Pieces of flat fields are spread out on the hillside, and many farmers are working on them in the light drizzle. A stream rushes down from the top of the mountain. Because of the rain, the water is getting longer, and there is a gurgling sound in the running stream. On the side are square paddy fields. Farmers wearing coir raincoats and bamboo hats carry rice seedlings grown in the greenhouse on poles. They step into the paddy field barefoot and insert clusters of rice seedlings into the water and soil.
There are more people on the dry fields, and the light rain during spring plowing is a good time that has never been seen in recent years. Only when seeds are planted in moist soil can they germinate and grow better. Almost all the laborers go to the fields to cultivate.
The school also had a farm holiday. The young children took off their school gowns and put on ordinary farm clothes. A rope made of fine cowhide was passed through the nose ring on the cow's nose. The child held it firmly in his hand and gently shook it. Pull, the cows will follow obediently, and the adult behind the Zhenguan plow will correct his posture, and straight ridges will be plowed in the field. The women followed at the end and carefully planted the seeds in the ground. Close a layer of soil and wait for the seeds to take root and sprout...
When Fang Jun came to the mountainside, he saw such a colorful picture of a prosperous age in front of him.
Why do I work so hard and sleep so hard at night? Is it just to continue the era of comfort and prosperity in front of me for a long time?
What is a prosperous age?
In Fang Jun's opinion, this standard is actually very simple. It is nothing more than being able to support the elderly, educate the young, get medical treatment for the sick, and gain income from work...
Not far ahead, there was a group of people gathered in the fields. From time to time, someone looked at Fang Jun and the group of knights with glaring eyes. After seeing Fang Jun's appearance clearly, they withdrew their gaze and stopped paying attention.
Fang Jun felt strange in his heart, this is our land, where did such a group of people come from?
I dismounted and walked over, took a look into the crowd, and hurriedly turned back and ran away...
"Fang Er, is this a savage beast that you should avoid for fear of not getting there?"
His Majesty Li Er, who was wearing a raincoat and bamboo hat, was standing on the ground with his hands behind his hands. The hem of his clothes was stained with mud and water. He did not look like a supreme being at all. He looked more like a rich man who cared about the output of the fields... He just looked at Fang Jun who was looking around. , very bad.
Fang Jun grinned and said quickly: "Your Majesty has misunderstood Wei Chen. Wei Chen saw that Your Majesty paid a private visit in disguise and went deep into the fields to care about the people's livelihood. He is really a holy master who has never been seen in the ages. But this is a rural place after all. I'm afraid Something unexpected happened to the white dragon fish, so I hurried back to organize people to come and escort him..."
"Haha, a sycophant is a sycophant. He speaks flattery when he opens and shuts his mouth. What a thick skin." A dry and thin old man next to His Majesty Li Er sneered and made sarcastic remarks, but it was not that old guy Wei Zheng...
This old guy rested at home for some time, and his energy was probably replenished, and he was in good spirits. However, the age spots on his face became more and more obvious, and his body gradually became stooped, and he no longer had the strong and upright spirit of the past.
But this mouth is still like a poisonous snake...
Fang Jun's eyelids twitched, and he said calmly: "The Master said: If you receive a favor from someone, you should repay it with a spring. The Master also said: Eaters have short mouths, and takers have short hands... Zheng Guogong is probably old and has forgotten it. That day, I gave you a generous gift of longevity wood. It’s fine. Although I don’t expect repayment for my kindness, you can’t feed white rice to white-eyed wolves, right? Later, I will arrange for the servants to go to your mansion to carry the longevity wood back. I hope Zheng Guogong Don’t be surprised.”
Wei Zheng laughed angrily and pointed at Fang Jun, his teeth almost shattered: "Okay, okay, I have been honest all my life. I have never accepted any bribes. When I died, I took a coffin board from you and you kept it on your lips all day long. As a result, I will not be able to protect my future! Come on, go to my house and take the coffin board away, and see how you slander me in the future."
Fang Jun reminded: "You asked for it from me, not from me..."
"Get out!"
Wei Zheng scolded angrily, turned his head and ignored him, and pulled an old farmer to ask about seeds and farming.
His Majesty Li Er snorted: "You don't respect your elders, you are arrogant! Is this how your father educated you?"
Fang Jun bared his teeth and looked at His Majesty Li Er: "Your Majesty, it is clear that it is not the humble minister who disrespects the elders, but the fact that Zheng Guogong is old and disrespectful... The humble minister who eats the emperor's salary knows how to be loyal to the emperor. Zheng Guogong is so big. Despite his age, he still glared at the younger generation. This was not the same attitude when he asked Wei Chen for the coffin board..."
