Why Does Mr. Xie Favor Me? Chapter 4

Chapter 4: Implementing Land Severance

A Scheme Within a Scheme

The morning assembly at Taiji Hall dragged on until nearly noon.

Xie Heng stood below the jade steps, the ivory tablet in his hands already warm from his grip. The debate over Land Severance had lasted for two full hours, ranging from the well-field system of the Rites of Zhou to the reforms of Huan Wen in the previous dynasty. Behind the citations of classics and history lay the naked power struggles of various factions.

Your Majesty. Cui Yan, the Censor-in-Chief, stepped forward. The Vice Director Xie’s request to investigate hidden households is well-intentioned, but the practice of noble families sheltering retainers has existed since ancient times. If they are forcibly evicted, I fear thousands of displaced people will lose their livelihoods, leading to chaos instead.

Censor Cui is mistaken. Xie Heng turned, his black official robes cutting a sharp arc through the hall. What you call displacement is only because their land was encroached upon in the first place. If their fields are returned according to national law, how can there be any talk of losing their livelihoods?

The Emperor, seated upon the dragon throne, suddenly spoke. Minister Xie, in your estimation, how long will it take to implement Land Severance?

Initial results can be achieved in three years, and full effects seen in five.

Three years… The Emperor tapped lightly on the imperial desk. The Northern Frontier cannot wait three years. Last month, three more cities were lost in Yunzhong. The barbarian cavalry has already reached Fu Pass.

Silence fell over the hall.

This was exactly the opportunity Xie Heng wanted. It is precisely because the Northern Frontier is in peril that we must implement Land Severance swiftly. I have calculated that if we recover three hundred thousand hidden households in the Jianghuai region, we can increase annual tax revenue by eight hundred thousand strings of coins. This is enough to provide three years of provisions for fifty thousand border troops.

This figure caused the civil and military officials to gasp in unison.

In that case, the Emperor’s voice echoed through the hall, I grant Minister Xie’s request. Effective immediately, Xie Heng, Vice Director of the Left, is appointed to oversee all Land Severance matters. All provinces and commanderies must cooperate fully.

Xie Heng bowed. I accept the command.

The Emperor was not finished. Furthermore, to prevent the new policy from being carried out too hastily, the Governor’s Office of Yangzhou shall appoint capable officials to assist. I have heard that the Langya Wang clan has a son named Wang Yan, who is well-versed in household registration and land records. He shall be fit for this task.

The rustle of sleeves came from the corner of the hall as several disciples of the Wang clan breathed a sigh of relief.

Xie Heng’s grip on his tablet tightened, but his face remained expressionless. I obey the decree.

After the assembly dismissed, Xiao Jue ran to catch up with Xie Heng, panting slightly. Vice Director Xie, let me go with you. I can protect you.

Xie Heng stopped, glanced at him, and gave a slight nod of approval.

Half a month later, Xie Heng ordered Xiao Jue to take twenty personal guards and head to Danyang Commandery.

Vice Director Xie is acting on imperial orders to implement Land Severance; naturally, I shall cooperate fully. The words of Chen Yu, the Governor of Danyang, were perfectly smooth. Assistant Wang was specifically sent by the Governor’s Office to assist with Danyang’s household registration matters. The two of you are just in time…

Assist? Xie Heng set down his teacup. The porcelain base hit the red sandalwood table with a crisp clack.

Wang Yan, who was seated below, rose to salute. His crimson official robes were strikingly new. I, Wang Yan, have been ordered by the Governor’s Office to assist with the Land Severance affairs in Danyang. He placed a deliberate emphasis on the word assist.

Xiao Jue stood behind Xie Heng with his hand on his sword. His gaze swept over the gallery, where several armed attendants had appeared at some unknown point. Though they wore the uniforms of commandery soldiers, their stance and gait were those of private guards.

Assist with what? Xie Heng asked.

Naturally, with the household and land records, Wang Yan said with a smile. The Governor’s Office was concerned that Danyang’s records were too complex, so they sent me to help with the audit.

I recall that the Department of State Affairs issued a document to the Yangzhou Governor’s Office last week, stating clearly that Land Severance is to be supervised by the Department of State Affairs, and local authorities are only required to cooperate.

And this is cooperation. Wang Yan took a scroll from his sleeve. According to the new regulations issued by the Governor’s Office, any audit involving more than a hundred households must be reported in advance to prevent disturbing the populace.

