Two months after Heifu took control of Xianyang, order in the imperial capital had been restored to its original state.
The regent acts decisively and monopolizes power. The nine ministers all act according to the orders of Marquis Wu Zhong. The central government operates normally and the situation is stable. There is no need to worry about coups happening every now and then, and wars between various forces spreading to the whole city.
The Northern Expeditionary Army and the surrendered Lieutenant Army took over the security of Xianyang and patrolled continuously every day. Xianyang people had long been accustomed to this scene. The footsteps of the soldiers in unison did not feel disturbing, but made them feel at ease.
With this force under control, at least there is no need to worry about criminals committing theft, robbery or even murder. If there are really daring people, they will be arrested afterwards and punished according to the laws that the people of Qin have long been accustomed to - Marquis Wu Zhong abolished
Some of the laws changed by Hu Hai and Zhao Gao kept the laws written by the First Emperor almost intact, with only slight modifications. For example, the punishment of corruption was limited to criminals who raped women. If the soldiers of the Northern Expedition dared to commit crimes, they would also be punished by law.
No mercy!
Only such severe punishment can control the Qiuba's restless lower bodies.
"The problem is with the person who made the law, not the law itself." This is Wu Zhonghou's point of view.
This is good, the farmers living outside Xianyang City - most of them are landowners with high military honors. After threshing the millet and paying half of the field rent, they are counting the surplus grain in the warehouse, which is slightly more than in previous years.
I couldn't help but praise Marquis Wu Zhong.
"I heard that Marquis Wu Zhong was also born in a farmer's family. He really knows the hardships of farming. This year, the family will have more food left."
In troubled times, nothing is more reassuring than a barn full of food.
But the farmers had just begun to enjoy their leisure time. The pavilion chief, Li Zheng, went from door to door to inform everyone: "Tomorrow, you are not allowed to visit each other, and every household stays in its own home!"
The numerical sequence was also marked with earthen blocks on the doors of each house.
Sure enough, on September 15th, after eating the morning meal, the local pavilion chief came with four servants. Along the alley, every house knocked on the door.
"Who?"
"Open the door, the government will check your household registration!"
He opened the door cautiously, and a whole family of young and old stood in the yard. The farmers looked unhappy and muttered secretly:
"Look at this posture, could it be that the Kou Fu is about to be closed down? Didn't the Kou Fu say that there will be no more levies this year?"
The Qin Dynasty began with the tenth month of the year. In this "thirty-eighth year of the First Emperor of Qin", in order to build the Lishan Mausoleum and maintain the war needs, Hu Hai had imposed oral taxes on the people of Xianyang four times, causing the whole city to complain.
It's the end of the year, and Heifu certainly can't put any more burden on them. He even announced that starting from next year, the population tax for minors will be halved.
"Could it be that since the regent government has no money in its treasury, it will break its promise like Hu Hai?"
The farmers were overthinking it. The officials were really just checking their household registrations. Their purpose was that Heifu wanted to reorganize the household registration data in the capital.
As early as Shang Yang's reform, one of the measures was to rectify the household registration and establish a name registration and household system. It was stipulated that "within the four borders, husbands and children are all named above, and the living will inherit it, and the deceased will lose it." To put it bluntly, it means that for future generations,
Census of...
It’s not just about the number of people, “the number of warehouses in the territory, the number of strong men and women, the number of old and weak, the number of officials, the number of people who eat, the number of people who benefit from it, the number of horses, oxen, cud
"The number of manuscripts", the population composition, and the amount of property must be counted one by one every autumn when local officials come to collect rent and taxes. Of course, there is only one purpose.
Prevent tax evasion...
Therefore, among the seven heroes in the world, Du Qin has the highest tax collection efficiency. The finances of other countries are like a leaky sieve from the local to the central government. There is not much left. However, Qin is able to collect enough and mobilize the domestic population resources to the maximum extent, thus making the country rich.
The army is strong.
This is the internal affairs of the household officials who govern the internal history of millet, and it is done with ease. One person holds the data found in the treasury to check the data from the thirty-sixth year of Qin Shihuang's thirty-sixth year, while the other person writes down the current situation on yellow paper.
"The head of the household in West Street is not more powerful than Wu Zhang." Man Qiang is a thick-set man who walks with a limp.
"My wife said, Zhao Gao died in the market during the rebellion, and his whereabouts are missing." It seems that this family was also severely damaged by the current situation.
"The eldest woman is young and unmarried." The woman was sixteen years old and was watering the vegetable garden. She looked pretty good. Li Zheng said with a smile that if she didn't marry next year, her wealth would be doubled. She had better pick a son-in-law quickly.
Bar.
"The young man is a hunchback (underage), twelve years old." The young man was also very silent, his eyes could not be separated from the sword of the official in black standing at the end.
The household official specially took out the measuring tape he carried with him, measured him, and then added: "He is six feet tall."
Next came property, and the family also had two slaves.
"My minister said Ju, and my little girl said Xia."
