Chapter 28: A Large-Scale Recruitment Site

Liu Zheng was shaken to his core; the shock he felt at this moment was something even he hadn't guarded against. He had been observing this Shen Xing, knowing he was a man of ability and a talent for governing, but he hadn't expected this young man's insight to be so viciously sharp.

"Wh-what?"

Zheng Yue Ru, however, did not understand.

Liu Zheng laughed heartily and said excitedly, "Shen Xing, pray tell!"

Although Shen Xing was still a bit restrained, seeing that Liu Zheng was not angry and even seemed to agree with his viewpoint, he naturally relaxed. He cupped his hands and smiled, "The state of Yinzhou is exhausted by the Powerful Clans!"

"Indeed, though the poison is deep, one cannot simply amputate the arm!"

Liu Zheng's expression shifted, and he nodded.

Shen Xing laughed heartily, "Young Master can make one clan strong and the other three weak!"

"The best Method for this is naturally land!"

"If Young Master establishes a new law to make the Powerful Clans fragment their holdings generation after generation, that will suffice!"

Hahahaha!

Liu Zheng was so excited he wanted to pick Shen Xing up and kiss him a few times. Because this person was exactly to his taste! His insight was so sharp, his vision so grand, and his strategy so precise that it was simply incomparable to ordinary people.

"Brother Liu, this, this..."

Zheng Yue Ru was completely lost, having no idea what the two were discussing.

Only then did Liu Zheng begin to explain in simple terms.

The matter was simple; this Method was actually something Liu Zheng had thought of long ago! It was the amendment of the Inheritance Law! This was also the reason why he was so excited now.

He came from a later age.

Naturally, he knew what a great role this "Natural Inheritance Law" had played in history. The land Inheritance Law currently used by the Longyan Dynasty was the "Primogeniture Law," meaning that regardless of whether they were Powerful Clans or commoners, it was the eldest son of each family who inherited the family's land.

This was beneficial to the Powerful Clans, as it could ensure that the land interests of their own families would not be split, and could even grow larger and larger, eventually even influencing the ruling status of the lord.

However, the Natural Inheritance Law was different.

The Natural Inheritance Law meant that no matter how many people were in your family, whether they were capable or useless, and regardless of gender, they could all receive a portion of the family property in the absence of a specific will. In this way, no matter how much land these current Powerful Clans possessed, after several generations of fragmentation, the power of these Powerful Clans would naturally disperse and no longer be a threat.

It could be said...

This was simply a strategy of killing with a soft blade!

Therefore, Liu Zheng loved this Shen Xing more and more! Born into a humble family, understanding the hardships of the people, and sneering at the hypocrisy of those ordinary scholars, he was a great talent!

"Brother Liu, this, this, this..."

Zheng Yue Ru trembled all over as she listened, finding it unbelievable: "Can women truly inherit family property?"

Liu Zheng chuckled: "What do you think?"

This was another clever point of Shen Xing; he saw the healthy cooperative relationship between Liu Zheng and Zheng Yue Ru and simply delivered a ruthless blow—a policy so ruthless that Zheng Yue Ru could not refuse!

With the support of the Zheng Family, what was there to fear from the other three?

"Shen Xing, are you willing to come to my County Marquis Mansion and serve as Chief Clerk?"

Liu Zheng looked at Shen Xing and asked with a smile.

Upon hearing this, Shen Xing was instantly moved to tears and knelt on the ground: "It is what I have always wished for but dared not ask! Young Master is the one who has remade me; Shen Xing will never forget this for all eternity!"

Liu Zheng hurriedly helped him up, and the two walked out of Fengming Tower together.

The opening of the mansion was just three days away, and there were too many things Liu Zheng needed Shen Xing's help with.

Zheng Yue Ru sat alone on the Wangshu Terrace of Fengming Tower, unable to recover for a long time.

Natural Inheritance Law?

This was too shocking.

Who dared to play like this in this era? Since ancient times in Huaxia civilization, the status of women had never been high. With the husband as the guide for the wife, women were often treated as goods to be traded, even in wealthy families.

But now...

She actually had a chance to inherit the Zheng Family?

She must seize this opportunity!

Thinking of this, she gritted her teeth hard, rode her horse back to the Zheng Family, and went to her grandfather's bedroom.

Three days later, the auspicious day for the opening of the mansion.

On this day, Yinzhou was very lively. For the first time in decades, the County Marquis Mansion was being rebuilt; this was a major event. Under the careful management of the Liu father and son, the farmers who were originally indifferent were all discussing this matter. Many farmers, hearing that those Powerful Clans wanted to make things difficult for the County Marquis Mansion today, even arrived at the gate of the County Marquis Mansion holding hoes and farm tools, swearing to protect the Liu father and son.

This moved Liu Zheng deeply, and he was also left between laughter and tears.

The hearts of the people were just this simple and honest.

"Everyone, do not panic. Today is the opening of the County Marquis Mansion; it is in accordance with the mandate of Yingtian above and represents the common people below. I do not think anyone will openly come to cause trouble!"

Yet, no sooner had these words fallen.

The sound of clanging echoed through the streets of Yinzhou.

Just like the formation from a few days ago, the elite soldiers of the Chen Family were murderous; today they were even directly equipped with fine War Horses and weapons, their eyes revealing fierce expressions. Everywhere they passed, chickens flew and dogs jumped.

At this time, the scholars who had come to participate in the selection for the opening of the mansion were queuing at the County Marquis Mansion. This caused the group to be thrown into chaos, but once they saw it was the Chen Family's elite soldiers, these people dared to be angry but dared not speak.

"Hahahaha, very lively!"

