Original subtitles

[English subtitles are available]

[Under the Microscope]

[Episode 11]

Wake up.

Wake up!

Where is my brother?

Your brother?

You should ask Shuai Jiamo.

Why would you ask me?

When you were still in the hall,

he left on a horse

and didn't mention where he's going.

Is it you

playing tricks again?

What tricks?

If I had wanted to punish him,

there're dozens of charges I can use.

Why would I go through all the trouble?

So, where did he go?

Nothing will happen to him

right now.

He is now famous

in Renhua County.

Not only will he be far from danger,

he'll even have a bright future.

As for you, it's time to choose a man

and get married.

That's none of your business

Fine. I'll leave you alone.

I'll then wish you

a thriving business,

and, all the best for your brother.

Alright. Thank you for your kind words.

You!

Thank you.

Thank you for saving me.

And also, thank you

for taking care of me these days.

Shuai Jiamo.

Actually,

we are of the same kind.

As the saying goes,

longing, will not lead you to it

neither does craving

nor

yearning.

We are both pitiable yearners

in this wavering world.

It is still out of reach, even using Zu's Ratio.

What are you talking about?

Zu's Ratio

is the ratio of the circumference to the diameter.

A man named Zu Chongzhi formulated it.

Therefore it's named after him.

One diameter, can fit three times into the circumference...

Fine. Fine. Fine.

What a perfect poetic atmosphere

and you've gone and ruined it.

So long.

Madam Feng.

I'm not an involver anymore.

So I have a piece of advice for you.

Shoot.

The match is still going on

and you have yet to win.

I haven't thanked you yet.

For what?

You've done many bad things,

but this is a different matter.

I want to thank you

for your information

which saved these two idiots' lives.

And how are you going to thank me?

I'll give you two of

the First Grade hams.

Just two?

Three hams are also acceptable.

You are being so unreasonable.

We haven't finished cultivating the wasteland.

Why is it registered as cultivated land?

This is an order by Master Huang and Inspector Liu

from the Jin'an Prefecture.

In order to reorganize the Silk Poll Tax,

both new and old fields in the country

will be redeemed and redistributed.

The total land

that we have

is at most 4 and a half acres.

How did you measure it

as 5 acres?

Your measurement is inaccurate.

A peasant like you,

have you heard of Pythagorean's Theorem?

Do you know

what does Pi means?

That's enough.

No more arguments.

The measurement of the cultivation area

is fully determined by us, the Government Officials.

Isn't this just a tax increment

in disguised?

It's none of my business.

That's outrageous!

I'll kill you!

Hurry up and seize him!

Let go!

Get him!

Let him go!

Father!

Hurry! Grab him!

Stop him!

Arrest him!

Stop him!

Let go!

Let go of me!

Don't move!

You old man!

How dare you hit us!

Let go of my father!

Stop!

Scram!

This...

Who are you?

I'm a student of Renhua County in Jin'an Prefecture.

Feng Baoyu.

Sir,

what is a Renhua County's student like you

doing in Tongyang?

That's none of you're business.

I have clearly seen

what you all did just now.

You are abusing your authority

to bully the people

and threaten to harm them with the magistrate's order.

Believe it or not, I'll go to Tongyang County Government

and sue you for malfeasance?

Actually,

we also understand

the hardships of the people.

As long as there are enough

"Reparation Fee",

the length of our measurement ruler

can be narrowed a little more.

You're openly taking bribes!

You…

You are right.

As government officials,

we should be impartial.

Guys,

report it as 5 acres.

If there are any complaints,

please report it to the Tongyang County Government.

Let's go.

I heard

the Jin'an Prefecture will be in turmoil soon.

That's why I'm here to remind you of it.

We are at our worst now,

an outbreak is nothing to be afraid of.

How about this?

I'll take you to Magistrate Deng.

He's a reasonable person.

He will definitely punish those guys severely.

Reasonable?

If there was even a single government official

that really cared for us,

would we even need to cultivate the wilderness?

Xiao Zhi,

go with Young Master Feng.

And prove to me

if fate can be changed

in this world.

Your father

is just a farmer

who only knows about farming

and is stuck here for life.

