Guiyi Fei Tang

Chapter 121 What do you want?

"Pattering..."

After finishing his speech, Wuzhen picked up the wooden teapot on the round table and poured himself a cup of tea without saying anything else.

As for the atmosphere in the yamen, it froze instantly. Everyone had a stunned look on their faces, as if they had not yet reacted.

The domineering warriors, the Shen Ce Army that bullies the people and dominates the city, the corrupt officials who ignore the refugees...

When these things were spoken by Wuzhen, everyone who realized what was happening showed shock on their faces.

Even Liu Jilong's expression changed drastically, because he knew what Wuzhen's words meant.

"This...how is this possible?!"

"Yes, how could the Tang Dynasty be like this?"

"Dear Lord, are you mistaken?"

"How can a saint ignore the people selling their wives and daughters?"

"Great Master, this is no laughing matter!"

"Great Master, you..."

For a moment, voices of doubt rose one after another, and even Zhang Huaishen looked at Wu Zhen with a dark face and said awkwardly: "Great Master, what you said... is it true?"

Liu Jilong's heart was in his throat, but Wuzhen was braver than he thought.

Faced with everyone's doubts and even anger, Wuzhen kept smiling and bowed to everyone.

"There are many people who went to Chang'an with me. If you don't believe me, you can ask them..."

Hearing this, everyone turned their eyes to a table in the courtyard, and sitting at that table were the soldiers and Zhibai who were going to Chang'an with Wuzhen.

Seeing their silence, many people clenched their hands, and Zhang Huaishen's face became gloomy.

Seeing this, Suo Xun and Li Yizhong both signaled to Wuzhen to smooth things over, but Wuzhen clearly saw their looks but had no intention of saying anything.

Finally, Liu Jilong stood up and said, "Today is a welcoming banquet, let's not talk about this, let's not talk about this!"

"That's right, let's not talk about this." Ma Chengye stood up and agreed.

But even so, many people stood up and bowed to Liu Jilian, Zhang Huaishen and others.

"Governor, I am feeling unwell and will take my leave now!"

"Me too!"

"Me too……"

"Excuse me..."

In a short while, five or six of the more than ten banquet tables were occupied, and the remaining ones were basically generals from Shandan. However, because Liu Jilong did not leave, they stayed reluctantly, but their faces were still grim.

Seeing this, Liu Jilong felt a little uncomfortable.

He knew that the generals in Hexi could not accept the true appearance of the Tang Dynasty, but he did not expect that this group of people would attach so much importance to the Tang Dynasty.

His lost expression was noticed by Wuzhen, but Wuzhen did not say anything. He just lowered his head and ate, occasionally talking about what he saw and heard in the Tang Dynasty.

When they heard that people were starving to death on the roadside, wives and daughters were being sold by officials, and soldiers were humiliating them, more and more people left the table. Even the generals of Shandan had to apologize to Liu Jilong and leave.

Zhang Huaishen, Suo Xun and others were drinking alone and ignored those who left.

The originally lively banquet became deserted because Wuzhen lifted the veil of the Tang Dynasty.

Soon, the welcoming banquet was adjourned because of these remarks, and even Zhang Huaishen and others left the table in embarrassment.

After they left, Liu Jilong forced himself to chat with Wuzhen for a few words. Only after Wuzhen had eaten his fill and stood up did he take Zhang Chang and the others away from the banquet.

"Crack..."

At night, Zhang Chang and others sat around the brazier in the inner hall. Everyone was silent and refused to speak.

The welcoming banquet had been over for a long time, and Wuzhen had already rested, but the others couldn't fall asleep.

They found Liu Jilong, and a dozen people gathered around the brazier, watching the firewood burning in the brazier in silence.

Liu Jilong, who was sitting in the main seat, was very helpless. He also wanted to rest, but he was embarrassed to do so since this group of guys didn't leave.

He sat quietly in the main seat, occasionally lowering his head to take a sip of tea to refresh himself.

"Zhechong... you said... Is the Tang Dynasty really what that great man said..."

In the firelight, Zhang Chang could not hide his disappointment and asked Liu Jilong hesitantly.

As he spoke, the others turned their eyes to Liu Jilong.

Shang Duoluo did not follow. After all, he had followed Shang Bibi for so many years and already knew what the so-called "Glorious Tang Dynasty" was like.

Seeing that no one was helping him out, Liu Jilong could only sigh and say, "Does it matter what the Tang Dynasty is like?"

"Could it be that you can't stand the filthiness of the Tang Dynasty and are thinking of drawing your swords and committing suicide?"

