Chapter 332: Abolition of the Camp Prostitute System
A large human-shaped pit was dug, and the human bones that had merged with the soil were fully revealed. The bones were embedded in the soil and had become a part of this grassland.
Zhao Xiping put down the shovel, walked over to Sui Yu, knelt down, and said, "Dad, I'm your son-in-law. My family is here to move your grave. We'll take you back to Dunhuang with us someday."
"I'm sorry for disturbing your peace." Sui Yu put his hands on the ground and kowtowed, saying, "Dunhuang's scenery is also quite nice, you should go and have a look."
The kid kowtowed and said, "Grandpa, my uncle and my mom miss you so much. Please come home with us."
Sui Liang wiped away his tears and said in a hoarse voice, "I'm grown up now and can speak. My sister and brother-in-law treat me very well, and my little cub also cares about me. Dad, you must bless them to be free from illness and disaster, and live in peace and safety until old age."
"If you knock one more time, I'll pick up your bones," said Zhao Xiping.
The four of them bowed down and kowtowed. Zhao Xiping stood up first and apologized. He then jumped into the pit with a black pottery jar in his hand to pick up bones.
Sui Liang walked to the edge of the pit, but Zhao Xiping stopped him and said, "I'll do this for you. You just watch from above. If you have anything to say, tell your father."
He had killed and buried the dead before, so he had no feelings for this father-in-law he had never met, so he was not afraid to dig up the bones. But it was different for Sui Yu and Sui Liang. A living person turned into a skeleton, let alone touching it with your own hands, even seeing it with your own eyes was a huge shock. It was probably a long time before they could recover.
The bones were put into the pottery jar one by one, making muffled sounds. Soil was constantly thrown out of the pit. From dawn to nightfall, all the bones in the pit were finally dug out.
Taking advantage of the cover of night, Zhao Xiping picked up the skull and put it into a jar. He closed the lid and carried the jar out of the grave.
Sui Yu and Sui Liang worked together to take the pottery jar. Zhao Xiping climbed out of the pit and without saying a word, picked up a shovel and started filling the soil.
"Sister, let me do it." Sui Liang took the shovel from Sui Yu's hand. He had calmed down. He didn't contribute when digging the grave, so now it was his turn to contribute.
The boy stared at the black pottery jar in a daze. He didn't dare to get close to it, and he didn't even dare to think too deeply about it. How could a living person turn into a jar of broken bones? If a person turned into bones, where did he go?
Sui Yu walked over and held his hand, and asked softly, "Are you scared?"
The cub shook his head, then turned around and hugged her waist, crying loudly, "Mom, will you and my dad die? I don't want you to turn into bones."
"No, your father and I are still so young. Look at your Grandpa Niu, he's still alive and well at such an old age." Sui Yu comforted him, "Your father and I can accompany you until old age."
"You won't die even if you get old," the kid emphasized.
"Okay, okay, live like an immortal." Sui Yu wiped his tears and said, "Don't cry. Look, your uncle doesn't cry anymore. Don't bother him."
The kid wiped his tears by himself, then squatted down, scooped up a handful of soil and threw it into the pit to help fill it.
The excavated soil was buried again, and the huge stone with the earthy smell was not buried again. Zhao Xiping patted the dirt off his body, picked up the pottery jar, and said, "Let's go back."
The little boy held his uncle's hand in one hand and his mother's hand in the other. They were so pitiful. They lost their father before their hair even turned gray. He didn't dare to think about it. If he lost his father, he would cry to death and would not live anymore.
After returning to Mayuan, Zhao Xiping moved the pottery jar into the room where he slept. Geng Zhongcheng lived next door with his attendant, so he was not worried that moving the pottery jar containing human bones into the house would bring bad luck to others.
Sui Yu used the money to buy two buckets of hot water for Zhao Xiping to wash and change into clean clothes. Then he washed the shovel and sent it to the groom.
During the meal, Geng Zhongcheng and Lu Yaer looked at the exhausted family before them and asked no questions. They had spent the afternoon digging and burying things in the pasture, and their activities couldn't be hidden from the stables' grooms and guards, so naturally, everyone else knew as well.
After dinner, Sui Yu glanced at Sui Liang and told him, "Have a good sleep and don't think too much."
