As mentioned before, under the land equalization system of the Wei Dynasty, there were theoretically no landlords. However, in practice, due to the existence of the slave class, high-ranking officials and nobles relied entirely on the loophole of land granting to slaves to acquire large amounts of land and became super-large landowners; while local governments

The tyrants use various forces to force the people to "rent" the farmland to themselves and then "rent" it back. In fact, typical landlords will be born.

However, Zhang Xing stayed in the East for a year, and he knew very well that in the hometown of Dong Qi, more practical landlords did not need such complicated and practical land-land relationships. This was mainly because the gap between the government and the local government was too deep.

, and the imperial government's oppression of local areas was obviously beyond the normal level, so the government had to rely on local powerful people, that is, powerful people to ensure taxes and land taxes that far exceeded the standard. In turn, it had to semi-appoint regional powers to these local powerful people with deep roots.

them.

In other words, the characteristic tyranny of the Eastern Territory was originally cultivated and cultivated by the government itself.

And back to the front, the middle-aged man and woman who fled the Wenshui River faced Mr. Lin and the people behind Mr. Lin. It was obvious that they had advanced again, because when troubled times came, powerful people took advantage of the situation and became famous.

Seeking truth, seeking fame with truth, and truly mastering everything at the grassroots level.

Even Zhang Xing vaguely understood that it was meaningless to forcefully discuss classes at this time, because the main reason was the disorder at the grassroots level during the turmoil - starting from the Second Expedition, large-scale wars and subsequent harsh military clearances

It has already appeared that after the Three Expeditions, bandits were everywhere, and the powerful had to prepare to rebel or protect themselves. Under such circumstances, it became the instinct of the common people to completely rely on the powerful to survive, and the powerful were willing to serve as protectors.

I don’t know how many times this kind of thing happened during the change of dynasties.

However, the two families behind this middle-aged man and woman couple are obviously "inferior" assets. The powerful people are not willing to continue to protect them, but want to sacrifice them or further adopt them as domestic slaves.

Since Zhang Xing knew the logic behind it, he did not make any moral accusations in his letter. He just plainly told how he met these two people, and then asked Mr. Lin in the letter whether what they said was true.

If true, then these two families are indeed in great difficulty. In troubled times, the strong should leave a bottom line and try to help the weak, not to mention the hometown, so I ask whether the land tax can be collected based on the actual amount of cultivated land? And if these two

If his family is extremely poor, he personally feels that appropriate reductions and exemptions are appropriate. Of course, if Mr. Lin is really in difficulty, he can reply to the letter and he is willing to personally contribute money to help offset the land tax.

In the end, it is natural to sign your name and position. This is what is called deposing the left-wing leader of the Dragon Gang, Zhang Xing.

After writing the letter, he explained a few words, asked someone to give the couple a few pieces of dry biscuits, and then urged them to turn back.

This couple didn't know how to relate. Seeing so many troops at this time, they all knew that the person in front of them was a real big shot that Mr. Lin couldn't reach with eight poles. He could relieve their difficulties. Naturally, they returned with a lot of thanks and a letter.

Already.

After the couple left, Zhang Xing thought for a while and continued to write several letters on the river embankment, leaning on the back of a yellow gelding horse. They were addressed to Wei Xuanding, Bai Yousi, Xu Shiying, and Yan who was in charge of the project.

Qing, Zhang Jinshu and other confidants sent reminders, asking them to pay attention to local talents when handling things.

Then, we continued on the road and arrived in Gongqiu County, Lu County on the same day.

When they arrived at Gongqiu, before entering the city, Bing Yuanzheng, the local leader of the Deposed Dragon Gang, hurriedly came to greet him. When they met, the latter was obviously a little uneasy.

With only the army on the side, it was difficult to say anything, but soon, Jia Yue and other direct leaders went to arrange the troops respectively. Zhang Xing took Jia Runshi and Wang Xiongdan into the county government office, but Bing Yuanzheng did not dare to delay any longer.

Instead, he bowed his head directly in the hall and said he was ashamed.

"What's going on? Is there trouble in the gold mine again?" Zhang Xing asked in surprise.

Let’s also say that when Zhang Xing discussed with several big bosses in Sucheng whether to march or postpone the advance, he mentioned that the powerful people here in Lu County did not listen to greetings, and analyzed it with several big bosses. There was something behind it, the most obvious one was

Even when Lu County received minerals and smelting facilities that were nominally owned by the government, there was obvious lack of cooperation and even riots in various places.

The most outrageous thing was Gongqiu, a small gold mine here. There was even a gang riot during the reception. About a hundred miners were incited and launched an armed confrontation, but they were quickly suppressed by the garrison.

