Chapter 406

He glanced around, slowly sweeping over the terrified or guilty faces in the hall, finally stopping on Wei, Du, and Su at the main table.

He took out a thick stack of paper from his bosom and slowly unfolded it.

The paper was densely filled with names, native places, family relations, and even some brief comments.

Wei Hong, a native of Fufeng Mei County, former dynasty's retired Grand Master of Rites, owning seventy‑eight thousand mu of land, with servants and dependent households exceeding a thousand.

In September he accepted three thousand taels of gold from the Xiliang envoy Cui Liang, secretly colluding with the Fufeng magnates, resisting the new policies, hoarding grain for profit.

In October he sent his household servants three times northward to transmit intelligence about our army's garrisons. The evidence is solid, both person and goods obtained.

Huang Yan's voice had no inflection, yet everyone present felt a chill down their backs.

Wei Hong almost collapsed to the ground, his lips trembling: "You… you're spouting nonsense! What evidence do you have?"

Huang Yan ignored him completely, continuing: "Du Ji is a native of Fufeng Du Ling, owning fifty‑two thousand mu of land… In September and October he twice met secretly with Wei Hong, accepting bribes from Xiliang to participate in the collusion."

His son Du Xi, currently the household registrar of Mei County, secretly altered the land registers, concealing the family's hidden fields…

"Su Ze, a native of Fufeng…"

He finished reading the charges against the three at the main table in one breath, then his gaze swept over the others in the hall.

As his gaze moved and the register in his hand, resembling a ledger of King Yama's roll call, shifted, faces continually turned pale, cold sweat poured, and some even collapsed to the ground.

The register actually recorded many of their secret dealings unknown to others, their contacts with Xiliang, their small moves against the new policies… some of which even they themselves had almost forgotten!

"What… what is this? How could you know?!" Du Ji screamed, his psychological defenses completely shattered.

All this information was gathered by Wang Hou, but what Huang Yan wanted went beyond that.

He stood with his hands behind his back, silent; everyone present dared not speak, completely unaware of what this person would do next.

At this moment a soldier under his command stepped forward to report: "General Huang, we found it! This is the Wei clan's genealogy!"

Wei Hong stared wide‑eyed, already guessing what Huang Yan intended to do, but could not utter a word.

Huang Yan took the genealogy and examined it carefully, praising repeatedly: "Who invented this thing called a genealogy? It's really useful! For exterminating the roots, it's the first choice!"

"No! You can't! I am a scholar‑official! I have official rank! I want to see the Ming King! I want…"

"Seize them!" Huang Yan gave no chance for any explanation.

The Beijiang soldiers surged forward, violently binding the weakened core members of the Wei, Du, and Su families, as well as the over ten magnates and clerks named in the hall, and dragged them out of the main hall.

The remaining guests who were not named were also restrained to the side, trembling with fear.

Huang Yan ordered the deputy general: "According to the genealogy list, confiscate! All direct and collateral male members aged sixteen and above, be executed!"

Women and minors shall be enslaved by the state!

All family property shall be confiscated, fields immediately surveyed and distributed to landless tenants!

As for the other implicated magnates and clerks, depending on the severity of their circumstances, either execute or exile! This case shall be announced to the world as a warning to others!

"Yes!"

Naturally this matter would not end so quickly; Huang Yan had no intention of letting any family off, every family involved was placed under control, then their genealogies were produced and the true genealogy‑naming purge began.

A long‑planned rebellion by the Scholar‑Gentry, not yet truly launched, was crushed by Huang Yan in the most thorough manner, nipped in the bud.

The news spread immediately; the term "genealogy naming" quickly spread throughout Guanzhong.

Those Scholar‑Gentry families with ties to Xiliang or dissatisfied with the new policies dared not make the slightest move, scrambling to show loyalty and actively cooperating with the new policies' implementation.

Of course, how sincere this active cooperation was, or how much dissatisfaction remained, is unknown for now.

However, Huang Yan clearly knew in his heart that these people now feared him, while inwardly they still harbored ill intentions!!

He does not fear the Scholar‑Gentry having ulterior motives; as long as they dare to show their true colors, he will have just cause to exterminate their entire clan!

On the vast land of Guanzhong, the surface ripples, under Huang Yan's genealogy‑naming purge and the vigorous implementation of the Beijiang new policies, seemed to quickly subside.

The surviving Scholar‑Gentry magnates became extraordinarily obedient and enlightened overnight.

They voluntarily presented their concealed land registers, voluntarily surrendering the excess over the quota to respond to the equal‑field policy.

They gladly removed the servile status of some of their servants, issuing severance pay, to demonstrate support for the emancipation order.

They even generously donated money and grain to support the Beijiang government's water conservancy projects and the establishment of elementary schools, vying to become enlightened Scholar‑Gentry.

In the county and prefecture offices, the clerks and runners from these families, who previously shirked responsibility, became diligent and efficient, knowing the new policies' provisions by heart and implementing them without omission.

Yet the fertile fields, mountains of grain, and countless dependent populations accumulated over generations through ancestors' clever seizure and plunder, together with the privileges and prestige that stood above the law, could not be willingly handed over.

That deep‑seated notion, which regards land and population as the lifeblood of the family and privilege as an innate honor, how could a few edicts and a few killings completely reverse it?

Fear suppressed open resistance, but bred deeper resentment and more covert calculation.

Surrendering property? Merely a expedient measure under the blade's threat!

Land deeds can be handed over, but the people's loyalties, generations‑long tenant relationships, control of water sources, and even influence over local officials—how could a single document strip those away?

Emancipating slaves? Those freed servants, leaving their masters, in this chaotic age where could they go?

Most likely they would still rent the original land, watching their former master's face.

Donating money and grain? The wool comes from the sheep; it's merely temporary storage, and should the tide turn, they will naturally recover principal and interest.

"That butcher Huang Yan… simply a madman! King Yama!"

In a secret chamber at night, candlelight flickering, several fortunate ones who escaped Huang Yan's naming but whose interests were similarly severely damaged gathered, their faces in the shadows looking especially grim.

They no longer spoke grandly of "loyalty and righteousness," but gritted their teeth and cursed.

"Shh! Speak softly! Walls have ears! Those Ming Army spies are everywhere!"

Another nervously glanced around, lowering his voice: "The Wei and Du families… that's the precedent! Genealogy naming, leaving not even chickens or dogs!"

"Are we just to let it go? The ancestral foundation, just given away to those mud‑legged peasants?"

"And those lowly artisan households, merchant traders, now they can stand equal with us, even pass that ridiculous 'examination' to become officials?"

"What nonsense! The rites collapse, music falters!"

Someone beat their chest and stamped their feet, anguished and indignant.

"To resist head‑on is a dead end! Huang Yan's blade won't listen to reason."