Chapter 199 The Gap Between the Army and Ordinary Households
In mid-February, everyone started to make a living in the new year. Li Zicheng and Zhang Xianzhong were thinking about strategic direction, while ordinary people were thinking about a year of spring plowing and making a living.
Here in Beizhili, last year, the farmers in Huangzhuang made some money by growing sweet potatoes and potatoes. The better farmers had more than 20 taels of silver, and the poor farmers had less than ten taels. Since the farmers did not pay land taxes, they only had
They pay for grain grains, and the grain grains are supplemented by miscellaneous grains. These incomes are almost all net income, so they have a lot of money this year, and they are very enthusiastic about growing miscellaneous grains.
Another advantage of growing miscellaneous grains is that you can raise more livestock. After the beginning of the new year, the most popular thing at the farmers' market near Huangzhuang is piglets.
Almost every villager has to catch two or three piglets to take home. They still have some small sweet potatoes and potatoes left. There is also a lot of residue left over from the flour mill in the village.
It is free for farmers to use. With these things, it is no problem to raise pigs until the beginning of summer. In summer, the things in the fields can be replenished, so it is not difficult for them to raise a few more pigs.
Liu Daqiang, a farmer from Dawangzhuang, took his wife to the market to choose piglets. After looking around, they found that this year's piglets were much more expensive than last year. They couldn't make up their minds.
"Damn it, why don't we catch a piglet? The price this year is too high."
"No, our family is raising three pigs this year. At the end of the year, we will eat one and sell two more. Otherwise, so many small potatoes will be wasted."
"What's the waste? The village also sells small potatoes, but the price is lower. Isn't it a good idea to buy them all and exchange them for money?"
"Is it cheaper to sell small potatoes for money than to sell pigs? Don't you just settle the score?"
"The price of piglets has risen like this, so raising pigs is probably not cost-effective, right? Every household is raising pigs this year, so who will sell so much pork at the end of the year? There is a big pig factory on the farm, so I don't think it is worthwhile to raise these pigs."
"I want to raise them! Can't you raise two pigs for the dolls and buy some clothes for the Chinese New Year next year? The dolls won't be able to wear clothes all year round, can't you see?"
The couple quarreled over whether to buy piglets, and almost fell out on the spot. In the end, Liu Daqiang did not bother his wife, and spent nearly two taels of silver to buy three piglets.
The couple returned home with three pigs on their backs. The pig pen at home was made of new stones. They put the three pigs into the pen. Liu Daqiang looked at the three little guys and became happier and happier.
In previous years, a family that raised three pigs was not an ordinary family! "Damn it, let's keep a sow out of these three pigs? Next year we will have piglets to sell."
"Just leave one end. You can cut some branches and cover the pig pen with some branches later. Don't let the piglets freeze."
These three pigs carry the hopes of Liu Daqiang and his wife for this year's life. In recent years, life has been worse than the previous year, and last year it was just like last year. As soon as life improved a little, the people became full of vitality, one by one.
Increase investment and hope for better days in the future.
While the couple was busy thickening the shed, a relative came to the house. Liu Daqiang's sister-in-law came to visit as a guest.
"His aunt and uncle, you caught three pigs? How much food do you need?"
"I can't eat much. I have planted a lot of sweet potatoes and potatoes. If I raise a few more, I will have more money next year."
"I'm afraid you are living well enough, and you don't have to pay for the imperial grain. You sold so much grain last year. His aunt and uncle, I came here today to ask if you still have sweet potatoes and potato seeds? Can you give them to my family?
Pick some?"
"Seeds? Aren't we picking them somewhere in the Imperial Manor? Can't you just go to the manor and pick them?"
"Alas! This is not because the family is short of food. I want to collect the food from your house and then return it to you. The people in the imperial village need fresh food."
This sister-in-law came here to borrow seeds. Liu Daqiang thought for a moment and agreed to her request. Anyway, planting these things doesn’t require much seeds. Relatives have to help with this. His family had a good harvest last year.
, but the life of other relatives has not improved much. I hope that their life will be better this year.
"His aunt, this year the court will suspend three rates of tax reform. I'm afraid your life will be easier after autumn." Liu Daqiang wanted to inquire about the court's tax reform. If the tax reform is really as the court said, private households will
Our lives will be easier, basically no different from Huangzhuang.
"I heard from the working group in Liangtian that this is the case, and I don't know what the situation will be like during the autumn harvest. His uncle, during the autumn harvest, Huangzhuang really collects grain with cash, right? Don't trick us, because we can't sell what we grow.
go out."
"You still have to believe what the working group says! We Zhuangzi came up with a working group last year. You see, things have improved. The emperor just sent the working group directly because he saw the corrupt officials bullying us ordinary people. They
But Mr. Qingtian, Huangzhuang Qiuhou must collect grain, otherwise the Qingtians of the working group will punish them. These corrupt officials are also holding back and pushing back. Since the working group has been established, it is hard to see whether they will take care of Huangzhuang.
Take your words seriously. Only then do we, the common people, have a way to survive."
The reputation of the working group is now very good among the imperial villages in the Zhili area. They feel that their good life is brought about by the emperor and the working group. The reason why they could not survive in the past was mainly due to corrupt officials such as the eunuchs in charge of the village.
Make it bad.
"His uncle, I have something to discuss with you. Please give me an idea. The people in the working group said that the emperor wants to recruit the children of our civilian households to join the army. They saw that my family is so talented.
In order to be energetic, I persuaded Rang to join the army and get food, saying that he could have a bright future! Do you think our great master can come and go?"
"Let Da Niu go to serve as a soldier to get food? His aunt, you have to think about this carefully. Although I heard that the emperor's soldiers are well paid and have a bright future. But after all, they are going to fight.
, if it’s not good, Daniel may not be able to come back.”
"I think so too, but Daniel is as stubborn as a donkey. He insists that he wants to eat food and move forward."
Due to the military household system of the Ming Dynasty, soldiers and ordinary people were not integrated with each other. For hundreds of years, ordinary people regarded serving as soldiers and fighting as a wrong way, and had no awareness of joining the army at all. Especially some self-cultivated farmers, as long as they had some means
They will not let their children join the army.
Most of the soldiers recruited by the new army are the children of bankrupt refugees who have lived in the capital. There are not many so-called good family members. Zhu Youjian is thinking of doing some mobilization work through working groups at the grassroots level to let some of the children of yeoman farmers also join the new army.
.However, it is extremely difficult to implement this work. At least for now, there are not many people who are interested. The gap between the military and the people is too big, and it will be difficult to change it in a short time.