Why teach others?

Is this really that hard to understand?

No one is born indifferent. Everyone should think like this: I would not share a cup of water with others, but I would share a bowl of water with you if I had a bucket of water.

But when I have a great river, I am willing to spread its blessings across the land, making everyone benefit from its waters.

I'm happy, I'm pleased, and I feel good seeing everyone having a good meal!

However, since Jiang Zhi had already spoken those righteous words in front of Magistrate Zhang, it would be inappropriate to say them again in front of the local tyrant.

So Jiang Zhi said earnestly, "I have suffered all my life and I can't bear to see everyone suffer. Since everyone has made me the village chief, I should do something!"

Prince Zhou pondered for a moment: "It's that simple!"

At this moment, he remained calm, but his heart trembled: Yes, since he was a member of the royal family, he should do something about the suffering of the common people.

Five years after the uprising began, his army pressed forward relentlessly. However, last year, several counties around the capital suffered a severe drought. With both war and drought causing widespread displacement, the imperial army was running out of supplies and was forced to remain inactive.

The puppet nephew in the palace has sent people several times to try to negotiate peace, offering to divide the world among himself.

Now the advisors are arguing over whether to negotiate peace or to seize that position, since the initial reason for raising the army was "a villain in power, so we must go to the capital to serve the emperor."

Now that the court has dealt with the treacherous officials, it would be unreasonable to speak out against the truth if the emperor were to act again, and the people would suffer if war broke out.

However, some ministers said, "Your Highness is benevolent and compassionate, understanding the suffering of the people from war. You should take the imperial seal, sit on the throne, and let all the people live in peace and prosperity."

These days, whether to fight or make peace has put King Zhou in a dilemma, but Jiang Zhi's words have given him a moment of clarity: Now that he is the village chief, he should do something for everyone!

Seeing that King Zhou suddenly fell silent, Jiang Zhi looked up at him with some confusion.

It's a pity Jiang Zhi doesn't know how to read minds, otherwise she would have exclaimed in surprise that this King Zhou is weak-willed and indecisive, just like Emperor Liu Houzhu.

However, this is easy to explain, which is why a male protagonist who wields great power is raised.

If someone rebels but doesn't even want to become emperor, what's the point of rebelling? They might as well just lie down and give up.

Rebellion is not something that can be accomplished casually. No wonder that after preparing provisions and raising an army, Ba County was in chaos for a year, and such a huge mess was caused by bandits burning down the village of Xujia. It seems that they were forced into it!

Fortunately, the silence was short-lived, and Prince Zhou continued, "From saving the people with the green pole to educating them now, your merits are immeasurable, and I will certainly reward you. Tell me what reward you need?"

What do you mean? I have to order the food myself, but you didn't even bring a menu. How am I supposed to order? I can't just say "anything is fine".

If you don't know how to reward someone, just give them a hundred taels of gold!

Jiang Zhi scratched her head in frustration. Shouldn't someone like an advisor say a few words at this moment?

At this moment, there were two advisors or ministers in the hall, but neither of them spoke.

As for Errui, let's not even mention him. He's cowering like a chick on the side right now; just don't wet your pants.

Having no other choice, Jiang Zhi could only bite the bullet and say, "This humble woman doesn't know anything about merit, she only knows that doing this is good."

Previously, the commoner woman gave the government the prescription for treating the illness to help the disaster victims, and His Highness had already rewarded her with twenty taels of gold, which she used to repair the school and still had more money left over.

Magistrate Zhang wrote the name of the school, which made the village chiefs who came to learn farming very envious. They wanted to go back and build a school in their own villages and ask the magistrate to write a good calligraphy for them as well.

This humble woman wishes to ask Your Highness to grant her an even better character, one that the other village chiefs would envy!

Jiang Zhi's initial wish was to have a piece of calligraphy by King Zhou. At that time, she felt that it could suppress Nie Fantian and save her life. Now, she still thinks that handwritten calligraphy is more appealing.

Money is no longer important; privileges will naturally bring wealth.

As the saying goes, money flows to where it's popular, and it will come to you.

