The food tastes better than at home, and the bed is softer than at home. It was a very comfortable sleep.
Only Yuan Gang was alert all night because he passed through too many storms and waves.
Especially forty-two years ago, Yuan Gang was still a five-year-old child. His grandfather, father, mother, uncle, aunt, uncle, and aunt were all covered in blood and died in battle one after another. His grandmother, who only had a broken arm, pulled him into adulthood and taught him
The Yuan family's archery and sword skills made him never forget the blood feud.
No one in Chuanqing Village wanted to fight that battle, but it had reached the point where it was impossible to fight without it.
Because the chieftain officer Zhazuo wanted to designate Chuanqing Village as a "human village".
The area under the jurisdiction of the chieftain was under the rule of Jisi. The court did not expect to collect much tax. It only wanted less annual subsidies and food, so as not to cause rebellions every now and then.
How to collect taxes and how to collect conscripts all depended on the chieftain's preference.
Not to mention taxes, only the collection of corvees. The Han people were divided into military households and artisan households, and the chieftains also followed this trick.
They designated the fields in the areas directly under their control as "nanny fields", "horse fields", "torch fields", "mountain fields", etc. The people who farmed the corresponding lands have nursed the children of the chieftains and raised horses for generations.
Light a torch for the toast to step on his horse.
For areas outside the jurisdiction, taxes and corvees were often levied uniformly on tribes and villages.
"Renzhai" belongs to the nature of corvée service, that is, the taxes can be reduced or even not collected, and there is no need to perform other types of labor. However, "Renzhai" must donate young men and women to serve as slaves for the chieftain every few years.
, life and death are up for grabs, and no one can interfere.
Chieftain Zhazuo designated Chuanqing Village as a "human village", which meant that he wanted to destroy the foundation of Chuanqing people, and everyone was forced to fight to the death.
Although the population in the village dropped sharply by 70%, it escaped the fate of being a "human village" and the tax was only increased by 20%. There was no need to serve corvee anymore, because the number of people in the village decreased and it was already extremely difficult to pay taxes. The declaration at that time
He comforted the envoy Song Ang and even implemented benevolent policies, directly exempting them from taxes for five years.
As a result, Chuan Qingren not only hated the Song family, but also admired Song Ang heartily.
Because it was Chieftain Zhazuo who forced him to cross Qingzhai, not Song Ang himself. Just like the common people were harmed by corrupt officials, they could not blame the emperor. What's more, after the matter got serious, the emperor also ordered the abolition of corvee and tax exemption for five years.
When Mr. Song Ang passed away, people in Chuanqing felt so grateful for his kindness that they even spontaneously danced Nuo dances to mourn him.
It's a pity that although Song Ang was devoted to Chinese culture, loved the people, and was loyal to the court, his eldest son Song Ran was a tiger and a wolf.
Under Song Ran's brutal rule, the Song family has twelve chief lawsuits, at least half of which have been pushed to the brink of rebellion. There will definitely be big trouble within three to five years.
…
Yuan Gang was always worried that Shen Fucong had second thoughts, fearing that he would go to Song Ji to complain in the middle of the night, so he deployed troops to block him in the inn and surround him.
He didn't even dare to drink last night and insisted on sleeping in the same room with Master Shen.
At the critical moment, don’t let your guard down!
Household registration will be finalized soon. Yuan Gang does not expect his son to become a scholar. He only wants to send his two sons to participate in martial arts examinations.
Fortunately, Shen Fucong was honest and only got up in the middle of the night to urinate, and spent the rest of the time sleeping with his head covered.
Early morning.
Wang Yuan and his four men were maintaining their weapons, and Young Master Song unexpectedly came to visit them, and even specially brought a strong donkey.
Master Shen woke up in a daze, and hurriedly went out to greet her without even having time to wash up.
Song Ji pointed at the donkey, clasped his fists and smiled and said: "Brother Shen, the mountain road is bumpy, so I need something to replace my feet. This donkey has been with me for several years and is very well-behaved. I will give it to Brother Shen today."
"Brother Song is really... makes me ashamed." Shen Fucong was moved beyond measure.
Extorting money is one thing, making friends is another.
Mr. Song not only helped them buy books and register their household registration, he also asked Shen Fucong to serve as an evangelist and arranged for all the children in the village to study in the Song clan. Last night, they invited them to eat and drink, and arranged accommodation. Even the two beasts were After taking good care of it, he even came over early in the morning to present a traveling donkey.
In addition to the white-eyed wolf who repays kindness with hatred, how can we not remember the good things of Mr. Song?
Even Yuan Gang was impressed, cupping his fists and saying, "Song Gong, you remind me of Master Song Ang. He was so kind to us mountain people!"
"How can I be compared with my ancestors? I don't dare to be worthy. I don't dare to be worthy." Song Ji was extremely humble, but his heart was full of joy. He had admired his grandfather since he was a child.
