bookbashuk Page 2626
Page 2626
He took the "Great Ming Code" with both hands and questioned Chen Zongxian: "Do you know what crime it is to set up a private court?"
Chen Zongxian finally panicked: "We only disciplined the lawless members of the clan to correct the family's bad habits, but we no longer do that."
Wei Liangchen sneered: "Even the county magistrate cannot determine the crime; he must hand it over to the legal officer in the prefecture."
“If the legal officer sentences someone to a heavy sentence, the case must be reported to the provincial judicial commissioner for review.”
"If the Provincial Surveillance Commission finds no errors in its review, it must then report to the Ministry of Justice for further review."
"You're handling this right here; you have more power than the Provincial Surveillance Commissioner."
"Could it be that the Ministry of Justice has set up a branch office in the Chen family's residence?"
"No, I wouldn't dare!" Chen Zongxian was already sweating profusely; this accusation was far too much.
"I've heard that someone has been beaten to death in this punishment hall,"
Wei Liangchen suddenly turned around and said to the soldiers behind him,
“The Chen family of Yimen has set up a private court, disregarded the imperial court, and committed murder. This court of punishment shall be demolished immediately.”
"Clan Chief Chen, along with the elder in charge of the Hall of Punishments, are all to be arrested and taken to Nanchang to be jointly tried by the three judicial departments!"
.....
Arrest people directly?
Everyone present was astonished.
Given the immense prestige of the Chen family of Yimen, the normal procedure shouldn't be like this.
Even in business, people haggle over prices, let alone something as simple as splitting up a family business.
The emperor should first send an imperial envoy to commend and reward the Chen family, and then propose the relocation of the clan.
Furthermore, it is necessary to have thorough discussions, fully listen to Chen's opinions, and ultimately make concessions to achieve a mutually satisfactory result.
Yes, the Ming Dynasty was frantically dismantling clans in the north, but could those clans compare to the Chen family?
One hundred years ago, the Yimen Chen family split into 291 groups and migrated to various parts of the country to exchange for land.
However, the remaining 47 plots of land, distributed across five counties—De'an, Dehua, Jianchang, Ruichang, and Xingzi—are still controlled by the Chen clan members who remained in Jiangxi.
This doesn't even include various shops, temples, theaters, clinics, etc.
One plot of land equals one village!
Those clansmen who remained in Jiangxi did not separate into different branches of the family; there was no distinction between the main branch and collateral branches.
The highest authority is the patriarch (clan head), and below him are the heads of each branch of the family. They send people to the village to serve as village leaders and also send people to manage other movable or immovable property.
During the Southern Tang Dynasty, the Chen family of Yimen in Jiangzhou numbered over 700.
Fifty years later, the family population had doubled.
Sixty years later, the population had grown to nearly 4000, and they had never divided their property.
Chapter 3579 Scholars Disobey Orders
Therefore, the imperial court ordered the relocation of the clan. At that time, about 3300 people were relocated, and more than 500 people remained in Jiangxi.
A hundred years later, the original 500 or so people who stayed behind have multiplied to about 3000!
One village after another was annexed by the Chen family of Yimen in Jiangzhou, and the villagers became tenants under the control of the Chen family.
Although the clan only numbered 3000, they controlled tens of thousands of farmers, who were distributed across a vast area of five surrounding counties.
Isn't Wei Liangchen afraid of causing trouble by taking direct action?
Back then, Quan Bangyan led troops to guard Jiujiang, and Zhong Xiang fought for several years without being able to take it down.
Is Quan Bangyan truly a genius strategist?
No.
This is all because Quan Bangyan gained the support of the Chen family!
Zhong Xiang's actions in Hunan, such as destroying schools, killing Confucian scholars, and distributing land, terrified the Chen family of Yimen.
They proactively sought cooperation with Quan Bangyan, providing funds and manpower to help recruit local soldiers, and also rallied other gentry to contribute their efforts.
The local militia recruited by these gentry displayed astonishing fighting power when defending their hometown.
Despite the religious advantage, Zhong Xiang's soldiers were unable to breach the defenses of Jiujiang City, which was held by Jiangxi local militia.
However, the Ming Dynasty was able to quell the rebellion in Jiangxi by issuing a proclamation.
It's simply that the Ming Dynasty won't act recklessly; it won't seize their land, demolish their ancestral halls, or destroy their schools!
Chen Zongxian was completely stunned. Only when the soldiers pinned him to the ground did he cry out in panic, "Governor Wei, we can discuss this. Why are you doing this?"
Wei Liangchen said expressionlessly, "The Ministry of Justice has no authority to execute criminals; it must request His Majesty's approval."
"The most important matters of the state are war and sacrifice, yet you privately offer sacrifices to the Spring and Autumn and Spring Festival shrines."
"All of this shows that you are plotting to seize the emperor's power and usurping the imperial system!"
"What's there to discuss?"
"Shall we discuss the emperor's abdication and invite the Chen family of Yimen in Jiangzhou to ascend the throne?"
"Absolutely not! Absolutely not!" Chen Zongxian trembled with fear.
Another clan elder said, "Governor Wei, and Chen Dong and Chen Shaoyang of the Censorate are also descendants of our Yimen Chen clan."
“We’re all family, so everything can be discussed. There’s no need to resort to violence and arrest people.”
"The Chen family of Yimen is found throughout the entire country,"
Wei Liangchen said,
"I have come here on the Emperor's orders to specifically eliminate the Chen family of Yimen in Jiangzhou. They are unrelated to other Chen families of Yimen. Take them away!"
Several old men were led to the riverbank to board a boat, while the rest of the clansmen followed closely behind, pleading incessantly.
Before long, more than two hundred scholars, including young children, came from Chen's school and blocked the way.
