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"Zhu Du, do you mean that Chu Huan was already involved in Xiao Jingqian's death?" Han Tianyang asked.

Zhu Lingyue didn't answer immediately, but asked Gu Tingshou, "I heard that Chu Huan has left Shuoquan, do you know where he is now?"

"Back to Governor Zhu, he left Shuoquan half a month ago and headed north all the way, but he seemed to be checking the implementation of the land equalization order in various places along the way." Gu Tingshou immediately replied: "What is his destination? It’s not sure where it is, maybe it’s just a tour of the prefectures and counties in Xiguan. After all, he has always been proud of the so-called land equalization order. This is his biggest work since he arrived in Xiguan. Now the land equalization order is implemented. He’s always looking to see how well his work is done.”

Zhu Lingyue nodded slightly, and said: "If Xiao Jingqian's death is related to Chu Huan, it seems unlikely. After all, his current energy is still on Xiguan, and he doesn't care about Beishan." He frowned slightly, as if thinking Thinking, his expression looked quite dignified.

"Zhu Du, if we really want to talk about it, we are not in a hurry with Beishan." Han Tianyang said: "On the other hand, it is on the other side of Xiguan. I have to say that Chu Huan's implementation of the order of equalization of land is of great benefit to the situation before Xiguan. The refugees living in our Tianshan and Beishan returned to their hometowns one after another, which caused the population of Xiguan to increase rapidly. Moreover, with the encouragement of the Land Equalization Order, the area of ​​cultivated land in Xiguan has greatly expanded. The area of ​​cultivated land in Xiguan is dozens of times larger than that of this year. If the weather and climate like this year are still there next year, the situation of people starving to death in Xiguan will not be serious. It's never good news."

Hou Jingang couldn't help asking: "Master Han, if Xiguan wants to increase the area of ​​cultivated land by several dozen next year, where will the grain come from? I heard that Xiguan is starving and dying all over the place this year. Could it be possible that the people in the cultivated land can change the grain seeds?" ?”

Han Tianyang said: "Chu Huan is really good at this. Although Xiguan has a good harvest this year, almost all the grain from the harvest is owned by the gentry in the prefectures and counties of Xiguan. Their people can't even eat food, so naturally there is no arable land. Harvest." After a pause, he stroked his beard and said, "However, Chu Huan issued an order that the grain collected by the gentry and wealthy families this year must be counted and registered by the local government. I heard that the prefects of all states have already ordered by Chu Huan , Prepare to borrow food for rent!"

"Borrow food for rent?"

"That's right." Han Tianyang said: "The government will borrow grain from those wealthy gentry, and then in the name of the government, according to the people's arable land area and the quality of the land, they will lend grain according to the regulations... Wait until next year. After the harvest, the people only need to repay a small part of the interest...!"

Before everyone could speak, Zhu Lingyue laughed and said, "Speaking of which, our Governor Chu still has some tricks."

Gu Tingshou sneered and said: "Chu Huan still has some ability to buy people's hearts. Many people in Xiguan now say that Chu Huan is the most capable and popular governor of Xiguan since the founding of the Great Qin Dynasty."

Hou Jingang frowned and said, "Chu Huan borrowed food from wealthy gentry, but those wealthy families are really willing to lend food?"

"Of course I don't want to." Han Tianyang shook his head and said, "Right now, what Xiguan lacks is grain. With grain in hand, the price can be doubled, but if you borrow it out, not only will you have no grain in hand, but the interest you will get in the coming year will be negligible. Gentlemen don't even notice."

"If that's the case, why don't they make a fuss?" Hou Jingang clenched his fists and said, "There are not a few wealthy gentry in the prefectures and counties of Xiguan. If they really want to make a fuss, it will be enough for that surnamed Chu to eat a pot."

In fact, after Chu Huan arrived at Xiguan, the first person he got rid of was Dongfangxin, and Dongfangxin was a heavy general of Zhu Lingyue's faction in Xiguan, a hardcore Tianshan faction.

Chu Huan got rid of Dongfangxin, and even purged Zhu party officials in Xiguan. Inside Tianshan, Chu Huan is definitely a sworn enemy.

"According to the information we got, the seven surnames of Xiguan, the leaders of the Xiguan gentry, are all closely related to Chu Huan. Not only did these families not oppose Chu Huan's plan of borrowing grain, but they were willing to take out their own grain. Not only that, I heard that they are also planning to come forward to persuade other rich families to also take the initiative to provide grain to help the government implement the policy of borrowing grain and subleasing."

Zhu Lingyue said lightly: "It's not surprising. You may not know it. When Chu Huan was in Yunshan Mansion, he had a close relationship with a woman. This woman was originally a direct descendant of the Su family among the seven surnames in Xiguan. Now it is said that This woman has already had a marriage contract with Chu Huan, so Chu Huan will become the son-in-law of the Su family... It is reasonable for the Su family to help their governor's son-in-law."

"So that's the case." Many officials suddenly realized.

"In the four prefectures of Xiguan, although the seven surnames of Xiguan have high prestige among the wealthy gentry in Xiguan, but this time the matter of borrowing grain and subletting has hurt the interests of many gentry, and I don't think that everyone will obey the seven surnames of Xiguan Wish." Gu Tingshou said softly: "Zhu Du, if this great opportunity is missed, it would be a pity...!"

