novelSusiti Chapter 44
Chapter 44
Chapter 40
The sweltering heat of Wuchang in the sweltering summer was unbearable, with cicadas chirping incessantly in the trees. Yet, inside the Governor-General's council hall, the atmosphere was even more oppressive than outside.
Ma Yongsheng sat in the main seat, looking at the noisy crowd below. To his left were civil officials led by Huang Zongxi, and to his right were military officers such as Jin Shenghuan and Instructor Sun. Interspersed in the middle were council representatives selected from various places—gentry in silk, farmers in coarse cloth, and miners with faces covered in coal dust, a motley crew, all talking at once.
The argument is about "how taxes should be collected".
Huang Zongxi advocated for "light taxes and lenient corvée labor," arguing that with the empire newly pacified and the people suffering, the lighter the taxes, the better. Jin Shenghuan slammed his fist on the table: "Light taxes? You'll pay the army's wages? You'll provide compensation for the fallen soldiers?" A gentry representative interjected: "But if taxes are increased, merchants will be burdened too much, and business will be impossible!" A peasant representative timidly said: "We farmers are afraid of rent increases..."
Ma Yongsheng rubbed his temples. Three months had passed since the declaration of civilization, and there had been no fewer than twenty meetings, large and small, each one filled with arguments. Arguments over legislation, taxation, conscription, even the construction of an irrigation canal could drag on for half a day. Sometimes he truly missed the days of war—back then, orders were obeyed without question, and there was no such nonsense.
But that's civilization. Power is decentralized, everyone has the right to speak, and everyone wants to fight for their own interests.
"That's enough." He finally spoke, his voice not loud, but the hall immediately fell silent.
Everyone was looking at him.
"Mr. Huang is right, the people are suffering, so taxes cannot be too heavy," Ma Yongsheng said. "General Jin is also right, the army needs to be supported, and the country needs to function; without money, nothing can be done."
He paused for a moment, then said, “So, let’s set some rules: First, land tax will be collected per mu (unit of land area), at one-tenth of the total tax, with no additional levies. Second, commercial tax will be collected based on turnover, at three-hundredths of the total tax, with small merchants and vendors exempt from taxation. Third, mining tax, salt tax, and tea tax will be levied. These were previously monopolized by the government, but now they will be opened up to private operation, though the state will take a cut.”
"What about military expenses?" Jin Shenghuan asked.
"Military expenses will come from these taxes," Ma Yongsheng said. "In addition, after the implementation of the conscription system, military expenses will decrease. In the future, only 100,000 will remain in the standing army, and the rest will be converted into militia. They will farm during the busy farming season and train during the off-season. They will not receive salaries, but will only be exempt from taxes."
Instructor Sun frowned: "Is 100,000 enough? What if the remnants of the Qing dynasty retaliate..."
"Remnants of the Qing Dynasty?" Ma Yongsheng laughed. "Those defeated soldiers outside the Great Wall can't even feed themselves now, what can they possibly use to fight back? As for the various Mongol tribes, we can talk, we can do business, we don't necessarily have to fight."
He looked at the crowd and said, "I know many people think that military generals are useless once wars are over. But I want to say that true military skill is not about expanding territory, but about protecting the borders and ensuring the safety of the people. The army's future tasks will be to suppress bandits, provide disaster relief, build roads, and reclaim wasteland. These are all forms of merit."
The generals looked at each other, and although they were still somewhat resentful, they remained silent.
"Then it's settled." Ma Yongsheng made the decision. "Mr. Huang, draft a 'Taxation Regulations' and distribute it for a one-year trial. Adjust it based on the results after one year."
The meeting ended, and people left one after another. Ma Yongsheng leaned back in his chair and let out a long sigh. Being this "regency" was far more tiring than leading troops into battle. In war, the enemy was in the open; now, the enemy was lurking in every detail—the struggle for interests, the calculation of people's hearts, the resistance of old habits…
"Your Excellency, have some tea." A young clerk brought in tea. He was a newly selected student recommended by Gu Yanwu, named Wang Fuzhi. He was only eighteen years old, but he was well-read and quick-witted.
Ma Yongsheng took the tea: "Fuzhi, what do you think of today's meeting?"
