Shuhan

In the Guanzhong area, the Baling Imperial Farm stands like a towering fortress at the confluence of the Ba River and the Wei River. Its scale and grandeur are so great that it ranks among the top among the many imperial farms in Jingzhao Yin.

This place is not only a symbol of imperial power, but also a gathering place for military forces. More than 1,500 soldiers, like a steel torrent, guard this land baptized by war.

The Wei River sparkles in spring, and the gentle breeze brings a hint of coolness, but also awakens the sleeping earth.

Along the coast, tender green wheat seedlings are thriving in the fertile fields. They are the result of the joint efforts of the soldiers of the Baling Imperial Farm, their slaves and tenants.

However, amid this peace and tranquility, a dispute over land ownership is quietly brewing.

A team of militiamen, dressed in iron armor and holding spears, marched along the bank of the Wei River, their eyes revealing unquestionable majesty.

In the center of the team, there was a middle-aged man in gorgeous brocade clothes. He walked steadily with a stern face. He glanced around from time to time, as if looking for something.

His robe was embroidered with intricate patterns that sparkled in the sun, highlighting his extraordinary status.

When they came to a simple farmhouse, the team stopped.

The middle-aged man raised his hand to signal, and the militiamen immediately dispersed and surrounded the farmhouse. The atmosphere suddenly became tense.

The owner of the farmhouse, an elderly man, walked out of the yard with a hoe in his hand, full of doubts. Looking at this sudden scene, he couldn't help feeling a little fear in his heart.

The middle-aged man was tall, with a resolute face, and his brows revealed an aura that should not be underestimated.

His eyes were deep, as if he could see into people's hearts, and the corners of his mouth were slightly drooping, giving people a feeling of majesty without even being angry.

Gold and silver threads were interwoven on the brocade robe, and every stitch and thread revealed luxury and nobility, forming a sharp contrast with the roughness of the militiamen beside him.

The old man looked like a typical farmer, with dark skin, full of wrinkles, and hands that were rough from years of work.

There was both fear and indomitable spirit in his eyes.

The old man thought to himself, "Although the people of Baling Royal Manor have occasionally exploited us on weekdays, I have never seen them mobilize so many troops. What are they doing today?"

His hands gripping the hoe were shaking slightly.

The middle-aged man was calm and even a little disdainful: "How can this little tenant know the glorious history of our Baling Yi family? During the reign of Emperor Wu, this land belonged to my family. Now, it is time to let the people of the imperial farm know who is the real owner of this place."

The old man mustered up his courage and asked, "What are you doing here? This is the territory of the Royal Manor of Ba Ling, and it is the private property of His Majesty. How can you disturb it at will?"

The middle-aged man snorted coldly, his voice low and powerful: "My Baling Yi family has lived in Baling for generations. This piece of land has belonged to my Baling Yi family since Emperor Wu. The land deed is here. Let the thousand households of your imperial farm come over and return the land!"

After saying that, he pulled out a roll of yellowed parchment from his sleeve and gently unfolded it. On it were yellowed words and seals, which seemed to be telling a forgotten history.

Seeing this, the old man's expression changed slightly, and a hint of surprise and uneasiness flashed in his eyes, but he quickly regained his composure.

This dispute was far beyond his ability to resolve, and he could only hope that the thousand households in the imperial farm could handle it fairly.

A hint of pride appeared on the middle-aged man's face, which was a premonition of victory and confidence in his own power.

As the middle-aged man finished speaking, the air around him seemed to freeze, and only the rustling sound of wind blowing through the wheat waves could be heard.

The old man was silent for a moment, and finally decided to ask the captain of the imperial farm to make a decision.

He turned back to the house, packed up quickly, and hurried to the imperial farm.

At the same time, the middle-aged man and the militiamen were waiting outside the farmhouse.

Soon, the captain of the imperial farm rushed over after hearing the news. He was a burly and dignified general, wearing silver armor, with a sword at his waist, and walking steadily.

When he saw the middle-aged man, he did not lose his temper immediately, but asked about the whole story first.

The middle-aged man showed the land deed again, speaking sincerely and clearly, describing the relationship between the Yi family and the land.

