In the seventh month of the first year of Yuanyou (Wuyin 23), the Empress Dowager and the Empress Dowager Kuncheng Festival.
As the nephew of the Empress Dowager, Gao Gongji gathered officials and nobles in Xizhou City early on this day to celebrate his aunt's birthday.
In the Song Dynasty, Emperor and Hou Sheng Festivals were also legal holidays.
Therefore, almost half of the dignitaries on Xihe Road gathered in Xizhou City.
As the magistrate of Xizhou, You Shixiongzi was also invited to attend the meeting.
However, You Shixiong’s character doesn’t like too lively scenes.
Therefore, after he arrived at the official office of the "Xihe Lanhui Roadside Finance Department" in Xizhou City, he congratulated Gao Gong, presented a congratulatory form, and asked him to forward it to the Empress Dowager Bianjing. Ji arranged a quiet wing for him.
Gao Gongji naturally would not refuse this, and immediately ordered his servants to invite You Shixiong to a secluded wing in the back of the official residence.
You Shixiong entered the side room, took out the Xizhou official documents he had brought, and began to review them.
Hengqu's followers pursue restoration and yearn for the rule of three generations.
It is precisely because of this that the students under Hengqu's sect have strong pragmatic abilities.
The reason is very simple - Zhang Zai was giving lectures in Hengqu and he admired the Three Generations and Jingtian system.
Therefore, he needs to prove one thing to his students and the outside world: three generations of morality and well fields can solve contemporary problems.
Naturally, this matter cannot be said through mouth.
But take practical action!
Therefore, when Zhang Zai was lecturing in Hengqu, he led his students and contemporary villagers to try to replicate the well-field system of the Zhou Dynasty in the local countryside of Hengqu.
In order to win the support of the imperial court, Zhang Zai also wrote a letter requesting that Hengqu can be turned into an experimental site for the well-field system.
After receiving support from the court, Zhang Zai and his students spent money to purchase land in Hengqu and distributed it to the local landless people and poor people.
And organized these people to dig channels in Hengcan and build water conservancy facilities.
In this way, Hengqu's family was in Hengqu, and he participated in the construction of the local well field system while studying.
It means that during the study period, I have personally participated in actual grassroots work.
Therefore, many people under Hengqu's sect, despite their low rankings in the imperial examination, have outstanding political achievements, and ordinary subordinates cannot fool them at all.
You Shixiong is even more outstanding in this regard.
Since arriving in Xizhou, he has been working almost day and night.
Relying on rich grassroots experience and fanatical work attitude.
He quickly established a foothold in Xizhou and received support from above and below.
Moreover, because he was the magistrate of Xizhou who was personally eliminated by the official family.
Therefore, the local wealthy families are also very supportive of his work.
However, it was precisely because of this that You Shixiong did not dare to neglect him.
He knew very well that today, when Master Zhang passed away, Hengqu's power was in decline.
I want to revitalize Hengqu College, make it more prosperous, and promote Master Zhang’s knowledge.
He must prove to the people of the world, especially the officials in Bianjing, that the ideas and ideas of Hengqu's lineage are useful and can save the times.
Under such pressure, You Shixiong, who had only been in office for a year and was less than 49 years old, was already turning gray on his temples.
About half an hour later, You Shixiong heard footsteps coming from outside the door.
"Is Uncle Jing here?" A rich male voice sounded outside the door.
You Shixiong quickly stood up and replied: "Yes!"
Then he opened the door and bowed his hands to the person standing at the door, saluting: "I am the official You Shixiong and pay my respects to the envoy."
The person who came was none other than Zhao Xi, the pacifying envoy of Xihe Road.
"Uncle Jing, there is no need to be polite." Zhao Xi smiled and helped You Shixiong up: "This is not an official office, so you and I don't need to be polite."
You Shixiong replied: "The lower official is now wearing official uniform, so he must not use the courtesy of the court."
Zhao Xi shook his head with a smile and said no more.
Because he knows that it is useless to say anything!
