A Good Landlord in the Tang Dynasty: Starting from the Village Chief

Chapter 495 The Drums of Yuyang Shake the Earth

"My dear, today is the beginning of spring."

When Jin Yushu woke up in the morning, she smiled and said to Li Yi.

The day of Lichun (the Beginning of Spring) marks the start of the four seasons. The energy of spring wood begins to arrive, the five elements of spring give birth and transformation, the east wind brings warmth, ice and snow melt, and spring returns to the earth.

"We should eat spring pancakes and raw vegetables on the day of Lichun (the beginning of spring)." Since finally becoming pregnant, Jin Yushu seems to have become a foodie, with a huge appetite and thinking about food all day long. Zheng Rou Niang, who became pregnant earlier than her, however, has a poor appetite.

Jin Yushu had already gained a lot of weight, while Zheng Rouniang had become even thinner and more slender.

The Tang people attached great importance to the Beginning of Spring. They ate raw vegetables, rolled spring pancakes, cut up banners and ornaments, and the common people often held spring banquets, exchanged greetings and made merry on this day. It was a very lively occasion.

"Yes, tell the kitchen to make more spring pancakes and some more snacks to go with the drinks. I'll invite some colleagues over for a spring banquet," Li Yi said with a smile.

Spring pancakes need to be pan-fried, but the dough must be scalded first. If you use cold water to make the dough, the pancakes will be harder than a leather belt, and even the best teeth will find them difficult to chew. They must be scalded with boiling water, but not too much, otherwise they will become like tofu dregs with no elasticity at all.

Not only must the pancakes be well-made, but the fillings inside must also be plentiful and varied.

Mingzhou is located in Hebei, and there aren't many fresh vegetables during the cold winter months. However, Li Yi doesn't lack fresh vegetables, as he has greenhouses. Generally, aristocratic families eat spring pancakes on the day of Lichun (the beginning of spring). These are made by rolling stir-frying mixed vegetables, such as bean sprouts, chives, eggs, and shredded carrots, which are a variety of ingredients and have a rich flavor.

A little sauce is also spread on the crust to enhance the flavor.

Li Yi is hosting a spring banquet today, so the spring pancakes should be quite luxurious. He's sent people to the greenhouse to pick fresh cucumbers, spinach, cilantro, and other vegetables.

Then stir-fry some eggs, add shredded pork with sauce, and slice some good quality ham thinly.

They also prepared smoked pork belly, pine nut pork belly, smoked pork hock, braised pork hock, smoked pork tongue, smoked chicken, and braised duck, along with several stir-fried dishes.
There are stir-fried shredded pork with chives, stir-fried shredded pork with spinach, stir-fried mung bean sprouts with vinegar, and stir-fried vermicelli.
Chop more scallions into fine strips.

Then, add radish, lettuce, and a platter of five pungent spices (scallions, garlic, chives, knotweed, and mustard), and this luxurious spring pancake feast for the start of spring is ready.

There is a one-day holiday for the Beginning of Spring.
It's cold.

Officials from the Mingzhou Grand General's Office and the Wu'an Prince's Mansion gladly accepted Li Yi's invitation to the spring banquet.

Everyone knows that Prince Wu'an loved good food, and his family's cuisine was diverse and delicious, with different dishes for each season.

The various fresh vegetables, flowers, and fruits grown in their greenhouses were highly sought after by the gentry of Mingzhou, and even though they were expensive, many people still bought them.
Being able to eat fresh fruits and vegetables grown in greenhouses was a symbol of status.

Liu Wei, a captain in the Imperial Household Department, was on duty today, wearing a bright armor and a brocade robe, and inspecting the guards.

This powerful figure from Luancheng, Zhao Prefecture, who had previously rebelled against Fenglong Mountain and was once a fifth-rank general under Dou Jiande, ultimately chose to accept Li Yi's offer of amnesty. He killed Gao Kaidao's envoy at Heilong Cave and led more than a thousand people from Fenglong Mountain to surrender.

Li Yi kept his word.

As expected, Zhang Zhi'ang, the governor of Zhao Prefecture, would not break his word. He forgave the people on Fenglong Mountain and made proper arrangements for them.

Liu Wei's case was resolved. The officials and powerful figures in Luancheng who framed him were all investigated and punished according to the law. Liu Wei's property was also recovered. Zhang Zhiang even compensated him by taking a considerable amount of the property from the investigated officials and powerful figures.

The Liu Wei case has become a typical example.
He was pardoned and even granted the title of a sixth-rank military officer in the Prince of Li Yi'an's personal office. However, those officials and powerful figures who had framed him and plotted to seize his property suffered a terrible fate. Because they were listed as typical examples, they were severely punished, with their crimes compounded.

The powerful clan in the village that had been suppressing him suffered the fate of having its clan leader executed and many of its members exiled. The property that the clan had seized over the years was returned to its rightful owners. Their various illegal activities, such as usury, were investigated one by one, and they were ultimately used as a warning to others.

After some of the properties were returned to their original owners, the rest were confiscated as fines.

Those officials involved in Liu Wei's case were directly dismissed from their posts and reduced to commoners, while clerks were permanently barred from employment.

