Longzan is a Yi boy. To be more precise, he is a slave. Not only him, but also his father and grandfather. He doesn't know what the situation will be going forward. After all, it is useless to know. , is it possible to change one’s destiny against the will of heaven?
Before he was eight years old, Longzan had no shoes or new clothes. He only wore his brother's old linen pieces on his body, walking through the mountains, herding sheep and collecting herbs for his master.
A basket of medicinal herbs can be exchanged for a pound of grains, and the mother can be happy all day long when she takes them home, because with these subsidies, each of the five children and two elderly people in the family can get a bowl of rice.
More often, they couldn't collect so many medicinal materials and couldn't exchange for food. Longzan could only get half a bowl of gruel.
A child of several years old is growing and cannot eat enough. His stomach is empty and burning. In the middle of the night, he often wakes up crying and wets his clothes with tears.
Starvation is definitely the most cruel punishment. The people under the control of the chieftain are no different from prisoners in prison and tortured!
And this prison seemed to be boundless and lawless, covering the surrounding areas and blocking out the sky, unable to be broken and invincible... Until one day, a group of Ming soldiers wearing mandarin duck jackets appeared.
They first drove to the chieftain's residence, and the two sides had a long and friendly exchange.
Then there was news about the equalization of land and production... About three months later, Longzan clearly remembered that that afternoon, for the first time, a bowl full of dry rice appeared on the dilapidated dining table!
The adults and children in the family were all sitting together, their eyes shining and their mouths watering.
That was the first full meal in Longzan's memory. He clearly remembered that he had eaten three large bowls, and his bulging belly looked like a frog. He just wanted to lie there and enjoy it slowly. Even after he died, he was satisfied.
No wonder people have to eat a full meal before execution. Being able to eat well is such a blessing!
Later, Longzan learned that it was the chieftain who showed mercy and distributed the land to the people in the village. He was also very generous and exempted every household from all rent.
From now on, all you need to do is pay thirty taxes and one land tax to the court.
The burden on the people's shoulders was suddenly lightened. Every household could have enough to eat, and there were many children like Longzan.
The old people all chanted, thanking the leader for his grace.
However, Longzan could not forget those Ming soldiers wearing bright red clothes. He always felt that things were not that simple. He asked his mother and elders, but unfortunately, they could not explain clearly.
It wasn't until he was ten years old that the first school opened around him. He heard that the teachers there knew everything, so Longzan immediately decided to enter the school.
More than two years later, he successfully entered the newly established Longchang University.
After studying for the past three years, the things that confused him at the beginning have long been answered.
The Ming army demanded that chieftains from various places hand over their land and property and give up all taxes... and the court would provide some subsidies based on the size of their territory for a total of fifteen years.
In other words, the imperial court bought the land with money and grain, and then handed the land over to them.
This is not a sign of mercy from the master at all.
They pay a tax of thirty per year, which is not even enough to pay the chieftain. The court has to spend a large amount of money every year to supplement the expenses of Guizhou's yamen, and also spend a lot of money to build schools and build roads.
There is also a group of veterans who are building bridges and paving roads in Guizhou...
Longzan also knew that except for a few of the chieftains who were enlightened and willing to cooperate with the court, most of them were unwilling. However, due to the power of the Ming army, they did not dare not listen.
In addition, there were a handful of people who stubbornly resisted, clashed with the Ming army, and were directly wiped out by the army.
It is precisely in this way that the equalization of land in the southwest came into being.
For this reason, many Ming army soldiers died in the battle.
There is no doubt that these people died for them!
In order for them to have enough to eat and live a dignified life.
But Longzan also heard other voices, saying that the Han people from outside had killed their leaders. These chieftain leaders are all real warriors. Sooner or later, they will drive out the Ming army and take away the land.
return!
When young Longzan heard these words, he almost wanted to laugh three times.
What does it mean to take back the land?
The Ming army is here and the land is in our hands.
Now that the Ming army has been driven away, won’t the land return to your hands again?
Because of this, Longzan would go to various villages every holiday to work as a preacher and tell the people everywhere... For this reason, he was even beaten. One of the former chieftain's officials hit him with a shovel.
On his head, Longzan was bleeding profusely and almost died.
It took three days for him to wake up.
The person who attacked him was sentenced to be beheaded.
During the execution, Longzan even went to watch.
The guy who used to show off his power is now crying and humbled like a worm.
It was also the first time that Longzan saw with his own eyes that the so-called big shots were so humble when they lost their power and faced death, and were no better than slaves!
He felt more and more that the book said that all four peoples are equal and men and women are the same, which is the greatest truth.
Soon, because of his excellent grades, Longzan followed the mountain leader to Xingzi County to take the Jimin Academy exam. He ranked seventh among all Guizhou students.
