Chapter 150: Land Survey

Chapter 150: Land Measurement

The Cui residence had set up two banquet tables in the small courtyard. Xiao Gaoyang and Shi Geer arrived the earliest, bringing gifts packaged in elegant gift boxes that exuded luxury.

Their firstborn was a son named Xiao Shuang. The children had their own separate table with mild yet tasty dishes, as they didn’t drink alcohol. Servants had prepared fruit juices for them.

Xiao Shuang played with Cui Xiuzhu.

"Brother Cui, congratulations," Xiao Gaoyang said with a cheerful smile.

"Please, take a seat. Once everyone arrives, we’ll drink and dine together," Cui Ziqi replied with a hearty laugh.

Xiao Gaoyang plopped down, while Shi Geer tugged his sleeve subtly. "If you drink, will you still have room for food?"

Xiao Gaoyang: "..."

Shi Geer said earnestly, "Before drinking, eat some dishes first to line your stomach. Otherwise, you’ll be too full at the banquet and won’t be able to eat properly at home."

Xiao Gaoyang felt comforted by her concern. "Relax, no one’s getting drunk today—there are family members present. No one wants faces turning red as monkey butts and losing dignity in front of their husbands or wives."

Du Ning, Mei Huai, and Jiang Lanli arrived one after another. Du Ning brought his fiancée, Miss Tang, while Mei Huai brought his cousin, Wen Geer.

Wen Geer was shy, sticking close to Mei Huai, his gaze glued to his cousin. He greeted everyone with a soft, polite bow.

"Lv Jin, we’re here!" Yu Lanyi shouted loudly at the courtyard entrance.

He was the rowdiest one there.

Xiao Pingan followed behind Yu Lanyi, while Zheng Shanci had servants carry saplings, chairs, and tables, trailing behind.

Seeing the last of his guests arrive, Cui Ziqi nudged Zheng Shanci with his elbow. "You two just had to arrive fashionably late, keeping me waiting."

Zheng Shanci laughed. "We were just finding gifts for you. Lan Yi is giving you a set of chairs and a table, and I’m giving you saplings to plant in your courtyard. It’ll be picturesque once they grow in."

The two took their seats. Miss Tang glanced around and realized that, apart from her, the others were all male. She smiled brightly.

Mei Huai took great care of his cousin wherever they went. Yu Lanyi observed them closely, his eyes lighting up. The young cousin was fragile—pale, long-lashed, and radiating gentleness.

Seeing such a gentle beauty with Mei Huai, Yu Lanyi was oddly fascinated.

As the host, Cui Ziqi received congratulations first. Everyone raised their glasses for a toast, took a sip before digging in.

Du Ning said, "Brother Cui, this manor was a steal. The courtyard is even larger than mine."

Cui Ziqi preened, eyebrows raised. "There’s even a hot spring at the back. My husband has had it cleaned up—when winter comes, I’ll invite you all for a soak."

"A real hot spring? Scoring a winter invite is like pulling teeth. All the nobles in the capital want to visit, leaving no room for juniors like us. Even if our elders take us, it’s awkward—bringing extra guests is rude. Besides, it’s usually the elders who invite each other. Stripping naked to soak while getting lectured is torture."

Cui Ziqi nodded in understanding.

Zheng Shanci whispered, "I didn’t even know there were hot spring estates in the capital."

Yu Lanyi overheard and replied just as quietly, "Hot springs aren’t my thing anyway—I prefer burrowing under blankets in winter. You never ask about these things, so of course you wouldn’t know."

The table overflowed with tasty dishes. Zheng Shanci drank a few cups with the others, chatting while eating. His favorite dish was pepper pork stir-fry.

"I heard Brother Xiao will be giving a lecture at the Imperial Academy in a few days?" Jiang Lanli asked.

Xiao Gaoyang nodded. "Brother Zheng’s notes made waves, so the Chancellor asked me to lecture. I’m nervous—what if I lead them astray?"

Being a student at the Imperial Academy, Xiao Gaoyang truly hadn't expected to receive such an invitation. It was difficult to refuse, so he had no choice but to study harder on his own to avoid making a fool of himself.

The conversation turned to other topics, and when they asked Zheng Shanci about taxation issues in the Ministry of Revenue:

"This year’s been tough, but the previous years were favorable, so the treasury still has enough funds to manage."

