After lunch, Guo Song accompanied Xue Xun for a walk in the small back garden. The back garden was only half an acre, but it was exquisitely designed and elegantly arranged. A circle of cobblestones paved a path for walking in a circuitous way. Several clumps of bamboo were planted and a rockery was placed.
, build a pavilion and it will be a small garden world.
What made Xue Xun regretful was that there was no water and he could not raise fish. This was mainly because Xuanyangfang had no river and could only use well water. However, Han raised a few large carp in the well.
"I got news a few days ago that Cui Ning, the military governor of Jiannan Jiedushi, died of a sudden illness. There is no need to explore how he died. Shortly after his death, the emperor issued an order to make his brother Cui Kuan the military governor of Jiannan.
This is also expected by everyone, but the strange thing is that yesterday Cui Kuan sent someone to my house to thank me and gave me a pair of white jade. I was confused. Cui Kuansheng, Jiannan Jiedu Envoy and I
what is the relationship?"
Guo Song smiled slightly and said, "Since my father-in-law asked me, he should have already guessed the reason."
Xue Xun raised his eyebrows, "Does it really have anything to do with you?"
Guo Song nodded, "I was the one who accompanied the emperor during his private visit incognito to visit rice prices. During this period, we talked about the arrangements for Jiannan Jiedushi. I recommended Cui Kuan. Later I told the emperor what I thought of Cui Kuan.
It was your father-in-law who told me, I guess that’s what happened, Cui Kuan got some news from the palace, and he may have mentioned his father-in-law’s name.”
"I see!"
Xue Xun suddenly realized that this was what happened, but he was a little worried: "If Cui Kuan rebels one day, will I be implicated?"
Guo Song knew that his father-in-law had been famous for his integrity and outspokenness in the past, but now that he had been promoted, he had become more and more cautious, and he no longer had the same sharpness as before.
Guo Song comforted him with a smile and said: "Although Cui Kuan felt that it was related to his father-in-law, officially, it was highly recommended by Han Xiangguo. The emperor just asked me who he really wanted to appoint. The court must consider all aspects and weigh all the pros and cons.
, even if Cui Kuan rebels in the future, he will have nothing to do with his father-in-law."
"You're right, I was overthinking it."
Xue Xun felt relieved and said with a smile: "It's almost time. I have to rush back to the court. I have to go to the Ministry of Rites to attend the imperial examination discussion in the afternoon. I won't accompany my worthy son-in-law."
Guo Song nodded and said with a smile: "Before I leave officially, I will come over to talk to my father-in-law!"
Xue Xun took a look at his son and then hurried back to the court room. Xue Tao accompanied his mother to the street to buy things. Guo Song had nothing to do, so he simply took a nap in Xue Tao's room until Xue Tao came back in the afternoon. The young couple
Then he said goodbye and returned to the garden house.
Before dawn the next day, they left the capital and headed for Jingyang County, where Guo Song's manor was located.
Since the middle of the Tang Dynasty, the trend of land acquisitions by wealthy and powerful people has become more and more intense, and a large number of farmers have lost their land. The most serious consequence is that the foundation of the military system has been severely damaged. The prerequisite for the court to exchange land for farmers to perform free military service no longer exists, and the court
Since they were unable to afford huge military expenditures, the border lords would raise their own military expenditures in various ways. An Lushan and his like began to take control of their own armies, and rebellion became possible.
Although the Anlushan Rebellion had been put down, the trend of annexation did not disappear. It lasted for a hundred years and eventually led to the demise of the Tang Dynasty.
The land of Guanzhong is already covered with countless large and small manors. The most famous one is the Imperial Manor. There are dozens of them, covering an area of hundreds of thousands of acres. During the Anshi Rebellion, many relatives of the emperor were killed. Their manors
If no one inherited it, it was taken back by the emperor and listed as an imperial estate.
The Imperial Palace was not used by the emperor for personal enjoyment, but for rewarding the emperor's relatives or meritorious ministers.
Because of his outstanding performance in the Defense of Fengzhou and the Battle of the Central Plains, Guo Song was rewarded with an imperial estate. This imperial estate is located in Jingyang County and covers an area of 10,000 acres.
It should be noted here that 10,000 acres of land does not mean 10,000 acres of farmland. This also includes mountains, woods, rivers, etc. The actual farmland is only about 4,000 to 5,000 acres at most.
The manor of Guo Song is called Bailu Manor. It is located in the east of Jingyang County, close to the famous Baiqu. There are no woods in the manor, but there is an isolated mountain with a small river passing around the mountain. The trees are deep on the mountain and various small people live there.
There is also a courtyard-like building on the top of the mountain, and large wheat fields are scattered around the lonely mountain.
This manor originally belonged to Princess Huo. Princess Huo died during the Anshi Rebellion, and her manor returned to the emperor. The other courtyard on the mountain is where Princess Huo came to spend the summer, but it has been in disrepair for many years and no one lives there.
.