They say if God wants you dead,

you must die.

And, if He wants you alive,

only then you can live on.

But

we farmers know the land well.

We can't change what's predestined,

we can still change the way to deal with it.

I don't believe if

I risk everything,

I am still not able to plant 5 acres of grain

with 4 and half acres of land.

Father.

Move!

Move away!

Hurry!

It's your turn now.

Get out!

I'll beat you.

Don't fight!

Scram!

Fight me!

Don't move!

You!

Step back.

Where is the field? How far is it?

Sir, sir, it's just right over there.

Those two officials

are right.

The whole Tongyang County

has started to redeem and remeasure all the cultivated land.

I wonder

who soft-soaped Prefect Huang

to act such insanely.

I disagree.

Those two are evil officials.

This land remeasurement act

is not an evil policy.

You can't hate the policy

just because of

those two officials.

Xiao Zhi, let's think in this way,

we can find more hidden fields,

so that the tax

can be spread out.

This is a good thing.

Take out your eyes

from the bag.

Wash it and put it on your head.

Take a closer look, okay?

Along the whole journey we've been,

is there a single

happy face?

Everyone is frowning.

There are always new policies from the government.

They come in different forms.

But in the end,

it's just

tax increment.

You're just being biased!

Fine, let me ask you.

If they really want to implement

the Cultivated Land Remeasurement Policy for the whole county,

why don't they start it from here?

This is the riverside land of Master Liu's house.

There are at least 100 acres of land.

Their workers

are mostly

from the Chen Village where I belong to.

Look.

Why didn't his land get measured?

This policy has only started

for seven days,

but four county officers

have already asked for the suspension of the policy.

Even by rounding down

the time of our journey,

there were only three to four days worth of sights.

Why is there a public resentment?

Isn't the public reactance

too fast?

Who are they fooling with?

How about I send someone

to ask around

and see how the people

feel about the policy?

That will be great.

[Tongyang]

What's on the poster?

What is it?

Let's take a look.

The Magistrate is not available today,

and the announcement will be suspended.

What about the Revenue Office?

When will it open?

The notice stated clearly that

the Jin'an Prefecture is implementing the Cultivated Land Remeasurement Policy.

They're all busy.

They are suing

those Revenue Officers.

Those people are acting like a tyrant.

The people is hoping the Magistrate

to uphold justice for them.

Yes. Yes.

Yes.

They've just

reported 30 percent more land

of our family.

[Remeasurement Cultivated Land Policy Implementation Today] [Notice of Temporary Service Suspension ]

Several hundreds Jin worth of grains

submitted for nothing.

After a year of hard work,

there is barely any left for the family

after paying taxes.

How can we live with this?

How can we live with this?

How can we live with this?

Those officials

keep asking money from me.

They even asked me to pay for the Fish-scale Map Register.

I told them I had no money.

He then took away my cow.

How atrocious of them!

All right, move aside, move aside.

Don't go!

Don't go!

Don't go!

How can that be?

Just now who said

you can't hate the policy

just because of any bad officials?

How about...we wait for a while?

Maybe the Magistrate will resume his service

after he has done his work?

Look at the notice.

Fine.

What's wrong with

the Jin'an Prefecture?

What's with this policy?

Aren't they creating chaos on purpose?

I just came back from there.

Let me tell you the whole story.

The story starts with

two men from Renhua County.

One named Shuai Jiamo,

he's a algorithmist,

the other named Feng Baoyu,

he's a student.

Are mere two men

capable of doing this?

That's the main point here.

In Renhua County,

there is this tax called the Silk Poll Tax.

These two men

insisted that the tax

should not be paid by Renhua County alone.

It has to be shared by eight counties equally.

Eight counties?

I wonder

how did the two managed to

soft soap

the Prefect.

The Prefect really do believe in what they said.

What can we do?

No choice but to follow.

How is it implemented exactly?

By population. The county which has more people

will contribute more.

The lesser the population, the lesser contribution.

That's why they need to implement

the remeasurement of cultivated land,

in order to figure out...

Bah!

Creating trouble here and there!

They really are troublemakers!

That's right!

It's so sickening!

Is that true?

Yes.

