On the way back to the mountain, Zhuang Xun felt heavy in his mind. The sun was setting in the west. He turned to look at the farmer with patched clothes still weeding in the field. He leaned against a big tree and sat down.
"Your Highness, are you still thinking about what happened just now?" Lan Qiu, as a Zhao national, felt extremely ashamed that his own citizens were not fully clothed.
"Well, under King Zhao's feet, there are so many dignitaries coming and going, can't you see it? The people are naked."
Zhuang Xun couldn't figure it out. He could see a village not far away from the city buildings at a glance. Standing on Yunding Mountain where the Qintian Prison was located, he could see farmers in ragged clothes if his eyes were better. How could these people treat them like open eyes? Blind.
He was almost blind. When he walked down the mountain, he noticed that the farmer's clothes were shabby. He took it for granted that it was done deliberately for farm work. He didn't expect that the reason behind it was so cruel, which made Zhuang Xun really unbearable.
"This is actually normal. His Highness's heart is too kind. This has always been the case in all countries. The aristocratic family existed before the establishment of the Zhao Kingdom. Since the previous monarch of the Zhao Kingdom, the household registrations have been clarified to ensure the safety of the people and promulgated If the tenant farmer dies, he will pay a fine..."
Lan Qiu explained that this kind of thing is more common than turning a blind eye.
"These farmers cannot become soldiers. Soldiers are small nobles. Business is also monopolized by various families. They only have the ability to produce food and cloth..."
"You don't have to say it again. Treating people as consumables is not a good thing. A good harvest of food is not a good thing. Many new consumables have been added."
Zhuang Xun couldn't help but say that Zhao State did not treat people as human beings, but as consumables. According to Lan Qiu, these people were not involved in the daily operation of the country, and only provided food, cloth, and labor force.
"Why are you so angry, Your Highness? As a destined person of Lord Yama of the Underworld, don't you know that they all committed evil in their previous lives and were reborn into poor families? If they live peacefully and abide by the law in this life, they will live in ordinary families in the next life."
Lan Qiu directly used the underlying logic of this world to defend Zhao Guo. He was not a good person in his previous life and deserved to suffer in this life.
"..." Zhuang Xun was silenced for a moment. He looked at the slowly sinking sunset and was speechless. The sins committed in the past life of this world are true.
"His Highness is too kind. Heaven values life rather than death. To be able to forcibly save their lives is already a great kindness. They can even reproduce and pass on the incense. Zhao Guo has done a very good job."
Seeing that Zhuang Xun didn't speak, Lan Qiu thought that Zhuang Xun accepted her point of view, or Mrs. Jiang's point of view, so she continued.
"Just like His Highness's Xia You Kingdom, land is now distributed to the poor. Perhaps in three or five generations, it will become what it is now. The land is always concentrated in favor of a small number of people. This is something that cannot be changed."
This was also what Mrs. Jiang asked Zhuang Xun when Zhuang Xun and Mrs. Jiang were discussing how to govern Jiannan, and Zhuang Xun's memory was evoked.
What did she say at that time that made Mrs. Jiang determined to support her career in Jiannan Road? Has it changed now?
"But for my generation, I want everyone to have food to eat and clothing. I can't control future generations, but I want to manage my generation well."
What I said in response to Mrs. Jiang at that time has not changed. It has always been this goal. It does not mean liberation, but just reducing the burden on the people.
"As for what happened in the previous life, I don't deny the rationality of the origin of reincarnation in this world, but if the Great Dao is fifty, the Heavenly Evolution is forty-nine, humans can escape one of them, snakes, insects, tigers and leopards all have the opportunity to cultivate into demons, so what about humans? You can use this excuse to restrict people and deny them the chance to rise."
The punishment was punishment, and he was reborn as a new person. He did not deny his origin, but Zhuang Xun couldn't accept it when he was made to live like an animal.
Let the people be fed and clothed, and give them the opportunity to work hard to rise. I figured it out. I figured it out. This was the purpose of what I and Si Qinmi had been doing and discussing with her.
"Repeating it again and again, looping it again and again, is better than a pool of stagnant water. After I die, the rules will be broken and I will return to my previous appearance, so I will do nothing?"
"That's not right, I have to... I'm sorry, I'm a little emotional. Maybe I also come from a lower class background, which resonates with me a bit."