"Of course not." Everyone looked embarrassed, and Liu Jilong continued:
"If that's the case, then why do you still care about these things?"

"If the Tang Dynasty is prosperous, once the Helong Pass is opened up, you can naturally go to the Tang Dynasty and live a peaceful and happy life."

"If the Tang Dynasty is filthy, you should follow me in Helong and govern the land well, so that the people of Helong can live the prosperous life you once imagined!"

Liu Jilong's words were considered presumptuous and bold even in Hexi, so after hearing them, everyone looked around and finally looked at Liu Jilong.

"Zhechong is right! If the Tang Dynasty doesn't have a prosperous era, then we will follow Zhechong and create one!"

Ma Cheng always stood up to support Liu Jilong at times like this, and with his support, the others also followed suit and expressed their opinions.

"indeed!"

"Follow Zhechong, we can also create a prosperous world!"

"Zhechong, where do you think we will take root in Helong then?"

"Zhechong, I think we should stay in Liangzhou. After all, Liangzhou has a large population."

"Hey, it's definitely not our turn to go to Liangzhou, let's go to He and Wei!"

As Liu Jilong explained their doubts, these guys who had just been feeling uncomfortable actually started to laugh and joke.

Liu Jilong looked at them with satisfaction in his eyes.

He looked past the crowd and fixed his gaze on Chen Jingchong, saying, "Jingchong will definitely stay in Liangzhou to help the governor. As for us, we can go anywhere."

Hearing this, everyone looked at Chen Jingchong, and Chen Jingchong was also shocked and said: "Zhechong, I know you as good as the sun and the moon, and I have never thought of starting my own business!"

Chen Jingchong and Jiu Juyan are somewhat different. He pays more attention to his relationship with Liu Jilian. Although he has never forgotten Zhang's support for him, Liu Jilian helped him more.

Because of this, Liu Jilong spoke to comfort him:
"I don't doubt your disloyalty, but the situation in Liang Province will inevitably be chaotic in the future, and the governor must have someone to help him."

"These days, I have taken a good look at the generals in Zhangye Army. Except for Du Wanmeng, who is quite good, the rest are mediocre."

"Now Jiu Juyan has gone back, but I still feel that the governor is alone and isolated, so if the governor asks you to stay in Liangzhou in the future, you don't have to refuse because of me."

"Besides, if you and Jiu Juyan stay with the governor, if someone slanders me in the future, you can also refute it for me. Isn't this good?"

Chen Jingchong had to leave eventually, and if he was the one to start this, it would undoubtedly offend Zhang Chang and others.

But if Liu Jilong had brought up this issue, nothing would have happened.

Sure enough, as Liu Jilong finished speaking, a look of struggle appeared on Chen Jingchong's face.

Seeing this, Ma Cheng patted him on the shoulder and said, "It's okay. We are just not under the same control. We are still brothers!"

"Yeah..." Zhang Chang also echoed. Although he felt uncomfortable, at least he expressed his opinion.

Seeing Zhang Chang's statement, no matter how stubborn Li Ji was, he couldn't help but give Chen Jingchong a reassuring look.

This was true for all three of them, not to mention Zheng Chu, Huke Guang and Cao Mao.

With just a few words, Liu Jilong resolved the rift between Zhang Chang and Chen Jingchong.

Seeing them reconcile, Liu Jilong was also happy in his heart. He couldn't help but take a sip of tea and said, "Okay, we have to get up early tomorrow morning to train the troops. Don't delay here. Go back and rest!"

"Zhechong, I will take my leave..."

Upon hearing this, Zhang Chang and others stood up one after another, saluted to Liu Jilong, and left the inner hall.

Seeing them leave, Cao Mao got up and started to tidy up the tables, chairs and benches, and moved the brazier to Liu Jilong's bedroom.

Liu Jilong followed him and stretched out his hand to pinch his shoulder: "Okay, you should go to bed early too."

"Yes!" Cao Mao smiled and nodded, and walked out of the bedroom and closed the door for Liu Jilong. After a night's rest, when Liu Jilong opened his eyes again, the night clock in the room had already reached Chenshi (7 o'clock).

Cao Mao got up early and started practicing. Hot water for Liu Jilong to wash was already prepared at the door, and next to it was a toothbrush and toothpowder made by Liu Jilong.

Although the Han people started brushing their teeth a long time ago, the boar bristle toothbrush was not invented until the Hongzhi period of the Ming Dynasty under the order of Emperor Hongzhi.