Wang Fuzhi hesitated for a moment: "I think... it's a bit chaotic, but at least everyone is speaking the truth. In the past, when the court discussed matters, it was all official rhetoric, and no one dared to speak the truth."
"Yes, to tell the truth," Ma Yongsheng said with a wry smile, "but telling the truth can't solve all the problems. Look at those gentry representatives, they say they support civilization, but they're all scheming in their hearts. Those peasant representatives, they're honest, but they don't know anything and are easily fooled."
"Then... what should we do?"
"Education," Ma Yongsheng said, "is about opening schools, publishing newspapers, and helping ordinary people understand principles and know their rights and obligations. This is a long-term endeavor that cannot be rushed."
Just then, hurried footsteps sounded outside. Yue Zhenbang rushed in, covered in sweat: "Regent! Something's happened!"
"What is it?"
"There's a White Lotus Rebellion happening in Shaanxi!"
Ma Yongsheng's heart sank. The White Lotus Sect was the most notorious folk religion during the late Ming and early Qing dynasties, with followers throughout the northern provinces. It was severely suppressed by the Qing government, but now that the Qing dynasty had collapsed, it had indeed resurfaced.
"What are the specific details?"
"In the Tongguan area, tens of thousands of people gathered, holding banners that read 'Maitreya has descended to earth, a new dynasty should be established,'" Yue Zhenbang said. "The leader was called Liu Zhixie, who called himself the 'White Lotus Sect Leader' and said he wanted to build a 'Lotus Pure Land.' He had already captured several county towns, killed officials and distributed grain, and many people joined in the uprising."
Ma Yongsheng frowned. He had heard of Liu Zhixie; he was originally a failed scholar who later joined the White Lotus Sect and was quite capable. Now, taking advantage of the unstable situation, he wanted to fish in troubled waters.
"Regent, let me lead the troops to suppress them!" Yue Zhenbang volunteered. "A bunch of charlatans pretending to be gods and ghosts, they'll amount to nothing!"
Ma Yongsheng shook his head: "We can't suppress them by force. The fact that the White Lotus sect has taken root among the people shows that they are suffering. The more you suppress them, the more they will think that the government is evil and they are Buddha."
"What can we do then? We can't just watch them grow stronger!"
"I'll go." Ma Yongsheng stood up.
"What?!" Yue Zhenbang and Wang Fuzhi were both shocked.
"Regent, you can't go! It's too dangerous!"
"It's precisely because it's dangerous that I have to go," Ma Yongsheng said. "The White Lotus sect problem can't be solved with weapons. We have to win people's hearts and minds."
Three days later, Ma Yongsheng, accompanied by a hundred guards and traveling light, headed straight for Tongguan. He did not notify the local officials or mobilize a large army; he entered Shaanxi quietly, like an ordinary merchant caravan.
The closer we got to Tongguan, the stranger the scene became. White Lotus Sect talismans were plastered everywhere in the villages along the road. No one was working in the fields; everyone was gathered at the village entrance listening to the "preachers" preach. These preachers, dressed in white robes and holding lotus flowers, spoke eloquently: about the "descendant of the Eternal Mother," about the "three periods of no calamity," and about "joining the sect guaranteeing peace."
Ma Yongsheng stopped outside a village, told his guards to wait in the woods, changed into coarse clothes, disguised himself as a refugee, and sneaked into the village.
Over a hundred people had gathered at the threshing ground at the village entrance. A middle-aged missionary stood on a stone mill, passionately preaching:
"...The court has changed, but it's all the same old wine in new bottles! It's still the same officials, still the same exorbitant taxes! When will we common people be able to live a good life?"
The people below echoed, "Yes! Life is tough!"
"But the Unborn Mother is merciful!" the missionary raised his voice, "sending down Maitreya Buddha, reincarnated as Master Liu, to lead us in building the Lotus Pure Land! In the Pure Land, everyone is equal, sharing land and food, without government oppression, without taxes or forced labor!"
"Good! Good!" the people cheered.
Ma Yongsheng stood at the back of the crowd, listening quietly. These people weren't born rebels. They were desperate to survive, which is why they believed in these unfounded and illusory things.
After the missionary finished speaking, he began collecting "incense money." He said that by donating money, one could secure a good spot in the Lotus Pure Land. Although the people were poor, they gritted their teeth and paid up for the sake of that illusory Pure Land.