"No one saw this disaster coming," Du Ning sighed.

After some talk, they changed the subject to poetry and literature. Yu Lanyi sipped the soup Zheng Shanci handed him, finished a bowl of rice, and then rested for a while.

They didn’t eat much, and seeing that they had mostly finished, Lv Jin took them to see his little garden.

Miss Tang was very interested. "I’m thinking of setting up a garden once I’m married, where people can stay in both summer and winter. Just looking at the flowers would make me happy."

Lv Jin, who loved flowers, smiled. "Go ahead and look, Miss Tang. If you like them, I’d be pleased."

The garden was full of blooming flowers, and Miss Tang was indeed delighted at the sight.

"Come, sit down. They’ve been drinking—you can still smell it. Only now that we’re here does it feel fragrant," Yu Lanyi said as he settled into a chair.

Everyone laughed at his remark.

Shi Geer remembered that Mei Huai’s home had many plum blossoms, and during their peak season, his clothes carried their crisp, cold fragrance. Now, out of season, Mei Huai flushed more easily when drinking, so he only took small sips, exercising restraint.

Shi Geer couldn’t help but compare her former fiancé to her current cousin.

Her former fiancé was the Prefect’s son—so handsome he had plenty of admirers among the local girls and young men. Shi Geer naturally favored good-looking gentlemen too.

But he broke it off, citing her merchant family background and her frail health. Though her family was wealthy, they lacked political influence and dared not offend the Prefect, so they had no choice but to grit their teeth and cancel the engagement.

The whole thing wrecked her, and she fell seriously ill. Worried, her family reached out to Minister Mei.

Minister Mei responded by inviting the young master to the capital to relax and consult renowned physicians. With proper treatment, her health might improve.

So Shi Geer and her servants moved into the Mei household.

"These flowers are livelier than ours," Shi Geer remarked as she touched an orchid.

Lv Jin said, "Take this orchid home—Lord Xiao can carry it. Consider it a gift."

Once the feast ended, the kids ran off to play. Shi Geer called Xiao Gaoyang over to carry the orchids home.

Zheng Shanci and Yu Lanyi took their carriage back as well, after wasting most of their free day. Upon returning, Zheng Shanci washed up.

"I’ll head to the study to handle some official matters first," Zheng Shanci informed Yu Lanyi of his plans.

"You never get time off—leave work for later. Save it for tomorrow morning at the Ministry of Revenue. Just endure a little extra effort later, since you won’t have another leisurely afternoon like this for the next five days," Yu Lanyi sprawled on the couch, coaxing Zheng Shanci to rest and enjoy himself.

Zheng Shanci paused, considering, then relaxed.

"We already celebrated Cui Ziqing’s housewarming this morning. Do you still want to nap?" Yu Lanyi eyed Zheng Shanci. If he said yes, Yu Lanyi would suggest saving it for the evening.

Seeing Yu Lanyi’s expression, Zheng Shanci knew his afternoon had already been planned.

He shook his head. "I slept well last night—not particularly tired."

Yu Lanyi: "Then there’s still time. Let’s go horseback riding in the outskirts and stay overnight at the estate. You’ll have to endure an early start tomorrow, taking the carriage to the palace for duty."

"Then I’ll pack spare clothes and my official robe."

Yu Lanyi packed even more. He bundled up osmanthus essential oil and a few small jars into a parcel.

Xiao Ping'an was napping, and when he woke up, he found himself alone at home.

The two headed to the outskirts to fetch a horse. Lan Yi boarded his horse at a stable for a monthly fee.

He patted his black horse, led it a short distance, then swung himself up into the saddle, extending a hand to help Zheng Shanci up.

Zheng Shanci was rather shy.

He glanced around, making sure no one was watching on the vast grassland, before reaching out to take Yu Lanyi's hand.

He had learned some riding skills, so he managed to mount the horse and settle behind Yu Lanyi. Unable to hold the reins and afraid of heights, he placed his hands on Yu Lanyi's waist.

Yu Lanyi was already accustomed to Zheng Shanci's presence. When Zheng Shanci's hands rested on his waist, he didn't react at all, remaining relaxed. The corners of his lips curled up. "Alright, hold on tight. I'm about to ride."

