Chapter 66: Reformation of Land Policy

Chapter 66: Reformation of Land Policy
"Come and see! What is this!" A notice at the city gate caught the attention of the people in the city.
At this moment, a small official walked out of the crowd and said, "Everyone, calm down. This notice is the first policy of our newly appointed Governor Xu, called 'Land Reform...'" Xu Han, who grew up under the red flag in the future, knew the importance of ordinary people. The powerful families in the Han Dynasty never knew the great power hidden in the so-called lowly people. To gain the support of the people, one must truly serve the people. Therefore, Xu Han almost copied the land reform system from the future. This system had been proven by later experiences. It was a fact that returning land to the people was the foundation of achieving great victory. By standing among the people, one would stand invincible.
When Xu Han told Guo Jia and others about this plan, they were all shocked. This plan completely subverts the noble families. It is known that the reason why noble families can dominate over the common people is mainly due to land. 90% of the land is controlled by noble families, and the majority of people can only work as tenant farmers for the noble families. In one year, they can only receive some food from the noble families, which is not even enough to support a family. The second reason is knowledge. Noble families control cultural books, and the common people are not allowed to learn. With each generation, they become more ignorant and until they even lose the thinking and courage to resist, becoming tools for the noble families.
The current direct attack on the land of the aristocracy by Xu Han is undoubtedly epoch-making and subversive, freeing itself from the shackles of the aristocracy and holding great positive significance for the people and the country. However, the difficulty is definitely enormous. In this feudal society, the aristocratic groups are like colossal monsters, even the imperial power has to consider the influence of the aristocracy. Therefore, it poses a tremendous challenge to the Xu Han group.
Fortunately, Xu Han's territory is in Dunhuang, a border area, and the influence of aristocratic families is relatively small. This is also the reason why Guo Jia eventually agreed to Xu Han's policies. By starting in Dunhuang and gaining the support of the local people, we can gradually expand our influence in the surrounding areas and weaken their strength step by step. There is also a great opportunity for success.
Dunhuang County, Zhou Family.
"Father, Father, quickly take a look at what this is. It's a new policy issued by the newly arrived prefect." Zhou Quan, the eldest son of the Zhou family, hastily ran back to the mansion with a posted notice and showed it to Zhou Li, the head of the Zhou family. In Dunhuang City, apart from the expelled Suo family, there were also the four major families of Zhou, Li, Wang, and Hu. These four major families did not intervene in the Dunhuang government and army, so they lived in harmony with each other when General Xu Han's army entered the city. The four major families collectively controlled fifty percent of the fertile lands in Dunhuang County. The registered population of Dunhuang County was only about seventy to eighty thousand, including the previously registered tenant population of the Suo family which was over fifty thousand. When the Suo family left and General Xu Han confiscated their properties, it was discovered that the farmers who worked for the Suo family were not registered. They were essentially private subjects of the Suo family. However, these noble families were extremely harsh towards the tenant farmers, almost keeping them in a state of barely surviving and barely having enough food to eat, making it possible for them to work but depriving them of the strength to resist.
The head of the Zhou family, Zhou Li, took the notice and read it gently, "Land reform policies are being implemented in response to the serious privatization of state-owned land in Dunhuang County, which has led to a shortage of food for the people and severe food shortages in the county warehouses. The Dunhuang County Prefectural Government has decided to re-measure all the land within the jurisdiction of the county and allocate land proportionally based on the population of each household. The land allocated to the people is now the personal property of the individuals. Starting today, you can go to the prefectural government to register and receive... "As he read further down, Zhou Li's eyes widened. "Quick, prepare a generous gift and go to the prefectural government to congratulate the new prefect." Previously, the prefect was under the control of the Su family, and they often interacted with the Su family. This time, the new prefect came into power with great authority. Zhou Li thought it was because of Xu Han's appointment, and as a local influential figure, he had not visited, which made Xu Han unhappy. So he instructed his son to prepare gifts and go to the prefectural government to establish a relationship.
Like the Zhou family, there are also the Li family, led by Li Wei, the Wang family, led by Wang Kai, and the Hu family, led by Hu Yong. The four major families have all prepared gifts and arrived at the magistrate's residence.
Evening
"The four heads of the families have arrived, my apologies for keeping you waiting! Since I just arrived in Dunhuang, there have been numerous trivial matters that I couldn't attend to, so I could not make it earlier. Thank you all for your patience." The four leaders of the major families had waited for several hours at the magistrate's residence before Xu Han finally arrived in the hall, taking his sweet time. Although Xu Han claimed to have kept them waiting, his slow steps made it clear to the four clan leaders that he was intentionally playing with them. However, Xu Han held influential power, so they dared not act out. They could only put on a smiling face and respond promptly.
"Lord Prefect is busy with administrative affairs, and we apologize for bothering you. We have prepared some small gifts to welcome your appointment." said Zhou, the head of the Zhou family, as he presented a piece of brocade with both hands. The heads of the other three families made the same gesture. The gifts from the four major families have already been arranged to be sent to the Prefect's treasury, while the brocade was just a list of the gifts. Xu Han did not hesitate and accepted it as he passed by the four family heads, walking straight to the main seat. He opened it on the spot and exclaimed, 'Wow! Such generous gifts! The Zhou family is indeed wealthy—a hundred taels of gold, a thousand taels of silver, fifty rolls of silk, and a hundred thousand stones of grain. The Li family is also generous—ten bushels of pearls, ten roots of hundred-year-old ginseng, three fine horses, and a hundred war horses. Hahaha, the Wang family and the Hu family are also quite generous!'" Seeing Xu Han's money-minded expression, everyone assumed that he, like previous officials, accepted bribes and would therefore stand with them in the future.
"Master Xu, we also have a matter that we wish to request your assistance with, which is the land reform mentioned in today's announcement," said Zhou Li, the head of the Zhou family, before Xu Han interrupted him.
"Zhou Jiazhu, I didn't expect such a coincidence. I actually intended to visit everyone to discuss the matter of land reform. I hope to have a discussion with everyone about this matter. If I can have your support, my policy can be better implemented. I didn't expect the heads of the households to be concerned about the country and its people, and to come here to support my work. I thank you all for this." Of course, Xu Han knew the reason why the four families gathered to visit him. So Xu Han didn't give them a chance to speak.
The four major families looked at each other and understood what Xu Han meant.
"Lord Xu, although our four families may not compare to the Su family in Dunhuang, we believe that there are still many areas where you need our support. With the support of our four major families, you will have a smoother journey in Dunhuang," Zhou Li implied to Xu Han the capabilities of the four major families. The meaning was that if the four major families did not support Xu Han, he would face significant obstacles in Dunhuang. This was a veiled threat.
"Oh, indeed, but land reform was the first policy I implemented in office. It would be best if the four clan leaders support me, but even if they don't, I will still carry on with it! Whoever secretly sabotages or obstructs me, my elite troops of 30,000 soldiers under Xu Han will not sit idly. Those who follow me shall live and those who oppose me shall perish."
"Hmph, we're leaving." Seeing that Xu Han was not receptive, the four family masters angrily swept their sleeves and left. As they reached the door, they suddenly heard Xu Han's voice. "Gentlemen, although our conversation was not very pleasant, you cannot take the gifts you brought back with you, it would be unbecoming of all of you."
When the four masters heard about it, they were dumbfounded. This new magistrate is simply a scoundrel, like a profit-seeking and unscrupulous merchant.
But we can't blame Xu Han. Money is needed everywhere nowadays. How could one let go of the meat that is on the edge of their mouth?
(End of this chapter)