Chapter 96 Greedy Officials

Xiangyang, the Sun residence.

"Mother, today's meal is your favorite lotus seed porridge. Come eat it early." Sun Quan, dressed in mourning clothes, entered Madam Wu's chamber.

"I can't eat it. I have no appetite. Where is your elder brother, Quan'er?"

"Elder brother is preparing for the emperor's victory banquet the day after tomorrow."

"I may be a mere woman, but I know what you and your elder brother plan to do. Quan'er, since your father has chosen your elder brother, you should assist him well." Madam Wu sighed. "You also know that your elder brother is a man of temperament. He treats all of you, as younger brothers, exceptionally well. From childhood, whatever mistakes you made, he took responsibility for them."

"Mother, I understand," Sun Quan replied with a faint smile. "Father chose elder brother, so I will not disobey Father's wishes. I will surely assist elder brother well. The porridge is placed here by son. If Mother wishes to drink it later, please do so."

"Where is Shangxiang? Call her for me. I wish to speak with her."

"Yes, Mother."

Within the mansion gate, white silk hung everywhere, and servants carried sacrificial offerings back and forth. Sun Quan stood in the pavilion with an indifferent expression.

"The moonlight is melancholy, Zhongmou. You seem depressed and unhappy. Is there something on your mind?"

Sun Quan turned his head and saw the man smiling, holding bamboo slips. "Just now I sent lotus seed porridge to Mother. Thinking of the days when Father was still alive, I feel somewhat sentimental. Brother Guoyi is also unable to sleep at night. Is there something bothering you?"

Sun Fu smiled faintly and said, "Zhongmou's sentimentality is probably not because of Uncle Er still being alive, right?"

Sun Quan said displeasedly, "You never speak a decent word from your mouth!"

"Eh, eh, don't go. I came to give you a gift. You must like it!" Sun Fu took out a bamboo slip from his hand. "Do you know who Jiang Wen is?"

"Someone close to elder brother." Sun Quan took the bamboo slip and asked, "What is this?"

"Our emperor is never at ease." Sun Fu smiled. "I also give you the letter. Now you should go rest."

Sun Quan returned to his room, examined Sun Fu's letter, closed his eyes and pondered. "The edict of clothing and belt?"

The next day, Sun Fu's residence.

"Grandfather's residence, Sun Quan requests an audience."

"Bring him to my study."

"Zhongmou does not know what I come for?"

Sun Quan said, "My relationship with elder brother is deep. I will never betray him. Today I came only to persuade Brother Guoyi to stop."

Sun Fu smiled and shook his head. "Zhongmou, why are you so not straightforward? Although you and your elder brother failed in the struggle for the crown prince position, I know exactly what you think in your heart."

"What I think is to assist elder brother in fulfilling Father's wish." Sun Quan said with a faint smile.

Sun Fu took out two mats. "Standing is not comfortable. Let's sit and talk."

After Sun Quan sat down, Sun Fu said smilingly, "If Zhongmou truly wishes to assist Bo Fu well, today you would not come alone to see me, but a group of long-sworded officials would forcibly enter my residence."

Sun Fu looked at Sun Quan silent and smiled. "Enough, stop pretending. Here in the study, it is just you and me."

After a long while, Sun Quan opened his mouth and said, "Why do you know about the edict of clothing and belt?"

"Yesterday I mentioned Jiang Wen to you," Sun Fu said smilingly. "I know about the edict of clothing and belt, and it has to do with this military advisor, Jiujiu. He has a concubine, Diao Chan. Do you know?"

"Naturally, in the past, among the scholar families, her beauty was widely spread. Although she is the wife of Lu Bu, her appearance is extremely beautiful. Many people were captivated by her. I have also seen her once, indeed stunningly beautiful." Sun Quan said. "But she is just a woman. How could such a big matter have anything to do with her?"

"I do not know about that either, but this letter did reach my hands." Sun Fu said smilingly. "Zhongmou, would you like to get involved?"

Sun Quan said flatly, "Diao Chan is Jiang Wen's wife and concubine. Jiang Wen must know about this. Since that is the case, I will not participate in this matter. How Brother Guoyi handles it is none of my concern."

"But it is just Jiang Wen. He cannot become a major concern. I have already arranged for people to assassinate him," Sun Fu said. "Zhongmou, you really do not want to participate in this? You know this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity!"

