A thousand-year-old family that began with the Battle of Makino

Chapter 916: The letter of direct remonstrance is too powerful to resist, and the people cannot bear the urgent taxation

The second year of Qianfu
Liu Yunzhang, a Northern Neo-Confucian scholar and Minister of Rites, wrote a straightforward letter to the court titled "Straight Admonition" because he accepted his advice and appeased Daibei, thinking that he was virtuous and valued by the emperor.

He hoped that Li Xuan would make changes based on the major problems in the court that he pointed out in his memorial.

The Book of Direct Admonition says that there are nine flaws in the world today: "The army is gathering all year round, which is the first flaw. The barbarians are rampant, which is the second flaw. The powerful and wealthy are extravagant and usurpatory, which is the third flaw. The generals do not attend court, which is the fourth flaw. The construction of many Buddhist temples is the fifth flaw. Bribery is rampant, which is the sixth flaw. The officials are cruel, which is the seventh flaw. The taxes and labor service are unequal, which is the eighth flaw. There are many people who receive salaries, but few who pay taxes, which is the ninth flaw."

Then he added his own solutions to the living conditions of all people in the world, which are the "Eight Sufferings" and "Five Removals".

However, his advice touched upon the taboos of corrupt officials in the court, especially the eunuchs, who were extremely sensitive.

As a result, this letter of impartiality and frank advice not only failed to reach Li Xuan's desk, but also exposed himself.

New Year
The court selected Liu Yunzhang as the governor of Ezhou and the governor of the Eastern Capital on the grounds that he was loyal to his post, and demoted him to Luoyang.

Liu Yunzhang's demotion represented that the court's control over corrupt officials had completely become meaningless. From the central government to local governments, powerful orders to seize the people's wealth could be seen everywhere, and were increasing day by day.

It was particularly rampant in the Jiangnan and Bashu areas directly under the imperial court, and Henan and Guanzhong, which were closest to the imperial court, suffered greatly.

It was just because the imperial court was too powerful in Guanzhong that these people had no choice but to accept their fate and could not get justice.

April
Although there was a severe drought in Guandong, the imperial court was still prosperous and peaceful. Li Xuan stayed in his palace as usual, playing with his concubines and strong men, and lived an extremely luxurious life.

However, faced with the severe drought that swept across many counties in Guandong, the dignitaries in the court not only failed to take any countermeasures, but instead urged local officials to levy taxes and forced labor.

They were required to collect the two taxes for the first half of this year before June, and to conscript laborers to go to the canal to transport the tribute from all over Jiangnan to the capital.

As a result, the people in the counties and cities of Kanto, who were already suffering from drought, were miserable, and cases of selling their children were rampant.

Only the Bian-Song section of the canal was not in trouble because the Xuanwu Military Office was able to withstand the pressure.

In other prefectures and counties, especially those near the Jianghuai section, public resentment was boiling and the people were at their wits' end.

"The court is now pressing for more taxes, ignoring the fact that we are suffering from drought. Not only are we being asked to pay the same taxes as in previous years, but we are also being forced to go to Bianzhou to perform corvée labor."

"How can we afford them silk, money and food? This is an attempt to kill us. My fellow villagers, how can this be tolerated? Are the kings, princes, generals and ministers of the same race?"

"Inverted!!!"

In Puyang, Puzhou, a township, young and strong people from nearby villages gathered here to listen to a strong man's preaching.

It was just because he had always been eager to help others and was a righteous man. Although he was a private salt dealer, he was still the village leader and had power in his hands, so he could have a say with the government.

Originally, we came here to nominate him to negotiate with the government on our behalf.

Who knew that he would directly incite everyone to rebel.

However, since someone has taken the lead, the people of the Tang Dynasty are not without the courage to rebel.

So under the leadership of Mr. Wang, while the crowd shouted "Rebellion", they crowded together to grab the various swords, spears, and halberds that Mr. Wang had ordered to be moved out of the mansion, as well as a small bag of food.

With food and guns, well, it's not impossible to rebel.

On that day, hundreds of young and strong men present, led by Mr. Wang, attacked the nearest Puyang County.

Officials at all levels in Puyang County had already been frightened by the starving people and fled for their lives. The rebel army captured the county town without bloodshed.

