Chapter 614: National Land Survey Action Group (Happy New Year)

The reason there were so many refugees in Xianghe and the surrounding counties was that most of these hereditary military households had fled from Tianjin Guard and Jizhou, and some had even come from Liaodong. There were also some from Dengzhou and Laizhou, which left Zhu Youxiao feeling quite helpless.

This could be considered a problem left over from history, but now that these military households had been driven out, the court's task was to settle these people properly. Everything else had to be set aside for the time being.

After pondering for a moment, Zhu Youxiao asked again: "What do you mean when you say there are also tenant farmers among them?"

Ma Qiandao looked at Zhu Youxiao and quickly said: "Reporting to Your Majesty, besides some of the military households who fled and are unregistered black households that can't be seen in the light, there are also some ordinary tenant farmers. Those great households have stopped renting their land to them as well."

"Why is that? The court is only investigating and auditing the land. Why would the great households stop renting it out?"

"Because they want to turn that land into wasteland." Ma Qiandao looked at Zhu Youxiao and said: "That way, it won't count as land belonging to their families. After the court finishes its investigation, they can continue farming it."

"But the surveyors aren't fools. How could they fail to notice this?" Zhu Youxiao looked at Ma Qiandao and asked: "Surely they don't intend to bribe everyone?"

To prevent this kind of situation, Zhu Youxiao had already dispatched many inspection teams. He hadn't expected anyone would still dare to commit offenses in the face of the wind.

Most critically, they had driven away the tenant farmers too. Weren't they afraid they wouldn't be able to hire anyone later?

"Your Majesty, the fact that they drove away the tenant farmers probably doesn't mean they intend to let the land lie fallow for just one year." Liu Xian stepped forward from the side and said: "These people likely won't farm this land for a short period of time."

"If the land truly lies fallow, then after three to five years, or even eight to ten years, the land will still be theirs. That's why they drove away the tenant farmers. First, to prevent word from leaking out; second, if it were only a year or two, they could afford to support the tenant farmers. Of course, we can't rule out that they're unwilling to part with that money and grain. For them, aren't tenant farmers just people they can summon at will?"

After hearing this, Zhu Youxiao's face darkened. He turned to Ma Qiandao beside him and asked: "How do they plan to count this land as wasteland?"

"Reporting to Your Majesty, these fields were never registered with the court in the first place. As long as the local officials don't include them in the registration, nothing else needs to be done at all. The land was never theirs on the books, has no registration, and no land deed. They just need to keep it that way."

"These great households bribe the local officials and the petty clerks handling the work. For example, if a family has three hundred mu of land in total but only one hundred mu registered on the rolls, this time they'll register an extra twenty mu as their family's concealed land, and keep the rest. Even if the court wants to seize and investigate, it would be very difficult."

Zhu Youxiao knew this was indeed very difficult. He couldn't possibly send people down himself. And even if he did send people to investigate across the entire country, they would inevitably end up accepting bribes as well.

Local officials would protect those great households. In these matters, they would surely eat their fill and rake in plenty of money, and they would also fear the higher-ups uncovering it.

When great households and local officials colluded with each other, this matter became hard to handle. This kind of localism was something the court truly found difficult to intervene in, which was why they were so bold and dared to do such things.

And now they had driven out the tenant farmers and the people with concealed household registrations, plainly causing trouble for the local authorities and the court. Perhaps the local authorities would even report some great disaster to resolve this matter later.

Zhu Youxiao let out a breath and said with a smile: "These people really have nerve. They're trying to use this opportunity to make a fortune."

No one around him spoke. Everyone knew His Majesty must be angry, and this time it definitely wouldn't end peacefully.

Ma Qiandao stood off to the side, feeling somewhat excited.

Your Majesty, quickly assign this task to me. I'll show them what the power of the Embroidered Uniform Guard means.

This matter wasn't just about Xianghe County, and it wasn't just about Shuntian Prefecture. This was a matter for the entire realm.

He had seen what was happening in Xianghe County with his own eyes. But what about the places he couldn't see?

Zhu Youxiao turned to look at Liu Xian and asked: "What do you think should be done about this matter?"

Liu Xian was a graduate of the Imperial Academy, and could be considered an outstanding one. Over the past few years he had done quite a lot of work — he had served in the Staff Office, served in the Grand Secretariat, and served in the Ministry of Revenue. Now he had been transferred to serve at Zhu Youxiao's side, which frankly meant offering advice.

Now hearing Zhu Youxiao's words, Liu Xian quickly said: "Your servant believes we should send people to conduct a thorough investigation. Draw up personnel, send people down county by county, dispatch a working group to every province, and then have the working groups separately send people to each prefecture, city, commandery, and county. All places must be strictly investigated. Mobilize the Embroidered Uniform Guard from each region and dispatch the Imperial Guard Corps to protect and participate as well."

Liu Xian's expression was extremely serious and earnest. He raised his head to look at Zhu Youxiao and said: "Your Majesty, apart from this, there is no other good method. If local officials and great households are colluding, then the originally conceived plan of seizing all that land and turning it into public land, not allowing them to let it lie fallow, becomes unrealistic. After all, when officials and merchants collude, there's basically no problem they can't solve."