All members of Hengqu's family are like this. They are rigid in their etiquette and refuse to be flexible.
Fortunately, Hengqumen in other places are still willing to compromise with reality.
You Shixiong welcomed Zhao Xi into the wing, asked the superior to sit down, and then asked: "Is the envoy here to see my subordinate for something?"
Zhao Xing hummed, looked at You Shixiong and said, "It's just a private matter."
"May I ask the envoy what's going on?"
Zhao Xidao said: "I heard that Uncle Jing has invited his former disciple Hengqu to come to Xizhou to give lectures?"
You Shixiong nodded and replied: "I have invited all of my fellow disciples who are idle at home. Now I have received letters from several of my fellow disciples, saying that they are willing to come to Xizhou to give lectures."
Hengqu's disciples were the most willing scholar-bureaucrats to endure hardships.
Back then, Zhang Zai took them to study at Hengqu Academy while participating in the construction of local well fields in Hengqu. In addition, they had to grow their own food, vegetables, cooking, and laundry.
This is also related to the origin of Hengqu's disciples - Hengqu is also known as Guan Xue.
The students basically come from all walks of life in Shaanxi, and their family conditions are not very well-off, which is the so-called poverty.
From childhood to adulthood, I grew up working part-time and studying part-time.
Therefore, other scholar-bureaucrats regarded Xihe Road as a fearful road and refused to come to give lectures.
Even last year, the imperial court extended its favor and gave a way out to specially named Jinshi who were willing to come to Xihe to serve as professors of state studies.
But those who are willing to come are still very few.
Even here in Xizhou, only five people were willing to come. In the end, two more people abandoned Xizhou's mission.
But with just a few letters from You Shixiong, he was able to invite several scholar-bureaucrats with Jinshi status under Hengqu's family to give lectures.
Zhao Xi looked at You Shixiong and said, "This is exactly why I came here."
"Huh?" You Shixiong didn't quite understand and asked, "What does it mean to make an envoy?"
"I would like to ask Uncle Jing to take the few Hengqu disciples for a walk after they come to Xihe Road to see the scenery and customs in various places in Xihe." Zhao Xi said slowly: "Uncle Jing should know
, Xihe Road is different from other places.”
"Xihe has his own secret."
You Shixiong immediately understood why Zhao Xi came to him specifically - he was afraid that the fellow disciples he had invited would not be able to bear it after seeing the current situation on Xihe Road, and would end up getting into trouble. Even after returning, they would be criticized in public opinion.
Criticize Xihe.
You Shixiong sighed, cupped his hands to Zhao Xi and said: "The envoy should understand what is happening in various places in Xihe today."
"The cotton villages in various places are almost like the Wubao of the wealthy families in the Wei, Jin, Southern and Northern Dynasties."
The current Mianzhuang on Xihe Road will be familiar to anyone who has read history books - isn't this the powerful Wubao Manor that once spread all over the north during the troubled times of the Southern and Northern Dynasties?
Except for the lack of solid fortresses, powerful defenses and well-trained troops.
Those cotton field manors scattered on both sides of the Weihe River, Taoshui River, and the Yellow River were Wubao in the Northern and Southern Dynasties.
They have so many similarities!
In fact, maybe these cotton villages on Xihe Road are not as good as Wubao in the Northern and Southern Dynasties.
In the Wubao Manor in the Northern and Southern Dynasties, at least the tribes and villagers might have their own land and some property of their own.
What about Cotton Village on Xihe Road?
The Han and Tibetan people who worked there could only work for the proprietors in exchange for pitiful wages.
Even in the slack season, they are not allowed to rest.
They need to dig channels, repair water conservancy, roads, and build warehouses...
Where is the Uburg Manor in the Northern and Southern Dynasties?
The villagers in Wubao in the Northern and Southern Dynasties were much more relaxed than the people in the cotton fields of Xihe Road today!
In You Shixiong's eyes, the people working in the cotton fields on Xihe Road are now.
Except that they are not shackled, they are almost the same as the serfs in the serf manor of the Tubo and Dangxiang people.
