Chapter 521 I won't take a penny from the surname, but I want all the gentry's
Chapter 521 I will not take a penny from the common people, but I will take all the gentry's share
Although they had just experienced a tough battle to defend the city, perhaps the news of the arrival of reinforcements boosted the morale of the soldiers and civilians in the city.
In short, when Zhao Duan walked out of the government office from the side door and walked on the main street in the city, he found that order was still maintained in the city.
However, the once bustling streets are now much quieter. Although some shops along the street are still open, most of them have "Closed" signs hung up.
Zhao Shande looked at the young man whose name he did not know, hesitantly and was still a little confused.
He had failed in his request to see the prefect, but a handsome young man walked out from the depths of the government office and kept saying that he was ordered to go with him to ask for food, but he was very secretive about his identity.
When did such a person appear in the government office?
Zhao Shande didn't know, but as an ancient social animal who had been working at the grassroots level for half his life, he had good eyesight. Although he didn't know Zhao Duan's identity, just by looking at the aura in his every move, he knew that his identity was definitely not simple.
Could it be the son of the prefect?
Zhao Shande speculated that with his status he was not qualified to meet the prefect's relatives and could only make wild guesses.
"Just the two of us?" Zhao Duan asked with a smile.
Zhao Shande was stunned for a moment, then hurriedly said, "There are a few more soldiers waiting at the street corner near Lu's house."
Then he mustered up the courage to test, "Sir, don't you have a local accent?"
Zhao Duan glanced at the cautious old official in the yamen, and smiled meaningfully:
"Well, you have been here for a short time. Did you inherit your father's position and enter the government, or did you pass the exam to get in?"
Zhao Shande straightened his back slightly:
"When I was young, I passed the imperial examination and was fortunate enough to be recognized by the county magistrate. I started as a clerk in the county government office... It has been twenty years now..."
Zhao Duan's eyes warmed slightly, as he saw his own shadow from his previous life in this official with the same surname.
They both came from the lower classes and had similar growth paths, but the difference was that officials in the feudal dynasties were divided into different "classes", and the officials and clerks were clearly distinguished by their backgrounds.
As he walked and chatted with him, Zhao Shande became more and more surprised, because he found that this young man was knowledgeable and had a noble air in his speech, as if he came from a famous family, but he was extremely familiar with the daily life of low-level officials.
If you look beyond his appearance and only look at the sophistication in his words and his grasp of the ecology of the lower-level officialdom, you will find that he is even more "slippery" than this old clerk.
When did such a person appear in the yamen?
As they were talking, the two of them had already walked to a large house in the city.
In a small shop at the corner of the street, four soldiers hurriedly stood up and walked out, looking at Zhao Duan in surprise and suspicion.
"This person was sent by the prefect." Zhao Shande explained, and in front of several big-name soldiers, he also put on his "official authority":
"Follow me immediately to collect grain."
A few low-level soldiers did not dare to be negligent and hurriedly bowed their heads to salute. The group walked towards the main gate of the Lu family mansion again.
"Please go and knock on the door first." Zhao Duan said with a smile.
Zhao Shande nodded reluctantly, straightened his back, walked up the stairs in three or two steps, and knocked on the door.
With a creaking sound, the tall gate of the Lu Mansion opened a crack, and a man who looked like a housekeeper came out, frowned, and said patiently:
"I've already told you that there's no extra rice in the mansion. Go get it somewhere else."
As he said this, he was about to close the door, and his attitude was cold, as if he had dealt with the grain inspector many times.
"Wait!" Zhao Shande was anxious, his face was stern, and he said sternly:
"I am the grain supervisor under the command of Envoy Xue. I have been ordered to come here to collect military grain according to the law..."
He couldn't guess the identity of the nobleman behind him, so he wanted to show off to avoid leaving a bad impression on the prefect that he was "incompetent".
The Lu Mansion manager sneered:
"Zhao Shande, I gave you a chicken feather, but you really took it as an order. In the past, with your status, you couldn't even enter the gate of our Lu Mansion. Stop talking nonsense. I didn't ask anyone to drive you away, which is already a great honor for you. Get out of here."
