In early spring in February, the Guanzhong Plain was still experiencing a chilly spring, but hard-working farmers could already be seen in the countryside.
The people in Guanzhong have no leisure time all year round. They take advantage of the New Year to clean up and repair the houses they live in and the farm tools they use. Then they get busy again after the New Year. They may drive away the rats and rabbits that wander around the wheat fields and eat the roots.
, or plow the idle land, dry it in the sun, and wait for the flood season to come next month, when the water becomes abundant, sow the rice crop.
In a village in Weinan, a team of twenty or thirty people entered the village. Immediately, the sound of beating gongs was heard in the village. This was a signal from the village chiefs and party chiefs to summon the villagers.
All of a sudden, the people, whether they were staying at home or busy in the fields, came to the small square in the village, which was quite open.
At this time, the head of the village was standing together with the group of people who entered the village, talking in a low voice. When the villagers had almost arrived, the head of the village introduced these visitors to the villagers: "This one is Zhang County Lieutenant of the County and
Officials in the government office, please stop making noise and listen carefully to the official orders!"
The villagers were still whispering, but after hearing this, they immediately closed their mouths, and just looked at the county captain and the government officials who were accompanying him with curiosity and vigilance.
Zhang Xianwei was a middle-aged man in his thirties. When the crowd stopped talking, he spoke loudly: "I am entering the country today on the order of the county magistrate. In the coming days, a large group of people will pass through our county.
The county office is raising a batch of grain and fodder materials on its behalf. If you fellow villagers have fodder at home, you can ask..."
Before the county captain finished speaking, there was a buzz of discussion among the people present, and everyone showed dissatisfaction. Some villagers couldn't help but said angrily: "There are constant miscellaneous things all the year round, and the food and clothing are reduced every year. Now even the cattle and horses
I won’t let go of any food!”
Not to mention the angry villagers, the local chief also looked at the county captain with a careful look and whispered: "Did the county captain make a mistake in his dispatch? This township has always paid hemp to serve as miscellaneous food, and the livestock materials have never been collected. The villagers have prepared the materials."
It’s just the cattle and horses in the breeding households. If they are forced to requisition, I’m afraid the livestock will suffer!”
In the administration of Western Weizhou County, different places will collect different materials, which are mainly based on local products. The fodder needed to raise war horses is also included in the collection. However, except for the official and pastoral areas, if other places want to collect fodder, every
Households are also required to be granted additional grazing land of varying sizes. As for the villagers taking advantage of the leisure time to cut grass and dry the stored fodder, they are not included in the expropriation.
When the village chief learned about the intention of the county captain and his party, he began to murmur in his heart. At this time, while the villagers were boiling with resentment, he plucked up the courage to express his opinion.
The county captain first rolled his eyes, and then looked at the villagers and said: "The collection of fodder this time is not forced. The passing army will buy it with property. The county magistrate wants to take care of you and other villagers, so..."
However, before he could finish his words, he was immediately drowned out by the louder discussion, which was also mixed with sarcasm and ridicule. The villagers were already very displeased at being forced to pay for taxes, and when they heard that the government and the army would spend money to buy
After that, I immediately felt that my intelligence had been insulted.
Bandits passed like combs, and soldiers passed like grates. When the villagers learned that there would be a large army passing through, they were already considering whether to take their belongings and go out for a while. But the county captain actually said that the officers and soldiers would pay for fodder.
, this is simply funny!
Seeing the crowd's reaction, the county captain immediately felt ashamed and annoyed. In a blink of an eye, he motioned to all the accompanying government officials to draw their sabers, and then suppressed the jeering or complaining noises.
"You countrymen are ignorant and don't know that there is good in the world! Do you know who will lead the army across the border in the future? It is General Li, the Duke of Taiyuan, who is in Jingzhou! The Duke of Taiyuan is a famous minister and general who is powerful in the world. Even the arrogant general
The most powerful army of Eastern thieves has been repeatedly defeated by the Duke of Taiyuan. If he says he wants to buy supplies from you countrymen, how can he deceive you ordinary people!"
Seeing that all the people were silent, the county lieutenant snorted again.
When the villagers heard this, they couldn't help but be a little doubtful. Especially when they heard the reputation of General Li, many people showed doubts and curiosity. After a while, an old farmer suddenly asked: "May I ask what the Ming Dynasty said about General Li?"
, is he the General Li who lives in Shangyuan, Luodong, Weibei, and opened a dormitory along the river?"
"The old farmer has some knowledge. Yes, General Li is indeed from Shangyuan, Wuxiang..."
After hearing this, the county captain raised his eyebrows and said with a smile, but this time, before he could finish his words, he was drowned out by the sudden loud discussion of the crowd, which inevitably made him even more irritated.
He had been working in the county government for a long time and rarely went to the countryside to do work. He did not expect that work in the countryside would be so difficult, and the villagers would not even let him finish what he said.
