I studied in modern times

Chapter 1009 Capitalism Sprouts (1)

Even as Han Wei walked out of the imperial city, the words of the young emperor in the Funing Palace were still swirling in his mind.

"Since the time of our ancestors, there has been no land system, nor has there been any suppression of land consolidation..."

"Thus, the people of the city gradually prospered, until the Xi and Feng dynasties..."

"Sir, you are a man of great learning, well-versed in the affairs of the past and present. May I ask you, since the time of the Three Kings, has there ever been any political event like that of our Great Song Dynasty?"

Han Wei took a deep breath and glanced back at the imperial city.

"City dwellings..."

"Xi and Feng have been in operation for over two years, and now more than 30% has been achieved..."

"The commercial taxes of the entire country amounted to nearly ten million strings of cash during the Xi and Feng reigns, and now they are close to fifteen million strings... The annual commercial tax revenue of Bianjing alone is two million strings of cash!"

Han Wei pondered this information.

He is an extremely intelligent person.

Not only that, but he also came from an extremely distinguished family!
His talent and insight are also top-notch.

In his early years, he was known as one of the Four Friends of Jiayou, along with Wang Anshi, Sima Guang, and Lü Gongzhu.

Then, at a certain moment, Han Wei suddenly trembled all over, as if he had been enlightened.

Before his eyes, he seemed to see the figure of the young emperor sitting upright on the cushion.

He seemed to still be talking eloquently.

However, the words that came out of his mouth were unclear.

Han Wei strained his ears and listened carefully.

Finally, Han Wei heard it clearly.

"Spring and Autumn!"

Han Wei suddenly stopped in his tracks.

"Spring and Autumn Period?"

"When rites and music collapsed, the eight-row dance was performed in the courtyard, and rites, music, and military expeditions originated from the feudal lords of the Spring and Autumn period?"

"The Spring and Autumn Annals say that sacrifices were performed by me, while politics were controlled by the Ning family?"

"The Spring and Autumn Period, a time of endless wars and constant warfare between states?"

"Ultimately, this led to the division of Jin into three states and the rise of the Tian family to power in Qi during the Spring and Autumn Period?"

"How can this be?!"

"How does the Song Dynasty resemble the Spring and Autumn Period now?"

but……

Han Wei's intuition and reason told him that his guess was correct.

"Walled houses...walled houses..."

"Commercial tax..."

he muttered.

Then he walked out of Donghua Gate, where Yuan Sui, who was waiting at the gate, immediately led his horse to greet him.

"My lord, shall we return to the manor?" Old Yuan, who had served Han Wei for over twenty years, asked with a bow.

"Back to the manor?" Han Wei's eyes were glazed. "Yes! Let's go back to the manor to change first..."

He looked out of the city: "Then accompany me to Anjiefang outside the city!"

The emperor specifically named this place!

So, perhaps the answer lies hidden within Anjiefang!

An answer he had already thought of, but was unwilling to admit.

……

“Everyone…” Shi Deyi’s figure appeared in front of Zhao Xu.

"Just now, the scout from the Baokang Gate reported that Lord Han has already left Baokang Gate and headed towards the south wing of the capital!"

Zhao Xu put down his pen, looked at the calligraphy model in front of him, and praised, "Excellent!"

Han Wei, also known as Han Chiguo, is the most intelligent person in the world today.

Unfortunately, he was too smart.

He was so clever that whenever he saw a hint of danger, he would prepare to avoid it early on.

From the Jiayou to the Yuanyou reigns, Han Wei was the only high-ranking official who managed to remain completely untainted and untouched by worldly affairs.

If this were a fantasy novel, Han Wei would be considered a genius of the art of survival.

Unfortunately, the Song Dynasty was not a fantasy world, but a real society.

and so……

Neither the New Party nor the Old Party ever considered Han Wei as one of their own.

Han Wei has never entered the core circles of either the old or new parties.

This gives off a similar vibe to Elon Musk in the Song Dynasty.

After blowing away the ink, Zhao Xu placed the copied calligraphy into a wooden box.

Then he raised his head and looked at Shi Deyi: "I know!"

"Chen is here!"

"Tell the scouts to protect Lord Han's safety!" Zhao Xu ordered. "There must be no mistakes!"

The current Bianjing city has nine wards and fourteen neighborhoods outside the city, due to the influx of bankrupt farmers and refugees from all over the country.

It has become a complete mess.

In the wards under the control of the government, there was probably some order because of the garrison and patrols of the Kaifeng Prefecture soldiers.

However, the shantytowns that were built around these neighborhoods...

It has become a lawless place.

People from all walks of life mingled among them.

Entrepreneurs from Shangluo, heroes from JD.com, salt smugglers on the Grand Canal, and outstanding figures from Hebei were also present.

In short, it was a scene of vibrant life and flourishing development! This is also why Qian Xie submitted a memorial requesting the establishment of six new garrisons outside the city.

If left unchecked, these places will become like Kowloon Walled City in the Song Dynasty.

