Chapter 647: Going deep into the masses to build the foundation
"Yes, I have a daughter now and things are different from before." Zhang Yang replied in a low voice.
It started raining again late at night, and from the door of the main house, I could see that the lights in my younger siblings' quarters had been blown out.
Xiao Wu and Xiao Hui had their own rooms, and after half an hour the lights in their rooms were also blown out.
Only the oil lamp in the main house was still on. Zhang Yang was sitting in front of the house. He could not see the distance in the empty night. He could only hear the sound of rain falling on the eaves and Huaqing Pool.
Li Yue hugged her daughter and went to bed. Zhang Yang was still thinking about the farming matters at hand. There is a saying that everything cannot be separated from the masses. Only by going deep into the masses can we understand their needs and understand the current lives of the villagers in order to make appropriate decisions.
measures.
Even if we want to encourage crop diversity, we cannot do without the support of the masses.
As expected, everything is difficult without the masses. Without the foundation of the masses, nothing can be accomplished. Encouraging crop diversity needs to be done step by step. People's sentiments in different regions and counties are also different, so it needs to be done slowly.
It cannot be separated from the masses, nor can it be separated from the local support of townships and counties.
The government also needed to provide records of water and soil conditions in various places. After thinking about this, Zhang Yang returned to the house. His wife and daughter slept soundly.
He quietly closed the door and fell asleep on the blanket on the ground, hoping in his heart that the child in his wife's belly would be born safely.
In Chang'an City, today's morning court had just ended. Li Shimin saw the memorial sent by someone from Lishan. He whispered: "What has Zhang Yang been doing these two days?"
The prince said in a low voice: "Back to Your Majesty, I heard that the county magistrate left Lishan yesterday to go to various villages and counties to see the conditions of land cultivation, and also visited several households to inquire."
"Yeah." Li Shimin nodded in response and continued to read the memorial written by Zhang Yang, the right to regulate crops, and the sumptuous dishes on the dinner table?
The emperor couldn't help but smile, "This guy is quite enthusiastic."
Not long after, the guard in front of the palace reported: "Your Majesty, Xu Jingzong, the Minister of Rites, wants to see you."
Hearing this, Li Shimin put down the memorial and said, "Let him come in."
"Here."
In the past few days since the start of the court, everyone in the Ministry of Rites had made arrangements for the court meeting, thinking that it was time for him to come and report.
Now he is here. When he sees someone entering the palace and has not yet saluted, Li Shimin picks up the memorial in his hand and says, "No need to be more polite."
Xu Jingzong nodded and said: "Your Majesty, the Ministry of Rites has sent three envoys to Tubo and brought ten officials and scholars to Tubo. According to your Majesty's instructions, the Ministry of Rites has also sent envoys to Liaodong to convey the decree and appoint Zhang Da'an as the minister of the Ministry of Rites.
Continue to preside over affairs in Liaodong, and secondly, send His Majesty's credentials to the King of Goguryeo, ordering him to come to court."
Li Shimin took a deep breath and said, "You have always been very effective in the Ministry of Rites. Ever since Prince Hejian left the Ministry of Rites and Zhang Yang established the Diplomatic Academy, you have been busy with many things in the Ministry of Rites. You have worked hard these days."
Xu Jingzong bowed and saluted, "I care about the country as much as Zhang Shangshu, and I dare not neglect it."
Looking at him, this was the first time that Li Shimin looked carefully at this one of the eighteen bachelors of the Prince of Qin's Palace, "You are Zhang Yang's right-hand man, and it is because of you that the current situation of the Ministry of Rites is possible."
"Your Majesty, I must fulfill my duties. Everyone in the Ministry of Rites is doing it for the sake of the country and sharing your Majesty's worries." Xu Jingzong lowered his body and whispered: "Your Majesty said so, I... I am scared."
