Chapter 150 The Great Earthquake's Commercial Village (3)
Chapter 150 The Shangtun Village of the Great Earthquake (3)
The atmosphere in the flower hall was extremely tense.
From the laughter just now to the tense situation at this moment, there is no change. Many people here suddenly felt suffocated.
Is this the power of Haixi County?
Deng Ji is no longer the young man who just came to Haixi and knew nothing about it.
Even though it’s only been a month, I have experienced a lot of things and my mind has gradually matured.
Just because Mairen did not come, so many variables occurred? These local forces are intricately intertwined and have woven into a huge network in Haixi County. Normally, this network is silent and does not attract attention. But
Once something happened, they didn't even need to discuss it and reached an agreement in an instant. No wonder Ah Fu said that Mai Ren would be the key to controlling Haixi.
If Deng Ji didn't care about this before, now he had to be cautious.
In this dynasty, the wealthy Jin gentry family was established. When Liu Xiu rebelled against Wang Mang, he relied on the local Jin gentry and aristocratic families in Nanyang County. Therefore, it also caused the embarrassing situation of the powerful Jin gentry family in this dynasty. The wealthy families in some places have begun to show their ability.
Confront the government.
The situation in Haixi County is particularly striking.
During this period, the county magistrates changed over the past three years, which existed in name only, weakening the power of the government to the extreme.
Deng Ji did not touch these people at first, which was actually a very correct choice. But as he stayed in Haixi for a longer time, the conflict between the government and the gentry was bound to become more intense. This is inevitable
, but Deng Ji did not expect that it would come so suddenly. Just because Mairen did not attend the banquet, it triggered a strong reaction from the local gentry.
It seems like it’s time to give it a try!
Deng Ji's fingers slid along the edge of the copper jue.
Instead of feeling nervous, there was a hint of excitement in my heart.
Once upon a time, wasn't this exactly what he expected?
"The reason why you are invited to come here today is actually to discuss something."
Deng Ji spoke slowly and calmly, and his voice was not loud, but he conveyed a sense of toughness and coldness. His sharp eyes, like those of an eagle, swept over everyone present. Huang Zheng, Pan Yong and others
I couldn't help but swallow, and my heart 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 the same door.
The two brothers were almost carved out of the same mold. They spoke in a leisurely manner, but they gave people a terrible feeling of suffocation.
"It has been a month and a half since I took office.
In the past month and a half, I have not been able to have a drink and chat with you. Firstly, things are busy; secondly, there are many inconveniences. Today I invite you to come. In addition to telling you about the local situation, there is another reason.
The first thing I want to do is to tell you my opinion on Haixi.
In short, I am extremely dissatisfied with the current situation in Haixi.
People often say that there are three pests in Haixi. Those three pests? Pirates, salt lords, merchant beetles..."
Everyone knows the saying about the three evils in Haixi.
But no one has ever said it so unabashedly like Deng Ji. Especially the businessmen present, all looked ugly.
Isn't this a slap in the face?
The local gentry secretly sighed.
Several elders looked at each other and even saw the joy in each other's eyes.
This young man is just unreliable in his work. He finally managed to win over a group of businessmen, and with a little foundation, he got carried away! No wonder Magong didn't come over. He must have been dissatisfied with this young man's arrogance. Humph, you think Hai
Xi, is it so easy to govern?
If it can be managed so easily, it won't be your turn...
"Actually, I think these three evils are biased." Deng Ji ignored the expressions of everyone present and said slowly: "Especially the merchants, I don't think it is a 'harm'. On the contrary, these people walking around
The exchange of supplies between the north and the south has brought great convenience to Haixi. I once conducted a survey and found that there are more than 37,000 people in Haixi. Among them, nearly 10,000 people make a living as merchants... almost 10,000 people live in Haixi.
It is undeniable that there are indeed some profiteers. These people disrupt the market, drive up market prices, act tyrannically, and do evil, making the people hate them to the bone. But most people are doing business at their jobs."
The faces of Huang Zheng and others softened, and at the same time, there was an inexplicable excitement in their hearts.
Businessmen have always had a low status, and no matter how hard they try, the results may not be recognized by others.
For example, the leader of the Mayi Conspiracy, Nie Yi, Zhang Liao's ancestor, was a benevolent and righteous man. But what was the result? In the end, the Mayi Conspiracy failed, and Nie Yi's descendants had to change their ways.
