Chapter 39: Enrollment into the Registry

Exhausting the strength of the world to satisfy the whims of one man.

Since the Wei and Jin dynasties, many emperors and feudal lords had been exactly like this, and that Supreme Ruler was a preeminent example of the breed. Li Jing sat in his study, thinking with utter lack of reverence about the various actions of the Emperor since his ascension, having already passed judgment on His Majesty.

From this, it was clear that he was a quintessential scion of a powerful aristocratic clan. He held no true loyalty toward the Emperor; he respected the imperial authority, but he would never truly regard the sovereign as a "Son of Heaven" favored by the divine.

Li Jing rose languidly, summoned someone into the study, donned his outer robe and mantle, and then strolled out of the room.

When Li Jing arrived at the main hall, Assistant Prefect Liu was sipping tea, accompanied by a young man. Had Li Po been present, he would have been startled to recognize this youth as the tax official at the city gate who had caused him so much trouble.

Seeing Li Jing approach, they both straightened their attire and paid their respects. Li Jing returned the gesture, took a few steps, wrapped his large sleeves around himself, and sat upon the dais.

Assistant Prefect Liu looked on with a hint of envy; every time he met Master Li, he felt that the reputation of the Guanxi aristocratic clans was well-deserved. He had many matters to discuss with the Commandery Governor, and since it would not be a quick affair, he was in no hurry.

Li Jing, understanding this, glanced at his nephew-in-law, gave a slightly apologetic look toward Assistant Prefect Liu, and then said with a serious expression, "You went to patrol the North City; did you find anything of note?"

The young tax official, surnamed Chen, was Li Jing’s nephew-in-law. He served in the Mayi Commandery’s Household Bureau—not a high-ranking position, but one with significant authority. Because a refugee camp had been established in the North City, Li Jing had ordered him to patrol there to prevent any unrest. Naturally, this was also partly due to the fact that the young man had not been in Mayi for long and was still quite inexperienced; Li Jing intended to look after him. After all, the North City was the most peaceful area, and with the upcoming registration of refugees, the young man would soon be able to establish a firm footing in Mayi. This showed that Li Jing was indeed quite good to his nephew-in-law.

Seeing Li Jing’s inquiry, the young man stood up quickly, hands clasped respectfully. He cast a hesitant glance at Assistant Prefect Liu, but seeing no sign from his uncle-in-law, he said, "Reporting to the Commandery Governor, the refugees temporarily residing in the North City... no longer require assistance from the commandery government. In this subordinate's opinion, they can be registered immediately to settle their minds."

Li Jing nodded slightly. "I am already aware of this. To allow the displaced to live in peace is a great merit. You have done well. We shall proceed as you suggest. Return to the Household Bureau, remove the refugees from the old registry, and enter them into the official register of Mayi."

Assistant Prefect Liu watched the two of them play out this performance, a flicker of envy rising in his heart. His own household was full of children and servants who lacked discipline, and he often felt like slaughtering a few of them in his frustration. Seeing the orderliness and respect between these elders and juniors, he realized he simply could not compare.

Of course, this matter was nothing new; it was an expected part of their duties. Because there were refugees in all four cities, the North City had the fewest, and their backgrounds were the most straightforward—all of them were locals of Mayi Commandery. It was only natural to show leniency, as they could not be treated the same as the refugees from Yanmen. Moreover, Mayi had few registered households to begin with, so increasing the number would make everyone’s administrative records look better. Why not do it?

Li Jing offered a few words of praise, then abruptly changed his tone, scolding, "You have a sense of measure in your work, but you are prone to arrogance and impatience. Overconfidence often leads to losses. Go back and reflect for three days before you come to speak with me again."

The young man left, looking both pleased and frightened.

Only then did Li Jing turn to Assistant Prefect Liu with an apologetic smile. "The young do not know the hardships of the world and are often unsteady. I hope you will forgive this, Brother Liu."

Assistant Prefect Liu’s face wrinkled with a smile. "The Commandery Governor is a man of great talent, and your vision is naturally beyond that of ordinary men. With guidance from an elder like you, Attendant Chen will surely benefit greatly in the future."

"Brother Liu is too kind... I am delighted by your visit today. I have prepared some light wine; shall we drink and talk?"

Assistant Prefect Liu bowed. "I follow your lead, Commandery Governor."

On the sixth day of the first lunar month, the Household Bureau of the commandery government returned to work. That day, a minor official from the bureau sought out Li Po specifically. Upon hearing the official's purpose, Li Po was overjoyed.

He invited the official into his home, set aside his business, and immediately ordered someone to prepare paper and ink, while also having Li Chun call over all the refugees living in the camp.

The two officials ate the steaming hot soup and chewed on the soft, flaky flatbreads, along with some strange-looking but delicious dumplings. Their opinion of Li Po improved significantly. They thought to themselves that things were just as Attendant Chen had instructed; finding this man required no great effort, and the two of them could settle the matter easily.

Li Po asked a few questions and realized that this was again the work of that tax official at the city gate. It turned out the fellow was some kind of "attendant"—he had no idea how high that rank was.

The refugees were naturally excited beyond words. They were being entered into the official register of Mayi, which brought great benefits. Not only would they be granted land for a house, but they could also travel freely within the city to earn a living. If they wished, they could even join the commandery’s garrison, which offered even more advantages. To them, this was a life-changing event that would benefit their descendants. The transition from a refugee to an official citizen felt almost like moving from hell to heaven. They could only feel immense gratitude toward Li Po.

Of course, there were downsides. Registered households were required to perform civil service, and for families with many elderly or young members unable to endure the labor, there was almost no way to survive during the Daye era. Officials often used the excuse of "exemption" to levy heavy taxes, which, over a year or two, would be enough to break such poor families. The cycle of moving from refugee to citizen, and back to refugee, would be repeated in various places over the coming years.

Therefore, while gaining official Mayi residency looked good at the moment, in the long run, it didn't make much of a difference.

After recording everyone's names, the two officials left, clutching a few copper coins, leaving the room full of people in a state of joyful surprise.

In two days, they would all be residents of Mayi Commandery. The room was filled with cheer, and Li Po pondered privately that he would soon have a home of his own. He had asked the officials, and it seemed the refugees would be dispersed and settled. That was fine; leading a large group of people to find a way to survive had truly exhausted him.

He would see what the future held for everyone. He had no desire to rebel, and even if he did, looking at the people in the room, it would be useless to gather them together.

They say that blessings do not come in pairs, and misfortunes never come alone. But for Li Po, the beginning of the seventh year of Daye was a time of one good thing after another. A few days later, Luo San finally appeared again.