The slave father and daughter were dressed in brown clothes. They were very envious of the pardon for the prisoners in Lishan. Unfortunately, Marquis Wu Zhong was very evil. The reforms only reformed the huge royal property that no one had decided yet, and never touched private property interests.
In the government files, the status of concubines was only one level higher than that of livestock, and their residence was next to an empty pigsty.
"No pig, one male dog."
That is, the old yellow dog that was grinning at the clerks under the mulberry tree in front of the door was kicked hard and ran to the backyard with its tail between its legs.
The tax collector of the Shaofu walked around the house and recorded: "The house has two rooms, each with a door, both covered with tiles, and a wooden gate. It is fully equipped and has ten mulberry trees in front of the door."
This is a middle-class home.
After the registration was completed, Manqiang, the head of the household, took the opportunity to report that he had a disability, which was an injury he sustained while serving in the army. He was lame on one foot. He even walked a few steps on the spot to show it to the officials.
"Why are you still not lame in thirty-six years?" The household official raised his eyebrows and expressed doubts about this person's report.
"It fell last year, last year."
Man Qiang lowered his head with a guilty conscience. He was injured when he was sent to fight in the south. He was lucky enough to save his life, but he was afraid of being settled by the new government.
Fortunately, the officials didn't care about it, and the head of the village also testified for Man Qiang, so the junior officer marked it, which relieved Man Qiang from the corvee.
But he also warned that if he conceals his adult status and fails to declare it, or declares his physical illness or disability falsely, he will be fined two sets of armor, one for each person.
The three household officials and tax collectors had finished their work, but the taciturn black-clothed official on the side was just about to start. He spoke with a Nanjun accent and was obviously a "hero of the Northern Expedition" who had recently been assigned to various government offices in Xianyang.
Because Man Qiang was the "commander" in the neighborhood, this person asked him about the neighbors, such as whether there were any outsiders visiting, and whether there had been any suspicious behavior recently.
Before he left, he also dropped a sentence: "If someone is suspicious and does not report it, whoever hides the criminal will be punished, even if he is imprisoned!"
After all the household registrations in the village were checked at the end of the day, the four officials asked Li Zheng to emphasize to all the residents: "You can't leave the country without passing the test, you can't leave the city without the festival, and if you are caught, you will be deported immediately. If you don't return after nightfall, you will be sent back immediately."
Submit it to the chief of the pavilion!"
In short, if you have nothing to do, just stay at home and don't even think about visiting the whole city until you get a letter of introduction. All the floating population will also be strictly checked in the hostels in the city.
As in later generations, the purpose of checking household registration and restricting migration was to facilitate military recruitment and tax collection.
There is another thing that Ji Ying is very concerned about.
Maintain social security and guard against enemy agents!
…
The next day, the household registration files of each household and district in Xianyang City were copied into three copies and sent to Zhisu Neishi, Shaofu and the newly established organization "Heibingtai" respectively.
What interests Zhi Su Nei Shi is the household registration and the number of acres of each family's land. The new official Xiao He must live within his means and determine next year's revenue and expenditure budget. In particular, he must find out whether Guanzhong's economy can support next spring, when Wu Zhonghou
How many soldiers are needed and how many civilians are mobilized according to the plan of dispatching troops?
The Shaofu is interested in the composition of the population and the property status of each family. Zhang Cang has to prepare for the collection of oral taxes next autumn.
What Hei Bingtai is concerned about is whether there are any suspicious characters among the people recently. They want to follow the clues to find out the "Six Nations spies" lurking in Xianyang City...
During the time of Emperor Qin Shihuang, the household registration system in Xianyang was even better than it is now. The pavilion chiefs liked arresting tourists the most, and there were very few suspicious people who could sneak in, including those with official status and those holding talismans.
Can flow smoothly.
But as Guanzhong turned into a battlefield this year, people's livelihood was in turmoil under the chaos, the old regime collapsed, and the new regime was established. At this handover, it was the easiest time for spies to sneak in, either as merchants or pretending to seek refuge with Wu Zhong
Hou's scholars are hiding in the city and naturally have no ability to overthrow the regime, but they are indispensable for secretly colluding with those who oppose the regent.
About ten days ago, when Black Ice Platform was established, Ji Ying solved a major case:
According to the clues provided by the censor Yang Wei, it was said that a merchant from Zhao was trying to contact the "royalists". Earlier, this Zhao merchant also met with an aide from Chang Yi of Shu County...
Ji Ying secretly arrested the man, and after being tortured and interrogated, he learned that he was a close friend of Kuai Che of the state of Zhao. He was a merchant from Taiyuan and lived in Shangjun. After the Six Kingdoms withdrew from Xihe, he pretended to donate chariots and horses to the Northern Expeditionary Army.
, took the opportunity to escape to Xianyang, lived here, and tried to alienate the relationship between Heifu and Shu County.
Also known was the bold plan of "Shu County established the young Gongsun as the emperor, and united with Liaodong to support Su to fight against the Qin thieves".
