Jinting Han people

Chapter 46: Farming with Li Mi (4k)

A handsome young man with slender long sleeves.

Tired of being in the field, there is no need to criticize the salary.

……

A little girl's singing voice came from somewhere, and the cuckoo flew from the eastern suburbs of Yanshi City towards Anlegong Dongwu, singing all the way.

The surroundings were already awash in summer. Pine and cypress trees blanketed the ground with verdant leaves, wildflowers and weeds grew thickly everywhere, and mosquitoes and flies seemed as omnipresent as the air. The sun overhead blazed fiercely, baking the farmers in the fields with exhaustion, as if their very souls had been steamed away by the heat. Yet, they forced themselves to forge ahead, suppressing their discomfort as they toiled back and forth across the fields.

Liu Xian was one of these weary peasants. He was dressed like any other farmer: shirtless, his hair tied high in a bun, and wearing tightly-knit coarse linen trousers with the legs rolled up high. He carried a shoulder pole with two buckets filled with water hanging high on it, and he stumbled forward along the ridge of the field, sweat dripping down his face.

Li Mi was sitting in the shade of a mulberry tree, observing him from afar, coughing occasionally. Xi An and Zhang Gu stood beside Li Mi, anxiously watching and admonishing the old man, "Old sir, the young master just had a heat stroke yesterday. Why did you let him come here today? Don't make him sick!"

Li Mi remained unmoved. He grabbed a handful of hot, dry mud from the ground, rubbed it into powder with his fingers, and then scattered it around. He said, "It hasn't rained for two months, which shows that this year is a severe drought. So many people are working so hard to ensure a good harvest. Huai Chong's little effort is nothing compared to this. With you here, he'll be fine."

No one, including Chen Shou, could have imagined that Li Mi's promise to teach Liu Xian the art of statecraft would lead him to secretly accompany him to Dongwu after Liu Xian became his disciple. The first thing he asked Liu Xian to learn was farming. He instructed Liu Xian to cultivate ten acres of his twenty hectares of land in Dongwu, starting with the most basic farm work: tilling the fields, weeding, and composting.

Liu Xian was very confused at the time and asked Li Mi how this could be considered the study of statecraft. If one wanted to understand the sufferings of the people, he could just visit and investigate. Human time is extremely precious, so why waste all this effort?

Li Mi did not explain to Liu Xian, but said directly: "Zhuge Liang tilled the fields, Guan Yiwu traveled the country, and eventually became famous prime ministers. The truth behind this cannot be understood by words alone. Since Chengzuo has handed you over to me, you should stop asking questions and do more."

This sentence actually made Liu Xian very dissatisfied.

In his mind, a teacher's job was to help students resolve their doubts and confusion, but the unnamed old man in front of him told him not to ask too many questions, which was not the style of a good teacher. But since this Kong Kong Shanren had raised Chen Shou as the leader, Liu Xian didn't know what to say and chose to do as he was told.

That winter, under the guidance of Li Mi, he marked out ten acres in the center of the fields in Dongwu, and discussed with the tenants who had allocated the land, saying that no matter how much he grew in a year, he would give it to the tenants who originally owned the fields.

These lands originally belonged to Duke Anle, and the tenant farmers had no reason to object. They naturally expressed their gratitude and wanted to help Liu Xian, but Li Mi refused them all.

"Sir, you are not an ordinary mortal. Whatever you do, can't you accomplish it without help?"

Li Mi's words exhausted Liu Xian. He was just a beginner in farming, and if someone could help him, he would have avoided many detours. But Li Mi ignored all this and insisted that Liu Xian work alone. He even refused to use oxen to plow the fields, with the simple reason being, "Most people in the world don't have oxen."

Liu Xian felt that he was just looking for trouble, but Li Mi said sarcastically, "Sir, can't you do it?", which immediately aroused Liu Xian's pride. He really said nothing and started his farming life alone.

