Chapter 10: Self-reliance for food and clothing

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Diao Hong smiled slightly: "Yes, that's it. You understand it now, right? Liu Lizheng, the national crisis is at the forefront, and there will be a tax increase at Jingkou. You will be busy by then!"

Liu Yu laughed: "Not necessarily. Even if the public land in Jingkou belongs to your Diao family, they can go elsewhere. The world is so big, it is impossible for Da Jin to be controlled by aristocratic families like your Diao family everywhere. At worst, I’ll go to Sanwu or Jiangzhou.”

Diao Hong smacked his lips and looked at Liu Yu: "What a pity, our Diao family's money will not be wasted in vain. Your Majesty has decreed that from now on, all northern refugees must gather in Jingkou County and are not allowed to do so at will." Anyone who violates the rules of relocation will be punished as a rebel and executed!"

Liu Yu's eyes flashed coldly: "What Mr. Diao means is that the public fields and official lands in Jingkou have become your Diao family's. And these northern refugees can't go anywhere else. They can only stay in your Diao family." Is it right to be a boy guest or a tenant in the family’s fields?”

Diao Hong smiled slightly: "Exactly, this time, in order to obtain the public land in Jingkou, our Diao family has sold off properties in other places. This transaction is approved by His Majesty and the imperial court. Of course, you can also choose not to farm the land. , maybe, here in Jingkou, you can make a living by playing tricks."

Having said this, Diao Hong laughed proudly, and the servants and servants around him also laughed loudly. Each of these northern refugees gritted their teeth, clenched their fists, and almost had fire in their eyes, but Nothing can be done.

On the second floor of Linjiangxian, Yang Linzi put the wine bowl on the small table in front of him angrily and said with an angry look: "It's so outrageous. The Diao family is trying to cut off the roots of Jingkou. Diao Kui is in the imperial court." He promised that with the land in Jingkou, he could restrain the northern refugees and build an elite army, but what he actually wanted was to get more servants and tenants for his family! Where could he not find people to farm the land? He had to In Jingkou?"

Liu Linzong looked calm and shook his head: "Jingkou is different from other places. This is the first stop for people crossing the river in the north, and it is also the most convenient place to intercept."

"Not only did he occupy the land, but more importantly, he asked the court to order that all immigrants from the north can only gather here. In other words, it seems that they can only farm in his Diao family's land, so that his Diao family can control With the troops in Jingkou, we can make deals with the Wang family and the Xie family to gain greater power, or we can follow the example of the Huan family in Jingzhou, monopolizing Jingkou and creating a vassal town for generations!"

Yang Linzi's expression changed: "Then since you have seen Diao's intention a long time ago, why didn't you stop it?"

Liu Linzong suddenly laughed, and magically took out a handful of jade ruyi from his sleeves, and began to scratch his back: "An Ning, don't worry, the reason why Jingkou is Jingkou is that it is a place full of miracles. , I believe that the upright Liu Yu will not let me down!"

Liu Yu quietly watched Diao Hong laugh loudly, and said slowly: "This is Jingkou, and you may not be able to survive only by cultivating your Diao family's land. Mr. Diao, I think you are too proud too early."

Diao Hong's laughter stopped abruptly. He stared at Liu Yu fiercely and said in a deep voice: "What do you mean by this? Do you want to use the food in the official warehouse to feed these northern refugees? Hum, I'll tell you. , Your Majesty has a decree. In the face of a powerful enemy, all the grain stored in official warehouses must be used as military ration reserves. Don't even think about sending out a grain of rice!"

Liu Yu shook his head: "I didn't say I wanted to open an official warehouse. It's just that in Jingkou, in addition to the family fields of those of us who are registered as households, and the former public fields you bought this time, there are also a large number of deserted fields and slopes. As long as These northern refugees are willing to endure hardships and can cultivate land now!"

Meng Chang's eyes lit up and he lost his voice: "Is this really okay?"

Liu Yu said with a smile: "Brother Meng, don't worry. Our Jingkou area is vast and sparsely populated. A large amount of land has been abandoned and no one has cultivated it. It's best if you can come. It's already May, so hurry up and plow the water. There is still time to plant rice for one season, and the harvest will be ready in August!”

Tan Pingzhi opened his eyes wide: "Fire plowing and water mattress? What does this mean? Harvest in three months? We grow chestnuts in the north, and it takes at least half a year to harvest."

Liu Yu smiled slightly: "You grow corn in the north, but we in the south grow mainly rice. Those abandoned fields are full of weeds. Before they can be cultivated into good fields, we must first set a fire to remove the grass in the fields. It’s all burned.”

"Plant ash is a good fertilizer, enough to allow the soil to grow a season of rice. After half a month, water is diverted to irrigate the field to form a paddy field, and then rice seeds are sown. In three months, it is enough to harvest a season of late rice. Although the harvest is one acre The land is only a little over two stones, which is not as good as yours in the north, but it is enough for your whole family to eat."

Speaking of this, Liu Yu looked at Diao Hong, who was furious and his eyes were wide open, and said with a smile: "Even if Mr. Diao takes over all the public land in Jingkou, with this method, they can still survive the first year safely. , because the imperial court has decreed that if immigrants from the north are resettled, they will not be taxed and pay rent for two years as overseas Chinese. Mr. Diao, this decree has not been changed this time!"

Diao Hong gritted his teeth and said: "Liu Yu, what do you mean, are you deliberately going against me and our Diao family? What is your relationship with these northern exiles? What benefits can they give you? You have to do this for him Come forward?"

A cold light flashed in Liu Yu's eyes: "There are three reasons why I have to do this. First, as a local upright, I, Liu Yu, have the obligation to resettle the refugees and educate farmers. Your Diao family took advantage of the national crisis to Stealing the position of governor, embezzling the country's land, and taking these northern refugees as your own property, I, Liu Yu, and our people in Jingkou will never agree to this! You can deal with these northern refugees today, and you can deal with them tomorrow. us!"

"Secondly, almost every family here in Jingkou is like them, coming from the north to the south. It can be said that I feel the same way. When I see these people, I can imagine the narrow escape of our fathers and grandfathers when they were in chaos in the north and the horsemen were rampant. On their journey south. For this reason, I have to settle them and never let these refugees enter the tiger's den just after leaving the wolf's den! They finally escaped from the clutches of the barbarians, but they became slaves of your Diao family for generations!"

Meng Longfu clapped his hands suddenly: "Brother Liu said it well!" And many refugees standing in the courtyard with tears in their eyes also cheered, and Diao Mao shouted angrily: "What is it called? , Shut up, shut up!" But his voice was quickly drowned out by the loud cheers of these refugees and was completely inaudible.