Chapter 961 New official takes office

Chapter 961 New official takes office

Chapter 961 New official takes office (Part )

When Shao Zhang returned home, it was already dark.

Being the first son to get married also has its advantages, which is that he got a very nice house.

This is the residence of King Wu of Jin.

King Wu Sima Yan died of illness, and his entire family moved to the south of the Yangtze River, leaving the house empty.

When Shao Xun lived in Pingyang, he instructed to take over this house, renovated it from the inside out, and then gave it to his eldest son Jin Dao as his "Qinglu" for his marriage.

Not far from this house, across the Imperial Street, is Shi Chong's old residence.

This house had been abandoned for even longer, and nobody had taken it over. During the war, nobody cared about it, so it remained like this.

This house is being renovated and is probably only a quarter of its original size, but no one knows who it has been given to.

After Shao Zhang came back, the servants immediately got busy.

The new bride, Liu, was only eighteen years old, but she was able to command everything in an orderly manner and was busy but not chaotic.

Shao Zhang changed into casual home clothes and sat behind the desk.

Liu personally brought the food and sat beside him, pouring him some wine while asking, "How is it, my husband, to accompany the king during the day?"

"Father has high expectations for me. I will settle down for a few days and then go to Chenliu." Jin Dao took a sip of wine, sighed comfortably, and said, "I will take a hundred people with me. You prepare money, food, and carriages."

"This is a big deal. I will take care of it tomorrow." Liu nodded. After saying that, she said suspiciously, "My husband..."

Shao Zhang put down his wine bowl heavily, feeling somewhat unhappy.

This woman is good in other aspects except that she is jealous and causes a headache.

However, compared to the Han Dynasty, the number of jealous women has increased dramatically since the Wei and Jin Dynasties, and the women's customs have also changed. In this world, it is not just the Liu family that is jealous, there are many jealous women from wealthy families.

The reason for this is probably the prevalence of marriages based on social status, where women have comparable family backgrounds, generous dowries, and have received a comprehensive education since childhood, thus holding a relatively high status.

Once you gain more culture and experience, it will be less easy to suppress your own temperament.

Especially since Henan has been peaceful for many years, the original customs have gradually returned. In the previous war years, the status of women has obviously declined a lot.

Thinking of this, Shao Zhang felt a little envious of his father.

If he was born at this time, there would probably be nothing he could do - but it's hard to say, as his father's methods are beyond his reach.

In addition, the gap between the gentry and the common people is huge, which is also a reason.

Although the Shao family was about to become the imperial family, in the eyes of many people, did it meet the standards of aristocratic family? Obviously not.

When Shao Zhang and Liu were arguing, he accidentally found out something.

After the marriage was confirmed, the Liu family and their relatives in the Pei State were very surprised and questioned Liu Dan face to face: "Are you really stupid? How could you be afraid of Shao and marry your daughter to a soldier?"

Look, the most powerful official in the world is discriminated against just because he started out as a soldier.

Shao Zhang has never been in that circle, so he doesn't know what those people are thinking. How can they kneel down to you and discriminate against you at the same time?
From this perspective, it is inevitable for my father to enhance the status of military men, which means he has to reverse this trend.

While Shao Zhang was thinking, Liu was a little unhappy and said, "In Chenliu..."

"Shut up! I want to do something serious, but you are still suspicious!" Shao Zhang picked up the wine bowl, drank it all, and said angrily: "What good will it do you if you ruin my business? If I do--"

He stopped talking halfway.

When Liu heard that this matter concerned her husband's future, she stopped making a fuss and stood up to pour him half a bowl of wine, saying, "I was wrong just now. My husband, just focus on your work. We still have money and food. In May, several ships will arrive from Pengcheng to deliver last year's grain and silk."

When Shao Zhang heard this, his expression eased a little.

There are advantages to marrying a girl from a wealthy family, and money is one of them.

Liu had a generous dowry, most of which was in Xuzhou. If it was transported by ship, the loss would not be great and it would allow him to spend a lot more.

With such benefits, he did not want to offend Liu too much.

A while ago, he heard a joke.

When Zu Yue was an official in Jianye, he secretly kept a concubine because he was afraid of his wife.

Once when he was staying overnight at his concubine's house, he was injured by a thief. Both Zu Yue and his colleagues believed that it was his wife who did it - even though there was no evidence, this consistent suspicion itself explained a lot of problems.

