"Beware, Dragon Crossing!"
The captains of the Shadow Guards, far from being worried, rejoiced and immediately regrouped their forces, moving away from the strange and dangerous gust of wind. They kept a watchful eye on the situation.
Was this the "tornado" the Marquis of Anguo had spoken of?
"It truly resembles a raging dragon passing through, capable of lifting even giant stones into the sky. However, the Marquis of Anguo's 'tornado' is more descriptive than 'dragon crossing'…"
The Shadow Guards waited quietly for the tornado to subside, anticipating the discovery of treasure.
With winter approaching, they had originally prepared for a large-scale withdrawal, leaving only a small contingent behind to patrol and scout the area.
Now, the appearance of the tornado had finally confirmed the authenticity of the third treasure!
North of the Yin Mountains, the land where the dragon appears!
Was this not what the ancient Xiongnu King Heluofu had described as a "dragon"?
After the tornado subsided, the Shadow Guards drove stakes into the ground, leaving five iron pillars five zhang high, bearing the Great Qian army banners.
Beneath the banners, the last line of Liang Xiao's inscription commemorating the Fenglang Juxu campaign served to deter any Xianbei cavalry who might invade this area, warning of the consequences of national and racial annihilation.
Having left a marker, the Great Qian cavalry did not depart immediately, but continued to wait.
A day later, another tornado appeared five li to the east!
Two li to the north…
Three li to the south…
After five days of observation, the Shadow Guards had finally marked eight directions with army banners.
"Report to the Lord quickly!"
As the desert grew colder and the logistical burden increased, half of the Shadow Guards and cavalry returned to Shuofang, while the remaining half slowly explored the area.
Because this treasure was located deep in the desert, far from the border towns of Great Qian, absolute secrecy could not be maintained. Once discovered, it would require the fastest speed and the largest force to excavate the gold and transport it back to the country in one go, without multiple trips.
However, to the east, near Liaodong, there were still Xianbei. Treasure hunting required utmost caution, at least to eliminate the threat of the Xianbei.
Xianbei cavalry, while not comparable to the barbarian iron cavalry, were still a force not to be underestimated.
The four captains of the Shadow Guards who remained, looking at the markings on the map, had grave expressions. "I believe the Lord and the Marquis of Anguo will have a plan!"
The desert express had not yet returned to the capital. At this time, Liang Xiao was still stationed in the capital, keeping his political enemies in check.
Zhuo Zifang, upon learning that Liang Xiao intended to travel to Yanzhou soon, expressed understanding.
While the emperor was "seriously ill," Liang Xiao's presence in the capital was bound to draw criticism. It was therefore logical for him to go to Yanzhou, ready at any time to lead troops south and pacify Xichuan.
The powerful families of Xichuan, cultivated over centuries, with the Helian family of Helian Heng at their head, had formed an unwieldy warlord power. Both the former Heng Kingdom and the Great Qian Kingdom had adopted a policy of appeasement.
Even the founding marshal, Gongsun Wuji, faced with a Great Qian Kingdom that was still in its nascent stages and needing to rebuild, had to temporarily set aside the matter of conquering Xichuan due to the cost and effort involved.
Helian family's troops were concentrated in areas like Jiange. They neither openly declared rebellion nor allowed Great Qian soldiers to pass through Jiange. They had even destroyed the roads leading to Shu.
Faced with such a situation, Nan Jiyun could only secretly prepare supplies, first ensuring the stability of Hanzhong, then repairing the roads to Shu and advancing into Xichuan.
Hanzhong, being close to Guanzhong and convenient for reinforcement, had remained under national control and had not experienced civil unrest.
"According to feedback from various regions, the repurchased farmland has reached nearly one hundred million mu…"
Zhuo Zifang, in the Ministry of Revenue, was greatly surprised by the report from the Minister of Revenue, Gu Hong.
"This decree to acquire land has allowed the state to repurchase it legitimately. However, the required funds exceed one hundred and fifty million taels. It will not be long before the Ministry of Revenue can no longer conceal this," Gu Hong reminded in a low voice.
