Chapter 640 Speak Freely
"Master Ma, at the meeting, it was said that the election of township officials would be tried. This means that each township will nominate three people of virtue and prestige, who will be approved by the county government to serve as township officials, in charge of education and litigation. Do I understand correctly?"
Ma Nantian nodded: "That's exactly what I mean."
The towns and villages were originally the sphere of influence of clans.
In addition, there were too few literate people, so the system of electing local officials was adopted.
However, after serving as a township official, one can no longer serve as a representative of the people, which is also to avoid officials protecting each other.
Widow Sun was more concerned about: "I seem to have heard that the government servants will be abolished and replaced with public officials?"
Ma Nantian nodded seriously: "Indeed, there is such a rule."
Widow Sun was stunned at first, then tears streamed down her face: "Good, good! It's really great!"
Yaqian Yi was an important position in the Great Zhou's corvée system, mainly responsible for the transportation of materials for local governments, warehouse storage and public affairs management.
For example, they guarded the warehouses of prefectures and counties and were fully responsible for any food loss or theft. They also helped prevent fires and maintain local order. They also covered the food and lodging expenses of passing officials and envoys.
To put it bluntly, while serving in the military, you also have to take risks and spend money.
Generally, it is taken by local wealthy households, ranked according to their assets, and usually requires a property of more than 200 guan. In the north, the responsibility is borne by rural landlords.
It usually lasts for three years, but may be extended in times of war or financial strain.
The risk of serving in the yamen was that if the grain got damp and moldy, or the grain ship sank, etc., the losses would need to be fully compensated.
If you encounter robbers during the escort, you will need to pursue them or pay compensation at your own expense.
In addition, you may encounter extortion from border officials.
Every year, sixty families in Guangde Prefecture went bankrupt due to serving in the yamen. The situation in Hezhong County was even worse, where five or six out of ten people serving in the yamen went bankrupt.
Widow Sun’s family went bankrupt because of their service in the government.
Widow Sun wiped her tears and kept mumbling: "Dad and Mom, if you could just live a few more years and hold on until now, everything would be fine."
Seeing her weeping so bitterly, the people present felt sorry for her and tried to comfort her.
"Madam Sun, your parents in heaven have blessed you and allowed you to live under the rule of Duke Yun. Don't let your parents down and live well!"
"Yes, look at Yunzhou, it changes every day. You came back from Shuozhou late, but sooner or later you will be built like Yunzhou. By then, you will live a good life like a god!"
"That's right, Duke Yun is different from others. She really cares about us ordinary people!"
Widow Sun nodded heavily. She knew that the darkness had passed and the light was ahead.
Everyone discussed until midnight, combined with the new policy they heard during the day, thought about it again, revised the prepared speech, and then fell asleep.
Early the next morning, the inn prepared breakfast for everyone. Each person had a bowl of egg custard, and a choice of sugar cakes, Hu cakes, or oil cakes, as well as one or two plates of pickles.
This part of the cost is naturally borne by the government.
After eating a bowl of smooth and tender egg custard, you will start another day full of energy!
Following yesterday's process, everyone came to the training camp again.
This time, the arrangement of the tables and chairs on the stage was changed.
The chairs were arranged in four rows on both sides, with a half-person-high table in the center.
Presumably, this is the position used for speaking.
Ma Nantian glanced at the table, and his heart felt as if it was being gently grasped by a big hand.
Oops, I’m even more nervous than yesterday!
The host, Su Yunyan, said loudly: "Please invite Wuzhou Ma Nantian to come to the stage and speak."
Ma Nantian's head buzzed and instantly went blank.
He didn't know how he got to the stage. When he came to his senses, he was already standing on the stage, facing hundreds of representatives from various states and counties.
Ma Nantian hurriedly took out the prepared speech from his lapel, his hands shaking uncontrollably.
The once familiar words were flying before his eyes, and Ma Nantian found that he could not recognize them!
Ma Nantian was breathing rapidly, his nerves were tense to the extreme, his hands and feet were stiff, like a wooden stick.
He closed his eyes and cursed himself in his heart, what a loser! How shameful!
"Don't be nervous. This is our first meeting. You have no experience, and neither do we. So don't be afraid of saying the wrong thing. Just speak freely!"
Ma Nantian looked in the direction of the voice and saw Yun Guogong, who was sitting on the left, nodding at him with a smile.
Ma Nantian was certain.
Duke Yun valued and believed in himself so much that he arranged for himself to be the first person to speak.
How could I disappoint her? !
Ma Nantian took a deep breath and delivered the speech he had rehearsed countless times on the big podium.
"I'm from Wuzhou, one of the Sixteen Prefectures of Youyun. After learning that I would be attending this meeting as a representative of Wuzhou, everyone in Wuzhou asked me to bring their wishes here!"
"We want to say thank you to Duke Yun and the Yunzhou warriors who sacrificed their lives to recover their homeland! We have been eagerly waiting day and night, we have persevered and persevered, from our grandfathers to our grandchildren, and finally this day has come."
Ma Nantian stretched his neck and shouted to the sky: "We are home! We belong to Youyun Road!"
There was thunderous applause at the scene.
Some wiped their tears and shouted, "Welcome home!"
After a long while, when the applause gradually died down, Ma Nantian continued.
"I have no objection to the new policy. I fully support it! I believe that under the command of Duke Yun and the leadership of all the gentlemen, our lives will get better and better!"
Bang bang bang!
Amidst warm applause, Ma Nantian stepped off the stage.
The next person to speak was Has from the Haorichin tribe. He scratched his head nervously and stammered.
"I am from the Hao Riqin tribe. I was born and raised on the grassland. When the Tartars were here, our lives were very difficult. The fattest cattle and sheep, and the most beautiful women in the tribe would be taken away by them. The strongest warriors would be killed by them."
Thinking of the past, Haas's nose became sore: "I don't know if I can survive every winter. I also don't know if the tribe will still be there when the sun rises tomorrow. We survive humbly, without knowing the way forward or the future."
"But, Duke Yun is here! Duke Yun drove away the wolves and accepted us with her broad mind! She brought us warmth and light."
Has turned sideways and bowed deeply to Gu Nanxi: "You must be a god. You heard our prayers and came to save us. We, all of us on the grassland, will always be your most devout believers!"
The applause was overwhelming.
One by one, everyone was singing praises, and finally it was Widow Sun's turn.
She stood on the stage and took a deep breath. "I'm from Hezhong Prefecture. Our village is considered to be a wealthy village in the surrounding area, but life is still very difficult. Before I came here, the villagers told me to find out a few things."
Widow Sun was the first person from Hezhong County to speak on stage.
Her words brought silence to the scene.
What does she want to find out?
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com