"Okay." Sui Liang had recovered a long time ago. After all, it had been thirteen or fourteen years since he lost his father. He had long accepted this fact. He was just too excited today, and Luochen's past was stirred up, so he burst into tears.
When she returned to the house, Lu Yaer had already brought some hot water. Seeing Sui Yu, she twisted her hands helplessly and said, "Aunt, please accept my condolences."
Sui Yu waved her hand. "It happened more than ten years ago. There's no need to feel sad about it. Just go to bed."
She raised Sui Liang and moved Sui Hu's grave. She made great achievements in this dynasty. Before going to sleep, Sui Yu thought that she had done her best for others and herself in these busy thirteen years.
Sui Yu had a dreamless night and when she woke up, she noticed breathing sounds beside her ears. She opened her eyes and looked over. The little cub was lying beside the pillow, looking at her with a smile.
Sui Yu couldn't help but smile. This child belonged to her completely. He was the continuation of her dynasty.
"Mom." The cub called out, "I've been here for a while, you were sleeping so soundly."
Sui Yu raised her hand to ruffle his hair and ordered, "Bring me a pair of clean socks."
"Okay. Mom, here's your cotton-padded jacket. Put it on quickly. It's colder today than yesterday. Uncle Geng said we have to keep going after breakfast and can't rest any longer. He's worried about the weather changing. Snow is fine, but he's afraid of rain." The kid kept chattering.
Sui Yu got dressed and got out of bed. When she went out, she saw Zhao Xiping and Sui Liang coming towards her one after another. Sui Liang lagged behind and smiled at her, looking quite energetic.
"Is the meal ready? After dinner, let's pack up and continue on our journey." Sui Yu said cheerfully.
The mood of my mother and uncle recovered. The child who had been watching carefully let go of his last bit of worry, and the remaining sadness about life and death in his heart disappeared in an instant.
As daylight brightened, the caravan left the horse park and moved northeast along the grassland.
Four days later, the caravan walked out of the Qinling Mountains and set foot on the flat and spacious official road.
Two days later, the caravan entered Chang'an City.
Geng Zhongcheng led Sui Yu and his party to the post station. He washed up at the post station and did not even have time to go home. He hurried to the palace to report the gains of this trip.
…
Sui Yu rested in the post station for two days. On the third day, she welcomed a maid. She followed the maid to learn how to salute and kneel, and then taught it privately to Zhao Xiping, Sui Liang and the little boy.
When the eunuch came to summon her, Sui Yu asked if she could bring her family with her.
"This is the first time for my husband and son to come to Chang'an. Can I let them take advantage of my presence and go into the inner city to see the majestic palace? Otherwise, when I want to show off after leaving the palace, I won't be able to find anyone to support me." Sui Yu said shamelessly.
"His Majesty has summoned you and Captain Zhao to the palace for a talk. As for your boy, I will arrange for someone to take him around," said the eunuch.
Sui Yu winked at Sui Liang and said, "Follow us and keep an eye on your nephew, so he won't cry or make a fuss if he leaves us."
Sui Liangying is good.
The family of four dressed neatly, Sui Yu and Zhao Xiping each holding three bamboo scrolls, and followed the eunuch out of the post station. This time, they entered the city through Anmen on the west side instead of Xuanping Gate. Not far inside, they saw the inner city wall.
Sui Yu had been instructed by the maids before, so she didn't dare to look up. She followed the eunuchs along the long palace path, catching glimpses of the eunuchs and palace maids coming and going. When the atmosphere became increasingly tense, two eunuchs arrived and took Sui Liang and the boy away.
Sui Yu and Zhao Xiping followed the eunuch up the stairs. After the announcement was made, the two walked into the Xuanshi Hall.
There were other people in the hall. Sui Yu and Zhao Xiping first paid their respects to the emperor when they entered, and then bowed from a distance to the unknown minister kneeling in front of the couch. The two of them stopped and looked up slightly.
"Please take a seat." said Emperor Xuanping, who was sitting at the top.
The eunuch brought a low couch, and Sui Yu and Zhao Xiping knelt down on it. The bamboo slips were placed on the couch in front of them. She took this opportunity to take a quick look and saw Geng Zhongcheng opposite her.