Zhuo Zifang replied, "Fabricate a list of wealthy individuals who have donated to the country. Including the forty million taels from Liang Xiao and the Marquis of Dingguo, the silver amount will reach one hundred and eighty million taels."
Gu Hong, who had gained Xiao Qing's trust, was aware that the emperor had a private treasury, and therefore readily agreed. Together with Gu Shaoyan, while reorganizing the power of the Ministry of Revenue officials, they began to fabricate a list of some wealthy individuals.
That day, Liang Xiao's Great Qian Daily launched a new story, "The Biography of the Knight of the Crooked Beard."
In a few thousand words, it created the figures of the Knight of the Crooked Beard, Li Jing, and Hong Fu Nü as the "Three Heroes of Wind and Dust," emphasizing how the Knight of the Crooked Beard gave all his wealth to Li Jing and his wife, urging Li Jing to assist Li Shimin in unifying the world.
In addition to "The Biography of the Knight of the Crooked Beard," the Great Qian Daily also focused on the stories of the founding emperors of Great Qian and Great Zhou.
In these stories, without exception, wealthy individuals gifted more than half of their fortunes to the two founding emperors. Even the King of Donghai of the Heng Kingdom and Zhuo Mingfeng, the founding prime minister of Great Qian, had received gifts from powerful families.
"Who is this 'Du Guangting'? The 'Biography of the Knight of the Crooked Beard' he wrote is as if it were true!"
"I haven't heard of any 'Sui Dynasty' or 'Tang Dynasty,' but Great Qian has wealthy individuals who think for the sake of the nation, like the Marquis of Anguo, the Marquis of Dingguo, and the matriarch of the Jian clan in Xichuan, Jian Ningyue, who supported our founding prime minister…"
The common people, greatly impressed by the stories, also gained some understanding of past history.
As the court displayed a list of some "wealthy individuals" whose donations exceeded two million taels, the unfamiliar names on the list filled the people with awe, and voices of doubt were almost negligible.
The effect of propaganda was thus evident at this time.
"How can so many people support a foolish ruler? Zuo Wushang is also on the list??"
Dugu Qun and others, upon receiving the news at home, looked at the nineteen names they had never heard before, and the last familiar name, "Zuo Wushang," with uncertain expressions.
Despite their doubts, the fact that the Ministry of Revenue had the funds to repurchase land was undeniable. The presence of Zuo Wushang also strengthened the credibility of the list.
If there were indeed so many hidden wealthy individuals supporting the imperial power, then…
The three great noble clans of the past felt uneasy and had to consider whether the uprisings in various regions were reliable.
"Why is this scoundrel Liang Xiao still lingering in the capital and not leaving? The foolish ruler also doesn't repurchase his land…" He Wanli was both angry and anxious.
The land of their three families had all been repurchased by the Ministry of Revenue, injecting millions of taels back into their coffers. Yet, something felt wrong.
The price of land was falling, and the common people also wanted to sell their land, but the court refused to buy it, specifically targeting landlords and gentry…
"By imperial decree, we will expand the recruitment of settlers! For those using official oxen, the state will take 40% and the people 60%; for those using their own oxen, the state will take 30% and the people 70%!"
With over a hundred million mu of repurchased land, under the arrangement of the court, more settlers were urgently recruited.
Former tenant farmers, who had tilled land for landlords, flocked to apply as settlers.
Some landlords and gentry, having sold their land, did not mind this.
However, more than half of the landlords and gentry, holding vast tracts of land, refused to register and report. The court did not force them to sell.
With this land in their hands, and facing the official promotion of the "40% state, 60% people" and "30% state, 70% people" ratios, more and more tenant farmers left their land, causing them great distress, as no one was willing to farm for them anymore.
"No wonder the powerful families in Xichuan and Jiaozhou supported the warlords. Did the court never consider the consequences of offending all the landlords in the world!"
An increasing number of large landowners began to resent the court.
On the ninth day of the eleventh lunar month, officials dispatched by the central government, stationed across the country, simultaneously posted an announcement.
"By the Emperor's grace, it has been decided to abolish the head tax nationwide and incorporate the original head tax into land taxation!!"
On this day, an unprecedented decree was implemented simultaneously across the country, shocking the nation!