For the scholars of this era, some had hundreds of concubines, while others did not even dare to take one concubine. It all depended on the family background and the wife's temperament.

Liu is not someone who is easy to get along with.

After dinner, Shao Zhang read for a while and finally slept in the study.

******
The most convenient way to get from Luoyang to Bianliang is to take a boat, which is faster than riding a horse when going downstream.

Shao Zhang arrived in Bianliang in early February, and his first stop was Chuitai Longxiang Prefecture, located southeast of Junyi County.

After exchanging pleasantries with the governor of the garrison and other officials, he declined their company and took his entourage to inspect the various defenses and count the armories and fields.

Nanliufang is the southernmost military garrison of the Chuitai Military Headquarters. On the south bank across the river is a large area of ​​abandoned land.

During this period, some huts were built here and there, and farmers were plowing the fields for spring sowing.

Further away, there was a half-collapsed mansion, which had obviously been uninhabited for a long time.

"Where is that place?" Shao Zhang asked.

Sima Xia Wu of the Nanliu Defense Department took a look and replied, "It was originally a fortress. The owner of the fortress led his farmhands south to Lujiang many years ago, and the land has been abandoned there."

"I'm talking about those people who are reclaiming wasteland," said Shao Zhang.

"They are all children of the government soldiers." Xia Wu said, "Many of the government soldiers of the Left Jinwu Guard have already married. Some of them went to the other side of the river to reclaim wasteland when their children were sixteen or seventeen years old. The county also approved it. They are all civilians and have nothing to do with the military government."

"Have any soldiers divided the land privately?" Shao Zhang asked.

"There is none in our area." Xia Wu replied, "I have heard that there are some in other places, but they are very rare. Once they are discovered, they will be beaten with twenty sticks and the land will be taken back." In simple terms, some soldiers have grown old and are unwilling to give all 200 acres of land to their sons who will inherit their positions as soldiers. Instead, they divide the land equally so that everyone has some.

When the military government found out, they beat him with a stick 20 times and redistributed the land, giving all 200 acres to his son who had replaced him as a soldier.

In fact, even if the land was divided and each person had dozens of acres, the government soldiers could still fight.

At least, his family had thirty to fifty acres of land, and he had practiced martial arts when he was young, so he had a certain military training and was stronger than the Yellow-headed Army.

But this tendency must not be allowed to develop. If it is not properly restrained, the system may work well one moment and suddenly stop working, because those who grew up in the era of abundant land will have died in battle or grown old, and the remaining people will be unable to replace them, so a gap will appear.

In other words, when problems arise in the system, it may not respond in a timely manner and may even lag behind by a generation.

On the other hand, if the troops are properly maintained and problems are corrected when discovered, the combat effectiveness of the soldiers can be maintained for at least two generations.

"After the founding of the country, not only the land of scholars should be measured, but also the land of each military office should be measured." Shao Zhang said: "The private distribution of land should not happen again. If there are many children, just give them wasteland and turn it into civilian households as we are doing now."

"Yes." When Xia Wu heard that after the founding of the country, the land of the government soldiers would be surveyed, he was startled and agreed immediately.

"In addition to this, have any wealthy families occupied the farmland?" Shao Zhang asked again.

"No." Xia Wu answered immediately: "After the land transfer in Chenliu, the wealthy families found it difficult to maintain their strongholds, so most of them dispersed. Most of the remaining ones were officials, and they could occupy land according to their official rank. Now there are so many wastelands, there is no need for them to provoke the military government."

This is the truth.

The twenty counties of Liang State were surveyed for land, and the powerful people without official positions were beaten to pieces.

The size of the manors owned by officials was also greatly reduced. Even if they wanted to occupy farmland, they would not do so now, and there was no need to occupy the farmland of the military government.

Why bother to provoke the military government?

The biggest threat to the collapse of the military system is the impulse of the old soldiers to divide up the land privately after they have more children - unless the court is willing to grant land to his other children, it would be best if the land is nearby so that they can meet often.

It can be distributed nowadays, but it is hard to say what will happen after a few generations. At least there will be no more nearby, but there may be some far away, but it is not certain whether people are willing to go there.

Shao Zhang secretly took note of these, intending to discuss them with his followers after returning, and then find an opportunity to report them to his father, perhaps gaining his praise.

