Han Zuo Gaomen

Chapter 1107
The end of winter and early spring is a rather delicate time of the year. There is still frost in the countryside, but under this frozen soil layer, life is being bred, just waiting to burst forth.

The north and the south are separated by only a big river, but in this season of transition from winter to spring, it presents a diametrically opposite style.

Xuzhou last year, especially at the end of the year, did experience some turmoil due to the transfer of power, but a new order was soon established.The abolition of the county soldiers, the termination of military service, the establishment of military mansions, the establishment of civilian households, the allocation of land and reclamation, and many other affairs, are all proceeding in an orderly manner.

Although it is still early spring and the frost and cold are not gone, the first batch of naturalized households around Guangling have received various farming materials such as agricultural tools, grain seeds, and mulberry seedlings, and under the organization of the Dudu Mansion, they have officially started reclamation.

For the people in Xuzhou, especially the people around Guangling, this is quite a symbolic sign, but most people are not aware of it, but it also does not damage their inner joy.

Although Shen Zhezi has been entangled in many things recently, on the day when the plow was officially released for plowing, he still took half a day to be there in person to preside over a ceremony.

In the early hours of the morning, a piece of barren land south of Guangling City was surrounded by military officers and soldiers, who set fire to the dry and messy grass growing on the barren land.When the dawn was about to break, the villagers in the surrounding suburbs and villages were also recruited to the surrounding areas.

At this time, a rather large team in Guangling City also set off to leave the city.Liang Gong, Shen Wei, and Zhou Duan sat on the Siwang chariot with two oxen and imperial guards, and there were elite guards in the front, back, left, and right, followed by an imperial gift Yubao, and behind them were officials from the Dudufu and the surrounding villages of Guangling City. Xian representative.

In the second half of the team, there are more than 200 strong and fat farm cattle. The horns and backs of these farm cattle are all tied with bright and eye-catching colored silk.Behind the cattle team, there are nearly a hundred carts, on which are piled up all kinds of farm tools, shovels with obvious quenching marks, Shen Lang plows neatly stacked, etc.

On both sides of the road where the procession was marching, there were crowds of onlookers from the countryside, and they continued to burst into violent cheers. I don't know whether it was because of admiration for Duke Liang, or the uncontrollable excitement and joy of seeing the huge cattle team.

Soon, the team arrived at the surrounded barren field. At this time, the fire on the barren field had already been extinguished, leaving behind ashes and the rising smoke.

After Shen Zhezi arrived at the scene, the village sages who served as ceremony officials walked up to the driver of the car and bowed to invite him, and then he helped the car on the left and right to get off the car and climbed onto the high platform, followed by a series of suburban sacrificial ceremonies.

This whole set of etiquette is really lengthy, not only the villagers yawned, even Shen Zhezi became impatient. ceremony.Since he wants to pursue a symbolic and ritual sense, Shen Zhezi can only act patiently from beginning to end.

After the whole set of ceremonies is over, the sun is already rising.Shen Zhezi also had to sigh with emotion what it means to be courteous to ordinary people. If ordinary farmers often come to such a set, whether they can be persuaded, let alone starving to death and exhaustion.It's not that I'm too idle, I really can't make up such a complicated set of rituals, and it's just a simple ceremony for the princes.

The next step is to distribute farm cattle and farm tools. This time around Guangling, more than 20 settlements were reclaimed at the same time, with a total of more than 2000 hectares of cultivated land.The township heads, officials, etc. of various villages lined up to receive cattle, agricultural tools, grain seeds, etc. on behalf of the villagers. Seeing this scene, the people's emotions were finally detonated again, and cheers and praises came and went. Enduring in the vast countryside.

After all kinds of agricultural materials have been distributed, it's time for the plowing process.Shen Zhezi changed out of the dress covered with various rings and coats of arms, and then walked slowly to the field ridges in casual clothes.

At this time, a farmer had already put the plow behind the ox, and put the plow handle in the hands of Governor Shen, and the cheers of the villagers watching the ceremony were endless.

Being in such an environment, Shen Zhezi couldn't help being aroused in his heart with a bit of unconscious arrogance. He raised the plow handle and made a very firm gesture. Stuck in the soil layer, rubbed against the soil surface and slipped, and Shen Zhezi staggered, almost falling to the ground.

Fortunately, there were guards at the side with sharp eyesight and quick hands, who hurriedly stepped forward to support Governor Shen, and the farmer in charge of the cattle also hurriedly held the cattle, with a thin layer of cold sweat on his forehead.As for the surrounding villagers who saw this scene, a series of well-intentioned laughter broke out.

After Shen Zhezi stood still, he patted off the ashes from the hem of his clothes, gave the farmer a comforting look, and signaled to continue.Then the cattle finally walked slowly towards the field. Shen Zhezi held the plow behind him, his movements were full of jerky and clumsy, and the dirt furrow plowed was crooked.

The onlookers laughed even more. From their point of view, the Governor-General of Shen Lang was really not good at farming. If any of them were present, he could hold the light Shen Lang plow with one hand.

However, this did not damage the prestige of the Governor of Shen, on the contrary, the jerky and clumsy effort made the image of the Governor in their minds three-dimensional and amiable.It turns out that this world-renowned governor is not too lofty, and he also has things he is not good at.

The laughter of the villagers made the sense of ritual that was painstakingly created disappear. The officials of the governor's mansion really couldn't see the governor being laughed at so much, and rushed to stop the replacement of the governor.

