I served as an admonisher in the Song Dynasty

Chapter 412 Su Liang’s foreign tour! "Selling one's body to bury one's father" in folk country

It's night on the first day of February.

In a house in the west of Bianjing City.

Su Liang, He Tan, Zhou Yuan, Zhao Bian, Han Jiang, Lu Jie, Wang Anshi, and Sima Guang, eight officials who were ordered to patrol abroad, gathered together.

Tonight, the official family treats guests to see him off.

The eight people's trip out of Beijing was done in secret.

Except for Zhao Zhen, Wen Yanbo and Fu Bi, all the officials in the court only knew that they were on a business trip, but they didn't know where they were going or what they were going to do.

Tomorrow is the day the eight people set off.

Zhao Zhen ordered people to find a house and prepare a banquet for the eight people.

Lean slightly.

Zhao Zhen, Wen Yanbo, and Fu Bi, who were wearing casual clothes, came to the courtyard, and Su Liang all handed over.

Zhao Zhen smiled and said: "This is not forbidden, nor is it a private banquet, so there is no need to be polite."

After everyone sat down, Zhao Zhen said with a smile: "My lords, as usual, let's discuss matters first and then drink."

The officials straightened up and looked at Zhao Zhen.

Zhao Zhen said slowly: "Dear ministers, I would like to emphasize three points on this foreign tour."

"First, evil must be eradicated and guilty must be corrected. Regardless of officials, nobles, relatives, celebrities or businessmen, anyone who violates the law or goes against the Song Dynasty's reform must be investigated to the end and severely punished. If the solution cannot be solved, you can directly report to I report.”

"Second, listen to the voices of the people, explore public opinion, find gaps in the current reform strategy, and improve the reform strategy. If the people are safe, the world will be safe. Everything must put the interests of the people first."

"Third, and most importantly, you must know how to protect yourself. The villages and towns in the prefectures and towns are not as good as Bianjing City, and there will be all kinds of accidents and dangers. You must remember that at any time, your life is the most important, no matter what happens. If you are in trouble, I will support you. I have chosen you to be my eyes and my arms. You must never take any risks. "

Su Liang and others all understood Zhao Zhen's intentions.

This move by the officials was a comprehensive inspection of the entire Song Dynasty's reform. If there were no problems, the Song Dynasty would move out.

Whether the Song Dynasty can make any big moves next depends entirely on this eight-person inspection.

immediately.

The officials also began to express their stance. After talking for half an hour, they started eating, drinking and laughing.

When to set off tomorrow is entirely up to Su Liang and others.

Therefore, there is no need to get drunk or come home tonight.

Wang Anshi and Sima Guang were as usual, abstaining from alcohol, holding a teapot and clinking glasses with others.

After Zhao Zhen, Wen Yanbo and Fu Bi left.

Su Liang and others took advantage of their drunkenness to chat for most of an hour.

Zhou Yuan and Zhao Pian, two Taiwanese admonishers who were "taciturn when not drinking but talkative after drinking", put their arms around Su Liang's neck and talked about what the Taiwanese admonishers had done since the Qingli New Deal.

gushing.

The saliva washed Su Liang's face several times.

Finally it's midnight.

Su Liang was so sleepy that he couldn't even open his eyes, but the two of them still held his arms around his neck.

Wang Anshi and Sima Guang forced the two of them into the carriage, and the dinner was finally over.

now.

Wang Anshi has emerged from the shadow of the kidnapping case.

Under Su Liang's persuasion, Wang Anshi had reestablished his career plan: first to help the Song Dynasty, and then to become a saint.

……

The next day.

At three o'clock in the day, Su Liang finished cleaning up.

After saying goodbye to his family, he went out.

This time.

Du Lei and Sun Sheng, two Long Yu Army instructors, were still in charge of his escort.

The three hundred guards sent by the officials were also old acquaintances who had protected Su Liang when he went south.