Due to differences in measurement during the time, an acre of land in the Western Jin Dynasty was approximately one-quarter smaller than it is today. Even so, ten acres was still too much for Liu Xian. Just walking back and forth would take half an hour, not to mention working inside.
At first, without oxen, Liu Xian plowed the fields himself. He thought he was strong, but after seven days, he had only plowed six acres, and the plow rope on his back was worn with blood. If he hadn't been restricted in his diet, he would have been exhausted long ago.

After plowing, there were still other steps to follow: fertilizing, leveling the ground, weeding, sowing, and so on. Liu Xian had often seen these things in the past, knowing that they were laborious but not fully understanding them. Now he had a real experience of them. He gradually understood that farming was a science, and a very arduous one at that.

After this arduous study, Li Mi promised Liu Xian the art of governing. To put it bluntly, it was the art of law and administration. After each day's farming, Li Mi would spend an hour teaching Liu Xian books like "Han Code," "Taihe Code," "Nine Chapters on the Mathematical Art," and "Water Classics." This gave Liu Xian a systematic understanding of the nation's laws, official system, geography, population, and economy, specifically teaching him how decisions were made at the court and how these orders were implemented at the county level.

Li Mi's lectures were meticulous and often supported by examples. Whether in Heshuo, Longyou, Jingji, or Bashu, he always had vivid positive and negative examples to use. His profound knowledge and mastery of official affairs really amazed Liu Xian.

But even so, Liu Xian now had great resentment towards Li Mi.

For Liu Xian, the physical fatigue during this period was secondary; his main dissatisfaction was the mental torture.

While the Anle Mansion wasn't the most prestigious, and Liu Xun didn't pay much attention to Liu Xian, he had always provided him with the proper treatment a young man deserved from a young age. Liu Xian hadn't cultivated a life of luxury, and while he could adapt to simple meals, the sight of servants and attendants constantly surrounding him still instilled a certain level of self-respect and even arrogance in him.

Not to say that they are superior to others, but at least they are not willing to do some mundane work.

But when he took off his Confucian robe and military uniform, and mingled with the tenant farmers with his bare chest and feet, and even had to associate with the stench of manure, he could not help but feel ashamed.

This wasn't out of discrimination or sympathy towards the farmers, but rather a deep-seated incomprehension. What was the point of learning all this? It was clear that this experience wasn't necessary; I could have learned enough by visiting and asking questions. Yet, this mountain man made me spend so much time in the fields, without explaining any reason. It was simply baffling.

I've paid too much, yet received too little. If I had to say what the benefit is, it's probably that it allows me to endure hardships! But there's no end to the suffering in the world. Mencius said, "When Heaven is about to confer a great responsibility on a man, it will first test his mind and will, and make him work hard." That's fate, so why put pressure on yourself?
By April, Liu Xian could no longer bear it. He felt cheated, so one day after weeding, he questioned Li Mi, "Li Guang shared the hardships with his soldiers, while Huo Qubing traveled with his imperial chefs, yet in the end, wasn't it Huo Qubing who achieved the most? Sir, you're making me suffer here. Do you think that in the future, when I enter the government, I won't compete with others in achievements, but in terms of suffering?"

Li Mi pretended not to understand and asked, "Why do you say that? People all over the world live like this. What are you suffering from?"

This left Liu Xian speechless. He was embarrassed to say that he was a nobleman and should not be treated like common people, so he had no choice but to maintain this kind of life in a sullen manner.

But by May, the weather was scorching hot. It hadn't rained for two months straight. The sun blazed down every day, and the heat was so intense that even the surface water in the well seemed scalding. Liu Xian's constant irrigating efforts had finally stretched his body to its limit, and just two days earlier, he had suffered a heat stroke.

Heatstroke was a minor matter. After all, Liu Xian was the master of this place, and if anything went wrong, someone would come to support and care for him. However, the resentment pent up in his chest was nearing its limit. The next day, Li Mi came to visit him. He said nothing, as if to prove something. He stood up, picked up his shoulder pole, and left. This is how the scene today unfolded.

