Chapter 1864: Reaching the Emperor's Own Doorstep

The twenty-fifth year of Kaibao, early spring.

Pan You had already been in Yangzhai County for nearly a month, supervising on-site the final batch of land surveying work in Yangzhai. At the same time, throughout the entire metropolitan circuit, the clearing of lands owned by the powerful and privileged was also being rolled out one after another.

The local government offices began to exert themselves. After the repeated back-and-forth struggles earlier, Governor Pan's authority had ultimately been established. The officials below still maintained a sense of reverence, after all, most of their official caps were controlled by him.

The powerful and privileged across the region were also watching the situation in Yangzhai closely. When they learned that even a thorn like Dang Jin had softened, they too stopped making a fuss and quietly began dividing up their land holdings.

Just after the Lantern Festival, having rested only one day, Pan You could no longer sit still. He called together his subordinates, brought along his guards, and went out on an inspection tour of Yangzhai.

The spring chill was biting, the wind cold and harsh, scraping against the face with particular discomfort. Following the Ying River valley on patrol, both banks were lined with vast stretches of farmland, and in the fields many peasants were already bent over, turning and loosening the soil, preparing for spring plowing.

Because the terrain was flat, most of Yangzhai's land had been arranged into neat, square plots. Compared to regions with more complex topography, the land surveying in Yangzhai was much easier to carry out.

Looking out across the fields, most of the land had clear demarcation markers, and at the edges of the fields stood rows of wooden plaques confirmed by the government, with detailed records of land ownership information inscribed upon them. These served as important credentials alongside the land deeds.

During the land surveying process, in Yangzhai alone, to produce enough wooden plaques, an entire mountainside of trees was cut down. The carpenters in the region made a handsome profit from it.

And these rows of wooden plaques, in Pan You's eyes, were clearly his political achievements, the fruits of his labor, the results of his efforts. Though the spring wind was cold, Pan You's heart burned with a bit more warmth.

However, when he patrolled into the territory of Zhudian Town on the north bank of the Ying River, Pan You finally discovered some problems. Standing on a dirt mound, pointing into the distance at a vast stretch of fertile land by the Ying River, Pan You's expression was cold, and his tone stern as he asked those around him: "We've walked several li — why is it that this large stretch of land has no markers at all? Could it be that this town's land survey has not yet been completed?"

Upon hearing the question, one of the subordinate officials following beside him hesitated for a moment, then quickly left to investigate. After inquiring, he returned with a grave expression, and looking at Pan You, answered cautiously: "To report to the Governor, part of this town's land has already been surveyed and recorded in the registers!"

"Part?" Pan You's brow furrowed, and he immediately demanded: "Then what about the rest? Why is this tail left behind?"

"This..." The subordinate official showed hesitation on his face, as if there was something difficult to say.

Seeing his expression, Pan You's face grew even more severe, and he said: "What is so special about this Zhuzhuang Town that you all would be so wary of it?"

Meeting Pan You's oppressive gaze, the subordinate official finally reported carefully: "To report to the Governor, the unsurveyed land in this town belongs to the estate of the Duke of Chu!"

"Chu—" Pan You's voice, just about to erupt, suddenly caught in his throat. After a moment to compose himself, he asked with a stiff expression: "How could the Duke of Chu have property in this little Yangzhai?"

The subordinate official shrank his neck and answered: "It is said that the Duke of Chu's estate runs a medicinal herbs business, and most of the land in this town is herb fields! The people below, out of deference to the Duke of Chu's status, have never dared to overstep!"

"Why was I not informed of this before?" Pan You said angrily.

"I thought... I thought..." The subordinate official tried to explain, but for a moment seemed unable to find the right words.

Looking up at the deeply contemplative Pan You, he tested the waters and asked: "Governor, should the Duke of Chu's land also be surveyed?"

"Naturally! All under heaven is the king's land — the land survey admits no exceptions!" Pan You blurted out.

However, though the words had been spoken, Pan You immediately followed with a sigh and made a concession: "For now, do not touch it. Let me think it over, and then decide how to handle it!"

"Yes!" The subordinate official was visibly relieved. Pan You had already patted the backsides of quite a few tigers, but what he had encountered now was one that truly ate people — one that truly could not be touched, especially when the imperial will was unclear.

Having encountered this matter, Pan You no longer had any good mood. He waved his hand and said: "Let us stop here for today. Return to the county seat!"

"Yes!"

