Chapter 86 Changes (2) Saying such things without considering my feelings...
The official was annoyed that the farmers didn't know what was good for them, but he was even more disgusted by the Duke's second son, who was always causing trouble.
He felt that the Duke and his wife were spoiling this young master too much, and had even hinted that after their deaths they would hand over their private land in Luoyang and their residence in Jishanfang to him to manage.
This series of overindulgent actions directly led the underage young man to take the estate for granted as his private property, and even to act recklessly outside the unspoken rules and regulations of the nobility!
Originally, such a far-fetched idea, or even secretly raising assassins, was to be expected. However, in recent years, before each of the emperor's military expeditions, the nobles had routinely presented him with precious objects, brocades, music, fine horses, hawks, and other valuables in addition to the tribute...
If things are done according to this young master's wishes, the Li family will sooner or later find themselves in financial trouble.
If the annual budget is insufficient, Lord Tang will certainly blame the village official alone.
As for the instigator, he'll probably just get a few light laughs and scoldings from his father: "See? This is the price of being a patriot!"
The scene that Li Shimin had envisioned—where everyone was moved to tears, kowtowing and willing to die for him—did not occur in reality, leaving him somewhat embarrassed.
He was unaware of his excellent reputation among the tenant farmers and their families. However, an excellent reputation did not mean that people trusted him to have the ability to protect the farmers from famine and forced labor.
After all, aside from being the son of a duke, Li Shimin was only a sixteen-year-old boy. Perhaps a loud cough from the duke would be enough to make him back down.
The farmers whispered among themselves for a while, and then the old man at the head of the group bowed to the village official and said, "Sir, please don't blame us for being foolish and not recognizing the young master's good intentions. Let us discuss this further."
"Then you all hurry up and discuss it. If you haven't reached a conclusion by midday, we'll renew the land contract according to the old one, and you're not allowed to go back on your word!" The village clerk stood on the stone table, looking down at everyone, and said irritably.
“Young Master, look…” The clerk jumped off the stone table, turned to the corridor of the court, and looked helplessly at Li Shimin, who was resting against the wall. “You’ve seen it with your own eyes, a bunch of fools…”
“It’s not entirely their fault,” Li Shimin said, frowning. “The court’s credibility has been ruined in recent years, so it’s no exaggeration for the people to think the worst of us… In their eyes, Pei Yun and I are probably cut from the same cloth.” He originally wanted to target Emperor Yang Guang, but there were too many people around, so he restrained himself and started mocking the emperor’s favorite.
"These old farmers will probably be discussing this from now until after midday, with each side sticking to their own version of events, and they still won't be able to reach a conclusion." The village official sighed and placed the land deed beside him.
"Unfortunately, I am incompetent. I still rely on my father and brothers for survival and cannot do more for them..." Li Shimin said with a bitter smile. "In the end, I am just a big rat. Should the farmers be grateful to me for eating one less grain of millet?"
“Young master, you can’t say things like that. The old Duke has made outstanding contributions and has benefited his descendants. What’s wrong with that?” the official said. “Isn’t that how it has been done generation after generation?”
The chaotic noise outside the Dharma Hall prevented the children from practicing their calligraphy properly. Changsun Minxing then instructed the children to stop writing and continue reciting the "Jijiupian" (a classic Chinese calligraphy text).
Zheng Fuyou, who sat in the front row, spoke clearly and loudly, and was well-liked by Changsun Minxing. Changsun Minxing then had the boy sit in front of his fellow students and lead them in reading.
Because Zheng Foyou's reading speed was extraordinary, Changsun Minxing would teach him some phonetic techniques during his lessons. The child actually learned about a hundred upper and lower tones, which surprised and delighted Changsun Minxing.
He gazed at the boy with a deep, resonant voice and handsome features, and thought to himself, "If only scholars could submit their applications themselves. But it's fortunate that he was born into this place. If he truly becomes a great talent in the future, why worry that he won't be recommended by Lord Tang to take the imperial examinations, just like Registrar Yu..."
Drawing a cake can't satisfy hunger, and Changsun Minxing quickly extricated himself from his delusions, choosing instead to observe the situation calmly.
He hadn't made any promises to Changsun Qingjing, Guoniang, or even Zheng Fuyou at first, so he didn't want to cause any more trouble. He just felt that this child was exceptionally gifted, and being born into a wealthy family meant that his future path would inevitably be more difficult.
The commotion in the courtyard gradually subsided, turning into hushed whispers. The novice monks in the temple served everyone osmanthus honey syrup and perilla boiled water.
"Did something unexpected happen?" Changsun Min walked out of the court and sat down next to Li Shimin. He ordered a cup of honey syrup and picked up a stack of land equalization laws from various dynasties that Li Shimin was holding. These were the laws that Changsun Wuji had entrusted him to bring.
"When Wuji and I were in Daxing, we also studied these land allocation decrees. I didn't quite understand them either, but Wuji told me with great confidence that, in terms of equal land distribution, the Qi law was better than the Zhou law. During the Kaihuang era of the Qing Dynasty, when the laws were widely promulgated, the people could still bear it. But now, all kinds of laws and regulations are becoming more and more rampant and arbitrary. What kind of equal land distribution decree can we follow? If these farmers don't rely on your conscience, do they rely on the court that changes its decrees every day?"
"With imperial edicts changing frequently, the people are suspicious below, and the officials are complacent above. The country is like a dam covered with ant holes; it will collapse sooner or later, beyond repair." Li Shimin pondered for a moment, seemingly lost in thought, and said, "It's all my fault for being too young and lacking real power. I regret not having understood the hardships of these farmers sooner..."
