19. The Hidden Fields

Wei Guangde saw his companions eager to go bird hunting and, not wanting to dampen their spirits, offered a few perfunctory words before parting ways with the boys to head home.

Upon entering the main gate, Wei Guangde did not see his father or older brother in the front courtyard, which was unusual, as they were typically there at this hour. He did not dwell on it, however, and proceeded directly toward the back courtyard. As he entered, he was surprised to see several maidservants and matrons standing near the courtyard entrance. Usually, at most, one person would be there cleaning, while the others were busy with their own tasks—wiping down furniture or tidying up. Why were they all gathered here today?

"Auntie Li, why are you all standing here instead of going inside to attend to things?"

"Young Master, you’re back from school." Auntie Li, who served his mother, was rarely seen standing outside like this. "The Master, the Mistress, and the eldest young master are talking in the main room. They haven't summoned us, so we aren't allowed to go in."

"Oh, I see." Wei Guangde understood the situation and thought little of it. He recalled a conversation he had overheard a couple of nights prior and wondered if his father had finally succumbed to the pressure, calling an expanded family meeting to consult with his eldest brother. Though filial piety was paramount in this era, his father’s dilemma was a significant matter, and it seemed natural for his brother to be kept in the loop.

Wei Guangde had no intention of eavesdropping. He walked through the courtyard toward his own room, but as he passed the main room, he glanced inside. Four pairs of eyes met his instantly. His parents were seated in the master chairs, and his brother sat upright on a chair to the lower left. Since they were silent, they had all noticed him passing by.

As he was about to walk past the door, his mother, Madam Wu, spoke up, "You’re home. Put down your schoolbag and come here for a moment."

He was to join them? Wei Guangde agreed immediately, hurried to his room to set his satchel on his desk, and turned back to the main room. Once inside, he took a seat on the right, opposite his brother, and sat with the same disciplined posture.

"Wencai, explain the situation to Xiao Er," his father, Wei Meng, commanded.

His brother, Wei Wencai, obeyed and recounted the day’s events in detail. As he listened, Wei Guangde’s mouth gradually fell open. Internally, he wanted to shout an obscenity and curse the dog of a Taoist priest; it was truly outrageous to be extorted like this. He had even been respectful to that shameless man earlier, greeting him with a polite bow.

Once the explanation was finished, Wei Meng asked, "Xiao Er, what is your take on this?"

Although Wei Guangde was only eleven, he was caught between childhood and youth. When his father had lost his own father, he had been even younger than Wei Guangde was now, yet he had already begun to shoulder the burden of the household. Thus, Wei Meng viewed his son as someone who should be mature enough to understand, which was why he had asked Wencai to explain the matter—he wanted to hear his son's perspective.

"Father, is there any room for negotiation? What about our uncle's side..." Wei Guangde had been thinking while listening. Though his experience was limited and the situation complex, he sought to clarify if there was any leeway.

His father shook his head and sighed. "Since they dared to come to our doorstep, they are clearly aware of the details. That means seeking help from your uncle won't be of much use."

"Is the land they mentioned actually the garrison farmland of our fort? Our garrison land is registered with the Five Chief Military Commissions. Do they dare to seize that?" The only connections Wei Guangde knew of were through his mother’s older brother, whose wife was from the family of the Assistant Regional Commander of the Jiujiang Guard—the second-in-command of the garrison. Beyond that, he had no memory of other influence. As a mere centurion, their social standing was limited; one could not simply befriend the powerful if one did not possess the status to do so.

When Wei Guangde asked his question, his father remained silent, but his brother, Wencai, spoke up, "That land at the back of the hill is wasteland that our ancestors cleared."

"It’s not garrison farmland?"

"No."

"Who is this dog of a priest? By what right does he threaten us into selling it to him? And for only five taels of silver?" Wei Guangde still couldn't fathom it. If it wasn't official garrison land, it had to be their family's private property. Why sell it to a priest, unless he was merely a front for someone else?

Furthermore, his brother had mentioned the price: five taels per mu. While Wei Guangde didn't know the exact market rate, his brother’s bitterness suggested it was a pittance. These assets were his future inheritance; selling them now at such a low price was a loss to him personally. Though only eleven, his mind was that of a man in his twenties.

"The person backing him is very powerful. We cannot afford to offend them," his father said. "That piece of land was originally wilderness. Your grandfather’s generation had the garrison households help clear it..."

His father began to recount the history of the land, which piqued Wei Guangde’s curiosity. He finally understood the root of the problem: the land had been cleared by the labor of the garrison households under his ancestors' direction—essentially using unpaid labor. The crucial point was that after the land was cleared, it was never reported to the authorities. It had been occupied and used by the Wei family ever since, but without a deed. It was "hidden land," unknown to the government, and therefore exempt from land taxes.

Wei Guangde’s father did not know the exact legal status of such land in the Ming Dynasty, but in Jiangxi, such plots were common. However, being common did not mean it was safe. By the nature of the government, if exposed, they would certainly demand back taxes, and it could even be confiscated as official property.