Ma Yongsheng noticed that several villagers looked hesitant but dared not refuse to donate. One old man rummaged around for a long time, only managing to pull out a few copper coins. The missionary's face darkened: "Is that all? You're not sincere! If you're not sincere, your mother won't bless you!"
The old man was so frightened he trembled.
Ma Yongsheng stepped forward, took out a small piece of silver from his pocket, and put it into the donation box.
The missionary's eyes lit up: "This brother is sincere! Mother will surely bless him!"
Ma Yongsheng spoke up: "Master, I have a question."
"you say."
"You said that everyone is equal in the Lotus Pure Land, and everyone cultivates the land together. Now that Leader Liu has occupied the county town, are he and his protectors and elders equal to the ordinary followers? They live in the county government office, eating and drinking the finest food, while where do the ordinary followers live? What do they eat?"
The crowd fell silent. Everyone looked at the missionary.
The missionary's expression changed: "You...who are you? How dare you question the cult leader?"
"I'm just a refugee, asking out of curiosity," Ma Yongsheng said. "I also want to ask, where did all that money you collected go? Was it used to buy food to help the believers, or... did it end up in someone's pocket?"
"Insolence!" the missionary roared. "Guards, arrest this troublemaker!"
Several white-robed cult members rushed forward. Upon seeing this, Ma Yongsheng's guards immediately rushed in to protect him.
"Who are you?" the missionary asked, puzzled.
Ma Yongsheng pushed aside the guards and stepped forward: "I am Ma Yongsheng."
"Ma... Regent Ma?" The missionary's legs went weak, and he almost knelt down. The crowd also stirred—who in the world didn't know the name Ma Yongsheng these days?
"You haven't answered the question from before." Ma Yongsheng stared at the missionary. "In the Lotus Pure Land, is everyone truly equal? Does Master Liu really eat the same food and live in the same rooms as the ordinary followers?"
The missionary was sweating profusely and stammered, unable to answer.
Ma Yongsheng turned to the people: "Fellow villagers, I know that everyone is suffering. The country has just experienced great chaos, so many people died from the plague, fields were abandoned, houses collapsed, and everyone is having a hard time. But it is precisely because it is difficult that we must be down-to-earth and take it one step at a time."
He pointed at the missionaries: "These people use pretty words to deceive you, take your money, and make you risk your lives. When a real war breaks out, it's ordinary people who die, while they hide behind and enjoy the spoils. Is this the Pure Land of Lotus Flowers you want?"
The people fell silent. Some bowed their heads, while others seemed lost in thought.
"I'm not saying the government is perfect," Ma Yongsheng continued. "There are corrupt officials and incompetent officials, I admit that. But we are making changes and establishing new rules. You all saw the parliamentary elections, right? You all heard about the land redistribution to individual households, right? These are not empty words, they are real things."
He raised his voice: "I'm not here to suppress bandits today, but to reason with you. If you're willing to believe in me, come with me, and I guarantee you'll have land to cultivate, food to eat, and your children to go to school. If you're willing to believe in the White Lotus sect, I won't force you. But there's one condition—you can't harm your fellow villagers, and you can't prevent others from living a good life."
After saying that, he turned and left.
"Wait!" an old man suddenly shouted, "Regent Ma... is what you said about dividing the land true?"
"Really." Ma Yongsheng turned around. "The land deeds are in the county government office. They'll be distributed according to the number of people, and then they'll be issued."
"Then...then I'll go with you!" The old man stepped forward.
"I'll go with you too!" someone else stepped forward.
Soon, most of the people sided with Ma Yongsheng. The rest looked at the missionary, then at Ma Yongsheng, hesitant.
The missionary, sensing the danger, tried to slip away but was held back by the guards.
Ma Yongsheng didn't make things difficult for him, but simply said, "Let him go back and tell Liu Zhixie: I'll be waiting for him outside Tongguan in three days. If he wants to fight, I'm ready; if he wants to talk, I welcome it."
The missionary scrambled away.
The news spread, shaking the entire province of Shaanxi. Hearing that Ma Yongsheng had come in person and would be distributing land, the people flocked to Tongguan. The White Lotus sect began to disintegrate, with members secretly fleeing every day.
