Chapter 120: A Weak Landlord Class

The landlords of Yongyang Town were truly fascinating!

When the tenant farmers in the surrounding villages and towns rose up on their own, the landlords here began drilling a local militia. The moment they heard Xie Xuelong was coming to suppress the bandits, they promptly sent their militia over.

Now that Xie Xuelong has been defeated, Zhao Han is certain to take Yongyang Town.

Because this is the southern gateway to Ji'an Prefecture. If Zhao Han makes Yongyang Town his governing center, he can control Yongxin County to the west, advance north into Anfu County, hold Taihe County to the south, and strike east straight for the prefectural seat!

Any landlord with a sound mind knew Zhao Han was coming to Yongyang Town, yet only a handful packed up and fled. Most sat at home waiting — who knows what they were waiting for. Waiting to be killed and have their land divided, or waiting for Zhao Han to show mercy?

"Master, the rebels are disembarking!"

"Scout again!"

Xiao Wanquan was trembling all over, pacing restlessly in his study, a deep dread shrouding his heart.

"Master, a band of rebels is heading straight for our village!"

"What?"

Xiao Wanquan's legs went weak. He had a household slave support him out the door, then ordered the entire family, young and old, to assemble.

By the time Zhao Han personally led his troops to the Xiao residence, a crowd was already kneeling before him.

Zhao Han paid no attention to these people, instead raising his head to gaze at the "Zhuangyuan Shrine."

This ancestral shrine was quite intriguing. Its main gate and side gates were built to resemble three memorial archways. Plaques were everywhere, inscribed with intimidating titles: Zhuangyuan, Bangyan, Hanlin, Huiyuan, Jieyuan, Huikui, Jingkui, Grand Minister of War, Grand Minister of Justice, Grand Censor-in-Chief, Provincial Education Commissioner... all honors the Xiao ancestors had earned in the examinations, or official posts they had once held.

After admiring the Zhuangyuan Shrine for a moment, Zhao Han finally smiled and said, "So you intend to join the rebels?"

Xiao Wanquan kowtowed on the ground, then straightened on his knees and cupped his hands. "Mr. Zhao cares for the common people and broadly extends benevolent governance. I have also heard that when you entered the prefectural seat, you restrained your men and committed no offense against the populace. This is truly a righteous army — how could it be called a band of rebels? Though I am old and dull, I still understand where the people's hearts lie. Today I am merely pledging allegiance to an enlightened lord."

"Hahahahaha!"

Zhao Han was amused by this old man. He asked, "Do you know how I govern?"

"I have heard a little." Xiao Wanquan's heart was pounding wildly.

This fellow still harbored illusions, thinking that Zhao Han's killing of landlords and dividing of land was merely an early tactic to rally popular support. Now that he had defeated the Governor and his power had surged, surely he would seek friendly ties with the local gentry and great clans.

Zhao Han asked, "Is the Xiao clan willing to surrender its fields?"

At these words, Xiao Wanquan felt despair. His illusions were shattered.

Yet he could not leave this place. Here stood the Xiao ancestral hall, the Xiao ancestral residence, the Zhuangyuan Shrine, and the Xiao clan's countless lands. If they left, could the Xiao clan still be called the Xiao clan?

But if they did not cooperate with the rebels, the Xiao clan would likely be slaughtered!

After much deliberation, Xiao Wanquan kowtowed and said, "The Xiao clan is willing to surrender all its estate lands, and serve Mr. Zhao devotedly for generations to come!"

"Surrender all estate lands?" Zhao Han asked.

"All of them!" Xiao Wanquan said, steeling himself.

Damn, this actually makes things difficult, Zhao Han thought, somewhat troubled. He would have preferred the Xiao clan to rise up and resist.

"Hahahahaha!"

Zhao Han suddenly burst into hearty laughter. He personally helped Xiao Wanquan to his feet and consoled him: "Old sir, you are so deeply righteous and principled — how could I be so heartless? Let us do this: every member of the Xiao clan, all persons aged twelve and above, regardless of gender or age, may each retain twenty mu of land."

Only twenty mu per person?

Xiao Wanquan was on the verge of tears. He forced out a smile and flattered, "Mr. Zhao is truly benevolent. This old man is overwhelmed with gratitude."

Zhao Han added, "The Xiao clan must divide the family and separate property. Not counting children, each household may have at most ten persons."

