Chapter 880: Ambition

Chapter 880: Ambition

Chapter 880: Ambition
On May 16th, the discussion entered its seventh day.

In fact, it has already entered garbage time, because the past two days have been filled with monks, nuns and Taoists debating scriptures.

Fotucheng, who came from Yecheng, even performed Indian magic tricks for everyone, which amazed everyone.

However, he was soon exposed for falsifying his age.

He said he was ninety-four years old this year, but some people said he lied about his age by thirty and was actually only sixty-four.

At the end of the quarrel, the whole place was a mess.

Shao Xun looked at the daily "meeting minutes" and felt that the time was ripe, so he attended the meeting that morning and led everyone to the fields outside the Longxiang Mansion of the Jin Temple.

The wheat fields in mid-May are golden and pleasing to the eye.

Shao Xun pointed at the yellow wheat and told an old story: "In the summer of the third year of Yongjia (309), there was a severe drought in all states. The Yangtze River, Han River, Yellow River, and Luo River were all wadable. A year later, locusts appeared in all states, eating all the grass, trees, and hair of cattle and horses. Do you remember how you lived during those two years?"

As soon as these words came out, everyone's expression changed.

The severity of the drought in the third year of Yongjia was not recorded in history books, and it also fulfilled the prophecy that the Luo River would dry up.

In the fourth year of the Yongjia period, a locust plague ate all the hair of cattle and horses. Agriculture and sericulture in Henan were almost completely destroyed, and it took many years to recover.

The severity of these two disasters almost plunged the entire North into the abyss.

At that time, the fields of Henan were covered with bones and there was no one living within a hundred miles. The tragedy was unbearable to watch.

"How did I survive those two years?" Shao Xun squatted down, gently held a wheat ear, and said, "It was with this."

"There were signs of a severe drought before the wheat harvest in the third year of Yongjia. After the summer, no rain fell. I knew it was not good, so I immediately ordered the soldiers and civilians to carry water to irrigate the fields and save as much water as possible. Fortunately, the summer wheat was harvested, so there was money to survive."

"It was the same in the fourth year of Yongjia. Locusts usually come out to do harm in the summer. If the summer wheat warehouses were full by then, what would we worry about?"

"But I don't understand. After so many years of advocating the two-year three-year system, why are there still many people turning a deaf ear to it?"

"Yes, there was no two-year three-harvest system in ancient times, but why should we follow the ancients today?"

"When I say 'keep pace with the times', many people still don't take it seriously. Is this a clear proof that modern people are better than ancient people?"

These words left everyone speechless.

The difference between two harvests in two years and three harvests in two years is indeed huge. There is nothing to refute and it cannot be refuted.

"Everyone boasts of being extremely talented and well-read, but I'm surprised. In the Han Dynasty, there was the Book of Fan Sheng, but have there been any agricultural books since the Wei and Jin Dynasties?" Shao Xun added, "Everyone talks about the mysteries of the Tao, and there are books about gods and ghosts everywhere, but why doesn't anyone talk about farming or business? Why doesn't anyone write down their experience in running a family business?"

At this time, there were not only a lot of stories about gods and ghosts, but also many books on Taoist alchemy. Later in history, there was even a "collection of jokes" such as "A New Account of Tales of the World", which shows the empty spiritual world of people at that time.

With nothing to do, they are tired of playing with women, or even having sex with both men and women. They get drunk and start talking nonsense.

Having said that, Shao Xun waved his hand.

Huang Zheng, the commander of the imperial army, brought a book.

Shao Xun took it, flipped through two pages at random, and said, "I started writing this book twenty years ago, and have been continuously supplemented. It has become a small success. The book is divided into "Mulberry and Hemp Chapter", "Hundred Fruits Chapter", "Compost Chapter", "Crop Rotation Chapter", etc. It is a collection of the strengths of many families, all of which have been proven to be effective. You can send someone to copy it. I am not keeping anything to myself, I just hope that everyone in the world will have enough food and clothing."

Everyone was a little surprised at first, and then their expressions became complicated.

In any case, King Liang was very generous in this matter. Making this agricultural book that can make people rich public can benefit all people.

"I have published a book. Do you have any books to offer?" Shao Xun asked again, "Some people have been managing their family business for many years, calculating day and night. Don't they have any experience?"

Under the manor economy, very high requirements are placed on the ability to manage the household business.

People at that time did not shy away from talking about profits, because a family always had to have several people personally involved in the management of the estate.

Of course, there are also some noble people who hate talking about profit.

There are two extremes here, one is Wang Yan and the other is Wang Rong.

