Cao Thief

Chapter 164 The Great Earthquake in Shangtun (34) [-]
Today is the birthday of book friend Yuan Xunyu, Lao Xin wishes sister Yu a happy birthday, more and more beautiful...

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The atmosphere in the flower hall was extremely tense.

From the laughter just now to the tense moment, nothing has changed.Many people present felt a sense of suffocation.

Is this the strength of Haixi County?

Deng Ji is no longer the young man who just came to Haixi and knew nothing about it.

Even though it was only a month, he has experienced many things, and his mind has gradually matured.

Just because a wheat kernel didn't come, there were so many variables?These local forces are intertwined and woven into a huge web in Haixi County.Usually, this net is silent and unobtrusive.But once something happened, they didn't even need to discuss it, they reached an agreement in an instant.No wonder Ah Fu said that Mai Ren will be the key to controlling Haixi.

If Deng Ji didn't care about this before, then now he has to be cautious.

In this dynasty, the noble gentry had started their fortunes. Liu Xiu's rebellion against Wang Mang back then relied on the local noble gentry and aristocratic families in Nanyang County.Therefore, it has also caused an embarrassing situation in which the power of the nobles and nobles has been tyrannical since the dynasty.The powerful families in some places have faintly been able to resist the government.

The situation in Haixi County is particularly remarkable.

During the three-year period, the county magistrate was changed, and the power of the government was weakened to the extreme.

Deng Ji didn't touch these people at first, which was actually a very correct choice.But as he stayed in Haixi for a long time, the conflict between the government and the gentry was bound to become more intense.This is already inevitable, but Deng Ji didn't expect it to come so suddenly.A Mairen, just because he didn't attend the banquet, caused a strong reaction from the local gentry.

It looks like it's time to break your wrists!

Deng Ji's fingers slid along the edge of the bronze jue.

Instead of being nervous, there was a hint of excitement in my heart.

Once upon a time, wasn't this exactly what he was looking forward to?

"Inviting the gentlemen to come here today is actually to discuss one matter."

Deng Ji spoke slowly, and his voice was not loud, but he was tough and cold.That pair of eyes that were as sharp as a falcon swept across everyone present.Huang Zheng, Pan Yong and others couldn't help swallowing, and their hearts suddenly lifted.

They have seen Cao Peng's toughness, but they have not experienced Deng Ji's toughness.

It's really...not a family, don't enter a family.

These two brothers are almost carved out of the same mold.He spoke unhurriedly, but it gave people a terrible sense of suffocation.

"It has been a month and a half since I took office.

In the past month and a half, this official has not had a good time with the princes.On the one hand, things are busy; on the other hand, it is because of many inconveniences.Inviting all the gentlemen to come here today, apart from describing the local conditions, another thing is to talk about my views on Haixi.

In short, I am extremely dissatisfied with Haixi's current situation.

It is often heard that there are three evils in Haixi.The three evils?Pirates, salt owls, merchant beetles..."

Everyone knows the saying of the three evils of Hercynian.

But no one has ever said it outright like Deng Ji.Especially the businessmen present here have ugly faces.

Isn't this a slap in the face?

The local gentry let out a sigh secretly.

Several elders looked at each other, and even saw the joy in each other's eyes.

This young man is not reliable in his work.After finally attracting a group of businessmen, with such a little foundation, they get carried away with pride!No wonder Mai Gong didn't come over, presumably because he couldn't understand the young man's arrogance.Hmph, do you think Haixi is so easy to manage?

If it can be managed so easily, it will not be your turn, a hairy child...

"Actually, I think these three evils are biased." Deng Ji ignored the faces of everyone present, and said slowly: "Especially merchants, I don't think it is a 'harm'. On the contrary, these people walk The north and the south exchange what they need, which brings great convenience to Haixi. I once conducted a survey and found that there are more than [-] people in Haixi. Among them, nearly [-] people live on merchants... almost [-] It is undeniable that there are indeed some profiteers. These people disrupt the market, drive up the market price, run rampant, do evil, and make the people hate it. But most of them are doing business.”

The faces of Huang Zheng and the others eased, and at the same time, there was an inexplicable excitement in their hearts.

The status of businessmen has always been low. Even if they make great efforts, the results may not be recognized by others.

For example, Nie Yi, the main envoy of Mayi's conspiracy, was the ancestor of Zhang Liao, and he was not a benevolent and righteous businessman.But what about the results obtained?In the end, Mayi's plot failed, and Nie Yi's descendants had to change their appearance and become the current Zhang family.

It has to be said that it is the sorrow of those great merchants who are loyal to the country.