Before Zheng Shanci could brace himself, Yu Lanyi spurred the horse forward, and they took off like a shot. The wind howled past Zheng Shanci's ears, his hair whipping wildly as he instinctively tightened his grip around Yu Lanyi's waist.

Cold air rushed into his mouth, making him snap it shut. He didn’t dare open his eyes.

Even with a passenger, Yu Lanyi rode as lightly as a swallow. Many had come to ride and relax on their day off, and Yu Lanyi's horse, pent-up with energy, ran fast.

"Zheng Shanci, we're going to charge down this hillside!" Yu Lanyi's voice carried on the wind.

Zheng Shanci: "..."

Zheng Shanci lurched forward. Curiosity got the better of him, and he opened his eyes. The grass tips had yellowed—hinting at autumn—but the roots stayed green. A strong wind flattened the grass, and Zheng Shanci felt like he was floating on air. The mountain wind roared, cold and gritty with grass.

They raced downhill, and in the distance, a shimmering lake stretched across the plain. A few horses dipped their heads to drink, while several people lounged by the water.

"Zheng Shanci, we're going to jump over a boulder. Hold on—it’s gonna be bumpy!" Yu Lanyi shouted loudly.

His hair streamed behind him like a banner.

"A-alright..." Zheng Shanci managed before the wind choked his words.

Yu Lanyi flashed a grin and tightened the reins.

The horse gathered itself and leaped over the boulder. For a moment, they soared through the air before landing steadily on the grass and continuing their gallop.

Zheng Shanci felt suspended mid-air, his rear lifting from the saddle, yet he clung tightly to Yu Lanyi's waist. His heart pounded with thrill and fear.

When the horse touched down, his heart seemed to crash back into place.

They didn’t stop until they reached the lake. Zheng Shanci dismounted, his legs weak and his calves numb.

Yu Lanyi untied a waterskin from the saddle and handed it to Zheng Shanci, so he could catch his breath.

After a few sips, the burning in Zheng Shanci's throat eased.

Lan Yi would’ve been an adrenaline junkie in modern times.

Zheng Shanci drank, and Yu Lanyi, unbothered, took a swig himself.

Zheng Shanci, however, felt a little embarrassed.

The people by the lake, recognizing Yu Lanyi and Zheng Shanci, wished they could hide.

Seeing Yu Lanyi, they had no choice but to greet him respectfully as "Master Yu," offering a perfunctory bow. The other men noticed Zheng Shanci and sidled up to chat.

The Vice Minister of Revenue is a high-ranking official.

Yu Lanyi felt quite pleased when he saw these madams and gentlemen greeting him formally. With a smile, he said, "We're all familiar with each other, no need for such formalities. Please, dispense with the courtesy."

Seeing Yu Lanyi's phony act, they were furious but had to grin and bear it on the surface.

They seethed inwardly, wishing they could just grab their husbands and leave. Yet their husbands were eager to strike up conversations with Zheng Shanci. Some of the nobility’s spoiled brats still put on airs, even though their households retained nothing but a hollow title of marquis—one that would vanish in another two or three generations.

Beneath the surface, they were up to their necks in debt, barely keeping up appearances.

Zheng Shanci recognized a nobleman distantly related to the Yu family who hit him up for money, promising repayment once he had the means.

Zheng Shanci brushed him off.

Refusing the loan had already offended the man. Seeing everyone flocking to Zheng Shanci, the nobleman, ego bruised, stormed off on his horse. His companion’s face flushed with humiliation.

After exchanging a few half-hearted small talk phrases, Zheng Shanci waited for the black horse to finish drinking before they rode away together.

Yu Lanyi remarked, "More people, more drama."

"You're right about that."

"Don’t you like fishing? Let’s go night fishing later." Yu Lanyi side-eyed Zheng Shanci. Now that the socializing on their day off was over, he couldn’t just indulge himself—he had to make sure Zheng Shanci enjoyed it too.

After all, he was a dutiful husband.

Thoughtful in every way.

Zheng Shanci mumbled, "Just spending the evening together would be enough for me."

Yu Lanyi’s mind raced with images, making him flush with embarrassment. He swatted at Zheng Shanci. "So your idea of a good time is just being with me at night?"

Zheng Shanci took the hits, his chest tingling.

He caught Yu Lanyi’s hand. "We can fish anywhere at night. In winter, we can even ice-fish—as long as you don’t mind the cold, we’ll catch plenty."

