With the arrival of the messenger, the cavalry team sent by the Yilong Guard to "Welcome Princess Miyun", led by a member of the Baihu family, met with the chariot driver in Luzhou Mansion. Everyone in the team breathed a sigh of relief.
When passing through Chaohu, they encountered a group of lake bandits robbing merchants, but Li Tiedao stepped forward to disperse them and captured the leader alive.
As a result, in the evening of that day, the leader of the lake bandits heard about this incident and came to ask for help. When he found out that the other party was an official's convoy, he tied himself outside the camp and asked for a meeting.
During the conversation, Li Dan learned that this person's name was Jiao Tong, nicknamed Iron Whip Scholar, and he was actually a scholar who was falsely accused of stealing. He had no way to seek help and finally had to kill someone. He hid in a lake with his mother and young brother on his back, so he felt pity for him. heart of.
His younger brother was a seventeen-year-old gangster. Only after he was caught did he realize that there was something out there, and he was so frightened that he was shaking like chaff. Li Dan severely reprimanded the boy, then turned around and told Jiao Tong:
"If you want to let your brother go, you have to do three things: the team accepts the recruitment and is reorganized into the patrol of the Huxi Inspection Department of Lujiang County, responsible for maintaining public security in Huxi;
I will send someone to be your instructor. You will be trained and adapted according to the rules of our Qingshirt team. The instructor will leave after three years. "
The last one is that Jiao Tong followed the team to Lujiang Prefecture, and Li Dan personally guaranteed it and asked the prefect to reduce the charge. Then he stayed with Li Dan as a secretary for three years.
Jiao Tong agreed and signed the agreement, then went back to say goodbye to his mother and became a member of Li Dan's entourage.
The addition of a "mountain king" in the team attracted the attention of King Ding's followers, and also frequently attracted curious glances from the maids.
When Li Dan went to greet King Ding and the princess, Miyun smiled and told him: "The mountain king you took in is said to be fair and not scary at all, right?"
"Well, I'm not a robber to begin with."
Li Dan tells the story of how Jiao Tong's family was forced to sell off their ancestral property by a local wealthy family. He was falsely accused of stealing ancient books because of his disobedience, and his father died of anger. "Your Majesty" was told in sequence, causing the brother and sister to sigh and sigh.
"I thought the world was peaceful and peaceful, but this time I came out and found that it was far from the case. Just look at how many people have lost their livelihood and fled to become bandits. You can know that the word 'prosperous age' is just a word on the lips of literati. That's all!" King Ding said.
"However, the nuns and maids around me all said that things are better now than before, and there are fewer refugees. Especially in the north, there have been far fewer wars in recent years!" Miyun frowned and asked, "Aren't they telling the truth? ?」
"It's a fact." Li Dan nodded: "Everyone among the people says that life is better now than before, and what His Highness said is indeed true. With more food, the people will feel at ease, and food is their first priority. But this is not enough. .”
"Not enough? People's hearts are not enough and they have to look forward to Shu. They should compare with the previous dynasties to see which dynasty made the people live better!" King Ding was a little angry.
If it were someone else, he might try to dismiss or laugh off the ignorant remarks of a noble prince, but Li Dan felt it was necessary to have his mind touched. After all, he was the emperor's brother. If he couldn't have a more correct concept, , then it may be this ignorance that affects the emperor.
"A thousand years old, do you know that the ancient sages have a saying: A person who knows the etiquette can only know the truth?"
"Well, of course you know this?"
"What the sage said not only refers to having a full stomach, but also tells us a simple truth:
If there is not enough food in the rice jar, people have to run around to fill their stomachs, and they have no intention to think about whether they should observe etiquette. For them, etiquette is a very distant ideal. King Ding nodded slightly in agreement.
Li Dan went on to say: "In ancient times, kings established rituals in order to allow people to settle down and perform their duties according to these rituals. This is why the so-called superiority and inferiority are respected...
Later, the population increased, the weather was inconsistent, and there was not enough food, so turmoil and dynasty changes occurred, until the new dynasty was established, rituals were reestablished, and the four directions were stabilized.