Judging from Deng Ji's tone, he seems to be in favor of the status of businessmen?
The faces of Huang Zheng and the others brightened immediately, and they listened attentively to Deng Ji's words.

But those local gentry frowned.

"However, if Haixi wants long-term peace and stability, relying on businessmen alone is not a long-term solution.

In the past few years, the population loss in Haixi has been serious, and at the same time, a large number of refugees have poured into Haixi.As a result, many fields were barren, and more than half of the people did not engage in farming.Such actions are of no benefit to Haixi.Our food, cloth, including gold and iron, and various livelihood materials are all purchased from outside.In this way, it also caused Haixi's dependence on foreign countries.

How can the people live in peace in a place that cannot even supply food and rice by itself?And how can we make Haixi long-term peace and stability? "

Huang Zheng rolled his eyes, got up quickly and said, "I also ask County Magistrate Deng for advice."

Deng Ji smiled and waved his hand to signal Huang Zheng to sit down.

"Shopkeeper Huang, don't worry, we'll talk about it soon." He glanced at the gentry and elders present, took a sip of wine, and moistened his throat.

"Xudu was originally a small county in Yingchuan. In the past 20 years, it has experienced wars, and it is not much worse than Haixi.

However, since Cao Sikong welcomed the emperor and moved the capital to Xu County, Xu Capital quickly recovered.On the one hand, although it is the emperor's grace, on the other hand, it has something to do with Cao Sikong's vigorous promotion of farming.Therefore, I thought for a long time and decided to follow the example of Cao Sikong and start farming in Haixi. "

"What? Tuntian?"

The elders immediately shouted, and the flower hall was in chaos like a frying pan.

Wang Cheng sat aside and remained silent.

His eyes kept scanning the flower hall, but he didn't see what he wanted to see...

"No, Haixi is absolutely not allowed to farm, and there is no land to farm."

An old man stood up and shouted excitedly.

"Since ancient times, most of the farmland has been the land of frontier soldiers. How can there be any reason to farm by the sea?"

"Yes, Magistrate Deng think twice."

"I am firmly against it. If there is no land and no one, how can we cultivate the land?"

Tuntian has two extremely important indicators, one is the field and the other is the population.

Among them, once the land is farmed, the situation of nationalizing the land is bound to occur.The census of the population is even more imperative.

And these two are precisely the key to the local gentry's foothold.

Losing the land is equivalent to losing the foundation, and at the same time it will cause the loss of farmers.Without the farmers, they would have no object to exploit, and without an object to exploit, it would inevitably lead to a reduction in their strength.If things go on like this, it will be difficult for the gentry to gain a foothold.

A nobleman is different from a wealthy family.

Aristocratic families, most of them have family inheritance, besides land, they also have various industry support.

The aristocratic family is a big family connected by blood. Its internal structure and the balance of various industries are not comparable to some small landlords.Even if they lost their land, they can still save and make compensation through the children of the family.

Gentlemen...

An old man even burst into tears, "Turning the land is an act that shakes the foundation of the country. If it is promoted, there will be great changes."

"Yes, magistrate Deng, please think twice."

Deng Ji looked indifferently at the performance of those elders, the corners of his mouth curled up slightly.

"Tuntian is imperative, there is no need to discuss it."

"If Magistrate Deng decides to forcibly garrison the land, I'm sorry I don't agree with it, so I'm leaving!"

"Farewell!"

One after another, the elders got up to say goodbye, but they didn't leave immediately.

In their view, as long as they showed such a domineering posture, Deng Ji would have to bow his head.

But they ignored one thing!
Deng Ji said at the beginning that Haixi County does not have enough capital to support it, and it is completely dependent on external supplies.It is also a very embarrassing fact that there are very few people engaged in farming in Haixi County, so that these gentry's control over Haixi is even far inferior to that of the big businessmen.

This was also an important factor for Chen Sheng's rise in the first place.

Deng Ji was as stable as Mount Tai, without saying a word.

It was neither good for the elders to leave nor to stay, so they were caught in a dilemma for a while.

Huang Zheng and the other nine prime ministers glanced at each other, and after exchanging opinions indiscriminately, they also made a decision.

"Dare to ask Magistrate Deng, how to farm the fields?"

"From now on, there will be Buzhi, the county's chief bookkeeper, and Daigan, the county's legal officer, to conduct an inventory and measurement of the land and population of Haixi County. The idle land that has been inventoried will be collected as official property. At the same time, the county The county will reclaim the land at a high price, and it will be owned by the government.

Anyone from Haixi County must be registered.

At this time, there will be Puyang Kai, the county seat, as the host, and the chiefs of all the miles, and the three elders must try their best to cooperate.