This is of course an understandable situation. Just like under the land equalization system, theoretically all land belongs to the state, but in fact there are still landlords. Things like gold mines previously belonged to the Wei Dynasty in theory, but in fact

In operation, it also requires the assistance of local powerful people in management... In the past year, assistance in management may have become direct possession.

At this time, the Deposed Dragon Gang wants to take this matter seriously and take back the gold mine. It is said that cutting off people's wealth is like killing their parents, which will naturally trigger the most direct confrontation.

"No." Bing Yuanzheng hesitated for a moment, but still shook his head. "It's because I didn't know that Longtou was coming, and there were rumors that it was about to move eastward. At that time, some big local companies came to show their goodwill and guarantee, in order to appease

If the place is right, I will put the person back."

Zhang Xing was stunned for a moment, then asked seriously: "Who is the big local company?"

"The family's surname is Liu, and the person in charge is named Liu Fan." Bing Yuanzheng became increasingly embarrassed. "He is a local who worked as a mine supervisor in the Wei Dynasty."

The scene immediately seemed a little awkward.

After a while, Zhang Xing sneered and broke the silence, but then turned to other topics: "I saw many deserted villages and burned-out ferries on the road...Does Chief Bing know what's going on?

"

"If it's those places on the Wenshui River, of course we know." Bing Yuanzheng quickly became solemn, and made a report gesture in the hall towards Zhang Dalongtou, who was sitting majestically in the hall. "The ferry is where we and the Qilu army retreated several times.

The earliest ones that were burned down can be traced back to the battle after the year, and the latest one was burned down when the defeated army from Lu County fled back... As for the villages, most of them were scattered in the past six months, but

, this is not because I am deliberately trying to shirk it, but it is really because of other families, especially the Qilu officers and soldiers... Because as far as I know, the biggest wave of dispersion was when Lu County was recaptured by Zhang Xuguo at the beginning of this year.

Later, military service and civil service were introduced again, and the army marched into Yuncheng and needed to transport food along the Wen River. The locals were afraid of encountering something like the Three Expeditions again, especially the villages next to the ferry, and many of them fled."

Zhang Xing listened properly and nodded repeatedly, but then sighed: "Leader Bing has always been known as a smart and capable person in the gang. Previously on the Western Front, Your Excellency was stationed in Kuangcheng. Everything was done properly. Every time things were handed over, it was you and Chai Xiaohe who were there.

The most reassuring thing... That’s why I specially brought you here this time, just to take advantage of your shrewdness and ability and make a small appointment."

"I'm ashamed. I really didn't expect that the leader would take this matter so seriously. I did the wrong thing for a while." Of course Bing Yuanzheng understood what the other party meant. It was what happened just now. He came back in a circle, and his tone was still accusatory, so

The atmosphere became increasingly awkward, but he could only try his best to explain. "But Longtou, I'm sorry to say this bluntly, if you want local stability, the strength of the local people must always be taken into account. Even without this unlucky mistake, I think it should be

Getting along softly with the locals is the right path to long-term peace and stability..."

"I understand what you mean." Zhang Xing thought for a moment and came to the right answer seriously. "Customs are different for hundreds of miles, and it is difficult to understand the language for thousands of miles. If you want proper local governance, you still have to go back and rely on the skills of the local people. Especially you.

Leader Bing is one of the few local officials from Dongjun in the gang, so he must have thought a lot about this matter. However, let me tell you, it shouldn’t be so simple and straightforward to use the skills of local people... Moreover, Leader Bing is really

Do you think that by doing this you are doing good to the locals?"

Bing Yuanzheng was stunned for a moment and asked seriously: "Dare I ask the leader, what do you mean by this?"

"It's very simple. Let me ask you a few questions... What is the difference between what you do and how the Wei Dynasty treats local heroes? Isn't that how the Wei Dynasty gave local heroes some rewards and privileges as a means of maintaining local ties? But

What was the result later? Are the local people convinced?" Zhang Xing asked seriously. "Did the Wei Dynasty maintain peace and stability in the Eastern Border for a long time? To take a step back, if there had not been three conquests of the Eastern Yi, the Wei Dynasty would have treated the heroes of the Eastern Border like this.

, is that right?”

Bing Yuanzheng was silent for a while, then he faced each other in the hall and said, "Please give me some advice from the leader."

"My point is very simple. When dealing with local talents, we must first relax restrictions and sincerely accept local talents into the top ranks of the Dragon Gang. We cannot imitate the Wei Dynasty and tacitly agree that people outside Guanlong cannot enter the palace and enter the core... Of course

, this is not something you can decide now, so this has nothing to do with you, but since I said it, there is no big problem with this one... You must leave people with a way to go up and hope, with this

One path and no such path are not the same thing at all." Zhang Xing blurted out, as if he had already had an idea. "But how to select talents is another matter... After thinking about it, it's nothing more than this.