After Liu Jilong settled in Shandan, he asked people to collect pig bristles and inserted the short and hard bristles into the wooden handle, thus making the toothbrush more than 600 years ahead of schedule.

As for toothbrush powder, it is made from cow bones, pork bones and other bones that have been boiled in soup.

When bone meal is mixed with some herbs, the taste also has a hint of fragrance.

Although it is not as good as toothpaste, it can solve many problems.

After a simple wash, Liu Jilong began to practice martial arts in the yard. Basic skills such as drawing the bow and pulling the spear were part of his life even when he was resting.

Not until he finished practicing did Cao Mao bring him a bowl of noodles the size of a human face.

"Zhechong, these noodles are made from crushed wheat this year. Please try them!"

As Cao Mao spoke, he put the noodles on the table and invited Liu Jilong to come and eat.

Liu Jilian put the lance back on the weapon rack, wiped the sweat off his face, and returned to the inner hall to sit down.

A simple bowl of leek and egg noodles tasted like home for Liu Jilong.

He buried his head in eating, and Cao Mao also brought another bowl and buried his head in eating noodles as well.

The two of them ate up all the noodles, including the soup. After cleaning up, Cao Mao went to the military camp to study, while Liu Jilong also prepared to inspect the city.

Unfortunately, he had just walked out of the yamen when he saw Wuzhen and two Zhibai who were about to go out.

"Great virtue!"

"Zhechong..."

The two men greeted each other and after they stood up, Liu Jilong continued to ask, "Are you getting ready to go out?"

"I didn't take a good look at Shandan yesterday. I'm going to take a good look at this city that was praised several times by the Jiedushi."

Wuzhen answered truthfully. Liu Jilong nodded and said, "I want to inspect the city as well. If you are willing, you can come with me and I can explain it to you."

"Then I'll trouble you to negotiate." Wu Zhen did not refuse.

Seeing this, Liu Jilong began to wander around the city on foot with Wuzhen and two Zhibai.

After Liu Jilian's one year of governance, everything in Shandan City aroused the curiosity of officials and people outside Shandan.

For example, there are small water-powered wheelbarrows, as well as water purification facilities and sewage cleaning facilities designed by Liu Jilong, as well as agricultural tools such as Hexi plows, harrow hoes, dew hoes, insect combs, and insect removal pulleys.

Liu Jilong originally wanted to make a four-wheeled carriage with a bogie, but the wooden leaf springs could not withstand the pressure and were easily damaged, and the metal leaf springs could not be mass-produced with Shandan's metallurgical technology, so the plan was shelved.

Anyway, the north is all plains, so it doesn't matter whether a multi-wheeled carriage has a bogie or not.

"Zhechong, I noticed that the people of Shandan basically use iron farm tools. Is this what you ordered?"

Walking up to the city wall, Wuzhen looked at the people who were reclaiming wasteland outside the city and couldn't help but ask.

Liu Jilong was also a little surprised when he heard this. After he reacted, he asked, "Isn't it the same in the Tang Dynasty?"

Liu Jilian remembered that the Tang Dynasty produced nearly 10 million kilograms of iron every year, while the population of the Tang Dynasty was only 50 to 60 million.

Although the production of armor and weapons consumes a lot of iron, it is not to the extent that ordinary people cannot afford iron farm tools.

"People in Guanzhong naturally use iron farm tools, but the quality of the iron farm tools used by many people is often not long-lasting."

"On the contrary, the agricultural tools used by the Shandan people are of high quality and can be used for five or six years without any problems."

Wuzhen talked about the differences between the farm tools used by the people in Guanzhong and those used by the people in Shandan. Liu Jilong nodded to show that he understood, while Wuzhen continued to observe Shandan City.

It must be said that the cleanliness and tidiness of Shandan City far exceeded any other city he had ever seen, and the appearance of the people was the best among all the cities he had visited. Even the people of Chang'an were not as spirited and well-behaved as the people of Shandan.

In Shandan, Wuzhen can occasionally see some farmers with excess fat, but he can never see them in other places.

Because of this, when he was walking with Liu Jilong, he specifically asked Liu Jilong about the rules for governing Shandan.

In fact, Liu Jilong did not have any rules. Before the autumn harvest this year, Shandan was either under military control or semi-military control. All grain was basically handed over and then distributed according to work, or distributed according to work after a 50-50 split.

Because distribution was based on work, there was no situation where people had to perform labor service at their own expense, ensuring that every citizen had enough food to eat every day.