But we meant to...

It's you.

You are the one behind this.

Do you know

your suggestion

is the reason that Jin'an Prefecture

has caused this scene?

Yet you are here pretending to be a goody two shoes.

No, listen to me!

This... this...

The people's grievances are

caused by those officials.

They didn't follow the rules.

But this policy itself

shouldn't to be blamed.

Then why should we,

Tongyang County

pay the taxes for Renhua County?

Do you think we don't have enough burden?

If you are so capable,

why are you

pretending to be concerned for us?

Where are you going?

You have reminded me.

As a matter of fact, I'm indeed incapable,

but my name, Feng Baoyu

is still useful.

Magistrate Deng.

Old Master! Old Master!

Feng Baoyu insisted on meeting you.

Magistrate Deng.

Let him in.

Magistrate Deng.

Feng Baoyu.

I heard that

you and Shuai Jiamo are acquitted.

Why are you here in Tongyang again?

I'm here to seek justice from you.

In the name of the Remeasurement Policy,

the officials in Tongyang County

used the name of the government

to bully the people

and cause public resentment.

Even the farmer, who took me in last time,

has undergone unfair measurement

of their farmland.

They're way too bold

and have gone too far.

Feng Baoyu.

I have slight acquaintance

with Shuai Jiamo.

I'll make an exception this time and lend you a hand.

What's the name of that family?

And their address?

I'll have the revenue office to check it later.

Thank you, Magistrate Deng.

I'm busy.

You may leave now.

I came all the way from Tongyang.

The same thing is happening everywhere,

people bullied by the officials.

They should be disciplined.

Feng Baoyu.

You are not the one to judge

the government of Tongyang's County.

But, Magistrate Deng,

I think it is important to notify you.

Feng Baoyu!

Do you still

need my help?

Yes! I do need your help.

But those officials

are really trying to deceive and

bully the people.

While they are benefiting from it,

the people are suffering.

And, you are the one who will take the blame.

Are you still going to ignore it?

Do you think I've been kept in dark the whole time?

I've been the Magistrate of Tongyang

for two years now.

If I can't even

identify the tricks,

I might as well resign and go home.

If you know it earlier,

you should punish them severely.

Do you really think I, as a Magistrate,

hold that much power to punish them?

I’m just a low-ranking official.

Do you understand?

They have been officials for generations in Tongyang.

They are far more experience than me.

Even though they dare not to disobey

my order,

there are still many ways for them to act differently in secret.

We are forced to suffer in silence.

Officials are not afraid of Magistrates?

What has this world become?

If this continues,

doesn't it means that the entire County Government

belongs to the Officials?

Of course there are people they are afraid of.

It's just not me.

Haven't you noticed?

The officials in the eight counties of Jin'an Prefecture

are acting up more than the others

with more severe bullying and injustice.

It was an order.

Whose order?

Figure this out yourself.

Rouge.

Have a look.

Well...

Magistrate Deng has issued the order.

They won't make things difficult for you anymore.

Come and have a look.

Although you are the one

Give me this.

Sure.

who caused this trouble in the first place,

you still have my thanks.

I want this.

I'm ashamed.

I can only help your family

but not the other people.

So,

are you going back to Renhua County?

Tofu.

This case is not finished yet.

I'm going to the next stop.

Rouge, come and have a look.

So,

you saved me by accident?

Do you mean the people

reacted calmly?

Yes.

Although, there are some minor disputes,

most of them aren't really

against the new remeasurement policy.

That's good to know.

Great.

Looks like Inspector Liu

has a point.

Obviously,

those county magistrates

are exaggerating the situation.

I told you that

the remeasurement rules

are very detailed.

It's mainly aimed at

the hidden fields of the gentries.

Why would the people

make a scene?

Yes.

I'll draft a document

to order the counties to carry on the Remeasurement Policy

or they will be punished severely.

Right.

This is the decision of

the Imperial Government.

As a Inspector,

I will also contact the local officials.

If these County Magistrates

dare to give any excuses,

I will charge them

for failing to fulfill their responsibilities as County Magistrates.

Inspector Liu is right.

[Huang Ning Dao]

Hurry up and copy the order.