Wang Yan was frightened by his wife, Guo, who sent servants out to pick up manure, and he even refused to talk about the word "money".

Wang Rong personally counted the accounts until late at night. His family wealth increased every year, but he was never satisfied and racked his brains to increase his family fortune.

His family cultivated good plums, but when they sold them they were worried that someone would keep the seeds, so they drilled the seeds and damaged them, which was ridiculed by people at the time.

After his daughter got married, she borrowed tens of thousands of dollars and never paid it back. When she returned to her parents' home, Wang Rong was unhappy until his daughter paid back the money.

Shao Xun was very fond of this attitude of people at that time towards business.

Because I don't know since when, it became "vulgar" and "incorrect" for scholars to talk about profit. Maybe it's okay to talk about profit in private, but it's definitely not okay in public.

But in this era of chaos and disorder in the Western Jin Dynasty, you can do whatever you want, because there are people doing more outrageous and more eye-catching things. What's the point of the head of the family settling accounts personally until late at night?

However, since he was unable to completely eliminate the aristocratic families and was forced to implement "one country, two systems", he had a bold idea...

"General." Shao Xun looked at Wang Yan and said, "I've heard that Madam Guo is quite experienced in business. I wonder..."

Wang Yan's face turned dark.

Quanzhong, what are you doing? I have never been involved in worldly affairs and my ambitions are noble. Why are you talking about business in front of me?
Shao Xun blinked his eyes. Without your wife who is a business genius, would you have the money to hold a series of parties in Luoyang and maintain your reputation?
"Forget it." Wang Yan sighed, "I'll go back and ask."

"If this book is completed, all scholars and merchants in the world will be grateful to the Grand Commandant." Shao Xun bowed and said. Wang Yan hurriedly returned the greeting, but his face was still not very good.

Sikong Liu Han saw this and sighed, "Your Majesty asked a few days ago why people don't write books. What a true saying! I have lived for decades in vain, but in the end I don't understand the four words 'keep pace with the times'. Times are different now. It's better to have no books than to believe in them blindly. In the Later Han Dynasty, only those who were familiar with the classics could enter the officialdom. As a result, people at that time only dared to quote from the classics, and did not dare to think for themselves. This may cause endless troubles. Today, I have listened to your words. If you have learned something, I will write a book with the four words 'keep pace with the times' after I go back to show your achievements."

"Sir, you are too kind. How can a book be written with just four words?" Shao Xun waved his hand.

Liu Han smiled and said no more, obviously having his own ideas.

Shao Xun ignored him and looked at the scholars following him, saying, "Don't say I always collect labor and grain. After the agricultural books are copied, each of us will do it. In time, grain, meat, fruits and vegetables will surely be more abundant than now."

"Yes." Someone answered first, and then others responded one after another.

Bian Tao stood in the crowd, feeling much better than in the previous few days.

After all, the King of Liang was not just oppressing me, he would also give me some benefits. What was disappointing was that I was actually a little excited and even moved.

Hua Jun sighed secretly.

If King Liang had said from the beginning that he wanted to spread agricultural books and then asked the scholars to give up their benefits, it would definitely not have turned out like this.

But he first discouraged the scholars and then gave them some sweet treats at the end, and the feeling was different.

The order is important.

"When you go to the south of the Yangtze River in the future, the scenery will be different. If you want to leave your name in history, you can compile a new agricultural book." When Shao Xun said this, he was silently observing everyone's expressions.

Especially when the six words "I will go to Jiangnan in the future" were said, it was a key point of observation.

Fortunately, these people seem to have accepted their fate - of course, it is also possible that they are in Jinyang now and it is inconvenient for them to do anything. Maybe they will organize a rebellion after returning home. Who knows.

As they were talking, they came to a canal.

Some people were already harvesting wheat on the other side of the canal, and the government soldiers and troops were all busy.

"Since the Han Dynasty, China's enemies have all been in the north." Shao Xun suddenly spoke up: "During the pre-Han Dynasty, the Xiongnu cavalry didn't even have saddles. How about such soldiers?"

The scholar was a little confused. Why was this suddenly mentioned?
Jin Zheng sneered at the side and said, "Your Majesty, cavalry like that would have trouble even shooting from a horse, their accuracy is poor, and they are not capable of fighting. Don't worry about them, they will collapse if you destroy them."

Shao Xun nodded and said, "Today, double-sided stirrups and high-bridge saddles have emerged. The Xianbei people are quite methodical in fighting on horseback, their armor is also very sophisticated, and their horseback archery is fast and urgent. If we use the strategies of the two Han dynasties to defend against the enemy, we will only fail miserably. If the scholars and people of the world want to protect their family property, they must support elite soldiers and strong generals, and the government soldiers are the best."