During the decades when Song Ang ruled Shuidong, although there were many rebellions, they generally tended to be peaceful and peaceful. Whenever there was a rebellion, Song Ang would pay both taxes and bribes, and afterwards severely punish the chieftains who provoked civil unrest. , and even cut down on meals to reflect on his mistakes.
In Song Ang's later years, the land of Shuidong was living and working in peace and contentment, and there were no more rebellions!
If life is getting better for a while, which ordinary citizen would be willing to rebel?
Song Ji chatted with Master Shen for a few words, then invited everyone to have breakfast. After the meal, he took a few followers with them and followed them out of the city.
When they arrived at the horse-drawn post outside the city, Mr. Song said: "After seeing you for a thousand miles, we must say goodbye at the end. Brother Shen, you and I will say goodbye here and wait for my good news in the mountains."
"Waiting for the good news from Brother Song!" Shen Fucong said, cupping his fists.
After passing through Qingzhai, everyone took the official road north, while Song Ji led his entourage toward the northeast.
There are two Song clan schools. One was built in the northeast of Guizhou City, where the ancestral residence of the Song family in Hongbian was located, which was later called "Beiya Village". The other was built in a cattle pen, which was later known as Shuangliu Town, Kaiyang County.
Under the protection of his entourage, Mr. Song rode a donkey through the bamboo forest and arrived at the "Beiya" at the foot of Fenghuang Mountain in the afternoon.
In the 22nd year of Yongle's reign, Song Bin built a private house here, thus the Hongbian Song family came into being.
The private residences of the Song Dynasty were built majestic and stern, resembling imperial yamen or palaces, so they were called "Beiya" or "Golden Palace".
The clan school was located in Beiya, and there were more than 20 children taking classes, all of whom were descendants of the Song family from several nearby bureaus.
Song Ji did not enter the classroom, but went to the elegant apartment next to him.
A Confucian scholar about forty years old was reading leisurely while drinking tea. When he saw Song Ji coming in, he put down his book and said with a smile: "Wuya, why do you have time to come here? Why don't you go around and build social studies?"
"Uncle, look at this word." Song Ji took out the page written by Shen Fucong as if he was offering a treasure.
The Confucian scholar's name was Song Xuan, with the courtesy name Tingcai. He was the youngest son of Song Ang and the uncle of Song Ji and Song Ling'er. This prince was known as one of the "Three Song Dynasties in Hongbian". He did not study for imperial examinations, indulged in poetry and songs, and liked to follow the Han Dynasty. Scholars come and go at home.
Song Xuan took it and took a look. He couldn't help but clapped his hands and said, "Good words!"
Song Ji smiled and said: "If it weren't for good calligraphy, how could I show it to my uncle for appreciation?"
Song Xuan shook his head slightly again: "It's a pity that it is stained with craftsmanship and lacks a bit of free and easy charm."
This is the difference between the two uncles and nephews. Song Xuan pursues poetry and literature, has a romantic and unrestrained personality, and naturally does not like the conservative Taige style; while Song Ji observes etiquette and worships saints. To him, Taige style is the best in the world. calligraphy format.
Hearing Uncle Yao's criticism of Shen Fucong's calligraphy, Song Ji was inevitably a little disappointed. He had no choice but to do as he liked. He talked about Shen Fucong's poetic talent and even discussed Li Dongyang's "Suo Jien".
This really suited Song Xuan's taste, and he said happily: "Friend Shen seems to have a lot of attainments in poetry and prose. Maybe we can invite him to come and have a discussion."
Song Ji took the opportunity and said: "Brother Shen is not only good at poetry and prose, but he is also proficient in the Four Books and Five Classics. I would like to invite him to serve as a clan scholar."
"Yes." Song Xuan nodded.
Song Xuan is the principal of the Song Clan Academy. With his consent, the matter is settled.
As for letting Wang Yuan join the family and learn to read, Song Ji could make the decision himself.
Song Xuan held "Xi Ya Shi Lu" in his hand, read it with gusto, and said: "This book will be stored in the family study for the time being, waiting for me to read it slowly."
Song Ji was a little reluctant to give up and said aggrievedly: "Uncle, I bought this new yesterday. It cost ten taels of silver. I haven't finished reading it yet."
Song Xuan immediately reprimanded: "You have been in charge of the Book of Rites for twenty years. Don't you know the etiquette of elders and children? I am an uncle and you are a nephew, but we are arguing over a collection of poems?"
"I..." Song Ji was suddenly speechless and said depressedly, "Uncle, please finish reading the book quickly. My nephew will take his leave first."
When Song Ji left the Yashe, Song Xuancai muttered: "This idiot is stupid at reading. He can just dismiss him with a few words. He is the eldest grandson of the Song family, but we must not let him inherit the position of the head of the family."