Of course Zhao Xi knew this, and he corrected You Shixiong's mistake with a chuckle: "Uncle Jing, in Mianzhuang, whether they are Han people, Tubo people, Qiang people, or Dangxiang people, all signed contracts with the owner of Mianzhuang under the witness of the government.
The customer who signed the contract hired workers!”
"They are all voluntary and there is no coercion. The clients are not shackles. The shackles restrict their freedom, which is proof!"
You Shi ambitiously said: "There are no shackles on their bodies, but their souls are bound by invisible shackles."
This is also the paradoxical place of the Cotton Field Manor on Xihe Road.
It is a deformed body stitched together by the Uburg Manor and Tubo in the Northern and Southern Dynasties, the serf economy of Dangxiang, and the unique employee-client system of the Song Dynasty.
Moreover, almost all cotton farm estates have the evils of the above three systems.
It not only had Wu Bao's strict control over the tribes, but also had the extreme exploitation of Tubo and Dangxiang's serf economy, as well as the non-stick pans of the Song Dynasty's customer servants.
Why do you say that?
You Shixiong personally inspected and asked the employees of his clients who worked in the cotton fields and estates.
So he knew very well the operating rules of the Xihe Cotton Field Manor economy.
First of all, all client employees are registered with the government, and their contracts with Cotton Village are protected and recognized by the government.
This means that they cannot terminate their employment relationship with their employer during the contract period.
They must work for their employer!
From the beginning to the end of the year, there is rarely any time to rest and breathe.
What I usually eat are bran, beans and a small amount of highland barley, and porridge cooked with rice flour. Only when heavy physical labor is required, can I eat various steamed buns made of whole grains and a small amount of soup boiled with bones.
Under such a high-intensity labor frequency, even a young and strong person may not be able to sustain it.
Usually within three to five years, it will completely collapse.
The deeds signed by these people and the cotton farm in Xihe are all for a period of three to five years.
If you are under 20 years old, you will be signed for five years, and if you are over 20 years old, you will be signed for three years.
In other words, by the time the contract period is completed, these people will basically no longer be able to engage in heavy manual labor.
They are like farm tools in a cotton farm.
Use it for a few years and replace it with a new one when it breaks.
The cost that Mianzhuang needs to pay is extremely low.
Just a few hundred iron coins a month!
As a scholar-official who read Confucius and Mencius' books on benevolence and righteousness, and grew up under the guidance of Zhang Zai's words and deeds.
To be honest, You Shixiong really has a hard time enduring such a thing!
However, reason told You Shixiong.
This cotton-field manor economy, which he regarded as absolutely evil, was the basis for maintaining the current prosperity of Xihe Road.
At the same time, those cotton farm estates are also saving the lives of thousands of innocent people!
If there were no cotton field estates.
Those hungry Tubo people, Qiang people, and Dangxiang people may have all died of hunger long ago!
no way!
Be afraid of comparison in everything!
The Cotton Field Manor on Xihe Road is very bad.
But compared to the serf manors of Tubo and Western bandits in the Qing and Tang dynasties, these cotton field manors were like Buddhist kingdoms on earth.
Why?
Because at least they can eat enough here - no matter whether they eat bran, beans and a small amount of rice, porridge cooked with flour, or something else.
At least, they can eat.
Moreover, there is no need to wear shackles or shackles, and you can still have a place to live.
The most important thing is: you can still receive wages every month!
With this money, they can buy things, and they can also save it to ask for a wife when they go out in the future.
You Shixiong watched when wages were paid in the cotton farm.
Qiang people, Dangxiang people and Tubo people all gathered in front of the manor's overseer.
They eagerly took the iron money issued to them from the hands of the overseers.
Some people even shed tears and knelt down to thank the overseers and the "good people" who gave them a way to survive.
No one is willing to go back to Qingtang, Dangxiang, and be slaves to the leaders, warriors, or Zanpu, living like livestock, starving, and dying.
So, You Shixiong fell silent.