Yu Lanyi rolled his eyes.

The black horse flicked its tail as it trailed behind Yu Lanyi. The two of them headed into the mountains to hunt. Yu Lanyi promptly handed the horse over to the stable, ignoring the horse’s pleading look as he walked away without a second thought.

After shooting three rabbits in the woods, Zheng Shanci found a small stream, plucked a leaf, rolled it into a cup, and scooped up some water to drink.

Yu Lanyi tugged at Zheng Shanci’s sleeve.

Zheng Shanci scooped more water and offered it to Yu Lanyi.

In the evening, they gave their catch to the kitchen.

That night, after fooling around, Zheng Shanci pinned Yu Lanyi to the door, face to face.

...

The day off had been thoroughly enjoyable, but the next morning, Zheng Shanci rose early to rush from the outskirts to the Ministry of Revenue. Minister Mei had summoned the ministry’s officials for a small meeting.

The topic was the reclamation of wasteland.

The Great Yan Dynasty was a vast, resource-rich empire, but much of the arable land had already been claimed by the people. What remained were patches of wasteland and some land still held by the court—some of which absolutely could not be distributed to civilians. Officials had submitted memorials stating that there wasn’t enough land to allocate and requested the court’s decision.

This matter of land allocation had thus been delegated to the Ministry of Revenue.

Director Xiang and Yu Feng were deep in thought but hadn’t spoken yet.

An official said, "Let the county magistrates or village heads organize people to reclaim wasteland, then let them keep the land they clear as their own."

"That won’t work," another official countered. "If this continues, the more they clear, the more they own. Once all the wasteland is reclaimed, what’ll we do for land after that?" The official shook his head and sipped his tea.

"Then what should we do? After the Great Yan Dynasty was established, initially, each citizen was allotted fifty *mu* of land to get back on their feet. Later, the allocations decreased. Landlords and local elites snatched up huge plots, and when commoners faced natural disasters, they couldn’t afford food. Facing starvation, they had to sell their land cheaply. During famine years, I heard from folks back home that paddy fields could be bought for just eight taels of silver. When times improved, the same fields would cost between fifteen to twenty taels—a gap regular folks could never close." This official appeared young, newly appointed as a secretary in the Ministry of Revenue, a recent Second-Ranked Jinshi.

Zheng Shanci admired his blunt honesty upon hearing this.

Several officials in the Ministry of Revenue turned red, bristling. One exclaimed, "You can’t entirely blame the gentry and landlords—it’s the disasters’ fault. When times are good, not just land, but even vegetables and fruits rise in price."

Zheng Shanci remarked, "That’s also true. Land acquired through legitimate transactions with official seals can’t be faulted. However..."

The officials, initially nodding in agreement at his first half, stiffened at the word "however."

"...if illegal means were used to seize land, the perpetrators must be arrested, thoroughly interrogated, and their property confiscated."

At the mention of "property confiscation," the officials broke into a cold sweat. These words terrified them most, fearing their life’s savings would end up lining the imperial coffers.

Minister Mei said, "His Majesty has also spoken to me about this. This year, I reviewed the autumn harvest records. Except for Yuzhou, Yingzhou, and Jingzhou, where quakes wiped out the tax base, the other provinces reported no major disasters. Yet, tax revenues decline yearly."

Zheng Shanci thought to himself—this indicated severe land annexation. Some officials registered only fifty *mu* of land, exempt from taxes, while hiding hundreds more. Commoners lacked such means and had to pay taxes dutifully. The less land they held, the fewer taxes were collected.

Previously, the Great Yan Dynasty relied on commercial taxes, salt, and iron for revenue. But as commercial taxes rose annually, merchants suffered, seeking protection under officials’ names, further shrinking tax income.

Only salt and iron remained unchanged. Salt, a necessity, remained in demand regardless of price. Moreover, the Emperor strictly monitored salt and iron, deterring any large-scale tampering.

Some still dealt in smuggled salt, but only on a small scale. Any major merchant caught doing so would face the Ministry of War wiping out their whole family.

The taxation system of the Great Yan Dynasty used to have many types, but now it is gradually being reformed. Previously, officials and commoners paid different taxes, but now officials are included in the same tax system as the commoners. This change barely inconveniences them, as they’ve underreported land and population—only the small amount of registered farmland with the Ministry of Revenue is subject to taxation.