"In your view, can those ministers in the court really accomplish great things?" Sun Quan said with a smile. "In the past, Dong Zhuo caused chaos in the world. Everyone hated him, wishing to flay his bones and drink his blood. Not one of those ministers assassinated Dong Zhuo. Now my elder brother is not Dong Zhuo. He has more capable strategists around him than Dong Zhuo did in the past, and more powerful generals than Dong Zhuo. In my view, this matter is just seeking death."

This remark awakened a dreamer. Sun Fu's expression changed slightly. Indeed, my younger brother has better strategies than me. There is a reason for it.

"So, shall we pretend we saw nothing?"

"Jiujiu, Jiang Wen, did he not leave Xiangyang for Fuchun?" Sun Quan said indifferently. "It cannot be said that there is no gain from this matter."

Fuchun County.

The residence next to the county office.

The house had been tidied, but the courtyard was in ruins, with masons applying new blue stones.

The county office had been repaired.

The mourning drum in front of the door had also been replaced with a new drumskin.

Xiao Shu looked at this residence. Although it was not as large as Xiangyang's, it was better than the one in her village.

"Lord, yesterday what you did with the meat, I want to taste it too!"

The main hall of the residence, because no report was made and there was nothing to handle, Jiang Wen was idle for a moment.

Tao'er and Jiang Wen sat on the main seat, while Diao Chan sat below. "My lady has not eaten yet. My lord's craftsmanship is good. It is definitely a rare delicacy!"

"I do not care. Lord, make it for me now!"

Jiang Wen tapped Tao'er on the forehead. "Did I not give you a reward yesterday?"

Tao'er blushed and lowered her head, muttering something beside her.

Niu Mu jumped down from the ox cart, and Niu Yi also followed beside him. "This time coming to Fuchun, I have serious business to attend to. Do not cause trouble for me!"

"It is natural, Dad."

"I will go to the county office now. Take this money and go home by yourself."

"Dad, son also wants to go to the county office with you!"

"Put away your thoughts. Do you think I do not know why you went to the county office?" Niu Mu said sternly. "If you cause trouble, I will let you fend for yourself!"

"Got it!" Niu Yi nodded and agreed perfunctorily.

After Niu Mu finished speaking, he took the bamboo slips to the county office.

Niu Yi secretly followed behind.

Jiang Wen looked at the field registers presented by the various ting elders. "Feng Ting Chang, according to grain tax, it should be one hundred shi of grain, but this month's grain is only eighty shi. Where did the other twenty shi go?"

"Adult, there was a disaster in the fields recently, so our grain is lacking."

"Yang Geng!"

"Underling here!"

"Follow Feng Ting Chang back to the village to check if what he said is true!"

"Yes, adult."

"Next."

Niu Mu handed over the bamboo slips with some hesitation in his heart.

Jiang Wen opened the bamboo slips. The registered fields numbered seventy mu, and the names of the owners of each mu were also registered. The harvest of grain this year and the grain paid were clearly written.

The story of the previous county magistrate is still echoing in my ears. I do not know what this county magistrate investigated, but undoubtedly it has to do with the Wu Commandery Governor.

Speaking of which, although I advised on the tuntian strategy, the tuntian matter was blocked by the old generals, and they did not take it seriously at all. Many old generals still occupied public fields. This matter was also a thorn in Sun Ce's heart with the old generals.

At that time, even if the county magistrate's letter was delivered to the tuntian commandant, it probably would not have much effect.

These days, Jiang Wen has actually been hesitating. Being a good official is hard; one needs to be incorruptible, understand matters, have clear rewards and punishments, and more importantly, be worthy of the lord.

And Bo Fu is now the Prime Minister. Undoubtedly, one needs to rely on the strength of these old generals. After all, military power is all in the hands of these old generals.

For the old generals, land is as important as the king's realm. Others cannot touch it or take it. If they are pushed too far, they might separate head from body.

Various county magistrates either fear the old generals or collude with them, taking the small share, the generals taking the big share.

So, is Jiang Wen really going to be that good official?

"Speaking of which, Village Chief Niu, after I return to the village, I have not gone to the fields yet. This time I will have my servants go instead. Village chief, do you have any objection?"

"This..." Niu Mu broke out in a cold sweat, his eyes drifting.

Jiang Wen did not give him the chance to refuse. "Yang Wu, take this field register to Xiaohe Village, inquire one by one with the registered villagers, ask if they own so much land."

"The village's land has no problems. County magistrate, do not trouble yourself..." Niu Mu's eyes flickered, speaking somewhat flustered.

Jiang Wen looked at Niu Mu's expression, pondered for a moment, and said helplessly, "Forget it. I believe Village Chief Niu's words. You may go."