But can the world be stable as long as there are rituals? No, every time a new dynasty comes to Dingding, it brings about production development, technological innovation, expansion of cultivated land, and increase in food production, so that more people can be fed;
Only with developed commerce and good circulation of goods can the living needs of these people be met;
The flow of goods and books
Overseas, attract more talents and business travelers to China. They will spread Chinese civilization and the teachings of saints to the world, and only then will all nations who admire China come to the DPRK.
Therefore, to put it bluntly, no one will go hungry to compare the present and the previous dynasty. People will only think about how the children's rations will be provided tomorrow and next month.
Even for overseas countries, if the Celestial Empire does not have surplus products to exchange with them so that they can wear silk, taste tea, and gain knowledge of morality and etiquette from the ancient books of sages, then no matter how many poems praising virtues the Confucian scholars write, , how could they be so convinced that they traveled thousands of miles to pay tribute and pay homage?
The fundamental thing is: China has rich products and convenient circulation!
Among ordinary people, they hope that their families will have surplus food and silk that can be exchanged for money. They will not worry about the ups and downs of salt prices. They hope that they will have money in their hands to send their children to study books by sages.
This person's common sense is that compared to spending a lot of money to build a garden and buy gold, jade and antiques, it can't be said to be a long way to Shu, right? "
Prince Ding's face turned slightly red, he cupped his hands and said, "You really understand Yuan Ye, I am ashamed of myself!"
Li Dan waved his hand: "This is because Chitose has been in the palace all year round, unlike Li Dan who has been with gangsters and gangsters since he was a child. However, if you have the opportunity to come out a few more times and see more, I think you will have a deeper understanding of what I just said. learn."
After speaking, he turned to Princess Miyun: "The past ten years in the north have been recuperating and there has been no major war with the Egu tribes, which is actually very good for the people. Without the trouble of transshipment and the loss of people's strength, people can recover.
As His Highness said, there are far fewer refugees in the north. However, the number of refugees in the south has increased, which is also one of the main forces behind the recent rebellions of the Lou family and the Yang family.
The main reason for the emergence of refugees is that they cannot survive or establish themselves in the original land, but there are big differences between the north and the south! "
"Oh? Are there differences among refugees?" King Ding was surprised. It was the first time he heard such an argument.
"Of course!" Li Dan smiled: "The people in the north are thinner, and the soil is also thinner. The south has two or three crops, while the north can only produce one season, and in many places the yield per mu is not as good as in the south.
For example, in southern Zhili and Jiangxi, the yield per mu is 200 kilograms, but in the north it is not, and even in Ganliang it is only half of this number.
Therefore, the North is more likely to have refugees. Disease, famine, natural disasters, and lawsuits may displace people. These people are the source of unrest and banditry. "
"Then...how can there be refugees in the south where there is so much wealth?" Miyun asked in confusion.
"Just like Jiao Tong, he was still a scholar. There was no problem with his family's land to support his parents and brothers. But if he wanted to study, he could not work as a laborer, but had to hire others to do the work for him. In this way, the family's foundation was weak.
When the rich and bully come to seize the land, he is unable to support the lawsuit, so he can only be bullied. As a result, he became more and more embarrassed and finally reached bankruptcy.
Many refugees in the south of the Yangtze River are caused by this kind of land annexation and unkindness for getting rich. In order to collect benefits and demonstrate political achievements, some officials continue to promote the annexation and secretly encourage it. This is also the reason why civil conflicts intensify and many people take desperate risks.
Therefore, the majority of refugees in the north are caused by weak people, land resources, and fragile living environment, while man-made disasters in the south are greater than natural disasters, and are more caused by greed, immorality, and administrative malpractice. "
"So, in order to solve the problem of refugees, does the imperial court have to issue decrees to the south and the north respectively?" King Ding was a little confused: "If everything has to be explained by the south and the north, wouldn't it be true? Is it actually exacerbating the dispute between the North and the South?"