"Get out!" His Majesty Li Er was also angry. Can you be more tolerant?
"Here!"
Fang Jun turned around and left.
"Come back!" His Majesty Li Er shouted.
Fang Jun was helpless: "Your Majesty, do you have any other instructions?"
His Majesty Li Er held a few cotton seeds in his hand, looked up at the busy farmland, and asked: "The land here is fertile. It is the best farmland. If you plant rice, you will have a bumper harvest. Why are you planting all cotton?" "
The soil has been soaked by rain and has a faint earthy smell. When you hold it with your hand, it becomes a loose ball, slightly shiny. Although His Majesty Li Er comes from a wealthy family, he has always paid attention to farming. In the past, when Empress Changsun was alive, his wife The two would go to the fields every spring and work the plows themselves, setting an example for the world. So he could see that the field was very fertile, but he couldn't understand why Fang Jun gave up rice and chose to plant cotton brought back from the Western Regions. …
Cotton is indeed a good thing for keeping warm, but compared to food that can fill the stomach, its importance is definitely not the same, right?
Fang Jun pondered for a moment, organizing his words in his mind.
After a long while, he said: "Have your Majesty ever thought about how to manage Goguryeo in the future after pacifying it? In other words, millions of soldiers of the Tang Dynasty fought bloody battles to destroy Goguryeo, just to add another piece of land to the territory of the Tang Dynasty and use millions of soldiers to do so. Do you want to use your blood to stain His Majesty’s magnificent and everlasting hegemony?”
His Majesty Li Er's face suddenly darkened and he looked uncertain.
After capturing Goguryeo... who cares what happens next? What I want is to destroy Goguryeo's grand hegemony, what I want is to make the Tang Dynasty's territory vast and bright, and what I want is to catch up with Qin Shihuang and become the emperor of the ages!
As for how to govern Goguryeo after capturing it, His Majesty Li Er has never even thought about it!
"You finally said something humane. It's not bad. It's not just flattery. It's a bit like a critic."
Wei Zhengwen on the side heard the conversation between the two and interjected.
Wei Zheng has always been the backbone of the DPRK who firmly opposed the conquest of Goguryeo. In his opinion, Goguryeo is a bitter and cold land with barren land and sparse population. The food is as tasteless as chicken ribs. How can it have any taste? For a mere Goguryeo, hundreds of people have to be conscripted. It is really not cost-effective to have tens of thousands of troops and spend countless money and food.
His Majesty Li Er said nothing and stared at Fang Jun.
Didn't you agree to be a sycophant? Where are you?
Fang Jun rolled his eyes at Wei Zheng, raised his hands and said to His Majesty Li Er: "Your Majesty has lofty ambitions and a mind for the world, and I admire him very much. But has your Majesty ever thought that if Goguryeo was conquered but not conquered, what was gained would be lost again after a thousand years?" , what will the history books say about His Majesty?"
His Majesty Li Er looked gloomy and couldn't help but want to kick someone...
Wei Zheng cheered up and said in time: "Your Majesty, Fang's words are right! The conquest of Goguryeo is indeed a great achievement of the ages, but the land is bitter and cold, and it is useless. Countless money and food are wasted and countless soldiers are lost just for the sake of Your Majesty. I am afraid that the disparaging voices in the history books will be heard endlessly for your title. A thousand years from now, future generations will regard it as your Majesty’s biggest mistake! Your Majesty, please think twice about the conquest of Goguryeo..."
His Majesty Li Er gritted his teeth and did not even look at Wei Zheng. He just stared at Fang Jun with a fierce look in his eyes.
Boy!
You actually came here to undermine me? The conquest of Goguryeo is imperative, don’t you know it in your heart? Hurry up and think of a way to get me back, otherwise, hum...
Fang Jun's forehead was sweating. His Majesty Li Er glared at him, and he glared at Wei Zheng...
Old man, just ask about farming techniques honestly, why are you always talking to me?
Annoying or not...
"What Zheng Guogong said is wrong! Your Majesty intends to conquer Goguryeo for the sake of the foundation of the Tang Dynasty for generations to come. How can it be that he ignores the interests of the empire for his own selfish desires? Zheng Guogong can't see your Majesty's good intentions. Instead, he is making lies here. Those short-sighted people who mislead the public and slander His Majesty deserve to be killed!"