Raising chickens and pigs and digging for wild vegetables, the county magistrate's promotion wa

Chapter 71 Go to the capital to file a complaint against this official?

Logically speaking, houses and land are usually passed down through generations. No matter how dynasties change, the ownership of houses and land by the people should at least be recognized and guaranteed.

Who would have thought that after just taking his family away to hide for a while, he would return to find himself unable to go home or cultivate his land?

Where the hell can we go to seek justice?!

The dozen or so local gentry looked at each other, and finally Liu Hongchang stepped forward, bowing deeply to Magistrate Yang and saying, "Your Honor is too kind. We certainly wouldn't dare to use land deeds from the previous dynasty to sue the people of this dynasty, but..."

Before he could finish speaking, Magistrate Yang Shaofeng sneered, "But what? Your so-called evidence is the land deeds and house deeds of the Tartars. You are suing the people of my Great Ming Dynasty. Isn't this using land deeds from the previous dynasty to sue the people of this dynasty?"

For Magistrate Yang Shaofeng, the idea of ​​ancestral inheritance was utter nonsense.

In terms of ancestry, the Yang surname originated from the grandson of King Wu of Zhou, the second son of Shu Yu, and the younger brother of Marquis Xie of Jin. Counting further back, one can reach the Zhou royal family, and then follow the clues to find evidence that the Yang surname originated from the Yellow Emperor.

Even looking closer to the present, the Yang surname can be traced back to Emperor Wen of Sui, Yang Jian, and Emperor Yang of Sui, Yang Guang.

and then?

Ask that Mr. Zhu in the capital if he's willing to hand over the entire country to Magistrate Yang Shaofeng.

So, since that emperor surnamed Zhu was unwilling to return the empire to Magistrate Yang, why should you local gentry be able to take back your so-called ancestral land?

Magistrate Yang suddenly exclaimed "Oh!" and feigned realization: "If I don't return the land to you, will you still take out the Yuan Dynasty law of the Tartars and go to the capital to sue me?"

As soon as Magistrate Yang Shaofeng finished speaking, the faces of the dozen or so local gentry below the hall turned ashen, as if they had just eaten a lot of spicy food.

Just then, the heads of the eight communities and sixteen villages of Ningyang County arrived outside the county government hall with a dozen or so young men.

Magistrate Yang waved to the village heads and wardens at the head of the village: "You've come at the right time. There are a dozen or so local gentry who want to sue you for encroaching on their houses and land. This will save me the trouble of sending someone to summon you."

The heads of the eight communities and sixteen neighborhoods entered the main hall and bowed to Magistrate Yang Shaofeng, saying, "We, the common people, pay our respects to Your Excellency."

Yang Shaofeng grunted and looked at Liu Sanshier, the head of Liumiao Village, and said, "Liu Sanshier, I ask you, has anyone in your Liumiao Village encroached on Liu Hongchang's house and land?"

Liu Sanshier took out the land deeds and house deeds that Yang Shaofeng, the magistrate, had personally processed for them from his pocket, handed them to Bo Wu to present to the magistrate, and then bowed and said, "Your Excellency, we have not encroached on Liu Hongchang's houses and land, and we don't even know who Liu Hongchang is."

Liu Hongchang was furious. He turned to Liu Thirty-Two and cursed, "Liu Thirty-Two, you've really made something of yourself! You don't even recognize your master anymore!"

Liu Sanshier ignored Liu Hongchang and instead respectfully cupped his hands towards Yang Shaofeng: "There are a total of 35 households and 90 people in my Liumiao Village. We have always known the county magistrate, but we have never heard of a magistrate named Liu Hongchang."

Realizing his mistake, Liu Hongchang quickly apologized to Magistrate Yang before coldly staring at Liu Thirty-Two and saying, "Liu Thirty-Two, if it weren't for the five bushels of grain my family gave you when we suffered disaster a few years ago, your whole family would probably have starved to death long ago. Now you're saying these things, have you lost your conscience?!"

Upon hearing Liu Hongchang's statement, Magistrate Yang immediately coughed and spoke before Liu Thirty-Two could speak: "Liu Hongchang, I do not know whether you suffered a disaster in previous years. I only ask you one question: do you have the house and land deeds issued to you by this dynasty?"

Liu Hongchang was filled with resentment. If Liu Thirty-Two had answered him earlier, even if he had said that he had seized his land by trickery, then Liu's previous statement that he did not know him would have been a lie, and Liu would still have a chance to get his land and house back.

Now look what's happened! All our hopes have been dashed because of that corrupt official's careless remark!

Despite his resentment, Liu Hongchang still didn't have the land and house deeds issued by the Ming government, and he didn't dare to curse Magistrate Yang. Helpless, he could only obediently bow and reply, "Your Honor, I was away with my wife and children to avoid disaster, so I didn't have time to change the land and house deeds of this dynasty. Please investigate, Your Honor."

Magistrate Yang said "Oh," and then said, "That makes things very difficult—when the Ming army came, no one from Qiuzhou or Bozhou was harmed. There were 501 households and 2,106 people in and around Ningyang County, and none of them fled to avoid disaster. Yet you and a dozen others claim to have fled with your families. How can I believe you?"

Seeing that Magistrate Yang Shaofeng was constantly making trouble, Liu Hongchang gradually could no longer suppress his dissatisfaction.

After letting out a cold snort, Liu Hongchang actually straightened up and looked coldly at Magistrate Yang, asking, "It seems that Magistrate Yang is unwilling to stand up for us and make these unruly people return our land and houses to us?"

Magistrate Yang suddenly chuckled and looked at Liu Hongchang, asking, "You ask me to uphold justice for you, yet you can't produce any land deeds or house deeds from this dynasty. Aren't you putting me in a difficult position?"

At this point, Magistrate Yang suddenly changed the subject and asked, "Well then, since you said you left with your families to avoid disaster, you must have brought your valuables with you. Now that you've returned, you must have brought your relatives and valuables back with you as well?"

Liu Hongchang's heart tightened, and he asked, "What does the master mean?"

Magistrate Yang laughed and said, "If you go to avoid disaster with your family, you should naturally return with your family as well. Otherwise, if someone just pops up with land deeds and house deeds from the previous dynasty and comes to me, should I also stand up for them?"

Liu Hongchang was slightly relieved and snorted coldly, "That's right. Since you brought your family to Yidu to seek refuge with relatives, you are naturally returning with your family now."

After glancing at Magistrate Yang again, Liu Hongchang continued, "Let me let Your Excellency know that my brother-in-law is now serving in the same court as you, and together we are serving the Emperor of the Ming Dynasty. If Your Excellency is willing to stand up for us, my brother-in-law will surely be grateful for your kindness."

As Liu Hongchang finished speaking, Liu Thirty-Two and the other village heads and elders immediately tensed up. Magistrate Yang, however, chuckled and ordered Lame Five, "Tie up all these Tartar spies posing as officials' relatives and throw them into prison!"