"One day, Mr. E was sitting on a magnificent cruise ship with a blue bird engraved on it. He heard a Yue man in charge of the boat singing with his oars. The song was euphemistic and beautiful. Mr. E was moved by the singing, but he did not know that the other person was singing. What, so I asked someone to translate the lyrics into Chu dialect. This is the famous "Yue People's Song": "What evening is it today? The boat is in the middle of the river; what day is it today? I have to be in the same boat with the prince. I am humiliated and be treated well." , Don’t be ashamed. My heart is troubled but it never stops. I know that the prince has wood in his heart, and the tree has branches, and his heart is happy for you, but you don’t know it.” After E Junzi understood the meaning of the lyrics, he immediately stepped forward and hugged him. The rower and put the embroidered quilt on that person??"
In a hidden place in the back garden of Shenyuan, Jiujiang, a man and a woman embraced each other affectionately. The man told the girl a story seriously, and the girl listened with fascination.
They are not a talented lady or a young lady, they are just two ordinary people. The male is dressed as a domestic slave, and the female is a maid at first glance.
They are the slaves of the Shen Fuxiang family, a wealthy family in Jiujiang. They have been the servants of the Shen family since their great-grandfather's generation. The boy's name is Shen Zhong, and the girl's name is Liu Ying. They grew up together and are childhood sweethearts.
"Brother Zhong was once the son's scholar, and his talent and learning are excellent. It's a pity that he didn't get the opportunity to take the imperial examination, otherwise he would have been a pillar of the country!" Liu Ying looked at her lover with affection and thought crazily. Every time Shen Zhongyi spoke to her. She was intoxicated by the story.
"Today's story is so nice!" she praised.
"Sister Ying, shall we get married in a while?" Shen Zhong said suddenly.
"Brother Zhong, are you crazy? We are all the master's slaves. How can we get married without the master's permission? And~" Liu Ying hesitated, but stopped talking.
"And what?" Shen Zhong felt nervous.
"The third young master has been quite restless recently. He has asked the old lady for me several times. What should I do? Brother Zhong," Liu Ying said with a tearful tone.
"It's okay, sister Ying. I was selling tea with the master a few days ago, and I accidentally saw a piece of "Da Ming Daily". It was all about promoting reforms, and there was a special chapter in it that mentioned the 'abolition of slavery.' Your Majesty, the Emperor, Saint, you can only be a slave for one generation, and the descendants of slaves are ordered to regain their freedom. Although you and I are the sons and daughters of the Shen family, we have been slaves for four generations. According to this law, we should all regain our freedom!"< /p>
In this era, slaves basically sold themselves to the master's house. The master had the slave's sale deed in his hand. If the slave was unfaithful, he could kill him and sell him to the house. So generally speaking, slaves are loyal, and the son of the master is Children born to slaves are also customarily slaves of the master's family.
Emperor Guangwu wanted to develop industry and commerce, but faced the problem of labor shortage. In view of the fact that some wealthy families controlled a large number of people, if the population they occupied could be released, the labor shortage would be alleviated. Therefore, he planned to promulgate the abolition of slavery laws, and those who were slaves would be enslaved after three generations. , cancel the slave status. Later, I thought that after three generations, few domestic slaves were released and many things were unclear, so I simply changed it to "A slave can only be a slave for one generation, and the descendants of the slave are ordered to regain their freedom." Suddenly, everywhere With laughter and laughter, a large number of slaves became free.
"But Brother Zhong, how will we make a living after leaving the master's house?" Liu Ying was a little worried.
"Don't worry, Sister Ying, I have accumulated some money over the years. In addition, I have been in the tea industry with Mr. Shen over the years, and I have learned the skills of frying tea, making tea, and making tea. In addition, I have read books, can learn calligraphy, calculate accounts, and make a living. I don’t have to worry about it. After I regain my freedom, I plan to find a job in a tea plantation first and take the imperial examination while working. If you can pass high school, you will be an official’s wife,” Shen Zhong said excitedly.
"Brother Zhong, you can definitely do it! I'm optimistic about you!" Liu Ying has confidence in her lover.
"Sister Ying, I will make it clear to the master right now. After all, I have been a slave in his family for generations, and I have to do it openly," Shen Zhong said.
"Well, brother Zhong will go and talk to the master first; I will go and talk to the old lady later." Liu Ying was a little shy.
??
Shen Zhong came to the study of Shen Fuxiang's family. The Shen family was mainly engaged in the business of Lushan Yunwu Tea. This tea was popular in the Ming Dynasty. "Purple Tao Xuan Miscellaneous" written by Li Rihua said: "Kuanglu is the top of the mountain, and the tea is produced in the clouds and mist." , extremely charming." The family is big, the business is great, and the study is luxurious.
"Master!" He called out timidly.
Shen Fuxiang frowned, why is this slave so ignorant of the rules today? A wealthy family has many rules, and it would be rude to disturb the master when nothing happens.
"What's the matter?" he asked displeasedly, his face darkening.
"Master, I'm here to say goodbye to you. The imperial court clearly stipulates that a person can only be a slave for one generation, and the slave's descendants are ordered to regain their freedom. My great-grandfather has been a slave in the master's family for four generations. According to this According to the laws of the imperial court, I am now free. So I came here to say goodbye to the master. I will remember the care that the master has taken for me over the years. I will remember it in my heart and I am very grateful!"
After hearing what Shen Zhong said, Shen Fuxiang was stunned.
According to the laws of the Ming Dynasty, Shen Zhong is indeed free. But on the one hand, this man is very smart and a very capable slave; on the other hand, there are dozens of children in a family like him. If all of them are free, how can he still be free? Who can you order? The people who are rehired are not as obedient as these family-born children.
"Shen Zhong, sir, am I not good enough to you?" he asked gloomily.
"My master has been very kind to me, and I have been grateful for your care over the years." Shen Zhong replied. This is true. Slaves from wealthy families have no worries about food and clothing, and their lives are often better than those of ordinary people.
"In that case, why don't you continue to stay in Shen Yuan? How about I pay you twenty taels and you sign the deed of betrayal again? Follow me and I won't treat you badly," Shen Fuxiang said seductively.
"Thank you sir for your kindness, I have decided to leave."
"Hmph! You slave, your wings are stiff and you want to overthrow the world!"
Shen Fuxiang's face sank and he yelled: "Come here, tie up this shameless dog slave. I will beat him severely and put him in a woodshed. When will he sign the deed of sale and release him?" !"
Several servants who were like wolves and tigers took Shen Zhong away and tortured him, trying to get him to sign a contract of sale and become a slave. However, Shen Zhong was eager for freedom and refused to sign no matter how hard they beat him. The servants could not, He pressed his finger hard and pressed a thumbsnail, and then threw him into the woodshed, covered with phosphorus injuries.
"Brother Zhong~Brother Zhong~" It was late at night, and a low call came from outside the woodshed door, and Liu Ying came secretly.
"Sister Ying, I'm here." Shen Zhong wanted to climb out, but the door was locked and he couldn't climb out.
"Brother Zhong, you'd better sign. I'm cruel. If you don't sign, you may lose your life," Liu Ying said, crying.
"No, once I sign, I will never get ahead again. I still want to marry you after I regain my freedom." Shen Zhong's attitude is very firm.
"Then what can we do now? Do you really want to be beaten to death by them?" Seeing that he refused to give in, Liu Ying asked.
"Sister Ying, you will sneak out of Shen Garden early tomorrow morning and go to Jiujiang Mansion to file a complaint. Whether I live or die, it all depends on you!" A deep warning came from inside Chaimen.
