Guide to Traveling through the Northern Song Dynasty.

Chapter 168 0163 [Duke Yuanzhang]

Zhang Su, chief secretary of Xixiang, heard that Zhu Ming had passed the Tanhua exam, so he immediately took people to congratulate him in person.

As for the real purpose, I want to visit Daming Village and find out how many hidden fields and hidden households there are there!

Although Zhang Su chatted well with Zhu Guoxiang, he also admired Zhu Guoxiang very much. He also asked Zhu Guoxiang to promote corn and sweet potatoes throughout the county.However, the news of Daming Village's frantic absorption of population had already reached Zhang Su's ears, which always made him feel that something was wrong.

Xixiang County has many mountains and little land, and the population distribution is very scattered. There are at most a few hundred people in a village.

The large villages with thousands of people are all located around the county seat.

Therefore, Daming Village with more than 1500 people is so eye-catching that it is very difficult to hide it.

The units from top to bottom in the Northern Song Dynasty are probably like this:

Central—Road—Fuzhou Military Supervision—County—Township—Li Guantuan Qidubao Village.

Li, Guan, Tuan, Qi, Du, and Bao are all artificially designated for tax collection and maintenance of law and order.Some of these units exist at the same time, some are abandoned, and some are equivalent to each other.Anyway, the chaos is so overwhelming that historians are often confused.

A village is a natural settlement and has nothing to do with administrative divisions.

Come back to the hometown, this thing has become empty.

Before Wang Anshi's political reform, "township" was infinitely close to the physical government division, and the township boundary was not fixed, and it was constantly adjusted according to the actual taxation situation.

After Wang Anshi's reform, "township" became a geographical concept, which was mainly used to implement the Baojia Law.The rural boundaries are gradually fixed, and are drawn in the direction of mountains and rivers.

The virtualization of "township" does not mean that the control over the grassroots has been weakened, but it has been greatly strengthened.

Because the powers and responsibilities of the "township" were further delegated to the "li".

The imaginary village is real.

Although Zhang Su hadn't made the subordinate officials completely obedient, he was basically obedient, and he didn't dare to go too far even if he obeyed and disobeyed.

Therefore, he wanted to redefine the rural boundaries.

This is in line with the central policy. Wang Anshi stipulated that 500 households should be a capital, and Cai Jing ordered that 250 households be a capital.In order to strengthen the management of the rural grassroots, it is more convenient for the imperial court to collect taxes from farmers.

Zhang Su planned to find out the real household registration of the whole county in the name of redrawing the township boundaries, clear out some hidden households, and find out some Yintian by the way (he dare not thoroughly investigate Yintian, otherwise it will inevitably arouse fierce resistance).

on board.

Zhang Su stood with his hands behind his back, looking at the river in front of him: "For the demarcation of the township boundary, Bai Yasi needs to contribute a lot."

Bai Chongwu said: "The humble official must do his best, and I'm afraid he won't be able to satisfy the master."

"Just do it with all your heart." Zhang Su knew what the situation in the countryside was like, and he didn't expect to be able to do it in one step.

Bai Chongwu had a flattering smile on his face, but in his heart he blamed Zhang Su for being troubled, for redrawing the township boundary in a proper manner.

Zhang Su said: "Shangbai Village, Xiabai Village, Daming Village, Huishui Village and Wang Village further downstream, I plan to designate these five villages as Daming Township with Daming Village as the center. Heli, redesignate according to the actual household registration."

"Yes!"

Bai Chongwu insisted on saying yes, but in fact he didn't plan to cooperate, at most he threw some hermits and Yintians out to make up the numbers.

"Master Zhang, why did you go to Daming Village alone?"

An official ship chased after him, but Xiang Zhixian laughed heartily.

Xiang Zhixian is in a good mood recently, and he has already hooked up with the newcomer He Zhizhou.He secretly bribed [-] yuan, and asked He Zhizhou to help him apply for a higher level of selection, paving the way for the final exam and selection at the end of the year.

This is in line with the process. The selection level is evaluated every three years, and the application needs the help of the superior officer.

Xiang Zhixian felt that he would definitely be able to be promoted. Where are his political achievements? First, he wiped out the rebels, and now he is vigorously promoting new crops.Moreover, he even sent money to Shangguan!
When Zhang Su heard Xiang Zhixian's voice, he immediately turned pale. He had a very bad impression of this boss.