"Manager Yu? You're still young. I heard that you were leading a caravan traveling inside and outside the Great Wall six years ago."
"Yes, there are many caravans coming and going in Dunhuang. After seeing so many of them, I was tempted and wanted to go out and look for treasures." Sui Yu replied.
"I'm glad you found it. Geng Zhongcheng said that you got the cotton seeds from a monk? Tell me in detail." The Grand Minister of Agriculture, who was sitting below Emperor Xuanping, spoke.
Sui Yuze used Sui Wen'an's identity and explained in detail the encounter with the monk who had returned from the Kingdom of Sindhu during her trip to Dayuan. Then, without waiting for them to ask any more questions, she explained the process of her cotton planting.
"Why did you think of making clay molds and covering them with oilcloth for breeding and raising seedlings? Did the monks teach you that?" asked the Minister of Agriculture.
"No, I heard from a monk that Sindhu has a hot and humid climate, so I thought cotton cultivation requires high temperatures, and Dunhuang's winters are too long. In order to make cotton germinate, I came up with the idea of using oilcloth to create high temperatures. When our caravan goes out, we sleep in tents at night. The tents are made of camel skin, which can block the wind. After a night's sleep, the tent is much warmer than the outside. That's why I thought of oilcloth." Sui Yu explained. She handed over the bamboo slips on the low couch and said, "These record all my thoughts and concerns since the beginning of my attempt to grow cotton, including the trial planting of cotton seeds in batches, one crop in February, one in March, and one in April, the number of days for cotton seeds to germinate at different temperatures, and the time it takes for them to bloom and bear fruit."
The eunuch took the bamboo slips and presented them to Emperor Xuanping. Emperor Xuanping took a look at them and handed them to the Minister of Agriculture. The records on them were very detailed, and even though he was not good at farming, he could understand them.
"Do you think cotton cultivation can be expanded? Can it be grown in Dunhuang County? Can it be grown in Wuwei County? Are the soil and water in Longxi County and Chang'an also suitable for growing cotton?" asked Emperor Xuanping.
Sui Yu nodded. "I've led caravans from Dunhuang to Taiyuan County twice. I'm familiar with the climate inside the Great Wall. The soil and water are even more fertile than outside, making it suitable for growing cotton. Aside from extremely cold areas, areas with year-round rainfall, and saline-alkali land, other places shouldn't pose much of a problem. Geng Zhongcheng also asked me about these issues, and I later wrote down my thoughts on bamboo slips."
Zhao Xiping handed the three bamboo scrolls on the low couch in front of him to the eunuch, who bent down and handed them over.
The hall was quiet for a long time, and the sound of bamboo slips opening and closing could be heard from time to time.
Sui Yu secretly breathed a sigh of relief, but she still had something on her mind. She had the leisure time to look at the layout of the hall, but she just glanced at it without paying attention. She nervously paid attention to the expressions of the other people present.
The Grand Minister of Agriculture glanced at Sui Yu with a puzzled expression, then handed the bamboo slips in his hand to Emperor Xuanping.
Emperor Xuanping frowned. He put down the bamboo slips and pondered. Then he raised his eyes and asked, "Release the prostitutes from the camp and return them to the fields to grow cotton? Do you think our dynasty still needs people to grow cotton?"
"Your Majesty, I have another scroll of bamboo slips containing my predictions for cotton planting. Last year, I only had 2,068 cotton seeds, which I planted on two mu of cotton. The seeds from those two mu of cotton were used to plant 47 mu of cotton this year. With my experience growing cotton this year, the yield per mu is higher than last year. Next year, I can plant 600 mu of cotton, and that doesn't even include the grain tax I have to pay." Sui Yu explained calmly. Seeing that Emperor Xuanping seemed lost in thought, she continued, "600 mu of cotton can produce at least 70,000 jin of cotton seeds. Not counting the tax, 70,000 jin of cotton seeds can plant 14,000 mu of cotton. This means that by the spring of the year after next, we will be able to plant 14,000 mu of cotton on our Han territory. By the year after next, we will have 280,000 mu of cotton, which we wouldn't be able to plant even if all the land in the four Hexi counties was planted with cotton."