After the case was widely publicized, it garnered widespread praise in Hebei. The people love this kind of drama where a just and upright official punishes corrupt officials, cracks down on powerful and tyrannical people, and stands up for the people.

They see no political struggle, only that these corrupt officials, powerful figures, and tyrants have been punished, and they feel that Heaven has eyes and that karma is being dealt with.

Having avenged his great grudge, Liu Wei finally chose to come to Mingzhou and accept Li Yi's offer of service, becoming a sixth-rank military officer.

Liu Xian also returned, and Li Yi kept his word, appointing him as a ninth-rank military advisor in the Prince's mansion.

Wang was finally able to welcome her husband home.
Only Ma Zhou was depressed for a while.

Following the Liu Wei case,
As Li Yi had predicted, the rebellion of Dou Jiande's former subordinates in Hebei was quelled by a fundamental attack, becoming like water without a source, and was quickly suppressed.

There are still half a month left until the end of the fourth year of the Wude era, but at least within the territory of the three prefectures and twenty-seven counties under Li Yi's Mingzhou Grand General's Office, there are basically no more of Dou Jiande's former subordinates who have openly rebelled.

Even the larger groups of bandits are gone.

After all, the opportunity for a pardon is rare.

If you miss this opportunity, you'll never have another chance.

Now, if you go down the mountain, past mistakes will be forgiven, and you can return home to receive land and be allocated land. You can even apply to the government for interest-free or low-interest loans such as seedling loans, and you can also rent oxen and farm tools from the government. The government will also help everyone form cooperatives to help each other.

The Grand Steward's Mansion did many things this winter.

They borrowed a lot of money by issuing bonds, and then bought a lot of grain. Ordinary people could get a grain ration book as long as they registered their households, and were granted a grain ration based on the number of people in their household.

By presenting their grain ration book to the government, one could obtain grain coupons and purchase a fixed amount of grain at a fair price at the government's grain sales points located throughout the country.

Although the ration was limited and a mix of coarse and fine grains had to be eaten, the grain was still much cheaper than what was available on the market. It was better than buying expensive grain, and even more cost-effective than borrowing grain at exorbitant interest rates from landlords, powerful figures, and temples.

Even if you can't afford this fixed amount of affordable grain, you can still borrow grain at a very low interest rate.

Meanwhile, the inspection teams and circuit courts have been carrying out their work in various places with great enthusiasm. Wherever they go, they can expose many corrupt officials, crack down on local bullies and gentry, and redress wrongful convictions for the people, which has won their deep gratitude and support.

Li Yi this winter

He even issued a special order to allow the people to rest and recuperate, and to avoid conscripting or levying labor service as much as possible.

Construction was only undertaken on essential projects, such as reinforcing river embankments, repairing canals, and roads. Instead of directly conscripting civilians for labor, local people were recruited and hired.

Priority is given to hiring local impoverished people, providing them with food and lodging, and paying them wages, thus implementing a work-for-relief program.

This approach not only completes necessary projects but also provides relief to the people. Although the government hires these workers and covers the expenses, the borrowed money ultimately ends up in the hands of the people, creating a positive cycle. If it were the traditional method of conscripting people for labor, they would have to bring their own food and serve in the dead of winter, inevitably leading to widespread resentment. It's far better to temporarily switch to hiring workers for relief through labor.

People are happy to have the opportunity to earn money and have a full meal when they go to work.

Li Yi saw Liu Xian
"Liu, go and fetch your wife so we can have spring wine together."

Liu Xian politely declined.

"Your wife and I have been old friends for a long time. Today I'm hosting a spring banquet, so of course I have to invite her. Go on your way."

When Liu Xian returned, he learned that his return from his ordeal was entirely due to his wife, Wang Shi's, efforts. In fact, back in Chang'an, Wang Shi had mentioned that she knew Li Yi and had even offered to take him to Li Yi's residence to ask him to recommend and arrange a job for him.

At that time, Liu Xian thought that Li Yi was such a big shot that he would never really pay attention to small people like them. Besides, he was a grown man and was unwilling to rely on his wife to find a powerful person to help him get a job. At that time, Li Yi was leading troops in the field, so he never went.

Upon returning to Mingzhou this time, he became Li Yi's military advisor and only then did he learn of the care Li Yi had shown his wife during this period. If it weren't for Li Yi's intervention, he, as the Prefect of Fenglong Mountain, would probably have been wiped out by the government troops long ago.

Li Yi's spring banquet was very lively, and he invited many guests.

The spring pancakes, neatly spread out, were arranged on a plate, accompanied by a table full of side dishes, both meat and vegetables—a very lavish spread. The most prized items weren't the ham, smoked duck, or braised pork knuckle, but...

These things weren't particularly unusual for the officials; what they really appreciated were the fresh cucumber strips and other fresh vegetables on the table.

"To welcome the arrival of spring, we eat radishes and spring pancakes. This is an old tradition, called 'biting the spring.' Today, I'm taking advantage of this auspicious day of the beginning of spring to invite everyone together to get together and 'bite the spring'!"

"We made plenty of spring pancakes today, so everyone can eat as much as they want, there's plenty to go around."

