Chapter 31: The First Administrative Decree

Everyone was stunned.

Over the past few days, the Chen Family had made fierce threats, claiming that on this day of the mansion's inauguration, they would make the County Marquis Mansion look bad, and would make this father and son of the Liu Family look bad.

Regarding this, everyone believed it deeply and was filled with anxiety.

Because the Chen Family truly possessed such strength; two thousand elite, hardened veterans fresh from the battlefield—who could withstand them?

Even the Zheng Family, among the Four Great Noble Families, would likely not dare to clash head-on with the Chen Family's elite troops.

Yet, what about now?

Those weapons, which the veterans used daily to cut down people as easily as slicing melons, could no longer pierce through!

"Demons!"

"They aren't human!"

"Run!"

The two thousand elite troops in whom Chen Kui had placed such high hopes were scattered just like that. At a time like this, saving one's life was what mattered; who would still dare to fight? But coming was easy; wanting to leave was not so simple.

Qin Zhangfeng let out a cold snort and shouted, "Leave not a single one!"

The momentum was astonishing, the killing intent soaring to the heavens.

Kicking the horse's belly, the war horse galloped; with a raise of his hand and a fall of his blade, he beat the drowning dog, taking a head with every strike. So-called new recruits or veterans, in reality, had little difference in their level of training; it all depended on whether they had blood on their hands. Once they had truly been on a battlefield and killed people, their entire state of mind would be elevated to a new level.

These Garrison troops at this moment were exactly like that.

In this situation, it was either you die or I perish!

Under the leadership of Qin Zhangfeng, they had clearly turned red-eyed with bloodlust. The scene was in total chaos; the combat effectiveness of these one thousand Garrison troops today clearly exceeded that of five thousand elite soldiers!

Regardless of how shocked others were, Liu Zheng was calmly watching everything unfold.

Regarding the situation before him, he was full of confidence. One thousand cavalrymen could create such a shocking scene of war; what if it were five thousand? Ten thousand? What about the ancient times when armies of hundreds of thousands or millions were deployed simultaneously?

Instantly, Liu Zheng felt his blood surging, unable to control himself.

A magnificent and vast map appeared in his mind; those territories waiting for him to conquer, rich and enchanting... and today, he had only just taken the first step.

Cavalry equipped with plate armor were already this fierce.

Liu Zheng believed that as many of his technologies were realized in Yinzhou, his Liangzhou Iron Cavalry would gallop across the entire land of Zhongyuan, making enemies tremble with fear!

"Master, run!"

In the chaotic battle, several Chen Family guards dragged Chen Kui, who was already defeated and on the verge of fainting from anger, tied him to a horse, and took advantage of the chaos to flee the scene.

A full half-hour passed.

The County Marquis Mansion became quiet once again.

Qin Zhangfeng rode his horse forward, cupped his hands, and shouted, "Lord County Marquis, this battle has routed two thousand elite troops of the traitorous Chen Family, killing one thousand, severely wounding five hundred, and five hundred have fled!"

Liu Dahao was exceptionally excited to hear this and said loudly, "Good!"

Immediately, he looked around coldly and said sonorously, "The Chen Family stormed the County Marquis Mansion; you are all witnesses. The evidence is irrefutable, and the crime deserves death!"

The scholars and commoners in the audience all responded in agreement.

The other three Noble Families only now reacted from their shock, and one after another, they stood up and similarly cupped their hands.

None of them had expected that the three Noble Families had come with the intention of watching a show, but before the show could even begin, it had already ended under the tyrannical methods of the County Marquis Mansion.

"County Marquis Mansion order: Chief Clerk Shen Xing and Counselor Qin Zhangfeng are to be in charge of the Chen Family's confiscation!"

"Understood!"

The one thousand Garrison troops in plate armor, without even resting, were already heading toward the Chen Family under the leadership of Shen Xing and Qin Zhangfeng.

Everyone shuddered at the same time.

At this moment, these Noble Families truly realized one problem.

The sky over Yinzhou was about to change!

