April 23, the third year of Taiping.
In the fertile fields outside Chongli County, Jinzhou, Beifu, hundreds of acres of fields that can be seen are filled with hard-working Jin people.
Liu Mingzhi was squatting at the head of the field, holding a coarse porcelain bowl in one hand and a pipe in the other, chatting and laughing with a sixty-year-old man who couldn't speak Chinese.
Liu Mingzhi gently put the rice seedlings in his hand into the basket of the wheelbarrow, picked up the porcelain bowl again and took a sip, looking at the sixty-year-old man happily.
"Uncle, if according to what you said, the imperial court has not exempted you from one year's taxes, but even if it is delayed until this year, you have to make up for it. How can I, this junior, think that you are still happy?"
The old man knocked the ashes from his rough dry tobacco bag on the ground and shook his head with a smile.
"Young man from the inner government, it seems that you don't know much about the latest decree issued by the imperial court.
Although we, the people of Beifu, have to pay last year's tax burden, even if we add this year's tax burden, the tax we pay is only 50% of the harvest at most.
The imperial court has reduced our taxes by 25% for five years. Compared with the previous wars, where we have been unable to harvest anything due to the war, although we have to make up for last year's taxes, we still have enough in our hands to eat a meal. A year and a half of surplus food.
Moreover, our Beifu rice tastes so good that the officials and merchants of the imperial court always buy it at a reasonable price.
We kept some for ourselves during the New Year and holidays, sold the rest, and bought twice last year's old rice from private caravans.
Although it is not as delicious as new rice, it can fill your stomach.
In the past, I had to eat twice a day sparingly, but now I can eat three meals a day.
Only when you are full can you have the strength to work, right?
Although we are the common people of Jin in Beifu, His Majesty's current policies on us have never been any different from those of the people in the inner government.
Especially the caravan from Xinfu brought in some dried meat for sale every now and then.
Although I can't eat meat all the time, it's much better than before.
The old man is sixty-eight years old this year. He has lived for more than sixty years and has experienced wars and wars for more than fifty years.
I thought that this would be it for the rest of my life, but I never thought that I would be able to live a peaceful life for a few years before I die.
Moreover, the eldest grandson of the old man’s family was admitted to the imperial court last year!
Mr. Lu, who came to teach in the imperial court, said that if my grandson continues to advance, he will be able to serve as an official in the imperial court in the future! "
"Oh! Sir, you really live a long life!
It seems that you are very satisfied with the imperial decree! "
"Satisfied, so satisfied. As long as we don't have to fight, life is a good life even if it is hard and tiring. What's more, life is getting better and better now. How can I be dissatisfied!"
"Uncle, let me ask a somewhat presumptuous question. Don't you want the Wanyan family's royal family to be restored to the country at all?"
"Young man, I don't have many years to live, so I'm not afraid to say something treacherous to you.
It is impossible to say that we do not look forward to the return of Her Majesty the Queen. Her Majesty the Queen was also a good emperor who worked hard and loved the people, and she never treated us people badly.
But to be selfish, we have to fight again to restore the country, right?
We have just had two good years. If there is another war, how can the people survive?
Besides, His Majesty and Her Majesty the Queen are now married. Our Princess Luoyue heard from the caravan from the inner palace that she is favored by His Majesty.
They are all members of the family, so there is nothing to fight against. "
"Uncle, you are absolutely right, they are all members of our own family, there is nothing to fight against.
By the way, have you heard that His Majesty mobilized another 400,000 elite troops for the Western Expedition? "
"Of course I heard about it, the caravan a few days ago brought the news back.
It's good to send troops, but those barbarians who are not kings dare to kill more than 3,000 of our people, more than 3,000 people! How can we forget it with them?
Revenge is necessary. "
"Didn't I just say that I don't want another war?"
"Young man, can this be the same?
Fighting against the barbarians in the west is not only to expand the territory, but also to seek revenge. It is different from fighting one's own people against one's own people.
Judging from the way you are dressed, you must be a scholar from the imperial court, right? Why don’t you even understand this simple truth?
The barbarians do not accept the king's status and do not respect our power. If we don't beat them, why don't we invite them home for dinner?