Niu Mu suddenly relaxed, saying, "Thank you, adult. Niu Mu takes leave."

The residence beside.

Niu Yi crouched, helping the masons lay the path. After all, he often does farm work, so his strength is still there.

But actually, his gaze was always on the west wing, constantly approaching the west wing.

Inside the house are two women. One is well-mannered and delicate, Jiang Wen's legitimate wife, and the other is an extremely beautiful woman sitting opposite her.

The two are chatting and laughing, with chess pieces on the table that seem to be of some mold.

The window is not closed tightly. Niu Yi secretly swallowed his saliva.

"Hey, who are you?"

Niu Yi's attention was attracted by a coquettish shout. He saw a clear-faced girl standing at the door with hands on hips.

"That... I saw some problem with the stones here, so I came to look carefully." Niu Yi said without changing his face.

Xiao Shu scolded angrily, "This house is the county magistrate's wife and concubine. If you dare to peek again, I will have you eyes poked out!"

"I dare not, I dare not!" Niu Yi quickly ran away, with dark anger in his eyes.

"Hmph!" Xiao Shu walked into the house. Diao Chan asked softly, "What happened, Xiao Shu?"

"A dishonest worker actually peeked at the wife and young lady from outside the window."

"Scold him a bit. You said to poke his eyes earlier, that was too much." Diao Chan said. "In case Lord finds out..."

"Rest assured, sister. If Lord finds out, not only will he poke his eyes out, but he will also break his legs." Tao'er jumped. "General!"

Night, the moonlight is very bright today, Jiang Wen sits on the stone chair in the courtyard.

Tao'er is wearing clothes and skirt, stepping gracefully, sitting beside Jiang Wen. "Lord, is your heart unsettled?"

"Where is Diao Chan?"

"Sister has already fallen asleep."

Jiang Wen nodded, saying, "I encountered some troubles."

"So... can you tell Tao'er?"

Jiang Wen smiled and hugged Tao'er over. His wife is different from Diao Chan. Her background is clean and she has accompanied him all along. Many things he has held in his heart can be easily said to her.

Jiang Wen smelling Tao'er's fragrance, "Today I looked at many local field registers and found that many ting chang have tampered with them, greedily profiting. Many registered fields no longer belong to the original villagers."

"So, Lord, help the villagers reclaim the land. Then Lord can become a good official!"

"This matter is not that simple," Jiang Wen lightly hugged Xiao Mang's waist, sighed and said. "These ting chang do not have the courage to privately swallow these fields. If they can get a little profit from them, they have already fed their stomachs. The real land grabbers are those generals."

"Lord, I do not understand. Those generals are not short of food or clothing, have many good fields. Why occupy the common people's land? That is the people's lives!"

"Because such things, no one thinks it is too much. Contentment makes one happy. For them, it is the four most ordinary words. All corrupt officials throughout history are like that," Jiang Wen said. "Just as you said, Tao'er, they already have food and clothing worries. If they occupy one less mu, they might support one more person, but corrupt officials do not care about these. They only care about more, even inscribe this word into their bones, like gluttons, insatiable, they accept all comers."

"These grains given to the people can support one side of the people, given to the lord, can cultivate one side of the soldiers. But they like to embezzle these things for the country and the people."

"Lord, then your concern is how to deal with these corrupt officials?"

"No, quite the opposite," Jiang Wen said. "Many times, not having evidence is enough to easily punish the criminal. Just like now, the field register that Niu Mu handed over today, although I know there are problems, I did not have people investigate it in the end."

"Lord... why is that?"

"Because I am afraid..." Jiang Wen looked at Tao'er's bright eyes. "I am afraid of suffering disaster. There was once a county magistrate who came here to investigate a case. Soon after, he was framed by the Wu Commandery Governor and beheaded. And now, there is still a grudge between Bo Fu and the old generals. If because of land matters, the relationship deteriorates further. Military power is in the hands of the old generals..."

"But this is always a temporary measure, not a cure!"

Diao Chan came over. "This concubine has seen the wife, Lord."

Tao'er immediately struggled off Jiang Wen's body, looking away embarrassedly.

"You were not asleep?"

Diao Chan smiled gently. "I was a bit bored, so came out to get some air."

Jiang Wen nodded. "Continue."

Diao Chan said, "According to Lord, the Prime Minister can use this to control the various old generals, but in the long run, pacifying the generals will lead to common people revolting."

"The longer the old generals occupy the land, the more taxes, the more miserable the people's lives will be. At that time, there will definitely be new Yellow Turban rebellions."