Lin Yu's simple yet poignant verse resonated deeply within Zhao Yun,sending shockwaves through his very being."Whether the dynasty flourishes or withers,it is ever the common folk at the lowest echelons who bear the brunt of suffering."Indeed,be it in times of a dynasty's resplendent prosperity or its dismal decline,it is always the ordinary people at the base of the social ladder who must endure the harshest of hardships.
"Brother,you hold the common people of the world within your heart.Zilong truly admires you,"Zhao Yun exclaimed with a heartfelt sigh.
Lin Yu merely smiled a bitter smile and turned his gaze towards Cao Cao,who was leading the army at the front.Originally,he had intended to live a lackadaisical life,coasting through without any lofty ambitions.However,the harrowing scenes of war and chaos that had unfolded before his eyes during his journey had filled him with a profound sense of unease.
Perhaps it was the will of the heavens that had sent him back to the twilight of the Eastern Han Dynasty,endowing him with the hope that he could put an end to this chaotic epoch.With these thoughts swirling in his mind,Lin Yu secretly resolved that he must wholeheartedly assist Cao Cao,hasten his development,and work towards unifying the entire nation.
After another day's arduous march,Cao Cao finally led his troops to Puyang County,the administrative heart of Dongjun.Only a few minor officials were standing at the city gate.At the sight of Cao Cao's approaching army,they hastened forward and saluted,intoning,"Greetings,Prefect Cao!"
As the highest-ranking official of the prefecture,Cao Cao was arriving for his first day in office.Ordinarily,not only should the officials of various ranks within the prefecture have been present to welcome him,but also the local aristocratic clans should have sent their representatives.Yet,only these few meager figures stood at the city gate.
Cao Cao's brow furrowed involuntarily,and he asked in a cold tone,"Where are the others?""Replying to the Prefect,they are all occupied with official duties and truly cannot spare the time..."A minor official stammered out his reply,his voice quivering with nervousness.
"What do you mean by being occupied with official duties?It's clear they hold the Prefect in contempt!"Xiahou Dun,always quick-tempered,immediately berated upon hearing this."I think you lot are tired of living!"
"General,please calm down.I...I am helpless in this matter!"The man said with a rueful smile.
Cao Cao's expression was inscrutable.He knew in his heart that these people were deliberately making things difficult for him.But since he had just arrived,this was not the time to lose his temper.
So he said coldly,"Let's enter the city!"
After entering the city,Cao Cao first saw to the proper settlement of the troops and then led Dian Wei,Xiahou Dun,and the others directly to the county yamen.
Inside the county yamen.
Cao Cao entered the main hall without a word,his men following closely behind.Once seated,he commanded in a deep,resonant voice,"Summon all the officials here!"
Before long,all the officials within the county yamen had assembled.
"Greetings,Prefect!"they chorused in unison as they saluted.
Cao Cao slowly surveyed the assembled officials and asked in a casual tone,"Where is the Prefectural Assistant?"
"Replying to the Prefect,your subordinate is here!"An aged and emaciated man stepped forward from the crowd,cupping his hands in a respectful salute.
"Bring me the account books regarding the population,land,and taxes of the prefecture for the recent years.Do it post-haste!"Cao Cao ordered.
After all,land,population,and taxes were the very bedrock of Dongjun,determining whether Cao Cao could establish a solid footing in this region.Hence,he was eager to examine the accounts immediately upon his arrival.
The Prefectural Assistant dared not delay.He promptly ordered someone to fetch the account books of the prefecture for the past several years and presented them to Cao Cao.
However,after perusing them for a short while,Cao Cao's countenance changed dramatically.
Before selecting Dongjun as his base,he had already made inquiries into the situation of Dongjun.Although the region had endured several wars,it had still maintained a relatively prosperous state with a substantial population.
But the population figures,land acreage,and tax amounts recorded in these account books were less than a third of what had been previously reported to the imperial court.
Given this state of affairs,not to mention developing his forces,Cao Cao's five thousand troops might well starve to death first.
"Are you certain there are no issues with these accounts?"Cao Cao fixed the Prefectural Assistant with a cold,penetrating stare and demanded.
Although the Prefectural Assistant was quaking with fear within,he still mustered the courage to reply,"Replying to the Prefect,when Prefect Qiao was in office,the account books were thus."
Cao Cao stared at him for a few more moments before waving his hand and saying,"All of you,leave!"
After all the officials had departed,Cao Cao was so incensed that he slammed his fist on the table,bellowing,"These scoundrels!How dare they deceive me?They deserve to be put to death!"
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Dian Wei and the others witnessed Cao Cao's fury but were at a loss as to how to alleviate his distress.
After a period of calming himself,Cao Cao suddenly remembered that he had Lin Yu as his advisor.He quickly said,"Go and find Mr.Lin Yu for me!"
Xiahou Dun accepted the order and left.
However,after a long while,he returned with a bitter smile and said,"Prefect,we do not know where Mr.Lin Yu has gone.We were unable to locate him."
"Understood!"Cao Cao's face flushed with anger as he sat there,seething with rage.
No one knew how long they waited until darkness had fallen that they beheld Lin Yu and Zhao Yun sauntering into the main hall.
"Greetings,Prefect!"Lin Yu cupped his hands in a respectful salute.
"You finally deign to return!What have you been occupied with all afternoon?"Cao Cao demanded angrily.
He had been in the throes of rage within the county yamen,while Lin Yu seemed to have disappeared to enjoy himself.
Lin Yu merely chuckled and,instead of answering directly,countered,"What does the Prefect require of me?"
"Well,I have already examined the accounts of the prefecture..."Cao Cao briefly recounted the situation and then handed the account books of the prefecture to Lin Yu.
