Chapter 61
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 61
Chapter Title: Whip and Carrot
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After Zhang Liao and Gao Shun reported on the market street incident and withdrew, Xu Feng and Jia Xu approached me with excitement still plain on their faces.
"My lord! Did you hear it? The cheers from the market echoed all the way to the government office! Word that you're ruling by the law is spreading, and the Han and non-Han people's grievances are melting away like snow!"
"The shouts of 'Long live the Administrator!' must have made even the dogs at the Hu clan's mansions tuck their tails."
A laugh escaped me as I listened to the two of them.
"Haha, it's been a while since things got this noisy in a good way."
—One thirtieth rent tax.
What nonsense.
I'd checked the ledgers myself, and when you added in all the miscellaneous taxes like corvée labor and poll taxes, it came to four tenths. Sure, I could accept that much.
Given the era, if they'd really only collected that little, the empire of Han would have collapsed long ago.
But they exploited the rule that taxes had to be paid in coin by tacking on exchange fees, transport costs, paperwork fees, and all sorts of other absurd excuses, pushing the real take to over seven tenths.
Honestly, it was a miracle the people hadn't revolted. Wait, they had—the Yellow Turbans.
"I'm not the one who bought this post with money, so why should I squeeze them like those bastards? Besides, the Governor himself ordered me to keep Changli and Wuyi free of unrest. He specifically warned me not to let the people rise up and disrupt the Silk Road's stability. Isn't this the least I can do?"
Even at my confident attitude, the two raised the next issue.
"However, my lord. Even a cornered rat will bite a cat. Pushing the entrenched Hu clans too hard—"
"Master Xu is right. They won't come at you with swords, but they won't forget this. The moment they spot a weakness, they'll retaliate against you, Administrator."
I stared straight at Xu Feng and teased him mischievously on purpose.
"Master Xu. Are you saying that because of the Hu–Yi divide? Wanting to take your fellow Han's side?"
Instead of bristling at my provocation, Xu Feng laughed leisurely and turned my logic back on me.
"Hahaha! My lord! Didn't you say everyone is equal before the law?"
"I did."
"Then shouldn't that law apply equally to the Han Hu clans? They're people too."
"Ha! Good hit. You're right, Master Xu. If they follow the law, why would I oppress them?"
As I nodded, Jia Xu chimed in.
"Though their violations are outrageous, not every law can apply uniformly across the realm."
After that, I sorted out our future governance while listening to them.
From ancient times, the carrot and the stick have solved everything.
Wang Hun's mansion.
"Master! Big trouble!"
A servant rushed in, pale as a ghost. Wang Hun scowled at the fuss and set down his wine cup.
"What has you in such a panic?!"
"The, the Administrator's office sent someone—!"
In the servant's hand was a wooden tablet stamped with the Administrator's seal.
Wang Hun snatched it open. The message was straightforward.
A banquet for the Hu clans who had devoted themselves to Changli Commandery—all were to attend.
—Thud.
Wang Hun bellowed at the gasping servant.
"Hey! Send word to the nearby Hu clans right now! The Administrator's baring his teeth!"
"Y-yes, Master!"
The servant bolted out at Wang Hun's command.
That night, Changli's prominent Hu clans gathered secretly at Wang Hun's mansion. The room's mood was grim, faces full of suspicion.
"What trick is this? A sudden banquet?!"
One Hu clansman broke the silence with an anxious voice.
"No doubt about it! That Administrator bastard plans to sweep us all away at once! What else could it be but a Hongmen Banquet to chop our heads off?!"
The others paled at his words. But Wang Hun snorted.
"Come on! Even a frontier Administrator backed by the Governor wouldn't dare kill us all. The capital's far, but rumors spread fast. The day an inspector arrives, his own head rolls. He's not that stupid."
They nodded at Wang Hun's words, but their anger didn't fade.
"Then why summon us? To demand more taxes?!"
"As if. He's playing the sage in front of the people! 'Taxes by the law alone,' 'Behead the corrupt'—"
Another gritted his teeth and picked up.
"That's why those market illiterates chant 'Long live the Administrator!' day and night! Tsk tsk... Wagging their tails for scraps right in front of them."
Wang Hun sighed.
"Sigh, that's not all. Unlike past Administrators, he's seizing everything we handled ourselves under the banner of law. At this rate, we won't even have scraps."
"Hah..."
Anger and lament filled the air, but the reality was clear: they had no choices left.
"I'd love to raise troops... but we saw what happens. That madman's got cavalry that'd crush us flat."
"Even strikes are useless against a lunatic who uses barbarians as officials."
Wang Hun finally stood.
"Hah, we'll have to go. Skipping it looks like rebellion. Best to go and peer into that bumpkin's true intentions."
"True. Play along with his tune for now, then bite his throat when he slips."
"...No choice."
The Hu clans resolved to attend Lu Bu's invitation.
Outwardly compliant, inwardly sharpening their knives as they prepared.
These bastards think I poisoned the wine or something.
I clicked my tongue at the Hu clansmen at the banquet.
They had wine cups in front but wouldn't drink, just watching me warily.
A funeral would have more life.
I spouted something scholars might recite.
"Heh heh, thank you all for coming. Let's forget past mistakes and discuss Changli's future joyfully today."
"...Ahem..."
Their faces soured further. Finally, they couldn't hold back and raised their cups.
"Why the long faces? Afraid I'll eat you? Huh?"
At my taunt, Wang Hun forced a smile and began flattering.
"Haha, we're overwhelmed by your banquet, Administrator..."
"Overwhelmed? Lucky if you don't sharpen knives on me. Right?"
The mood chilled more. We both knew each other's hearts, so I cut to the chase.
"Straight to business."
"Haha... Business? What do you mean, Administrator?"
"The Governor wants Silk Road stability from me. And that road... means money. You sniff out money well, don't you?"
"Hmm... The road... Intriguing."
I scanned the Hu clansmen and continued.
"Guanzi said, 'When granaries are full, people know etiquette; when food and clothing suffice, they know honor and shame.' Obey the law, fill the granaries, uphold etiquette. That's my politics."
Their faces blanked for a moment.
"In truth, I seek no exploitation of you, nor will I let you exploit the people. But to fulfill Guanzi's words, we must fill everyone's coffers. I can fill the people's, but not yours easily. What if there's a way to fill yours without breaking the law?"
"Ho... Fill our coffers legally? We'd like to know your intent, Administrator. What is it?"
—"The Changli Merchant Consortium."
The words "Changli Merchant Consortium" caused a stir.
"I'll back the consortium as Administrator and deploy troops to crush the bandits blocking the roads. You provide capital and goods. I'll invest my own wealth too, and even the non-Han will join. So, will you? Or just watch from outside?"
As they whispered 'He'll just take our wealth,' 'What if it fails?', I smiled and called for paper and brush.
"I know your worries. So I'll write a contract here! If in five years you can't even recover principal and take a loss... I'll become your slave, Lu Bu, and cover it!"
"...What?!"
Gasps erupted. The Hu clansmen were awestruck by my boldness. Finally, Wang Hun spoke.
"Hahaha! A frontier man through and through, Administrator."
"Calling me a frontier bumpkin?"
"Depends on how you hear it. Fine. We'll trust your guts and invest."
Wang Hun didn't stop.
"But we have conditions. We won't oppose appointing non-Han as officials anymore. No more complaints. But! If any of our children show talent in your eyes, recommend them."
I eyed Wang Hun, then nodded.
"Fine. No reason to refuse talent. Deal."
I raised my cup high.
"To Changli's future!"
"To the future!"
The Hu clansmen clinked cups—reluctantly, but with different eyes than before.