Of course, you can't really turn your face around, and you have to report to the county magistrate about redrawing the township boundary.

The county magistrate, master secretary, and subordinate officials landed at the wharf of Daming Village.

When Zhu Guoxiang got the news, he immediately took people to greet him, followed by several gentry from the county.

During the busy farming season, Zhu Guoxiang often went to various villages to guide the local gentry in planting corn and sweet potatoes.Rapeseed seedlings and transplanting methods, flood control and drought seedling raising methods were also taught to farmers in all villages, which significantly increased the grain output of Xixiang County.

These are all tangible benefits. The gentry in the country respected Zhu Guoxiang very much, and some people even called him "Yuanzhang Gong".

I heard that Duke Yuanzhang's son was in high school, and gentry came to congratulate him every day.

"I've met Xiangzhi County!"

"I've seen Master Zhang!"

Zhu Guoxiang and several gentry saluted the two officials one after another.

Although Xiang Zhixian has already laid down, he likes to save face in public.

He walked to the front quickly to show his status as the chief officer, and enthusiastically took Zhu Guoxiang's hand.Maybe there was a Tanhua Lang, he was more respectful to Zhu Guoxiang, and even changed his address: "Mr. Yuanzhang, congratulations to your son for being the third person in the imperial examination!"

Zhu Guoxiang smiled and said, "I have the respect of Lao County in my heart."

The county magistrate then said to the gentry: "The spring of the year before last, I went to eat Mrs. Bai's birthday wine in this county, and it was there that I met Zhu Tanhua for the first time. At first glance, I felt that this young man was extraordinary. He had penetrated the three classics at a young age. I He was also recommended as a child prodigy. It's a pity that the memorial was sent to Tokyo like a bull into the sea."

The gentry quickly flattered: "The county's eyes are as bright as a torch, which is really admirable."

Everyone was bragging about their business, and Zhu Guoxiang invited them to the inn for a drink.

But Zhang Su said: "It's still early in the day, and I've admired the name of Daming Village for a long time, why not go to the village for a while."

Zhu Guoxiang asked Xiang magistrate: "What do you think of the magistrate?"

Xiang Zhixian complained about Zhang Su's troublesome things in his heart, but he still smiled and said: "Then let's go for a walk, and also understand the people's feelings."

Everyone followed the Han River and headed towards Waste Tea Mountain first.

Zhang Su pointed to the thatched huts by the river: "These huts are still very new, were they built only this year?"

Zhu Guoxiang said: "They are all refugees fleeing famine from other places. I saw them pitiful, so I arranged for them to reclaim wasteland by the river. After three to five years, when the wasteland is reclaimed, I will go to the county government to get the land deed."

Just this sentence broke Zhang Su's desire to track down Yinhu Yintian.

The imperial court encouraged the refugees to reclaim wasteland. After farming, they could receive land deeds, and they could also reduce or exempt taxes for three to five years.

Land deeds will be obtained after farming is mature, which is to prevent large households from arbitrarily enclosing land, but now it has become an excuse for Zhu Guoxiang to postpone registration.When the barren land is ripe, Zhang Su has already been transferred away...

Zhang Su felt a little upset, and asked, "Are you really a refugee from another place?"

Zhu Guoxiang said: "If the master doesn't believe it, you can ask yourself."

If you ask me, I must have colluded long ago.

Zhang Su was still not reconciled: "Even refugees, they should also make a book. First make a book of refugees, record the wasteland they reclaimed, and give the land deed after three to five years when the land is ripe."

"It's all up to Master Zhang to decide." Zhu Guoxiang agreed smoothly.

It will take three to five years to cultivate the land, and the tax will be reduced or exempted for another three to five years. Ten or eight years have passed like this. Who knows what will happen at that time.

Even if you change the county magistrate and the new master during the period, don't even think about coming over to make trouble, because Daming Village is legal and compliant.

If you insist on exploiting indiscriminately, you will directly expel the tax collectors by force, and the lawsuit will be brought to the city of Tokyo. Daming Village is also on the right side.

The premise is that with the backing of Zhu Ming as an official, Daming Village is also strong enough.

Zhang Su had carefully read Zhu Guoxiang's agricultural books, and knew that bean crops could fertilize the fields. He walked to a piece of dry land and asked, "Is this newly opened wasteland?"