“Perhaps we could increase the commercial tax further?” one official suggested.

Their eyes lit up at the suggestion, and several officials quickly voiced their agreement.

Zheng Shanci’s lips twitched in irritation.

If the commercial tax were raised any higher, the merchants might revolt. Zheng Shanci had already seen this year’s commercial tax raised to forty percent—meaning merchants had to hand over forty percent of all their income to the court.

“The commercial tax is already high enough. Raising it further could stir up trouble,” Zheng Shanci said cautiously, not daring to mention the word “rebellion” outright.

Given that Zheng Shanci was the Vice Minister of Revenue, one official remarked, “Lord Zheng is being overly cautious. They wouldn’t dare cause trouble. If they did, their homes would be raided, and their assets confiscated for the state treasury.”

The other officials nodded in agreement.

Zheng Shanci: “…”

Wasn’t this just setting them up?

Be reasonable.

The officials resumed their bickering. The morning court was a mess, and now this small meeting in the Ministry of Revenue was no better—if the court was a big mess, the ministry was a smaller one.

Minister Mei stayed quiet, watching Zheng Shanci.

“Lord Zheng, what do you propose?” Minister Mei put him on the spot.

Hearing Minister Mei speak, the officials of the Ministry of Revenue fell silent.

Zheng Shanci pondered and said, "I believe we should carry out a land survey now."

These four words left everyone speechless. The task of surveying land was way too big and would step on too many toes. Tax stuff was complicated enough already, and they had never even considered a land survey before.

Minister Mei was also shocked by this statement and remained silent for a long while.

In truth, he'd toyed with the idea of a land survey too—to investigate holdings below. He didn’t believe some lands could simply vanish into thin air—they were likely stashed away by people with something to hide.

Talking about surveying land was easy, but actually implementing it would require the emperor to have serious backbone, along with consistent execution. The moment the emperor hesitated, the whole thing would fall apart.

A ton of officials would get dragged into it.

Minister Mei frowned.

He felt Zheng Shanci’s words were too bold.

Ignoring his colleagues' shock, Zheng Shanci continued, "Additionally, regarding taxation, we could implement a progressive tax system."

The officials from the Ministry of Revenue didn’t understand this term and were about to jump down his throat.

Minister Mei asked, "Lord Zheng, could you spell it out?"

"A progressive tax system. Think of it like stairs. Those who earn less are on the bottom rung and pay less tax. For example, if a merchant earns one hundred taels of silver a year, they would pay a five percent tax. Merchants earning more than one hundred taels but less than two thousand would pay ten percent. The Ministry of Revenue would set a standard—the more a merchant earns, the higher the tax rate, but it should never exceed fifty percent."

Zheng Shanci knew to proceed step by step. He didn’t mention applying the progressive tax to land taxes, having already proposed the land survey. If he brought up land taxes now, most officials present would likely want to have his head on a platter.

"This progressive tax makes some sense when applied to commercial taxes," Minister Mei nodded. Then it occurred to him that it could also apply to land taxes, and he shuddered inwardly, glancing at Zheng Shanci.

Zheng Shanci lowered his head.

Minister Mei’s temples throbbed. Just proposing the land survey alone was enough to put Zheng Shanci in danger. If he added land tax reform, Zheng Shanci might be assassinated.

"Lord Zheng, if you have ideas, file a petition with the Grand Secretariat," Minister Mei said, unable to handle it himself and passing the responsibility to the Grand Secretariat for discussion.

Zheng Shanci replied, "Yes, Minister Mei."

The small meeting at the Ministry of Revenue concluded, having stirred up a hornet's nest with Zheng Shanci.

The officials dispersed, chatting among themselves, mostly about the land survey. The progressive tax targeting merchants gave them some relief. They had skin in the game too, but many others had far larger enterprises. Keeping the commercial tax below fifty percent was still acceptable.

They had originally planned to raise it to forty-five percent.

Zheng Shanci returned to his office and got through his paperwork.

At noon, he hung out with friends, acting completely normal. He had stuff to get off his chest but feared implicating them. He decided to wait until after filing his petition with the Grand Secretariat before speaking to them.

Zheng Shanci remained calm. When he returned home, he hung out with Xiao Pingan for a bit.

