It was quite possible that these several ministers would lose their lives, so they turned a blind eye, pretending not to see.

More importantly, they were also among the beneficiaries, so naturally, they couldn't undermine their own foundation.

But Jiang Chen's method of apportionment solved many of these hidden dangers.

Having the benefiting ministers deal with the equally benefiting gentry and local rich men meant that no matter which side ultimately won, Jiang Chen would be sure to gain.

And if these two sides united, it would give Jiang Chen a direct reason to take action!

It was because they saw this point that the ministers felt particularly uncomfortable.

"If he really continues to act against the gentry and rich men, that's something he won't be able to control," said Wei Zhengli, Minister of Works, in a sinister tone.

The ministers' eyes lit up.

That's right!

They had nothing to worry about at all.

If that day really came, they wouldn't need to think of any countermeasures at all. The gentry of the world would be the first to be unable to bear it.

The Vice Minister of Personnel's depression was swept away, and he laughed, "I'll treat you all to wine, good wine!"

In the following two days, the ministers who had been assigned the task of apportionment left the capital one after another, heading to the areas they had drawn to begin their persuasion.

Since it concerned when they could return to the capital to continue serving as officials, each minister used all their skills and abilities.

Some reasoned with them and appealed to their emotions, some threatened them sternly, and some begged bitterly...

In short, all the methods they could think of, and those they couldn't, were used.

But to give up generations of land for nothing was naturally something most of the gentry and rich men were unwilling to do.

As a result, half a month passed, and the land recovered from each area was less than one-tenth.

The six ministers gathered together, wearing smiles on their faces.

Things were as they had expected. It was easy to let those gentry and rich men annex land, but how could it be so simple to make them spit it out?

Did they really think it could be done with a few words?

What were they thinking!

In the Qin Zheng Hall, Jiang Chen looked at the memorials sent from various places, and couldn't help but sneer.

Most of the memorials were full of complaints.

Jiang Chen narrowed his eyes. It seemed like it was time to add some strong stuff!

"Jing Yue, how is the investigation you were asked to conduct coming along?" Jiang Chen suddenly asked the air.

Jing Yue appeared silently and placed a stack of documents on the desk.

"Your Majesty, these are the evil deeds and evidence of the gentry and rich men near the capital that the Dark Guards have recently collected."

Looking at the evidence that was nearly half a person tall, a murderous intent flashed in Jiang Chen's eyes.

"Very good. Give these things to the minister in charge of recovering the land in the capital's vicinity."

"Yes!"

The one in charge of recovering the land in the capital's vicinity was precisely the Vice Minister of the Ministry of War, Yao Shouxin, who had raised an objection to the first lottery draw.

At this time, his face was haggard, and though he was not yet forty, he already had several white hairs on his head.

Clearly, he was worried by the matter.

The gentry and rich men who could live near the capital were naturally not ordinary people.

Either they had someone in the court now, or their ancestors were prominent.

They simply ignored a small fifth-rank vice minister.

After another day of fruitless persuasion, Yao Shouxin returned to his residence in a fit of anger.

"A bunch of stubborn, unpatriotic dogs!" Yao Shouxin cursed.

After cursing for a long time, he noticed that there seemed to be some extra things on his desk.

Picking them up and looking at them, Yao Shouxin was first delighted, and then furious.

"These people have actually done so many evil things! They deserve to die!"

He put away the evidence and immediately went to the nearest yamen to mobilize troops.

Early the next morning, just as the sky was beginning to light up, the members of the Feng family, who had prominent ancestors in the suburbs of the capital, were awakened by the sound of horses' hooves and shouting.

Then, there was rapid knocking on the door.

"Who is it, daring to cause trouble on the Feng family's territory?"

The steward opened the door and saw Yao Shouxin, imposing and awe-inspiring, standing outside the door with a group of soldiers, radiating a murderous aura.

"Twenty-two years ago, the Feng family seized twelve mu of good farmland from Peng Hu's family, causing the death of all five members of Peng Hu's family. Twenty-one years ago, the Feng family seized twenty-one mu of good farmland from Sun Xing's family, and the whereabouts of Sun Xing's family remain unknown to this day..."

Yao Shouxin had a good memory, reciting the Feng family's evil deeds over the years one by one.

The steward listened, cold sweat pouring down his back, and quickly went to call for the master of the Feng family.

The master of the Feng family was over sixty years old this year and walked over tremblingly.

At this time, Yao Shouxin was reciting what the Feng family had done in recent years, and the master of the Feng family shouted in a shrill voice, "Stop! Yao Shouxin, don't spout nonsense!"

"My Feng family has been loyal and good for generations, how could we possibly do such evil things?"

Although he spoke forcefully, the master of the Feng family was already extremely terrified.

How did Yao Shouxin know about these things?

"Impossible?"

Yao Shouxin's eyes were cold, and he casually took out a document and threw it in front of the master of the Feng family.

"Look at it yourself!"

The master of the Feng family picked it up and took a look, and his eyes went black.

This was actually the "secret" that he had personally recorded back then. How could it have fallen into Yao Shouxin's hands?

With the facts right in front of him, the master of the Feng family couldn't say a word.

Yao Shouxin sneered and waved his hand, "The Feng family has repeatedly committed evil deeds, and the evidence has now been verified. Now, according to the laws of the Great Wei, this official will detain everyone!"

After saying that, the Feng family members were surrounded by soldiers and taken away.

Without any obstruction, Yao Shouxin easily obtained all the land deeds.

This scene that occurred in the Feng family made the other families in the suburbs of the capital tremble with fear.

To put it bluntly, none of them were cleaner than the others.

If they were to really investigate, everyone would be arrested!

Some who reacted quickly secretly visited Yao Shouxin, expressing their willingness to return all the land to Jiang Chen.

After Yao Shouxin accepted it, he let them leave.

Although he really wanted to arrest these people, he also knew that if he took the land and still took action, it would inevitably lead to a counterattack from all the gentry and rich men.

This was not in line with His Majesty's original intention!

Yao Shouxin had already understood that the suddenly appearing evidence must have been given to him by Jiang Chen.

And the evidence he was given was all related to the seizure of land.

This showed that His Majesty's goal was only to recover the land.

He couldn't ruin His Majesty's plan.

Early the next morning, Yao Shouxin led his soldiers and once again knocked on the doors of those gentry and rich men who were harboring侥幸 (jiǎo xìng - a lucky chance) thoughts.

After reciting all their evil deeds, everyone was taken away, and their land deeds were confiscated.

In this situation, who didn't understand what was going on?

The remaining gentry and rich men scrambled to take their land deeds and "voluntarily" offered them up.

As a result, in just five days, all the good farmland seized by the gentry and rich men in the capital's vicinity was recovered.

Yao Shouxin also became the first minister to return to the capital.

Jiang Chen personally summoned Yao Shouxin and greatly praised his achievements.

Under the propaganda that Jiang Chen could arrange, the matter here quickly spread throughout the entire Great Wei.

And under the Dark Guards' search, many ministers in various regions also had evidence of the evil deeds of the local gentry and officials on their desks.