"That's not necessarily true, and eradicating the refugees is not as simple as a decree." Li Dan replied: "In everything, we must first find out the cause through investigation, and then decide how to proceed with the specific operation.
For example, in the north, the land is thin and the yield per mu is low. Then we must try to change the farmers' working methods of planting extensively and harvesting little, increase soil fertility, adopt crop rotation, selective breeding, increase the yield per mu, introduce new species from overseas, and enrich the variety of food.
At the same time, the Ula tribe is now paying tribute, which is a good opportunity, indicating that the Egu people are unable to conquer and want to ask for peace.
The imperial court could take this opportunity to purchase cattle and sheep to increase the number of cattle.
Breed high-quality varieties and promote the widespread use of farm animals, so that limited people can do unlimited things with technology, tools and animal power! "
Li Dan didn't know what kind of shock and enlightenment this conversation left to Wang Ding. He said that these were just hoping to influence the emperor through Wang Ding.
It seemed like a eloquent conversation, but King Ding was very excited after hearing it. He had never thought that things could be thought of from another angle, let alone that the usual thinking in the past seemed so absurd and vulnerable now.
"When I get back, I want to try it in Wangtianli first to see if what Li Sanlang said makes sense!" he said half-jokingly.
Li Dan laughed loudly: "If Chitose wants to test in Wang Tianli, there must be two types of people involved: stewards and tenant farmers.
These two types of people are not free farmers. Chitose probably needs a set of management methods to make these people more motivated to farm and adopt new methods and tools. It is not just about rewarding hard work and punishing laziness.
If Chitose is interested, I can write a set of methods for you after the competition. Use this method to manage people. Coupled with new seeds, new tools, and new livestock, it will have miraculous effects! "
King Ding was overjoyed: "Okay, okay, then it's settled! When the time comes, I'll leave all of Shigu's Wang Tian to your charge!"
“It’s better to mark off a part of Chitose first, so that the difference can be reflected when compared with the results of farming using the old method.”
"Okay, then I'll give you five thousand acres first!"
Upon hearing this, Princess Miyun rushed over: "Count me in! I'll give you five thousand acres too! But... my fiefdom is further north, can you go there?"
Li Dan said it was no problem. He thought it was just Zhuozhou or Miyun. It's very strange, why does the emperor like to seal all his brothers and sisters to Shuntian Mansion?
The evening ship from Jiujiang docked at Anren Pier. Mao Zaidi got off the ship and jumped on the stage carriage to enter the city, and then went straight to Dongjia City.
After a year of construction, Dongjia City has begun to take shape. It is now not only the staff headquarters of the southern division of Raozhou Tuanlian, but also the location of the standard-guarding martial arts school where Gu Da is the chief instructor. In addition, Dong Houyong, the commander of the battalion, is stationed. The second battalion consisted of 800 men.
Last year, the Raozhou regiment began training and was organized into four battalions: the 2nd Battalion in Anren, the 1st Battalion in Poyang (Jiao Conghu), the 4th Battalion in Yuqian (Yang Yi), and the 3rd Battalion in Wannian (Qinhan). The total number of people is fixed at 3,700.
Mao Zaidi was here to inspect the family. He talked intermittently about what happened along the way while drinking water. "So you and the prince broke up in Shucheng?" Gu Da asked: "Why did he ask you to come to me?"
"Two things. The first is that I think the capital needs manpower. The situation there may be more complicated than we think. The second is to send coaches to the Qian family in Lujiang and the Jiao family in Chaohu.
The young master said, Brother Gu, you have a complete list of veterans here. From now on, the mobilization and distribution of veterans will be left to you, and my Shiro will be assigned to you as deputy and secretary. This is the gentleman's letter. Please read it. "As he said this, he took out a letter from the bag and handed it over.
"I understand, is there anything else you want me to do?" Gu Da asked.
"Read the letter carefully. It contains the date and personnel requirements for rendezvous in the capital. Then, Brother Gu, please find a horse. I have to go to Baima and Yu Gan to deliver the letter. I will leave when the city gate opens tomorrow!"
