Chương 518: Releasing Arrows

Liu Ce then looked at Song Yingxing: "You're an expert in industry. Cement plants, iron smelting bases... we need to get things done quickly. I'm giving you three months. The first batch of cement and steel must be transported to Luoyang. I don't care what methods you use, whether it's overtime or hiring more people, I just want results. Time waits for no one, the First Five-Year Plan can't wait."

Song Yingxing wiped the sweat from his brow and bowed, saying, "Your subject obeys the decree!"

He gritted his teeth and added, "Your Majesty, rest assured, even if I have to live in the factory, I will ensure that the cement and steel are produced on time! I have already moved my bedding to the factory."

"Lu Bing," Liu Ce said, turning his gaze to the commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, his tone laced with murderous intent, "deploy all the Embroidered Uniform Guards and keep a close watch on the powerful families and clans across the land. I want to know exactly who is pulling the strings behind the scenes and who is conspiring in secret. Don't be afraid of alerting them; what I want is for them to move. Only when they move can I make them come to the rescue."

"Your subject obeys the decree!" Lu Bing clasped his hands in acceptance, a cold glint flashing in his eyes.

...

February 5th of the first year of Shenwu, the fifteenth day since the official launch of the First Five-Year Plan.

Kaifeng County, near Luoyang.

At the entrance of the county government office, a large crowd of ragged people gathered in front of the newly posted "Equal Land Distribution Order" and "Emancipation of Slaves Order".

The notice was written in plain language, simple and straightforward.

They stood on tiptoe, reading each word carefully, their faces filled with disbelief.

Some people couldn't read, and they'd grab the person next to them and ask, "What's written? What's written? Read it to me quickly!"

The person who was pulled aside read out the words slowly and deliberately. When he got to the line "Both men and women have land," a collective gasp of astonishment rippled through the crowd.

"Really?"

An old farmer asked in a trembling voice, his tone filled with a cautious anticipation, as if he was afraid that this good news was a lie, afraid that if he got too excited, it would fly away.

He had lived for so long, yet he had never owned a single acre of land. He had always been a tenant farmer for landlords, and after paying the rent, he was left with only half a bowl of thin porridge.

"Those officials from before never kept their promises after posting notices. A few years ago, a county magistrate came and said he would reduce taxes, but instead of reducing taxes, he added a 'processing fee.' Is this year's one of them lying again?"

"This time it's different!" A young man pointed to the large red seal at the end of the notice.

"See that? This is the imperial seal! Not the county government's! It's an order personally issued by His Majesty! Anyone who dares to disobey will be beheaded!"

"Even slaves can get land! The imperial court is even giving them compensation!" A young slave girl trembled with excitement, tears streaming down her face.

"I'm finally not their private property anymore! I was sold to the Zhang family when I was a child, and for twenty years, I haven't even been considered a person. My masters would give meat to the dogs during the New Year, but they wouldn't even give me any..."

"It says above that as long as you register at the county government office, you can get the land deed! It won't cost a single copper coin!"

"Thank God!"

The people were abuzz with discussion. Some burst into tears, some hugged each other, and some knelt on the ground and kowtowed, facing the direction of Luoyang.

Several elderly people were in tears, murmuring "Long live the Prince of Yan... no, Your Majesty."

...

Just then, a group of servants wielding sticks rushed over, surrounding a fat man in fine clothes.

The fat man had a big head and ears, a round belly, and he walked with a waddling gait, like a penguin.

This fat man is Zhang the most powerful man in Kaifeng County, known as "Zhang the Half-County".

His family had been operating in Kaifeng County for three generations, owning 30% of the county's farmland and employing hundreds of tenants. Even the county magistrate had to address him respectfully as "Master Zhang."

"Get out of my way!" Zhang the landlord kicked over the notice board, and the wooden sign snapped in two with a "crack".

He cursed, spitting as he spoke, "What kind of bullshit land equalization decree is this! This land has always belonged to people like us! Anyone who dares to touch my Zhang family's land, I'll break their legs! My Zhang family's land was reclaimed by my great-great-great-grandfather, why should it be given to those peasants?"

"And you lowly slaves!" He pointed at the maids, his eyes wide like saucers.

"Anyone who dares to leave, I'll kill them! No repercussions! An order from the imperial court? In Kaifeng County, my word is law! The emperor is far away in Luoyang; how could he possibly govern this place? Go and ask around—the magistrate of Kaifeng County is my brother-in-law's cousin's second uncle!"

The people were so frightened that they retreated, daring not to speak out against their anger.

Several of the bolder young men clenched their fists, but when they saw the group of servants wielding sticks, they relaxed.

The old farmers lowered their heads, not daring to utter a sound.

Several maids huddled in a corner, trembling.

Just then, the sound of horses' hooves came, making the pebbles on the ground bounce.

"Who dares to disobey the imperial edict!"

With a loud shout, Tian Feng, along with the Imperial Guards and troops of the patrol team, rode up to the scene.

The dust kicked up by the cavalry blotted out the sky, and the sound of their hooves shook the ground.

The soldiers dismounted and quickly formed ranks, their swords and spears gleaming coldly in the sunlight.

The Imperial Guards, dressed in flying fish robes and wielding embroidered spring knives, with their sharp eyes, immediately overwhelmed the imposing presence of the servants upon their arrival.

When Zhang the wealthy man saw Tian Feng in his official robes, he was first taken aback, then arrogantly cupped his hands in greeting, a fake smile plastered on his face:

"My lord, my name is Zhang San, a local gentry. These troublemakers are causing a disturbance, and I'm currently helping the county government maintain order. You needn't trouble yourself with the affairs of this county. Since you've come from afar, why not come to my humble abode for a cup of tea? I have a new cook at home who is an excellent cook..."

"Maintaining order?" Tian Feng sneered, a smile that sent chills down one's spine.

"I see you openly defying the imperial decree, beating up commoners, and tearing up the imperial edict!"

He strode to the notice board, bent down to pick up the two pieces of broken wood, and held them up in front of Zhang the landlord.

"Look carefully! This is His Majesty's edict! If you tear it up, you're tearing off His Majesty's face! Good food? You'd better save it for when you get to your place of exile."

He waved his hand, his voice as cold as ice: "Men! Seize Zhang San!"

"Who dares!" Zhang Dahu took a step back, and his servants immediately raised their sticks, glaring fiercely at the soldiers.

He stood with his hands on his hips, his voice laced with threat, "My Zhang family has been officials for generations, with disciples and former subordinates all over the country! You dare touch me? My master was a prefect! My uncle... I..."

"Hmph," Tian Feng's eyes turned cold as he walked step by step toward Zhang the landlord, his boots clattering on the ground.

"His Majesty has decreed: anyone who obstructs the new policies will be executed first and reported later! Don't even mention a small country gentry like you; even princes and nobles who dare to disobey the decree will be killed without mercy! His Majesty doesn't care who your master... your uncle... is."

He raised his hand and shouted, "Release the arrows!"

At Tian Feng's command, the soldiers behind him immediately drew their bows and nocked arrows, the bowstrings creaking.

"Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!"

More than a dozen arrows were shot out, and the servants at the forefront fell to the ground with screams of agony.