Xiao Wanquan nearly fainted. He desperately wanted to bite Zhao Han to death.

Once the family was divided, people's hearts would scatter, and his own influence would vanish.

Zhao Han asked, "Does the old sir disagree?"

"I agree, this old man agrees!" Xiao Wanquan said hastily.

Zhao Han continued, "All household slaves of the Xiao clan must be freed. Those who wish to receive land, I shall give them land. Those who wish to remain may all switch to hired labor contracts. In the future, do not beat or curse your hired laborers at will."

Xiao Wanquan was speechless. If land could be granted, how many household slaves would choose to stay?

Zhao Han smiled. "I am short of talent. The Xiao clan may recommend its sons to serve as officials."

Xiao Wanquan seemed to come alive again. If they could hold office, there was no fear of lacking land. This rebel had stirred up great trouble and would likely be granted amnesty sooner or later; the Xiao sons could simply follow along when that happened. And if the rebel truly seized the realm, would the Xiao clan not be meritorious retainers who had followed the dragon?

Xiao Wanquan straightened his back and declared, "Our Xiao clan has one juren, seven xiucai, and countless child students and schoolchildren, all willing to follow at your side, sir!"

"Are there any jinshi currently holding office?" Zhao Han asked.

Xiao Wanquan replied, "Our literary tradition has declined. For now, we have no jinshi officials, but there are still two juren serving in office."

No wonder they surrendered to the rebels so readily — so there had been no jinshi in the last two generations.

As long as they were literate men, Zhao Han would take them all.

However, these literate men could not all remain in Yongyang Town. When land was distributed to them, they had to be scattered among other villages and towns, or they would surely become an internal threat.

Even those who owned land in Yongyang Town would have it confiscated — at worst, they could be compensated with a few extra mu elsewhere!

Zhao Han was very pleased with the Xiao clan's surrender. He ordered Chen Maosheng: "Maosheng, the Xiao clan's righteous act can serve as a model. Have the propaganda corps inform the other landlords. Also make it clear to the common people and the soldiers: although the Xiao clan once had a sordid record, they have now reformed... Hmm." Zhao Han suddenly turned to Xiao Wanquan. "Old sir, to appease public outrage, could you hand over a few stewards and overseers? They deceived those above and oppressed those below, exploiting the people — truly, they deserve to die!"

Xiao Wanquan was already furious, and at the same time terrified to the extreme, for those villainous servants would be dying in their master's place.

If a few villainous servants did not die, the one to die would be Xiao Wanquan himself!

But if he pushed his trusted household slaves out to take the punishment, who would heed his orders in the future?

It was over. Everything was over!

Xiao Wanquan abruptly knelt. "The villainous slaves deserve to die. This old man, too, wishes to kill them and be done with it!"

"Hahahahaha!"

Zhao Han once again helped Xiao Wanquan to his feet. Pointing at the Zhuangyuan Shrine, he said, "The Xiao ancestral residence, the clan hall, and the Zhuangyuan Shrine may all be kept. As for the Hall of Heroic Spirits — we will choose a different, less cooperative landlord for that."

With the Xiao clan setting the example, nearly two-thirds of the landlords in the vicinity voluntarily surrendered their lands.

Naturally, they had their own calculations. Succeeding in following the dragon would of course be excellent; accepting amnesty later would also be acceptable. If amnesty came, the lands distributed could be seized back through various means. In any case, they must not provoke the rebels now, or their entire clan would be slaughtered.

The reaction of these great landlords completely exceeded Zhao Han's expectations.

He had killed many landlords in the neighboring villages and towns, but once the army bore down, the landlord class was not as stubborn as he had imagined. Far from resisting, they voluntarily surrendered their estate lands — and even provided large numbers of literate men.

Haha, this is too interesting!

As for the remaining third, those diehard landlords who absolutely refuse to submit to the rebels, every one of them has clansmen serving as high officials in the imperial court.

Zhao Han certainly won't show any mercy — these are exactly the types to make an example of.

Chen Maosheng's propaganda corps quickly expanded to two hundred men, using Yongyang Town and the surrounding villages to carry out work while training propagandists.

At present, Zhao Han's territory borders Yongxin County to the west (with Fei Yinggong sandwiched in between), Anfu County to the north, and Taihe County to the south. To the east, the Lu River serves as the boundary line; everything east of the Lu River belongs to the government's jurisdiction.