It became the Zhang family today.
It has to be said that this is the tragedy of those who are loyal to the country.
From Deng Ji's tone, it seems that he approves of the status of businessmen?
The faces of Huang Zheng and others suddenly became cheerful, 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 merchants alone is not a long-term solution.
In the past few years, Haixi has suffered a serious population loss, and at the same time a large number of refugees have poured into Haixi. This has caused many fields to become deserted, and more than half of the people are not engaged in farming. Such behavior has no benefit to Haixi. Our food, cloth and silk
, including gold, iron, and various people's livelihood supplies, are all purchased from outside. This has also caused Haixi's dependence on foreign countries.
How can people live in a place that cannot even supply grain and rice on its own? How can Haixi maintain long-term peace and stability?"
Huang Zheng rolled his eyes, stood up hurriedly and said, "Please give me some advice from County Magistrate Deng."
Deng Ji smiled and waved his hand for Huang Zheng to sit down.
"Shopkeeper Huang, don't be anxious, we'll talk about it soon." He glanced at the elders present, took a sip of wine, and moistened his throat.
"Xudu is originally a small county in Yingchuan. In the past twenty years, it has experienced wars and is no less generous than Haixi.
However, after Cao Sikong welcomed the emperor and moved the capital to Xu County, Xu Du quickly regained its vitality. On the one hand, it was certainly the favor of the emperor, and on the other hand, it was related to Cao Sikong's vigorous promotion of farming. Therefore, I have thought for a long time and decided
Imitated Cao Sikong and started farming in Haixi."
"What? Farming?"
The elders suddenly started shouting, and the flower hall was in chaos as if a pot had exploded.
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, we can never farm in Haixi, and there is no land to farm."
An old man stood up and shouted excitedly.
"Since ancient times, most of the farming has been done by border troops. How can there be any reason to farm near the sea?"
"Yes, Magistrate Deng, think twice."
"I firmly oppose it. How can we cultivate fields without land or people?"
There are two extremely important indicators for farming, one is fields and the other is population.
Among them, once the land is settled, the land will inevitably be nationalized. And a population census is even more imperative.
And these two things are precisely the key to the local Jin gentry's foothold.
Losing land means losing their foundation, and at the same time it will cause the loss of villagers. Without villagers, they will have no objects to exploit, and without objects to exploit, their strength will inevitably be reduced. In the long run, it will be difficult for the Jin gentry to
Get a foothold.
Jin gentry is different from aristocratic wealthy families.
Most of the wealthy families have family education and inheritance. In addition to land, they also have various industry supports.
A wealthy family is a large family connected by blood. Its internal structure and balance of various industries are beyond the comparison of some small landowners. Even if they lose their land, they can still save it through the children of the family.
Make compensation.
But the gentry...
An old man cried loudly, "Farming is an act that shakes the foundation of the country. If it is promoted, big changes are bound to happen."
"Yes, please ask Magistrate Deng to think again."
Deng Ji looked at the performances of the elders indifferently, and the corners of his mouth curled up slightly.
"Tuntian is an imperative and there is no need to discuss it."
"If Magistrate Deng is determined to forcibly colonize the fields, I cannot agree with this, so I will take my leave!"
"Farewell!"
One after another, the elderly stood up to say goodbye, but they did not leave immediately.
In their view, as long as they showed such a tyrannical attitude, Deng Ji would have to bow his head.
But they overlooked one thing!
Deng Ji said at the beginning that Haixi County did not have enough capital to rely on and was completely dependent on external supplies. It was also a very embarrassing fact. There were so few people engaged in farming in Haixi County that these gentry had little control over Haixi.
Even far inferior to big businessmen.
This was also an important factor in Chen Sheng's rise.
Deng Ji was as steady as Mount Tai and said not a word.
The elders had no choice whether to leave or stay. They were in a dilemma for a while.
Huang Zheng and other nine prime ministers took a look at each other and after exchanging opinions without leaving a trace, they came to a decision.
"May I ask Magistrate Deng, how to cultivate fields?"
"From now on, the county chief Bu Zhao and the county magistrate Cao Daiqian will work together to conduct an inventory and measurement of the land and population in Haixi County. The idle land identified will be taken over as official property. At the same time, this county will
The county will reclaim the land at a high price and merge it with the government.