Zhao Xingze looked at him with a smile. After a long time, You Shixiong sighed: "Zhishi, you should know that such a thing cannot last long."
Zhao Xi laughed noncommittally and said: "Uncle Jing should also know that since the Three Kingdoms, Tuntian Manor or Wubao Manor has always been the fastest way to restore vitality."
"Therefore, this is the most suitable method for Xihe!"
Of course he would not admit that he, the envoy of the economic strategy and pacification system, would also be a big cotton farmer on Xihe Road next year.
Now, his people have reclaimed thousands of acres of land in Xizhou, Huizhou, Lanzhou and other places, hired hundreds of workers, and planted pasture, beans, highland barley and other products.
Just wait until next year to plant kapok.
He has already seen the kapok in the Xihe cotton fields, and he knows that this is a hugely profitable industry.
A piece of Jibei cloth is now sold in Bianjing City, and the price ranges from seven or eight guan to 20 guan depending on the quality.
One acre of cotton field can pick at least dozens of kilograms of cotton and weave at least a dozen pieces of Jibei cloth.
So, where are kapok grown here?
It’s obvious that he is growing copper coins!
You Shixiong lowered his head feebly and said, "As the envoy said, I will handle this matter properly."
He knew it in his heart.
The water depth on Xihe Road is unfathomable, and there is also Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon!
Don't say that it was a little powerful person like him who sent Xizhou to know the state.
Even if Zhao Xi, the economic and strategic pacification envoy, wants to change, he may not be able to do anything!
What's more, the 'customer employees' in the cotton farm have no objections themselves.
They are now immersed in the happiness of having full stomachs and earning wages.
Little does he know that he is actually just a tool of Mianzhuang and a consumable.
"My mentor..." You Shixiong closed his eyes and recalled the time when he was studying in Hengqu.
Mr. Zhang Zai, sitting at the top, asked him and other disciples: "What is Confucianism?"
The teacher's eyes seemed to have penetrated time and space, looking at him from Hengqu Academy back then to him now.
Therefore, in You Shixiong's mind, his mentor Zhang Zai's voice with a slight Kansai accent exploded like thunder, making him shudder: "Establish a heart for the world, establish a destiny for the people, carry on the unique knowledge for the saints, and
Peace for all eternity!"
Things that he followed Zhang Zai to allocate land to the villagers of Hengqu, and guided them in building water conservancy, digging canals, and dredging rivers all came to mind one by one.
He is a disciple of Zhang Zai.
He was also a scholar-bureaucrat who firmly believed that Hengqu's ideals would be realized.
However, the reality of Xihe Road is not only rapidly moving away from the well-field system of three generations of saints.
Moreover, it is falling rapidly into the abyss.
Like an indescribable, indescribable monster that is approaching day by day.
Sooner or later, this place will become a moral hell with only interests and no benevolence!
Yes!
You Shixiong already had such a premonition.
In the future of Xihe Road, I am afraid there will be no room for benevolence and righteousness.
The benefits brought by kapok will dominate everything here.
However, You Shixiong is You Shixiong after all.
He is an extremely strong-willed person, so far from being depressed.
On the contrary, a strong fighting spirit was born in my heart!
He also quickly found a goal for himself.
In other words, he had this goal in mind very early on.
This goal is to let Guanxue flourish on Xihe Road!
Use your mentor's moral articles to educate the wealthy Qiang and Di people in Xihe.
If it succeeds, it will not only promote the knowledge of the mentor, but also solve Xihe's problem.
the reason is simple.
The wealthy Qiang and Di people here in Xihe really have no benevolence, justice or morality.
But this is because most of them have never accepted the teachings of saints.
As long as they can accept the teachings of saints and hold themselves to the moral standards of saints.
The customs of Xihe will definitely take on a new look.
So, this is fertile ground!
He already knew this on the first day he came to Xizhou.
In the entire Xihe Road, no great scholar has ever come to give lectures.
Most of the Qiang and Di tycoons in Xihe have never read the articles of saints.