As he left, the always confident and spirited Governor Pan's steps had become somewhat heavy.

By the time he returned to the Yangzhai County office, the sky had already darkened. Pan You's mood was like the gloomy clouds hanging overhead at dusk — impossible to dispel.

The tax reform work in the metropolitan circuit had by now entered the right track. The most critical land problem had basically been overcome. What remained was just a matter of course — implementing things according to the new tax system.

Along this path, he had already shouldered pressure and offended many interest groups. Having come this far, some problems that had previously gone unnoticed, or had been deliberately ignored, had finally been placed before him.

Not fearing the powerful, acting with thunderous efficiency — these were the hallmarks of Pan You's governance. However, some problems were simply beyond Pan You's ability to solve, and some pressures were beyond what he could bear.

He could disregard Li Shouyuan, and he dared to bring the rod of punishment down on the Dang family. But when faced with an imperial prince, involving the imperial house itself, he hesitated after all. At the root of it, the authority Pan You currently possessed came from the court system, and in essence, it was bestowed by imperial power. Duke of Chu Liu Shu naturally could not represent imperial power, but he was after all Emperor Liu's son, a prince of the Great Han.

Tax reform was, in the final analysis, land reform. And there was no doubt that the biggest landowner in the realm was the imperial house itself. Not to mention the estates held by imperial descendants and relatives by marriage — the farmland and manors under the purview of the Court of the Imperial Treasury alone amounted to a staggering figure. Otherwise, in all those years past, Emperor Liu's grants of estates, residences, and farmland to princes and ministers had all come from this source — and it was merely a drop in the bucket.

All the land under heaven was to be surveyed and registered, and taxed according to the regulations. But what about the imperial house's land? Should it be surveyed? Should it be taxed? This question, Pan You could not answer, and at present, no one could give him an answer either.

Back then, when surveying the official fields and duty fields of the metropolitan circuit, Pan You had encountered similar problems. But the contradictions and pressures of that time were clearly not comparable to this one.

For the sake of tax reform, Pan You had offended the bureaucrats, offended the powerful and privileged. If he were to offend the imperial house as well, then... Pan You, who had never given much thought to his own future, found himself momentarily seized with alarm.

However, Pan You was after all a man of fierce temperament and firm will. He could not help but reflect: the new regulations covered all cultivated land, and did not single out the imperial house's land. By rights, the imperial family's land should also fall within the scope of the reform.

His Majesty might have overlooked this point, but when the court's ministers had drafted the provisions, they could not possibly have ignored this clause. After thinking it over again and again, Pan You finally gritted his teeth and made up his mind — if he was going to do this, he would do it thoroughly.

And so, while sending a messenger on horseback at full speed to report the matter to the Hall of State Affairs, Pan You, on the second day, brought his subordinates and went once more to Zhuzhuang Town. Amidst the astonished gazes of the Duke of Chu's estate staff, he issued the order to survey the land, and personally led people with tools to participate in the actual implementation.

When Pan You extended his hand toward the Duke of Chu's estate, those who learned of the news were variously astonished, admiring, and — of course — mostly gloating. They knew Pan Chou'er was reckless, but they had not expected him to be reckless to this degree. He truly dared to touch the dragon's reverse scale.

Even Dang Jin, upon learning the news, could not help but start up from his sickbed, clicking his tongue in wonder and praising endlessly. Dang Jin had naturally dealt with the Ninth Prince Liu Shu before — in his medicinal herbs business, the Dang family had even provided considerable assistance. That one was even more of a wild card than Lord Dang himself. One could well imagine what his reaction would be upon hearing of this.

With Pan You's actions, Yangzhai once again became a focal point, drawing the attention of both court and country. Of course, as the matter fermented, Pan You's side was no longer the focus — what was done was done. Instead, many people turned their gaze toward the court, toward Emperor Liu, watching how he would react.

Quite a few meritorious nobles harbored this thought: Your Majesty wants to audit our land, force us to pay taxes. Under Your authority, we accepted, we softened. But things should be done fairly — they should convince people.

Liu Shu was an imperial prince, but he was also a meritorious noble, and should be treated equally. Of course, even if he were treated differently, that would be fine — but then don't blame everyone for talking behind your back.

If Liu Shu's land was included in taxation, then what about the other imperial descendants and relatives by marriage? What about the imperial house's lands managed by the Court of the Imperial Treasury?

As Pan You poked through that window paper, the tax reform had finally reached Emperor Liu's own doorstep...

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