Chapter 615: Feared Like a Tiger

The scorching sun of midsummer was unbearably intense. As they rode at full speed, hot winds blew straight at them. Before long, Zhang Yue felt a sticky sensation on his neck and head, and his shirt stuck to his back. The heat from the ground continued to rise, and it wasn’t until they left the city and took a forest path that things improved slightly. Yet when his group arrived at Baishazhuang in Xiji Town, they found the place in complete chaos.

Baishazhuang covered a total of sixty hectares. Originally, there were about fifty to sixty tenant families, totaling over two hundred people, including registered tenants and laborers. But since the beginning of this year, many who originally owned land had chosen to give it up and become tenants instead. Although the Ming Dynasty’s taxes were light, corvée labor was heavy. Among the conscripts sent north for military campaigns from Shuntian Prefecture, three out of ten failed to return alive. Even those who did return found their fields either abandoned or flooded.

Last year’s floods in Shuntian Prefecture had devastated areas like Wanping and Tongzhou. Despite government relief, most people still struggled to make ends meet. As the deadline for paying summer taxes approached, some naturally considered taking advantage of the nobles’ exemptions. Even though it wasn’t the end of the year, the tenant farmers who had just harvested wheat still had to negotiate with their landlords as usual. People were never satisfied. Knowing that the Meng family’s two adult men were absent and only the old, weak, women, and children remained, Baishazhuang was crowded with people, leaving no space anywhere.

“Heard there’s going to be another war soon. The Baoding Marquis is one of the highest-ranking nobles, so he’s exempt from corvée. We’ve worked hard here for so many years—would it be fair to still force us to serve as conscripts?”

“That’s right! Last year’s floods damaged our lands too. Many fields couldn’t be restored even by sowing again. The rent of two dou per mu is way too high—it’s like they want to strip us bare!”

“They volunteered to give up their land, each giving over ten mu. With about a hundred and eighty families, that’s at least sixty hectares. Won’t the rent increase next year? The young lady doesn’t charge much rent, but we really can’t pay this year. Instead of keeping pestering us, it would be better to take their land so there won’t be such famine next year!”

Hearing these continuous shouts, Zhang Yue immediately understood the source of the chaos today. He clearly remembered that since the Eastern Palace learned about King Zhao privately accepting bribes and sheltering escaped laborers, strict enforcement had been imposed in the areas around the capital against such practices. Yet, it seemed this trend was resurging. It was understandable that the common people feared corvée labor like a tiger, but since there had been no talk in the court about going to war, how could rumors of an imminent military campaign spread?

Although Baishazhuang belonged to the Marquis of Baoding’s estate, it had long been given to his nephews and nieces by Meng Ying, though the ownership had not been transferred due to corvée and taxes. Everyone with eyes could see this relationship, and the tenant farmers were no exception. No one dared challenge the Marquis of Baoding’s authority, but since the one in charge here was a woman, they naturally tried to make a fuss, hoping to gain more protection and pay less in taxes and grain. This put the estate manager in a difficult position. Seeing the furious crowd, he was drenched in sweat, unsure whether to agree or not, and worried that the crowd might storm into the estate and cause trouble, leaving him extremely anxious.

“The floods last year did flood some fields, but those who were eligible for exemption already received it. Baishazhuang’s rent is the lowest! The land belonging to the Marquis of Anyuan has a rent of three dou and five sheng, while that of the Duke of Yingguo is three dou and two sheng. Even the other estates of the Marquis of Baoding range from two dou and eight sheng to four dou—these are all reductions given out of the lords’ kindness. You cultivate some of the most fertile land near Tongzhou and pay the lowest rent among all these estates. Now you still demand further reductions? Isn’t that deliberately trying to push the landowners into hardship? As for corvée labor, the government has established rules…”

As these words were torn apart, a buzz arose among the crowd. Soon, someone shouted loudly, “We’re willing to pay 30% more rent per mu, as long as we’re exempt from corvée labor when the government conscripts people for the northern campaign this year!”

“I’m even willing to pay 50% more!”

Seeing the manager overwhelmed by the chaotic voices, Zhang Yue signaled Zhang Bu and Niu Gan who were with him. The two rode forward side by side, waving their whips and shouting a few commands, quickly clearing a path. He and Peng Shisan escorted the carriage to the front of the estate. Seeing the middle-aged manager staring at them in shock, they smiled and nodded.

“Young Master… Yue?”

“I heard everything outside just now. Are you fighting over the summer taxes and corvée labor?”