Zhuang Xun wanted to express his definite ideals and ambitions, but suddenly realized that the person in front of him was not his confidant. He was talking about what he wanted to do in other countries, and he became a little emotional.
It was true that he was emotionally aroused by what he saw today. He never felt that he was a person like his predecessors in his hometown who dedicated his life to the people, nor did he have a particularly strong idea of contribution. After all, he was a rentier, sitting on What the lovely wife and concubine say about communism is too ridiculous. It is God who controls productivity, not humans.
However, he doesn't like this kind of world. He wants to change it and change it into the world he wants. At least the people can have enough to eat and have regular clothes all year round.
"So His Highness is really kind. Madam, she has always liked you so much. It is not without reason." Lan Qiu blinked her eyes. Not only Madam Jiang likes you, but which cultivator doesn't like you.
"Go back, don't tease me, it will be dark if it gets later." Zhuang Xun shook his head, the mountain is not high, so he walked back to Qintian Prison in two steps.
After dinner, Zhuang Xun went back to bed and lay down to rest. He thought about today's events over and over again. He couldn't fall asleep even if he turned over or turned sideways.
"Bi Yue." He called softly.
The delicate and beautiful woman came into his arms and said angrily: "You also want to do this kind of place, it's hopeless."
"Ah, it's not that kind of thing. Forget it, just listen to me. You should follow me all the way today." She just needed a pillow to hug the soft and beautiful woman.
"What are you doing? You don't feel at ease if you don't hold a woman to sleep at night, right?" Bi Yuewu said unhappily, realizing that he had been deceived, and then realizing that Zhuang Xun could earn merit by being around him, making raw rice and cooked rice, and making soup. After drinking, what else can I do? Just accept my fate. I accept my fate and accept my fate. I hate and love Zhuang Xun at the same time.
"Well, you can follow me today." Zhuang Xun asked again, not getting hung up on the details. He just felt that his heart was full of confusion.
"Well, I was afraid that you would make demands in the wild on a whim, so I followed you all the way. You are actually a benevolent monarch. If I ban you, you can be given the title of a saint."
Bi Yuewu joked that when she noticed that Zhuang Xun had no next move, she didn't do anything else and quietly let Zhuang Xun hold her in his arms.
She was used to it and was used to being criticized. In the future that could be seen with the naked eye, she would still be Concubine Zhuang Xun and would not change. She had finally given up her struggle.
Keep the promise, earn merit, and support the merit that was seriously injured by the traitor. Is this the conspiracy set up by Xuannv? Completely irresistible.
Lowering the bottom line and giving some benefits, carrots and sticks, Bi Yuewu knew, but he had no choice but to protect the other person's little lover.
"Can your gods tolerate this? Today's situation." Zhuang Xun didn't care about Bi Yuewu's taunting words and mocking tone. His mood now was different from that in the morning. Besides, no matter how venomous Bi Yuewu's tongue was, he couldn't use a small bench. Just rush.
"Are you talking about the state of the poor? It's not bad. It's much more comfortable than the beasts. The beasts are terrible. They are either hungry for prey or being preyed on by other beasts. It's good for them to survive."
Bi Yuewuzuo said that he had already found a comfortable position and hugged Zhuang Xun. It didn't matter whether he was annoying or not, he occupied him anyway.
"I forgot that you are an immortal from the demon clan and cannot understand this kind of emotion." It is too weird to ask a demon clan to empathize with humans. I guess I am the only one who can't bear it.
"No, the gods can only comfort themselves in this way. So what if they can't see through it, they can't change it."
Bi Yuewu sighed, looking at Zhuang Xun's lonely look, and pressed his head into the white rabbit to comfort him. Zhuang Xun was very popular with the gods, at least he was like this now.
"Can't even gods change it?" Zhuang Xun breathed in the fragrance of milk, and his bad mood improved a little.
"How should I put it? Humanity is like this. What's lost can only be replenished. It doesn't matter if the gods can't stand the suffering at the bottom. They can't change it. After all, the world belongs to mortals."
Bi Yuewu seemed to be able to feel the compassion in Zhuang Xun's heart, and kept stroking his back to comfort him.
"The three realms are in order. Even if a powerful person like Xuannv Empress is about to transcend and rob you, she will be counterattacked by the rules of heaven and earth. You will have to retreat and recuperate, and you will lose a lot of merit. What's more, ordinary gods and gods are not so easy to interfere in the human world."