All residents of Haixi County must register.
At this time, Puyang Kai from the county seat will be in charge, and the three elders must try their best to cooperate with the leaders of each district.
After the census was carried out, all the people were registered and rushed into the villages... If anyone obstructs this, there is a law here."
What Deng Ji said was categorical, leaving no room for negotiation.
"Nonsense!"
An elder was furious, "A small county magistrate can be so arrogant. I want to see who dares to touch my land."
After saying that, he rolled up his sleeves and left.
Once the first person takes the lead, there will naturally be a second and third person.
All of a sudden, six people left one after another, making the atmosphere in the flower hall even more tense.
"Magistrate Deng."
Wang Cheng stood up at this time and said with a smile: "What County Magistrate Deng did was indeed thinking about Haixi. It's just... Haha, Magistrate Deng might consider the thoughts of us people. As for the villagers, as long as they
Magong agrees, so of course I have no objection... I have something else to do, so I will leave first."
Wang Cheng said and was about to walk out.
Deng Ji smiled and said, "Mr. Wang, are you going to meet your companions?"
Wang Cheng was shocked and turned to look at Deng Ji, "County Magistrate Deng, what do you say?"
"Haha, I also have a gift prepared for Mr. Wang. Isn't it a pity that Mr. Wang just left like this?"
"Magistrate Deng, you..."
"Come here, bring the gift."
The faces of Huang Zheng and others were a little abnormal, and they vaguely felt that today's matter was not as simple as imagined.
Tuntian, tunmin?
After several people looked at each other, they simply closed their mouths.
From outside the flower hall, a young man walked in.
He is tall and muscular, with thick eyebrows and big eyes, and is wearing a gray cloth coat.
Holding a tray in his hand, he walked into the flower hall, 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 reached out his hand, grabbed the brocade silk covering the tray, and pulled it down.
Wang Chengji shivered and took a breath of cold air between his teeth...
"Mr. Wang, hasn't he been looking for this fish-kissed copper town? Now that he's seen it, are you happy?"
On the tray, a fish-shaped copper weight flashed with a green light under the candlelight. Wang Cheng swallowed and subconsciously clenched his fists.
"Haha, if it weren't for this Fish Kiss Copper Town, 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 were beating constantly, his heart seemed to be beating out of his mouth, and a layer of fine beads of sweat appeared on his forehead...
"Magistrate Deng, what on earth is going on?"
Huang Zheng and others were stunned, completely confused about the situation in front of them.
Snapped!
Deng Ji grabbed Tong Jue and threw it to the ground.
"Xuezhou!"
Wang Cheng's expression suddenly changed...
I saw him, contrary to his smiling appearance earlier, suddenly stepped into the air, opened his hands in the shape of tiger claws, let out a sharp roar from his mouth, and rushed towards Deng Ji.
Mr. Wang, he actually knows martial arts?
And judging from his attacks, he doesn't seem too weak...
The minds of Huang Zheng and others suddenly went blank.
Because in their eyes, although Wang Cheng is stouter, he is just that, he can only be said to be 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 light flashed on his fingertips.
Those were not an ordinary pair of hands, but a pair of boxing gloves made of bronze. No wonder Wang Cheng hadn't been drinking today, and he didn't even stretch out his hands.
"Dog officer, die!"
He saw Wang Cheng rushing to the food table and grabbing Deng Ji's head with both hands.
Now, if he was caught, Deng Ji would be at least half dead. Huang Zheng and others exclaimed...
At this moment, a low roar sounded.
"The dog thief is so rampant!"
Qiang, a dragon roar.
The young man standing behind Deng Ji suddenly took action.
He bent down, suddenly reached under the food table, and pulled out a short knife.
The knife was about three feet long, and it was a real short knife. But it was hidden under the food table, and no one could find it. I saw a cold light piercing the sky, and a soft click. Two puffs of blood mist spurted out, and a pair of severed palms,
It fell on the food table with a bang, and it was bloody and shocking.
The pair of severed palms were also covered with a pair of bronze fist gloves.
Wang Cheng's eyes widened in horror, looking at his bare wrist with blood gushing out.
"ah!"
Wang Cheng screamed, and before he could recover, the young man behind Deng Ji jumped over the dining table and kicked Wang Cheng in the chest.
Wang Cheng took a few steps back and sat down on the ground, blood spurting out of his mouth...
