Master Kong Zhongni

Chapter 133 Carrots and Sticks
Outside the high platform in the center of Tuqiu City, a group of people were surrounded in darkness.

The people in Tuqiu city were full of people standing here, and they looked at the soldiers who were busy carrying bamboo slips and food, with curious eyes in their eyes.

"What is this doing?"

"Could it be to open a warehouse to release food?"

"But there is no disaster this year, why should we release food?"

"Maybe it's the new doctor's appointment, so some food is distributed first, so that we can work with peace of mind?"

"And this good thing?"

"But what are those bamboo slips used for?"

"That's not clear."

Zai Yu listened to the heated discussion of the audience, and glanced at the pained expressions of the three nobles around him, and suddenly smiled and cupped his hands at everyone.

"I have called everyone here today, there is nothing else to do. I heard that since ancient times, any major event requires an oath to be made with the people.

In the old days, Empress Xia had the honor of Juntai, Shang Tang had the command of Jing Bo, and King Wu had the meeting of Mengjin, and all three achieved great things.

Although serving as Doctor Tuqiu, he cannot be compared with such great achievements as the establishment of the country by Xia Hou, the extermination of Jie by Shang Tang, and the defeat of Zhou by King Wu.

However, I, Zai Yu, thinks that my morals are shallow and my talents are low, so I dare not think carefully when governing and governing the people.

When I was in Qufu, I heard for a long time that the people in Tuqiu were very polite and benevolent.

But hearing about it is worse than seeing it. I am about to take office today. The Sang, Yu, and Yang clans of Tuqiu offered bonds and loan books and asked them to be burned in public to show their love for the people.

This kind of benevolence, even in Qufu, few people can do it! "

After Zaiyu finished speaking, he smiled and looked at the patriarchs of the three clans beside him: "The three of you are really good at benevolence and righteousness, and you still have the remnants of the ancient benevolent people!"

The three patriarchs barely squeezed a smile from their faces.

"Where is the lord, you love the people and show compassion for all people. With you as an example, we should naturally show it."

As soon as these words came out, there was an uproar under the high platform.

"Sang, Yu, and Yang voluntarily burned the bonds?"

"This...I borrowed 25 shi of grain from them last year, and I have to pay back [-] shi in autumn. So, there is no need to pay it back?"

"Haotian has opened his eyes!"

"What does Haotian open his eyes, this is obviously the doctor's favor!"

When Zaiyu heard this, he waved his hands again and again and said, "How can this be called my kindness? The burning of the bond was done voluntarily by the patriarchs. This is their kindness!
"Poetry" said: Kai Ti gentleman, the parents of the people also.

A gentleman who is easy to approach is the parent of the people.

Whenever there is a natural disaster in Tuqiu, the patriarchs borrow money from the people, so that the people can farm safely in the spring and have spare time to cultivate in the summer, thus meeting the needs of the country. This is the merit of the patriarchs!
The patriarchs have made such contributions to Tuqiu, and now I am taking the initiative to cancel your debts. I just stole the reputation of the three patriarchs. How dare I take the credit of others as my own? "

After Zaiyu's words came to this point, the pale faces of the three patriarchs finally looked better.

Originally they thought that the burning of the bonds was a pure loss, but now it seems that at least they have earned a good reputation, and at least they can be considered a gain.

Zaiyu continued: "The patriarchs have made such contributions, if I can't reward them, how can it be called clear rewards and punishments?"

After finishing speaking, Zaiyu shouted: "Bring up the plaque I prepared earlier!"

As soon as the order was given, several soldiers carrying plaques immediately walked out of the crowd.

On the plaque, there are four vigorous and powerful words written in dan lacquer and big seal script—the House of Benevolence and Righteousness.

These soldiers handed over the plaques to several patriarchs who hadn't figured out the situation, and then heard Zaiyu's voice.

Zai Yu instructed the little official beside him.

"Everyone who owns this plaque will paint the gates of their homes with red lacquer, and raise the threshold of the inner gates as a commendation for their benevolence and righteousness."

"Leader!"

After hearing this, several patriarchs fell flat on the ground flattered and declined: "My lord, we...how can we receive such courtesy?"

Zaiyu waved his hand and said, "I heard: the benevolent loves others, and the courteous respects others. Those who love others will always love them, and those who respect others will always respect them.

You act benevolently and love the people.Be courteous and respect the people.

Then I should naturally reciprocate with benevolence and treat each other with courtesy and righteousness.

Painting the lintel, raising the threshold, and giving a plaque are just my personal rewards.

Afterwards, I will report your good deeds to the Duke of Qufu. The monarch will be full of joy and reward you when he knows that Tuqiu has people who know the etiquette like you. "

When several patriarchs heard this, they couldn't help but knelt down and bowed down: "Master Ende Longsheng, how dare I, the Sang family (Yang family, Yu family), not obey the lord to my death!"

After hearing this, Zai Yu didn't say much, but just took the torch from the soldiers beside him and handed it to them.