On the third day, outside Tongguan City, Ma Yongsheng stood in an open space with only ten guards. Opposite him, the White Lotus Sect arrived with over a thousand people, banners waving, and Liu Zhixie sat in a sedan chair, surrounded by a retinue.
The two met in the middle. Liu Zhixie was in his fifties, with a fair complexion and long beard, possessing a somewhat otherworldly air. But his eyes gleamed, revealing a shrewdness.
"I've long admired Regent Ma," Liu Zhixie spoke first. "I didn't expect you to actually dare to come."
"Why wouldn't I dare?" Ma Yongsheng said calmly, "You're not going to eat people."
Liu Zhixie smiled and said, "Your Excellency is too kind. May I ask what brings you here?"
"I wouldn't call it instruction, but I have a few questions for you," Ma Yongsheng said. "First, you keep talking about building the Lotus Pure Land, but where is that Pure Land? Second, you've collected so much money and supplies from your followers, where has it been used? Third, do you really think you can govern the world by pretending to be a god?"
Liu Zhixie's expression changed, but he quickly recovered: "Your Excellency is mistaken. The White Lotus Sect saves people from suffering and guides all beings; how could it be a charlatan? As for the money and grain, they are all used to provide relief to the sect members, purchase incense and candles, and make offerings to my elderly mother."
"Really?" Ma Yongsheng pulled out an account book from his pocket—it had been confiscated by the guards from an elder of the White Lotus Sect. "So this book records that Leader Liu bought three houses in Xi'an, took five concubines, and ate delicacies at every meal, all to support his elderly mother?"
Liu Zhixie's expression finally changed: "You...you're slandering me!"
"Whether it's slander or not, let the followers see for themselves." Ma Yongsheng threw the account books to the elders behind him. "You should also take a look and see what kind of life your leader is living."
The elders who protected the Dharma picked up the account book, opened it, and their faces turned grim. They knew Liu Zhixie enjoyed himself, but they hadn't expected it to be this extravagant.
Upon seeing this, the followers began to stir.
"Master... is this true?"
"While we're starving, he's living the high life?"
Seeing the situation was turning against him, Liu Zhixie suddenly drew a short sword from his sleeve and pointed it at Ma Yongsheng: "Spreading heresy! Protectors, seize him!"
But the protectors didn't move. They looked at Liu Zhixie, then at Ma Yongsheng, and hesitated.
Ma Yongsheng sighed: "Liu Zhixie, it's not too late for you to stop now. Lay down your weapons, disband your followers, and I'll guarantee your survival. If you continue to resist, you'll only face death."
"I'll fight you to the death!" Liu Zhixie charged forward, sword in hand, as if possessed.
Ma Yongsheng didn't move. A guard behind him raised a crossbow and shot an arrow into Liu Zhixie's wrist. The short sword fell to the ground, and Liu Zhixie screamed as he clutched his wrist.
"Tie him up," Ma Yongsheng said.
The guards stepped forward and tied the man up. The White Lotus Cult members watched, but no one dared to move.
Ma Yongsheng walked up to the followers and said, “I know that many of you have been deceived and only turned to religion because you couldn’t survive. Now, I’m giving you two choices: First, lay down your weapons, go home and farm, and I will forgive your past transgressions. Second, those who are willing to join the army can join the Jingnan Army, where you will receive the same land and pay.”
The followers looked at each other. Someone threw down their weapon first, and then the sound of weapons hitting the ground clattered together. And so, the thousands of followers dispersed.
A potential major upheaval that could have spread to several provinces was averted without a trace.
When the news reached Wuchang, Huang Zongxi and the others breathed a sigh of relief. Jin Shenghuan slammed his fist on the table and exclaimed in admiration, "Brother Changsheng, that was a brilliant move! The White Lotus Sect was wiped out without losing a single soldier!"
But Ma Yongsheng knew that the problem wasn't fundamentally solved. The people believed in the White Lotus Sect because they were suffering. The root of their suffering was the unsettled state of the country and the hardships they faced.
Upon returning to Wuchang, he convened the cabinet and parliament, and decided on three things:
First, a nationwide "work-for-relief" program was implemented. Road construction, water conservancy projects, and land reclamation were all undertaken by recruiting people, who were provided with food and wages. This not only solved the problem of displaced people but also built up infrastructure.