However, Shen Zhezi became stubborn at this moment. In fact, he already felt a little regretful in his heart that he had overestimated his own ability and humiliated himself, but he finally found some sense of sympathy. If he gave up now, he would really have no chance to wash away his shame.

So he worked hard to hold the plow back and forth, and when he returned, the plowed ditch had gradually become straight, and the laughter of the villagers gradually turned into cheers, and some people even howled to let Shen The governor plowed again.

But one back and forth has exhausted Shen Zhezi's whole body's strength, and his arms are even more sore. Facing the enthusiasm of the villagers, he can only thank Bumin. After giving a bow, he waved back to the high platform, facing the villagers who hurried up. The sages laughed and said: "Ordinary farming, there is also no shortage of deep skills, unfamiliarity and hard work, half the result with half the effort. You are the heads of the township, you should also remember this festival well, manage the farming properly, and don't hurt the farm."

After everyone heard the words, they hurriedly bowed their hands and promised, and then returned the Governor Shen to the first place, and then all the cattle went to the fields to officially start farming.There is also a small part of competition. The farmers each divide an equal area of ​​arable land. Who can complete it quickly and well will be rewarded with various rewards such as cattle and farm tools. The villagers who are present at the ceremony will judge.

There were many local sages present who were worried that Governor Shen would not be relieved of being ridiculed by the masses before, so he tried his best to bring the topic to what the governor was good at, and at the same time respectfully asked the governor to write a poem to persuade farmers.

Shen Zhezi has not done this kind of thing for a long time, and it is inevitable that he will be unfamiliar. Seeing everyone eagerly asking for advice, he felt a little embarrassed for a while. In order not to spoil this kind of thing, he reluctantly did it and asked someone to fetch a pen and paper , in an instant with a swipe of a pen.

"Plant one grain of millet in spring, and harvest ten thousand seeds in autumn. Sang and hemp are connected to the fields, and ten thousand households step on the cardinal. There is no idle field in the world, and men plow and women weave. The four seasons are in order, and the Kyushu is in the same prosperity."

Some people at the scene took up the calligraphy that can only be called reluctantly by the governor of Shen Dadu and began to recite it, and then the atmosphere on the high platform became silent, because this poem is too mediocre, and there is a slight rhyme, no one can say what it is against conscience A masterpiece.

However, the sound of reading spread to the ears of the people, and it quickly aroused praise. Even the illiterate poor Ding had no pressure to understand this poem. The sound of reading gradually spread, and finally became one, making The atmosphere in the whole area became lively again, and the embarrassment on the high platform was quickly washed away.

However, in this warm and joyful atmosphere, when Shen Zhezi was about to board the car and leave, a little discord broke out.

Outside of Shen Zhezi's ceremonial team, a dozen or so people in plain clothes rushed out, the leader being Xi Jian's second son, Xi Tan.Xi Tan rushed all the way to the front of Shen Zhezi's car, grabbed the reins, and glared at Shen Zhezi who was waiting to get into the car with his bloodshot eyes.

Shen Zhezi raised his hand to stop the guards who were about to rush forward to take action, and then asked Xi Tan to come in front of him. Before he could speak, Xi Tan shouted loudly: "The current situation in Jiangdong is turbulent and dark, and the minister died unexpectedly. Lives and people are devastated! Mr. Liang was honored by the country, and no one in the world could be right. When the country is in shambles, he doesn't want to attract people to return to the country to help the situation, but he wants to act here to flatter the common people. It is the attitude that the pillar ministers of the country should take!"

Many people around came forward, when they heard Xi Tan's roar, they were all in awe for a moment, and the surroundings were silent for a moment.

"Xi Lang grieves for his father's death, and his words and deeds are partial to etiquette. I can understand this, and I won't blame you for it."

When Shen Zhezi heard Xi Tan's roar, he walked in front of him with his hands behind his back, and his face became serious: "However, when it comes to attracting people to return to the country, the so-called "supporting the situation", is it that you can make a timely discussion? There is no favor in a country. Qian, since I have been ordered by the king, it is not important to be kind and useful, but to do my duty! I have been envoys for a long time, and I have supervised all the kings and masters in the north of the Yangtze River.

"The current situation in Jiangdong has indeed been unstable recently. Even if the Taifu cannot win, I have my own imperial edict to make up for it. The state affairs are right and wrong, and there are laws and regulations. There are tens of thousands of people in Jiangbei, using internal and external , in the south and in the north, they are governed by the king's order, how can they be driven away by human clamor!"

When Xi Tan heard Shen Zhezi's resolute statement, his face turned pale for a while, and then he choked up and said, "State affairs are not for human kindness. Could it be that Duke Liang has thousands of kings in vain, and sits on the river to watch the Jiangdong community crumbling and the people living?" killed?"

After Shen Zhezi heard the words, he was not in a hurry to answer, but boarded the car and looked up at the people present, and said in a concentrated voice: "The secret of military affairs should not be announced to the public. But I also know that Jiangdong Bandang has crossed Jiangbei. For the use of the king's order, how can we look sideways from a distance, the [-] strong armors of the various tribes in the north of the Yangtze River are already ready to go, and we only need to wait for the king's order to cross the river, and immediately send our troops into the arch!"

"Prior to this, anyone who accuses me of human safety and security will be guilty of crimes! At the same time, tell Jiangdong's scholars and common people not to engage in military affairs for personal gain, even if the administration of the Taiwan cabinet is biased and hurts people's sentiments, it is appropriate Go to Mingtang to report your grievances, otherwise, after crossing the river under the order, all those who fight privately will be judged regardless!"

(End of this chapter)