After the population that has been checked out is registered and recorded, all of them will rush into the village... If anyone obstructs it, there are laws here. "

What Deng Ji said was categorical, and there was no room for negotiation.

"Bullshit!"

An old man was furious, "A small county magistrate is so arrogant. I want to see who dares to touch my field."

After speaking, he shook his sleeves and left.

With the first person taking the lead, there will naturally be a second and a third.

Suddenly, six people left one after another, making the atmosphere in the flower hall even more tense.

"Magistrate Deng."

Wang Cheng stood up at this moment, and said with a smile: "What Magistrate Deng did was indeed for Haixi's sake. It's just...hehe, Magistrate Deng may consider what we think. As for the villager, as long as Maigong agrees, and I naturally have no objection... I still have something to do, so I will leave first."

As Wang Cheng said, he was about to go out.

Deng Ji smiled, "Is Mr. Wang going to meet his companion?"

Wang Cheng was shocked, and turned to look at Deng Ji, "Magistrate Deng, what do you say?"

"Hehe, I still have a present for Mr. Wang. Isn't it a pity that Mr. Wang left just like that?"

"Magistrate Deng, you..."

"Come here, bring the present."

The faces of Huang Zheng and the others were a little abnormal, and they vaguely felt that today's matter was not as simple as imagined.

Tuntian, Tunmin?
After a few people looked at each other, they simply closed their mouths.

From outside the flower hall, a boy walked in.

He is tall, burly and strong, with thick eyebrows and big eyes, wearing a gray cloth.

Holding a tray in his hand, after entering the flower hall, he placed the tray on the food table in front of Deng Ji, and then automatically stepped aside.

Deng Ji looked at Wang Cheng and smiled slightly.

He stretched out his hand, grabbed the brocade silk covering the tray, and pulled it down.

Wang Cheng shuddered and gasped between his teeth...

"Hasn't Mr. Wang been looking for this Fish Kiss Copper Town? Now that I see it, I wonder if I'm happy?"

On the tray, a fish-shaped copper weight shone with a faint green light under the candlelight.Wang Cheng swallowed, and subconsciously clenched his fists.

"Hehe, if it wasn't for the fish kissing Tongzhen, I'm afraid Mr. Wang wouldn't have come back."

"Magistrate Deng, I don't understand what you mean."

"Mr. Wang, how could you not understand?"

"you……"

Wang Cheng's eyelids kept beating, his heart seemed to be jumping out of his mouth, and a fine layer of sweat appeared on his forehead...

"Magistrate Deng, what is going on?"

Huang Zheng and the others were stunned, completely unaware of the situation in front of them.

Snapped!
Deng Ji grabbed Tongjue and threw it to the ground.

"Xuezhou!"

Wang Cheng's face suddenly changed...

I saw him, instead of smiling like before, suddenly stepped into the air, opened his hands in the shape of tiger claws, let out a sharp roar, and rushed towards Deng Ji.

Mr. Wang, you know martial arts?
And looking at his shots, it seems that he is not too weak...

Huang Zheng and the others' minds suddenly went blank.

Because in their eyes, although Wang Cheng is a bit thicker, that's all. It can only be said that he is a strong teacher.

However, he actually attacked the county magistrate in public.

A ferocious smile appeared on Wang Cheng's face, and a cold green glow flickered on his fingertips.

Those were not ordinary hands, but a pair of fist gloves made of bronze.No wonder Wang Cheng didn't drink any alcohol today, and he didn't even stretch out his hand.

"Dog officer, die!"

Seeing Wang Cheng rushing to the food table, he grabbed Deng Ji's head with both hands.

This time, if he was caught for real, Deng Ji would at least be half dead.Huang Zheng and the others exclaimed...

At this moment, a low growl sounded.

"Dog thief, you are rampant!"

Clang, a dragon chant.

The young man standing behind Deng Ji suddenly made a move.

He bent down, suddenly reached out from under the food table, and pulled out a short knife.

The knife is about three feet long, and it is a veritable short knife.But hidden under the food table, no one can find it.I saw a cold light piercing the air, and there was a light click.Two puffs of blood sprayed out, and a pair of broken palms fell on the food table with a slap, bloody and shocking.

On the pair of severed palms, there was also a pair of bronze gloves.

Wang Cheng's eyes widened in horror, looking at the bare wrist, blood gushed out.

"what!"

Wang Cheng let out a scream, and before he could recover, the young man behind Deng Ji jumped over the food table and kicked Wang Cheng's chest with his feet up.

Wang Cheng thumped back a few steps, sat on the ground with a thud, blood spurted out of his mouth...

(End of this chapter)