Bi Yuewu directly used Xuannv as an example to illustrate the powerlessness of gods against the human world. Gods are gods, humans are humans, and the boundaries between gods and humans are clearly defined.
"I feel like the gods helped Zhao State and raised such a group of people who ignored the people. I feel so angry and sad. Aren't the gods supposed to be good people? They just have different personalities."
Holding the white rabbit in his arms, Zhuang Xun felt that there was a gap between ideal and reality. He clearly said that the gods should maintain the truth, goodness and beauty in the world, but he felt that he was helping others to do evil.
"Because gods need to consume fairy fate to connect with people. Fairy fate is a high-level expression of merit. Gods cannot give fairy fate to everyone. They can only indirectly affect a small number of people. No matter how good their thoughts are, they cannot pass them on. Get to the bottom.”
Bi Yuewu said that the gods were helpless. The rules of heaven and earth determine that their influence can only be on the upper level. Even if there are occasional bottoms, with the attention of the gods, they will climb to the top, such as Zhuang Xun.
People who have climbed to the top will not see any problem in squeezing those at the bottom. Those who think there is a problem cannot change it. It is such an unsolvable problem.
"The power of gods can only bless and help mankind. Destruction and death of mankind will lead to loss of merit, and mankind itself will produce various levels, and finally become what you see now.
The gods cannot stop the occurrence of this differentiation. Compared with letting people die at will, living in such poverty is already very good, and the gods can only comfort themselves in this way. "
"You see that Zhao is like this. The whole world is the same, and Jizhou is the same. Only you are special. You can cut off the water with a sword, even for an instant. This is a good idea."
Having said this, Bi Yuewu suddenly felt wonderful and wanted to rub Zhuang Xun into her body. Zhuang Xun's benevolence was too good for her, or should I say, too good for the gods. The general direction was right, but the small direction was wrong. A little bit, it doesn't matter.
"The gods are not helping the evil, but they are really powerless. For example, I used to support You State and often opened up wasteland for poor families to plant crops. Now Zhao State requires families to be responsible for the lives of tenant farmers, but there is only this we can do. , the land cleared for wasteland will eventually be occupied by aristocratic families. You also heard it today, there are bright households and there are illegal households."
Bi Yuewu felt a little disheartened when he said this. It was an unsolvable problem. Gods who could only take the upper-level route could not affect the lower levels. This line of immortality was already doomed. Only aristocratic families had connections with the gods. Even if If it is not an aristocratic family, it will eventually become an aristocratic family.
"After all, gods are not in charge of the country. They are just supporting people who are destined to be. The world is not only the emperor's world, but also the world of aristocratic families. It has always been like this, and it has always been like this."
"The strength of Zhao State is based on the compromise of the aristocratic families. These aristocratic families have to transfer benefits to the country, including protection of the poor, taxation, etc. It is already amazing. At least Youguo has not solved this problem, and Chengguo has not. , Yu State doesn’t have it either, but you do, even if it’s just a flash in the pan, it’s just that you are too weak.”
Bi Yuewu said with pity that it was out of the pity of immortals and gods for good people. Again, immortals have a good impression of good people.
"The gods are not fools, but humans are not fools either. Zhao Guo, Jing Guo and Zheng Guo are already the best. Gods have bet a lot. If you want to accomplish what you want, the difficulties you will encounter are comparable to the top of Kunlun Mountain. Don't If you think so much, live this life well, you will become an immortal and a Buddha in the next life."
Bi Yuewu advised Zhuang Xun to be more open-minded. The gods had already thought about it. At least what Xuannv showed to Zhuang Xun was what the gods saw. What Zhuang Xun saw when he went down the mountain today was also what the gods saw.
They know what the bottom is like. They have neither the power nor the ability to save them. God is also a human being, and God is subject to constraints.
On this basis, Zhao State, which is co-governed by aristocratic families and the royal family, has indeed shown a combat effectiveness and economy that far exceeds that of other countries, and they are naturally willing to support it.
"As you said, becoming a Buddha and becoming an immortal can't really change anything. I want to change it. Even if it's only Xia Youguo, I don't want to be like Zhao Guo! Maybe it's just my first generation." Zhuang Xun felt that for the first time. He had this sense of mission, so he didn't say what he had finished saying to Lan Qiu to Bi Yuewu.