Distribute them to each county.

It's time to add fuel to the fire.

Cheng Renqing!

Cheng Renqing!

[Righteousness]

Cheng Renqing.

Wake up!

Wake! Up!

Why did you come to Lanxi?

I-I-I need your help.

I'm useless now.

I can't even attend the court.

Why would you need my help?

You've told me

that you will bring as much justice

as I pay you.

Am I right?

Don't you get

what I'm saying?

I am currently unable to attend court.

No. I don't need you to file a lawsuit for me.

I need your help to come up with an idea.

Shoot.

There is a book

which Wancheng’s Assistant Magistrate, Ren Yi

know where it is.

But no matter how I asked Ren Yi,

he just won't tell me where the book is.

Can you help me, please?

What book?

The Complete Works of the Silk Event

The Complete Works of the Silk Event?

I heard it from the Shuai Jiamo.

What is it about?

I don't know

what is written in the book.

But it's very important to Shuai.

That's why I must find it.

Please help me think of a way.

Tell me the whole story.

Master Lu,

are you for real?

Of course I am.

Renhua County has bribed

the government for

this Cultivated Land Remeasurement Policy.

They want to apportion

the Silk Poll Tax

on us.

W-W-Who does he think he is?

And why would we?

The government office gate is wide-opened,

yet justice alone is not served.

All that we have done

has only profited Renhua County.

This policy

was instigated by Renhua County.

What do you mean?

So it was all because of Renhua County?

I heard

Prefect Huang has a new concubine.

And guess what, she's from Renhua County.

Jin'an Prefecture has given order

to remeasure our land.

What? Is that true?

Brother Zhu.

Where are you guys going?

We're going to the county office to ask

whether this Silk Poll Tax

is apportioned to every county.

I won't hand in

any unnecessary money.

Let me see

who dares to touch my land.

If you don't hand it over,

the police will

come and lock you up.

Once you've been cuffed,

what can you do?

I...

What about you?

They want to decrease their expense

by apportioning them among us.

Why? Why?

Why?

All these incorrect measurements and apportionment

is driving us into despair.

Yes. Yes.

Now, we should

fight for justice together!

Should we get back at him?

Yes, let's take our revenge.

Anyhow, we're all going to die.

Why don't we go and make a scene?

Let's go!

Let's go!

We can't let them measure our land.

Let's go! Hurry up!

Let's go together! Let's go!

Yes!

It'll not be easy.

Ren Yi is the senior official of Wancheng County.

He's famous for being stubborn.

If he'd set his mind to something,

even Mao Panfeng has to make way for him.

It's nigh on impossible

for him to relent.

Cheng Renqing.

You are the smartest person

in Jin'an Prefecture.

You'll come up with something. Right?

Hmm…

Why should I help you?

We were foes not long ago.

Well, we can't let them measure our land.

Let's go.

Let's go. Let's go.

That's right!

When I passed Tongyang and Wancheng before reaching here,

the public resentment was the same.

Both parties have their own difficulties.

How did it

turn out like this?

Do you really think that

people’s reaction is self-driven?

I-I-Isn't it so?

To be honest,

you were all cheated by Ma Wencai.

Ma Wencai?

Wait.

Why bring him up?

Previously, I was blinded

by anger,

but that doesn't mean I'm inferior in any way.

I knew

what is going on

behind his little tricks.

With all your boasts and brags,

I really can't tell

if you are in decadence as you said.

Ma Wencai's sudden change of attitude

in the court that day,

was in fact, a "retreating advance"

by feigning incompetence.

It allowed the Jin'an Prefecture Office to act more wildly

when carrying out the Remeasurement Policy.

The actual executors of the remeasurement

are the officials from the eight counties.

These people

have always colluded

with the gentries.

As long as Master Fan gives the order,

they will deliberately

raise havoc

and cause public resentment.

By using the resentment to spread rumors,

stirring up the people's hatred,

and directing this hatred

against Liu Jing and Huang Ningdao

the two decision-makers.

See?

The villagers of Zhu Ge Village

are aggresively approaching

Lanxi County Government Office.

But they

wouldn't dare to attack Jin'an Prefectural Office right?