With a single word from the county magistrate, Xu Family Village could collect medicinal herbs for free for two years, which could be exchanged for a fortune of silver.

Upon hearing that Jiang Zhi wanted a calligraphy piece larger than the county magistrate's, the two people who had been silent finally spoke up: "What Jiang has done is beneficial to the country and the people, Your Highness should commend her!"

Jiang Zhi did not look up.

King Zhou said, "Since I previously rewarded you with twenty taels of gold to build schools, I will reward you with another hundred taels of gold so that you can build schools in other villages as well."

As for writing a character even larger than Zhang Zheng's...

This statement was quite honest, and a nearby official laughed, saying, "Zhang Zheng's writing is good, but it can't compare to His Highness's calligraphy."

The other person said to Jiang Zhi, "You may thank the emperor and leave!"

Jiang Zhi immediately bowed and led Er Rui, who had remained silent throughout, away.

Inside the palace, King Zhou asked two officials, "What do you think of this Jiang family?"

One person said, "They are just farmers, but their honesty is rare. Your Highness should reward them handsomely and spread the word."

Another person said, "I have found out that General Nie was once a bride exchanged with another woman, and he was raised by the Jiang family."

In every respect, Jiang was kind-hearted and cared for her neighbors, so the people she raised were unlikely to be bad people.

The Jiang family is skilled in farming and medicine making, with a clean background and kind hearts. Zhang Zheng has praised them in his memorials many times. The Nie family, on the other hand, is just an ordinary cloth merchant with a meager household.

Your Highness can now entrust General Nie with important responsibilities with peace of mind..."

“Hmm! This matter is open to discussion!” The three of them said as they walked back to the inner hall.

When Jiang Zhi returned to the inn, she was already exhausted, her clothes soaked with sweat.

At this moment, the Nie family and Li Laoshi and Qin Shi were all anxiously waiting in the inn. They breathed a sigh of relief when they saw that the mother and child had returned safely.

The next day, another eunuch came to the inn. This time, Jiang Zhi didn't run around. She hadn't received the promised reward yet and had to wait.

Not only the eunuchs, but also the senior eunuchs, naturally sent gifts.

Perhaps feeling that it was inappropriate for a peasant woman like Jiang Zhi to appreciate inkstones, this time they brought several boxes of Wangfu peach shortbread, pastries, and a few pieces of fine clothing.

It was inconvenient to carry gold on the road, so the King of Zhou exchanged his hundred taels of gold for a thousand taels of silver notes and put them in a box.

The senior eunuch was much nicer than the junior eunuch yesterday, and said with a grin, "General Nie is now a favorite of the Prince, Madam Jiang is in for a treat!"

Jiang Zhi wasn't happy to hear that. So far, the male lead hadn't seen any benefits from anyone; he was just busy picking on other people's good points.

Besides, I haven't relied on anyone for my good fortune. I don't rely on anyone now, and I won't rely on anyone in the future. Hmph, who knows who will rely on whom!

However, we can't say for sure; who knows what will happen in the future!

Jiang Zhi chuckled foolishly: "General Nie is Xiao Tian, ​​right? What does he do outside? Why do you call him a general?"

Last time I saw him come back with six men, were they also generals?

Her silly appearance amused the eunuch. It turned out that this woman only knew how to farm and did not know that Nie Fantian was a general who already commanded a large army!

"Madam Jiang, you should return home as soon as you receive your reward. His Highness is waiting to hear about your plans to build the school!" the Grand Eunuch kindly reminded her.

Jiang Zhi said, "It's time to go back. It's hot and stuffy here, and food and lodging are expensive. Even drinking water costs money. It's not as comfortable as my country. I can just go into the field and pick a vegetable to eat, and I can eat eggs as soon as they fall out of the chicken's tail."

Hearing the country woman's trivial grumbling, the eunuch hurried away without even asking for the customary return gift.

Jiang Zhi held the money box but showed no intention of giving it away. It was full of hundred-tael bills; if she just picked one out, a bridge in Pear Blossom Town would be gone.