Starting with a Wei Wu soldier

Chapter 264 Implementation of the Equal-Field System

The tone and strategies set in the imperial court were quickly transformed into a series of decrees and teams, like unsheathed swords pointing in all directions of the empire. However, the implementation of land system reform, which involved fundamental interests, was far more complex than simply issuing decrees. The real test lay not in the high halls of power, but in the far reaches of the land, in the concrete execution and the struggle for public support at the county, township, village, and community levels.

The first pilot areas selected were three representative regions: Guanzhong Jingzhao Prefecture, Bianzhou in Henan Circuit of the Central Plains, and Suzhou in Jiangnan East Circuit. Three "land surveying and household clearing missions" were subsequently established, each with its own focus.

The Guanzhong delegation, led by the Right Vice Minister of the Ministry of Revenue, emphasized "prudent demonstration," striving to set a fair, efficient, and minimally disruptive example under the emperor's watchful eye. The Bianzhou delegation, led by a resolute Censor-in-Chief, was staffed with numerous surveying officials from the Ministry of Works, aiming to quickly clarify the chaotic post-war land ownership, resettle displaced people, and restore production. The delegation sent to Suzhou boasted the most "luxurious" lineup, with a Vice Minister of the Ministry of Rites, personally recommended by Jia Wen and renowned for his "expertise in official matters and familiarity with the people of Jiangnan," serving as the chief envoy. The deputy envoys included censors, Ministry of Revenue officials, and even two Hanlin scholars skilled in mathematics and surveying, demonstrating the court's high regard for and cautious attitude towards the power of the Jiangnan gentry.

Even before the mission left the capital, undercurrents were already stirring. In Chang'an, officials with close ties to local powerful clans began to stir, openly or covertly gathering information, attempting to influence the selection of pilot areas or the composition of the mission, at least hoping to secure a "buffer period" or "special policies" for their hometowns or related stakeholders. Officials from the Jiangnan region were meeting frequently, filled with anxiety, discussing countermeasures. Some well-informed powerful clans in Jiangnan had even begun sending messengers back home with urgent messages, urging them to "make preparations early."

Chen Xing was fully aware of these matters. On the one hand, through Jia Wen and the supervisory system, he severely reprimanded several of the most vocal and unruly officials, clearly demonstrating the court's unwavering resolve. On the other hand, he also tacitly permitted a certain degree of "information leakage"—letting opponents know the court's determination and specific strategies. To some extent, this was also a pressure test and psychological deterrence, forcing those who were still observing to make a choice in advance: whether to cooperate with the reforms and seize the initiative, or to stubbornly resist and bring about their own destruction?

In Bianzhou, the pilot program is showing initial success.

This area suffered the most from the ravages of war; nine out of ten houses were empty, and vast tracts of land had become ownerless wasteland. The original landlords and powerful families were either dead or had fled, so there was relatively little resistance. After the mission arrived, they acted swiftly and decisively. On the one hand, they issued a proclamation in the name of the government, explaining the land equalization policy and recruiting displaced people to register; on the other hand, they organized manpower and, using simple surveying tools and fragments of existing fish-scale maps, combined with on-site surveys, quickly cleared the ownerless wasteland and some disputed land.

The policy was simple and clear: migrants could register and be granted land, with taxes waived for the first three years, and the government providing a small amount of loans for seeds and farming tools. For some small landowners returning to their hometowns, their original land rights within the limit were recognized, and if they voluntarily sold the excess land, the government would purchase it at a uniform valuation; if they wanted to retain it, they would have to pay higher taxes on the excess land, and they would not be allowed to merge with it in the future.

Faced with real survival pressures and the court's firm stance, the vast majority of people chose to cooperate. Within just two months, tens of thousands of displaced people in Bianzhou were resettled, and smoke from cooking fires and the sight of oxen reappeared on the barren fields. Although small-scale disputes arose during the land survey, they were largely quelled through the strong mediation and arbitration of the mission and local officials. The pilot program in Bianzhou initially proved the effectiveness of the equal-field system in rapidly restoring production and stabilizing society in war-torn areas. When the news reached Chang'an, support for the reforms in the court surged.

Suzhou is a place of undercurrents and fierce competition.

The Jiangnan water towns are picturesque, yet beneath the calm surface lies a complex web of vested interests. Upon entering Suzhou, the delegation immediately sensed an atmosphere drastically different from that of Bianzhou. Local officials appeared outwardly respectful and meticulous in their arrangements, but when it came to specific land records and household registers, they resorted to various excuses and delays, claiming that "due to their age, much has been lost," "the Wu dialect makes registration difficult," and "the waterways and polder fields are hard to measure."

