Chapter 231 Escalation of the Struggle
Meng Qing watched the servants at Fenglin Courtyard covering the wood with tung oilcloth. The sun hadn't come out all day, and the sky was getting increasingly overcast, looking like it was going to rain. Over the years, Wang Zhou had searched far and wide for all kinds of wood to build his house, becoming a carpenter himself. Fenglin Courtyard had become his private workshop, and since the house wasn't big enough, a bamboo shed had been built in the courtyard.
"Second Sister-in-law." Du Min walked into Maple Forest Courtyard under the gloomy sky. "Are you still busy? I want to talk to you about something."
Seeing that he looked unwell, Meng Qing said, "I'm not busy with anything. Let's go to Qingzhu Courtyard."
Wangzhou, Wangchuan, and Ximei are all attending classes with the teacher at Fenglin Academy. With so many people around, it's not a good place to discuss official business.
"Where is my second brother?" Du Minxian asked on the way to Qingzhu Courtyard.
"I took the dogs for a walk." Du Min had two dogs brought over, originally intending for them to test poisons for people. However, the dogs became the new favorites of the three children, and the poison test was replaced by a cage of mice. The two dogs became half the masters of the house and needed to go out for a walk every day.
Upon arriving at Qingzhu Courtyard, Meng Qing dismissed the maids in the courtyard, leaving only two to guard the gate.
Du Min took out a folded letter from his sleeve and handed it over. "This was sent by Prime Minister Zheng. He refused to compromise and instead chose to turn against his own people. Minister Zheng has been demoted to the position of Chief Secretary in Bozhou."
After reading it, Meng Qing placed the letter on the table beside her and said without any surprise, "The time frame is too short. It's been less than a month since the decree was issued, and some distant prefectures and counties haven't even received it yet. The public response is insufficient. If it were me, I would also choose to wait and see. The disadvantages of sacrificing a member of the clan are far less than the disadvantages of him making his stance clear. Moreover, sacrificing Minister Zheng might be more beneficial than harmful to Prime Minister Zheng himself. It's not surprising that he made this choice."
Du Min frowned. "You knew this would be the outcome from the start?"
"Don't you know the answer in your heart? You would have chosen to do the same thing if you were in my shoes." Meng Qing looked at him. "What's wrong? Feeling discouraged?"
"I lost my bet. I thought my provocation would work. Alas, I paved the way for Prime Minister Zheng to back down, and he could have gotten a reputation for protecting his family's interests." Du Min couldn't tell if he was dejected or disappointed. Faced with the interests of the country and the family, Prime Minister Zheng chose his family. At this moment, he truly saw the obstacles that aristocratic families brought to the rule of the imperial family. While resisting the imperial power, aristocratic families were also eroding the foundation of the country. They could be called vermin crawling on the land of the Tang Dynasty.
Take the Sima clan of Hanoi, for example. This family has continued for hundreds of years, with ancestors who have produced powerful ministers and emperors, experiencing both glory and decline. They don't care about the changing dynasties or the surname of the person sitting on the dragon throne; they only care about whether their family can continue to grow and prosper. To this end, they absorb the vitality of the court to strengthen their family, just so they can take root in the next dynasty and continue to absorb the vitality of the next dynasty.
Observing his expression, Meng Qing asked, "Are you planning to abandon the connection with Prime Minister Zheng?"
"No, I want to bring him down." He even wanted to destroy the entire Zheng clan of Xingyang, but Du Min didn't dare utter the latter part of his thought. It was a pipe dream for him, unless he followed Prime Minister Xu's path and became a treacherous minister, committing countless acts of framing and slander. But that was a path of no return. Destroying the Xingyang Zheng clan would also destroy many other powerful families, such as the Cui clan of Qinghe and the Lu clan of Fanyang. These families, like centipedes, wouldn't die easily; he couldn't kill them all, nor could he possibly do so. Instead, it would lead to the annihilation of his own entire clan.
Seeing his serious expression, Meng Qing asked in confusion, "Why have you developed hatred? Judging from your appearance, it seems like you want to fight him to the death. Do you hate him that much?"
“It’s not that I hate them, it’s just that these powerful families are disgusting. I don’t want the land I’ve worked so hard to govern to become a gladiatorial arena for these powerful families. Second sister-in-law, the thought that the land I’ve worked so hard to secure for the people will return to the hands of the gentry, landlords and powerful families in twenty or thirty years makes me lose all motivation.” Du Min wailed, “I want to wipe them out.”
Meng Qing smiled.
"What are you laughing at?" Du Min asked, displeased. "I'm so angry, and you can still laugh."
"You have proven the absurdity of governing the country with filial piety. The unfilial son did not grow into a treacherous minister, but instead became a loyal minister who was self-disciplined, honest, and fearless of powerful figures." Meng Qing sighed that those who put in more effort also invested too much emotion. Thirteen years ago, who could have believed that Du Min could say such a thing?
Upon hearing this, Du Min couldn't help but rub his face, his hands creating a smile. He let out a long breath, and his back straightened a bit.
Seeing that he was in a better mood, Meng Qing returned to the main topic: "No noble families can be completely eradicated. As old noble families perish, new ones will rise. Let me put it this way: as long as you and Wangzhou have established yourselves and accumulated two generations of glory, by the time Wangzhou's descendants reach the point where your Du family has served as officials for three generations, you will also be associated with noble families. Today's poor scholars will also be from well-known noble families a hundred years from now. But as long as the imperial examination system does not disappear, every year there will be officials from poor families to fill the ranks, and there will be thousands upon thousands of you, just like you, governing the land beneath our feet."