Liu Jilong believes that this approach is very normal. Distributing resources according to work can mobilize the enthusiasm of the people.

It is because of this that Shandan’s arable land has grown to its current size of 90,000 acres in less than a year.

If Cui Shu could succeed Liu Jilian and continue with the regulations without any changes, Shandan would become the granary of Hexi in five years at most.

As for why it was said to be five years later, it was mainly because after the recovery of Liangzhou, Shandan’s military status would also decline.

In addition, when Liu Jilian led his army eastward, it would naturally be unlikely for Shandan to receive support from Zhangye and several other states.

Without support from other states, even if Shandan has more than 100,000 acres of farmland after next year, it will take three years to turn the wasteland into fertile land.

Based on the grain output from the cultivated fields in Hexi, at least four acres of cultivated fields are needed to feed one person.

Without support from other states, it would take at least two years for Shandan's more than 100,000 acres of virgin and cultivated fields to feed Shandan's 20,000 people.

However, three years later, the people of Shandan will become the most well-off group of people in Hexi, because by then seven acres of land will be enough to support one person, and they can not only have enough food to eat, but also raise livestock and poultry.

By then, even if the Shandan government followed a tax rate of one-tenth, it would still be able to receive nearly 20,000 shi of tax grain from Shandan, making it a major tax payer in Hexi.

As long as Cui Shu sticks to the policy for a few more years, the people of Shandan can at least reclaim more than 200,000 acres of arable land, as almost every household in Shandan has oxen and horses for draft.

This is the upper limit of the farming capacity of Shandan’s more than 20,000 people.

By then, in addition to the people's own food, Shandan will be able to export no less than 80,000 shi of grain, making it a veritable granary in Hexi...

I just don’t know whether the people of Shandan will still remember me by that time.

But it doesn’t matter if they don’t remember. At least I have been here and allowed them to live a better life compared to people in other places at that time.

Thinking of this, Liu Jilong couldn't help but raise the corner of his mouth.

What young man has not dreamed of governing a region and ensuring that the people can live and work in peace and contentment and have enough food and clothing?

Now he has realized his fantasy, and that's enough.

"If all officials in the world could be like Zhechou, there wouldn't be so many petty and profit-seeking things."

After listening to Liu Jilong's management of all aspects of Shandan, Wuzhen couldn't help but sigh, and his eyes looked at Liu Jilong more and more gently.

"I, Liu Jilong, have to do my job. Although the grain and rice I eat are distributed by the government, they are also grown by the people."

"I eat the food grown by the common people. If I still criticize and exploit them, how can I live with my conscience?"

Liu Jilong explained with a smile, but Wu Zhen shook his head: "There are many officials who say this, but how many of them can really do it?"

"It's not that we look down on officials of commoner origin, but once these people gain power, they will immediately forget everything they had in the past and only be busy filling their own appetites."

Wuzhen also came from a wealthy and powerful family. Although he did not have that sense of superiority, he had seen many officials who came from common people's families and were recommended to become officials.

Once these people came to power, their methods of exploiting the people were no less than those of officials from powerful families, and some even exceeded those of the officials, because they knew better where the people's bottom line was.

Hearing this, Liu Jilong just chuckled: "I can't control others, I can only control myself and the people under me."

He leaned his hands on the parapet, looked at the people working outside the city with a bright smile.

"All I want to do is to ensure that the people have enough food to eat, the children have education to attend, and the soldiers can live and work in peace and contentment!"

He said what he had said to Zhang Huaishen, and Wuzhen was also shocked.

He and Liu Jilong looked outside, seeing the people working in the fields, and couldn't help but question in a low voice: "Is there really such a world?"

"Of course!" Liu Jilong responded confidently, and looked at Wu Zhen:
"As long as you work hard, you will achieve it sooner or later!"

It was just a simple sentence, but it instantly moved Wu Zhen.

He has seen too many bad things along the way, but he always tells people around him that he can't do anything about it.

However, Liu Jilong gave him the opposite answer.

For a moment, images of those evil things flashed through Wuzhen's mind, and finally shattered. What appeared before his eyes was the smile of Liu Jilian from Shandan City looking at the people.

No…it’s not just his smiling face, but also the smiling faces of the students in the school in Shandan City, the smiling faces of the farmers outside the city, and the straightforward smiling faces of the soldiers.

Thinking of those smiling faces, even Wu Zhen couldn't help but smile, and he looked at the people outside the city.

"I don't believe others, but when Zhechong says this...I believe it!"

(End of this chapter)