"Chang Yan's staff Yan Jin has followed the emperor's envoys to the south. Will Chang Yan repeat himself?"
Heifu wasn't entirely sure.
This case directly triggered Heifu's military operation against Shu County. He ordered Xiaotao, who was waiting for Chang Yun in Hanzhong, to see the right opportunity and not hesitate to use force to ensure that Chang Yun's journey north was safe!
I just don't know if Xiao Tao can succeed now, and the big net to catch the six countries' spies in Xianyang City is slowly opening.
"The Six Kingdoms are determined to destroy me, and their lobbyists and spies are hiding in you, lurking in the shops, ready to make a move!"
"The suspicious people in the households must be investigated, and those merchants from Guandong must be thoroughly investigated!"
The households with confirmed household registrations were only checked incidentally. Ji Ying's main target was those merchants who had no fixed residence. He asked Heifu to authorize him to arrest all the merchants, large and small, in Xianyang City and screen them one by one.
…
"Ji Ying, Ji Ying, please spare those poor merchants. The Zhao spies sent by Kuai Che can sneak into Xianyang. This is a special case. How many of them can there be in the whole city? There is no need to make a fuss."
Now, no more than in later generations, the main role of spies is to alienate and bribe. There is neither flying pigeons to send messages nor wireless communications. Even if the information is obtained, it cannot be sent back in time - Heifu has ordered that everything from Jiuqing to the common people be suspended.
For the delivery of private letters among civilians, only the military and government can use the postal system.
This time, Ji Ying didn't even have to open the letter.
Seeing that Ji Ying didn't understand what he meant, Heifu smiled and said, "I asked you to set up this trap, so you won't catch the birds that occasionally fly by in the sky."
He pointed to his feet.
Ji Ying understood immediately: "But the insects hiding in the ground?"
"Yes, those who should be tested have been tested. Li Si has expressed his attitude to me. Xiao Taogang sent someone to report that the situation in Shu County has been controlled. Chang Yan continues to go north and will reach Xianyang in the near future. There is no way to keep him.
Of great use, it is better to kill the chicken to scare the monkeys..."
"Okay, close the net!"
…
Wang Ren is the grandson of Wang Wan, the old prime minister of Qin Shihuang, and he studied under Dr. Chun Yuyue, who had similar political views to Wang Wan. Chun Yuyue served as Fusu's staff, so Wang Ren was suppressed and imprisoned during the Hu Hai period until Heifu came to take charge of Xianyang.
, was released and took up a post in the Yushi Mansion.
But in the past two months, Wang Ren finally saw Heifu's true face: "He is called a loyal minister, but he is actually a traitor!"
"The delay in establishing an emperor with the surname Ying may be a conspiracy to usurp the emperor."
Out of loyalty to the royal family, Wang Ren was the main initiator of the secret gathering of young officials in Xianyang many days ago.
It was also his suggestion that everyone found Yang Wei, their former inmate, as their leader. While criticizing the New Deal, they also tried to protect Sheji with the surname Ying by contacting Chang Wei of Shu County, former Lang Zhongling Li Liang, Hangu Pass Zhao Ben and others.
, and find a way to contact the eldest son.
On the 17th, Wang Renxiu was sleeping at home. It was already dawn. He had planned with his colleagues last night and stayed up all night. At this time, he was still sleeping soundly.
In his confusion, Wang Ren dreamed that Prince Fusu had returned to inherit the throne. Under the pressure of the ministers and the old Qin people, Heifu moved forward on his knees and bowed to the prince, handing over the power in his hands and the government of the country.
Belong to the new emperor...
Since then, a good emperor has been on the throne, the chaotic government has been abolished, the people are in full swing, and the Qin Dynasty has finally revived...
At this time, there was a leisurely knocking sound outside his door.
"What's the matter?" Lao Yan stood up and asked through the door.
"Official office, open the door and check the household registration."
In the past few days, the government has indeed carried out household registration checks in various districts of Xianyang City. Qin people, whether they are farmers or officials, and regardless of their title, must register.
The man glanced through the crack in the door and saw that the other party was wearing official uniform and showing the seal and ribbon talisman. Without doubting that he was there, he asked someone to report to the owner and opened the door.
"Where is the head of the household?" The officials were polite and asked with a smile after bowing.
"Master is resting..."
"Which room? Let's go and see it." After all, it is the former prime minister's house, and it is quite big.
"It's time to go to bed. You'd better wait in the hall..."
But after hearing this, the officials winked at each other and walked straight to the main bedchamber. They walked faster and faster, and finally turned into a gallop. People wearing armor and holding swords kept pouring in from outside the door.
Capture all the servants.
So when Mr. Wang was awakened, he saw a group of wolf-like and tiger-like lieutenant soldiers rushing into the room and placing swords on his neck. Behind them were several officials from Heibingtai. They rushed in, holding ropes.
sneered:
"Wang Ren, you, a spy from the Six Nations, are you going to be captured without hesitation!?"
