I run a training class in Shu Han

Chapter 88 The Suffering of Labor Service

During the Han Dynasty, the lowest tax that farmers paid to the imperial court was "one-thirtieth," meaning that for every thirty catties of grain a farmer harvested, he only needed to pay one catty to the court.

If the taxes are not high, why do the people suffer so much?

At that time, Chao Cuo, the Imperial Censor of the Western Han Dynasty, depicted a cruel social scene.

"In a farming family of five, no fewer than two are engaged in corvée labor, and the number of people who can cultivate the land is no more than one hundred mu, with a yield of no more than one hundred shi. Spring plowing, summer weeding, autumn harvesting, winter storage, cutting firewood, attending government affairs, and being given corvée labor—there is no day of rest throughout the four seasons..."

"Despite such hard work, they were still struck by floods and droughts, and by harsh policies and heavy taxes, which were levied unpredictably and changed overnight. Those who owned property sold it for half price, while the deceased received double the interest. As a result, some sold their fields and houses, and even their children and grandchildren, to pay off their debts."

Simply put, in a family of five, two people had to perform labor service, cultivate a maximum of 100 acres of land, harvest 100 bushels of grain, work year-round without rest, and also have to deal with government corvée labor.

When faced with disasters or increased taxes, they have no choice but to sell their land and houses, their wives and children.

Therefore, what crushed the farmers was not taxes, but corvée labor.

Corvée labor was unpaid labor that the imperial court forced commoners to perform, including manual labor, miscellaneous labor, and military service. This was the heaviest burden imposed on the people.

Now, in order to achieve political success, Li Yan has brought most of his soldiers to build defensive fortifications.

In order to lighten their own burden, the soldiers conscripted civilians to serve in the army.

The imperial court had regulations on the conscription of corvée labor, namely that a family of five could only conscript a maximum of two people.

Faced with heavy pressure to achieve political results, Li Zhong and others increased the number of people subject to corvée labor to three, and in some cases as many as three and a half.

This in itself violates national law.

Furthermore, the original regulation requiring adult men to serve one month of labor service in the county each year was arbitrarily extended to three months, causing immense suffering to the people of Anyong.

As Yang Hong watched Feng Yue write down his confession in one breath, he fell into deep thought.

Before his departure, Liu Shan had instructed him that since Li Yan's men dared to embezzle military rations, they were definitely not just embezzling.

Looking back now, Yang Hong feels that this trip was not simply about investigating corruption.

"Someone, go with Feng Yue and fetch the account books."

Yang Hong needs to calm down and think about how to handle this matter next.

After Feng Yue was taken away, Chen Hu said with delight, "Prefect Yang, your method of interrogation is brilliant! You made that granary clerk reveal the truth without lifting a finger, and even uncovered evidence of forced labor by the Yong'an garrison. This is a great achievement."

Yang Hong wasn't too happy, saying, "I was only able to uncover the evidence of corruption by following His Majesty's brilliant plan."

"Prefect Yang, there is still one thing I don't understand. Since it is inconvenient for us to come to Yong'an, why did you send my brothers here ahead of time?"

Zheng Chuo, who was standing to the side, laughed and said, "The reason I rushed to Yong'an was to keep an eye on them."

"Surveillance?"

"Because His Majesty wants to know whether Li Yan will tip off his subordinates or protect them."

Embezzling military rations can be a serious matter or a minor one. If Li Yan was involved in any collusion, Liu Shan would not tolerate it.

Because that was the defiance of the imperial authority by the minister entrusted with the care of the young emperor.

Chen Hu suddenly realized, "So that's how it is. Prefect Yang, what do we need to do now?"

Yang Hong thought for a moment, then sighed and said, "Now the matter of forced conscription has also come into play, and I am also at a loss for words. I should report back to Chengdu as soon as possible and ask His Majesty to make a decision."

"The three shall be detained separately, and no one shall have contact with them until the imperial edict arrives."

"Perhaps His Majesty is also waiting for Li Yan."

Just then, a voice came from outside the tent.

"Wait a minute."

