Chapter 2614 - 2587: Help Me Out

Without the Chief present, even those among the remaining people who had the will lacked the courage. When Censor Ren stepped forward, his expression was neutral, and with the long knives of the imperial guards beside him, most of the villagers in front, whose hands were too weak to even tie a chicken, had been organized to come without even holding a stick.

Therefore, when those few were suppressed, those carrying hoes hesitated and dared not take action.

With their momentum crushed, the courage that was stirred up yesterday was gone.

Seven people were captured, their mouths blocked and thrown aside, only then did Bai Shan’s expression soften as he continued his proclamation with everyone.

This village is not a natural village, but one that was later organized and relocated. Most were displaced refugees and poor people who lost their land, so the families are not large. Without the Chief, the leading figure, persuading them becomes easier.

After Bai Shan dried his mouth explaining the court’s policies to them, he called all the household heads together, a total of over a hundred people, including more than twenty elderly.

Bai Shan’s gaze swept over them, noticing that many of their clothes were piled with patches upon patches, only three of them wore fine cotton, and few wore fine linen.

He then slightly nodded at Censor Ren, stepped forward, and said, "I see that you are no longer young and should have some insight, not to mention there are these more than twenty elders."

He said, "The court’s policies are based on documents. Although this place is a bit far from Qizhou City, if you are informed, you should know the intentions of the court. You all know what kind of person the sage is. Once he makes a promise, he will certainly keep it, especially with Lord Wei in court."

Hearing about Wei Zhi, the more than one hundred people standing below finally felt at ease.

Bai Shan gave them time to digest his words, paused for a while, then continued, "These lands originally belonged to the court, belonging to you. Now you don’t have Cheng Dings, but you eventually will. Which family doesn’t have a child now?"

Bai Shan said, "Even those born this year will have to wait at most sixteen years to distribute land, but as long as these lands remain in those people’s hands, you’ll never have the chance to distribute fields."

Great Jin’s household registration system is very strict. Besides a large-scale distribution of land during the first few years of the country’s founding, afterward, land is only allocated to Cheng Dings, and one Cheng Ding only gets one chance to receive land in his lifetime. Once they’ve had the land distributed, there’s no chance to divide land again.

Among them, the allocated land cannot be bought or sold, still belonging to the court. After a person dies or leaves the countryside and can no longer cultivate the land, the yamen will reclaim it, only Yongye Fields can be inherited and cannot be bought or sold.

But it’s not really forbidden to buy or sell, under special circumstances, it can still be sold.

At first, the yamen would examine special circumstances, but later as more and more people sold land, the more it cost in attendants and paper, so the yamen didn’t manage it much.

As long as you sell, someone buys, the yamen will then transfer the ownership.

Bai Shan said, "Everyone, the two Chiefs have a batch of land in their hands, they are like the overseers your landlord placed here, therefore they naturally do not wish for the court to redeem the fields. But can your landlord really treat you better than the sage?"

The household heads couldn’t help but exchange glances, an elderly man relying on a young man’s hand stepped forward. His clothes were patched up, his expression worried, and he asked, "Sir, if the court redeems the land, can we truly lease these lands?"

Bai Shan firmly nodded, "You can!"

After pausing, he continued, "When the new governor arrives, I am willing to mediate for you, to plead for next year’s leased lands for your fields."

Of all he said before, this sentence moved people the most. When he spoke this, everyone’s eyes lit up, and the elderly man even more closely watched Bai Shan asking, "What is this gentleman’s name?"

Bai Shan cupped his hands and said, "I am Bai Shan."

He thought for a moment, turned around, and called Daji, "Are there name cards in the bundle?"

Daji was slightly taken aback, immediately pulled out a name card.

Bai Shan publicly handed the name card to the elderly man, "If things don’t settle, and you can’t obtain what I promised, you can take this name card and find me."

The elderly man suddenly gripped the card tightly, knelt down with the help of the young man’s hand, others also knelt down one after another.

Bai Shan hurriedly helped them up.

The Censor Ren behind him shook his head slightly but did not oppose aloud.

Bai Shan said, "Next, please focus on tending your crops. The Dragon Boat Festival is approaching, and wheat is about to be harvested soon, don’t miss the farming season again."

The tenant farmers repeatedly agreed, promising Bai Shan that they will no longer cause trouble in the future.

Once matters were settled, Bai Shan and Censor Ren returned to Qizhou City smelling of sweat and acid.

The two hadn’t washed during this period, had stepped into muddy waters, sweated a lot, and now had an unpleasant odor. As soon as they returned to Qizhou, Tang He saw them and laughed, "Go bathe quickly, I’ve prepared hot water for you."

Censor Ren didn’t move, instead looked around and asked, "Where is Censor Liang?"

Tang He said, "He went to meet the newly appointed governor, said he’ll arrive today."

Censor Ren nodded, "And the two Chiefs?"

"In the dungeon," Tang He chuckled, "You blockaded people in the village, I captured those two. Not many came to make trouble, I caught as many as I could, we’ll interrogate them together later."

Censor Ren nodded and left, while Bai Shan also turned to bathe, and Tang He leisurely followed him.

While Bai Shan was bathing, Tang He sat cross-legged outside the screen, poured himself a cup of tea, noticed the clothes, and fanned the air with a face of disgust, calling Daji, "Quick, take these clothes away, they’re ruining the mood."

Once Daji took the clothes away, Tang He asked, "How did your handling go over there?"

Bai Shan explained in detail and after dressing said, "I promised to negotiate the leasing of next year’s fields for them."

Tang He spat out a mouthful of tea, staring at him, "What were you thinking, how could you make such a promise?"

Bai Shan said, "There are too many of them. Without this promise, I’m afraid as soon as we leave, they’d follow us into the city to continue causing trouble."

"Besides," he paused and said, "I see they’re just seeking a place to survive, why should we make them insecure? Just give them a reassuring promise."

Lord Tang pointed at him and was speechless for a while, "Even if promises are to be made, it’s the new governor who should make them to the people. In the future, he’ll govern this place, he needs to show favor, and then he can effectively manage them. If you bypass him and make promises, even gave them a name card, will they still listen to Qizhou’s governor?"

Bai Shan said, "So I said I’d mediate for them, ensure they lease next year’s lands. But what if the new governor grants them leases for three to five years, who do you think they will be grateful to?"

Of course, it would be the new governor.

However...

Lord Tang glanced at him, "How do you know the new governor is willing?"

Bai Shan then diligently poured him a cup of tea, "So we rely on your assistance, scholar brother."

Tang He slightly regretted following along, why were his eyes so sharp, how could he see through the cunning subtleties in Censor Ren’s expression, hinting at a trap?