In mid-August, the autumn harvest is coming to an end, and there are more and more people walking in the fields.
Many villagers have completed the most important harvest work of the year, but they have no time to stop and rest. They have to shell the millet and process it as soon as possible.
The newly harvested grains are still fresh. If they are processed immediately, the consumption will increase. However, small ordinary households only have this harvest to pay for the rent adjustment, and they do not have any surplus grains to store up for later.
At this time, the dynasties along the Luoshui River are also the busiest. They are busy at night processing the grains sent here from the surrounding villages. Of course, the processing of these grains is not free. It is benevolent to get six measures of grain from one stone of grain.
But the villagers have no choice. If they don't send the grain to Haixian for processing and process it at home, it will be time-consuming and labor-intensive and they may not be able to catch up with the government's collection deadline.
Moreover, the completion of the autumn harvest does not mean that the year's farming work is over. The land must be plowed quickly to prepare for sowing winter wheat and other overwintering crops. Houses must be repaired, cellars dug, wages saved for the cold, etc., and the cycle starts over and over again. How can there be any progress in the year?
Breathing time.
On the riverside road in the upper reaches of Luoshui River, a group of pedestrians were riding horses. These people were all wearing plain hakama pleats, stand-up collars around their necks, leather belts around their waists, and areas where their hands and feet were bound were all black, with black gauze.
little crown.
Wearing such uniform clothes makes people feel that they are different from ordinary passers-by at a glance, and they feel a sense of awe in their hearts.
There is a pontoon bridge on the tributary of Luoshui appearing on the road ahead. Because there is no bridge foundation to support it, the bridge deck is only floating precariously on the river surface.
There are several monks standing at both ends of the pontoon. Each of these monks is strong and powerful. They hold sticks and sticks and look like Vajra Arhats in the statues and murals.
They guarded both ends of the pontoon bridge, scanning the passers-by sternly. While asking for fares from pedestrians, they checked their luggage. If there was too much cargo, they would have to cross the bridge in batches, and the toll for crossing the bridge would be natural.
It's one trip at a time.
Most of the pedestrians passing by were from nearby villages, so the price of the bridge toll was naturally not too high. It was just a few handfuls of millet rice or a few chickens. Even so, several large baskets next to the monks were also filled with various kinds of village food.
Fashionable goods.
When a group of knights approached, the villagers queuing up to cross the bridge saw it and avoided it, not wanting to cause trouble.
The first knight, who looked weak in age, waved his hand to reject the villagers' concession and ordered the followers behind him to dismount and line up to cross the river.
"Excuse me, old man, why are the bridges here under Salmon Control?"
Glancing at the monk guarding the bridge, the young man curiously patted a fellow man in front of him who was carrying a big bamboo basket and asked.
Seeing the young man's ceremonial style, the fellow didn't dare to neglect him. After hearing the words, he quickly replied: "This canal is called Evil Jiaogou. The water flows very fast and many people drowned in the past years. The county officials and village elders all used materials to make
Bridges don’t last long. It’s all thanks to Master Gaode of Pushan Temple to suppress them, so the evil dragon doesn’t dare to do evil and build this pontoon bridge for the villagers to cross..."
After hearing the words, the young man nodded and immediately asked: "I came from the south and saw that there are Dushui Order Lists at many Jindu bridges along the Luoshui River. As long as the villagers can identify the words on the lists, they can be exempted from the toll."
Why is the ferry fare missing here?”
"Clouds cover the moon on August 15th, and snow lights up the lights on the 15th day of the first lunar month! The old man has also heard of this month order, and it took him a long time to remember it. He wanted to save some money on the trip, but after walking two bridges, it didn't work.
I saw some idiot from some village spreading rumors and deceiving people!"
After hearing this, the fellow said angrily, while a pedestrian sitting on a pallet truck next to him laughed and said: "The old man has little knowledge and still blames others for cheating. I am coming from Weibei and have passed Baishui.
Crossing the river and crossing the bridge is free of charge. I heard that the imperial envoy sent a wise official, the Dushui Envoy, to take over the bridges on the Luoshui River, so I gave this order."
When the young man heard this, he immediately became interested. He came closer and asked, "I am a knowledgeable person from the countryside. Do you know what kind of things this Shui Xianguan is in charge of? How many government decrees have he made to benefit people?"
"Of course you know. The envoy of Dushui is the ancient called Shuihengduwei. The canals, bridges, weirs and wells are all in the tube. He is the Hebo of this waterway. The fish and shrimps must obey orders!"
The merchant became interested when he heard the question, and showed off his knowledge, but when he saw the monks at the bridge, he sighed: "It's a pity that the true Dharma has been destroyed in this world, and the gods of mountains and rivers have to make way for these ghosts and evil spirits.
! The old farmer is stupid and says that evil dragons harm people. It’s not because Pushan Temple dammed the river upstream and used water to make paper. All the old bridges on the river were destroyed and demolished by those monster monks..."
When the man said this, he immediately noticed a few fierce eyes staring at him, and quickly closed his mouth, not daring to speak any more nonsense.
When the young man heard this, his face darkened, and he returned to the team without saying another word.
Not long after, it was the merchant's turn to cross the river. Because there were too many goods on the car, he had to carry them across in batches. For several round trips, he had to pay the bridge fee of two pieces of cloth.
Although the merchant's face was ugly, when he saw the ferocious look of the monk holding the carriage, he could only laugh and said: "Bodhisattvas build bridges to benefit the people, and believers should also accumulate merit. Masters work hard!"