Moreover, manors are also divided into grades. For example, Guo Song's White Deer Villa, which has mountains and rivers, is a first-class manor. It is usually granted to princes or princesses. Just because Guo Song suffered the grievance of being forced to resign, Li Yu wanted to compensate
He specially gave this first-class manor to him.
There is a village to the south of the manor near Bai Canal, which is called Bailu Village. The manor is also named after this. There are sixty or seventy households in the village, most of which are tenant farmers of Bailu Villa. On average, each household cultivates eighty acres.
Half of the harvest is paid as land rent, and the land tax is deducted from the land rent. Because the water source is sufficient and the land is fertile, the harvest can basically be guaranteed during droughts and floods. The annual harvest is good. Although it is not enough to have enough food and clothing, it can barely keep the family fed and clothed.
At noon, Guo Song and his wife arrived at Bailu Manor. Yang Jun had already arrived at the manor on horseback and found the steward of the manor.
The steward of the manor, whose surname is Jin, is from Jingyang County. He is about forty years old and has managed the manor for nearly ten years. At present, Guo Song has not completely taken over the manor and has entrusted the government to manage it.
Hearing that the owner of the manor had arrived, Manager Jin led nearly two hundred tenant farmers to greet him at the official road. Everyone was uneasy, wondering if the new owner of the manor was coming to press for rent?
Last year, the crops suffered from pests and diseases, and the harvest was reduced by 20%. If the rent does not decrease, their life will be difficult.
"Don't worry too much. Guo Shijun should just come here to take a look, not to press for rent. I will explain the situation clearly and ask Guo Shijun to reduce the rent for everyone at his discretion."
At this time, a carriage was driving from a distance. Yang Jun waved to everyone, and Manager Jin quickly said: "Shijun Guo is here, let's go and greet him!"
Under the leadership of Manager Jin, two hundred people came to the carriage together. The carriage slowly stopped. Guo Song got out of the carriage first. Today, he accompanied his wife, so he did not ride a horse, but came together in a carriage.
Steward Jin quickly stepped forward and saluted, "Jin Nan, the villain, is the steward of Bailu Manor. See you, Ambassador Guo!"
"Thank you for your hard work, Manager Jin!"
Guo Song smiled, then looked at the people who greeted him and said, "Are these villagers in the manor?"
"Exactly!"
Manager Jin waved his hand, "Everyone, come and pay homage to Ambassador Guo."
A large group of people knelt down on the official road. Guo Song was startled, and he said to Manager Jin with some dissatisfaction: "What are you doing? Tell them to get up quickly!"
"Everyone, get up! No need to pay homage."
Everyone stood up, and several old men came forward and bowed and saluted: "I would like to inform Mr. Guo, last year the pests were rampant and the entire Guanzhong was affected. We took precautions day and night, but we still reduced production a lot. I beg you Mr. Guo.
Understand our difficulties.”
"Is it a locust plague?" Guo Song asked.
"It's not a plague of locusts, it's just a small black insect, the size of a corn. The whole ear of rice is covered with this small insect. If you find this small insect, you must immediately cut off the infected rice and burn it, otherwise it will spread."
of."
“How much did you lose last year?”
Manager Jin quickly said: "There was no reduction in wheat production last winter. It was mainly autumn grain. Rice production was reduced by 30%. Other imperial villages have already waived 20% of the rent. We still have to wait for Guo Shijun to make the decision here."
Guo Song nodded and smiled: "I understand, everyone is worried that I won't reduce the rent, right?"
Everyone looked at Guo Song eagerly, and Guo Song said with a smile: "I just took over this village, so I should give you a little greeting gift. Since the autumn grain was hit by a disaster last year, I will waive the rent for the autumn grain, and treat it as my gift to everyone."
Meeting gift!"
When the news spread, two hundred tenant farmers immediately cheered. They were excited and excited, and the gloom on their faces was wiped away. Several old men were so excited that they knelt down and kowtowed to Guo Song, "Thank you, Ambassador Guo, for your generous gift!"
Guo Song helped them up and said with a smile: "I will just come to the manor today to have a look. Everyone, please go back!"
Everyone went home happily. Guo Song helped Xue Tao out of the carriage. Xue Tao looked around and said with a smile: "Husband, here is surrounded by mountains and rivers. The scenery is very beautiful!"
Guo Song was particularly satisfied with the solitary mountain. A small river surrounded the foot of the solitary mountain like a jade belt. He pointed at the solitary mountain and asked the gold steward: "Is there anyone living on the mountain?"
Manager Jin shook his head and said: "No one lives there. The emperor's village has rules. It is not allowed to cut down trees. Villagers are prohibited from hunting. At most, they can only cut some branches and go home to burn fires. But the house on the top of the mountain has been in disrepair. I went up there last year.
I’ve seen that the wooden doors and windows are completely rotten.”
"Let's go see the fields!"
Guo Song asked his entourage to explore the way ahead. He took his wife down the official road and walked along a path towards the wheat field.