The only thing to do is to rely on nepotism and advance in discussing talents. In the end, those who are virtuous will be at the top."

Not to mention Bing Yuanzheng, even Wang Xiongdan and Jia Runshi who were present were bewildered.

After a while, Wang Xiongdan couldn't hold it back anymore and asked on the spot: "Uncle Zhang, is nepotism the first rule?"

"Yes." Zhang Xing just laughed in the hall. "But this closeness does not mean personal closeness, but closeness from a position... The simplest example is that we are rebelling. Specifically, we were forced to rebel by the Wei Dynasty.

Yes, I dare to ask, can we make people who are not determined to rebel and still have hope for the Wei court to become big leaders?"

Bing Yuanzheng woke up after hearing the first sentence, and the other two people quickly reacted and nodded again and again.

To put it bluntly, this closeness is to distinguish the positions of the enemy and ourselves. Cao Lin is still a great master, do you want to use him?

"For example, Sima Zheng of Xuzhou, the most talented and virtuous person I have ever seen in my life, is an enemy rather than a friend; Zhang Xuguo is actually a rare figure in the army, and so is Yu Baimei. Instead, we want to kill him quickly.

Among the characters placed in these places, Fan Hu is an example." Zhang Xing was also a little emotional, and talked about several examples before returning to the present. "As for now, the gold mine is a legitimate government property, and we receive it according to the rules.

Gongzhong, these powerful people are hostile to us and fight against us, regardless of whether they misunderstood or took precautions. But now that the matter is done, we only compromise with them for a while, and it is only a temporary measure. How can we really let them go?

?Not to mention treating them as representatives of local heroes and appointing them?"

Bing Yuanzheng was about to speak.

Unexpectedly, Zhang Xing waved his hand slightly: "I know what you mean... Don't worry, just listen to me... The following is an old saying about talent and virtue. There shouldn't be any more explanation, but after all, we are not the imperial court, but a rebellion."

thieves and bandits, so it is not so much about selecting people based on their talents and virtues as it is about trying their best to survive first. The winner is the king. It’s just that the one without virtue wins, which is just another Eastern Qi, Southern Tang, and Wei Dynasty.

, winning is useless, so we must try our best to pay attention to one virtue. This is not only a matter of talents, but also the employment of people."

Zhang Dalongtou forcibly continued for a while. Some leaders must make up to three points in their speeches, so Bing Yuanzheng became distracted halfway through and nodded hurriedly.

Wang Xiongdan and Jia Runshi, on the other hand, thought of the behavior of the man and woman who fled their hometown when Zhang Xing met them on the road. They probably had some feelings in their hearts. They also probably knew why Zhang Xing said this, but they did not say anything.

After Zhang Xing finished speaking, Bing Yuanzheng quickly raised his hands and saluted: "Longtou, what you said is absolutely true. In that case, please sit down in the hall while I go to the countryside to deal with the gold mine matter."

, it is better to change the strategy from here, to favor nepotism, to make further progress in discussing talents, and to place the virtuous at the top."

Zhang Xing nodded and asked with a smile: "Do you need help from soldiers and horses?"

"The leader doesn't have to be like this." Bing Yuanzheng said with a wry smile. "I was just worried that the army was going eastward and the place was empty, so I had no face with him. In fact, I found out his background clearly. He was the leader of three or five talented people.

He has twenty or thirty strong men who are cultivating in the big house at home, and there are about one or two hundred people scattered in the surrounding villages who are unable to leave their jobs. They don't even have a serious manor, but they are worried that he will incite the miners and cause trouble.

Three hundred to five hundred strong men came out. But now I really want to deal with it. There is no need for anything else. I just take three hundred people and go straight to his house, invite him to come back, and then make it clear in person... If he is obedient, he is willing to hand over the gold.

Mine, and then send the troublemaker back, let me recommend it, and ask the leader to take advantage of the situation and give him a decent share according to the nepotism theory; and if he is a really self-righteous fool, it doesn’t matter what the leader is, I will give him a share myself.

It’s just decent.”

Zhang Xing nodded and said no more.

Just like this, as soon as Zhang Xing entered the city, Bing Yuanzheng led two teams of three hundred soldiers out of the city... However, just in case, Zhang Dalongtou sent Wang Xiongdan to follow him hurriedly.

In the evening, some sentries came back and informed them of the results.

It was said that Bing Yuanzheng and Wang Xiongdan went straight into Liu Fan's house. Liu Fan didn't even dare to return to the county town with Bing Yuanzheng because he wanted to hand over the gold mine and the person who had caused trouble before. He expressed his sincerity several times.
To be continued...