Li Shimin couldn't help but be startled when he heard this.
"This...how do you say this?"
He couldn't help but ask,
"With such a good harvest, can we only drink porridge?"
The old farmer put down the sickle in his hand, drank several gulps of water, and then burped with satisfaction.
"Young man, you look like you are from Chang'an City. You have never been to the ground, right?"
he asked rhetorically.
Li Shimin touched his nose awkwardly and nodded.
From the moment he was born, he was the prince's noble son, and indeed he had never worked in the fields.
"Although this year is a good year, the harvest is coming, and the rent to be paid will be more. How can I, the landlord, let you, the common people, take advantage?"
The old farmer said happily,
"Then, we need to prepare a batch of grain and set aside a batch of taxes to pay to the state."
"After cutting these three things, how many more bites can be left in the old man's mouth?"
"It would be great if you can mix it into thick porridge and drink it every day!"
Li Shimin: "..."
Ministers: "..."
Obviously, such a reply does not make them happy.
"Old man, do you think this land doesn't belong to you? Is it rented?"
Changsun Wuji couldn't help but ask,
"After the founding of the Tang Dynasty, wasn't the land divided among them? Why didn't your family receive one?"
This is the best place at the feet of the Emperor!
Could it be that some people dare to take it by force?
"Well... I got my share at that time, but the following years were years of disaster. The harvest was not even enough to provide food and clothing. At that time, the poll tax was heavy, and the children in the family also had to eat..."
The old farmer sighed,
"Without food, we can only sell the land to the landlord, and we can only rent the land and become tenants."
"Fortunately, after those years, the children have grown up and can help with the work, so we won't starve to death."
Li Shimin frowned and remained silent.
“Throughout the dynasties, land was merged on a large scale, leaving the people with no land to farm. They worked as tenants for the landlords but had to pay a heavy poll tax. This was one of the main reasons for the country’s demise.”
Xu Fenglei said in a deep voice,
"There is a poem that says:"
"You sow a grain of millet in spring and harvest ten thousand grains in autumn. There is no idle land in the world..."
"Farmers are still starving to death."
Everyone accompanying him looked stern.
"There is no idle land in the world, and farmers are starving to death! Thinking about it...it really makes people feel chills running down their spines."
Du Ruhui couldn't help but sigh,
"If such a day comes, it is reasonable for the dynasty to overthrow."
"His Majesty."
He turned his gaze to Li Shimin and said sincerely:
"People's livelihood is so difficult, please ask Your Majesty to reduce taxes so that the people can live a more stable life."
Li Shimin pondered for a moment.
"No."
Pei Ju, the Minister of Revenue, shook his head and said,
"The national treasury is already empty, and we are all counting on this year's bumper harvest to collect taxes so that we can clear military pay and pay salaries to officials and nobles."
"If taxes are reduced or reduced, where should the money go?"
"Although it is difficult for the people, it is not easy for the country as well!"
As soon as he said this, Du Ruhui also closed his mouth, closed his eyes and sighed.
After all, Datang's foundation is too weak. Once taxes are reduced or reduced, the finances will be in crisis!
There is no cure.
While he was struggling, a shout suddenly came from the distance:
"Let's put the food on! Uncles and brothers, please rest. Let's eat first!"
I saw several women walking towards this side with baskets in their hands.
When they heard the word "eat", the men stopped holding their sickles one after another, wiped the sweat from their foreheads, swallowed their saliva, and smiled on their faces.
After working hard all morning, they were already hungry.
"Here, drink some water first."
"Here, here are steamed buns. Sister-in-law and the others just steamed them."
"Wow! Brother, this is all the wheat you harvested? You are stronger than an animal!"
"..."
The women brought water and steamed buns to their relatives at home, and for a while, there was constant laughter and laughter.
In rural areas, saying that a man is "stronger than an animal" is undoubtedly the greatest compliment.
"Da, are you exhausted? Here, mother said I would bring you more today."
A woman with slightly dark skin but delicate appearance walked through the wheat field, delivered the basket to the old farmer, and wiped his sweat carefully.
"Hey, I'm not tired, but I think this wheat isn't enough."
When the old farmer saw his daughter coming to deliver the meal, his eyes narrowed and he smiled,
"Baby, have you eaten?"
The girl shook her head.
The old farmer took out a piece of yellow and white steamed bun from the basket and handed it to his daughter's hand.
"Come, eat, eat..."
A kind face.
"That's okay! This is the steamed bun that mom gave you, Ada!" The girl was shocked and quickly pushed it away, "If you don't want to eat it, I'll just drink some water and go back. I have some food left at home..."
When the old farmer heard this, he grabbed her hand and forced the bun into her hand.
"Those at home...are not as strong and hungry as this steamed bun!"
he urged,
"Eat, eat! Look how thin you are..."
"It's been a good harvest this year, and Ada has to make arrangements for you to find a good family... This little girl is too skinny, and her husband's family doesn't want her!"
"Eat...good girl."
When the girl heard this, her eyes became a little bright.
Click.
She held the bun in both hands, bit into it, and chewed it without saying a word.
This thing is not really delicious, but for farmers, it is already the best food because it controls hunger.
Seeing his daughter starting to chew, the old farmer opened the basket and counted a few - there were four more.
He looked at Li Shimin and the others, hesitated for a moment, and finally did not speak. He squatted on the ground and started chewing.
"Father, father! The child is hungry!"
Li Lizhi stepped forward and hugged Li Shimin's thigh, shouting,
"Second meal, second meal, I want second meal!"
Xu Fenglei frowned.
"Girl, you don't have missing teeth now, how come you still have trouble talking?"
he rebuked,
"You have to change this problem, otherwise others will laugh at you in the future! Do you understand?"
Li Lizhi wrinkled her nose.
"So cute..."
She murmured,
"It's Master, the kid knows."
"Hahaha..." Li Shimin patted her head and said with a smile, "It's noon and it's time to have a meal. Let's go for a walk without disturbing them. Let's cross the river and have a meal."
After that, he led everyone back to the small bridge and back to the other side.
The accompanying royal chef had already set up a barbecue rack, put a few freshly slaughtered lambs on it, lit the fire, brushed it with oil, and turned it over gently.
In addition, various delicacies and pastries are also neatly placed on the dining table, like a buffet, for everyone to enjoy.
Crack, crackle!
The light yellow mutton fat dripped and poured on the pile of firewood, making a sound.
And the smell of mutton has been blown to the other side by the wind.
The old farmer looked at the steamed buns in his hand, and then looked at the luxurious picnic on the other side, and suddenly felt that the steamed buns no longer tasted good...
(End of chapter)
