“What is it?”
Seeing Wu Tiehu not retreating after receiving his orders but instead hesitating as if wanting to speak, Wu Ming frowned slightly and asked.
“There is something I wish to say, but I am unsure if I should!”
Seeing Wu Ming’s expression, Wu Tiehu gritted his teeth and spoke out.
“Here we go again, it’s never good news. Nine times out of ten, it’s a complaint…”
Wu Ming sighed inwardly and rubbed his forehead.
With the incident involving the Main God, no matter how much turmoil occurred in the Zhou World, it couldn’t draw much of his attention.
Of course, while he thought this inwardly, he showed no sign of it on his face: “You have my pardon, speak freely!”
“Understood!”
Wu Tiehu gritted his teeth again: “Since the family head’s marriage, certain members of the Wu family have been scheming and acting disrespectfully, even referring to me as ‘the servant of a son-in-law’ to my face. It doesn’t matter if this humble servant suffers, but if it stains the family head’s reputation, I would never be able to atone!”
“So it’s about this…”
Wu Ming rubbed his temples.
To be honest, the Wu family’s resentment stemmed from Wu Zhi’s dominance, and their fear that he, an outsider, might take over everything. Such reactions were entirely expected.
Especially during this year-end period and the La Festival, when ancestral worship ceremonies were held, these emotions became even more pronounced.
“Wu Tiehu, are you a member of the Wu family or the Wu household?”
Wu Ming asked softly.
“I was born a member of the Wu family and shall die a soul of the Wu family!”
“Good!”
Wu Ming said: “Wu Zhi has married into our family, and during the ancestral sacrifices, she follows her husband’s customs. How could you not see something so obvious?”
If he were truly a son-in-law, Wu Ming would have to follow Wu Zhi to Nanfeng County, worship the Wu family ancestors, and even be restricted to waiting in the courtyard outside the ancestral hall.
The difference between the two situations was immense.
“From now on, if anyone insults the main family, whether officials or members of the Wu family, arrest them immediately and deal with them severely. Do you understand?”
“I understand, my lord!”
Wu Tiehu’s eyes lit up, he bowed again, and left.
“So someone couldn’t wait any longer?”
Wu Ming rubbed his chin, a faint smile appearing on his face: “Looks like I’ll have to make an example of someone, and at the same time promote Wu Tiehu to become the county military commander, taking control of Chufeng’s military power as a reward…”
…
In the Chufeng Prefecture city, inside the Jiedushi mansion.
“Your Excellency, all county magistrates have been assigned, and the necessary officials have been appointed, ensuring that next year’s spring plowing will not be delayed!”
Inside the side hall, a purple sandalwood table over a zhang long and more than three chi wide was piled high with official documents. Wu Zhi wore a brocade robe, her face bare of makeup, yet still exuding a heroic air. As Zeng Yu reported, her slightly furrowed brows gradually relaxed.
“Good!”
Wu Zhi nodded slightly, aware of how difficult it was for Zeng Yu.
After all, not every official could accept being governed by a woman, let alone one who openly established herself as a regional warlord.
The Nanfeng Prefecture was fine, but in Chufeng Prefecture, with the surrender of the Li family, many county officials chose to resign and leave. How to select enough capable people to govern these places had given Wu Zhi quite a bit of trouble.
She then spoke kindly: “I am the Jiedushi, with authority over military and civil matters, and the right to establish a staff. Now I am setting up a staff office directly managing the two prefectures and fifteen counties. The original prefects and vice-prefects will retain their positions, and you will serve as my chief of staff!”
“Thank you, my lord!”
Zeng Yu bowed respectfully, his heart slightly stirred.
He knew that by establishing the Jiedushi staff, Wu Zhi intended to centralize power in her own hands, effectively sidelining the prefects. After all, establishing two prefects for just two prefectures would mean handing over power to others.
Retaining the posts of prefect and vice-prefect was merely a symbolic gesture, meant to accommodate families like the Li family, who held high status and had surrendered early.
As the de facto ruler of the two prefectures, the chief of staff was equivalent to a prime minister. Though the official rank was not high, the position entailed comprehensive responsibilities and the duty to assist the ruler in identifying and addressing issues. Wu Zhi’s promotion of him to this position showed her great trust in him.
“I will devote my utmost efforts and serve my lord to the end of my life!”
With both the gratitude for having saved his life and the appreciation for being entrusted with such an important position, if he did not repay her with loyalty, Zeng Yu would surely be condemned by the scholarly community as a petty man.
“Indeed! Agriculture is the foundation of the nation. If the spring plowing is stable and the harvest in autumn brings in grain, once the warehouses are filled with millet and wheat, the people of the two prefectures will no longer question the rule of this administration.”
Wu Zhi deeply understood that common people are greedy for benefits. Even if people across the land are currently gossiping, criticizing her as a hen crowing at dawn, once there are one or two good harvests, the common people would no longer care who is ruling over them.
The real challenge, however, lay with the scholar-official class, for they were the ones whose interests were harmed and whose traditional views were deeply rooted, making them hard to subdue.
“The last time I ordered each family to recommend virtuous individuals for government service, the response was minimal, hehe…”
Wu Zhi sneered: “This time, many from humble backgrounds have risen, and they can’t blame this administration anymore. Who told them not to seize the opportunity before?”
“Your Excellency is wise!”
This referred to the previous staffing of the officials in the mansion.