"Do you really think I'm crazy enough to keep eyeing your property? Without these strong soldiers, the barbarians would come south in droves. They are not as easy to talk to as I am."

"Yesterday I also received a report from the Shanyu army that tens of thousands of Hu people have migrated from west to east. Before this, Hu tribes migrated east and south almost every year."

"Merchants who went to Chang'an to do business reported that new Hu people had arrived in Qin and Yong states, numbering no less than 30,000, and most of them had high noses and deep eyes."

"You are deaf and blind, and have no idea what is happening outside."

After saying this, everyone looked at each other.

It sounds shocking, but it does not seem to be false, because Hu people began to migrate here during the Later Han Dynasty. A large number of Hu people appeared every few years during the Cao Wei and Guo dynasties, and no one knew where they came from or why they migrated.

It turns out that this migration behavior has not stopped yet and is getting more and more intense?
Everyone looked unhappy, and some people sighed secretly, and some of the resistance in their hearts was reduced a lot.

"Since the Later Han Dynasty, Cao Wei and the Ming Dynasty, the Hu people have spread throughout dozens of counties in eight states, including You, Ji, Bing, Yong, Qin, Liang, Liang and Si, with a population of no less than two million. If the Xianbei tribes are included, the number will be even more shocking." Shao Xun added.

"The Hu people are scattered everywhere. Their numbers and power are already a fact. We can't just ignore it."

"Fortunately, not all of them are rebellious. Many of them are willing to support China and can be used by me."

"Some people ask what Liang State is?" Shao Xun looked at everyone and said, "Here, I can tell you directly--"

"First, use the land as capital to build up military offices; use official titles as rewards to support strong men. In this way, we can defend the borders and keep the people safe, without suffering from war. This is called 'tolerance for the country'."

"Second, the Hu people are also our children. Throughout our lives, we will work together with people of insight to transform the Hu people into Chinese people, so that they can live and work in peace and contentment, and never cause chaos again. Those who have made contributions will be rewarded and given official titles; those who have committed crimes will be punished and will not be tolerated. In this way, the people of China can be free from the disasters of looting and killing. This is called 'the peace of the barbarians and the Chinese'."

"Third, I will allow you to build a house and a garden in Jiangnan. You must keep your promise and never break it. You are all the elite of the country, not mediocre people. In the future, when you are free in Jiangnan, you may study the knowledge of benefiting the world and write books to make a name for yourself. I don't like stale and old theories. If anyone can write about the knowledge of the present world and have something worth reading, he will be rewarded generously. If you can't write books and make some ingenious things, you will also be rewarded. If these things are beneficial to the country, you will be rewarded with official titles and generous honors."

When talking about the last point, Shao Xun couldn't help but add a few more words: "The trend of taking drugs and indulging in alcohol can be stopped. The sayings of gods and ghosts are also vague and difficult to prove, and it is a waste of time. If you have that time, you might as well think about how to enrich your family business. Even if you can harvest three or five more buckets of grain per acre, if you offer this method, you can advance your family status and your descendants can be appointed officials by grace."

"Warriors have to defend themselves against enemies and kill bandits, farmers have to work hard to make a living, and craftsmen have little skills and knowledge. But you have no worries about food and clothing, a rich family, and a group of servants. What's the point of living a life of idleness? I know some people don't want to enter the government, but just want to wander around the manor, that's fine! But you might as well learn more and find more things to do in your spare time. If I take a fancy to you, I can give you a title of marquis or something like that. With a title of nobility, who can look down on you?"

From a dialectical point of view, these scholars who are destined to never be completely eliminated can also be utilized.

Many of them are rich and have a lot of free time, and can easily mobilize a lot of manpower and material resources. So stop being so mysterious and find something serious to do?

You can dance on graves, run naked in downtown areas, and have sex in public. If you change this bad habit, wouldn't it be better to cultivate high-quality plums like Wang Rong did?
If you really can't do it, why not stay at home and study math?

Others really don't have the conditions you have.

A large manor, a life of no worries about food and clothing, with countless farmhands and serfs serving you, and you can do whatever you want.

Shao Xun remembered that most of the inventions and creations after the European Renaissance were made by wealthy and free nobles and businessmen. Because they were educated, they did not have to worry about their livelihoods and were bored, so they looked for something to do to kill time. Once they became interested, they would study it all their lives and perhaps achieve results.

"This is my ambition." Shao Xun finally said: "Whether you praise me or slander me, I will never change my mind. This ambition will not change."

(End of this chapter)