The powerful clans of Suzhou pulled out all the stops. Some adopted a posture of "passing down the family tradition of poetry and propriety and considering the greater good," actively inviting the delegation to banquets. During the banquets, they talked at length about mulberry, hemp, water conservancy, and local contributions, subtly stating that their family's land was "all accumulated through the hard work of their ancestors and legally acquired," hoping that the court would "understand the people's sentiments and protect the virtuous." Others secretly colluded, coercing and enticing small households and tenant farmers to unify their stories and deny the concealed population or land, even spreading rumors that the court's land survey was for increasing taxes, inciting villagers to resist. Still others bribed individual clerks to tamper with old maps or create land boundary disputes, attempting to muddy the waters.

Faced with these obstacles and setbacks, the chief envoy of the Suzhou mission—a skilled official in the Ministry of Rites—demonstrated exceptional skill. He did not rush to force a comprehensive survey, but instead adopted a strategy of "starting with the easy tasks, then moving to the difficult ones, dividing and weakening the enemy, and making breakthroughs at key points."

First, he publicly praised and rewarded small and medium-sized landowners and self-cultivating farmers who actively cooperated and truthfully reported their deeds, setting positive examples. Second, he used the authority of the Censor-in-Chief among the Vice-Envoys to conduct surprise inspections of several county government warehouses and archives that were most negligent in their duties, uncovering two clerks suspected of embezzlement and document tampering, who were immediately dismissed and investigated, causing a stir in the region. Third, he personally visited several respected elders in Suzhou's gentry circles who had relatively clean family landholdings, sincerely inquiring about matters of water conservancy and agriculture, and hinting to the court about preferential treatment for those who cooperated in the imperial examinations and in terms of reputation, thus gaining the understanding or at least neutrality of some enlightened gentry.

The most crucial step was to choose a "hard nut to crack"—a fertile polder field on the shores of Taihu Lake—as the starting point, a case rife with significant land disputes involving multiple powerful families and years of protracted litigation. The mission mobilized all its surveying resources and commissioned the accompanying Hanlin Academy scholar to design more precise measurement methods to conduct a public and impartial re-surveying of the polder field's boundaries. Simultaneously, it was announced that the court would, based on the results of this survey and in conjunction with historical land deeds, thoroughly determine the ownership and allocation of the land, and that anyone found to have engaged in deception or forced occupation would be severely punished.

This move struck at the heart of the local powerful clans. The interests involved in that polder field were too deeply intertwined; no one could continue to deceive them. Faced with the powerful pressure and professional methods of the imperial court, divisions began to emerge among the relevant clans. Some, fearing excessive losses, advocated "sacrificing the pawn to save the king," cooperating with the court to clarify some matters; others still wanted to resist stubbornly, but it was difficult to unify their actions. The mission seized the opportunity to intensify its persuasive efforts, and ultimately, under the weight of irrefutable evidence and the court's willingness to pursue legal action to the end, one of the weaker clans was the first to yield, handing over some of the hidden land deeds and tenant lists…

The stalemate in Suzhou had thus begun to crack. As news spread, observers and resisters in other regions began to waver. They realized that the imperial court was serious this time, possessing not only the resolve but also the means and patience. Simple delaying tactics and soft resistance would likely not be enough to overcome the situation.

Chang'an, we will continue to monitor and adjust our approach.

Chen Xing read detailed reports from the three pilot regions every day. The smooth progress in Bianzhou pleased him, while the struggle in Suzhou was within his expectations. Through Jia Wen, he continuously issued instructions to the Suzhou delegation, granting them the authority to make on-the-spot decisions, while allocating more resources to support their work.

He also noted that some specific issues gradually emerged during the implementation process: for example, how to make the conversion standard between dry land in the north and paddy fields in the south more reasonable? How to reflect the difference in economic value between mulberry and hemp fields and orchards and fish ponds? How to link the taxation of industrialists and businessmen with their "land quota" under the equal land distribution order? These are all issues that need to be further refined through pilot projects before full implementation.

"Reform is not easy, especially land reform." During a brief discussion before the emperor, Chen Xing lamented to Jia Wen, the Minister of Revenue, and others, "But once the arrow is released, there is no turning back. The success of Bianzhou can strengthen our confidence; the difficulties of Suzhou can serve as a warning that we must not underestimate the enemy. When the pilot experience matures and the details are perfected, that will be the time for me, Chen Xing, to fully implement the Equal-Field System. At that time, it will be the beginning of truly touching the foundation of the empire and reshaping the world order."

With a far-sighted gaze, he said, "Tell the mission at the front not to seek quick results, but to strive for solid progress. Every step must withstand the test of history and live up to the expectations of the people. The court will not be stingy with rewards and compensation for those gentry and commoners who truly cooperate with the reforms and even make sacrifices. The Xingqi regime can tolerate wealthy households that operate lawfully, but it will absolutely not tolerate powerful figures who seize land and harm the local communities!"