After the tent flap was opened, a young man rushed in, and the guards around him immediately drew their swords to protect him.

"Your humble servant, Yan Yu, Deputy Commander of Yong'an, pays his respects to the three generals."

Yang Hong was somewhat surprised that this deputy governor of Yong'an was so young.

"So you are Yan Yu from Nanjun?"

Back when Nan Commandery was still in Liu Bei's hands, many people from Nan Commandery followed him into Shu, and the young Yan Yu was one of them.

Because of his diligence and talent, Liu Bei appointed him as a military advisor when Liu Bei was defeated and retreated to Baidi City.

After Li Yan became the military governor of Yong'an, he was promoted to deputy governor of Yong'an, making him a standout among the younger generation.

"This humble official was inspecting the city's defenses when he was unaware of the arrival of the three generals. I have failed to greet you properly."

Yang Hong did not blame him for this; on the contrary, he considered him a good official who was diligent in his duties.

But did such a good official know about Li Zhong and others embezzling military rations?

"Vice Governor, you need not stand on ceremony. It is a blessing for the court that Yong'an has such a diligent official as the Vice Governor."

Yan Yu humbly replied, "Serving as an official is inherently about serving the country and its people; there's no need to talk about hardship. I have a question: why did you imprison Li Zhong and the other two, General?"

Yang Hong showed the imperial edict to Yan Yu and briefly explained the whole story to him.

Yan Yu was quite surprised after hearing this.

Embezzling military rations?

Forced conscription?

These two charges were enough to warrant the immediate execution of the three men.

"General, although I was unaware of this matter, as the Deputy Commander of Yong'an, I have failed in my duty of oversight and mismanagement. I beg you to punish me."

According to his official rank, Yan Yu was ostensibly the highest-ranking official in Yong'an, but because Li Yan was in charge of both military and political affairs, Yan Yu's position in the military was not high, and military affairs did not need to go through him.

This led to Li Zhong and others embezzling military funds, and Yan Yu, the deputy governor, was completely unaware of it.

Yang Hong knew the connection, so he did not blame Yan Yu.

"This is not your fault, but rather a result of the court's oversight in personnel appointments at the local level, which led to such corruption. However, I, the general, will not show favoritism in pursuing the responsibilities that should be investigated."

"As the deputy commander, you were responsible for transporting provisions to the army, but you were completely unaware that something had been tampered with. You will be punished for this."

"You were completely unaware of the forced conscription by Li Zhong and others, which is a dereliction of duty."

Yan Yu was filled with remorse.

Since Li Yan decided to undertake large-scale construction and fortification, he has been busy traveling to the front lines and supervising the project, clearly neglecting the rear.

"I am willing to accept punishment, but there is something I must say."

"speak!"

"Since Governor Li ordered the construction of fortifications, many soldiers and civilians in the city have been transferred away, causing a shortage of food. I suspect that Li Zhong and others are embezzling military rations for the sake of those soldiers and civilians."

Yang Hong remained silent after hearing this, then asked, "You mean, their forced labor isn't just about making the people work for nothing?"

"That's true. All the people who participated got to eat, and they even received some money after the project was completed," Yan Yu said. "I'm not trying to excuse them, but simply reporting the facts."

"Li Duhu is pressing us hard; if we don't forcibly conscript laborers, I'm afraid we won't be able to finish the project on time."

"But if the forced labor causes people to die from exhaustion and starvation, they cannot bear the responsibility for that."

Therefore, they had no choice but to take the risk and set their sights on government grain.

"Please investigate thoroughly, General."

Yang Hong felt conflicted after learning the truth.

Although embezzlement and forced labor are serious crimes, they were also acts of desperation.

What surprised Yang Hong even more was that the young Yan Yu in front of him was a rare talent.

"Yan Yu, have you entered the Imperial Academy?"

"I have passed the entrance examination, but I will have to wait until next spring to enroll."

"good!"

Yang Hong said, "I will report what you have said to you truthfully. Now, you must continue to do your job well until His Majesty's decree arrives."

Yan Yu gladly clasped his hands in a fist and said, "Your humble servant obeys!"