As early as three days ago.

Su Liang then made overall arrangements.

They will travel disguised as a caravan, drive seven or eight carriages, and take more than ten guards with them. When they arrive at the destination, they will sell the goods on the carriages, and the escorting soldiers can make extra money.

As for the other guards.

It is to hide nearby, or to inquire about intelligence, or to pass on information.

Su Liang's guards are already familiar with these rules and procedures, and Su Liang doesn't need to explain them anymore.

The area Su Liang went to this time was: Jingdong East Road.

Su Liang's birthplace was in Qizhou, and the starting point of the Song Dynasty's reform was in Qizhou. Qizhou became the current Jinan Prefecture due to the three-year reform.

Therefore, Su Liang wanted to turn around and look back.

Take a look at this place where the reform policy has been implemented most thoroughly, and see if there are any gaps.

When selecting an inspection area.

Wang Anshi and Sima Guang also chose Jingdong East Road.

But it was directly rejected by Wen Yanbo.

The reason was that they had too many acquaintances there and it was not suitable for them to patrol secretly.

And Su Liang is much more suitable.

Of course, it's also because Su Liang's reputation is indeed bigger than the two of them.

……

Three days later.

A caravan was traveling on the spacious official road.

Su Liang was leaning in the carriage, holding a storybook in his hand. There were two plates of snacks on the small table in front of him, as if he were traveling, very comfortable.

It's early spring in February, although it's still a bit cold.

But the trees are blooming, the flowers and plants are breaking through the ground, and the scenery outside the city is very beautiful.

Near noon.

Everyone came to a post station and stopped.

Su Liang sat at the same table as Du Lei and Sun Sheng.

On the table.

Four plates of side dishes, two meat and two vegetarian, a large bowl of vegetable soup, and a basket of steamed buns.

When Su Liang eats, he likes fresh, exotic and wild game. Du Lei and Sun Sheng both know this, so every time he eats local specialties.

Su Liang has always been kind to those who accompany him.

If the food in the inn is not good, Su Liang will buy fish and meat with his own money. The guards who traveled with Su Liang had never suffered any grievances when it came to eating.

At this time.

Su Liang suddenly said: "It's been three days since we set out, and I still don't know what kind of goods are loaded on our carriage?"

Du Lei said excitedly: "Boss, they are all made of cotton and silk. I picked the best cotton and silk in Bianjing City myself, and I will definitely sell it at a good price!"

"What? Cotton and silk?" Su Liang frowned.

Du Lei looked puzzled.

"Isn't that right? Didn't you say that the products should be as high-end as possible to make us look like a cultured caravan?"

Su Liang suddenly laughed.

He looked at Sun Sheng and found that Sun Sheng also looked confused.

"You two, where are we going?" Su Liang asked.

"Jingdong East Road, Jinan Mansion." The two said in unison.

"Do you think it's appropriate to buy cotton silk from Bianjing City and send it to Jinan Prefecture to sell?"

Du Lei was stunned and then said: "Boss, do you think we are not suitable for selling cotton silk?"

Su Liang shook his head.

"You two! You don't have any business sense. If you go into business, you will have to die."

"You know, in the northern part of the Song Dynasty, the most prosperous place for the sericulture and silk weaving industry is Jingdong East Road. More than 80% of the cotton silk in Bianjing City comes from Jingdong East Road. We will pull these cotton silk to Jingdong East Road, you guys Do you think you can make money?"

The two of them scratched their heads at the same time. They knew this information at all.

Su Liang said with a smile: "My original intention was to let the brothers make extra money, but I didn't expect that what I was pulling was cotton silk. If it really got to Jinan Prefecture, it would definitely be a loss-making business. The closer you are to Jinan Prefecture, the more you will lose. many."

"That's all. In the past two days, you find a vendor and dispose of them all, and then bring some calligraphy and painting utensils, such as pens, inks, paper and inkstones. You should still make some money. We can buy them when we leave Jingdong East Road. Cotton silk.”