The manager wore a six-in-one small hat. Hearing Zhang Yue’s question and seeing the four spirited guards beside him with waist knives, he immediately felt more confident. He stepped forward, knelt down, and kowtowed. After getting up, he apologized with a smile, “You’re right; these people are indeed fighting in contests! Since we moved to Baisha Village, a lot of land has been left uncultivated. The young lady said that lower rents would attract more tenants, so our rents have always been the lowest. For the more neglected land, rent is waived for the first two years, and seeds and farming tools are provided. Yet these ruffians cause trouble every year, never paying their rent properly…”

He kept talking on, but Zhang Yue waved his hand to stop him and turned his horse back toward the hundred-odd people. At first glance, some were shirtless, some wore patched shirts, and others had their sleeves and pants rolled up high… Almost everyone had tanned faces and strong bodies. Their clothes were either earth gray or earth brown. With sweaty faces from the sun, their eyes were fixed on him.

“Who said there would be war again this year?”

Although some of the tenant farmers were shouting for lower rents while others wanted to seek protection from powerful figures, ultimately they all wanted to avoid labor duties. So when they saw someone important coming to Baisha Village, they became uneasy. When Zhang Yue turned around and asked that question, the crowd fell silent for a while before someone muttered in a low voice, “Isn’t that what everyone is saying outside? They say over 200,000 conscripts were called up last year, and 300,000 this year!”

Someone started talking, and the people, who had been nervous due to Zhang Yue’s sudden arrival, regained their confidence. Moreover, since Zhang Yue appeared weak and spoke kindly, they didn’t want to miss this chance to complain. They all started talking at once, turning the atmosphere into a noisy mess like a market.

But Zhang Yue wasn’t impatient. He carefully listened to these chaotic words and eventually understood that the rumor of sending troops was already widespread among the people. After pondering for a while, he simply dismounted from his horse and examined the men around him, who were mostly middle-aged or strong. From building canals to constructing Beijing and then sending troops to fight beyond the borders, aside from the heavy taxes during the Yongle era, the sheer burden of corvée labor had made the people extremely fearful at the slightest rumor. Of course, it was also possible that some were deliberately stoking the panic.

“I’ve heard what everyone just said. The court has exempted the tax on farmland affected by last year’s floods in places like Kaifeng and Weihui, but not in Shuntian Prefecture—because compared to other areas, the floods there were relatively mild. Everyone has just harvested their summer crops; if they don’t pay the taxes in time, Baishazhuang won’t be able to settle its summer taxes either. What measures will the authorities take then? Do you think you can avoid them? Besides, I can tell that everyone’s demand for reduced taxes is just an excuse, and their offer to contribute is also fake—mere attempts to prevent the court from conscripting laborers. But this is all unfounded speculation. There’s no talk of sending troops yet, let alone conscription.”

Hearing this, the crowd looked at each other in confusion. Peasants respected scholars the most and feared officials the most. Seeing that Zhang Yue didn’t seem like an ordinary person, they quickly elected an old man to speak on their behalf. The old man, in his fifties, spoke with a deep voice, “May I ask this young sir how you can be so sure that what we heard are just rumors?”

Before Zhang Yue could respond, the supervisor standing behind him seized the opportunity to step forward. After coughing loudly, he said irritably, “This is Lord Zhang from the Ministry of War—a prominent figure in the court. Of course, what he says counts! Think about it—if war were to break out, how could he possibly be unaware of it?”

There are many people surnamed Zhang in the world, and many in the court as well, but only a few are well-known to the common people. Comparing his age to Zhang Yue’s and considering his title, the crowd became agitated. They wanted to approach him but hesitated. The old man at the front, eyes shining, pushed through the crowd and knelt down immediately. Surprised, Zhang Yue quickly helped him up but was stunned by what he heard.

“So this young sir is the famous Lord Zhang! Hey, my nephew serves in the army camp and guarded Xinghe with you over a year ago. He told me back then that you were like a celestial being descended from heaven, extremely capable—you even repelled hundreds of thousands of troops! Since it’s you who says it, we naturally believe you. Although there are floods and droughts now, the harvest is still good. As long as there’s no war, we can get by!”

Although he felt helpless about the exaggerated rumors spreading among the common people, facing the old man’s sincere expression and trusting tone, Zhang Yue naturally couldn’t claim it was just luck or that he had capable subordinates around him at that time. When over a hundred people nodded vigorously and said that life would be easier as long as there were no wars, his heart grew even heavier. Yet, he couldn’t promise the court that war would never happen, so he could only comfort them.

In about fifteen minutes, the crowd gradually dispersed, but several tenant farmers with children stayed behind. Stepping forward, they hesitantly expressed their hope that their children might inherit some of the noble aura from the celestial beings. Realizing that in the eyes of the common people, those who passed the imperial examinations and became officials were sent down from heaven, Zhang Yue simply patted the heads of these lively kids. Only after they left, excited, did he instruct the relieved manager to close the manor gates.

It wasn’t until then that Xiao Wu on the carriage jumped down and said with a smile, “I’ve been wondering what my brother-in-law looks like in front of outsiders. I finally got to see today! No wonder so many people like to follow you—your presence is both authoritative and approachable, so everyone is willing to trust you. Well, let’s go see Sister Meng first, so you can hurry and take care of the important matters later!”