A scholar in his twenties questioned, "My entire Chen clan has submitted to the Ming Dynasty, abided by the law, and been friendly to our neighbors. On what grounds are you arresting people?"
"Is setting up a private court also considered upholding the law?" Wei Liangchen retorted.
The scholar argued, "That was a matter of the past; my Chen family no longer resorts to private punishment."
Wei Liangchen smiled and said, "Whether someone is guilty or not will only be known after the trial."
"You're arbitrarily arresting people and harming innocent people!" another scholar angrily retorted.
These scholars clamored forward, trying to surround Wei Liangchen.
Then more people arrived with villagers, including members of the Chen clan and tenants they controlled.
They even took hoes and sticks, intending to use force to rescue the clan chief.
Chen Zongxian was nearly scared to death and hurriedly shouted, "Go back! Everyone go home! Don't do anything reckless!"
"Don't worry, parents, we won't stand idly by and let the cruel officials take you away!" a burly man shouted.
Chen Zongxian roared angrily, "Damn it, get the people out of here!"
"You're not saving me, you're harming me, you're harming the Chen family!"
Wei Liangchen shouted, "The royal command flag is here, as if the emperor himself were here."
"Anyone who dares to obstruct this will be considered a traitor and executed without exception. Sound the horn and gather the troops!"
"woo woo woo woo!"
Bugle calls sounded.
The garrison troops and transport troops left behind on the riverbank lined up and jogged toward Wei Liangchen.
With about three or four hundred paces left, the military whistles suddenly sounded one after another.
All soldiers slowed down and stopped, then regrouped and advanced.
Furthermore, they nocked their bows, drew their swords, and held their spears level, immediately entering a state of combat.
The Chen family's armed forces, who were still hesitating about whether to disperse, were terrified when they saw this.
It is true that they held off Zhong Xiang in Jiujiang for several years, but that was because they were well-armed, defended the city, and were afraid that Zhong Xiang would attack Jiangxi and plunder and burn.
Now they only have hoes and sticks, no city walls to rely on, and it's not a fight that's absolutely necessary, so how dare they confront the government troops?
The tenants retreated, but dared not leave, fearing punishment later.
"Disperse! Disperse quickly!" Chen Zongxian shouted.
If they were to clash with government troops, it would be a serious crime of treason, and the entire Chen family of Yimen in Jiangzhou would be doomed.
When the clan chief ordered them to disperse, the tenants scattered like birds and beasts.
The able-bodied men of the Chen clan also dispersed from around Wei Liangchen.
Only the scholars from the Chen family remained blocking the way, refusing to believe that the soldiers would dare to kill them.
Wei Liangchen, however, ordered: "The royal decree is here. Anyone who obstructs the governor's investigation shall be killed on the spot without mercy!"
The army continued its advance, even raising its shields.
Chapter 3580 Royal Decree Flag
Chen Zongxian was sweating profusely with anxiety, shouting in terror, "Go back to your studies quickly, don't block the road!"
The soldiers had already come within ten paces, and the Chen family's scholars finally broke down.
Because they discovered that as long as they blocked the road, the soldiers were truly willing to slaughter the scholars.
The scholars gradually withdrew, and the road became clear.
Chen Zongxian's heart, which had been hanging in suspense, finally settled down. He then became limp and was dragged to the shore by two soldiers to board the ship.
About 70% of the provincial, prefectural, and county-level officials in Nanchang were brought here by Wei Liangchen.
He told the officials, "Immediately survey the fields in De'an County. Anyone who dares to obstruct us, notify the soldiers to arrest them."
"If anyone resists with a weapon, kill them on the spot without questioning them!"
"After completing the land survey in De'an County, we will then investigate Ruichang, Dehua, Xingzi, and Jianchang counties."
The Jiujiang Prefecture, established by the Ming Dynasty, consisted of seven counties.
Five of them were territories belonging to the Chen family of Yimen. It wasn't that they occupied all five counties, but rather that they annexed entire areas, connecting villages and hamlets to firmly control the countryside.
They even monopolized many industries in prefectures and counties, especially the port of Jiujiang, which brought them enormous wealth.
Wei Liangchen then summoned the Chen clan elders who had not been arrested to a meeting and negotiations at the Chen clan ancestral hall.
Of course, we must talk, but we must use force first and then diplomacy, otherwise no one will listen to Wei Liangchen!
Wei Liangchen glanced at the group of clan elders: "During the chaotic period of the late Tang and Five Dynasties, only Jiangxi remained stable."
"You have been developing peacefully in Jiujiang for hundreds of years, and it seems you have forgotten the majesty of the imperial court."
"Under the Emperor's sword, all beings are equal, regardless of whether you are from a powerful clan or a scholar."
"Let me introduce you to this command flag and this token. Together they are called the Royal Command Flag."
Two flag bearers stepped forward, one holding up a command flag and the other displaying a token.
Wei Liangchen raised his voice: "I am in Jiangxi, and I can mobilize troops at will. If I kill someone with the royal decree, it is the same as the emperor ordering an execution."
"A popular uprising has broken out in Ji'an Prefecture, yet the three provincial-level departments of Jiangxi have concealed it. The Emperor is furious, and the cabinet is furious."
"Anyone who dares to resist the land survey and the conversion of poll tax into land tax will be slaughtered in Jiangxi."
"We would not hesitate to exterminate the entire Chen family of Jiangzhou!"
The Chen clan elders, who were already harboring resentment, suddenly changed color upon hearing these words.
Many of them hesitated to speak, wanting to complain about something but afraid of getting themselves killed.
Wei Liangchen continued, "The Chen family's act of setting up a private court is certainly a serious crime. If it is discovered during the land survey that you have concealed the acreage, then that would be an even greater crime!"
These words have already made some people uneasy.