The two smiled awkwardly and nodded.

……

The tenth day of February.

Su Liang's caravan, loaded with several vehicles of calligraphy and painting equipment, finally arrived at the Jingdong East Road boundary.

Currently, there are seven prefectures on Jingdong East Road.

They are Jinan Prefecture, Qingzhou, Mizhou, Yizhou, Dengzhou, Laizhou, Weizhou and Zizhou.

After Jinan Prefecture replaced Qingzhou as the new road administration office of Jingdong East Road.

Qingzhou's commercial economy has not declined.

At the beginning of the Song Dynasty Reform, Qingzhou was still a third-class Wangzhou, but now it is a second-class Xiongzhou.

Jinan Prefecture is on the border of Jingdong East Road.

Su Liang's current idea is to first visit the counties, towns and villages under the jurisdiction of Jinan Prefecture, then go to Qingzhou, and finally go to Dengzhou.

Dengzhou is close to the Bohai Sea. Cao Hu, who was privately named the "King of Dongying Island" by Su Liang, has his base camp near Dengzhou.

Su Liang planned to take a look at him and see how long it would take for him to become the king of Japan Island.

……

February 11th.

Su Liang and his party came to Changqing County under the jurisdiction of Jinan Prefecture.

Want to know a city.

The fastest way is to understand the city's business.

Prosperous commerce and developed markets mean that people have money to spend and live an easy life.

In this season in the north, most people will find something to do when it is not a busy farming period.

Or start a small business.

Or work hard for some large landlords.

Or go to the county town to find a job.

Su Liang took Du Lei and Sun Sheng to the local grass market. If he saw something he liked, he would buy it without hesitation.

There is also a wave of escorts who are going to explore the official voice of the local chief official, the implementation of the reform, and the feedback of the people in the countryside.

Su Liang seemed to be eating, drinking and having fun.

In fact, he wanted to write down what he saw and heard and the completion of local reforms.

The situation must be reported to the officials every half month.

These days.

Su Liang was in a very happy mood in the countryside.

Because he saw that the lives of the people today have been qualitatively improved compared to the Qingli years. once.

There are many people cutting paths on Jingdong East Road.

Even if some caravans are walking on the official road in broad daylight, they have to hire at least twenty men to press their goods, otherwise they will not dare to enter Jingdong East Road at all.

The number of fights and riots among people on Jingdong East Road is also the highest among all roads in the north.

Once, when Chen Zhizhong served as a comfort envoy on Jingdong East Road, some people laughed and said: Even if Chen Zhizhong walked at night on the outskirts of Jingdong East Road, he had to spend money to buy peace.

These things have had a bad impact on the reputation of hundreds of people on Jingdong East Road.

And now.

Such negative news is becoming less and less, almost extinct.

Above the grass market on the rural road.

There are all kinds of products, including old women in their 70s and 80s weaving bamboo baskets, old men with white hair playing chess and chatting, and many women selling handmade jewelry...

Country life is very simple.

Although the living standards are still different from those in the county, they see fairness and hope.

There is hope for the day.

The people's mood naturally improved, and they began to think of ways to work hard and get rich.

As for various reform measures.

Jinan Prefecture (Qizhou) implemented it early, and the current implementation effect makes Su Liang very satisfied.

……

February 24th.

afternoon.

Su Liang and his party arrived at the county seat of Changqing County.

Thanks to Qizhou becoming the prefecture of Jinan, Changqing County's commerce is also very developed.

There are many inns, teahouses, wine shops and other places on both sides of the streets in the county.

Many businessmen coming from the west or south will choose to stay here for a night before heading to Jinan Prefecture.

Su Liang decided to stay here for two or three days to immerse himself in the changes in Changqing County before heading east.

immediately.

Su Liang and others checked into an inn called "Yueshang Renjia".

