The Han culture is spreading strongly in Southeast Asia

Chapter 228 Who is the Barbarian?

Lin Shuijin is a simple-minded middle-aged man. He arrived in Southeast Asia last year, and he brought his wife, son and daughter with him.

This situation was rarely seen in the past. In Lin Shuijin's own words, going overseas is a gamble with one's life, and who would be willing to let his wife and children take the risk with him?

Moreover, Lin Shuijin is a bit stupid and not strong enough. Apart from farming, he has no other skills.

People like him were not welcome in Southeast Asia. You don't know how to do business, and you can't defeat the natives in terms of force. When you go to Southeast Asia, you will either starve to death or be bullied to death.

But once Mo Zibu gained a foothold, this situation began to change.

Because I, General Mo Da, have basically completed the construction of people's cooperatives in the seven prefectures and sixty-one counties in the Andai area.

Once this kind of grassroots organization in the countryside is established, there is no need to worry about attacks from the indigenous people, nor about fraud, deception, or even robbery by some guys who specifically want to harm their compatriots.

Because during these three years, among the nearly 100,000 Chinese who had just arrived in Southeast Asia, only more than 100 died in conflicts with the indigenous people, and more than 300 died from acclimatization, malaria and other diseases.

However, more than a thousand people were sentenced to hard labor or whipping for various crimes, and more than three hundred were hanged directly in the town port.

Through such tough punishment measures, Mo Zibu successfully cleaned up the atmosphere in the Andai area. Minor problems still existed, but the major issues were under control.

Lin Qiaoyin was on the boat, listening to the endless stories of this relative and looking at the red glow of pride and excitement on his face. Lin Qiaoyin knew that this was the confidence brought by the three hundred acres of land.

Compared to when his family was in his hometown, even though they had excellent farming skills, they could only struggle to survive as tenants, their lives were indeed much better.

As soon as they set foot on the land of Hexian, they were stunned by the bustle in front of them.

Different from the grandeur and religious solemnity of Thonburi, Ha Tien displays another kind of vitality.

Everyone came and went with light steps, as if they all had important things to deal with.

There are a large number of foreigners, with blondes, gray hair, red hair, etc. They can easily talk to the locals and dare to wander around even if they are alone.

It was completely different from the caged temperament that Lin Qiaoyin had seen in Guangzhou.

Of course, what made Lin Qiaoyin most confused was that the Hexian people were different from most people in Thonburi who had their hair cut short. Almost all of them tied their hair up.

Although this kind of hair bun is a little shorter than the one Lin Qiaoyin saw in the book, probably because of the hot climate, it is undoubtedly quite beautiful.

The first time she saw them, Lin Qiaoyin couldn't help but hide her braid behind her neck.

Fortunately, the further they walked into the city, the more people with braids they saw. Although Lin Qiaoyin could not understand most of what they said, he knew that these people spoke Hakka and it seemed that they were Hakkas who had just come to Southeast Asia.

After they had walked a few steps, they heard the clanging sound of a gong. Lin Qiaoyin, pulled by Lin Shuijin, came to the side of the road uncomfortably.

Then he saw a man who looked like an official beating a gong to remind pedestrians to give way. Behind the official was a burly man with a gangster-like look, accompanied by several guards.

The guards carried two flags, one with a strange-looking black tripod painted on a red background, and the other with a red pattern of intertwined swords painted on a white background.

"Oh, isn't this Tonghuo? Third brother Lin, do you still remember him?" Lin Jinshui pointed at the burly man.

"Tonghuo, a member of the Xiaozong clan in Xiaolongqiu, had a place to bury his father when he passed away. It was only because Master Gao Yi gave him a piece of land near the old lychee tree that he could find a place to bury him."

Lin Qiaoyin looked carefully and found that it was indeed an acquaintance, actually his cousin. He had heard that he had gone to Southeast Asia a long time ago. He didn't expect to meet him here.

Lin Qiaoyin was still debating whether to call out for help when Lin Jinshui ran over to greet him, then pulled him over and enthusiastically introduced him:
"Third brother, you see Tonghuo is very prosperous now. He is a lord under the king."

Only then did Lin Qiaoyin realize that the flag with a red background and a black tripod represented the identity of a republican member, and the flag with a white background and a red sword crossing each other was the symbol of a county governor.

"Young Master, you've also been overseas?" Lin Tonghuo was so frightened that he couldn't help but shout.

Just as Lin Qiaoyin was about to stop him from calling him "Young Master", Lin Shuijin came up again, muttered a few words, and then told Lin Qiaoyin's intention.

The air was stagnant for a few seconds, and Lin Tonghuo gritted his teeth, "I owe you a lot... The master has been very kind to me. Since you want to see what the general looks like, please follow me."

Seeing Lin Tonghuo's agreement, Lin Shuijin smiled innocently and said, "The king will convene a republican conference tomorrow. Third brother, please bear with it and pretend to be Tonghuo's follower, and you can go in."