After hearing this, Qianhu frowned. Obviously, this was a tricky matter.

"I need to report this matter to the Shaofu and let them make the decision!"

After careful consideration, Qianhu decided to report the matter to Jingzhao Yin first, and let a higher-level official make the decision.

Although the middle-aged man of the Yi family was unwilling, he had no choice but to accept this decision. After all, in this land, the conflicts between power and interests have never been easily resolved.

Before leaving, the commander of the Baling Imperial Farm left behind a young centurion to monitor the situation and prevent the conflict from escalating.

This centurion was young and energetic, with sharp eyes. He had long heard about the arrogance of the aristocratic families and was full of vigilance.

The middle-aged man from the Yi family originally wanted to show off his authority as a noble in front of the hundred households of the imperial estate, but he was unexpectedly baked by the scorching sun and his mouth was dry and his tongue was parched, and he couldn't help feeling anxious.

He caught a glimpse of the young centurion and thought about how to use his status to gain an advantage over others, so he asked to enter the imperial farm to enjoy himself.

The middle-aged Yi wiped the sweat from his forehead with his sleeve, a smug smile appeared on the corner of his mouth, and he walked towards the young captain. His steps were a little unsteady, and it was obvious that he was a little overwhelmed by the scorching sun.

He stretched out his hand to put it on Bai Hu's shoulder, but the other party dodged it skillfully.

"You soldier, why don't you invite me to the imperial manor and treat me to delicious food and drink? Now that Your Majesty wants to unify the world, he must favor our nobles. The general trend is like this, do you still dare to go against it?" The middle-aged man of the Yi family spoke with unquestionable arrogance in his tone.

The young centurion's body trembled, and a hint of anger flashed in his eyes, but he did not explode immediately.

He snorted coldly, without moving, but just staring at the other party coldly, as if he wanted to see through the other party's arrogance.

"Since you left Baling to escape, this place has been ownerless. Now it has been acquired by my imperial farm. As for the past, it no longer counts. If you are uncomfortable with the sun, go home!"

There was a hint of sarcasm in the young centurion's words. His voice was not loud, but every word was clear and struck people's heart.

When the middle-aged man from the Yi family heard this, his face changed and he was burning with anger, but he did not get angry immediately. Instead, he rolled his eyes and came up with a plan.

"Anyway, you are just a pawn, a character who will die on the battlefield. When I occupy this place, I will destroy your family and make you die. When the time comes, I want you to watch me humiliate your wife and mother, hehe."

The middle-aged man from the Yi family's words were filled with vicious curses and a hideous smile appeared on his face.

Upon hearing this, the young captain was furious and could no longer tolerate the other party's insult.

He flashed and pounced on the middle-aged man of the Yi family like a cheetah, kicking him in the lower abdomen with swift and powerful movements.

The middle-aged man from the Yi family cried out in pain, and flew out like a kite with a broken string, falling heavily to the ground, raising a cloud of dust.

He struggled to get up and shouted, "They're beating people! They're beating people! The imperial soldiers are beating people!"

The middle-aged man surnamed Yi was now disheveled, with messy hair and a face covered in dust and sweat, looking extremely disheveled.

His eyes were filled with anger and unwillingness, and there was a trace of blood at the corner of his mouth, obviously because the kick was not light.

The young captain looked calm and composed. He stood there with sharp eyes and an upright figure, like an unshakable mountain.

Although his clothes were soaked with sweat, they were still neat and tidy, revealing a rigorous and self-disciplined temperament.

The middle-aged man Yi was filled with anger and humiliation. He had never thought that he would be treated like this in front of a mere centurion.

He secretly vowed to take back this land and make the arrogant centurion pay the price.

The young captain was calm in his heart. He knew very well that his kick might cause trouble, but what was even more clear was that he could not tolerate the other party's insult to the imperial farm and himself.

He was secretly thinking about how to deal with the next situation, while also waiting for the news that Qianhu would bring back from Chang'an.

The middle-aged man of the Yi family was lying on the ground, gasping for breath, and constantly cursing the young centurion and the imperial farm.

"Your Majesty, is this how you treat us nobles after returning from Wei?"