……

Han Wei exited Baokang Gate and walked along the official road towards the south wing of the capital.

From afar, he could see the chaotic shantytowns ahead.

These makeshift sheds, constructed from thatch, straw, and bamboo, resembled boils, crowding together haphazardly around the roads and neighborhoods.

As Han Wei got closer, he saw countless people engaging in outdoor activities within these sheds.

There are elderly people who wash their clothes and air out their bedding.

There were children, holding sticks and wearing open-crotch pants, playing and frolicking among the sheds.

There were also men who gathered together to drink and gamble.

Occasionally, government soldiers would appear in the shantytowns, carrying knives and cursing at the residents.

Han Wei rode his horse through the shacks. Most of the people inside the shacks, seeing this official riding a tall horse and surrounded by a retinue, subconsciously lowered their heads and dared not meet his gaze.

But there were also a few arrogant eyes that looked at him with ill intent.

Han Wei had seen that look before.

Moreover, it left a deep impression.

Only master thieves and ruthless bandits could be so arrogant and fierce!
Han Wei tightened the reins and narrowed his eyes: "Bianjing is the capital of the emperor, how can it tolerate such a ruthless and ambitious figure?"

What is the Kaifeng Prefecture doing?

Han Wei really, really hates people like that.

Because his elder brother, Han Gang, who had the best future in the Han family back then, was ruined by a similar person.

That man's name is Shao Xing!
A mere head of a local militia!

It was simply because his elder brother, Han Gang, wanted to tie him up and beat him.

That fellow incited the soldiers to riot, which frightened Han Gang so much that he fled down the city wall.

Afterwards, the constable Shaoxing was naturally executed by the imperial court.

However, the future star of the Han family, the son of a high-ranking official, was also held accountable by the imperial court. He was dismissed from his post and exiled to Yingzhou for the crime of losing the city.

From then on, the Han family developed an extreme aversion to such people!
Without him!

At that time, Han Gang had already been promoted to a high-ranking official in the capital.

And that captain?

He's just a lowly soldier in the local militia!
My life isn't even as valuable as a potted plant the Han family keeps!
Yet, this lowly soldier and the promising son of a high-ranking official completed a one-for-one exchange.

It's just that Han Wei doesn't currently have any official duties in the capital, otherwise...

He had already signed the warrant and ordered his men to conduct a thorough search of the shantytown.

"When I return to the capital, I will definitely have a good talk with Mr. Qian Mu about these matters outside the capital!"

"Under the emperor's feet, in the capital city, how can filth and corruption be tolerated?"

With that thought in mind, Han Wei rode his horse and approached Anjiefang.

He could even see the archway of Anjiefang.

only……

As he approached Anjiefang, he could hear the whirring of spinning machines from a great distance.

And it's not just one or two machines.

There are hundreds or even thousands of spinning wheels working at the same time.

Han Wei's expression immediately changed.

Hundreds or thousands of spinning wheels?
It means that tens of thousands of people gathered together.

This is a major taboo for this dynasty!

This was also a taboo for the Song Dynasty!

why?
Throughout history, rebellion has always had a prerequisite—gathering a crowd!
Therefore, laws and regulations throughout history have strictly restricted the gathering of people.

Although the ban was somewhat relaxed in the Song Dynasty due to its prosperous commerce.

For example, the world's mining and metallurgical industries are home to tens of thousands of miners.

For example, the gold rush in Dengzhou and Laiwu directly attracted hundreds of thousands of young adults to the area.

Just like the banks of the canal, thousands of boatmen often gathered there.

However, all of this comes with a prerequisite—heavy guard duty!
In the mining and metallurgical fields of the entire country, officials were appointed to oversee the work, and these officials were supervised by soldiers!
At the same time that the Denglai gold mines were opened, the imperial court moved troops to supervise them.

Now, due to the threat posed by the Liao navy, the imperial court is even more determined to establish the Donghai Mengchong Jiedushi Defense Zone in eastern Beijing.

The twenty commanders of the Imperial Guards had already gone ahead of time.

As for the canal?

The Capital Southeast Sixth Route Transport Office has tens of thousands of transport soldiers under its command.

Even so, popular uprisings and military mutinies frequently occurred.

Now, right next to Bianjing, beside the emperor's bed, a large crowd has gathered.

"Has Qian Mu's father gone mad?"

"What if something goes wrong? Can he take responsibility?"

As Han Wei was thinking, suddenly, the sound of a gong rang out from Anjiefang.

"Noon has arrived!"

"Time to go home!"

As the sound of gongs and drums faded, the noisy sounds of looms in the workshop gradually subsided.

Then, Han Wei saw a scene he had never seen before in his life—countless women carrying baskets walked out of Anjiefang.

The surging crowds resembled waves.

Upon closer inspection, it was discovered that seven or eight out of ten workers in Anjiefang were women!
Moreover, in terms of the number of people, it is almost ten thousand!
(End of this chapter)