Although it is not too advanced, for a boy who only started reading and literacy at the age of ten and who is from the Yi ethnic group, it is simply a miracle.
This time he arrived at Yingtian again, the capital of the Ming Dynasty that he had longed for.
In the exhibition hall of the Martyrs' Shrine, he discovered the original outline of the equalization of land, saw the memorial text for the reconstruction of China, and also saw the order for the establishment of schools drawn up by Grand Master Zhang.
He and the other classmates stared with wide eyes, looking closely... because they knew very well that it was these laws and regulations and propositions that allowed them to reborn and have their own dignity.
Not only that, they also learned about the origins and original intentions of the relevant laws.
Zhang Shanchang will also explain it to everyone. What he says is much more interesting than the teacher.
After all, it was his father who did it, how could he not be clear about it...
Longzan felt that his time in Yingtian was simply the happiest and most fulfilling time... It was about to end, and most of them had to return to the provinces.
They can apply for primary school teachers, continue to study again, take exams, or go to the government to find a job.
After all, outstanding middle school graduates are all great talents, regardless of whether they can be admitted to top schools.
Of course, if they choose to repeat their studies, the situation will be much better next year. The three southwestern provinces will have their own test centers. They no longer have to travel hard.
There are also a small group of people who have been selected by the Archguard Bureau to be loyal to His Majesty and repay the court's great kindness. Longzan is even a little envious of them. He will go to Jimin Academy to study. After a few years, he will learn more
With his abilities, he can also do things for Ming Dynasty and serve the court!
But before they go their separate ways, there is one more thing, and that is Shan Zhang’s marriage.
That’s right!
Zhang Shuning is getting married to Xia Zhifeng.
Originally, he said he wanted to get married in Guizhou, but Xia Zhifeng's father firmly disagreed. Just kidding, you two brats can have your own pursuits and ideas, but you can't be too thoughtful.
"Old relative, I'm not telling you, but you are too indulgent of your children. You are the head of the family and the grand master of the country. If you want to show your authority as an elder, you will beat anyone who disobeys. You must take care of the things that should be taken care of.
They always want to be new and different, do they still need this old etiquette?"
Zhang Ximeng laughed loudly and quickly poured a glass of wine for Mr. Xia.
"That's right! Shu Ning, did you hear what your father-in-law said?"
Zhang Shuning could only smile awkwardly, saying that he could still reason with his father, but facing his father-in-law, he had nothing to say.
Xia Zhifeng was not very happy, "Dad, you don't know, it's annoying to have so many people together, it's better to be quiet and don't have to worry about it!"
"That's not possible!" Dad Xia said flatly: "This is something that cannot be frugal. This is once in a lifetime, we have to grow old together in a lively manner. The guests who come to the door are also witnesses. They bless you, restrain you, and keep you honest.
, live a good life, no matter what, a father still needs this face!"
Seeing what his father-in-law said, Zhang Shuning could only smile and said: "Please rest assured, it will be done. It's just that we have the final say on how to send the invitations!"
Zhang Shuning could not compromise on this matter no matter what. Because if he really followed the figures of the ruling and opposition parties and everyone had a share, all he had to do in his marriage was to sing names and not do anything else.
Zhang Ximeng didn't say anything about this, but just told him to remember to invite His Majesty and the Crown Prince... Zhang Shuning would not ignore this matter. After all, Xia Zhifeng was still Zhu Xiongying's teacher. With this relationship, he had to invite him no matter what.
of.
However, Xia Zhifeng told Zhang Shuning that His Majesty had selected a number of companion books for the emperor and his grandson.
There are prodigies from Jiangxi and some from Shandong, such as Xie Jin, Yang Shiqi, and Tie Xuan. There are about twenty students in total. Do you want to invite them over?
"Are they all your students?"
"Forget it!" Xia Zhifeng said with certainty: "I found that there are many good ideas in it, and they will become great talents in the long run... The key is that we invited the emperor's grandson, they are all classmates, it is better not to invite them."
Zhang Shuning nodded vigorously, "I just invited your students, what about the ones I brought?"
"Let's invite them together! It's just a matter of getting a few more pairs of kids." Xia Zhifeng said simply.
Zhang Shuning can't refute, so just listen to your wife!
However, the two of them made some further calculations and concluded that Hu Yan should be invited when he came back from Annan. There were also several noble children who were also among the emperor's grandsons.
"God's Coming"
At the same time, Zhang Shuning published teaching aids and had some friends.
In addition, Jimin School, Fudan School, and Peking University School all have students and staff in Yingtian. Many of them are Zhang Shuning’s classmates and students.
In addition, Xia Zhifeng also gave lectures several times to explain her astronomical insights, and people like Tao Chengdao were also invited.
Gradually, the faces of the young couple changed... Oh my God!
Unknowingly, how come they both have disciples all over the world? This is unscientific!