Looking at the man in front of him who was wearing patched clothes and dripping with sweat, Chen Jingke sighed in his heart. He has the appearance of being in his forties when he is in his twenties. The suffering of the common people is not a joke.
"Are you Han Xiaogou?"
Han Xiaogou did not dare to be arrogant in the face of this too young nobleman. He had already found out about Zixiaoguan's situation.
The person in front of him is Chen Jingke, Chen Zhenren, Sun Shenxian's only disciple and the prospective consort of Princess Jinyang. He is the person who can really change his destiny.
He took a few deep breaths, trying to calm down his rapid breathing, but it had no effect. The intense running and nervousness made his heart unable to calm down at all.
He could only gasp and reply: "Back to the real person, I am Han... Xiaogou."
Seeing his nervous look, Chen Jingke smiled and said, "It's okay, don't be in a hurry, just take your breath first and then talk."
Han Xiaogou was very embarrassed. If he had known better, he would not have run so fast. After resting for about a minute or two, he was finally able to speak normally, bowed and said:
"I've been waiting for so long, please forgive me."
Chen Jingke said nonchalantly: "I can understand, sit down."
"Thank you, Master." Han Xiaogou sat down cautiously, with only half of his butt next to the chair.
Chen Jingke smiled and said, "Sit down if you want. You are so tired."
Han Xiaogou stood up quickly and said, "I'd better stand. I'm used to it. It makes me feel more comfortable."
Chen Jingke shook his head and said, "You can do whatever you want... Did you write that article about flood control?"
Han Xiaogou hesitated and said honestly: "My father and I wrote it together."
Chen Jingke was stunned for a moment. He didn't expect this to happen. But he didn't mind it. Han Xiaogou's plan was not difficult to guess. It was normal for the whole family to go into battle together on such an opportunity.
"You are honest, yes, I like honest people. I don't care how many people participated in this article, as long as you have real talent and learning."
Han Xiaogou's anxious heart finally calmed down, and he said gratefully: "It's not strange, Master Xie."
Chen Jingke said: "I will test you on a few questions. If you can answer them, your whole family can go to Zixiao Temple tomorrow."
Han Xiaogou said in disbelief: "My whole family? Am I not the only one?"
Chen Jingke said affirmatively: "It will be difficult for you to study with peace of mind if your family is left here. However, you can relinquish your citizenship and become a good person. Your family can only serve as seconded craftsmen of Zixiaoguan."
Han Xiaogou said excitedly: "That's great, thank you for your kindness."
Chen Jingke said: "Don't get too happy first. Answer my questions first."
Han Xiaogou solemnly said: "You can ask."
Chen Jingke said: "The first question is, why is there so much sediment in the Yellow River?"
Hearing this question, Han Xiaogou smiled bitterly and said: "To be honest, I have never been to the upper reaches of the Yellow River and I dare not say anything nonsense, but I know why the water in the Jing River is turbid."
Chen Jingke said: "Many of the principles are similar. If you can explain why the Qingjing River water is turbid, it will be the same."
Hearing this, a trace of confidence appeared on Han Xiaogou's face and he said: "According to the manuscripts left by my ancestors, the Wei River used to be turbid and the Jing River was clear. It was only in recent decades that the Jing River became turbid and the Wei River was clear."
"My father was very curious about this and asked about the reason. He found that from the Sui Dynasty to the present, the imperial court had been migrating people to the upper reaches of Jingshui River."
"People cut down all the trees on the ground to create farmland. The trees can solidify the soil and prevent it from being easily washed away by water."
"Now that all the trees and turf on the ground have been cut down, there is no way to protect the soil. When it rains on cloudy days, the soil is washed down the river, and the Jingshui becomes turbid."
Chen Jingke was very happy when he heard it. Everyone knew clearly what it meant, but which river was clear and which was muddy, and very few people knew why this happened.
In the previous life, this caused a lot of controversy. Everyone used their own evidence to prove that the other party was wrong. In fact, everyone was right. The turbidity of the Jinghe River and the Weihe River changed in different periods.
When the imperial court resettled people to cultivate farmland on a large scale in the upper reaches of the Jing River, the Jing River became turbid. When the imperial court decided to abandon this area, the Wei River became turbid.
However, this truth was not summed up until later generations. This family judged the cause of the turbidity of the Jing River based on their own experience. This is definitely true knowledge derived from practice.
"Okay, your answer is good, is there anything else? As long as it's about water control, any idea will do."
After receiving the approval, Han Xiaogou was very excited and said: "Returning to Chen Zhenren, too much sediment in the Jinghe River will raise the river bed and increase the risk of the embankment bursting. We must find a way to clean up the river sand."