The prominent families and local elites, fearing entanglements, with large estates and much to lose, were unwilling to take a gamble. Wu Zhi then ordered the posting of recruitment notices, stating that regardless of background, only the talented would be chosen, immediately attracting a large number of ambitious individuals from humble origins who aspired to rise to prominence.
In this world, the paths to advancement were largely controlled by the aristocratic families. Now, with this opportunity, how could those from humble backgrounds not strive with all their might!
The higher one’s position, the more one cherishes it and is reluctant to change, but those from humble backgrounds fear nothing.
However, if Wu Ming were here, he would certainly scoff at this.
Because the prominent families and local elites were the large landlord class, while those from humble backgrounds were the small landlord class. The real ones with nothing, who could break all shackles, were still those at the very bottom of society who had no land to stand on and little personal autonomy.
Of course, he and Wu Zhi were both members of the “ruling class,” so naturally they would not betray their original class.
After all, even historically, when Cao Cao supported scholars from humble backgrounds and suppressed the aristocratic families, it was still an internal struggle within the landlord class, with nothing to do with the common people!
After all, in ancient times, the peasants who truly had nothing, how could they afford to read and write?
“I have two strategies!”
Wu Zhi was quite pleased with herself, pacing back and forth: “One civil and one military, working together, and within three years, I will surely capture Dingzhou!”
“I am all ears!”
This was the political platform, a great opportunity to understand the ruler’s intentions, so naturally Zeng Yu perked up his ears.
“These two strategies are: one, granting land for military merit; two, selecting officials through examinations!”
At this point, Wu Zhi’s face slightly reddened, never admitting that this idea still came from Wu Ming’s casual suggestions to her in the boudoir, on the bed.
“Granting land for military merit means classifying soldiers, recording their merits in each battle, promoting them in rank and granting land according to their merits. Those who are disabled or retire will be taken care of, and local military officers, village heads, and pavilion commanders will be selected with priority!”
“This way, the soldiers will certainly fight with all their might, but it will require a large amount of unclaimed land!”
As a civil official, hearing such a policy that favored the military, Zeng Yu felt quite uncomfortable. However, thinking about the current chaotic times when the military dominated politics, he couldn’t bring himself to voice his concerns.
“The second strategy, selecting officials through examinations, means holding annual imperial exams. Scholars from all directions, regardless of their background or origin, can take the exams. Subjects such as mathematics, agriculture, and commerce will be set, and official positions will be granted based on the results. Taking this year’s examination as a model, it will be established as a precedent for future years!”
Wu Zhi spoke firmly. Zeng Yu, however, began to sweat on his forehead: “This… this… it might provoke criticism!”
He knew in his heart that it was more than just criticism.
Traditionally, the aristocratic families controlled vast lands and monopolized the upward channels. Even the local village heads, pavilion commanders, and tax officials were their people, forming a deeply rooted network that even the prefect and the imperial court had to fear.
However, if these two policies were implemented, the aristocratic families’ rule would be severely shaken, and they would surely retaliate fiercely!
“Criticism? Have I not already faced enough of it?”
Wu Zhi sneered: “Even if I try to compromise, it would be in vain. Then why not break everything and start anew?”
“Your Excellency’s boldness is admirable, and this humble servant will devote his life to implementing these two policies for you!”
Having come this far, continuing the discussion about the hen crowing at dawn, an issue with no solution, what else could Zeng Yu do but bow?
“Good!”
Wu Zhi nodded: “Don’t worry, I naturally understand the gravity of the situation and will proceed gradually. What we should do first is to grant land for military merit, securing the loyalty of the army, thus having nothing to fear!”
“The barrel of a gun is the source of political power,” an unshakable truth anywhere, and naturally something Wu Zhi could not ignore: “To grant land for military merit, we need a large amount of idle land. Fortunately, since the chaos began, the two prefectures have been plagued by war and the people have fled. At present, there is enough land. You will compile the statistics and report them!”
“Understood!”
Zeng Yu called for a scribe, slowly reporting: “Our administration governs Chufeng and Nanfeng prefectures, with eight counties in Chufeng and seven in Nanfeng, totaling fifteen counties in two prefectures! There are three upper counties: Yunping, Hetian, and Cantong; five middle counties:…”
“After surveying by the accountants, it is confirmed that our fifteen counties have a total of 2.7 million mu of farmland and 300,000 households of people… The public land that the government can currently grant is 54,300 mu!”
“So little?”
Wu Zhi sighed, knowing exactly where all the farmland had gone.
Although the two prefectures had nearly three million mu of farmland, at least half of it had fallen into the hands of the aristocratic families. Their fields were connected, fertile and vast. They traveled with luxurious servants and beautiful maids, fine horses and fragrant carriages, while the tenant farmers on their lands had to bear more than half of the taxes, as well as levies and labor services imposed by the government.
Unfortunately, the biggest among them was the Wu family! Especially after Wu Zhi captured Chufeng Prefecture, the local gentry in Nanfeng Prefecture, led by the Wu family, began a new wave of expansion.
“Hehe… Rats! Big rats!!!”
Wu Zhi sneered coldly, her murderous intent so intense that even Zeng Yu felt his legs weaken: “If we confiscate a few families, we might not only have land to grant and funds for the army, but even the seeds for next spring!”
“My lord, absolutely not!”
Zeng Yu knelt down with a thud, his sweat pouring like a spring.
“I understand the gravity of the situation and naturally won’t make enemies of the entire world, but I must make an example of a few to warn the rest!”
Wu Zhi’s smile was enchanting, yet laced with chilling menace: “Some people have gotten too used to undermining others, and they’ve even forgotten that I am the head of the family!”
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