Gu Da understood that Li Dan had to go back to Baima when he sent him back, so he and Dong Houyong treated him to a meal that night, and sent two brothers to escort him to Baima early the next morning.
After staying in Baima for a day, he reported what happened on the road to Mrs. Qian (Aunt Qian), two ladies and a girl (Huer). He skipped some details that Li Dan asked him not to share, but it still made everyone very happy. Worry.
"Hey, this kid is really like this. How can he encounter robbers while walking on the road? It seems that Jiangbei is not very peaceful either?" Xiao Qian said, but she also knew that as long as she met her father and brother in Lujiang, what would happen next would be Much easier.
Wu Ning'er had a gentle temper and hurriedly comforted her with a few words. Mao Zaidi told her again: "Madam, don't worry. Both uncles have very good opinions of the young master. The elder uncle even went to Beijing with him!"
"What? My brother has failed the exam many times, wouldn't he be encouraged by this kid to take the exam again?" Xiao Qian said in surprise, thinking: "No matter what his plan is, he is still willing to pay.
It's good to walk around and walk around.
To be able to persuade him to go on the road together, this kid must have allowed him something special, otherwise how could he have such a strong attraction to put down his books? ” Everyone laughed for a while, and Xiao Qian casually asked about the current situation of Yang Dayi and others.
However, Xu Ying kept smiling and said nothing. After coming out, someone called Mao Zaidi under her window and asked him if he had something to hide. Mao Zaidi smiled bitterly: "I know I can't hide it from you, but don't ask anything. This is the emperor's will.
Now there are noble people hidden in my team, protected by pterosaur guards. Other than that, I can't say anything else. After hearing this, Xu Ying knew that things were not that simple, and sighed:
"Our master, others hide when things happen, but he is the one who rushes forward. Since His Majesty has a decree, I can't ask any more questions. I can only pray for him at home, and wish Saburo everything goes well and be safe!"
Arrive at Yugan the next day. First, he went to Zeng Qun's residence to deliver a letter from Li Dan to the teacher reporting that he was safe, and then went to the Chenghuang Temple to visit Liang Mingshan and Zhao Jingzi.
The two of them read Li Dan's letter, discussed in a low voice for a while, and immediately sent an order to ask Wu Mao, Han An, Shen Jie, Master Ba, Feng Shen, Chen Sanwen and Lei Jisheng to come quickly to discuss the matter.
Several people heard that a messenger from Li Dan had arrived and rushed over immediately. When Li Dan left, he made a rule that Liang Mingshan would take charge of military affairs and Han An would take charge of business affairs. So the people sitting on one side of Liang Mingshan were all the people who were working in the group training, and the people in the business group were sitting on the other side with Han An.
"The main reason for inviting everyone here is that Young Master wants us to arrange three things: first, the intelligence, security, and shops all the way from here to Jiujiang, Anqing, Lujiang, Luzhou Prefecture, Fengyang Prefecture, Bozhou, and Shangjing must be launched as soon as possible;
Secondly, the Wen family in Tongcheng and the Qian family in Lujiang have expressed their willingness to join the business group and asked us to send people to contact these two families as soon as possible;
The third thing is that Shang Jing needs manpower. The young master wants Mr. Wu, Chen Sanlang, Shen Daxia and Mr. Lei to come to Beijing as soon as possible. Oh, Mr. Wu, the young master also asked you to take Hicks and the other Thais with you and let them serve as guards on the Blackwood Road. "
"Did something big happen to you, Master? Why don't we go with more people?" Master Ba said.
"I know you want to go, and I still want to go! But we've all gone, so we can't throw away all the stalls at home, right?" Zhao Jingzi smiled bitterly:
"The young master didn't go into detail, but he said that it seems likely that he will soon be dealing with the court and the higher-ups, and he will need staff to help him handle various affairs. From this literal point of view, the situation is not bad, and you don't need to be too nervous. Worry!"
"Brother Dan is going to show off his talents in the capital."
