Chapter 420: Heavenly Secrets Must Not Be Revealed
Li Daoxuan understood that the two magistrates had come this time to discuss the matter of tax collection with him.
Chengcheng County had not collected taxes since Magistrate Zhang Yaocai's death in the seventh year of the Tianqi era (1627).
After Liang Shixian took office, he had consistently utilized the Donglin Party's help, employing a strategy of delay. Feng Jun had followed suit.
Both of them had been fobbing off the imperial court, but now the court was pressing hard, even using phrases like, "If the deadline is missed without participation, all will be severely punished." This indicated a serious crackdown on overdue taxes.
Could they continue to evade like this?
The two magistrates felt a surge of panic.
Li Daoxuan mused to himself, "This is indeed a problem! If the imperial court gets serious, they will certainly punish these two magistrates. And I will definitely protect them. If things escalate, the court might even send troops to attack this place."
Li Daoxuan, of course, wasn't afraid of an attack from the imperial court; a few powerful gestures would be enough to make short work of the Ming army.
But what good would come from annihilating the Ming army?
Absolutely no good.
A large number of Ming troops being consumed here would only cause the entire realm's situation to spiral further out of control. More common people would be harmed by roving bandits, and the Manchus from the northeast might even invade the Central Plains, leading to an even more horrific devastation of life.
Now was not the time for a direct confrontation with the Ming court.
So, how could he ensure that the two magistrates wouldn't be punished?
He would absolutely not take out money to help them pay taxes. Because once tax silver fell into the hands of the imperial court, it could not be used for the people; most of it would be squandered by corrupt officials. He didn't want to give a single copper coin to these corrupt officials.
Honestly, this was truly tricky.
How, then, could this be resolved peacefully?
Li Daoxuan suddenly thought of something: "Who is the current Governor of Shaanxi?"
Liang Shixian respectfully replied, "Liu Guangsheng."
Li Daoxuan typed the name "Liu Guangsheng" into his computer and initiated a search...
Before long, the man's entire life story was laid bare.
Of course, "judging a person solely by historical records" was a major pitfall. It was nearly impossible to discern a person's character and integrity from history books alone. However, some major events recorded in history could serve as important references, such as... Liu Guangsheng's imminent departure from office.
The reason for his departure was also very simple.
It was precisely because of this tax collection drive.
The imperial court demanded that he submit the overdue taxes from Shaanxi, but Liu Guangsheng couldn't possibly do it. No one knew the dismal state of Shaanxi better than he did; asking him to collect taxes was akin to asking him to die. So, Liu Guangsheng simply abandoned his post and fled.
Upon seeing this, Li Daoxuan couldn't help but chuckle. This late Ming dynasty history was truly...
He said to the diorama box, "You don't need to worry about the tax collection."
The two magistrates were momentarily stunned: "Don't need to worry? But... things are already at a critical juncture!"
Li Daoxuan said, "Rest assured, if anyone's eyebrows are going to get singed, it won't be yours. Just boldly keep delaying. When the Governor asks why you owe taxes, simply play dead. Tell him there's nothing to give. 'No taxes, just our lives!'"
The two magistrates asked, "Will that truly work?"
Li Daoxuan replied, "If I say it will work, it will work. This is a heavenly secret, and heavenly secrets must not be revealed. You merely need to do as you're told."
This kind of nonsense about "heavenly secrets must not be revealed" – if a Daoist priest had said it to the two magistrates, they might have already ordered the yamen runners to "arrest this charlatan."
But coming from the mouth of the Heavenly Lord, the feeling was entirely different.
The two exchanged glances, nodded, and their hearts settled. "Then your humble officials will proceed as instructed."
They weren't in a hurry to return to their yamen. Instead, they borrowed paper and brush at Gao Family Fortress and proceeded to write a pile of excuses. The opening mentioned various objective reasons, such as three years of severe drought and the ravages of roving bandits—essentially a litany of evasions. The entire letter avoided direct defiance, yet throughout it conveyed the clear message: "No taxes, just our lives!"
They dispatched trusted aides to swiftly deliver the letter to Xi'an for Governor Liu Guangsheng's review. Then, the two returned home, propped up their pillows, and slept soundly, waiting to see how this "heavenly secret" would unfold.
Several days later, news arrived.
Shaanxi Governor Liu Guangsheng submitted a memorial to the imperial court, stating he couldn't collect the taxes. The beginning laid out a series of objective reasons, similar to what the two magistrates had written. The entire memorial contained not a single word of direct defiance to the emperor, yet it pervaded with the eight bold characters: "No taxes, just our lives!"
Zhu Youjian was furious. Before he even had a chance to erupt, he saw Liu Guangsheng's final sentence: "I quit!"
A dignified provincial governor, a high official, had simply resigned his post, citing illness.
The newly appointed Governor, Wang Shunxing, took office, but being new, he too was powerless to change the situation. He could only continue to memorialize, requesting: "That all uncollected taxes for the first and second years of Chongzhen, as well as the entire arrears for the third year, be completely waived; and that the amounts allocated for imperial transport be compensated separately."
Zhu Youjian was dumbfounded. Were all the governors going to play this game?
"Fine, fine!"
He couldn't possibly replace *another* governor, could he?
"I'll endure it!"
And so, the overdue taxes were once again postponed.
Only then did the two magistrates understand that the so-called heavenly secret unfolded in this manner. The Heavenly Lord was indeed a deity of immense power, knowing five hundred years into the past, five hundred years into the future, and five hundred years in between.
Gudu Ferry.
The palisade walls had already been erected, encircling the Gudu Ferry, tightly wrapping the entire dock. Three tall watchtowers, arranged in a "pin" character formation, guarded the ferry.
This fortified ferry post was quite large. When Lao Nanfeng planned this stronghold, he designed it to the scale of a military camp, capable of accommodating a full three thousand people. Currently, it housed only three hundred cavalrymen, three hundred infantrymen, and over a thousand common folk, leaving ample space.
Not only was there ample space, but it was also divided into distinct zones.
There was a cavalry zone, an infantry zone, a civilian zone, and a separate zone for grain storage warehouses. Doors separated the four zones, manned by guards. Without Gao Chuwu's token, no one was allowed to cross between zones at will. Lao Nanfeng's expertise in establishing this camp alone was enough to outclass everyone in Gao Family Village; even Cheng Xu surely couldn't match him.
However...
A problem arose!
Gao Chuwu had no token whatsoever.
He came from humble beginnings; where would he get a token?
And so, Xing Honglang was holding a fine piece of wood, swiftly carving it with a small knife, personally making a token for her husband.
Lao Nanfeng strolled behind the newly built palisade wall. He beckoned a laborer over, pointed to a spot on the wall, and instructed: "Dig a hole here, one that goes all the way through the wall so you can see outside, and then make a small cover to conceal it."
The laborer was greatly surprised: "Boss, what's the purpose of doing this?"
Lao Nanfeng snorted, "Call me General, not 'Boss'."
The laborer quickly corrected himself: "General, why dig a hole and then make a cover for it? Isn't that a waste of effort?"
Lao Nanfeng said, "These are firing ports for muskets, you idiot. The entire perimeter of this palisade wall needs firing ports. Normally, they'll be covered with a plate. When needed, we'll flip open the cover and extend the musket to fire."
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