"That may be true, but I always feel that seeking sustenance through the Way is more insightful and down-to-earth than complaining and blaming others, and that getting to the root of the problem is more far-sighted than setting up sheds and distributing porridge." Changsun Qingjing broke away from a group of merit-making women and walked towards the Dharma Hall, saying in a gentle yet resolute tone, "Stinginess is rejected, generosity is a small favor, and establishing rules is a grand strategy. Erlang is determined to eliminate abuses, to work hard to remove the poison from the bone, to cleanse the filth and bring about the new, so just go ahead and implement it, and don't blame yourself too much."
"What are you holding in your hand?" Li Shimin handed Changsun Qingjing a cup of perilla-infused water and asked, pointing to the stack of papers in her hand.
"What are you saying?" Li Shimin laughed. "Don't you care about my reputation when you say such things? People who don't know the situation might think that I not only fail to uphold the family tradition but also misappropriate my wife's dowry..."
"Don't go against her wishes," Changsun Minxing said with a smile. "Her heart is as hard as stone, and no one can sway her. If you say another word, she'll probably get angry again."
"Then what?" Changsun Qingjing turned his head and asked.
“I mean, it is entirely up to you,” Li Shimin replied in a slightly exaggerated tone.
The three of them smiled together.
The official found the two people's behavior so cloying and unbearable to look at that he couldn't help but purse his lips unconsciously.
"Sir, how much is the monthly salary of a mid-level official like Yu the Registrar?" Guo Niang asked the village official, taking advantage of her status as the mistress's personal maid, after hearing the young master and his wife chatting so amiably.
"One thousand coins!" the clerk replied without hesitation.
"Ah! He would need to forgo food and drink, neglect his elderly parents and children, and avoid any funerals for three years just to afford a loom!" Guo Niang could barely contain her excitement; her voice trembled. It should be understood that the position of the registrar was already extremely high for her and her relatives and friends; she simply couldn't imagine how extravagant and unreasonable it must be for him to possess something so difficult to acquire.
Zhuang Li looked at the astonished grasshopper girl and calmly replied, "Yes, you calculated correctly."
“A skilled weaver would have to toil for countless years to make a single brocade garment that ladies would wear once and then discard!” Guo Niang sighed without a second thought, completely oblivious to the fact that her unintentional words might incur the displeasure of Changsun Qingjing.
The novice monk, who was preparing to teach the children mathematics, was handing over the day's lessons to Changsun Minxing when he was also moved by Guoniang's straightforward words. He stopped to listen for a moment before shaking his head and sighing as he entered the Dharma Hall.
"Review the scales." The novice monk began today's numerology lesson with some half-heartedness.
“The measure begins with a 'hu'. Ten 'hu' make one 'si', ten 'si' make one 'hao', ten 'hao' make one 'li', ten 'li' make one 'fen', ten 'fen' make one 'cun', ten 'cun' make one 'chi', ten 'chi' make one 'zhang', and ten 'zhang' make one 'yin'.” The children launched into another burst of innocent and delightful chatter, which was quite amusing.
Changsun Qingjing was equally astonished by Guoniang's skillful verbal calculations. She had never imagined that her seemingly casual plan was the livelihood of a low-ranking official and a skilled shuttle operator for several years.
Changsun Qingjing was lost in thought and couldn't shake off the feeling after hearing Guoniang's words.
The conversions of weights and measures that the children were loudly reciting in the Dharma Hall sounded to Changsun Qingjing like monthly salaries, annual salaries, and even the price of brocade. Her compassionate view of the equality of all things made her restless.
Guoniang realized that the people in front of her were briefly silent because of her "inappropriate" remarks, and she lowered her head in remorse, waiting for a scolding.
Changsun Qingjing recalled everything this capable young woman had done for him before the Lantern Festival, the joy she felt when she put on her altered old brocade clothes, and her earnest request to allow her younger brother to enter this simple school for his first education.
For the first time, she realized how foolish it was to forcefully distinguish between noble and lowly, and to presumptuously claim inequality. Feeling somewhat ashamed, she mustered her courage and said to the blushing, wringing-hands-clasped grasshopper, "Grasshopper, please go to the fire room and pick some peonies for me to offer to Guanyin."
"Yes." Guoniang simply lowered her eyes and agreed, not daring to look at Changsun Qingjing again. She then turned and ran towards the fire room behind Jingyin Temple as if she had been pardoned.
Changsun Qingjing suddenly realized that she and Guoniang were nothing more than two indistinguishable petals that had fallen from the same tree or even the same calyx. She was lucky enough to be blown up to the clouds by the wind, while Guoniang unfortunately sank into the mire.
As for whether the petals born from the same calyx ascend to the heavens or sink into the mud, that depends entirely on the wind's preference and not on the petals' own beauty, ugliness, color, or virtue.
Changsun Qingjing suddenly straightened his robes and asked seriously, "Second Brother, am I a vain and extravagant person?"
Author's Note: The Entrepreneurial History of Three Fools: Li Shimin couldn't gain people's trust, Qingjing's investments were risky, and Minxing's students weren't very bright [winking emoji]. Thank you all for supporting my not-so-romantic novel. The next chapter will have some sweetness.
I still want to add one more thing: everyone, please be confident. If you're a fan of Empress Zhangsun's career, there's really no need to dwell on how Li Shimin loved her. Isn't it wonderful that they both worked hard to achieve their ideals and won equally great love in return?
We shouldn't expect Empress Zhangsun to be perfect. If her husband can tolerate her flaws and willfulness, then we certainly can too.
There's no need to assume that Empress Zhangsun is surrounded by mentally challenged villains who want to persecute her. You should trust her social and political skills; she doesn't need her husband to step in on everything, and she can solve most problems on her own.
I just said it casually today [shy]
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