"Three patriarchs, light a fire?"

The patriarch looked at each other, smiled and said: "I will hold it together with the lord."

Jae Yu laughed out loud.

Sure enough, they are all discerning people.

Holding torches, he and the three patriarchs walked down the steps to the hill made of bonds.

Zaiyu threw the torch up, and the patriarchs followed suit by throwing the torch up.

When the people of Tuqiu saw the raging fire on Bond Mountain, they cheered one after another.

"Zhan Bi Qi Ao, green bamboo Yi. There are bandits and gentlemen, such as cutting like sharpening, such as cutting like grinding. There are bandits and gentlemen, and you must not be arrogant!"

They sang "Qi Ao" with smiles on their faces, expressing their praise and admiration for Jae Yu's character, talent and learning.

When Zaiyu heard this, he also smiled and recited "The Work of the People", expressing that he understood the hard work of the people, and would definitely reduce taxes and corvee, and treat the people leniently.

"The people are also tired, and they can be well-off. Benefit this China, and use it in all directions. Don't indulge in cunning, and be careful about the unscrupulous. The method is to curb the aggressors, and the tyranny is not afraid of the light. The soft and the far can be near, so that I can be my king."

Although he is tone deaf, his song "Min Lao" still won applause from the audience.

Zaiyu saw that the atmosphere was almost brewing, so he said: "Since the Duke of Zhou established rites and music, and stipulated the rules of the world, the land tax has always been drawn by one out of ten.

But even so, in times of calamity and calamity, some people still have nothing to eat.

The reason for this is that the soil strength is different, and it is also hard work. Some fields can produce two stones a year, but some fields can only harvest eight buckets a year.

Therefore, after paying the land tax, some people can still save surplus food, while some people cannot support their wives and children after paying the land tax.

I used to be away from Tuqiu, so naturally I couldn't interfere with local taxation, but now that I'm here, the land tax in Tuqiu will naturally change. "

Hearing this, the onlookers pricked up their ears.

It is good to burn the bonds, but if the land tax remains the same, they will still have to borrow money in times of disaster.

You can't let the three big families set fire to the bonds after borrowing every time, right?
For a moment, all eyes were on Jae Yu.

He unhurriedly took out a black stone from his sleeve, pointed at it and asked everyone a question.

"You all know what this is, right?"

The people took a closer look, and soon someone gave an answer.

"Isn't this Shi Nirvana? We can often see it on the roads beside the mountains here."

Zaiyu nodded with a smile: "That's right! It's Shi Nie! From now on, Tuqiu's land tax will only be charged half of the grain, which is one in twenty.

As for the other half of the land tax, you can choose to use Shi Nie to offset it, or you can pay grain.

Every two stones of Nirvana can offset one stone of food.

Moreover, this year is the first year for me to manage Tuqiu, so this year's land tax can be paid in stone nirvana.

Of course, if you don't want to, you can also pay the food directly. "

As soon as these words came out, the people present were all dumbfounded.

Pay tax with stone nirvana?
Is there such a good thing?

This thing is not worth much!
What does the lord want this thing for?
Not only the common people were dumbfounded, but Zi Gong who was beside him was also dumbfounded.

He grabbed Jaeyu's lapel and whispered, "Are you sick again? What did we say when we discussed "Guanzi"?

Food is the foundation, what are you planning to do with so many useless stone nirvana? "

Before Zaiyu could reply, the people on one side were already clamoring to leave the city in groups of three or four.

"Quick! Hurry up and go into the mountains to pick up the stone Nirvana! It's too late to turn around, and the lord will regret it if he doesn't manage it!"

"Come with me, I know there is a cave next to the mountain, which is full of stones, and you can pick up a big basket casually!"

"Call out the women in the family, pick as much as you can today, and it's best to pay all the land taxes for this year in advance. As long as we pay in advance, the lord will have no choice but to go back on his word later."

"Wait for me, I'll go home and get the basket first!"

When Jai Yu heard these words, he couldn't help but pull a ferocious smile from the corner of his mouth.

The library information is indeed correct, there are shallow open-pit coal mines here!

Seeing his expression, Zigong's heart was frightened.

Zigong stretched out his hand and waved in front of his eyes: "Aren't you really crazy?"

Jae Yu just pushed his hand away: "You are crazy!"

"Then what are you laughing at?"

After hearing this, Jae Yu didn't answer, but just pulled his sleeves and walked forward.

He took two bamboo baskets from Shi He, carried one on his own, and buckled another on Zigong.

Seeing this, Zigong was startled and said, "My son, what do you want to do?"

Zai Yu glared and said, "Go dig coal! Do what you do to be benevolent! The people are all digging coal, why are we just sitting? We can't dig a stone today, and neither of you or me can get out of the mine alive!"

　Without one recommendation, how can there be four updates?

　　——Excerpt from "Zaiyu's Diary"

　　


(End of this chapter)