Chen Kui, with a gloomy face, stepped out of the Horse Carriage and laughed arrogantly, followed by several burly attendants whose combat power looked quite extraordinary.

Liu Dahao chuckled and said, "Master Chen, please come in!"

Chen Kui gave a cold laugh: "Lord County Marquis, there won't be any of your Garrison lying in ambush inside, waiting to round us old men up in one go, right?"

The crowd burst into laughter.

The elite soldiers behind Chen Kui even struck their weapons, the momentum astonishing, as if they would charge in and turn the County Marquis Mansion into a river of blood if Liu Dahao said one wrong word.

Liu Dahao suppressed his anger and smiled: "Master Chen's words are true. Today is a joyous day for the opening of the mansion, so it is not suitable to have weapons. Everyone, please wait outside; the servants will prepare tea for you shortly!"

The elite soldiers sneered one after another, mocking the spinelessness of the County Marquis.

Chen Kui also gave a cold snort; not wanting to tear off the mask of civility at this moment, he glared fiercely at Liu Zheng beside him before swaggering inside.

Next, the Wang Family arrived with a similar formation.

The Cao Family, however, did not bring many troops, only five hundred; it seemed they knew today's opening of the mansion would not be peaceful and only sought self-preservation.

As for Zheng Yue Ru of the Zheng Family, she unexpectedly changed into women's clothing today; the red attire she wore only further highlighted her heroic and spirited bearing while on horseback.

The crowd could not help but look over.

They saw that Zheng Yue Ru in women's clothing was actually such a beauty, with exquisite features, brows like distant mountains, and eyes like autumn water. With a little makeup, she was even a few shades prettier than Shen Manqing of Fengming Tower, and even Liu Zheng could not help but look.

Of course, this was not the most important thing.

What was important was that today, Zheng Yue Ru had actually brought all of the Zheng Family's elite soldiers! These elite soldiers of the Empress's family were not a whit weaker than those of the Chen Family, and their Weaponry and Equipment alone were far superior to the Chen Family's.

Once the Zheng Family's elite soldiers arrived, they immediately took over the security work for the County Marquis Mansion.

Many people present changed their expressions one after another.

Especially the commander of the Chen Family's elite soldiers, who gave a cold snort.

Was this Zheng Yue Ru really going to stand with the County Marquis Mansion and never look back?

Spineless!

A fence-sitter!

Many people muttered in their hearts.

But because the Zheng Family was powerful and had not yet openly broken ties, the atmosphere at the scene became tense once again.

The opening of the County Marquis Mansion involved many procedures.

First was the reading of the appointment from Liangzhou Prefecture, followed by the sacrifice to heaven, and then welcoming the bathed and changed Liu Dahao to his position; only in this way could this Liu Dahao be considered the true, legitimate County Marquis.

Although the Four Great Noble Families each harbored their own ulterior motives, they still had to hypocritically offer their congratulations during this process.

After a pile of red tape, they finally reached the segment for on-site selection.

"Everyone, the County Marquis Mansion is newly established, and we are lacking in both industry and personnel! I have a heart of compassion for the people, and I also need the assistance of the wise!"

"Today, I hold this selection publicly, hoping that all of you colleagues will display your talents and contribute to the ambition of my Yinzhou!"

"It should be so!"

"Great Good!"

The crowd stood up one after another and responded in unison.

One person suddenly asked in a loud voice: "Lord County Marquis, in this selection, will you truly make no distinction between those with official status and those who are White-clothed, no distinction between noble and lowly?"

Several elders of the Powerful Clans nearby sneered one after another. They had prominent status and were sitting on the platform here, while the scholars who had come to be selected were all below.

A full five or six hundred people were sitting in the seats the County Marquis Mansion had prepared in advance. Such a formation was indeed rare in this era, which made the onlookers point and gesture toward this side.

Liu Dahao laughed heartily: "It should be so!"

Hearing the County Marquis confirm this, the whole venue buzzed with noise.

This was a grand spectacle that was not easy to see even after living for so long!

At this time, a young man in brocade clothes also stood up and snorted coldly: "Lord County Marquis, does that mean farmers can also be selected?"

The crowd laughed loudly.

Who would have thought that Liu Dahao would nod very seriously: "It should be so."

"This..."

"Absurd!"

"How can it be so?"

The whole venue was in an uproar.

Usually, they looked down even on those humble scholars who were White-clothed, let alone these farmers! Since ancient times, the Scholar-Farmer-Artisan-Merchant class distinction had been very strict. If one was a level apart, their status was different.

Since ancient times, scholars had always been ashamed to associate with these Commoners!

"It should be so!"

Liu Dahao always had only this one sentence, smiling happily, and could not be bothered to pay attention to their uproar.

"Lord County Marquis, I wonder how this will be evaluated?"

The brocade-clad scholar continued to ask.

"I will evaluate it!"

Liu Dahao said coldly.

The brocade-clad man's expression changed again; he shouted "Good" several times and looked at Liu Dahao provocatively, his eyes flashing with thick mockery: "But Lord, I consider myself proficient in Zither Chess Calligraphy and Painting, the Four Books and Five Classics, and treatises on governing the world, but what about you, Lord?"

As soon as these words were spoken, the whole venue burst into laughter.

This brocade-clad man was named Tang Shiwei, a famous talent in Yinzhou. He already held official status and was also in league with the Chen Family. This time, he stood up first because he wanted to provoke the County Marquis Mansion and make the County Marquis Mansion lose all its prestige in public. He was very confident about this and looked toward this side with great arrogance.

"How will you examine us?"

"Please, Lord County Marquis, set the topic!"

The atmosphere at the scene was stirred up by him, and all the scholars began to clamor.