It took Liu Xian over an hour to water all ten acres of land. He himself was drenched in sweat, his sweat even forming a layer of white salt frost. He was utterly exhausted.

But he looked back at the fields he had painstakingly cultivated. Millet and sorghum seedlings intermingled, lush and verdant like a sea of green. The breeze blew over them, and they gently swayed. A sense of accomplishment gradually filled Liu Xian's body: these were the fruits of his hard work and diligence. Just as he was feeling content, a female singing voice in the distance gradually approached. He turned around and saw a slender girl, about twelve or thirteen years old, emerging from the fields. She ran over with a food box in her hand and waved to Liu Xian and the others beside her, Li Mi, Xi An, and others. Liu Xian recognized her and smiled, waving at her, calling out, "Xiaomei, hurry up!"

This young woman, Xiaomei, was the daughter of a tenant farmer named He in Dongwu Village. Most of the land cultivated by Liu Xian was cultivated by her family. Hearing that the prince would give much of his earnings to them, the He family, young and old, were deeply moved. To express their gratitude, Xiaomei brought him lunch every day. During this time together, Liu Xian worked day and night in the fields and developed deep friendships with his tenant farmers. The ballads Xiaomei sang were composed by them out of admiration for Liu Xian.

Since Liu Xian was still suffering from heatstroke yesterday, today's lunch was very sumptuous: there were two pounds of cut dog meat, a steamed chicken, a plate of vinegar celery, a bowl of crucian carp soup, and eight millet buns as the staple food.

Liu Xian didn't care about being polite. The fatigue only made him feel extremely hungry. He spread out his plate under the shade of a tree and started to eat voraciously, without any manners of a young master from a noble family.

After finishing a pound of dog meat, Liu Xian was half full and relaxed. Only then did he have the energy to observe the expressions of the people around him: his two good friends had nothing to do all day and were a little drowsy in the heat; the new teacher had not yet picked up his chopsticks, but was frowning and pressing his lower abdomen. He said it was an old problem; and Xiaomei, who brought him the food, was looking at him. She was thin and occasionally showed envy when she looked at the food box.

Liu Xian reacted and asked Xiaomei, "Are you hungry? If you are, eat something."

Xiaomei's thoughts were seen through, and she blushed and shook her head, saying, "This is the master's meal. I'm just a servant, how can I be worthy of it?"

Liu Xian smiled and said, "All kinds of food are for people to eat. There's no such thing as unsuitable or unsuitable. There are so many dishes that we can't finish them all. In the end, it's all wasted."

Xiaomei stared at Liu Xian with wide eyes. After a few months of getting along, she had become quite familiar with him, but she still found her son's kindness incredulous. In her family, even when her parents ate together, there was no such thing as courtesy. Yet, this son treated her so kindly, which made her imagine something else. When Liu Xian called her again, she blushed and reacted. She took the chopsticks, picked up a piece of chicken, and chewed it repeatedly.

Seeing Xiaomei so serious, Liu Xian couldn't help but laugh. After Xiaomei swallowed it, he asked with a smile, "What's wrong? Isn't there enough food at home?"

Xiaomei nodded and explained everything, "We originally had some food stored, enough to last until next year's planting. But my father said that if the weather was good this year, it would be fine, but with the drought now, the harvest won't be good. If we don't save some now, we'll starve next year."

"Save a little? How much?"

"About seven stone a month."

Liu Xian felt a bit heavy-hearted upon hearing this. Generally speaking, an adult would need one and a half dan of grain per month. He remembered that Xiaomei's family was a family of seven, including her parents and three children. Even if the children ate less, they would still need at least ten dan of grain. Yet, Xiaomei's family managed to save three dan per month. No wonder Xiaomei was so thin and her bones were prominent. He felt a surge of pity, and his own fatigue seemed insignificant.