Li Shimin stood up and walked forward, patting his shoulder lightly, "Zhang Yang didn't care about the Ministry of Rites, and I also made him serve as the Minister of Taifu Temple. He can't do all the work on his own. Now he has entered the Zhongshu Province, and even more
He is the Minister of the Ministry of Finance, and there are so many things in the court that cannot be done by him alone."
Hearing this, Xu Jingzong lowered his body even lower.
The palace people in the palace lowered their bodies, and the prince and his father-in-law tidied up the scattered memorials on the table.
His Majesty is still talking.
"The position of Minister of Rites cannot be left vacant, and I cannot allow you to be the Minister of Rites but still have to do the things of Minister of Rites. This position of Minister of Rites belongs to you."
"I am determined to live up to His Majesty's expectations, and I will do my best in the future."
Li Shimin smiled and nodded, "I also know that Changsun Wuji often told me that you had bad conduct in Prince Qin's palace, but I also value ability. I have also asked about you in the past two years. Now you are married and have a family.
My conduct has improved a lot, and I didn’t make any big mistakes back then. In the future, I will still have to leave the important responsibility of the Ministry of Etiquette to you. As for things in Liaodong, everything can go as usual."
Xu Jingzong lowered his head and did not dare to say anything. After hearing the words, he said again: "I understand, I will leave first."
"Yes." Li Shimin responded and sat back to deal with the memorial.
After walking out of the Manna Hall, Xu Jingzong walked to a palace, caressing his chest to calm his breathing. When the Manna Hall was in front of His Majesty, he was so overwhelmed that he couldn't breathe.
Your Majesty almost said directly, are you working for Zhang Yang or me?
Xu Jingzong was about to start walking again, but his steps became weak unconsciously, and he walked a long way while holding on to the wall.
After meeting His Majesty, Xu Jingzong went to the Ministry of Rites to relax for a while, and hurriedly asked people to prepare horses. After giving instructions about the Diplomatic Academy, he hurried to Lishan Mountain.
At the moment, Zhang Yang is still worried about farming in the fields, listening to several old farmers discussing farming matters.
These old farmers have a lot of farming experience. Listening to their stories, Zhang Yang recorded some farming details. For example, when building canals, the terrain needs to be re-levelled. There is a difference between growing food and growing vegetables. Vegetables will rob the land of fertility.
, whether growing fruit trees or vegetables, requires more land fertility than food.
Therefore, the fields and vegetable fields must be separated. As I was recording this, I smelled the smell of tea eggs. I looked up and saw that this fat man was eating tea eggs. "Brother-in-law, Xu Jingzong is looking for you at the entrance of the village."
Zhang Yang took the tea egg he handed him, put the booklet in his hand into his arms, peeled off the egg shells and asked, "What is he doing here?"
Li Tai chewed the eggs in his mouth and distributed the remaining tea eggs to his guards.
"How many tea eggs does His Highness King Wei eat a day now?"
"Only one or two a day." Li Tai said leisurely: "I usually cook a pot and share the rest with my guards."
He paused and then said, "Brother-in-law, there are so many eggs in our village that we can't even finish making salted duck eggs."
Zhang Yang nodded and said: "You can take it to Chang'an City and sell it."
Chicken and duck eggs did not sell well when they arrived in Chang'an City. The secret recipe for salted duck eggs has always been in Lishan. At that time, you can find a way to pickle salted duck eggs and sell them, or boil tea eggs and sell them.
Firstly, it can consume the egg stock in the village, and secondly, it can be exchanged for some silver.
Lishan's eggs alone are a headache. Not to mention improving people's livelihood, the breeding industry is even more difficult.
If you want to give a basket of chickens, ducks and eggs as a gift, they may not accept it.
But if you send a basket of salted duck eggs, the other party will be very happy.
The two of them walked to the entrance of the village while eating eggs, and saw Xu Jingzong walking back and forth in official uniform, looking very sad.
"Old Xu, are you worried?" Zhang Yang greeted with a smile.