Zhao Shande suddenly had an idea and shouted with a stern face:
"Do you know that Governor Zhao has entered the city? Do you think it's the same as before? Oh, do you really think I'm easy to control? Don't you think about why the prefect ordered me to collect from your Lu family?"
The butler was stunned for a moment, looked him up and down, and suddenly smiled:
"Zhao Shande, do you still want to use General Zhao's name as a pretext? Do you really think that just because we all have the surname Zhao, we are related? I know your background very well, so don't use General Zhao to scare people.
Let me put this on hold today. Not to mention you, even if the governor from the capital comes, my Lu family will say the same thing, you want food? No!"
Zhao Shande's thoughts were exposed, and he immediately became a little scared. He turned his head bitterly and looked at the young master behind him.
I thought to myself, you see, it’s not that I’m not doing my job well, it’s just that the Lu family is too overbearing.
We, the few of us, do not dare and do not have the ability to use our power to overwhelm others.
Zhao Duan's expression was a little strange. He looked at him with a smile in his eyes, sighed softly, stepped forward, and said seriously:
"Whether the Lu family has grain or not is one thing, but blocking the grain inspector appointed by the court from entering the house is a bit too overbearing."
The steward of the Lu Mansion, who was about to close the door, frowned:
"Who are you? I advise you not to meddle in matters that have nothing to do with you."
He was unsure of Zhao Duan's identity, but seeing that he was not wearing an official robe and was with an old official like Zhao Shande, he did not take it seriously.
How could a person of real status hang out with a small-time figure like this who has climbed up from the bottom of society, messed around for many years but is still just a clerk in an office?
Zhao Duan's smile remained unchanged, but one hand grasped half of the courtyard door:
"What if I insist on intervening?"
The steward of the Lu Mansion was dazzled and was approached by this man.
He was startled and subconsciously wanted to close the door, but was shocked to find that this gentle and fair-skinned young man was incredibly strong. He just blocked the door with his hand and the door did not move at all.
"Someone come, someone is making a noise——"
He had just shouted halfway when he flew backwards into the yard like a cannonball.
"It's been a long time since someone yelled in front of me." Zhao Duan slowly withdrew his hand, feeling a little nostalgic.
He stepped over the threshold and said casually, "Follow me."
Zhao Shande and the four soldiers behind him were shocked beyond words until they realized that this young man was actually a warrior.
However, the old official was not surprised, but frightened. He realized something was wrong:
There is no way the prefect would send someone to lead him in a fight.
Are you afraid that you have been cheated?
But there was no time to think about it, so he gritted his teeth and followed.
……
As the largest family in the city, the Lu family's mansion is extremely grand, with five courtyards and a very well-arranged yard.
Zhao Duan strolled leisurely in the courtyard. When he entered the central courtyard, he had already alarmed a large group of servants, maids, and guards from the Lu Mansion, who came running over.
"Who dares to cause trouble?!"
As soon as Zhao Duan entered the courtyard, he saw three young men rushing out with swords in their hands in the distance. The guards behind them were also holding sticks and looked ferocious.
"They are the three young masters of the Lu family." The old official reminded in a low voice.
The three of them belong to the third generation of the Lu family. They are not very old. The eldest son is only in his thirties, and the youngest, the third son, is just a teenager.
Zhao Duan stood still, calm and composed, and said calmly:
"The imperial grain supervisor is here to collect the military grain from the Lu Residence. Ask the person who can make the decision to come here."
The second son of the Lu family was so angry that he laughed. He raised his sword and pointed it at the tip of Zhao Duan's nose, cursing:
"Are you blind? Don't you know where this is?"
The eldest son beside him frowned, vaguely feeling that this "grain inspector" looked familiar, but he couldn't remember where.
Zhao Duan said lightly:
"Facing the imperial officials, holding sharp blades, is the Lu family planning a rebellion?"
The eldest son of the Lu family also frowned. He first raised his hand to hold down the arm of his second brother holding the knife, and then said:
"This 'Grain Supervisor', you must not speak carelessly. Even if Magistrate Sun comes to my house, he must be polite.