"The same is true for flooding in the Yellow River. Too much sediment has settled at the bottom of the river. Simply raising the river embankments cannot solve the fundamental problem."
"Now the Yellow River is higher than the ground. Once the embankment breaks, it is almost impossible to block it. So I think that to control the Yellow River, we must first control the sand. The long-term solution is to control the sand."
Naturally, Chen Jingke knew the slogan "Control yellowing and sand first", but it was quite new to hear it from a Tang Dynasty river worker.
"Is there any way to control sand?"
Han Xiaogou said: "We have thought of a way, but we don't know if it will work."
Chen Jingke encouraged: "Whether it works or not, let's talk about it first. If it works, you will have made a great contribution."
Han Xiaogou said: "It means building a sluice at regular intervals, and lifting the sluice from time to time to use the impact of the water flow to take the sand out."
After saying that, Han Xiaogou looked at Chen Jingke anxiously.
Chen Jingke nodded slowly and said, "Your family really has a deep understanding of water control. Congratulations on passing the assessment."
"Ah?" Han Xiaogou didn't react at first. He didn't expect that he passed the test so easily. He was already prepared to fail.
After being stunned for a while, I realized what happened, and said in surprise: "I passed? Thank you, Master, thank you, Master..."
Chen Jingke was also very happy. He successfully found a suitable talent, which made him feel that all the hard work these days was worth it.
This thing is just like Taobao, the process is very tiring, but the joy when you find the treasure is really happy.
Then Chen Jingke took him to Jiang Yi, the minister of the Ministry of Industry, and directly explained his purpose.
Jiang Yi was naturally willing to sell it to Chen Jingke, so he wrote an official document on the spot: Han Xiaogou was dismissed as a craftsman because he failed to inherit his ancestors' craftsmanship and made serious mistakes in river management.
Well, according to the laws of the country, being a craftsman is an honor, and being expelled from the craftsmanship is a punishment.
But in fact everyone knows it.
Then he wrote another official document. Zixiao Guan Chen Jingke wanted to study the method of river management and borrowed Han Laoliu and his family, a river engineer, from the Ministry of Works.
It's just that there is no date written on this secondment letter. It only says when the study will be completed and when it will be returned.
After writing the official document, Jiang Yi said to Han Xiaogou: "It's a great blessing for you to be favored by the real person. I hope you have a good life and don't let the real person down."
Han Xiaogou suppressed his excitement and bowed: "Yes, I will follow the instructions of the Minister."
Jiang Yi didn't say anything more, but handed the official document to Chen Jingke. People like Han Xiaogou usually didn't even bother to look at it, let alone speak. Today, he just made an exception to give Chen Jingke face.
After getting the official document, Chen Jingke said: "Thank you to Minister Jiang, I will have a descendant to thank you."
Jiang Yi was waiting for this sentence, and said politely: "You are so polite, it's just a small effort."
After a few more polite words, Chen Jingke said goodbye and left. Jiang Yi didn't return until he was sent to the door.
In a quiet place at the door, Chen Jingke handed the official document to Han Xiaogou and said, "Take it back and tidy it up. Find me at Zixiaoguan tomorrow."
"Pfft." Han Xiaogou knelt on his knees and clicked his head three times in a row, and said gratefully: "Thank you Master, I, Han Xiaogou, will definitely work hard to repay you in this life. If I violate this oath, I will not die a good death."
Chen Jingke said: "Learning the knowledge of studying objects well is the best reward for me. Get up."
Han Xiaogou then stood up, and when he raised his head again, his forehead was already bruised.
Fearing that someone was deliberately making things difficult for him, Chen Jingke sent another guard to follow him to go through the formalities.
Then he returned to Zixiao Temple first.
…
When I got home and showed the official document to my parents and family, the whole family was so excited that they burst into tears.
Han Laoliu said while crying: "It's worth it. My life has been worth it. Have the ancestors seen it? I finally let our old Han family get rid of the craftsmanship."
Han Xiaogou's mother and wife were also moved to tears and finally escaped from this sea of suffering.
Although Han Xiaogou was the only one who obtained good health in name, according to current laws, his wife and children also automatically obtained good health.
Although Han Laoliu and his wife are still craftsmen, being borrowed by Zixiaoguan is equivalent to gaining freedom. When they die, everything will be over.
Everyone has his or her own life circle, and Han Xiaogou's circle is the group of craftsmen under the name of the Ministry of Industry.
He was attracted by Chen Zhenren, and the news that his whole family was about to leave spread throughout the entire circle in an instant. Not only were all his colleagues shocked, but even some officials from the Ministry of Industry were dumbfounded.
But the official document stamped with the seal of the Ministry of Industry, and the Taoist priest Zixiaoguan who followed, all told everyone that this was true.