"Fine, then do as you suggest." Zhu Youxiao looked at Liu Xian and said: "I will issue an edict to the Grand Secretariat to establish a National Land Survey Action Group. You go back and take charge of organizing and preparing this matter. As for Wei Zhongxian and Chen Hong, I will also send them edicts to place them under your command."

Liu Xian was stunned when he heard these words.

This was, of course, an opportunity. If he could handle this matter well and beautifully, he could soar to great heights, and perhaps one day even enter the Grand Secretariat and become a Grand Secretary.

But Liu Xian also knew that he couldn't do this task himself. His seniority was too shallow, his prestige too low. He simply couldn't intimidate the people handling the work, and it would be very easy for something to go wrong. Not only would he fail to handle the matter well, but if he botched it, he would block off all his future paths.

Although he had no chance to soar to great heights right now, following the proper order of advancement didn't necessarily mean he couldn't achieve success. He was still young now; he couldn't take this risk.

Liu Xian stepped forward and said respectfully: "Your Majesty, your servant is not suitable for this task. Your servant is too young, has too little seniority, and has no experience in this area. Therefore, your servant believes this matter should be handed to Lord Chen Sihai of the Office of Transmission to handle. That would be more appropriate."

"Lord Chen Sihai is fair and upright in character, praised throughout the court and the wider world, and holds great prestige and renown. Handing this matter to him would be the most fitting choice."

After hearing these words, Zhu Youxiao gave Liu Xian a deep look.

Faced with such an opportunity, Liu Xian was actually unmoved, and could maintain such calm and clear thinking. He truly was a talent. Very good.

Zhu Youxiao nodded and said: "Then do as you suggest."

Hearing these words, Liu Xian quickly said: "Your servant thanks Your Majesty!"

After thinking for a moment, Liu Xian raised his head to look at Zhu Youxiao and asked: "Your Majesty, what about the matter here in Xianghe?"

"Leave it for now," Zhu Youxiao said directly: "Don't startle the snake. When we return, we'll come back here and see how they've handled things."

"Yes, Your Majesty." Liu Xian quickly agreed.

Liu Xian also understood that the Emperor wasn't letting these people off by doing this, but rather planting a nail here, to see later how these people ultimately handled this matter.

If he wasn't satisfied, someone was going to be in trouble.

Zhu Youxiao indeed thought the same way. Even if he punished the people in Xianghe, it would hold no meaning for him. After all, the whole country was one chessboard. These small fry could be let go for now — he would use them as pawns and see the results later.

When Ma Qiandao heard these words, he felt somewhat disappointed inside.

Since His Majesty wasn't going to punish these people, it seemed his opportunity to distinguish himself and earn merit was gone. What was he to do?

Although he was somewhat dissatisfied inside, he didn't dare voice it.

Who were the people present here? Where did a mere Centurion of the Embroidered Uniform Guard like him have a place to speak?

Among everyone present, he was the one with the least presence.

But he was still noticed by someone — that person was Wei Chao.

Glancing at Ma Qiandao, Wei Chao came to Zhu Youxiao's side and said: "Your Majesty, this trip of ours was supposed to be secret — no one knows about it. But for the sake of the Xianghe matter, Your Majesty has exposed his identity. Although Your Majesty cares for the people and loves them as his own children, the matter of this identity leak cannot be ignored. If any harm should come to Your Majesty's safety because of this, then this servant could die ten thousand deaths and still not atone for his crime."

As he spoke, Wei Chao kept glancing at Ma Qiandao.

Ma Qiandao felt like his heart was about to leap out of his chest. All his previous thoughts naturally vanished completely, and his face looked like he was about to cry.

Eunuch Wei, surely you don't have to go this far? Could it be because I didn't show you face earlier?

But I couldn't very well play dumb either. Besides, how could I have known this was the Emperor! You're not going to kill me to silence me, are you?

Why go this far? Why go this far!

Wei Chao looked at Ma Qiandao with a beaming smile, wearing a very kind expression, but his words didn't sound kind at all.

Ma Qiandao was filled with regret. Why had he been so clever? Wouldn't playing dumb have been better?

Zhu Youxiao shot Wei Chao a glare and said: "What nonsense are you talking? Are you trying to kill Ma Qiandao or something?"

"Your Majesty, what I mean is, why not just have him come along with us?" Wei Chao said hurriedly. "If he comes with us, it'll be more convenient if anything comes up, since we'll likely have dealings with the Embroidered Uniform Guard from other places."

After hearing this, Zhu Youxiao nodded and said with a smile, "Makes sense."

Having said that, Zhu Youxiao looked at Ma Qiandao and said, "Alright, come along with us. As for matters here with the Embroidered Uniform Guard, leave them to your subordinates for now."

"Yes, Your Majesty." Ma Qiandao agreed at once.

At this point, he naturally had nothing left to say. Let alone voicing opposition—he didn't even dare express an opinion. If he truly dared to object, he'd probably be silenced for good.