******
"...Liang Wangxun, a man of divine power, has made dozens of great achievements, and has defeated evil with his strategies, and has won hundreds of battles."

"...Liu Cong relied on the solidity of the mountains and rivers, and Shi Le relied on the resources of Yecheng. Wherever their troops went, they abandoned their land and destroyed their nests."

"...Yu Lu led the people of the northern barbarians, while Liu Can led the troops of the western barbarians. Wherever the great banner pointed, they died and their country was destroyed."

"…The good harvest is a good omen, indicating a good harvest; the divine turtle emerges from the water, indicating a prosperous era. The achievements of King Liang are unparalleled, his virtue is respected by the universe, and his talent and strategy are unprecedented in history. I follow the will of heaven and the will of the people, follow the ancient rituals, and respect the great treasure…"

When we returned to Bianliang, news from Luoyang came one after another.

On the first day of February, a grand court meeting was held, and Emperor Sima Duan issued an edict of abdication. A few days later, copies were circulated in various places, and even in Bianliang.

After reading it, Shao Zhang put it out of his mind.

This is only the first time, and they will never agree to it. It is still a long way from truly founding a country and establishing their own regime.

On the sixth day of February, he came to the Bajiao Longxiang Mansion located between Chenliu and Xingyang.

A small number of new troops have recently arrived in this prefecture to fill the original vacancies.

Obviously, most of these tribes were barbarians.

It was the spring sowing season at that time, and Shao Zhang did not disturb them. He watched silently from the side and occasionally asked a follower beside him named Le Xuan - this man was from the Le family of Nanyang, two or three years younger than Shao Zhang, and was introduced by his uncle Le Kai.

"These people are Di Qiang, right? They are somewhat similar to the Qiang people in Shanglinyuan." Shao Zhang said after watching for a while.

"The Xiongnu have braided hair, the Xianbei have shaved hair, the Diqiang have long hair, and the Hexi miscellaneous Hu have short hair. That should be correct." Le Xuan said, "I just went to the village to take a look. These Diqiang tribes have some wine and meat from the community day. Although it's not much, it shows that they have celebrated the Spring Festival."

Shao Zhang nodded and said, "Write this down."

"Okay." Le Xuan agreed.

"There are also a few Xianbei tribesmen in Chuitai Longxiang Mansion. Their appearance is no different from the Jin people, but they wear their hair in a bun. How many years have these people been here?" Shao Zhang asked again.

"It may have been several years." Le Xuan replied, "Perhaps the king brought it back from Pingcheng when he first attacked the Tuoba Xianbei. Some of the soldiers were strict and could not get used to the uniforms of the Xianbei troops, so they ordered them to change. Some were more lenient and did not force them to change. But over time, most of them would change."

Shao Zhang was silent for a moment, then said, "It is a blessing that these herdsmen and slaves followed the palace soldiers."

On the steppes, they were probably slaves.

When in the Central Plains, they were called military units.

The soldiers were free to marry, own property, and become officials - if there were imperial examinations at that time, they could also take the exams.

Although farmhands were often called "serfs", they were theoretically free, but in reality they were one level lower than the retainers and could not even marry freely - if there were imperial examinations, serfs could also take the exams and become officials.

The servants were considered the lowest class, legally slaves, but their lives were not necessarily worse than the first two. Some armies composed of servants were quite powerful - if there were an imperial examination, servants could not take the exam to become officials.

"Please give more details to the one just mentioned." Shao Zhang thought for a moment and felt that his father might be interested in the changing customs of the Hu people, so he urged him, "Take some time to go back to Shanglin Garden in Pingyang. In the past, I settled many Di and Qiang people who fled east across the river. Go and see how they are changing their customs and compare them with the Fubing troops. When I see my father someday, I will have something to say."

Le Xuan responded repeatedly.

The eldest son of the king often tries to figure out what King Liang is concerned about, and his character is admirable.

I just don’t know if his efforts can be seen by King Liang.

His biggest advantage is actually his age.

His biggest disadvantage is his age.

If Prince Liang lived past sixty, his eldest son Zhang would have completely lost his chance. It is unlikely that the throne would be passed on to a man over forty, because he would not have many years left to live.

Perhaps, all current efforts are in vain, unless King Liang does not live long and dies at the age of fifty.

Some things really require a little luck.

(End of this chapter)