He is Xu Changying, the former Minister of War.

After being implicated in the case of the remnant of the deposed emperor, he was demoted and retired early to return home.

After asking for the address, Guan Ning took Jin Yue to visit.

After leaving Shangjing, we headed to the north of the city.

Because he is busy with too many things, Guan Ning rarely leaves the city.

Xu Changying is located in the northern suburbs of Shangjing City. There are large areas of fertile land here, and it is difficult to see the end of it at a glance.

Passing by, I saw a scene of busy work. This is the canal that Guanqiu, the minister of the Ministry of Industry, said would be dug to divert water from the Huai River to irrigate the fertile fields.

According to Guan Ning's understanding, these fertile fields are owned by noble families in the city.

There are already three canals, but now they need to be dug.

He even passed by to take a look and saw that the workers were sweating profusely.

Continuing to the north there is a small village.

The village is small and looks very run-down. Most of the villages are mud houses and thatched huts.

Seeing Guan Ning and Jin Yue, the villagers gathered around curiously.

"I didn't expect there to be such poor villages around Shangjing City."

Jin Yue was very curious.

Wearing T-shirts and straw sandals, these farmers look very poor.

It's already October, the weather is starting to get cooler, but I don't have thick clothes.

"It's normal."

Guan Ning said: "Wherever there is prosperity in any region, there is also poverty."

Under the leadership of an enthusiastic old man, we came to a courtyard.

This is an ordinary farmyard, with a low courtyard wall surrounded by fences. The yard is not big, and you can see through it that there is an earthen house inside.

In front of the earthen house, there was an elderly man sitting on a chair, basking in the sun.

"Is that Mr. Xu?"

Jin Yue looked suspicious.

"Master Xu."

Guan Ning shouted.

Xu Changying, who was sitting on the chair, opened his eyes and saw Guan Ning at the door. He was slightly startled, then stood up and came over, opening the fence door.

"Why are you here?"

Guan Ning looked at Xu Changying and almost didn't recognize her.

In just a short time, it seems that he has aged ten years and his face is covered with wrinkles. The former second-grade official has become an old man...

"Let me see you."

Guan Ning and Jin Yue go in.

"Who's coming?"

Accompanied by a female voice, a woman wearing an apron came out.

Her skin color is slightly darker, no different from that of ordinary elderly village women.

"This is my wife."

Xu Changying introduced.

"Meet Madam."

Guan Ning was busy sending greetings.

"Come here as soon as you come, and you have so many things to bring, please come in quickly."

Guan Ning didn’t come empty-handed, he brought a lot of daily food.

"I'm here to see Mr. Xu."

"Master Xu?"

"Old Xu is no longer an adult."

The woman asked: "Are you the Prince Guan? I heard Old Xu often say that before."

"Are you talking bad about me?"

"I always praise you."

"Yeah?"

Guan Ning couldn't quite believe that he was the direct cause of Xu Changying's current situation.

"real."

The woman sighed lowly and said: "After Lao Xu was implicated, none of his colleagues and subordinates came to visit him. They all stayed away. But you... came to visit."

"What are you talking about?"

Xu Changying said: "Go and get a cup of tea."

The woman entered the house, and Jin Yue also helped.

"Sit down. Don't be dissatisfied with this condition."

The two sat down opposite each other.

Guan Ning smiled and said: "Master Xu is enjoying the blessings, and there are no worries in the countryside anymore."

The environment here is really good.

Sitting here, you can see the neat fields outside. The autumn harvest has ended, and it will be better when the crops are full next year.

From a distance, you can still see the scene of workers digging canals.

"Well, from another perspective, it can be considered a blessing."

Xu Changying sighed lowly and said: "I was implicated by Deng Qiu and fell from the highest place. I can't calm down in my heart and hate you so much. If you hadn't investigated some cases, how could I be where I am now?"

"But let's look at it. This period of time is the most relaxing for me. I don't have to think about the complicated government affairs, don't have to participate in court struggles, and don't have to scheming..."

"Master Xu really understands."

"Humans, you just have to experience something before you can see through it."

Xu Changying sighed a lot.

"What the old woman said just now is right. You are the only person who has come to see me since I came here."

Guan Ning asked curiously: "This is Mr. Xu's hometown?"

When you retire and return to your hometown, you will return to your hometown.

"yes."

Xu Changying said solemnly: "My ancestors were tenant farmers for three generations, and everyone in this village is tenant farmers. Do you think it's ridiculous? There is so much land around the village, but not even half an acre belongs to the villagers."

"I remember that my father worked hard to take care of the land for a year, but in the end our family had no rice to eat. I didn't understand."

Xu Changying's voice became deeper.

"I wanted to change, but the land that was clearly ours became someone else's, so I climbed higher and higher step by step. I became Minister of the Ministry of War, but then I realized that I couldn't change it."

"sad."

Guan Ning couldn't help but say two words.

"Yeah, it's sad!"

He looked into the distance.

Xu Changying said: "This year has been a bad year. There has been a lack of rain. Several prefectures in the north have suffered from drought and the harvest has been poor. They were worried about their land and dug canals. It was people from the Ministry of Industry who dug them."

"In fact, there is no shortage of water at all. There are already three rivers and canals, but no one cares about the places where water is really scarce."

Guan Ning found helplessness in his expression.

"Aren't you on duty at the Ministry of War? Did you encounter any difficulties?"

He changed the subject and asked again.

"We did have a problem."

Guan Ning told the truth.

"The main reason is that the new army has been established and some generals need to be deployed. I am not familiar with them... I came here to ask you for advice."

"Are you really serious about this?"

"yes."
To be continued...