"What does Master Gu mean?"

"It's better to send someone over to incite it." Gu Tingshou said: "Actually, the gentry in Xiguan are just a pile of dry wood in this situation. As long as there is a little spark, this pile of dry firewood may burn... If it is true If it burns, Xiguan is bound to be in chaos for a while. If Xiguan's grain subletting strategy cannot be implemented, then Xiguan will continue to be in chaos. There will be no progress in three to five years. Even if Chu Huan enforces it, then the Xiguan gentry will He must be resentful, if he only relies on the support of the seven surnames in Xiguan, he will lose the support of the entire Xiguan gentry...!" He sneered, but did not continue.

Zhu Lingyue was calm and relaxed, he didn't say much, he just said to an official: "Master Fei, over there at Beishan, you can take someone there to pay homage later."

Fei Qing, the head of the Department of Rituals of Tianshan Dao, got up and said, "I obey you." Then he asked, "Zhu Du, when should I leave?"

Zhu Lingyue thought for a while, and then said: "Xiao Jingqian's funeral will take at least half a month... He had an accident three days ago, and you will start after three days. The journey from Mingsha to Yuchang is not too far away. You can take three to five days. It will be able to arrive, before he emerges, it is not a big problem."

Han Tianyang said with a smile: "Zhu Du pinched the time very accurately. If we go too early, Xiao Huanzhang will feel that we got the news too soon and may misunderstand us. If we go too late, it will appear disrespectful...!"

Zhu Lingyue smiled slightly, and said to Gu Tingshou: "Master Gu, on the side of Beishan, always pay attention to their movements, Xiao Jingqian was killed, Xiao Huanzhang will never let it go, let's see what they are going to do next... Besides, on the other side of Chu Huan Don't let your guard down, even if you incite the gentry in Xiguan to make trouble... If you have this opportunity, you can take advantage of it!"

……

……

When the Tianshan officials were talking about Chu Huan, Chu Huan had already reached Yanmen Pass.

After Chu Huan set off from Shuoquan, he did not rush directly to Yanmen Pass. Although his final destination this time was the 36 Wubao in Yanmen Pass, he also inspected the people's conditions along the way, especially the Juntian Order of the prefectures and counties along the way. On-site inspection of implementation.

Of course, Chu Huan would not believe that the entire Beishan Road officials were extremely clean, let alone that his order to equalize land could be fully implemented.

In fact, in the process of implementing the land equalization order, there is a loophole that is easily exploited by corrupt officials, that is, the number of acres of land and the number of people.

Although Wei Wuji and Gongsun Chuxie, the magistrate of Yuezhou, are in charge of the land equalization order, both of them are clean people, but their energy is limited, and they can't take care of the tens of millions of acres of land and millions of people in the entire Xiguan Road. There are thousands of officials working together from top to bottom.

Chu Huan knew that even if some local officials concealed the number of acres of land and population, Shuoquan might not be able to know everything.

Once local officials conceal the number of acres of land, they can take the opportunity to seize the land and falsely report the population to Gao Gao, so that they can get more grain from the subsequent strategy of borrowing grain and subleasing.

This kind of loophole is indeed inevitable.

This kind of situation is not easy to happen in the counties near Shuoquan Fucheng, but the farther away from the Fucheng, the greater the possibility of this happening. Chu Huan is well aware of this, so this time on the way to Yanmen Pass, actually It was a surprise attack. Before reaching a county, he immediately checked the files, and in order to ensure efficiency, he came out this time with a few officials from the Department of Household Affairs. These officials are experts in land and population management. I have a general understanding of the land and population of various places in Xiguan. Once there is a problem with the file, it is easy to expose the flaws.

Not only that, Chu Huan will randomly check the villages under the county's jurisdiction, go to the village in person, check the number of people in the village according to the file, and even personally ask whether the amount of land distributed to the villagers is consistent with the record on the file. The officials from the Ministry of Criminal Affairs who came will immediately detain the local county magistrate, the village head, and Lizheng under his jurisdiction, and must find out what the problem is.

Chu Huan is very clear that even so, it may not be able to completely eliminate corruption in Xiguan Road. Wherever there are people, there will be rights. Where there are rights, there will be corruption. There is no difference. When the water is clear, there will be no fish. It is not that Chu Huan does not allow people to get some benefits. If you want horses to run, you must let people eat grass. But in the field equalization order, Chu Huan Absolutely strict control is the best way to restore Xiguan's vitality at present. Once there is a problem with this, the consequences will be disastrous.

From the very beginning, Chu Huan had a position for officials in Xiguan. He first needed officials who really did practical things. Even if they lacked morality, they could earnestly implement the tasks assigned by the superiors and solve problems. This is Chu Huan. Chu Huan really doesn't welcome the officials who are needed, even if they are so-called clean-fingered, but have no talents, can't improve the quality of life of the people, and let the people follow him to eat chaff and swallow grass.

Being able to do things with ease, but also capable of doing practical things with great ability, this is of course the official that Chu Huan likes, such as Gongsun Chu and others, but such officials are rare. Instead of officials who are the most important, they need officials who can carry out their own intentions.