The victory was won so easily that everyone had the illusion that the world was so big that there was nowhere they could not go, and they began to admire the leader, Mr. Wang.

When they had some free time, they replenished their supplies and attacked the big households in the county. Only then did the rebels know Wang's real name. Wang's name was Wang Xianzhi. He was originally a private salt dealer, so he had martial arts. In recent years, the court has been cracking down on private salt, and business has been bad. He has long had the idea of ​​rebellion.

Now the court is in chaos, rewards and punishments are unfair, and there is a century-long drought. This is an opportunity given by God to give him a chance to create a great cause.

Not to mention the distant past, let’s just talk about the recent past. Pang Xun, a mere soldier, was able to travel across the Yangtze and Huaihe Rivers and attract the emperor’s attention.

I have wealth and prestige, and it's a time of chaos, so there's nothing I can't do.

Thinking of this, he asked a failed scholar in the county to write an article of appeal for him.

The article denounced the Tang court officials for corruption, heavy taxes, and unfair rewards and punishments. He called himself the General of Heaven's Equalization and the Commander-in-Chief of All the Heroes in the Country, and acted on behalf of Heaven.

He sent people to distribute the proclamation throughout the world, vowing to become the leader of the righteous army.

The result was just as he expected. Within a few days, volunteers and hungry civilians came to surrender from nearby counties and cities.

In just a few months, the number of his subordinates had grown to more than 10,000.

April 23
Wang Xianzhi led the rebel army to capture Caozhou and Puzhou, and became the leader of the rebel army in Guandong.

June
Huang Chao, a native of Yuanju in Caozhou, led the villagers in an uprising, captured Yuanju, and led thousands of people to join Wang Xianzhi and other troops in Caozhou. Their momentum grew day by day.

With the publication of the Puyang Manifesto, Caozhou became a holy land for various rebel forces. Hundreds or even thousands of people came to join Wang Xianzhi every day, and the number of people who came to join him was endless.

Among them were not only the common people who were suffering from harsh taxation and had nowhere to go, but also Pang Xun's former subordinates who were scattered among the residents.

August
The number of rebel troops gathered in Caozhou has reached tens of thousands.

"We are all heroes from all sides. Now that the rebel army has gathered tens of thousands of people, the food and grass must be limited. We can't stay here forever. Let's discuss it."

In the former Caozhou government office, on the governor's seat, a sturdy man in brocade clothes was sitting carelessly, and in the hall, there were people of all ages, dressed differently, and it was as noisy as a market.

The middle-aged man who was leading the group and dressed neatly stood up and clasped his fists, saying:
"General, I think we should take advantage of the fact that the imperial court has not yet reacted and try to expand our territory as much as possible and recruit talented people so that we will have more room to deal with the government army later."

"To be honest, although our rebel army has reached tens of thousands of people, it is still inferior to the regular government troops. We need time."

"Commander Huang, are you trying to boost others' prestige and destroy your own ambition? We all have one head on two shoulders. Can the government troops fly into the sky and hide underground? Can they be chopped to death?"

As soon as Huang Chao finished speaking, a general of the rebel army came out to refute him. He clasped his fists towards Wang Xianzhi and said, "General, the number of our rebel army is far greater than that of the government army. In recent days, we have many brothers coming here to join us."

"What if we leave here and those brothers can't find us? When we gather all the rebel forces here, I don't believe that with millions of people, we can't defeat the government troops."

"You have to know what is the most abundant in this world. People like us who have no roots are the most abundant. The government troops are only a minority after all."

"Not to mention that the court is not dominated by the emperor alone. The local governors may be happy to see this happen. As long as we gather our forces, we will be able to capture Chang'an in one fell swoop."

"When the time comes, the young Li will be able to sit in that position, so why can't the general sit there? The general will be the emperor, and we will be ministers, so we can also share in the joy."

"Hahaha, that's right, that's right."

The rebel general's speech made the rest of the people present laugh, as if the rebel army could capture Chang'an tomorrow and wealth and glory were just around the corner.

Huang Chao sat on the left, looking at the various rebels in the field without saying a word, but he was extremely disappointed with these people in his heart.

(End of this chapter)