After he took a nap.

Then he took Du Lei and Sun Sheng to the street.

The main street of Changqing County.

There are many shops selling medicinal materials, lotus roots, and silk fabrics, and most of them are of high quality.

Su Liang and the other three were walking.

Suddenly I saw a group of people surrounding them not far away, and I couldn't help but walk over quickly.

Su Liang approached the crowd.

It was discovered that a young woman was selling her body to bury her father.

The woman was dressed in sackcloth and was kneeling on the ground.

He looks about sixteen or seventeen years old.

His appearance can be considered handsome, but his complexion may be a little yellow due to poor diet.

A white cloth was laid out in front of her with some basic information written on it.

Her name was Yulian, she was sixteen years old, and she wanted to borrow thirty guan of money to bury her father. She was a maidservant for three years as repayment.

The so-called selling oneself to bury one's father.

In fact, it's just a gimmick. In essence, it's not selling one's body, but hiring.

The Song Dynasty prohibited the plundering and selling of people.

For women, being a concubine requires a marriage contract, and being a maid requires an employment contract, otherwise it is illegal.

present.

The Song Dynasty paid great attention to filial piety and had the custom of giving generous burials.

Some people in the Jiangnan area even bury their relatives and even go bankrupt.

Thirty years of burial for my father is basically considered a light burial.

An ordinary coffin plus a shroud, a slightly more decent one, would cost nearly twenty guan.

In addition, we hired manpower to play instruments, carry coffins and dig pits.

Thirty guan of money can't be spent at all.

Among the people, there are many cases of "selling one's body to bury one's father", and Su Liang did not intend to get involved.

This woman has been a maid for three years. Not only can she bury her father, but she can also find a job for herself where she can eat and drink.

This is a good destination for a sixteen-year-old woman who has no relatives and is very poor.

If she can grow up to be a skilled cook or good at needlework while she is a maid, she will not have to worry about food and drink after the three-year period is over.

Once you save enough betrothal gifts, you can find an honest man to marry.

In fact, this is the life of many low-class women.

Become a rich man's maid first, then a poor man's wife.

If Su Liang came forward to give her thirty thousand dollars, it would make her lose her livelihood now, and her life might be even worse in the second half of her life.

but.

This kind of "selling one's body to bury one's father" also depends on chance and luck.

Only when a rich man's family is in need of a maid and can spare thirty dollars can he help her.

If no one can help, the woman can still approach the local government.

However, official burial is the lowest form of burial.

The local government will bury his father, but the burial method is rough, as is the way refugees or unclaimed bodies are buried.

There were even multiple corpses crowded into a large pit.

Usually those who have children.

Even if the parents are sold out, they will not let their parents enjoy the lowest treatment.

Just when Su Liang was about to leave, a rough voice came from the side.

"Girl, I will give you thirty guans, but you have to be a maid for six years, how about that?" The speaker was a middle-aged fat man with a sinister face.

Yulian raised her head, with tears in her eyes, and said: "This... high official, six years... six years is too long!"

Thirty strings.

Buying the right to use a maid for three years is actually considered a leak.

In Changqing County, a woman over 16 years old.

Even if you do laundry, mulberry picking, needlework, or other chores, the price per day is at least fifty cents.

One month is 500 guan, one year is 18 guan, three years is 54 guan, and six years is 108 guan.

Spending 30 guan in exchange for 108 guan in return is really a sinister act.

And, six years.

Not only will it affect their normal ability to get married and have children, but it will also increase the probability of being bullied, beaten, or even losing their virginity.

This is blatant exploitation.

Suddenly, some onlookers couldn't stand it.

"You are too much of a bully! You want to hire a maid for six years even if you are thirty years old!"

"Zhu Youxu, who on the street doesn't know your nickname Zhu Bapi? Who hasn't been exploited when working in your home? Sometimes after working for a month, I still have to pay you!"