Why wouldn't they?

The only way to have everything

goes according to their wishes

will be by making it into a big deal.

Find him.

[Loyalty]

Stay calm!

Stay calm!

You are making it difficult for me

by going there impulsively.

Let's go!

-Let's go. -Go!

-Let's go. -Go!

Master.

Go.

Inform Master Fan

and instruct the gentries along the way

to prepare more food.

Be sure

to let Lanxi's villagers

reach Renhua County unobstructed.

Yes, Master.

As for the other counties...

Don't worry.

Everything is in order.

This has not been easy.

Not easy at all.

At first, Fan Yuan and his fellow gentries

are the ones who suffer the most

due to the new policy.

The people

should be endorsing the policy.

But Fan Yuan uses Silk Poll Tax

as the excuse to instigate the public resentment.

In the end, the fight between the rich and poor

became the battle among the counties.

They will then

be safer then before.

But it's an insurrection after all.

It's going to get out of control

if the situation goes south.

Conspiracies

often have better results for bigger commotion caused.

Come on, let's go to Jin'an Prefecture

and seek justice from Prefect Huang.

Shuai Jiamo

is going to be in big trouble.

Get Fang killed! Execute Liu!

Execute Liu! Get Fang killed!

Bandit! Bandit!

-Execute Liu! -Execute Liu!

Down with the corrupt officials!

Give back our land!

Down with the corrupt officials!

Give back our land!

Down with the corrupt officials!

Give back our land!

Down with the corrupt officials!

Give back our land!

This is not the way

to Renhua County.

Who said we were going to Renhua?

Didn't you say

that the calamities of Shuai is at Renhua?

The calamities is indeed in Renhua,

but to turn calamities into successes will be in Wancheng County.

Master!

Master!

Something's wrong!

Wake up, Master.

Coming. I'm coming.

Master.

Will you stop that knocking?

The enemy has surrounded the city, Master.

Enemy?

What do you mean enemy?

The rioters from the other seven counties

have rushed into

our Renhua County border.

They are targeting us.

Are they trying to rebel?

They're even chanting

'Dismiss Huang! Execute Liu!

Get Fang killed!'

Get Fang killed? Fang...

The Fang is me?

Slow down. Slow down.

Slowly. Come on.

Slowly. Master. Bandit Liu!

Get Fang killed.

Get Fang killed.

Abolish Remeasurement Policy!

Abolish Remeasurement Policy!

Prefect Huang.

Inspector Liu.

Abolish Remeasurement Policy!

Inspector.

W-W-What took you so long?

Look.

W-W-What happened?

Dismiss Huang!

Execute Liu!

Execute Liu!

Get Fang killed!

Get Fang killed!

Abolish Remeasurement Policy!

Abolish Remeasurement Policy!

These rioters!

How dare they!

H-H-How dare they

besiege this place!

They are even saying to bring justice

on behalf of Heaven.

T-T-This is outrageous!

Ridiculous!

Didn't you say the people reacted positively?

Why is there

an insurrection full of public resentment?

Yes.

What a mess! What a mess!

Prefect Huang.

Don't you understand?

Both of us

were tricked

by the local officials.

Do you mean that

there is someone behind all this?

It's unimportant anymore

as the chaos is upon us.

Guys.

Guys!

There are only

around a hundred people

on our side.

We are also lacking bows and arrows.

If they really do attack us,

t-t-then...

We are bound to collapse immediately.

We...

You...

You mean they...

How dare they attack the city wall?

That's a rebellion.

Look! Look!

Look for yourself!

Dismiss Huang.

Execute Liu!

Execute Liu!

Abolish Remeasurement Policy!

Abolish Remeasurement Policy!

Remove the Tax Apportionment!

Remove the Tax Apportionment!

Magistrate Fang, hurry up.

Hurry up and do something!

I?

-You... -I...

What should I do?

You...

If I go down now,

they will tear me apart!

Get Fang killed!

Go away!

Prefect Huang.

Dismiss Huang!

Go away! Go away! Go away!

Go away!

Get out of the way!

S-S-Song Ren!

M-M-Ma...

Commander Ma.

What a

scheme of yours!