Even though he would enjoy the treatment of a prince when he lay down, and would have an unimpeded path to immortality in the next life, he still wanted to do something out of his inner moral bottom line.
"What a saint's mentality. How about being my disciple in the next life?" Bi Yuewu felt so compassionate that she hugged Zhuang Xun and pressed her down. Looking into his eyes, she felt that this man was so good-looking for the first time.
"It has been reserved for Empress Xuannv." Zhuang Xun said honestly. The Xuannv then might be Mrs. Jiang.
"Aren't you destined to be the King of Hell? You lied to me last time when you went to Senluo Palace. You looked like you didn't know me." Bi Yuewu suddenly thought of something and bit Zhuang Xun's face. The painful Zhuang Xun wanted to struggle, but was She hugged him tightly.
"I'm not lying to you. You see, I'm not even scared. Relax, I'll tell your son next time I go to hell..." Zhuang Xun didn't dare to shout for fear of waking up the people outside, so he whispered.
"You are really good at threatening people." Bi Yuewu relaxed her mouth and stopped biting him.
"As long as it works." Using Bi Yuewu as a cushion, Zhuang Xun rubbed his cheek.
"You are so cruel. You still want to be my master in the next life?" You can feel the teeth marks. How much force did this man use?
"You teamed up with Empress Xuannv to deceive me, you teamed up with Lunzhuan King to deceive me, and you just teamed up with that maid to deceive me."
Bi Yuewu's teeth felt even more itchy when she thought about it. She loved and hated her at the same time. She had noble ideals but low-handed methods. Just now she was taking revenge with one bite.
"It's nothing. I lied to you. Why did you ask her to tell you Yan Jun? There is no need to cause trouble for yourself. Besides, who lied to you? Didn't I always threaten you that I would expose your scandal in front of your son?"
Zhuang Xun thought quickly and immediately found the reason. As for Xuannv, he avoided talking about it. He knew how to choose the battlefield.
"You are really good at hinting. It seems that you are favored by many gods and gods." Bi Yuewu was furious and finally said angrily.
"My idea seems to be very popular with the gods and Buddhas. Bi Yue, do you like it?" Bi Yuewu said this, and Zhuang Xun thought that it seemed that the immortal cultivators who came into contact with him had a good opinion of him.
"You are a beast that only threatens people. Who will like you? But your idea is really moving. You can do what the gods want to do but cannot do. The implementation of the new law has indeed reduced the burden on the people."
Bi Yuewu cursed and then praised it positively. It was indeed a good thing and was conducive to population growth.
"Then can I win the support of those gods who are watching? You said my idea is good. It's not that those gods and Buddhas are not sympathetic, but they can't save them, so why don't I help them?" Zhuang Xun suddenly wanted to say, Since gods and Buddhas are good people, your ideas should be supported by many people. Gods and Buddhas also have advanced productivity, so there is no reason not to fight for it.
"You? What a genius..." Bi Yuewu first wanted to ridicule, then thought carefully and found that there was indeed a chance.
"It's just that you are too weak, and this road is too difficult. You want to be the enemy of the world, and the enemies of the world's families, not to mention whether you have the imperial lineage, even if you do, after all, you destroyed You Country, you You are too weak now. Immortals and gods don’t believe you can win at all, and powerful gods and Buddhas will not stand on your side.”
In the end, he still denied it. Zhuang Xun was now a big rat and could not get into the eyes of immortals and gods with great supernatural powers. Many of these people were gamblers, but they would not buy such an unpopular bet.
"I will try my best to annex the Yu Kingdom and unify Jizhou." Zhuang Xun found an opportunity and quickly climbed up the pole, just like Si Qinmi said, fighting for all the power he could get.
"Okay, okay. When the gods see what you have done, many people will side with you. However, have you forgotten where you are? You are in the State of Zhao. Will the State of Zhao ask you to unify Jizhou? I don't know if you can get out alive. , looking at you like this, do you still want to unify the nine states?"
Bi Yuewu chuckled and saw Zhuang Xun's expression darken. Zhuang Xun really thought about his situation, which was extremely difficult. Now he could only play the role of the brainless monarch who came to Zhao country for beauty and land. , the future is uncertain.
"Do something happy. There's no point worrying about it." Kissing Zhuang Xun on the cheek, Bi Yuewu didn't want to see Zhuang Xun so depressed.
(End of chapter)