Ever since this Liu Dahao arrived in Yinzhou, he had been very low-key, with his son coming forward for everything. Just when people thought he was a paper tiger, he turned out to be more ruthless than anyone!

In today's situation, storming the County Marquis Mansion was definitely an act of treason; there was no way the Chen Family could escape!

At this time, people realized that this had all been a trap set by the County Marquis Mansion!

Luring the enemy into the urn!

Leaving the Chen Family with nowhere to avoid and nowhere to escape!

Terrifying!

This father and son were too terrifying!

Zheng Yue Ru reacted the fastest, stood up, and cupped her hands, saying, "The County Marquis Mansion is established, and the hearts of the people are won. Because Yinzhou was ungoverned in previous years and bandits ran rampant, the Zheng Family's guards exceeded the limit. Today, the Zheng Family offers fifteen hundred elite troops, keeping five hundred for ourselves, to show our commitment to peace!"

As soon as these words were spoken, the masters of the Wang Family and the Cao Family turned pale.

Did they have to hand over their troops?

For so many years, private troops had been their trump card. If they were handed over so easily, wouldn't they be at the mercy of this County Marquis Mansion from now on?

However, the situation was stronger than the people; the Chen Family had just been convicted for "raising private troops," and this girl Zheng Yue Ru was the first to jump out and pledge loyalty. What could they do? They were trembling and hesitant, wanting to speak.

Liu Zheng, standing nearby, chuckled and said, "No rush for this matter. The County Marquis Mansion knows that the private troops of several families are all for protecting business operations, so there is no crime. Raising troops consumes vast wealth, and it is not easy for you gentlemen. When this matter settles down, I will go and talk with you!"

The several masters felt as if they had been granted amnesty.

Only Zheng Yue Ru stared blankly at Liu Zheng.

Such a good opportunity, and he wouldn't seize it? He insisted on talking?

What she didn't know was that the Chen Family alone had already made the entire Yinzhou City panic. Liu Zheng dealing with the Chen Family was a move of necessity; first, the Chen Family was truly too arrogant, openly challenging the prestige of the County Marquis Mansion, and second, the County Marquis Mansion had to establish its authority and give the people of Yinzhou a sense of security.

That phrase, "The rise and fall depend on me, the honor and disgrace depend on me"!

Liu Zheng was not just saying it for fun. As a modern person, he truly thought this way. To govern Yinzhou well, everyone had to work together to make this barren land a great city of the world!

Soon, commoners volunteered to clean up the scene. Regardless of whether the words of the Young Marquis were true or false, it was definitely the first time they had heard such a blood-boiling promise. Commoners and farmers were just this simple; "If a ruler treats his subjects like his own hands and feet, then the subjects will treat the ruler like their own heart and soul; if a ruler treats his subjects like dogs and horses, then the subjects will treat the ruler like a stranger; if a ruler treats his subjects like dirt and grass, then the subjects will treat the ruler like a mortal enemy." People of this era did not understand these principles.

But Liu Zheng understood.

Today's battle has shaken Yinzhou.

Upon hearing that the Chen Family had been wiped out, the commoners took to the streets to celebrate.

For years, they had been oppressed too harshly by these Powerful Clans; finally, there was a County Marquis Mansion that would stand up for the commoners, so who wouldn't be happy? At the same time, Liu Zheng's iron-willed, blood-boiling words spread across the land of Yinzhou in an instant.

"So plump?"

At night, Shen Xing, who had returned from raiding the house, brought an Account Book and handed it to Liu Zheng; seeing this Account Book, even Liu Zheng could not help but be startled.

With the Chen Family in ruins and Chen Kui having fled, the valuables and assets he could take away were certainly limited; the silver and money left behind in the Chen Family alone amounted to two hundred thousand taels, with three hundred thousand shi of grain!

Eight hundred mu of fertile land, one thousand mu of medium-grade land...

"Parasites!"

Bang!

Liu Zheng slapped the table with one hand, his expression gloomy.

On one hand, Yinzhou was so barren that the commoners could barely fill their stomachs, while on the other, these Powerful Clans hoarded grain and grew fat, with the smell of wine and meat wafting from their vermilion gates—how could he not be angry?