"If I had known this, I wouldn't have come back!"

"The Han State abuses the nobles, and it will be difficult for the Han State to rule the world!"

Although his voice was weak, it was full of resentment and unwillingness.

The young centurion said nothing, but just looked at the other person coldly, as if he was looking at a clown. No matter how the other person cursed, he could not lose his calm and reason.

The middle-aged man Yi's face was full of anger and pain, and his eyes revealed a resentful light, as if he wanted to cut the young Baihu into pieces.

He struggled to get up, but had to give up because of the pain.

As the middle-aged man Yi's cursing gradually weakened, the air around him seemed to freeze.

The young centurion stood quietly there, waiting for the news that the captain would bring back from Chang'an.

The middle-aged man of the Yi family was lying on the ground, gasping for breath, thinking in his mind how to take revenge on this arrogant centurion and the imperial farm.

Changan.

Miyagi.

The lobby of Shaofu Mansion, as the important place for palace logistics and finance, is very busy at this moment.

The duties of the Shaofu were mainly divided into two aspects: first, he was responsible for collecting taxes from mountains, seas, ponds and lakes and collecting local contributions for use by the court; second, he was responsible for supplying and providing services for all the palace's needs such as food, clothing, daily life, hunting and entertainment.

The Shaofu has a huge organization with many subordinate officials. Now with the addition of imperial farms, taxation, and salt and iron, you can see how complicated things are.

Shaofu Dong Yun was sitting at his desk, buried in a mountain of documents.

His eyes were sharp and focused. He kept shuttling between the account books and documents, sketching lightly with the brush in his hand, handling each complicated matter.

Dong Yun's clothes were simple yet dignified. He wore an official uniform with delicate cloud patterns embroidered on the cuffs and collar, and a jade belt around his waist, making him look particularly majestic.

His hair was neatly combed back, with a few strands of silver in between the black hair, revealing the traces of time. Despite the busy work, his face always maintained a calm demeanor, as if all problems could be easily solved with his wisdom.

However, the tranquility was soon broken by the sound of hurried footsteps.

A warrior in light armor, covered in dust and sweat, as if he had just escaped from a fierce battle, rushed into the lobby in a hurry.

He was the captain of Baling Imperial Farm. His originally resolute face now looked a little distorted due to tension and fatigue, and his eyes were flashing with anxiety.

Dong Yun looked up and frowned slightly, obviously surprised by the captain's intrusion without notifying him.

"Why are you so panicked that you came here without informing me beforehand?"

Upon hearing this, Qian Hu hurriedly stopped, knelt on one knee, clasped his hands together, and said with a breath in his voice: "Your Excellency, the Yi family of Ba Ling is causing trouble. The situation is urgent, so I have to report it directly."

When Dong Yun heard this, his expression changed slightly and he signaled the captain to stand up and explain in detail.

Qianhu stood up, wiped the sweat from his face, and began to narrate the incident in detail.

It turned out that Yi of Baling was originally a noble family of the Wei State. Dissatisfied with the government of the Wei State, they fled to the Han Dynasty with their family. Your Majesty, in recognition of their loyalty, granted land to Baling as a token of favor.

However, in recent times, the Yi family has frequently occupied the land of surrounding people in the name of the aristocratic family, causing many conflicts.

This time, he even gathered his clansmen together, intending to forcibly occupy a fertile land belonging to the imperial farm. The two sides were on the verge of a war. If it was not stopped in time, it would have led to a disaster.

After hearing this, Dong Yun frowned and thought secretly in his heart.

Although the Yi family of Ba Ling is an outsider, Your Majesty has given them many rewards. If handled improperly, it may not only anger the Yi family, but also make Your Majesty think that they are disrespectful to the imperial grace, which will affect their future.

However, if the Yi family is allowed to do whatever they want, what is the point of the existence of the imperial farm?
Are we really going to watch the royal land become a battlefield fought over by aristocratic families?

Dong Yun's fingertips tapped the table lightly, making a rhythmic sound. His eyes looked through the window into the distance, as if looking for an answer.