I don't know what misunderstanding has occurred, but since the imperial court wants food, it shouldn't be the way to break in and rob people, right? If you act this way, how is it different from rebels? Aren't you afraid of violating the law?"
Zhao Duan was too lazy to talk nonsense with a group of "little brats" and said calmly:
"You are not qualified to argue with me. Call someone who can make the decision."
"Where did this grain inspector come from? How dare he not know his place? Catch him! He broke into a private house and I'll have something to say about him even if he's sent to the government office!" the hot-tempered second young master said angrily.
A group of guards came forward with sticks in hand and prepared to surround the building.
Zhao Duan stood with his hands behind his back, his eyelids drooping slightly, and the smile on the corners of his mouth gradually disappeared.
Just as he was about to take action, suddenly an old, anxious roar came from behind the crowd.
"Stop it, everyone!"
Everyone in the Lu family suddenly stopped and turned to look. They saw an old man with a head full of white hair, wearing loose silk clothes, and with an intimidating look without even getting angry. He was almost running towards them in his slippers!
Because he was too anxious, he lost his shoes and ran away barefoot! "Grandfather?" The three young masters were startled and saluted hurriedly.
"Master!" Many guards lowered their heads and made way.
"It's the old man from the Lu family. He has rarely appeared in recent years. Why did he come out..." Zhao Shande was stunned for a moment, then showed a look of relief, and leaned next to Zhao Duan and said:
"Fortunately, it seems that the old man of the Lu family still knows the importance of the situation and is concerned about the prefect. He knows that we have the prefect and the court behind us, so he dare not act recklessly..."
Everyone thought that the old man came out to scold and stop the small conflict because he was considering the overall situation and the face of the big shots in the city.
However, Old Man Lu's solemn expression changed completely when he saw Zhao Duan standing in the courtyard.
After being stunned for a moment, the old man, who was the leader of the largest family in Taicang City and one of the top two in power even among the local families in Linfeng Road, ran over with a pale face.
Under the watchful eyes of the crowd, his knees softened and he knelt down in front of Zhao Duan, resting his forehead on the ground, and said in a trembling voice:
"I didn't know you were coming. I am young and ignorant. I beg you to forgive me!"
silence.
A silence.
In the whole mansion, you could hear a pin drop.
The flying knife that had been quietly hovering in Zhao Duan's sleeve slowly sank into sleep, and the slightly agitated qi sea also returned to calm.
He looked down at the white-haired old man on the ground with a fake smile:
"you remember me?"
The old lady of the Lu family said fairly:
"Last autumn, when the prefect held a banquet, I had the honor of sitting at the last table and had a glimpse of your noble appearance."
Zhao Duan nodded slightly. He had some impression of this old man, but it was not very clear. He sighed:
"I just arrived in Taicang today, so I came to visit you. The descendants of the Lu family are so arrogant that they don't even take the officials seriously. When I was in Beijing, I never saw such an imposing family."
Cold sweat broke out on the old man's forehead. The white-haired old man suddenly turned his head and stared at the three young men with anger on his face:
"Why don't you kneel down?!"
The three young masters of the Lu family still had confused looks on their faces, not understanding what was going on at all. After being scolded, they dropped their weapons and knelt in a row beside the old man, just like children who had done something wrong.
Zhao Duan looked indifferent. Suddenly, he grabbed with one hand and a suction force gushed out from his palm. A stone bench not far away in the yard suddenly spun in the air, flew over with a bang, and fell to the ground.
This is the palm technique he learned from Old Xu in the mortal realm.
Zhao Duan lifted his skirt, sat down on the stone bench, pointed at the second young master, and said to the old official beside him:
"Go ask them if they know what we are here for."
From the moment the old man knelt down, Zhao Shande felt numb all over.
When he was called, he seemed to come alive, but his heart was pounding like a drum and his head was dizzy. How could he not realize that he had met an incredible person?
Taking a deep breath, he trembled as he walked to the side of the kneeling Second Young Master of the Lu Family, and deliberately avoided the direction where he was kneeling. He glanced at Zhao Duan cautiously before asking tentatively:
"Do you know what we are here for?"
