These scholars, who normally enjoyed preferential treatment and protection from so-called loyal officials, had met their match today. Fang Er showed them no mercy as he dealt with them.
Once the Embroidered Uniform Guard ascertained their family background, a fast horse would immediately be dispatched to the Nanjing Imperial Academy to verify their identities.
All scholars who had participated in the provincial examinations had their records there!
Where they lived, how many people were in their households, how much land they owned.
Although there were bound to be some omissions during the registration process, Fang Er only needed a reference point.
For instance, if a family owned a hundred mu of land, Fang Er would inflate it tenfold to a thousand mu.
Even so, it would still be less than the actual situation.
After all, scholars did not pay taxes and had numerous peasants willing to pledge their land.
For example, normal peasants might pay thirty percent in taxes, but after pledging their land, they only needed to pay these scholars twenty percent of their income, saving ten percent of their grain.
And after collecting this twenty percent in grain tax, the scholars would not hand over a single grain to the imperial court!
These were their additional earnings after obtaining official positions.
This was also why scholars like Fan Jin, who failed the imperial examinations even in their old age, would still linger in the provincial examinations.
Even if they couldn't become officials, as long as they passed the examinations, they would rise above, supported by the common people.
Soon, scholars whose identities had been verified were brought before Fang Er by Chong Lou.
"My Lord, this is Zhou Deyuan, a native of Shaoxing. His family owns five hundred mu of land and he was a *juren* in the third year of Chongzhen's reign."
Fang Er nodded slightly, sat on an empty chest, and looked at Zhou Deyuan, saying,
"Five hundred mu, plus the pledged land, I'll count it as five thousand mu.
From the third year of Chongzhen to now, exactly ten years. Let him pay the taxes that should have been paid for these five thousand mu of land over ten years!"
Zhou Deyuan was stunned upon hearing this.
Five thousand mu of land, according to land tax, would require a thousand *shi* of grain annually. Over ten years, that would be ten thousand *shi*!
At current grain prices, that was almost thirty to forty thousand taels of silver!
After a while, he pointed at Fang Er and shouted hysterically,
"In broad daylight, you, you, you are robbing us!
Does the imperial court not care about what the world says at all?"
Fang Er let out a cold laugh and pointed to the crescent moon overhead, saying, "Come, look closely. It's night, so there's no 'broad daylight.'
And whose 'world's opinion' are you referring to?
Is it the voice of the common people of this world, or the voice of you scholars?
Do you really think you bookworms are nobler than ordinary people?
Or do you, who constantly speak of home, country, and the world, actually wish to exchange one master for another to continue your wealth?
Oh yes, it's true, in your words, 'home' comes before 'country.' As long as your small family can be prosperous, who cares what happens to the nation, right?
It seems that dynasties lasting for centuries and noble families for millennia have all come about this way!
But don't forget, it is precisely the common people whom you look down upon, who, with a grain of rice and a piece of clothing, have supported the Ming Dynasty and kept you safe!
Without the country, how can there be a home!
Will you only regret it when the mountains and rivers are shattered, and those Tatars hold their pig-slaughtering knives to your throats?
Let me tell you, even if you truly think this way, I will not give you that opportunity!"
After confronting Zhou Deyuan, Fang Er turned to Chong Lou and instructed,
"Everyone! From the day you obtained your scholarly titles, multiply your family's landholdings by ten times and pay me the land tax!
Those who cannot afford to pay will have their scholarly titles revoked and be sent to Liaodong as conscripts, so they can personally experience what it's like to fight the Tatars!"
"Yes, my Lord, your subordinate has noted it!"
Chong Lou felt his blood boil. This order was truly exhilarating.
Upon hearing these words, Zhou Deyuan collapsed onto the ground.
"No! You can't do this to me!
I studied diligently for over a decade and finally achieved a good family situation. Why are you taking it away from me?
Heaven, please open your eyes!
Taizu, this is the empire you built with your own hands. Look at what it has become!
The emperor is muddle-headed, and the yamen runners are lawless!
The people are suffering, and the nation is on the verge of collapse!"
Fang Er ignored him and let Chong Lou repeat what he had just said to the other scholars.
Instantly, the banks of the Qinhuai River were filled with wails of despair. Scholars, each with a more pained expression than the last, looked as if they had lost their fathers.
The Eight Beauties, after hearing Fang Er's words, found their favor towards him greatly increased, and their gazes towards him held a trace of reverence.
Liu Rushi gently smoothed her hair, ruffled by the night wind, and asked curiously, "Sir Fang, aren't you afraid this action will provoke resistance from the scholarly class?"
Fang Er smiled slightly and played coy, "Miss Liu, have you ever heard this saying?"
Liu Rushi frowned, "What saying?"
Fang Er cast a disdainful glance at those scholars and said indifferently, "A scholar's rebellion is never successful within three years! These people are only good at talking. They don't have the guts to take real action.
With Wang Xuance and his men, fighting the Jurchens won't cost much silver.
However, within the pass, there are still people like Li Zicheng and Zhang Xianzhong.
For these people, extermination is only one aspect; more importantly, the common people must be pacified.
Only when the people see hope will they not follow them blindly.
The slogan 'Open the city gates and welcome Prince Chuang, Prince Chuang is here and won't collect grain' caused Li Zicheng's forces to expand madly, reaching over a million men in a short period.
This is enough to explain everything!
The common people, crushed by heavy taxes and endless levies, could not see the future of the Ming Dynasty, which is the primary reason they joined the rebel army.
Having food to eat, clothes to wear, a wife, children, and a warm hearth—this is what they want.
As for whether the person sitting on the golden throne is surnamed Zhu or Li, does it have anything to do with them?
No!
Fang Er will only stay in the Ming Dynasty for two months before leaving. If the financial problems are not solved for Zhu Youjian, even if the Manchus are eliminated, other foreign tribes will take advantage of the situation later!
This is because Li Zicheng and the others are not suited to be emperors. Eliminating the Ming Dynasty will only benefit others!
Fang Er's words made Gu Hengbo beside him chuckle.
"Mr. Fang is truly witty. I have indeed never heard this saying about scholars rebelling before.
However, upon reflection, it does hold some truth.
Throughout history, all those who initiated and succeeded in uprisings were either military men or ruffians.
Like the founder of the Han Dynasty, the founder of the Tang Dynasty, the founder of the Song Dynasty, and the founder of our current dynasty—none of them were scholars by birth."
After saying this, she looked up at the crescent moon in the sky and continued,
"Mr. Fang, matters here will naturally be handled by your subordinates. May I, your humble servant, have the honor of inviting you to my flower boat?"
As soon as she made this suggestion, the other women also chimed in.
"There is wine and food on the boat, and it will allow my sisters and I to properly listen to Mr. Fang's wisdom."
"Yes, yes. Mr. Fang's views on politics and the people's livelihood are something my sisters and I have never heard before. Having Mr. Fang visit will truly illuminate our humble flower boat."
"Please move to our flower boat, Mr. Fang. I will play the flute to accompany your wine."