After a moment, he slowly spoke: "This matter is indeed difficult. You should return to Ba Ling as soon as possible to stabilize the situation and avoid escalating the conflict. At the same time, send someone to secretly investigate Yi's behavior to see if there is any violation of the law. I will make a decision after I have found out the situation."

The captain received the order and was about to leave when Dong Yun added, "Remember, you must be cautious in handling this matter. You must not act rashly, and you must not let His Majesty know that this matter has caused such a big disturbance. Go, I will give you a reply as soon as possible."

The captain nodded, saluted again, turned around and left in a hurry.

Dong Yun looked at his receding back, feeling mixed emotions.

This was not just a land dispute, but also a contest between imperial power and aristocratic families.

How to maintain imperial power without exacerbating conflicts is a difficult problem he must face.

Dong Yun took a deep breath and returned to his work.

He looked through the relevant laws and regulations, carefully studying every detail, trying to find a solution.

Time passed by minute by minute, and the only sounds in the lobby were the sound of papers turning and pens scratching across papers. It seemed extremely quiet.

The next day, Dong Yun summoned several important officials from the Shaofu and informed them of his decision.

After some discussion, a solution that took the overall situation into consideration and was fair gradually took shape.

Afterwards, he personally wrote a letter to His Majesty, elaborating on the course of events and his own suggestions for handling the matter, and requesting His Majesty's approval.

Inside the Taiji Hall, in the warm study, the flickering candlelight illuminates the memorials that cover the entire table. The golden light and the scent of ink interweave to create a heavy and solemn picture.

Outside the window, it was late at night and the moon was hanging in the sky. The cold moonlight shone through the exquisite window lattice and fell on Liu Chan's face, adding a bit of calmness and depth to him.

Liu Chan sat on the wide dragon throne, wearing a black robe embroidered with gold dragons. The hem of his robe swayed gently with his movements, making him look particularly solemn.

With both hands he gently unfolded the report presented by the Shaofu. The report seemed to carry some invisible weight, which made his movements unconsciously become slow and cautious.

His eyes, from being dull at first, gradually gathered into a sharp light, as if they could penetrate the back of the paper and look directly at the undercurrent hidden behind the words.

This memorial, regarding the dispute over imperial estates and private land, may seem simple on the surface, but it actually contains hidden mysteries.

Liu Chan's political sense has become extremely sharp after these years of trials and tribulations.

He thought to himself: "This is not just a land dispute, but a silent contest between the nobles and the imperial power. The nobles, they are trying to take over my army!"

Thinking of this, a barely perceptible sneer appeared at the corner of his mouth, and a hint of determination flashed in his eyes.

He slowly put down the report in his hand and glanced over the mountain of memorials, each of which carried different demands and conflicts of interest.

He stretched out his hand and lightly ran his fingertips over the memorials.

Suddenly, he stopped and pulled out a copy. It was a memorial impeaching the imperial farm for competing with the people for profits. The words were fierce and every word was as sharp as a knife.

Then he took out another one, discussing the emperor's advancement and the people's retreat, and his words were full of dissatisfaction and worry about the expansion of imperial power.

Liu Chan frowned slightly, and a playful smile appeared at the corner of his mouth, a smile that was a mixture of confidence and sarcasm.

"Haha, it seems they think they have something on me!"

Liu Chan stood up, walked to the window, looked at the moonlight outside, his back looked particularly lonely and determined.

In his mind, various thoughts surged like a tide: "If I dare to deal with the nobles, the nobles of Wei will surely be alienated, and it will be more difficult to unify the country; but if I don't deal with them, my imperial power will inevitably decline and I will become a puppet in the hands of the nobles. This is the choice I face."

Liu Chan turned around and walked back to the desk with a firm look in his eyes, as if he had already made a decision.

He picked up the pen, dipped it in ink, and began to write on a blank piece of Zuo Bo paper.

After writing the last stroke, Liu Chan put down his pen and gently blew dry the ink.

Aristocratic family, aristocratic family.
It’s really a difficult problem!

He closed his eyes and thought deeply.

Just then, a gust of wind blew, and the candlelight flickered. Liu Chan opened his eyes and looked at the flickering flame.

How could I fulfill their wish?
This world is not your family's world, but mine, the world of the people of the world! (End of this chapter)