Prefect Huang, Inspector Liu.

Your unscrupulous

and ruthless ways

are which cause the insurrection.

I'm here to pacify the insurrection.

You...

You...you...

Do you remember the agreement?

I've said this before we start.

If you two

do anything wrong,

and don’t benefit the country,

I'll impeach you

with no mercy.

There must be someone stirring up the hornet's nest

and spreading rumors.

Such as,

Magistrate Fang

has offered a concubine for Prefect Huang.

All these absurdities are passed around.

Even if there are thousands of misunderstandings,

the fact is,

since you two

started the Remeasurement Policy,

the Jin'an Prefecture has been in turmoil.

The magistrates that feign obedience

and the officials that bully the people

will surely receive my severe punishment.

I've read all the official letters and documents

of Jin'an Prefecture.

Even Tongyang's Magistrate, Wancheng's Magistrate,

and Lanxi's Magistrate

have tried to warn you all

about the policy suspension.

But, you as the Prefect of Jin'an,

insisted on reinforcing the policy,

shutting out all reason,

strictening the rules while neglecting the people's voice.

That's why the insurrection had happened.

This...

How did you get those documents?

Inspector Liu, you're one of the cosigner of the documents.

You can't escape the punishment of oversight.

You...

Why are you...

Governing a big country is like cooking a small fish.

Both of you are gentlemen who never enter the kitchen.

You may not know

how difficult it is to fry a fish.

Fishes are fragile.

So, it can't be flipped frequently.

If you cut or flip it too much,

the fish will eventually lose its texture.

What are you trying to say?

I know that both of you have good intention,

but Fengxing hasn't been in chaos

for years.

Since you two came,

the insurrection of Jin'an

has even surrounded the city walls.

How shocking it is!

I, as the Assistant Prefect,

have persuaded Prefect Huang a dozen times

to focus on the people's will. But...

Song Ren!

You are a traitor!

Prefect Huang,

I have been

doing my best to assist you.

Do you still remember that I told you

about the Concordance of Yin and Yang?

You had kicked away

the stone that obstructs you

and hurt your toes in the process.

You can't blame it on others.

I know you're a Metropolitan Graduate,

and you have been looking down on me

as an Assistant Prefect who originated as a Provincial Graduate.

You won't even listen to

anything I say.

I have no choice.

Ma Wencai,

you have also shown your support,

therefore should be responsible too.

I've indeed shown my support for what you're trying to do,

but I'm not supporting you screwing things up.

However, my attitude

is not important here.

I've fast-delivered the current situation

to Li Shida, the Grand Coordinator Li in Fengxing,

and both offices in the Capital.

As for how they are going to conclude,

it's beyond my control.

Inspector Liu and I

will also submit our self-explanation statements.

Of course.

As you wish.

But allow me

to remind you.

In our country,

never had local officials that remained in their position

after an insurrection.

According to the rules,

both of you

should be deposed

and wait for the Cabinet final execution.

Since Jin'an Prefecture's insurrection is overpowering,

emergency suppression is needed.

I, as

the head of Jinqu Armed Forces,

is now in charge of the Jin'an Prefecture's

defense services.

Understood.

The most important thing now is

to return the rebels to their village.

But I didn't bring enough men

to handle the situation.

Besides, we can't use weapons against the people.

Assistant Prefect Song.

Any better suggestions?

The reason behind the insurrection

is the Cultivated Land Remeasurement Policy implemented to

apport the Silk Poll Tax.

I think

if we solve it from these two perspectives,

the chaos will end soon.

Alright.

Pass my order.

Withdraw

the Cultivated Land Remeasurement Policy

by Jin'an Prefecture.

The Silk Poll Tax will remain as before.

You...

I heard that the people in Jin'an Prefecture are valiant.

If that's the case, I'm afraid...

withdrawing orders are not enough to calm their anger.

Elaborate.

The perpetrator is also the best mender.

Great idea.

You're crueler than me.

Guards!

Yes.

Arrest Shuai Jiamo.

Yes.

The dispute in Jin'an Prefecture

was caused by him.

Give everyone an explanation

by having him killed in public.

The chaos will then be settled.

Any objections?