There are plenty of side dishes to choose from; everyone can roll whatever they want. As for alcohol, there's persimmon liquor and millet wine; everyone can choose what they prefer.

Li Yi didn't stand on ceremony with the others, greeted them, and then sat down to eat.

Take a bite of the juicy, plump radish first.

It's crisp and sweet.

Hu Jinaza rolled up a fancy spring pancake for him and fed it to him.

Taking a big bite, the pancake is chewy but not tough like a shoe upper. It's spread with soybean paste and filled with stir-fried chives and eggs, sweet potato noodles, mung bean sprouts, shredded braised pork, thin slices of ham, roast duck, diced chicken, and more.
It has a very rich flavor.

Looking at the crowd again,

Whether it was Prince Wu'an Youyun Dingxing, or the Chief Clerk of the Grand General's Office Yang Gongdao and the Military Advisor Zhang Liang, or the Chief Clerk of Prince Wu'an's Palace Li Keshi and the Military Advisor Wang Cong, or the Consultant Qi Shanshe and the Recorder Zhang Xuansu,

Or like the generals Wang Xingmin of the Left Guard, Liu Heita, the military commander of the Prince's Palace, Su Dingfang, Liu Heizi, and other military officers.

Everyone was constantly busy.

Spring pancakes are spread out, and in front of them are a variety of side dish boxes, with all kinds of meat and vegetables, dazzling the eyes. They all look delicious, and the different combinations have their own unique flavors.

The spring pancakes are chewy and come with a variety of side dishes.

On this day of Lichun (the beginning of spring) on ​​the fifteenth day of the twelfth lunar month, there will be no more rebellions breaking out everywhere, nor will there be any mountain bandits or brigands coming down from the mountains to plunder in winter.

There were no more refugees or starving people everywhere.

The area is stable, and the supply of goods and supplies is relatively sufficient. Everything is fine, and everyone has been busy for so long, so they can finally relax a bit.

But some officials knew that beneath the calm surface, undercurrents were surging.

The fact that Li Kaidao, the Prince of Beiping, colluded with the Turks to rebel has not yet been made public, but Li Yi has already secretly reported it to the Emperor in Chang'an.

This bomb will probably explode soon.

Meanwhile, the Turks in the north were not idle this winter. The direction of Daizhou and Yanmen was their main target for raids. To the north of Youzhou was Little Khan Tuli. He did not send his troops to raid, but after Gao Kaidao openly rebelled, it was likely that he would invite the Turks to invade.

Although the area most affected at that time might be the Beiyan and Tanzhou region, which is relatively far from Mingzhou, the flames of war would inevitably spread to Yiding as well.

Even if the Turkic soldiers and Gao Kaidao's troops don't come, the refugees from Youyi and other places will still rush south and attack Mingfu.

Of course, once the war breaks out, the Mingzhou Grand General's Office will definitely have to head north to support Youyan.

Civil officials won't have it easy either. After the New Year, they'll be busy with spring plowing and sowing. The land allocated this year, the fields rented to merchants, and the military and government-owned farmland all need to be cultivated.

Oxen, farming tools, and seeds—those are no easy feats.

Li Yi felt that the fillings in the buns were too mixed, so after eating one, he made his own.

Spread out a spring pancake wrapper, place the sliced ​​roast duck inside, then add shredded scallions, cucumber strips, and shredded potatoes. Add two lettuce leaves, brush on some sweet bean sauce, roll it up, and the taste is just right.

You can't put several different kinds of meat in at once, otherwise the flavor will be too mixed.

"Your Majesty."

Just as they were enjoying their meal, Liu Wei came in and delivered a letter.

"This was sent urgently from the Grand General's Office of Youzhou. Li Kaidao has rebelled and declared himself King of Yan again. He sent his general Xie Leng to feign surrender in Jizhou, requesting Youzhou to send troops to assist him. The King of Lujiang sent troops to assist him, but they were defeated by Xie Leng's army. Gao Kaidao seized the opportunity to recapture Tanzhou, and then secretly sent his subordinates to Beiyanzhou to instigate a rebellion by his former subordinates, thus seizing Beiyanzhou."

Now, Gao Kaidao has led the Turks to invade the south, and the prefectures of You, Wei, Yi, and Ding have all been attacked.

The King of Lujiang has sent someone to request aid from Your Majesty!

Li Yi put down the half-eaten spring pancake, wiped his hands, picked up the letter, and opened it.

Gao Kaidao's offensive was quite fierce, but what puzzled him was that when he received Liu Heita's report from Fenglong Mountain that Gao Kaidao was colluding with the Turks to rebel, he not only sent an urgent report to Chang'an, but also sent an urgent report to Li Yuan and Wang Junkuo in Youzhou, telling them to step up their defenses against Gao Kaidao.

As a result, they were still defeated by Gao Kaidao, and lost Tanzhou and Beiyanzhou again.
Li Yuan is a good-for-nothing, so how come Wang Junlang is also a good-for-nothing?
Or is it that Wang Junkuo deliberately waited for Gao Kaidao to rebel, hoping to use the enemy to bolster his own power?
(End of this chapter)