Second, establish "circuit courts." Judges selected by the parliament would travel to various regions to hear cases, specifically those involving gentry oppressing the people and officials engaging in corruption. This would give the people a place to seek justice.
Third, "Civilized Schools" were established. Schools were set up in various provinces, prefectures, and counties to teach children literacy, arithmetic, agricultural administration, and law free of charge. Teachers were paid by the government, and students were admitted regardless of their wealth.
These three measures caused a sensation throughout the land. In particular, the work-for-relief program provided a way to survive for countless displaced people; the circuit courts gave the people hope for fairness; and the establishment of civilized schools was unprecedented—education, which used to be a privilege of the gentry, could now be accessed by the children of the poor.
However, there were also dissenting voices. Some gentry jointly wrote a letter, saying that "work relief is too costly," "circuit courts interfere with local government affairs," and "civilized schools violate ancestral rules." Some even secretly conspired to cause trouble.
Ma Yongsheng had made preparations. He sent Jin Shenghuan with troops to inspect several of the provinces where the unrest was most intense, ostensibly to "inspect defenses," but in reality to intimidate. At the same time, he had Huang Zongxi write articles in the newspapers, exposing the ugly deeds of the opponents one by one—who oppressed tenants, who bribed officials, and who evaded taxes.
Under public pressure, the opposition gradually subsided.
Autumn arrived in the blink of an eye. Ma Yongsheng watched his five children play in the backyard of the Wuchang Governor's Mansion. Ma An could walk now, wobbling as he chased a butterfly; Ma Ning sat on the ground playing with a rag doll; the other three were still crawling. Chen Xiuying and the others watched from the side, their laughter ringing out.
This is a rare moment of tranquility amidst chaos.
Wang Fuzhi came over with a stack of documents: "Regent, this is the draft budget for next year, sent by the Jiangnan Parliament."
Ma Yongsheng took it, glanced at it, and frowned: "Why is the education funding so low?"
"The parliament said that everything needs to be rebuilt now, and money should be spent wisely. Road construction, disaster relief, and military spending are the most important things."
"Education is the sharpest knife," Ma Yongsheng said. "Tell the parliament to double the education budget. If there's not enough money, deduct it from my salary and save it from the salaries of officials."
Wang Fuzhi hesitated: "This... I'm afraid some people will be dissatisfied."
"So be it," Ma Yongsheng said. "They only care about immediate gains, while I'm thinking about long-term planning. If we don't educate the next generation, everything we do today will be forgotten in two generations. Then, emperors will just keep changing, and the people will still suffer."
Wang Fuzhi noted this down and then asked, "There's one more thing. Envoys from various Mongol tribes in the north have come to discuss trade."
"This is a good thing," Ma Yongsheng said. "Let them come and treat them well. Tell Jin Shenghuan that the border is open and private trade is allowed. But there is one condition—fair trade is mandatory, and forced buying and selling is not allowed."
"What if...they take the opportunity to spy on the military?"
"Let them spy," Ma Yongsheng laughed. "We don't practice isolationism. We're strong, we're not afraid of being watched; we have our reasons, we're not afraid of being learned."
Wang Fuzhi nodded admiringly. This regent's magnanimity and breadth of vision were indeed beyond the reach of ordinary people.
After finishing his official duties, Ma Yongsheng played with the children for a while. Ma An rushed into his arms and called out "Daddy" in a childish voice. Holding his son, he felt a warm current welling up in his heart.
What kind of world will these children live in in the future?
He hoped for a world without emperors or slaves, where everyone could read and understand principles, and earn their living through their own abilities.
It is difficult, and it may take the efforts of several generations.
But at least he made a start.
That night, Ma Yongsheng had a dream. In his dream, he saw the world seven hundred years in the future: skyscrapers, bustling traffic, and people who could communicate with others thousands of miles away by holding up glowing panels. Children studied in bright classrooms, learning astronomy, geography, physics, and chemistry. Spaceships traveled back and forth in space, and humans had built a base on Mars.
Then, the sun began to expand and collapse, becoming a black hole.
But before that, countless spaceships rose from Earth, carrying the seeds of human civilization, and flew towards the distant stars.
He woke up to the faint morning light outside the window.
Countdown: 708 years, 9 months, and 3 days.
Time is still tight, but hope has been sown.