Before he could scold him angrily, he found that the villagers who had gathered here dispersed. He was so angry that he grabbed the hand of the village chief, pointed at the backs of the villagers who turned away and said angrily: "These unscrupulous people, they are going to
What are you doing? How dare you be so reckless..."
"Didn't the Ming government send an order asking the villagers to donate materials? If the villagers don't go home to get them, how can they gather together?"
After hearing this, the commander said in a daze, and then looked at the county captain expectantly and asked: "Excuse me, Ming Mansion, on what day will General Li cross the border? Will the general lead the troops himself, or will his subordinates do it for him?
?”
"General Li is here in person, and in the future he will..."
The county captain answered subconsciously at first, then reacted and then said: "But these countrymen clearly complained a lot just now, why are they so obedient now?"
Just looking at the reactions of these villagers before, he would never believe that these people would go home obediently and collect the fodder and hand it over.
After hearing this, the head of the village laughed again and said with respect: "There are complaints from the villagers because they don't know that General Li is in need. Since General Li is in need, naturally we must gather together as soon as possible without delay.
The general acts!"
The county captain was even more dumbfounded when he heard this. He knew that General Li had great military exploits and was famous far and wide, but he didn't expect that he had such deep prestige in this countryside. He just heard about his name, and just now
The villagers, who were still complaining, obeyed the orders diligently and respectfully.
Thinking that when he came to this village, even his words were frequently interrupted by villagers, the county captain couldn't help but feel angry, and curiously said: "I have never heard that General Li ever ruled this village, and this is not the location of his village."
,Why are these countrymen so respectful?"
Although extreme fear can make people obey orders, there is no fear on the faces of these villagers, but they are proactive. This really puzzles the county captain who feels that grassroots work is not being carried out well.
.
The head of the village first ordered his son to go home and collect fodder, and then smiled and explained to the county captain: "Although General Li does not rule this village, the villagers have benefited greatly! The wells in the village and the canal in front of the village are all
General Li sent his disciples to build the huts along the Luoshui River, and every year they help the villagers pound rice and grind flour! If General Li did not benefit the village, how could the villagers plant wheat to prepare for the shortage?"
The processing procedures of wheat are relatively cumbersome, and it is not considered a high-quality crop for ordinary people who lack productivity and production tools. Therefore, its planting scale has always lagged behind that of millet, millet, millet, and sugarcane. However, wheat's overwintering characteristics can also be used as a preparation for famine.
Crops are grown.
In the past, Guanzhong's water conservancy was mostly controlled by powerful families, and it was difficult for ordinary people to share it. However, as General Li set up a river on the Luoshui River, he would spend two months every year to help the villagers process grain crops and purchase grain for free.
The price is also very fair.
Without the restrictive burden of processed grains, even the wheat planting area in surrounding areas has greatly expanded. The processed flour not only enriches the choice of staple foods, but also has high economic added value, and also allows villagers to obtain tangible benefits.
of benefits.
The reason why small migrant workers are calculating is because they don’t have much, and a slight difference can add more burdens to their lives. And small people also value morality more, because morality is one of the few things that can make them feel dignity.
It also allows them to participate in interpersonal interactions more conveniently. Rich and powerful people are naturally the focus of the interpersonal network, and do not have high moral requirements.
Although General Li has never governed Weinan, his help to the villagers is reflected in every meal. So when they learned that General Li was going to pass through the border and had such a need, the villagers naturally enthusiastically helped.
Soon the fodder from all over the country and eight villages gathered at the county office, occupying all the open space inside and outside the county office, while oxcarts and horse-drawn carriages from the countryside continued to flow towards the county seat.
Originally, the notice received by the county was to help collect fodder, and all the townships would record the amount produced. After the army arrived to collect the fodder, they would be compensated with property, and then the county office would distribute it to the townships on their behalf.
However, the county officials soon discovered that this seemingly simple task was not easy to do. The villagers were too enthusiastic and the fodder collected far exceeded the amount required by General Li. Moreover, many villagers did not understand it at all.
The county office co-ordinated and directly arrived with a carriage full of fodder. After unloading the horses, the carriage and the goods were all left outside the county office, and everyone returned to their hometowns on horseback.
Li Tai didn't know how much trouble his request brought to the county magistrate, but after passing Wuguan, he could clearly feel the enthusiasm of the elders in Guanzhong. It may be an exaggeration to say that Tan Shi Hu Jian welcomes Master Wang.
, but wherever you go, there are cheers of welcome on both sides of the road.
Li Tai had also traveled in and out of Guanzhong before, but he usually traveled lightly and quickly without notifying the counties along the way. He passed quickly and quickly. But this time he led 5,000 men and horses, plus the accompanying Ding Yi and others.
The baggage convoy stretched for miles in front and back, and it was impossible to pass quickly.
In addition, Li Tai had the idea of showing off his power this time, and the marching speed was not very fast. He also used the silk brocade goods he carried to purchase temporary supplies from counties along the way. It was also through this interaction that he paved the way for the future.
When we come in and out in the future, the local authorities will know how to cooperate.