Knowing that it was Chen Jingke who came to ask for it in person, the officials below did not dare to make things difficult and completed all the procedures smoothly.
The night before the move, all the craftsmen who were familiar or unknown came over to see him off.
During this period, someone asked them insinuatingly how they came to be watched by Zi Xiao. Han Laoliu did not hide anything and told the story as an honor.
However, most people give up on this idea when they hear it at the beginning, because it is more difficult for them to learn to read than to break away from their identity as a craftsman.
Among the people in their circle, the total number of people who could read some words could be counted on one hand. After confirming that they had no chance, everyone returned disappointed.
Han Xiaogou's father-in-law, Wu Laosan, and his family remained until the end.
Wu Laosan said enviously: "Congratulations, brother, you are finally out of the sea of suffering."
Afraid of irritating the other party's family, although Han Laoliu was very happy, he still restrained himself from laughing too proudly and said: "It's a fluke, it's just a fluke."
Wu Laosan glanced at his daughter and said, "My daughter married into a good family like yours because of her good deeds in her previous life."
He also said to his daughter: "From now on, you must respect your parents-in-law well, be diligent in housework, and don't be a lazy woman."
Mrs. Han Wu quickly said: "Don't worry, Aye, I will listen to my parents-in-law and mother-in-law in everything."
They are all old foxes. How could Han Laoliu not understand the meaning of his words, and immediately said: "Brother Wu, don't worry, my Han family is not an ungrateful person."
"Back then, you didn't think my family was poor and you married a girl over. I, Han Laoliu, have remembered this in my heart. I only recognize her as my daughter-in-law. If Xiaogou dares to have other ideas, I won't slap him in the face.
"
Han Xiaogou also said solemnly: "Aye, don't worry, I still understand why a wife of a poor wife should not go to court, and I will never be a heartless person in this life."
After receiving the assurance, Wu Laosan felt relieved and said: "What are you doing... Hey, I feel relieved with your words. Let's go, let's go, one by one."
"It's getting dark and I won't stay much longer. I have to go to work tomorrow so I won't see you off." Wu Laosan said he wanted to leave, but his steps didn't move.
Han Laoliu knew what he was waiting for, so he winked at Han Xiaogou.
Han Xiaogou was a little embarrassed, but he couldn't help but his father could only say: "Don't worry, Aye, I will try to take you out if I have the opportunity in the future."
Wu Laosan smiled with wrinkles on his face and said: "Oh, oh, how can this happen? Oh, old man, I have accumulated good deeds in my previous life to meet such a good son-in-law like you."
"Xian son-in-law, I'm waiting for good news from you... But you have just left, so don't rush. It won't be too late to think of a solution after you have established a firm foothold in Zixiaoguan."
Han Xiaogou forced a smile and said: "I know, Aye, don't worry."
Wu Laosan then left happily.
After sending his father-in-law away, Han Xiaogou complained: "Yeah, why do you want me to agree to this? We have just escaped ourselves. We don't know what will happen in the future. How can we dare to agree to get them out?"
Han Laoliu sighed: "Do you think he really expects you to get his family out? No, he just wants to give himself a hope."
Han Xiaogou suddenly felt a little guilty, and actually had some thoughts of getting his father-in-law's family out.
However, he only dared to think about it and did not dare to take it seriously.
Soon the whole family forgot about Wu Laosan and packed up all the valuable things at home overnight.
In fact, there is nothing valuable in their home. They only have a few books and some tools handed down from their ancestors.
But as the saying goes, a broken home is worth a thousand dollars. Things that are usually inconspicuous, but when you leave, you feel that everything is very important.
Han Laoliu was still courageous, gritted his teeth and said: "In addition to books and tools, each person should bring a change of clothes, and leave the rest to give to the neighbors."
"Ah?" His wife was very reluctant to part with it and said, "It's a pity to get rid of so many things. They were all purchased with great difficulty."
Han Laoliu said: "What do you know? I have inquired about it. When you arrive at Zixiao Temple, you will be given a new house to live in, new clothes will be given, and everything will be new."
"There is still a monthly allowance of more than 100 and 200 renminbi, and they will all be replaced with new ones when the time comes."
Having said that, they really couldn't bear to throw away so many things.
However, Han Laoliu always kept his word at home, and now because of his efforts, his son was deregistered and his whole family fled the Ministry of Industry, and no one dared to contradict him.
In the end, I really only took a change of clothes and books, and left the tools, and everything else was given to the neighbors.
Some people are envious of this, some are jealous of it, some are blessing it, and some are sneering at it secretly.
But these had nothing to do with them. Early the next morning, they went to Zixiao Temple with their salutes, and embarked on a completely different path.