"This official is indeed in some trouble."
"Is it possible that your wife knew about your affair?"
Xu Jingzong hurriedly explained: "County Marquis, don't make fun of me. If you have a strong wife at home, how dare you raise an extra wife."
"So you are going to kill Monk Xuanzang?" Li Tai also asked.
"How can Monk Xuanzang be killed just as he says? Your Highness the King of Wei is joking."
Xu Jingzong explained and sighed: "Xiaguan went to see His Majesty after the morning court and said some words to him. I also want to inform the county marquis about these words."
Li Tai sat down aside, ready to listen.
His Majesty made arrangements for Tibet and Liaodong affairs. Xu Jingzong talked about civilizing the Tibetan tribes. Zheng Gong spoke out and the Ministry of Rites took care of it. He also summoned the King of Goguryeo.
Of course, given the current situation in Goguryeo, it is unlikely that the King of Goguryeo will leave at this time. Yeon Gaesomun is leading his troops to cause chaos. Whether the King of Goguryeo can continue to sit down is a question.
He also mentioned that His Majesty agreed to let Xu Jingzong serve as Minister of Rites.
Zhang Yang said in a low voice: "So your Majesty asked you to serve as the Minister of Rites, but there is no decree, no formal appointment, and no record of the Ministry of Personnel?"
Li Tai sat on the stone at the entrance of the village and said casually: "Since my father promised you to be the Minister of Rites, you must be."
How would he think about this matter from the perspective of a teacher? If he were a teacher, he would definitely be able to think of more. Zhang Yang thought about it and said after a moment: "Your Majesty is waiting for your results, whether it is civilizing the Tibetan people or pacifying the people."
Goguryeo, as long as you accomplish this, the position of Minister of Rites will be given to you."
"I still think that the Ministry of Rites cannot do without Zhang Shangshu."
Zhang Yang sighed: "Old Xu, what do you think His Majesty wants?"
Xu Jingzong bowed and said: "The achievements of Sheji."
"Before the achievements of the society, there is power. The diplomatic power of the Ministry of Rites must be handed over to someone who is absolutely trustworthy. Your Majesty can't trust me, and you may not be able to trust you. Only when your Majesty can trust you will you officially hand over the position of Minister of Rites.
you."
Zhang Yang added: "Since we have said that things in Liaodong will remain as usual, then the relationship between Lishan and the Foreign Affairs Academy will also remain as usual."
"Even if the official is promoted to the position of Minister of Rites, everything in the Ministry of Rites will still be as it was when Zhang Shangshu was there. Nothing will change. We all obey Zhang Shangshu's orders."
"Old Xu, you still don't understand what His Majesty means. When you get back, think about it again. Now that you've come to Lishan, how about having dinner together?"
"Forget it, I will thank His Highness the King of Wei and Zhang Shangshu."
Li Tairen prepared a banquet. After Xu Jingzong sat down, he raised his glass to toast again and again. Lishan's wine was very strong, and he kept drinking it.
It wasn't until he was too drunk to stand that Li Tai asked the guards to send him back.
Xu Jingzong was sent home, and after a while he sobered up and recovered from his drowsiness. This was not an appointment, but an exchange between Zhang Yang and His Majesty.
To put it simply, it is an exchange of interests.
His Majesty used his position as Minister of Rites to reach a deal with Zhang Yang.
Xu Jingzong smiled mockingly to himself. He was like a messenger. Maybe His Majesty had already expected that he would go to Lishan Mountain to meet Zhang Yang.
That's why Zhang Shangshu kept talking about him.
Your Majesty wants the fruits of the Ministry of Rites' construction over the years, and now the tree of the Ministry of Rites still relies on Zhang Yang.
Diplomatic power is becoming more important every year. Will Your Majesty turn a blind eye?
And so there was this exchange.
Your Majesty needs a trustworthy person to be in charge of the Ministry of Rites. This person cannot be someone else, but someone in the Ministry of Rites needs to be trustworthy.