Who is Lin Qiaoyin? He is a scholar with a bright future.

Even if there is still a little conscience and national consciousness, it is impossible for him to do something just because of a few words from Zheng Qing.

Even if he was willing to cover up for Mo Zibu, it would depend on whether Mo Zibu was worth the risk.

Thinking that this was indeed the best opportunity to observe the river fairy, he immediately agreed.

. . . .

"Boom, boom, boom!" The sound of drums echoed throughout Wuding City, located in Pingshan. It was originally the symbol of the Mo family's rule over Hexian and the fortress that protected the Mo family and their lives.

But after Mo Zibu successfully expanded his living space, the role of Wuding City became less important.

So Mo Zibu asked Pei Jiannan to move the ruling center of Hexian to the town, and built the Hexian prefectural government office near the north city where the Zuoying soldiers were originally stationed.

Part of Wuding City was still used by the Mo family as a villa, family temple, and the Ming Loyalty Temple, which was about to be built in secret.

The other part served as the new Republican Palace.

After all, Mo Zibu's focus has to shift from the Andai area to Guangnan, and it is definitely inappropriate to place such an important political tool as the Republican Council Palace in Pattani.

Lin Qiaoyin was dressed in black and blended into the crowd as an attendant.

From where he stood, the people around him were all wearing the same crimson and blue round-collared official robes that he had only seen on the portraits of his ancestors in the ancestral hall.

Wide robes with big sleeves, gorgeous and solemn, this is the clothing of the Han Dynasty!

Soon, the drums stopped beating and cheers arose, and the people in red and green robes all cheered.

Lin Qiaoyin also stretched his neck to look, and saw a man wearing a python robe and a green winged hat on his head, walking towards him in a mansion-like manner.

This person is very tall, with a broad face and mouth, and a full forehead, as if he has walked out of a painting.

And he did not come alone, but was holding one person in each hand. The one on the left seemed to have footprints, and he limped with every step, and the one on the right.

Lin Qiaoyin's eyes suddenly widened. The person on the right was Lin Shuijin, who brought him here.

In an instant, Lin Qiaoyin broke out in a cold sweat. Could it be that Ajin betrayed him?

But he immediately thought that he had nothing to betray! But, was someone like Ajin worthy of being treated like this by this person who seemed to be the King of the Mo Clan?
Mo Zibu looked around at the beasts in human clothing on both sides and nodded with satisfaction.

The tailors of the Mo family and the Wu family were almost exhausted for more than a month, but they finally copied and made the clothes before he convened the Republican Congress.

At this time, the elders of the Zhaogong Court and those of equivalent status wore fourth-rank scarlet robes, while the republican members wore seventh-rank green robes.

He himself was wearing a flying fish robe, which Lin Qiaoyin mistook for a python robe. Although this flying fish robe was an inferior product imitated by the Mo family a long time ago, it finally looked like the real thing.

As soon as Mo Zibu arrived, the big bell of the Republican Parliament Palace suddenly rang, and all the elders, prefects, envoys, etc. followed in one after another.

Lin Qiaoyin, as an attendant guard, was also assigned to guard the Parliament Palace. He personally watched as the person confirmed to be Mo Zibu took the main seat. No one knelt down, let alone kowtowed.

After everyone was seated, Mo Zibu came forward, pulling the lame man with him, and said, "Last April, rebels in Dan City attacked our land reclamation people. Hundreds of them came rushing in.

The village where our people lived was about to be destroyed. The young men were all transporting military supplies and had not returned. The situation was extremely critical. Fortunately, those who stayed behind fought desperately and avoided a major disaster.

This is Ye Xiancai of Meizhou, who single-handedly killed nine rioters, sustained over ten wounds, his chest and abdomen lacerated, and one leg broken, yet he fought to the death and saved over forty women and children.

"How great!" Mo Zibu shouted.

"Great!" Everyone responded in unison.

"Such bravery cannot be rewarded without a title, so this general has restored the old Chinese system and established eight ranks of civilian nobility, the same as military ranks.

Those who have civilian nobility do not kneel when meeting an official, but can discuss matters face to face, and are regarded as wise men in the village.

The twenty levels of civilian nobility were a very important political system before the Sui and Tang dynasties, intended to reward military merit and pioneering efforts, and to bring the emperor and the people closer together.

It existed in history until the beginning of the Song Dynasty, but it was gradually abolished as China's colonization stagnated.

And now, it is the time when Mo Zibu needs it. Mo Zibu needs to have an eighth-rank title that can be bestowed on the people, to extend his tentacles to the people, and to encourage the people of Southeast Asia to bravely colonize.

It is also a supplement to the Republican Parliament, because now even the lowest-level Republican members need to occupy a place. Except for a few very special ones, they need to have at least a thousand people under their command.

For ordinary people, the requirements are still too high, so in order to reward those people who have no management ability but are brave enough to colonize, and to prevent the grassroots from being completely undermined by Republican parliamentarians.