The Grand Minister of Agriculture handed over a scroll of bamboo slips and asked the eunuch to bring an abacus. The abacus beads clattered and he nodded happily to Emperor Xuanping.
"Within five years, barring natural disasters, cotton will be grown everywhere in our Han territory." Sui Yu clenched her fists, suppressing her pounding heartbeat as she spoke carefully, "Cotton is very profitable. Once cotton seeds are distributed, farmers will undoubtedly be more willing to plant more cotton. By then, cotton will not only take up grain land, but also manpower."
"Growing cotton is a laborious and demanding job. From the very beginning, it requires manual labor. After transplanting, we have to weed, water, and top the plants over and over again. And after the bolls open, we have to go to the fields every day to pick the cotton." Geng Zhongcheng then said, "Growing one acre of cotton requires more labor than growing ten acres of wheat."
Emperor Xuanping said "hmm" and motioned Sui Yu to continue.
"In Dunhuang County, almost all the land suitable for growing crops was distributed to the people. Families with large numbers of people could own over 200 mu of land. However, with the elderly and children, these 200 mu of land could not be fully planted with crops during the spring planting season. In addition, farmers rarely accumulated fertilizer, and many plots of land became wasteland during the autumn harvest due to poor soil and lack of care, resulting in a total loss of all crops." Sui Yu's palms sweated as she spoke, but she still gritted her teeth and continued, "I've been to Taiyuan County. Agriculture there is mainly family-based, with men farming and women weaving, and the industry is quite developed. Cotton is similar to silkworm rearing and weaving. Growing cotton requires the efforts of men, but even more so, women. Not only is pinching buds and topping the cotton a delicate task, but also harvesting the cotton, twisting the seeds, weaving cloth with the cotton wool, and even fluffing quilts – all these tasks require women."
Geng Zhongcheng nodded repeatedly on the side.
"So I thought about releasing the camp prostitutes to start families and letting them rent land that farmers are unable to cultivate. In this way, the problem of wasteland will be solved, and the problem of manpower will also be solved." Sui Yu stated the ultimate goal.
Emperor Xuanping pondered for a moment, then looked towards the Grand Minister of Agriculture and asked, "What does the Grand Minister of Agriculture think?"
"That's a good idea."
"You bring it up at court tomorrow and discuss it in the court," said Emperor Xuanping.
Sui Yu relaxed all over, and only then did she realize that her back was covered in sweat.
"I remember that you were born a criminal slave? And you were once a camp prostitute?" Emperor Xuanping asked suddenly.
Sui Yu immediately tensed up and nodded in agreement.
"Speak up for the prostitutes in the camp?" Emperor Xuanping asked in a deep voice.
"No." Sui Yu tried to calm down. She explained, "Forgive me for being complacent this once. I once served in a brothel, then went into business. Luckily, I got my hands on cotton seeds, and now I'm in the Imperial Palace. It's like a rebirth from the ashes. So, I think it's a waste for prostitutes to be locked up in a brothel and become prostitutes. If they're released, at worst, they can marry a man and have children. Their families can farm and pay taxes to the court. If they have the wisdom and opportunities like me, it would be a blessing for the court."
Emperor Xuanping smiled. It was a blessing for the court that she could introduce cotton seeds.
Zhao Xiping sweated for Sui Yu. He could vaguely see the girl standing outside the brothel over a decade ago, desperately begging for mercy because of the "unfair law." Over a decade had passed, yet the thought hadn't faded. Even though she hadn't mentioned it once in all those years, he couldn't tell she was still dwelling on the past.
She smoothed out her edges, held her breath to save others from danger, and also to save herself who was trapped.
Sui Liang has a scar in his heart, and Zhao Xiping knows it. Sui Yu has a scar in her heart, but no one knows it except herself.
Zhao Xiping felt a little powerless.
"The four counties of Hexi can release prostitutes to start families, but relying solely on them won't solve the cotton-growing problem. Does Captain Zhao have any ideas?" Emperor Xuanping asked casually. "There are also fewer prostitutes in the interior, and the people don't have any wasteland. How can we balance cotton and grain cultivation?"
Before he finished speaking, Emperor Xuanping saw that Sui Yu seemed to be hesitant to speak. He laughed in his heart, thinking, could it be that a female censor really came today?
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