Lin Yu perused them once and nodded slightly,saying,"So,this is how it stands."
Seeing that he did not appear surprised,Cao Cao could not help but ask,"Did you already know of this,sir?"
"The Prefect is unaware.In truth,I was not out indulging myself this afternoon.Instead,I was endeavoring to relieve your concerns,Prefect,"Lin Yu explained with a smile.
"Relieve my concerns?"Cao Cao regarded Lin Yu with a blank expression.
"I have already gained a rather comprehensive understanding of the situation in Puyang County,"Lin Yu said."The account books provided by the Prefectural Assistant are,in fact,accurate."
"How can that be?"Cao Cao was filled with disbelief.
Dongjun had always been a prosperous region.How could there be such meager amounts of land and population?
"Actually,the majority of the land and population are in the hands of the aristocratic clans,"Lin Yu said slowly.
At the end of the Eastern Han Dynasty,the emperors were inept and the imperial court was in a state of turmoil.The problem of land annexation grew increasingly severe.
Those aristocratic clans,with their privileged status,seized land from the common people by a multitude of means.
More and more peasants lost their land and were left with no fields to till.
In order to survive,they had no choice but to seek refuge with the aristocratic clans and become tenant farmers.
And the aristocratic clans were able to enjoy exemptions from taxes and corvée labor by virtue of their status.
As a result,the taxes collected by the government dwindled year by year.
"To maintain the army,the former Prefect Qiao Mao had no alternative but to forge good relations with the aristocratic clans."
"The food and supplies for his army were provided by the aristocratic clans.In exchange,most of the sons of the clan members served as officials within the prefecture."
"It is more accurate to say that Dongjun was effectively controlled by the aristocratic clans rather than being under the jurisdiction of the imperial court!"
"This kind of situation is not unique to Dongjun.Similar scenarios can be witnessed throughout the thirteen prefectures of the entire country!"
"Precisely because of this,more and more peasants were driven to the brink of destitution,which led to the Yellow Turban Rebellion previously and plunged the entire nation into chaos!"Lin Yu heaved a deep,sorrowful sigh.
These aristocratic clans were like blood-sucking leeches,clinging to the mighty Han Empire and voraciously draining its lifeblood.The fatter they grew,the more the common people of the world suffered.
This was also the reason why Cao Cao had historically sought to suppress the aristocratic clans.After all,if the aristocratic clans grew too powerful,it would undermine the very foundation of the country's rule.
The hall fell silent as Lin Yu's words hung heavy in the air,each man contemplating the implications of such a stark reality.The aristocratic clans,with their insatiable appetite for power and wealth,had become a cancerous growth on the once-great Han Dynasty,their influence spreading like a disease through the fabric of the nation.
Cao Cao,his face a mask of barely contained anger,slammed his fist down onto the table once more,the force of the blow causing the inkstone to jump and spill its black liquid across the surface."These parasites!They feast on the labor of the people while contributing nothing to the state.It is they who have brought us to this precipice."
Dian Wei and the others stood by,their faces reflecting a mixture of anger and helplessness.They were warriors,skilled in the art of war,but against an enemy that hid behind titles and lands,their swords felt dull.
Lin Yu,however,remained calm.He had expected as much."Lord Cao,the situation is dire,but not beyond redemption.The aristocratic clans hold the land and the people,but they are not untouchable.With the right strategy,we can loosen their grip and reclaim what is rightfully the state's."
Cao Cao looked at Lin Yu,his eyes narrowing."And what strategy would you propose,Mr.Lin?"
Lin Yu smiled,a glint of determination in his eyes."We must strike at the heart of their power.The clans rely on their control over the land and the people to maintain their influence.If we can break that control,we can break them."
He began to outline his plan,each word measured and precise."First,we must conduct a thorough survey of the land.We need to know exactly how much land each clan holds and how it is being used.Then,we will implement land reforms.We will redistribute the land to the peasants who have lost their farms,giving them a stake in the prosperity of the state."
Cao Cao listened intently,nodding as Lin Yu continued."Second,we must reform the tax system.The clans have been evading their fair share of the tax burden.We will ensure that they pay their due,and that the burden is not placed solely on the common people."
As Lin Yu spoke,a plan began to take shape in Cao Cao's mind.He could see the potential in Lin Yu's words,a path forward that could not only weaken the clans but also strengthen his own position.
"And the people?"Cao Cao asked,his voice grave."How do we ensure their loyalty to the state and not to the clans?"
Lin Yu's smile widened."By giving them a reason to be loyal.By improving their lives,by giving them hope for a better future.By showing them that the state is on their side."
The discussion continued late into the night,the two men poring over maps and documents,refining their strategy.Outside,the moon rose high in the sky,its cold light casting long shadows across the silent courtyard.
In the days that followed,Cao Cao began to implement Lin Yu's plan.He sent out surveyors to assess the land,and he called for a meeting of all the clan leaders in Dongjun.The clans,accustomed to their unchecked power,were initially resistant,but Cao Cao's firm stance and the support of his troops soon had them conceding to his demands.
The redistribution of land was a slow process,fraught with challenges and resistance.But step by step,the common people began to see a change.They received land of their own,a chance to build a future for themselves and their families.Their loyalty shifted from the clans to Cao Cao,who they saw as a leader who cared for their well-being.
As the weeks turned into months,the situation in Dongjun began to stabilize.The power of the aristocratic clans was diminished,and the common people,once mere subjects,now had a voice in the governance of their land.
Lin Yu watched the transformation with a sense of satisfaction.He had played a crucial role in this change,and he knew that his actions would have a lasting impact on the future of the region.