Xie Heng slowly looked up. I carry the orders of the Department of State Affairs and the special authorization of His Majesty.

I would not dare to disobey, Wang Yan said, offering the document with both hands. However, the regulation is here. If the Vice Director forcibly conducts a search, I fear it would be legally improper.

Xiao Jue couldn’t help but speak up. The orders of the Department of State Affairs came first, and the Governor’s Office regulations came after. Which one should take precedence?

Only then did Wang Yan look at Xiao Jue, his eyes filled with the habitual disdain that noble clans held for military officers of humble birth. General Xiao may not be aware, but local affairs have their own local rules.

Rules? Xiao Jue took a half-step forward. When the soldiers of the Northern Frontier are guarding the borders on empty stomachs, why does no one talk about rules? When the barbarian cavalry breaks through cities and plunders the people, why does no one talk about rules?

Xiao Jue, Xie Heng said softly.

The youth gritted his teeth and stepped back, the veins on the back of his hand bulging.

Xie Heng then looked at Wang Yan. If Assistant Wang wants a report, fine. Danyang Commandery has twenty-three thousand registered households. Last year, only seventeen thousand paid the poll tax, leaving a deficit of six thousand households. I intend to investigate those six thousand households today. Please file the report immediately, Assistant Wang.

Wang Yan’s smile stiffened. This… the number is too large. A detailed document needs to be drafted…

Then draft it. Xie Heng signaled his clerk to lay out paper and grind ink. I will wait here. Draft it today, report it today, and start the investigation today.

The air in the hall froze.

Wang Yan dropped his smile. Why must Vice Director Xie be in such a hurry? Land Severance is a plan for a century; the right path is to proceed slowly and deliberately.

The lives of the soldiers in the Northern Frontier cannot wait for slow and deliberate. Xie Heng rose. Xiao Jue, take my tally and mobilize three hundred commandery soldiers. Go and seal the records treasury now.

Wait! Wang Yan also stood up. Half of the commandery soldiers are repairing the riverbanks, and the other half are guarding against autumn floods. Currently, there are fewer than a hundred men available for deployment.

Then mobilize the Governor’s provincial troops.

The provincial troops were deployed to Guangling last month to suppress bandits.

Xie Heng finally turned and looked Wang Yan directly in the eye. So, you are saying Danyang Commandery has no troops available?

It is not that there are no troops, but that they each have their duties. Wang Yan bowed. If the Vice Director is in urgent need of soldiers, you may request them from the imperial court. However, the correspondence alone will take at least half a month.

Half a month. By then, the autumn harvest would be over. Once the land boundaries were destroyed, it would be impossible to track the hidden households.

Xiao Jue’s hand on his sword was shaking—not from fear, but from rage.

In the Northern Frontier, he had seen soldiers who continued to guard the beacon towers even after their fingers had frozen off. He had seen veterans who ate only one meal a day to save rations. Those hidden households sheltered by the noble clans should have been the ones providing grain and soldiers.

Xie Heng remained silent for a long time, then suddenly smiled. The smile was faint, but it made Wang Yan’s heart tighten.

Since there are no troops available, I shall go myself. He straightened his sleeves. Xiao Jue, gather the twenty guards we brought.

Vice Director! Xiao Jue said urgently. How can twenty men be enough?

We are not going to fight a war; we are going to seal a treasury. Xie Heng was already walking out. I would like to see who dares to obstruct the Department of State Affairs.

Wang Yan followed quickly. How would I dare to obstruct you? It is only for the Vice Director’s safety. The records treasury is in a remote location. If you encounter rioting refugees…

Then that would be perfect. Xie Heng turned at the entrance of the hall, the morning light shining behind him. I would also like to ask those refugees why they would rather be hidden retainers for noble clans than registered citizens of the empire.

The sound of horse hooves faded into the morning mist.

Wang Yan stood on the steps, his expression gradually darkening. A confidant leaned in and whispered, My lord, are you really letting him go?

Let him go, Wang Yan sneered. The records treasury happens to be undergoing reorganization today. All the registers have been packed into crates for relocation. Even if he seals it, he will only be sealing a pile of empty boxes.

And the real records?

They have already been transported to the villa via the secret passage. Wang Yan looked toward the end of the long street. Xie Heng wants to investigate? I won’t even let him touch a single page.