Chu and Han contend for the throne

Chapter 245 Shanyin County Lieutenant (Congratulations to the leader of Jade Blood Sword 1)
"The elders of the three major clans are the kings of Shanyin, what they say is the law?" Xiang Zhuang snorted and said with a murderous look, "It seems that it is really impossible not to kill a few heads."

Xiang Tadao: "Your Majesty, what do you mean by severely punishing several clans and killing chickens to scare monkeys?"

"Kill chickens to scare monkeys?" Xiang Zhuang shook his head, and said in a deep voice, "No, this time, I want to completely eliminate the clan power in the Jiangdong counties, and uproot those clans who dare to challenge the royal power, and I will never tolerate it!"

As the saying goes, this time and that time, with the improvement of the external environment and the consolidation of Xiang Zhuang's power and position, Xiang Zhuang can finally free up his hands to carry out reforms. In the reform of the Qin State, the first cut was on the old family, and in the reform of the Chu State, Xiang Zhuang's first cut was going to be on the clan.

Originally, Xiang Zhuang had already planned to carry out reforms, and planned to use the clan as a knife.

Now, Jiangdong's clan forces have put their necks together again, how can Xiang Zhuang be polite?It should be known that now is not the time when Xiang Zhuang had to compromise with the clan forces in order to stabilize the situation in Jiangdong as soon as possible. Now, Xiang Zhuang has completely consolidated his power and status, and it is impossible and unnecessary to compromise.

At that moment, Xiang Zhuang ordered Jin Xiang to invite Bai Lixian and Xiang Tuo.

For the reform of Chu State, Xiang Zhuang decided to be presided over by Bai Lixian, and all the laws and regulations were also drafted by Bai Lixian. This is because Bai Lixian is very familiar with Qin Law. Not to mention, tortures such as cutting off the nose, gouging out the eyes, and amputating the feet in the Qin Law are quite unnecessary, and can be replaced by punishments such as exile from the army.

The truth is obvious. Cutting off noses, gouging out eyes, and amputating feet will not be much less deterrent to criminals than being sent to the army. But corporal punishment has no other effect except destroying people, while being sent to the army can provide the country with There are a large number of free soldiers, and the quality of these soldiers is usually higher than that of ordinary strong men.

Of course, for some heinous people, they still have to be executed.

As for Xiang Ta and Xiang Tuo, Xiang Zhuang intends to appoint them as the left and right Dharma protectors.

The reason why Xiang Zhuang asked Xiang Ta and Xiang Tuo to protect the law was entirely because they were both civil and military, and they were the important ministers of Chu State. Without their full support, the reform would definitely not work. Of course, there is another reason that Xiang Both he and Xiang Tuo are people who take the overall situation into consideration, and Xiang Zhuang believes that they will fully support the reform.

Soon, Xiang Tuo and Bai Lixian came to the side hall of the palace one after another.

After seeing the ceremony, Xiang Zhuang solemnly invited Xiang Tuo and Bailixian to the table, and then asked Bailixian, "Ziliang, how is the matter that my widow asked you to do?"

Bai Lixian clasped his hands with a feather fan in his hand, and replied: "Reporting to Your Majesty, I have drafted twelve volumes of "Bian Hu Qi Min Law" with reference to the laws of the pre-Qin period, with a total of 140 and six detailed rules, but there are still a few detailed rules that need to be considered. But tomorrow at the latest, it can be handed over to the king for review."

Who is the law of Qi Min? !

Xiang Ta and Xiang Tuo were stunned for a moment when they heard the words, and then they felt awe-inspiring, Your Majesty is going to carry out reforms?
Sure enough, Xiang Zhuang said next: "Zi Yi, Zi Yan, you are also very clear about the current situation of Chu State. It’s almost too late, because there is not enough rice and grain in the granary, I can only reduce the army, if things go on like this, how will the country survive?”

Xiang Ta and Xiang Tuo nodded silently. The current situation in Chu State is indeed not optimistic, especially after two consecutive wars, the treasury and warehouses are even more distressed. The money and food for the last dispatch to Jiujiang was borrowed by Xiang He from the big old families in Wuzhong Well, although the grain tax has been collected this summer, it is still beyond the means, and it is not known when the debt will be repaid.

After a pause, Xiang Zhuang said again: "So, I decided to carry out the "Compilation of Household Qi Min Law"!"

Xiang Ta and Xiang Tuo exchanged glances, and at the same time bowed their hands together and said, "Your Majesty is wise!"

Regardless of the identity of the Xiang clan, Xiang Ta and Xiang Tuo also believe that if Chu State wants to get rid of the current embarrassing situation, if it wants to make the country rich and powerful, and make a difference, it must reform. If Jiangdong is the King of Peace, there is no need for political reform, and the current financial embarrassment is not impossible to solve.

Among other things, as long as Xiang Zhuang issued an edict to double the land tax and oral tax (poll tax), it would be enough to solve the financial difficulties. To live and work in peace and contentment, even if the land tax and the oral tax are doubled, it may not necessarily arouse popular uprisings.

However, if Xiang Zhuang wants to be the master of the world, it is not appropriate to do so.

Competing with the people for food is definitely not a good strategy, let alone a long-term solution. If Chu State wants to be strong, it has to think about it fundamentally. What is the foundation of a country?Basically, it is the registered household Qimin, that is to say, if the Chu State wants to be strong, it must expand the registered household Qimin group as much as possible. If the registered household Qimin group is large, money, food and taxes will naturally be sufficient.

