Chapter 594: Chapter 594

Feng Wu listened to Xu Qing’s solution, and couldn’t help but find it both laughable and vexing, but it was indeed feasible.

Xu Qing’s idea was to change the Supreme Scattering Hand from an active skill to a passive one.

Once Feng Wu encountered life-threatening danger, he could trigger the mindset of bidding farewell to Xu Qing, and in such a way, the wondrous state of "Supreme Forget Love" within the Supreme Scattering Hand could naturally be manifested.

This somewhat echoed the essence of the Despondent Soul Demise Palm from past life novels.

However, precisely how to trigger it and how to utilize Qi-Blood was a matter of great importance.

This required the insight of a Martial Saint level individual to enlighten.

With the basic framework in place, and since Xu Qing and Feng Wu understood each other deeply, the couple worked together to push this matter forward rather smoothly.

Moreover, as a Heavenly Demon, he was most skilled at manipulating people’s hearts, which indeed gave him an advantage in this regard.

In short, in extremely dangerous circumstances, the triggered "Supreme Scattering Hand" by Feng Wu would become the top tier combat power below the Martial Saint, far beyond what an ordinary Martial Arts Grandmaster could reach.

This is the hometown of the elder Grand Secretary Zhang Tai’a.

After returning home from mourning, the elder Grand Secretary focused on the high-yield crop experiments mentioned by Xu Qing.

Currently, the per acre yield has visibly increased, but it still falls short of the high-yield situation Xu Qing described.

The Grand Secretary is already very satisfied with this.

Because Central Earth has a rich farming culture, as long as continuous improvements are made, the potential of these high-yield crops can always be tapped.

In fact, many crops today were taken from elsewhere by the Central Plains Dynasty and then improved upon.

Once the food issue is resolved, coupled with reform policies, in his view, the revival of the Great Yu Dynasty has a significant hope of success.

The country might even be able to extend for more than a jiazi (sixty years).

This is an extraordinary achievement.

Even though the Grand Secretary initially didn’t care about his legacy.

But if success is truly achieved, he will undoubtedly be remembered in history, and his family can be preserved, which is definitely a perfect ending he didn’t dare to imagine before.

In life, reaching this point, there would be no further regrets.

However, the elder Grand Secretary’s joy did not last long, because a troublesome affair found its way.

After listening to his eldest son’s narrative, the elder Grand Secretary’s expression was very calm.

But indeed, the matter at hand was rather dire.

For even in his hometown, the implementation of the Single Whip Law encountered errors.

It was no less than a resounding slap to his face.

The eldest son of the Zhang Family originally thought the elder father would become furious, but unexpectedly, the elder father was far calmer than he imagined.

In reality, now in the hearts of the people, the elder father’s influence remains significant. Follow current novᴇls on n͟o͟v͟e͟l͟f͟i͟r͟e͟.net

Whether it was Elder Liang before or Huo Jing now, neither is the Grand Secretary in the hearts of the people.

Because the old Emperor would still write letters to Zhang Tai’a from time to time, discussing court affairs.

These are open secrets.

Old Zhang’s influence on court affairs is still very significant.

But the Grand Secretary knows in his heart that he probably won’t return to the Central.

Because the Grand Secretary now understands very well that his significance in the local far exceeds when he was in the Central.

It’s rather amusing to say; when he was in the Central, local nobles bore a lot of grudges against him, now most of the resentment has gone to Xu Gongming, and these nobles instead hope the elder Grand Secretary revives soon.

No way, without comparison, there is no harm.

Now local nobles believe that Huo Jing is also a paper-backed Elder, what’s the difference with Elder Liang?

The dignified leader of the Conservative Faction has utterly become a mere echo of Xu Gongming.

Had they known it would be , it would have been better during the elder Grand Secretary’s time; back then, he would at most sternly reprimand, while Xu Gongming actually uses the knife.

Actually, among the nobles, there are also wise people. They know that whether the elder Grand Secretary returns or not, Xu Gongming will by no means be lenient. The general trend is already set.

But if the elder Grand Secretary returns, given Zhang Tai’a’s nature, he surely wouldn’t just echo like that.

However, there are also those who don’t want the elder Grand Secretary to have a good life.

After Huo Jing became the Grand Secretary, his Pure Stream subordinates held a grudge against old Zhang, always alert to Zhang Tai’a’s revival. Moreover, Huo Jing is really good at acting, constantly reassuring old subordinates of the Inspection Bureau. He says one must endure a temporary humiliation, waiting for the day when the clouds disperse and the sun shines.