To be honest, the government's territory is more fertile, while Zhao Han's territory is relatively barren, with many villages and towns having large stretches of hilly land.

But barren territory is more conducive to consolidating one's foundation, more conducive to training officials and drilling troops — otherwise the rate of corruption would be extremely rapid!

Zhao Han's most pressing task is not blindly expanding his territory; otherwise he could simply have stayed in the prefectural seat.

He must build up the propaganda corps and cultivate grassroots officials!

Once his power is consolidated, there will be no need to dispatch troops at all — he can simply establish peasant associations directly within government territory. The peasant associations will lead the tenant farmers in refusing to pay rent and interest, lead the tenant farmers in opposing the landlords, and without occupying a single city, he can extend his reach into the three neighboring counties.

This strategy is not because he cannot defeat government troops, but to lull the imperial court into complacency.

So long as the county seats, department seats, and prefectural seats are not lost, the local officials will help Zhao Han deceive the central government. It is entirely possible that even after he effectively controls the entire Ji'an Prefecture, the Chongzhen Emperor will still have no idea that the rebel Zhao has grown so powerful.

As for the government being unable to collect taxes?

Ah, surely there must be another great disaster — in any case, Jiangxi is like that every year. It simply means the tax revenue remitted to the central government becomes even less.

Just as Zhao Han was consolidating his territory, the peasant army fleeing southward had already seized half of Taihe County.

The ten-thousand-odd bandits captured by Xie Xuelong in the north, originally intended to be released and resettled for farming, have now risen up again. One part is rampaging through Anfu County, coercing people along the way; another part has spontaneously returned to Luling County, begging Zhao Han to allocate land to them.

Zhao Han simply lacks sufficient grassroots officials and propaganda personnel; otherwise the two counties to the north and south could be taken with ease.

Even more, the officials of Taihe County and Anfu County will help Zhao Han consolidate his territory — the stationary bandit Zhao Yan, who does not attack county seats, is far more agreeable than those roving rebels!

Such is the absurdity of the world: the government officials actually find themselves leaning toward Zhao Han…

Winter, the sixth year of Chongzhen.

Government troops from multiple routes encircled the northwestern roving rebels. The peasant army seized the moment when the Yellow River froze over to break out of the ten-route encirclement. They successively stormed Mianchi, Lushi, and Yiyang, and the peasant army entered the territory of Henan.

The Governor of Henan blocked them with heavy troops, so the peasant army turned southward, plundering Ruzhou, Xichuan, Neixiang, Guanghua, and Nanyang along the way.

Facing pursuit by government troops, the already converged peasant army suddenly split into several bands. Not only are they rampaging through Henan, but five bands of roving rebels, including Old Huihui's, have even turned and invaded Huguang.

It can no longer be contained!

Shaanxi, Shanxi, Sichuan, Henan, Huguang — everywhere one can see the figures of roving rebels. Even in the Northern Metropolitan Region, small bands of peasant soldiers are on the move. How could the court possibly spare any attention for what is happening here in Jiangxi?

Li Banghua and Ouyang Zheng, whom Zhao Han had "invited," are being kept on simple fare. Zhao Han does not meet with them either, merely having the two men accompany the propaganda corps to observe his governance.

At the same time, the news that Zhao Han had seized the prefectural seat of Ji'an and that the Governor had been defeated and committed suicide spread rapidly throughout Jiangxi.

The fearsome name of "Zhao Yan" became known to all, reputed as a monstrous bandit who slaughtered without blinking.

This set off a chain reaction. The Secret Teaching, which had been furtively developing in the countryside, seized the opportunity to rise up ahead of schedule. Uprisings of sect followers erupted simultaneously in Yanshan County and Nanfeng County.

And over by Lake Poyang, the uprising in Duchang County also broke out ahead of schedule, colluding with the lake bandits of Lake Poyang.

If the next Governor of Jiangxi is also a capable official versed in military affairs, he will have no time at all to come and campaign against Zhao Han. The government must first exterminate the rebels of Duchang — that place is simply too critical. Whether from a political, military, or economic standpoint, the Duchang rebels must be pacified first!

The realm of the Great Ming is already utterly broken.

(End of volume.)

(End of chapter)