Zhu Guoxiang said: "The first three years were used to plant beans, and when the fertility was sufficient, the fourth year was changed to paddy fields. These fields are all by the riverside, and irrigation is very convenient. The villagers are still digging irrigation canals along the river, using ordinary cylinders Cars can carry water for irrigation.”

Zhang Su sighed, "What a wonderful land, why has it been left unused before?"

Zhu Guoxiang explained: "I heard that several decades ago, there were farmers living here. Later, when natural and man-made disasters occurred, they all fled to the mountains or other places."

"Natural and man-made disasters..." Zhang Su sneered, "I'm afraid there will be more man-made disasters."

They walked all the way to the waste tea mountain after taking care of it, and everyone returned the same way.

Zhang Su asked: "The seeds for these refugees to reclaim wasteland were all given by Yuan Zhang?"

Zhu Guoxiang said: "They are all poor people, and life is really not easy. I lent them seeds and farm tools with an annual interest of one cent."

Zhang Su cupped his hands and said, "Duke Yuanzhang is indeed benevolent and righteous!"

Although he always felt something was wrong, Zhang Su still didn't think about it.

If you really want to rebel, just incite the refugees to fight the county seat, or simply occupy the mountain as king and loot everywhere. How can you grow the land first and slowly accumulate strength?

What's more, Ju Ming has already passed the Tanhua exam.

Tanhualang's father rebelled?

It's not nonsense!
When returning, Zhang Su went to visit the village school again.

Zhu Guoxiang introduced: "The village school is not closed. Currently there are only a dozen students. When life gets better next year, there must be many villagers who are willing to send their children to study."

Looking at the classroom, Zhang Su was surprised and said, "There are still girls?"

Zhu Guoxiang said: "That is the daughter of Meng Zhao, a scholar in the village. When I am too busy, I also ask Meng Zhao to teach on my behalf. Although the students are not divided into men and women, so far, no villager is willing to send a girl."

"It's really hard work!" Zhang Su said with emotion.

Because he saw the students in the classroom, all without paper and pen, practicing calligraphy in the sand basin with bamboo sticks.

After thinking for a while, Zhang Su took out some money: "Buy some pens, ink, paper and inkstones for the children."

Zhu Guoxiang took it with both hands: "Thank you for the sponsorship."

The county magistrate felt that he couldn't lose face, so he said to his relatives: "In a few days, you can bring five pennies...you don't need to bring money, just buy some pens, ink, paper and inkstones, and send them to Daming Village to Lord Yuanzhang."

Zhu Guoxiang immediately flattered: "The county's honor and master are worthy of being the parents of this county. They are dedicated to teaching and turning people into people. I admire you the most."

After another round of business bragging, Zhang Su had to go along the tributary to continue inspecting the situation in the mountains.

Most of the villagers along the way are indigenous villagers. They have developed for almost two years, and every household has surplus food. They are obviously richer than the new immigrants by the river.

They not only grow food, but also learn from Zhu Guoxiang to grow mushrooms, and raise some poultry as a sideline.

In the valley, there are fertile fields everywhere.

Due to the construction of the canal, the land at the foot of the mountain far from the river also grows lush and lush.

Xiangzhi County liked this place very much. It was completely the idyllic beauty in the literati's ideal. He couldn't help praising: "Entering the valley through the small river, the valley suddenly becomes clear. The fields are criss-crossed, the chickens and dogs hear each other, and the people are happy. This is a real paradise! Who would have imagined that the two Was it a den of thieves years ago?"

Zhu Guoxiang said: "Although the farmers in this area follow the thieves, they have no choice. The head of the thieves can be sent to the official, and the remaining villagers can be educated to be good."

Zhang Su looked at the villagers in the valley, all of them were busy and happy, and he completely stopped thinking about tracking down Yinhu Yintian.

If you hide it, you can hide it, as long as the people are rich, if you really want to find out, maybe it will harm them.

Zhang Su couldn't help but said: "If Duke Yuanzhang is the county magistrate, he will definitely make the county rich and stable. Living in seclusion in Daming Village is really a waste of talent."

Zhu Guoxiang said: "The prefectures and counties collect less exorbitant taxes, no matter who is an official, it can make the people recuperate."

Zhang Su was speechless, because this was the truth.

(End of this chapter)