lovenovelstory Chapter 88 Distribution of Profits
Chapter 88 Distribution of Profits
"Yes, divide the land."
Li Sheng was resolute.
"But it won't be a random distribution. Starting tomorrow, the county government will set up a 'Land Survey Team' to survey all the land in the county and register it. The land occupied by the four major families and those powerful clans will all be confiscated. Then, it will be distributed to the landless people according to the number of people."
He glanced at the crowd.
"Brothers of the Taiping Army will be given priority. Each of you will be allocated land according to your military merits and rank."
These words caused an uproar in the hall.
Land allocation!
These soldiers, who came from humble backgrounds, joined the army and fought alongside Li Shenghua, all for these very reasons. Now that the leader of the alliance has personally said that he will allocate land to them, and with priority, how could they not be excited?
"Alliance Leader!"
A man with a full beard stood up, his eyes red-rimmed, his voice trembling.
"My... my father farmed his whole life, and he never owned a single plot. If I can get a share of land now, I... I'll give my life to you, Alliance Leader!"
"Me too!"
"Leader, I misunderstood you. You remember us brothers!"
The crowd was filled with righteous indignation, and some even had tears in their eyes.
Li Sheng raised his hand to quiet the noise down before continuing.
"Land redistribution is no small matter; it must be done in a systematic way. I have already drafted the regulations. The first article is to register all households and people. All tenants, retainers, and vagrants who were originally dependent on powerful families must be re-registered and included in the household register. Only those with household registration can receive land; only those with household registration can pay taxes and serve in the army."
As he spoke, he took out a scroll of bamboo slips from his sleeve and unfolded it.
"This is a draft of the regulations that I had Zhou Chang work on overnight. The village leaders should take it back and let their men hear it. Anyone with objections can raise them. It will be officially implemented in three days."
He paused, his gaze sweeping over each face.
"These lands are rightfully yours. Since you all follow me, Li Sheng, I will certainly not treat you unfairly."
That evening, the news spread from the county government office and flew throughout the city as if it had grown wings.
The Taiping army camp was the first to erupt in excitement. The soldiers, upon hearing they would be allocated land, were so excited they couldn't sleep all night. Most of them were tenant farmers, renting land from others in their villages, paying rent of 50-60% or even 70-80%, and often going a long time without a full meal. Now, Leader Li said he would be distributing land to them.
"Long live Leader Li!"
"Long live the Taiping Army!"
Shouts rose and fell throughout the camp, and some people had already begun to plan what to plant after they were allocated land.
Tenants and migrants who were still observing the situation inside and outside the county town rushed to the county town with their families after hearing the news. By noon the next day, the county government office was already crowded with people, a dense mass of people, all there to register their household registration and wait for land allocation.
Li Sheng instructed Zhou Chang to lead a dozen clerks to set up tables at the entrance of the county government office for on-site registration. Meanwhile, some outstanding members of the core village militia from Dongping Village were selected to learn from the experience.
Soldiers were also present to protect them.
Zhou Chang and his ilk, being spineless petty officials, quickly submitted to Li Sheng's rule.
Although they knew that Li Sheng had those peasants from Dongping Village learn from them in order to replace them in the future, there was nothing they could do about it.
Don't want to do it? Then don't. Chen Yuan's captain is much more flexible than them.
They compared the household registration records from previous years and asked the people who came to claim land in detail.
He asked each question carefully, one by one, and remembered them clearly.
The ragged people tremblingly gave their names and received a bamboo tag with a number on it; some of them burst into tears on the spot.
Those around him wiped away tears.
Li Sheng watched this scene in silence.
Li Feng walked up behind him at some point and whispered.
"Brother Sheng, the crowd outside the county government office is growing larger and larger, probably numbering over a thousand. It's not just people from the city, but also some who have come from outside. Should we send someone to maintain order?"
"Let Liu Wu take the men. Remember, don't cause any trouble."
"promise."
Li Feng turned to leave, but Li Sheng called him back.
"Wait. Have the estates of the Chen, Xu, Zhou, and Wang families outside the city been inventoried?"
"Not yet. Li Shi just sent word that the four families' land holdings, on their internal records, total nearly 30,000 mu. The Chen family alone owns 12,000 mu."
Li Sheng sneered.
"Thirty thousand mu. How much arable land does Xiapi County actually have? These few families have taken up almost half of it. Good, really good."
He turned around and his gaze fell on the crowd of people outside the window.
"Expedite the land survey in the county; anyone who obstructs it should be executed!"
"promise!"
Li Sheng knew that checking the land acreage sounded simple, but it was actually not easy, though not as difficult as he had imagined.
With the Taiping army at his side and guns in his hands, these people can't cause any trouble. He's not like Emperor Guangwu Liu Xiu, who rose to power by relying on the support of powerful clans!
Soon, the work of surveying the fields proceeded steadily and in an orderly manner.
……
In the county government office of Xiapi, Li Shengzheng was sitting upright in the main hall handling affairs.
Over the past ten days or so, the people of Xiapi have gradually increased their trust in the Taiping Army, and many villagers with grievances have naturally come to Li Sheng to file complaints.
"Snapped!"
The gavel slammed on the table, startling both sides in the audience.
"Li Ergou, you forcibly seized three mu of old Wang's meager land. The evidence is irrefutable. Do you admit your crime?"
Li Sheng's eyes were sharp and keen.
Li Ergou immediately turned ashen-faced and knelt down with a thud.
"I...I confess my sins!"
Li Sheng immediately ruled in court to return the land and fine Li Ergou a certain amount in compensation. Old Wang was in tears, kowtowing repeatedly, and then shouted loudly.
"Thank you, Your Honor! You are truly a paragon of justice!"
In recent days, Li Sheng has been discerning and meticulous, punishing tyrants and redressing wronged people without a single wrong judgment. The people watching the trial are all convinced of his abilities.
The crowd recalled the rumors from the village about Li Sheng's resurrection. It was said that Li Sheng had been to the Yellow Heaven, and from then on, Li Sheng was known as "King Li".
When Li Sheng first heard the people call him King Li, he was both amused and exasperated.
However, these were words of respect from the people, and he couldn't stop them, so he let them be. Thus, "King Li" became the respectful title given to Li Sheng in the countryside.
"Hurry up and help the elder up."
Seeing the old man kneeling on the ground, Li Sheng quickly instructed the officials on either side to help him up.
"Elder, we Taiping soldiers do not perform the rites of kneeling and bowing. Please do not offend me, Li Sheng."
Old Man Wang then got up, and all he could say were good things about Li Sheng and the Taiping Army.
After seeing the minor official help the people out, Li Sheng looked at Li Zili standing to the side.
Yes, Li Sheng did not forget this talented man from Tingyi. He promoted him to the county government and, based on his abilities, made him his personal secretary.
"Zili, is there anything else you need to do today?"
Li Zili pulled out a small booklet and opened it to take a look.
"General, Li Feng, the garrison commander, says the land survey is almost complete and requests your presence."
Li Sheng nodded.
The land in Xiapi County has finally been sorted out.