Among the Four Great Noble Families, the Chen Family possessed the most land, which was why Chen Kui had wanted to secure the position of Counselor in the Ministry of Agriculture.

At this moment, it played right into Liu Zheng's hands.

He looked at Shen Xing and chuckled, "It seems our several government decrees can now be issued!"

Shen Xing was shaken to the core upon hearing this and could not help but bow and cup his hands: "Young Master cares for the commoners; your future is limitless!"

Liu Zheng smiled slightly. The raiding of the Chen Family would continue to ferment in Yinzhou; he could not strike at the other Powerful Clans again, as that would surely incite a mutiny. The hundred-plus thousand taels of silver left by the Chen Family solved Liu Zheng's urgent needs.

During this period, it was time to engage in some construction...

Especially in agriculture.

Recently, with the autumn harvest and busy farming season, the farmers were eager for changes in policy.

This was the first government decree Liu Zheng wanted to issue.

At the city gate.

Another proclamation.

"The first government decree!"

"The first government decree from the County Marquis Mansion!"

People gathered again and began to discuss.

"County Marquis Autumn Policy!"

"One: The County Marquis Mansion will retain one hundred mu of its thousand mu of fertile land, and the rest will be allocated to the Garrison! Starting today, Yinzhou will successively implement the Garrison System!"

At this, the commoners exploded with excitement.

Garrison soldiers farming, and being given land for free? Training during idle times and farming during busy times? This idea seemed quite unique at present. In fact, in the history of Huaxia, the first to use this military system were the Northern and Southern Dynasties; at that time, it was called the Garrison System, where the state granted soldiers a certain amount of land, allowing them to bring their families to cultivate it, and after one year of cultivation, the land became theirs.

During the Tang Dynasty, the Militia Prefectures were established, which truly achieved the integration of soldiers and farmers. However, at that time, the farmers still had to find their own methods for production tools.

But by the Ming Dynasty, it developed into the Garrison System.

The Garrison System clearly stipulated in the Inheritance Law that both land and Military Household status could be inherited by the eldest son.

And Liu Zheng's Garrison System was much more perfected.

Production tools: provided by the County Marquis Mansion!

Land: once distributed to you, it is yours, as long as you join the Military Household!

Most importantly, as long as it is Military Household land, it is entirely tax-exempt!

For Yinzhou, where there were harsh taxes and levies everywhere, this was simply a gospel!

Therefore, the commoners were boiling with excitement.

"There's such a good thing?"

"I want to be a soldier too!"

"No more talk, I'm going to sign up first!"

Countless people rushed toward the County Marquis Mansion.

And when the second government decree was issued, many people could no longer sit still.

"Two: The Land Inheritance Law is changed! Starting today, land inheritance in Yinzhou will be changed from the Primogeniture Law to the Natural Inheritance Law! The specific statutes are as follows..."

At this, everyone was truly stunned.

Land Inheritance Law?

This could be changed too?

Was there something wrong with the Primogeniture Law that had lasted for thousands of years?

The change to this Inheritance Law actually had little impact on the commoners; its impact on the Powerful Clans was the greatest!

The three major Powerful Clans were all unable to sit still.

But before they could react to this second government decree.

The third decree, the fourth, the fifth...

It could be said to have completely ignited the craze for the great construction of Yinzhou.

"Three: Encourage farmers to reclaim wasteland and cultivate fields; ownership shall belong to the farmers permanently, with three years of tax exemption!"

"Four: The four departments will draft tax policies, with three years of tax exemption!"

"Five: Yinzhou will increase entry taxes for merchants from other regions, bridge tolls..."

"Six: The selection of Counselors for the County Marquis Mansion will be launched successively..."

"Seven: Encourage the breeding of Liangzhou horses; the County Marquis Mansion will provide funds for stables, and breeders will be tax-exempt!"

The entire land of Yinzhou was filled with joy, a complete change from the lifelessness when Liu Zheng first arrived.

Change, it seemed, had only just begun.