Therefore, Mo Zibu restored the eight levels of civilian nobility and allowed these outstanding common people to share the power of republican parliamentarians on his behalf.

"Good!" All the elders and council members struck the bronze tripod in front of them, and then their attendants presented the medals and gold seals symbolizing the second-level civilian nobility, which were personally awarded to Ye Xiancai by Mo Zibu.

From then on, he did not have to kneel even when meeting officials of the city lord, prefect, or envoy level, and he could use his title to offset crimes below the serious level.

Ye Xiancai accepted the title with tears in his eyes, and Mo Zibu pulled Lin Shuijin up again.

"Since ancient times, there has been war only after farming. Lin Shuijin, a native of Houguan, was an expert in farming. He invented a method to divert water and also suggested finding bird droppings on deserted islands to fertilize the fields, which was a great success.

In the one year since he came to Gaotoulang, he led the people to reclaim more than 3,000 acres of land and trained 47 skilled farmers without reservation.

The Guangyang Agricultural Cooperative where he was located ranked among the top in the seven prefectures and sixty-one counties in terms of oxen maintenance and grain production.

Confucius said: "I am not as good as the old gardener." How true is this statement!

Today, I, Mo Zibu, follow the example of the ancient sages and have made great contributions to forestry, water resources, gold, and agriculture. I am specially granted the first rank of nobility and become a public official! "

"Good!" The bronze tripod was struck again.

Mo Zibu personally put the medal on Lin Shuijin and encouraged him loudly, "People say that you, Lin Shuijin, are not good at speaking, nor brave, and you only know how to farm.

But in my opinion, Mo Zibu, being able to farm is a great skill. With one more person like you, Lin Shuijin, I will have hundreds more stones of food to feed the soldiers.

Farm well and always remember that others may not know your usefulness and merits, but I, Mo Zibu, will always know them!

Lin Shuijin burst into tears. He was a tenant farmer in Houguan, but he took the risk and went to Southeast Asia. In just over a year, he had hundreds of acres of land. Now he has become a lord. The king has conferred a title on him and expressed his gratitude to him.

Lin Shuijin, who had not been considered a useful person for decades, could not stand this and immediately knelt down and kowtowed to Mo Zibu.

Mo Zibu pulled Lin Shuijin up and said, "A real man should kneel before heaven, earth, and his parents. Apart from that, even a king doesn't need to kneel unless it's his turn!"

Lin Qiaoyin opened his mouth wide and his eyes widened. He really didn't expect that this river fairy was said to be a wild land?

Why does this thing look so ancient?

Then Lin Qiaoyin saw an even more explosive scene. This Republican Parliament was no joke.

Lin Qiaoyin witnessed with his own eyes the parliament reviewing and approving bills one by one under the chairmanship of Mo Zibu.

Commercial taxes in each city can be negotiated. Mining taxes in each region can be negotiated. Plowing cattle, farm tools, and conscription can all be discussed together.

The elders were still able to propose motions, and even if they argued with each other, Mo Zibu never punished them.

Someone was arguing with a garrison commander named Mo, and accidentally cursed Mo Zibu's ancestors. Lin Qiaoyin was worried for this person. If this happened in the Qing Dynasty, wouldn't he have been beheaded?

Then he saw Mo Zibu actually cursed back, and then scolded the two of them and told them not to swear.

In the end, the governor of Changyu Port in Dan City condoned his brother's looting of merchants and covered up the incident afterwards, so he was brought to the parliament for trial.

According to Mo Zibu's opinion, this person must be stripped of his status as a republican councillor before being tried.

But there were people who disagreed, and the resolution failed to pass after several votes. King Mo, who seemed superior to Lin Qiaoyin, kept communicating, and after more than an hour, he finally passed the resolution to revoke the parliamentarian's status.

In my Qing Dynasty, shouldn't the emperor behead an entire family with just one word?

Is it necessary to use such a tug-of-war to convict a mere Republican MP?
Seeing this being discussed and negotiated, although on the surface it seems that the monarch has no courage, why does it seem a bit touching?
Lin Qiaoyin also noticed that the only things that could be discussed in this Republican Parliament were things related to money.

Other major military and political affairs were basically not discussed in this regard. It seems that Prince Mo Wu still has a sense of propriety.

But it is precisely this kind of measured negotiation and appropriate concession of power that gives people a sense of reliability and rationality.

Think about it, everything in Beijing was decided by the emperor alone, and no one else had a chance to make a comment. The Han officials who had worked so hard to raise the banner had to be replaced by Manchu officials.

Not to mention the situation in the Ming Dynasty where the country was shared with the literati and officials dared to refute the imperial edict. Even if they wrote a history of the Ming Dynasty, their coffins would be opened and their bodies would be mutilated. If they wrote the sentence "The bright moon is affectionate and still cares for me, the breeze has no intention of leaving me behind", even a scholar would be beheaded.

Who is the barbarian and who is the Chinese?
(End of this chapter)