Xu Jingzong wanted to understand why His Majesty chose him.
I, Xu Jingzong, was not the first to enter the Ministry of Rites. I participated in the Ministry of Rites and gradually grew it until now, when Zhang Yang withdrew from the court.
His Majesty wanted to evade Zhang Yang's power, so he tried to seize the position of Minister of Rites.
Between this and that, this transaction happened.
The Ministry of Rites handed over the powers of the Protectorate and left them to the court to fight for. In order to preserve the situation in Liaodong, Zhang Yang would definitely hand over the powers of the Protectorate.
Your Majesty asked the Ministry of Rites to abandon the chariot to protect the commander. In order to stabilize Zhang Yang, and to continue to order the King of Goguryeo to come to the Hetian Khan to proclaim himself a minister, he promoted me, Xu Jingzong, to serve as the Minister of Rites, and allowed the current Ministry of Rites to continue as usual.
His Majesty obtained the authority of the Protectorate, and Zhang Shangshu obtained his purpose of escaping from the court.
At the same time, His Majesty obtained the position of Minister of Rites, while retaining Zhang Shangshu's many years of planning in the Ministry of Rites.
In tandem, the deal between Zhang Yang and His Majesty was concluded.
Everything was going on in an orderly manner. Before the first month of the eleventh year of Zhenguan had passed, Xu Jingzong felt as if the entire Ministry of Rites had been shaken.
Over time, a promise and a response were achieved.
Zhang Yang's deal with His Majesty was very cryptic.
Xu Jingzong believed that he was not a fool. After he sobered up, he finally understood.
Under the power struggle, Zhang Yang has supported the Ministry of Rites for so many years, and now he is finally withdrawing. The Ministry of Rites has become a general trend. Even without Zhang Shangshu, everything can proceed in an orderly manner.
And when those Gaochang soldiers and horses went to Persia, the Ministry of Rites also discovered that it had lost contact with these Gaochang people.
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Xu Jingzong felt that his back was soaked with sweat, and the terrible struggle between the emperor and his ministers was going on quietly, and he was in this game, and he was so proud before that he didn't know it.
Zhang Elephant and Da Su have also been in the Ministry of Rites for some time. Zhang Elephant is the eldest son of Duke Zou. He will inherit the family title and will leave the Ministry of Rites sooner or later.
Dasu has been named a member of Zhongshushe and concurrently serves as the Minister of Rites. He will leave sooner or later.
As for Di Zhisun, who is far away in the Hexi Corridor, he has made great contributions to the governance of the Hexi Corridor. After these talents come back, they will be the Minister of Rites, but they will not always hold the position of Minister of Rites in the future.
There are also Da'an and Pei Xingjian, one of whom is far away in Persia, and the other is far away in Liaodong.
The talents of these two people are very high.
Looking at the entire Ministry of Rites, it seems that the Ministry of Rites has gone from being dilapidated back then to now being filled with talented people.
At this moment, on Lishan Mountain, Zhang Yang would go to his newly built workshop and be busy for an hour or two every day. His younger siblings were very curious about the workshop and didn't know what his brother-in-law was busy with there all day long.
When I asked about it, my brother-in-law said that he wanted to build something really amazing.
Only Li Yue knew that the previous flintlock gun was not poorly made and needed to be remade.
Taking some time off from his busy schedule to spend some time with his daughter, Zhang Yang continued to study farming strategies, and planned to meet the chief registrar and the two supervisors who were currently serving at Taifu Temple.
As the minister of Taifu Temple and the number one in command, he cannot even ignore his subordinates.
He first promoted the counties in Weinan to implement vegetable planting and free-range vegetable farming plans, and went deep into the masses to listen to their opinions, and then gradually improved it. Zhang Yang believed that as long as it was effective, it could be widely publicized. The ability of the masses is the most powerful.