Really, the old man thinks you are stupid for studying, you are not as good as my eldest grandson! "
Young Master Liu nodded bitterly: "What the old man taught me is that the younger generation knows that they are wrong, and the younger generation knows that they are wrong."
"Young man, the old man has almost rested. I won't nag you anymore. It's time to go farming. You can continue to wander around!"
"Okay, uncle, you have to work first!"
Watching the old man pick up the hoe and walk away, Liu Mingzhi stood up with a faint smile and walked towards the road outside the fields.
There was a fragrant roast rabbit stuck on the wooden stick in Song Qing's hand, which was sizzling on the fire. When he heard the footsteps, he turned around to look.
"How is it? My young master Liu, what do the people of Beifu think of you, the emperor of the day?"
"It's okay, just average!"
Song Qing took out a piece of rice paper, wrapped it in a rabbit leg, pulled it off and threw it to Liu Mingzhi.
"You have also gone to your new residence and moved to your northern residence. Is it time to go back home?
We agreed to go back to Beijing directly. Brother Wei, it’s great to see you wandering around! "
Liu Mingzhi took the rabbit leg and pulled off the wine bag on his horse, sat on the mound beside him and started eating and drinking.
"If the officials of Beidi, Xinfu, and Beifu are not informed about my return to Beijing, how can I see the real life of the people everywhere?
Everything was arranged in advance, and what I saw were the scenes that officials from various places wanted me to see. It was better not to see it.
Only by sneaking around can you see clearly whether the people are really living and working in peace and contentment.
I still remember that I followed my father's order and came to Yingzhou and Fuzhou to serve as the governor of the two governments and supervise the military and political affairs of northern Xinjiang.
At that time, I met the widow of a senior Longwuwei soldier in a garment shop in the capital.
Later, on the eve of leaving Beijing to take office, I personally visited the families of those fallen soldiers.
Then the day before I left Beijing for the North, I wrote a poem and handed it into my father's hands.
I still remember that poem clearly.
There are many villains in the temple, but righteousness lies in the people.
A sect with six heroes can hardly keep out the cold in a humble room.
A wealthy family has plenty of wine and meat, while an old man alone is worried about having three meals a day.
The emperor's words are sage and wise, but he does not see the difficulties in the world. "
Song Qing tore off a piece of rabbit meat and chewed it slowly: "What an emperor who speaks sagely, it is difficult to see the world.
You are planning to use the poems that exhorted Ruizong in the past to yourself. "
“This is also a helpless move on my part.
I also climbed up bit by bit from below, and I have seen too many abominable activities of officials who whitewash peace for the sake of their own political achievements.
Now that the new dynasty has just been established, I don’t want to be a wise king in the eyes of officials and a faint king in the eyes of the people.
Fortunately, officials in various state capitals did not disappoint me too much. Although there are some shortcomings, at least the people's livelihood and the administration of officials are still clear.
I wanted to kill the chicken to scare the monkeys, but I couldn't find the chance to do so. "
"Haha...that's for sure. After all, right now, with salaries soaring, most officials still dare not touch the bad luck of you, the founding emperor."
"When you say this, brother feels unsure again.
I hope that they can sit in that position and serve as parents and officials to the people in a practical, pragmatic and sincere manner.
Instead of worrying about getting into trouble with me or managing people's livelihood just to show me. "
“Then you take it too naturally.
Even if he pretends to do good things for the people, if he can pretend to be a good official all his life, he is a good official.
Isn't it? "
Liu Mingzhi held up the rabbit leg and was silent for a long time, then nodded thoughtfully.
"Been taught a lesson!
After eating and drinking, I really want to go back to Beijing this time.
Otherwise, Xia Gongming, a bad old man, might really be killed in the Qinzheng Hall.
Moreover, Yan'er, Wei'er and the others are probably about to give birth in the past few days, or have already given birth.
I have been busy for half my life and have treated my wives and concubines too much. "
Song Qing raised his foot and kicked it, covering the charcoal fire with a mound of earth.
"There is no way, who doesn't want to spend time with his family.
But in this life of a man, apart from his family, he always has to carry something on his shoulders.
For example, you, there are tens of millions of people looking to you to live and work in peace and contentment!
Life in this world can never be as fulfilling as one wishes!
Let's go! Eat on the road while catching up! "