"Girl, please don't agree to him. This guy has a bad heart! Someone worked at his house as a day laborer for three days for three hundred yuan. He claimed that he broke his farm tools and broke his bed when he slept on it. Even the wear and tear on the door threshold can be blamed on you, and after the final calculation, you still have to give him a hundred coins."

"Girl, if you agree to him, after he tortured you for six years, he will definitely try to make you owe him money, and maybe sell you to a half-closed prostitute!"

……

Zhu Youxu's belly bulged.

"If you think it's unfair, you're paying for his father's burial! Is it wrong for me to help her fulfill her filial duty?"

Zhu Youxu looked at Yulian and said, "Little maid, others think your situation is unlucky. How many buyers do you think there will be?"

"The weather is getting hotter and hotter. Do you want your father's body to stink, or do you want the government to bury him in a mass grave and be dragged out by wild dogs if it is not properly preserved, or do you want to follow me? After passing this village, there is no This is the shop!”

Yulian's eyes filled with tears.

In her eyes, filial piety is as great as heaven.

"Master, I..."

Just when she was about to agree, another voice came from the side.

"Thirty strikes, I'm out!"

A man of about thirty years old, wearing a moon-white gown, with a very fair complexion, came out.

"Girl, come with me. My name is Xu Chongde. I am a silk merchant in Jinan Prefecture. I am urgently looking for female workers. I will lend you thirty guan, and then you will work in my workshop. You will make an IOU, and then I will I sign a labor contract and pay back the money with work. I guarantee that the daily salary will not be less than a hundred cents. After the money is paid back, I can go or stay, how about it? "

The eyes of the surrounding onlookers lit up.

A hundred dollars a day.

It takes less than a year to pay back the thirty strings.

Such a contract also guarantees Yulian's freedom and dignity, which is very good.

Yulian nodded heavily and sobbed: "Thank you, sir! Thank you, sir!"

At this time.

Zhu Youxu on the side was dissatisfied.

"Boy, are you a foreigner here to cause trouble? You didn't ask about me, Zhu, in Changqing County..."

Before Zhu Youxu finished his arrogant words, Su Liang asked Du Lei and Sun Sheng to walk over.

The two people, one on one side, stared at Zhu Youxu.

Zhu Youxu was instantly frightened.

How could he look at someone who had been on the battlefield and killed someone before?

"I...I was wrong...wrong!" After saying that, Zhu Youxu ran away in confusion.

Immediately, Du Lei and Sun Sheng returned behind Su Liang.

Silk merchant Xu Zhongde could tell at a glance that these two people were Su Liang's guards behind him, and he immediately raised his hands to Su Liang to express his gratitude.

Su Liang smiled and nodded towards him.

Xu Zhongde helped Yulian stand up and said with a smile: "Dear fellow villagers, it is the slack season at this time, and I need to recruit a large number of female workers."

"Any woman who is over 16 years old and under 40 years old can go to the 'Yue Shang Ren Jia' inn on the street to find me. They mainly do mulberry picking, needlework, and textile work. The work location is in Jinan Prefecture, and the daily salary is not less than One hundred coins, more work, more rewards, everyone helps me promote it, the more people, the better.”

For a low-class woman, one hundred cash a day is already a lot.

This kind of errand is completely something that comes by chance but cannot be sought.

"Xu Daguan, I will definitely help you promote it, I will definitely help you promote it!" an enthusiastic onlooker said with a smile.

Su Liang smiled brightly and murmured: "There are still many good people in the world, this is the prosperous age!"

Immediately, Su Liang and the other three left.

And this moment.

Silk merchant Xu Zhongde looked at Su Liang's back and said in his heart: He has an extraordinary temperament and is definitely not from the countryside. A pair of clothes and boots, no less than ten pieces, and a jade pendant around his waist, which is even more valuable. The two guards should be retired soldiers. This person is either rich or noble, and he should be a big fish!
(End of this chapter)