In sum, he is in the Cao Camp while his heart is with Han, absolutely not of one mind with Xu Gongming.

Additionally, old Huo being close to Xu Qing has learned the art of dividing the spoils; this time, he took out a lot of the tender income to share with the Pure Stream, increasing his popularity among them even higher than when he was the head of the Inspection Bureau—Left Imperial Censor.

It’s simply unreasonable.

In the past, he earnestly exhorted everyone with righteousness and principle, but it was all in vain.

After distributing silver, the effect was immediate.

It turns out that although the Pure Stream people always spoke of ideals and righteousness, what was really in their minds was silver!

In this way, Huo Jing has no psychological burden of betraying the Pure Stream.

He is now the true "Grand Secretary"; both the Pure Stream and the Corruption are to be used, how could he abandon the public for the private?

He is of a mind for the public good, while the Pure Stream is of individual interests.

This time, the Pure Stream secretly colluded to give the elder Grand Secretary a big surprise, which finally erupted during the summer tax.

After understanding the entirety of the matter, the elder Grand Secretary had to admit that these people were adept at causing trouble.

This was not about anything else but the execution problem of the Single Whip Law.

Actually, the elder Grand Secretary implemented the Single Whip Law to prevent chaos below and increase the burden on the people, adding a lot of binding constraints.

In sum, the Single Whip Law was extremely complex and meticulous.

Because there were many complex rules and intricate details, it instead led to many loopholes.

In Yingdu Prefecture, right under the elder Grand Secretary’s nose, these officials of Pure Stream origin deliberately took the complex provisions of the Single Whip Law and handed them to the inferior, allowing these cunning clerks to exercise freely and create names.

As a result, even though many commoners paid taxes according to the Single Whip Law honestly, they ended up with a lot of extra extortion taxes and levies.

The key was that those clerks would use the provisions of the Single Whip Law to intimidate the commoners.

And because the elder Grand Secretary was in Yingdu Prefecture, the clerks would also threaten them, saying the Single Whip Law was personally enacted by the Grand Secretary; if they dared to disobey, they were risking their lives.

After a series of chain moves , the commoners paid more taxes, naturally resulting in numerous grievances, and all resented the Zhang family.

Especially the clansmen of the Zhang family; they paid taxes normally, which made many commoners even more resentful, leading to conflicts.

In short, the Zhang family’s reputation in Yingdu Prefecture was utterly tainted.

"My intention in formulating these provisions was to prevent the little people from being extorted, but unexpectedly it became their death warrant. No matter what, ultimately, I am in the wrong, and I will confess my crimes to the Court. You take my letter, deliver it to Jiangning Prefecture, and inform Xu Gongming—I ask him to help me clean up this mess."

Zhang’s eldest son felt inexplicably sad.

Father obviously meant well, how did it come to such an outcome?

And shouldn’t those clerks and government officers be punished instead?

Why didn’t Father take action?

The elder Grand Secretary, seeing his son’s expression, understood he didn’t comprehend, so he explained: "Yingdu Prefecture is , which shows that during the implementation of the Single Whip Law, everywhere in the world, such loopholes can be exploited. If I took action solely for my reputation, what benefit would it bring to the world? Wrong is wrong, and the father cannot shirk this responsibility."

Actually, for the Single Whip Law to be executed meticulously, it greatly relies on the Court’s supervision of the localities.

However, enhancing supervision inherently requires significant monetary and grain expenditures.

These funds are hard to secure from a Court that is constantly spending money.

Now, with the old Emperor and Xu Qing joining forces, getting the Single Whip Law strictly enforced in the fertile lands of Jiangnan is already commendable. Elsewhere, deviation and transformation are inevitable.

However, the elder Grand Secretary also wants to see how Xu Qing will properly handle this situation.

Moreover, this action undoubtedly tells Xu Qing that he is not returning, and Xu Qing can proceed confidently.

Because the elder Grand Secretary is pragmatic.

Seeing Xu Qing doing better, why go back?

When others blocked his path back in the day, he bore a grudge for a long time. Now that he’s old, should he also block young people’s paths?

Moreover, Xu Qing’s great trend is established, with no need to yield to anyone.

The little eagle of those years, in his view now, has become a Great Roc soaring in the clouds, climbing the clouds, shouldering the azure heavens, wandering the universe.

He quietly appreciates from the side and gives his humble efforts where he can!

This is indeed also quite aggrieving.

But comparing to the success of the reform, even if ten times or a hundred times more aggrieved, he would also relish it!