"..." The arrogant Second Young Master was startled and shook his head:
"No...I don't know."
The arrival of a big shot who even frightened his grandfather... He couldn't think of the other party's intentions.
As for demanding grain... what a joke. Such a small matter can be dealt with by telling the servants. How could such a big shot personally ask about it? And come to collect it?
He is not stupid.
"Slap him." Zhao Duan ordered calmly.
Zhao Shande was stunned, his eyes widened, he looked at Zhao Duan, then at the Second Young Master, and his whole body went limp.
Instead, it was Old Man Lu who gave him an "encouraging" look, signaling him to take action, and only then did Zhao Shande fearfully slap him in the face.
I beat the young master of the Lu family...it's okay...The old official looked at his hands in disbelief.
Zhao Duan said calmly, "I came to collect the food. Did you know?"
He glanced at the other people kneeling on the ground.
The eldest and third sons were startled at the same time and said hurriedly, "Come and collect the grain."
Zhao Duan nodded with satisfaction: "Ask him if he knows why he punished you."
Zhao Shande looked at the second young master and repeated the question.
The second young master felt the heat on his face, and dared not be arrogant at all, and cautiously tested:
"Because we are disrespectful to adults?"
"Slap him." Zhao Duan said expressionlessly, adding, "Use force."
Zhao Shande felt a surge of blood in his heart and was inexplicably excited. He spat into his palm and slapped him again!
This time he used a lot of force, and the second young master's head was buzzing.
"Because you didn't pay the grain." Zhao Duan replied lightly, and glanced at the remaining people: "Do you understand?"
The eldest and third sons shuddered and said in unison: "Because we don't pay the grain!"
The second young master with swollen cheeks: "..."
Zhao Duan nodded and was about to speak when he saw the second young master of the Lu family trembling with fear.
——This noble dandy has realized that he will be beaten no matter what his answer is.
Zhao Duan suddenly smiled and turned his gaze towards the old man:
"So, do you know what to do?"
The white-haired old man hurriedly said:
"The Lu family will fully cooperate with you to suppress the rebellion! Now that the imperial court has sent reinforcements into the city, the expenses for food and horses are so huge that the government's already exhausted money cannot support the imperial court's military operations. We should call on the people of the city to donate rice, silver, and all kinds of supplies for military needs!"
The old man spoke more and more fluently, and he understood:
Commander Zhao arrived with two large camps of tens of thousands of troops. The subsequent suppression of the rebellion will surely cost a huge amount of money. He came to the Lu family today to ask his family to set an example.
The old man smiled and said:
“As for fundraising, I know how to do it. I will not let you return empty-handed. According to the old rules, the court will raise funds, and the gentry in the city will take the lead, and the people will follow.
Afterwards, the gentry's donations were returned and the common people's share was split between the two parties.
However, since this is a major event to suppress the rebellion, and Governor Zhao is personally leading the troops, I, on my own initiative, am willing to hand over the people's share on behalf of all the gentry in the city. Not only that, my Lu family has a generous gift to present to you..."
When Zhao Duan heard half of it, he was slightly stunned.
After hearing the second half, the smile on his face gradually disappeared again, and his eyes became dangerous.
He raised his hand, interrupted the old man, and said in a deep voice:
"You don't seem to understand or you have got something wrong."
The old man of the Lu family was stunned: "Please give me some advice, sir?"
Zhao Duan sat on a stone bench, leaning forward slightly, his face moved closer, their eyes met. He stretched out his two hands, spread them out, palms facing up, shook his left palm, and spoke in a soft voice:
"I don't want the people's share, and you are not allowed to take it either. Just leave it in the hands of the people."
He retracted his left hand and clenched his right palm into a fist:
"As for the gentry's share... I want it all!"
The old man of the Lu family was stunned.
I could only hear Zhao Duan's voice continue to echo in my ears:
"Not only that, I want you to inform all the wealthy families in the city that I will hold a banquet at the Lu family tonight and invite everyone to come to raise funds. Anyone who dares not come will bear the consequences!"
(End of this chapter)