Li Zhi, don't be a coward

Chapter 1402 Summoning the Chief Officer
Li Qinzai dared to reach out to the land annexation issue in Datang because he had chips in his hands.

If there are enough chips, it will be enough to make the hearts of all the famous families in the world.

Using interests as a bargaining chip to set rules for the world's famous families is a mutually beneficial exchange. What if it touches the core interests?Can I give your family another core benefit?

After Li Qinzai put forward the conditions, Lu Songxi was silent for a long time, but the expression on his face was not resisting, but thinking seriously.

Seeing Lu Songxi's expression, Li Qinzai knew that he was hesitating and weighing.

Now that he has begun to hesitate, it proves that the benefits Li Qinzai sent out are not small, and this benefit has already tempted him.

Lu Songxi is one of the heads of a prominent family in the south of the Yangtze River. He is tempted, and presumably the other heads of the family will not resist too much.

Li Qinzai was given this benefit without feeling any distress.

Li Qinzai knows best how big the New World is.

Apart from anything else, if the Tang fleet can land in North and South America, then all the vast plains of this continent can be included in the territory of the Tang Dynasty.

So what if the imperial court gave away millions or even tens of millions of acres of land on this continent?
Compared to the size of the mainland, it is only a drop in the bucket.

More importantly, after the Tang fleet landed in the New World, many specific tasks such as reclaiming land, building farms, planting crops, etc. had to be done by private people. It was impossible for the imperial court to do these things.

It just so happens that the aristocratic family has money, people and a solid foundation, so it is most appropriate to leave the specific affairs of developing the New World to the aristocratic family.

In this way, what the imperial court gets is a new territory that has been developed, and what the aristocratic families get is hundreds of thousands or even millions of acres of land, as well as mountains of crop output every year. It is a win-win situation for both parties.

Lu Songxi is an experienced person, so he naturally understands that this is a win-win situation.

"I am willing to obey what Duke Li said. However...if Wu Jun's Lu family spreads the word first, he will definitely become a public enemy of the prominent families in the south of the Yangtze River. This..." Lu Songxi said hesitantly.

The Lu family can no longer expand the land in Jiangnan, but if the Lu family becomes a public enemy of the prominent families in Jiangnan, the situation will not be good. This cannot be solved by interests.

Li Qinzai smiled and said: "The benefits that your Lu family has gained will gradually be gained by other families. The New World is very large, equivalent to several Tang Dynasties, and it is mostly plain terrain. Your family, the Lu family in Wu County, cannot afford it."

"If the other prominent families have benefited, will they still treat you as a public enemy? You are clearly a beacon in the vast sea."

After thinking for a long time, Lu Songxi finally gritted his teeth and said, "Okay! I, the Lu family of Wu County, will take a gamble today!"

At this moment, Lu Songxi finally showed the decisiveness and responsibility of the head of a prominent Jiangnan family.

…………

In March of the fourth year of Linde.

Li Qinzai was ordered to go to the south of the Yangtze River to search all the Zhu family members in Wu County. When the officialdom and the people in Jiangnan were in turmoil and panic, Lu Songxi, the head of the Lu family in Wu County, suddenly announced that he was willing to obey Duke Li's order.

The Lu family took the initiative to make up for this year's land tax to the court, and Lu Songxi also petitioned Chang'an to ask the emperor to punish the Lu family for concealing land and evading taxes in previous years.

The storm of the Zhu family's downfall has not yet subsided, and Lu Songxi's statement immediately caused an uproar in Jiangnan.

The six prominent families in the south of the Yangtze River were furious, and many landowners and gentry who clung to the famous families were shocked. The Lu family in Wu County also became the target of people's verbal and written criticism. For a time, the states and counties in the south of the Yangtze River became increasingly turbulent, and people were uneasy.

Lu Songxi's statement without any prior notice was tantamount to betraying the other prominent families.

You knelt down so smoothly during the 100-meter sprint. Didn't you put the other prominent families on the fire?

Admit that you knelt down quickly enough, but could you not kneel down so completely?
A noble family with hundreds of years of heritage has no dignity at all.

To make up for the tax is not a trivial matter, it is a big expense for several noble families, especially from now on, the taxes of the noble families will be paid according to this amount. Even if they continue to occupy the land, the taxes will still increase.The court's Baiqisi has already targeted them, and it will be almost impossible to conceal the land in the future.

Li Qinzai gave the heads of prominent families a ten-day deadline, and now the heads of the families are watching silently, trying to delay and break the situation.

In short, it is impossible to pay taxes honestly. The amount is too big for a noble family, no matter how deep the foundation is, it cannot withstand it.

At this critical moment, Wu Jun's Lu family actually turned against him.

This will make the situation of the other prominent families even more difficult.

While the house owners were pointing their fingers at the sky and scolding the streets, there was one problem they couldn't figure out.

What kind of ecstasy soup did Li Qinzai pour into Lu Songxi that made Lu Songxi so determined to surrender to the court regardless of the dignity of his family?

We are all smart people, and the family business is related to hundreds of years. Without enough benefits, how could Lu Songxi kneel so smoothly?

So, what benefits did Li Qinzai promise to Lu Songxi?
This question puzzled the family heads, so they sent people to inquire.

…………

There are undercurrents among the prominent families in the south of the Yangtze River, and they are intrigues in silence.

Five days later.

In the governor's office in Gusu City, Li Qinzai was sitting in the back hall. In front of him were more than thirty officials wearing green and scarlet robes.

Officials were invited from various prefectures and counties in the south of the Yangtze River by Li Qinzai.

Some of them are governors of certain states in the south of the Yangtze River, and some are county magistrates.

There were quite a lot of people there. After all, after Li Qinzai wiped the Zhu family from Wu County from the world overnight, his evil reputation had spread throughout the south of the Yangtze River.

The emperor's imperial envoy was cruel and ruthless. This young prince personally sent a message to summon officials from all over the south of the Yangtze River. Who dared not to come?No matter how strong your head is, it can't withstand the [-] soldiers who take turns to chop them off.

Li Qinzai was in a very happy mood. Alas, the officials in Jiangnan are still very sensible. Look at how sensible they are. They rushed to Gusu with just a greeting. Unlike those old and cunning heads of noble families who toasted politely. If you eat, you must drink wine as a penalty.

Therefore, it is more comfortable to deal with people within the system. You don't have to think about any entanglements of interests or personal connections. My official is older than you. You can come when you are called. How simple, crude and effective.

Facing dozens of trembling officials, Li Qinzai smiled more kindly than when he saw his own son.

"Everyone, it's been a hard journey to invite you all the way from various states and counties." Li Qinzai said with a smile.

All the officials stood up and laughed with him, but they didn't even dare to say anything.

Li Qinzai said calmly: "You are all local officials and busy with official duties, so I won't talk nonsense. Let's get straight to the point."

Looking around the hall, Li Qinzai said slowly: "I summon you all to come to Gusu today. I have a few things to ask you. This is also the emperor's wish."

Everyone stood up hurriedly and listened with solemn expressions.

Li Qinzai said: "First, in previous years, when registering the land under the names of major families in the south of the Yangtze River, the number of acres was often falsely reported, and the figures differed greatly..."

As he spoke, Li Qinzai's face gradually darkened, and he said slowly: "To put it seriously, you are deceiving the emperor and you should be punished for your crime!"

With a plop, more than ten officials in the hall knelt down with pale faces.

(End of this chapter)