But turning back, Liu Xian saw Li Mi's sallow face, and all these complex emotions were instantly replaced by irritation. No matter what, he still felt that he was wasting time. Even if he went hunting and playing in the mountains with Shi Chao and others, he felt that it would be more meaningful than staying here, because at least there would be happy memories.

Li Mi seemed to sense Liu Xian's thoughts. He opened his eyes and smiled at him. He then took a drink and said, "Has Huai Chong finished his meal?"

"Yes!" Liu Xian wasn't actually full, but he didn't want to engage in excessive verbal communication with the teacher. Even if it was the difference between one and two words, he would rather choose one. Without further ado, Liu Xian reclined in the shade of the tree, closing his eyes to rest. He hadn't been in the habit of napping, but if he didn't rest now, he'd be unable to move at all in the afternoon.

Li Mi, of course, saw Liu Xian's anger. He thought, having trained the young master for so long, it was probably time for a heart-to-heart talk. After everyone finished their meal and Xiaomei packed up everything, Li Mi watched the girl's retreating figure, then slowly sat down next to Liu Xian and asked slowly, "Has Huai Chong ever thought about his future?"

Liu Xian opened his eyes. He was a little puzzled by this sudden question, but he had no choice but to answer it, so he said truthfully, "They say you should look three steps ahead before you take one step. I've thought about my future in my twenties and thirties."

"Oh?" Li Mi asked with a smile, "What were you doing at that time?"

Liu Xian replied, "If I cannot enter the Three Provinces, I would like to be sent out to serve as a provincial governor."

Li Mi stroked his beard and said, "Good ambition, but I'm talking about the future. Why is Huai Chong only talking about himself?"

"What do you mean, sir?"

"Of course, a person's future isn't just determined by their ambitions. It also includes the friends they have, the kind of family they have formed, the enemies they have conquered, and the state of mind they have achieved. Only by considering these things can the path forward become clear."

Liu Xian pondered for a moment and replied, "This is too complicated. Family, enemies, friends—many things are determined by fate, not something one can consider. All I can do is take responsibility for my own life."

"That's not wrong, but it's just the way mortals think. A true hero can transcend this barrier of knowledge and understanding, see through the various processes of fate, and then grasp them, completing the leap from one shore to the other."

Li Mi pointed his finger at the path Xiaomei had taken and asked Liu Xian, "Can Huai Chong see her future?"

Liu Xian was stunned. How could he predict the fate of a peasant girl? It was nothing more than waiting two more years, marrying a peasant boy, continuing to toil and depend on the weather for food. Good years were fine, but in bad years, they might even have to sell their children. He had known all along.

But what was different was that Liu Xian's imaginations had been nothing more than empty words, paintings so blank they only contained a few figures. But now, he could sense the flesh and bones of these imaginings. He had just seen the joy in Xiaomei's mouth when she had eaten her fill, and he could imagine the fine lines around her eyes when she cried. He was even more familiar with the aches in the farmers' shoulders and backs after working, and the leeches, venomous snakes, and thorns in the fields. Unconsciously, he was able to weave the fate of the peasants with rich details.

Li Mi coughed and laughed, "If you could see, you would know how to tie their fate to yours..."

Seeing Liu Xian's puzzled look, Li Mi wanted to say more. But at this moment, the dull pain in his chest and abdomen suddenly intensified, like a thousand needles piercing his throat. A hot current rose to his throat, forcing him to lean forward, open his mouth, and instantly vomit a pool of blood.

The three people around him were startled. Before they could do anything, he looked up at Liu Xian and wanted to say some instructions, but he had no strength left. As the light in front of his eyes flashed away, he fell straight to the ground.

　Please vote! Please read! Please support me, your support is my motivation to update!
　　Thanks to book friends 20230923115610678, Drunk and Punished, and Tiger Watching Chang'an for their tips~
　　
　
(End of this chapter)