That's the truth, and Du Min understood it in his heart, but after Meng Qing said it, Du Min felt his lost spirit quickly return.
“Each generation has its own responsibilities. If you try to shoulder the responsibilities of several generations, you will never succeed even if you work yourself to death. Focus on what’s in front of you,” Meng Qing said. “You should climb up first. In this process, you need to use various stepping stones. If you can make the stepping stones work for you and achieve your goal, then it’s a good stone, regardless of whether it comes from a prestigious family or a poor family.”
Du Min lowered his eyes thoughtfully, and after a moment, he asked, "Second Sister-in-law, do you think Prime Minister Zheng can still be of use to me? I feel that I no longer have the ability to influence him."
"No, it's because the benefits you've offered haven't been big enough." Meng Qing shook his head. "It's only been a short time. You're too impatient. Can't you be more patient when you're trying to catch a big fish?"
Du Min was overjoyed. "Second sister-in-law, do you have a solution?"
"Yes, do as I tell you: continue to incite the farmers' emotions and persist in escalating the conflict between the government, farmers, merchants, and powerful clans, but you must always suppress any signs of the farmers gathering to riot." Meng Qing had given this instruction before; her purpose in instigating hostility between farmers and local gentry and landlords was precisely this.
Du Min frowned. He withdrew his gaze and pondered quietly. Hearing these words again today, he sensed something was wrong. Before, he only thought that Meng Qing was teaching him to use the government, farmers, and merchants to form an alliance to deal with powerful clans. Now, upon closer examination, the conflict between the government, farmers, merchants, and powerful clans had escalated to the point of being on the verge of war. How could this be resolved?
“I think I understand.” Du Min breathed a sigh of relief. “Imperial power is always above all else. If the aristocratic families don’t want to rebel, they have to make concessions. At this time, as long as the two emperors make some concessions, the aristocratic families will compromise.”
“Yes.” Meng Qing nodded. “If you understand, then do it.”
"The idea of levying taxes per mu (unit of land area) will ultimately not be implemented," Du Min said regretfully. "I was hoping to make it a reality."
"Not necessarily. Once you're in the prime minister's seat, you can pick up the plans you haven't finished today." Meng Qing heard Wang Chuan and Xi Mei's voices. She looked out and said, "If the time isn't ripe in your lifetime, your descendants of the Du family might be able to carry on your legacy."
"Thank you so much, Second Sister-in-law! I feel motivated again." Du Min said happily, "There's really hope for the future."
The rain started falling, and the sky actually became a little brighter.
*
The following day, Du Min readily released the six prisoners. He then quietly lay low for half a month during the continuous rain, waiting for the weather to clear up before immediately leading officials and guards from the governor's office to knock on the doors of the Sima and Fan clans of Hanoi. He didn't start with the main branch, but rather with the collateral branches, pressing them step by step until they sought help from the main branch, and forcing the clan head of the main branch to complain to a clan member holding a position in the imperial court.
From May to August, Du Min seized more than 800 hectares of land from the Sima and Fan clans, distributing it all to the landless and land-poor able-bodied men. The farmers' emotions were stirred up day by day by the land distribution, and they even competed to report to the government who had occupied their tenant fields, and took the initiative to lead the yamen runners and officials to cause trouble.
The gentry, landlords, and powerful families were forced to stand on the edge of the fields, facing the accusations of the farmers and the scrutiny of the officials. They could neither shake their heads nor dare to nod.
"Young master, that merchant surnamed Hu is here again." The gatekeeper cautiously entered and announced, whispering, "He's asking if I'll sell twenty acres of land in Wild Donkey Village?"
Sima Ping closed his eyes briefly and said, "Let him in."
The same scenario played out in the five counties of Huaizhou, with farmers taking the lead, government officials arriving in prison carts to interrogate them, and finally merchants coming to lure them with profits.
If, after three such attempts, the person still refused to sell the land, the government used forceful methods to arrest and imprison them.
The powerful clans that were still putting up a stubborn resistance were under a dark cloud hanging over them all day long. The farmers who had won the land were eager to celebrate, while the court was embroiled in endless quarrels.
Seeing that her policies had achieved remarkable results in Huai Prefecture, and that good news was also frequently reported from Luo Prefecture, Zheng Prefecture, Bian Prefecture, Yang Prefecture, Suzhou and other places, the female sage not only refused to compromise with the scorn of the civil and military officials, but also announced the appointment document, which had been delayed for half a year, to the court in a grand manner, and promoted Du Min to the position of governor of Huai Prefecture.
Du Min was promoted and worked even harder to investigate households and land ownership. Under his relentless pressure, the Sima clan finally turned against him.
On September 20th, Du Min received a letter of denunciation. He led his men to Dahe Township outside the city to measure the land. The main branch of the Sima clan also rushed over after receiving the news. During the argument, a man dressed as a servant raised a hoe and shoveled it at Du Min's lower back.
"Sir! Watch out!" the farmer who saw it shouted.
One of the guards lunged forward, and Du Min was thrown forward. The hoe struck the guard's thigh, drawing blood instantly.
The farmers, already eager for battle, were provoked and immediately started fighting with the Sima clan. Du Min's shouts were useless. By the time the guards separated the two sides, all the Sima clan members were injured.
The memorial accusing Du Min of condoning farmers' gang fights that led to a riot was sent to Luoyang on the same day.
At different times and in different places, there were frequent cases of peasants controlled by powerful families storming into the homes of local gentry and landlords, beating people and robbing them.
All officials who advocated for a thorough investigation of household land and property were brought before the imperial court.
-----------------------
Author's Note: Oh well, I can't finish writing tonight, I'll update tomorrow. I'm going to sleep.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com