"I wonder how unwise the general is! The five southern prefectures have a population of tens of millions, abundant grain production, and outstanding people, which are enough to fund the founding of the country. The five counties in the south of the Yangtze River are just barbaric lands with a population of only two million. How can they be compared to the five southern prefectures? Mansion?" A man named Wang Meng said sourly.
"Hmph, I'm afraid it's not that the general is unwise, but that you, Wang Meng, can't bear to part with the glory and wealth here, right?" The speaker was Lu Bai's senior brother who was studying there, and one of the think tanks that Lu Bai relied on now, named Ying Keng. Served in the Zhechong Department to supervise officials in various places.
"Brother Ying, don't say that. I, Wang Meng, have only been here for more than a month. How can I talk about glory and wealth? I just think it is a pity that the general gave up the five southern prefectures. Then what does the five Jiangnan counties look like? Brother Ying, doesn't he know? Compared with the south The five prefectures and the five counties in the south of the Yangtze River are simply remote and remote, how can they support the general in founding the country?" Wang Meng defended himself.
"The five counties in the south of the Yangtze River are somewhat inferior, but the five southern prefectures have Wu State in the south and Chu State in the north. If the general founded the country based on this, he would definitely harm the Wu State. I am afraid that he will be attacked on both sides and the situation will be bad." Another student said. said the voice.
"Exactly, and the Five Southern Prefectures are the homeland of the Wu State. If the general had not given up the five southern prefectures, not only would he have done evil to the Wu State - after all, the general was born in the Wu State - but how could the general get the title of Uncle in the Wu State? Etiquette? If the name is not correct, the words will not be correct, and I am afraid that it will not even be able to found the country."
"The general is naturally far-sighted, but what we are talking about now is where we will go. Brothers, don't go off topic."
"Exactly. Let's discuss it carefully. If you want to follow the general to the five counties in the south of the Yangtze River, you must make preparations in advance. If you want to stay in the five southern prefectures, you must also give an explanation to Brother Lu. After all, without Brother Lu's recommendation, we How do you get where you are today?”
Everyone was talking about it. Lu Bai was unhappy, but he couldn't show it on his face.
He brought these people to the Five Southern Prefectures and introduced them to Zhechong Si Qiutong, which is why they have their current status.
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Lu Wu and other idlers could not see him. Except for Lu Bai himself, who was Lu Wu's second brother, he could ask to see him at any time. Lu Wu had no patience to receive others.
All the thirst for talent is nonsense from Lu Wu's side.
Whether love comes or not, no one is begging you. Anyway, there are so many people who want to be officials these days.
Anyway, Lu Wu left the rear chores to Qiu Tong. If Qiu Tong couldn't solve it, he would step forward. And when the old man stepped forward, he would definitely solve the problem with a halberd.
Moreover, Qiu Tong's solution was no gentler than Lu Wu's.
Of course, not meeting these people brought by Lu Bai did not make Lu Wu's reputation worse - Lu Wu's reputation was already over when he conquered the city and extorted big families, leaving only a vicious reputation. .
Having a bad reputation also has its benefits.
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These people have not yet hardened their wings. Most of them are still in the period of observing the government - that is, the learning period, and have no actual positions at all. There are so many people who want to stay in the Southern Five Prefectures and are unwilling to follow their fifth brother to the Jiangnan Five. The county was founded.
However, although Lu Bai was unhappy in his heart, he naturally had a smile on his face:
"Dear classmates, it is a foregone conclusion that the general will establish the country in the five counties south of the Yangtze River. If he wants to stay in the five prefectures in the south, Lu will not insist on it. However, the five counties in the south of the Yangtze River are full of waste and are waiting for development. This is where everyone can display their ambitions. If they make great achievements, the scholar-bureaucrats will have a bright future, they can honor their ancestors and pass on their family lineage - this opportunity is once in a lifetime, do you want to miss this opportunity for your own temporary enjoyment?"
"Brother Lu is right!"
"That's right. If a man can't strive for a glorious family, he can only enjoy temporary pleasures. What's the point of his future?"
Everyone was talking about it, but seven to eight adults were gearing up to have a big fight with Lu Bai in the five counties south of the Yangtze River.
But some people still shrank back, with disapproving looks on their faces.
Ying Keng lowered his head and said in Lu Bai's ear: "Wang Meng and others have accepted gold and silk from the children of local wealthy families, and have even married into local wealthy families. I'm afraid these people will not be able to count on them."
Lu Bai nodded slightly.
A month ago, these people came to the five southern mansions and were placed by Qiu Tong to observe the government. Anyone who was not blind could see that they had a bright future, so naturally some people came up to make friends with them.
Recruiting a son-in-law is just a routine operation.
Some local people will even send their aunts, widowed sisters-in-law, etc. to their doorsteps, just to provide a way out, so that if something happens, someone can say something to Zhechong Division.
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In the countryside, there is a small courtyard consisting of three huts and a fence.
"Yiniang, I'm afraid you will have to suffer with me again." A man who had lost his left arm took a sip from a bowl of wine, put the bowl on the table, sighed, and said to his wife.
"Have I ever suffered anything? When you go out to serve as a soldier, wouldn't it be that I farmed all the land at home? Why don't you go to the five counties in the south of the Yangtze River? Can't you defeat the local savages? Can't you protect our land?"
Opposite him, a dark-faced woman was mending clothes while speaking without raising her head.
"Savages are nothing, I can kill three or five with one hand!" the soldier with a broken arm said loudly: "But when we get there, there may not be such a good place."
Land can be divided into mature land and raw land, and mature land can be divided into upper field, middle field and lower field.
Opening up wasteland sounds easy, but it is actually very hard work. Even if it is opened up, most of it is just a field. It requires many years of cultivation, removal of tree roots and grass roots, and the blessing of irrigation and fertilizer to slowly turn it into an upper field - - Of course, some land itself is very fertile, and the land can be burned directly into fields, but such places are very rare.
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The man with the broken arm was named Erniu. He was the second son of the family. He had no share in the family fields. However, he had made military exploits and saved more than 200 taels of silver to buy 30 acres of good land and built three houses. The big house is one of the best in the village.
Just after buying these properties, Zhe Chongsi came to inform him that the general was going to the five counties in the south of the Yangtze River to establish a country. Although he was determined to follow the general, he was a little reluctant to give up.
"We can buy more if we don't have land. If we don't have the general, even if we have land, can we keep it?" Yi Niang put down the clothes in her hands and raised her head and said.
——It is unheard of that Erniu can save more than two hundred taels of silver as a soldier.
A wealthy man surnamed Li in the village falsely accused him of being a gangster outside. The money was stolen goods, so he robbed him of the money. Taking advantage of the strength of the crowd, he captured Erniu and imprisoned him in the woodshed.
Fortunately, Erniu's wife Yiniang escaped. According to Erniu's instructions, she beat drums and complained to Zhechong Division in the city. Zhechong Division sent a team of men and horses, without saying a word, wielding swords and shields, and killed the adult of the wealthy family named Li in the village. After killing all the men and confiscating their money and children, Erniu was able to keep what he had gained with his life.
So Zhechong Division issued an order to the general, saying that those who are willing to follow the general south can bring their family documents to the military camp outside the city to meet up. Erniu was moved, but he just felt sorry for his wife Yiniang - Yiniang had been married to him for ten years. It's only been a good month or two.
There are not just one or two veterans like Erniu.
