a petition. In order to respond to the court's call, they donated all the excess land under their names for use as public land.
All the grain produced from the public fields belongs to the national treasury.
The local gentry also followed suit and donated large amounts of land.
The contents of these tax reforms were all things that the imperial court had attempted to implement before. The same contents had all failed before, but this time they were unexpectedly successful. They even cooperated on their own initiative without the need for supervision from the imperial court.
Li Nuo's words were verified once again.
Any reform is bound to involve bloodshed and sacrifice.
When he held the imperial sword and was appointed as the inspector, those stubborn local officials immediately understood the difficulties of the court.
However, the concessions made by these officials and gentry could not fundamentally solve the problem of the people having no land.
More land is in the hands of those big families.
But at least, among the failures, he saw a little hope...
He slowly raised his head and belatedly realized something.
The reason why the court's various reforms have been carried out smoothly in recent days, unlike in the past when every step was met with numerous obstacles, is due to two most important reasons.
All the powerful people who could interfere in state affairs are dead.
The power of the major families, especially the most prosperous Wang family, in the court is almost gone.
Could it be?
Thinking of a certain possibility, his usually calm heart began to palpitate a little.
Dali Temple.
Temple government office.
Li Xuanjing stood in the government office, with his left hand behind his back and his right hand holding a "Medical Handbook". At a certain moment, a figure walked in from outside and said, "Sir, the Left Prime Minister is here."
As soon as he finished speaking, another figure walked into the yamen.
The left prime minister glanced at the young man and said, "You go down first."
The young man looked at Li Xuanjing, and Li Xuanjing nodded slightly.
The young man slowly withdrew. Li Xuanjing put down the book in his hand, clasped his fists to the Left Prime Minister, and said, "What's the important matter, Lord Left Prime Minister?"
The Left Prime Minister did not say a word. When Li Xuanjing clasped his fists, he suddenly reached out and grasped his wrist.
A trace of noble energy flowed along his hand and entered Li Xuanjing's body.
This majestic energy entered his body, but it was like a drop in the ocean, with no response at all.
The left prime minister withdrew his hand, his face full of disappointment.
Did he guess wrong?
(End of this chapter)
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