Lord: Start with a book of Water Margin

Chapter 638 Inquiry
They rushed over in the dark and saw a village. The lights were still on in a restaurant at the entrance of the village. There was not a single customer in the lobby. Only the shopkeeper and a waiter were dozing off behind the counter.

As if they heard the voices of Sun Ding and his group, the two of them stood up and looked at the door.

When Sun Ding and others arrived, they saw only a flag with the words "Li's Foot Shop" written on it.

Sun Ding and the others dismounted, and the two people in the inn came to greet them. The waiter took the horse and led it to the back.

The shopkeeper asked, "Guest, do you want to stay at the hotel?"

Sun Ding said, "We need three good rooms, one next to the other. We also need to feed the animals with fine food. We have to travel tomorrow. If there is wine and meat, please pick some up and send them over. We will pay for them tomorrow."

The shopkeeper smiled and said, "Sir, there are only two pounds of minced beef left, and there are still two large chickens. If you want snacks, there are also big steamed buns. But the only wine we have is the muddy wine we brew ourselves."

Sun Ding nodded and said, "I want beef and chicken, and twenty steamed buns, and a pot of hot wine to help you recover."

The shopkeeper became even more enthusiastic after hearing this.

By the time everyone was settled in, the shopkeeper had already cleaned up the hall. Sun Ding and the others had not eaten for most of the day and were very hungry, so they started eating as soon as they got in.

The shopkeeper saw this and sent another bowl of porridge and a pickled vegetable. After Sun Ding and the others finished eating, the shopkeeper came forward and asked, "Did you enjoy your meal, sir?"

Sun Ding nodded and said, "Shopkeeper, please don't laugh at me. I've been traveling so fast these days and I'm really hungry."

The shopkeeper said, "How dare I laugh at you? I see you are tired, so I don't want to bother you. The government has issued an order requiring all inns to keep a register. When a merchant comes to stay, they must ask him: 'Where are you from? Where are you going? What's your name? What's your business?' All of this must be written down in the register."

After hearing this, Sun Ding said, "We came from Tokyo to visit our relatives in Liangshan Prefecture."

After hearing this, the shopkeeper wrote it down in his notebook, saying, "This is a perfect time. The guest is a scholar, so he can find a job in Liangshan Prefecture now."

After hearing this, Sun Ding was not in a hurry to go upstairs to rest. He just asked his family to go upstairs. Sun Ding, Zhang Long and Zhao Hu talked with the shopkeeper at the counter.

Sun Ding asked, "Shopkeeper, what do you mean by that?"

The shopkeeper said, "I was too nosy. I thought you were going to Liangshan to make a living. Now, Anfu is building a mansion in Liangshan. He provides meals every day and a salary of 50 to 70 wen. All the prefectures have issued official documents. Since there are many workers, they are recruiting people who can read and write to record the working hours."

"There were many people from other places going there, so I thought you were the same, that's why I asked."

"We in Bian Jing have also heard about the construction of a government office in order to appease the emperor, but we didn't expect it to be so big," said Sun Ding.

The shopkeeper smiled and said, "You are pitying the people. I heard from past customers that the workers there have three meals a day and meat soup at noon. After the autumn harvest, many farmers with little land have gone to Liangshan under the guidance of the government to dig ditches, tamp soil, and transport wood and stone. This year is much better."

"If a skilled craftsman is noticed by the government and enters the Military Equipment Bureau, the Repair Army, or the Back Garden Workshop, then he will have a stable job. It will be no problem to support his family."

Zhang Long laughed and said, "You are too underestimating me. My brother is well versed in law. Why can't he become an official in Liangshan?" The shopkeeper said, "This is unfortunate. The lord has already issued an order that all prefectures and cities can recruit scholars every year, but to become an official, they have to go to Liangshan to take the big exam. This year's big exam has already passed, and if they want to take the next one, they have to wait for three years. For this reason, those who didn't take the big exam at the beginning are all upset. During this period, unless someone recommends you, or you have great talent and are favored by the lord, you can become an official."

Sun Ding asked, "Shopkeeper, how come you sell beef in this shop?"

The shopkeeper laughed and said, "That's nothing. I still have a small amount here. I heard that the main store in Liangshan Prefecture slaughters a big cow every day. When privately raised cows are slaughtered, the skin, horns, etc. must be handed over to the government, and a slaughter tax of ten strings of cash must be paid before they can be sold."

"Of course, ordinary farmers can't afford it, but there are still many people who can afford it. Besides, Liangshan has many cows and mules. We don't need cows to plow the land, so horses and mules are also good."

"My husband is also from a humble background. He knows that slaughtering cattle is inevitable. If a heavy tax is imposed, fewer people will eat beef. Now the price of beef is almost as high as mutton, so naturally fewer people will eat it."

Sun Ding nodded and said, "I see. It seems that Liangshan is indeed very different from other places."

The shopkeeper said, "That's right, but that's nothing. The biggest difference is in the army. In other places, there are many soldiers who are exiled for committing crimes, but it's different here. If there are soldiers in the family, they will first be given five acres of military land, and the monthly salary will never be delayed. It will be paid in full. Not only will they be rewarded for their meritorious service, but there will also be annual festival rewards. Nowadays, who among the young people in the village doesn't want to join the army?"

"Take Lijiazhuang for example. In addition to the village chief, there is also a coach who is a former soldier. He teaches the young men in the village and is also in charge of catching thieves. He also receives five stones of rice and wheat every year. Tonight, tomorrow morning, Coach Wang will come to my place to look over the documents."

After hearing this, Sun Ding said seriously, "No wonder I heard in Bian Jing that Liangshan has many elite soldiers and generals and is invincible. But I don't know how to deal with those who commit crimes here."

The shopkeeper heard this and replied, "Of course they will be sent to various places to do hard labor. Only those who have committed serious crimes will be executed in the autumn. If they have committed minor crimes, they will serve their sentences in the city's prison. The rest will be sent to various mines to work."

After chatting for a long time, Zhang Long and Zhao Hu were extremely tired, but Sun Ding became more energetic. Seeing that the two men nodded repeatedly in dismay, Sun Ding ended the conversation and went upstairs to rest.

Early the next morning, Sun Ding got up and went downstairs to chat with the shopkeeper.

As the two were chatting, a big man came in with his hands behind his back. The shopkeeper greeted him, "Master Wang, yesterday's documents have been completed."

Coach Wang heard this and came over. While looking through the books, he asked, "Manager Li, is there anything suspicious?"

After hearing this, Manager Li shook his head and said, "They are all ordinary guests." Then he pointed at Sun Ding and said, "This guest from Bian Jing is also going to Liangshan Mansion to seek refuge with his relatives."

Coach Li looked at Sun Ding and asked, "Sir, who are you going to seek refuge with?"

Sun Ding hesitated for a moment and said, "I am acquainted with [Leopard Head] Lin Chong and [Green-faced Beast] Yang Zhi."

Coach Wang heard this and said, "If there were no changes in the army, Commander Yang would be in Qingzhou, and Commander Lin would be in Liangshan."

"Coach, do you also know Mr. Lin and Mr. Yang?" Sun Ding asked.

Coach Wang shook his head and said, "I have seen the two commanders in the army. Since you are acquainted with the two commanders, you must be an officer in the army. There is a platform for recruiting talents in Liangshan Prefecture. You can go there and leave your name."

(End of this chapter)