In the evening, he enjoyed his favorite dishes. Yu Lanyi stretched and brought up buying a new storybook.

Zheng Shanci said, "I’m going to file a petition. It might cause trouble."

Yu Lanyi replied, "As long as you have reason on your side, it’ll be fine. His Majesty is a good emperor."

Yu Lanyi didn’t yet know what kind of petition Zheng Shanci was planning to file or the waves it would stir—waves big enough to rock the whole Great Yan Dynasty. The fate of a dynasty was the struggle for the realm—long divided, it must unite; long united, it must divide. A dynasty that stands too long gets set in its ways, goes tone-deaf, and can no longer hear the voices outside, digging in its heels until new forces overthrow it and establish a new dynasty.

Reform comes with some rough patches. Once you push through that, better days will follow.

Zheng Shanci nodded and said he needed to go write his petition first.

Yu Lanyi waved his hand. "Go on, go on. Light some extra candles—don’t strain your eyes."

Zheng Shanci chuckled and replied, "Got it."

As Zheng Shanci walked away, Yu Lanyi gradually noticed something off.

"Jin Yun, doesn’t it feel like Zheng Shanci is holding something back tonight? I’ve had this feeling before, but I can’t quite recall when."

Jin Yun shook his head in confusion. "Young Master, I don’t see any difference in Lord Zheng from usual."

Yu Lanyi thought hard before finally remembering. "It reminds me of that night in Xinfeng County when people suddenly died of the plague."

Jin Yun thought for a moment. "It’s natural I wouldn’t know—Lord Zheng only tells you such things."

Yu Lanyi smugly grinned.

Zheng Shanci pushed open the study door.

The candles burned brightly as he spread out a memorial and picked up his brush.

Like a river meeting fire, injustice cries out.

"Ah, yes, Zheng Shanci keeps his thoughts hidden, but he’s actually shy and perceptive," Yu Lanyi muttered as he returned to his room. He had just bought a new storybook, but upon seeing its protagonist, he wasn’t impressed. This character couldn’t compare to Zheng Shanci.

Thinking of Zheng Shanci, Yu Lanyi broke into a smile. When the protagonist in the book blushed, he automatically compared it to Zheng Shanci’s shyness—finding the latter much more real.

Zheng Shanci finished writing the memorial, set to submit it to the Grand Secretariat the next morning.

It wasn’t until he returned to wash up that he realized his back was soaked with sweat. After cleaning himself, he climbed into bed, where Yu Lanyi had already fallen asleep with the storybook in hand.

Carefully, Zheng Shanci took the book from Yu Lanyi’s grasp and pulled the blankets tight around him.

The night was dreamless.

...

The next day, the memorial went straight to Wei, the Chief Grand Secretary. He lost in thought for a long time.

"This memorial is for His Majesty to decide."

Chief Grand Secretary Wei did not show it to any other grand secretaries. He held onto it—an act of protection.

Emperor Wuming looked over the memorials.

After skimming through several dull ones, he sighed wearily. "One more, then I’ll take a stroll in the imperial gardens."

He picked up another and paused at the sight of Zheng Shanci’s name.

Emperor Wuming opened the memorial and read it carefully, his gaze lingering on the final line.

Silence stretched on. The atmosphere in the Hall of Coiling Dragons grew oppressive, the emperor’s silent anger casting a heavy weight. Feng De and the others had no idea why His Majesty had suddenly turned so grim.

They hastily knelt and cried, "Your Majesty, calm your anger!"

The hall was filled with prostrate figures. Outside, palace servants, hearing Feng De’s plea, also dropped to their knees, begging for the emperor’s mercy.

"Zheng Shanci has some nerve!" Emperor Wuming wanted to curse.

Feng De’s heart skipped a beat. What had Lord Zheng written to provoke His Majesty? Could the memorial contain rebellious words?

Emperor Wuming’s chest heaved as he forced himself to calm down. He read Zheng Shanci’s memorial several more times. He had always believed the Great Yan Dynasty remained stable under his rule—yet here was Zheng Shanci declaring it plagued by deep-rooted problems.

The emperor’s eyes returned to the final line. He sighed.

*If it benefits the people, there is no need to adhere to ancient ways. If it serves the greater good, there is no need to follow old customs. Your Majesty bears the Mandate of Heaven—you must consider the welfare of the common people.*