While complimenting him, he offered the cloth and was allowed to go.
Soon it was the knight's turn to cross the river. The young man was not in a hurry to cross the river. He looked at the monk at the front and said, "What is the standard for collecting bridge fees here? What is the standard for measuring materials and people?"
The monk looked at everyone and showed no fear. He just said: "Building a bridge to benefit the hometown is not included in the cost. But the Bodhisattva is very kind and requires the villagers to sincerely spread the Dharma. Everyone depends on their own heart. If the heart is not sincere, it will naturally not be protected."
When the young man heard this, he sneered, pointed his knife at the monk and said, "Master is here guarding the bridge and protecting the Dharma. I must be sincere in worshiping the Buddha. I have this sharp blade in my hand. Master, can the Buddha protect you?"
When the monk heard this, his expression suddenly changed, and he immediately stepped back more than ten feet, and then called his companions.
At this time, the old monk in white robe who was collecting the bridge fees hurriedly came forward and said: "The distinguished guests are of extraordinary bearing. I think they are officials? Although a certain ascetic is a Buddhist believer, he is also a good citizen of the state and county. How dare he interfere with the official's schedule?
!Officials please accompany us!"
While he was talking, the old monk personally came forward and held the bridle of the horse and led it to the bridge. The young man took another look at the surprised people on and off the bridge, then withdrew his saber, leaving half of the men and horses to guard here until they crossed the other side of the river.
, those who stayed behind came across the bridge.
"These monster monks are not satisfied with confusing the villagers and defrauding the villagers' property. They actually block the river to take risks and make profits. They deserve to be punished! After returning from this trip, we must report them to the police and strictly investigate such monster monks and village thieves!"
After crossing the bridge, the young man looked back at the floating bridge and cursed bitterly.
This young man's name is Mao Shijian. He is the young son of Mao Xia, a wealthy man in the North. He was recommended by Zhou Huida's son Zhou Ti as an official in the capital. When recruiting soldiers to return to the department, many of them died, so they have not yet officially joined the army. Today,
The next time I was ordered to go north along Baishui to inspect the canal.
It has been a few days since the Dushui Yamen Office was established, and all the measures taken have had some effect in the lower reaches south of Baishui. However, they have not been touched from Baishui upwards.
The first is naturally because the establishment time is still short, and the second is the stubborn nostalgia above Baishui. Especially for the latter, Mao Shijian saw along the way that the floating bridge occupied and operated by the Buddhist temple was just one of them.
What's more, in the Luoshui diversion area, which was beyond the reach of some imperial decrees, some local tyrants or Jihu tribesmen even erected fences along the canals to prevent villagers from diverting water or fishing.
It was only after being immersed in the situation and witnessing it with his own eyes that Mao Shijian realized what his previous boss meant when he said that water control requires both benevolence and perseverance. The various demonic and exotic sentiments in the upper reaches of Luoshui River were not only due to the breeding of evil in the village, but also to the fact that the king's rule could not overcome it.
The stubborn control of the rural situation by the powerful Hu chiefs is only concentrated along the Luoshui river. The reason is much deeper. Although the Dushui Yamen Department specializes in water control, it needs to Solve many stubborn problems.
At the moment, Mao Shijian could only hold back his anger and continue to go north along the river.
When he arrived at a manor ahead, he saw several wealthy slaves fighting with a man in front of the manor. The man who was beaten was a fellow Qiaonan whom he had met before.
"stop!"
Mao Shijian was a young man who was a knight. When he saw the rich slaves bullying the old man, he couldn't control himself. He rode his horse forward and roared loudly.
When several wealthy slaves saw that he had so many followers, they did not dare to act presumptuously anymore. However, the fellow still held on to the trouser leg of one of the wealthy slaves and said tremblingly: "Please, please, please... those fish breasts... It’s more than a hundred kilograms. Although it’s not a valuable item, I just want an old knife! My dog has been recruited into the township league, and he can’t survive without a knife!”
"Why are you bothering me about your own affairs? Is it because I am greedy for your fish? The thieves in the lower reaches plunder the catch and pay the local price. Want a knife? Dream on!"
The slave kicked the old farmer to the ground with a look of disgust. Seeing that Mao Shijian and others still showed no sign of leaving, he gave his companions a wink, and they turned around and fled to the village.
When Mao Shijian saw that this rich slave was buying fish and meat from Dushui, he was immediately furious. He came forward and said angrily: "The government downstream collects fish and compares it with the current price. How dare you cheat! Return the old man's fish." , I will replace him!"
"Where did these stupid thieves come from? This is where you foreigners go wild?"
The slave became even angrier when he heard the sound, but when he saw Mao Shijian and others armed with swords, they dragged the fellow's legs back into the manor.
Mao Shijian was already full of evil fire as he walked along. Seeing that the slave was still so vicious, he couldn't hold it back. He drew his knife in his hand, jumped on his horse and struck the slave head-on: "Don't talk about this town, Luo." I am in charge of everything above and below the water! If you are a slave and rebel, you will die!"
When the sword struck down, the Haonu body was struck by the sharp blade and flew several feet away. He fell to the ground dead.
At this time, nearly a hundred slaves rushed out of the manor. Seeing this scene, they were immediately furious and rushed forward waving their weapons: "Where are the evil thieves from this country? How dare you disturb our manor!"