For the state of Chu, there are only two ways to increase the number of registered households of Qimin. One is to convert a large number of clan private households into official registered households, and the other is to reduce taxes and taxes to attract immigrants from various countries.

The second method is a long-term solution, but the effect is slow. The first method is only applicable to Jiangdong, but it has an immediate effect in terms of results. With Xiang He and Xiang Tuo's eyesight, how can they not see that Xiang Zhuang is about to implement it? The "Compiled Household Qimin Law" was clearly aimed at the clan forces in the counties and counties of Jiangdong.

Xiang Zhuang was very satisfied with the statements of Xiang Ta and Xiang Tuo. These two people are both literary and military, and they are really Xiang Zhuang's right-hand men. At that moment, Xiang Zhuang said again: "Zi Yi, Zi Yan, any change must be changed. There will be various obstacles, and in severe cases, it will even endanger national security, and our Dachu is no exception, so we need the full support of the two of you."

Xiang He cupped his hands and said solemnly: "Don't worry, Your Majesty, I will do my best to support the new law!"

Xiang Tuo said murderously: "My lord, whoever dares to obstruct the implementation of the new law is my mortal enemy of the Xiang family, and I, Xiang Tuo, must swear against him!"

"Okay." Xiang Zhuang nodded happily, and then said to Xiang Ta, "Zi Yi, show Zi Yan and Zi Liang the results of the registered household checks submitted by the counties and counties."

Hearing this, Xiang He got up and handed the booklet before the case to Xiang Tuo first. Xiang Tuo read it hastily, and then handed the booklet to Bai Lixian who was next.

After Bai Lixian had finished reading, Xiang Zhuang said: "Ziyan, Ziliang, have you all seen it? Kuaiji County has fifteen counties under its jurisdiction. Shanyin County has the most registered households and only has more than [-] households, and Yin County has the least. There are only [-] households, is this still a county, it is not even as good as a big township, it is unreasonable!"

Xiang Tuo got up abruptly, cupped his hands and said, "Your Majesty, please dispatch three thousand elite soldiers to the counties under Kuaiji County to wipe out these Niaomao clans, as well as the county magistrates who came from those clans, and kill them all! Even dare to openly obstruct the king's edict, and even dare to maliciously lie about it, is this okay?!"

"Zi Yan, don't get excited." Xiang Zhuang waved his hand and said, "This matter has to be discussed in the long run."

Now the external environment of Chu State has been greatly improved. Even if the clans in various counties revolted, Xiang Zhuang was not afraid. , Once troops are sent to suppress, it will inevitably hurt innocent people, and even cause the displacement of people in various counties.

After pondering for a moment, Xiang He said: "Your Majesty, the clan forces in various counties and counties have openly obstructed the investigation of registered households. Severe punishment is absolutely necessary, but whether it is necessary to send troops to suppress it is open to discussion."

Bai Lixian shook his feather fan, and said, "My lord, can we start with Shanyin County, which has the most serious concealment of family registration, and kill a few heads first to stand up, and if the clans in other counties can repent, they will actively cooperate with the family registration If the investigation is carried out, the past will be ignored. If they are stubborn and refuse to cooperate in the end, it will not be too late to send troops to suppress them. "

Xiang Zhuang said: "What Ziliang saw coincides with what I see, ha ha."

Xiang He said: "Your Majesty, if you want to start from Shanyin County, the selection of Shanyin County Captain is extremely important. I think that you can select a strong general from the army to go to Shanyin County to serve as a county captain. If If ordinary officials are sent there, it is inevitable to repeat the mistakes of the former Shanyin county lieutenant, or simply join forces with the local clan."

Xiang Tuo said: "There are many strong generals in the army, but none of them are suitable. The official position of county lieutenant is too small."

What Xiang Tuo said is true. The ones who can be really useful are at least generals above Sima, small colonels below Sima, or big soldiers. It’s okay if you let them kill people and fight wars, but let them do it. Being a county lieutenant, catching bandits and robbing Anding Township is definitely a bad thing, they simply can't do this.

Bai Lixian suddenly said: "Your Majesty, I have someone to choose."

"Ziliang, who is it?" Xiang Zhuang, Xiang Ta, and Xiang Tuo all looked at Bailixian at the same time.

Bai Lixian shook his feather fan and said: "Your Majesty, although the official position of Shanyin County Captain is humble, the burden on his shoulders is not light. He has to fight wits with officials and officials at all levels of county, township, and pavilion. Fighting bravely with the local clan armed forces and green-skinned rascals, so you must be a person with both civil and military skills, and I think General Zi Cheshi can do it."

"Zi Che?" Xiang Zhuang pondered, "Wouldn't it be too wronged for Zi Che to become a county lieutenant?"

Zicheshi was one of the old Qin clans who followed Xiangzhuang from Guanzhong. He was familiar with the art of war, brave and resourceful.

Bai Lixian said with a smile: "I know the character of General Zicheshi, as long as the king orders him, he will definitely take up the post. Besides, the chaos in Shanyin County can't last forever, and he, the county captain, will not be in charge forever. Going on, just wait until the situation is opened and the clan forces in Shanyin County are wiped out, and it will not be too late for General Zi Cheshi to be reinstated."

"Okay, then it's settled." After Xiang Zhuang finished speaking, he said to Xiang Ta, "Zi Yi, you issue an appointment order immediately, appointing Zi Che Shi as the new Shanyin County Captain, and he will start his post soon!"

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PS: Xie Bimeng [-] rewards, Bimeng is mighty!

(End of this chapter)