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

Chapter 147: Confessing Wife
Li Yi returned to the general camp with the reward.
He couldn't wait to share this joy with Shi Niang and the others.

"Shi Niang, I'm back."

"Alang, have you bought a lot of cattle and horses and hired a lot of people?" Du Shiniang, the head wife of the family, was leading people to cook for the farmhands. The dishes included millet rice, mutton soup and braised pork feet with soybeans. The food was rich in oil and salt, which was just right for replenishing strength for people during the busy farming season.

"This is not bought, it's a reward."

"What about the new plow?" Shi Niang was also very happy.

"That's right. My senior brother brought me to the palace to meet His Majesty. His Majesty asked me to take the plow to the Xiannong Altar outside Chunming Gate to test it out for myself. He was very pleased and not only rewarded me with twenty oxen and horses, but also twenty slaves, a hundred strings of cash, and a thousand pieces of silk. He also promoted me to Earl of Qianshui County!"

Li Yi took Shi Niang's hand and said, "There is even better news."

"Ah Lang, tell me all at once, it's a suspenseful thing."

"My senior brother told me that I am now a Ninth-Rank General and a fourth-rank founding earl. Therefore, I have met the qualifications for a wife to be granted the title of a noblewoman. I have asked my senior brother to help me write a petition to the Ministry of Personnel and the Imperial Seal Department. You will soon be able to receive the imperial decree and title of a county lady."

"A county lady's imperial edict?" Du Shiniang was stunned.

"I told you I would earn you a title."

Shi Niang couldn't stop her tears from flowing.
She also thought about her wedding day. She could have worn the appropriate dress for a lady of noble birth, with a flower tree and hairpins, according to her mother's status as a lady of noble birth.
But her grandmother only gave her a blue wedding dress for common women, without flower tree hairpins, sideburns, or ceremonial clothes with phoenix patterns.

But today,
Her husband earned her a title.

Although she was only a county lady, she was still very excited and satisfied.

The Tang Dynasty's system of bestowing titles on women of noble birth was quite strict. Generally speaking, very few women received imperial edicts on their own. Xiuzhi's imperial edict of the third-rank Lady of Chongyi County was earned because she killed the chieftain of a rebellious Qiang army of 3,000 men, causing the 3,000 Qiang soldiers to flee in panic.

Generally, it is bestowed by the official title of son or husband.

To be called Lady of the State, one must be a first-rank official in civil or military affairs, or the mother or wife of the first duke. If it is a mother, she must be the legitimate mother. If the son is born to a concubine, even if he is a first-rank official or the first duke, he is not eligible. The legitimate mother must be the one to be named, and a concubine is not eligible.

A county lady must be the mother or wife of an official of the third rank or above.

A princess must also be an official of the fourth rank, or a second rank official with honors and a title.

County Lady, a fifth-rank official, or a third-rank honorary official with a title,
Although Li Yi's official position is only the sixth rank, and his casual position is only the seventh rank, but he has nine honors and is considered a third rank, and he also has the title of founding earl.
The conditions for ennobling his wife as a county lady were fully met.

It has to be said that at the beginning of the founding of the country, honors and ranks were awarded somewhat indiscriminately, but this did allow Li Yi to obtain this unexpected benefit.

Otherwise, he would only have the title of earl, but his merit would not be up to the ninth level, so he could only wait for an official position or a casual position of the fifth rank or above.

"Thank you, Alang,"

"You are only a county lady. I will definitely earn you at least the title of a county lady in the future."

Du Shiniang burst into laughter and said, "My husband, you must work harder. A county lady must be an official of the third rank or above to be eligible to be given the title of mother or wife."

When Ji and others heard about this happy event, they were also happy for Du Shiniang.

The county lady has no power but has unparalleled glory.

In the future, the usage level of jewelry and clothing can be upgraded accordingly, and even some exemption privileges can be obtained. The imperial edict must be revoked before being prosecuted, and the punishment can be reduced accordingly.

If a woman is granted the title of a county lady, she can wear a hairpin with five-flowered trees and five hairpins, two buns on her temples, and a ceremonial dress with a phoenix pattern.

During festivals, you can also enter the palace to pay a visit to the empress, concubines, etc. and attend court banquets.

From then on, she became a real lady.

Du Shiniang was originally from a prominent family. Her grandfather was also the Marquis of Fengxiang County. The Jingzhao Du family was a famous and prestigious family. Each branch of the family had held many titles. Since the Northern Dynasties alone, they had titles such as Earl of Shiping, Earl of Anping, Marquis of Xinfeng County, Duke of Yixing County, Duke of Pingyuan County, Duke of Zhijiang County, and Duke of Changguang County.

I don't know how many generals and provincial governors have come out.

Shi Niang's father, Du Yan, was also an official in the Daye Dynasty and served as the Imperial Censor, and now he is the Minister of Personnel in Luoyang.

But the daughter of a famous family, after experiencing the most unbearable marriage,

Now, facing the county lady title earned by her husband, it seems even more precious.

Her grandmother was so against her marrying Li Yi that she even demanded compensation and a high bride price, but she didn't give her a dowry. She didn't even make any preparations on the wedding day, leaving her to marry alone in her dress.

Three days later, they returned home, but the Du family refused to let them in.

"Alang, once I get the certificate and the Huashu hairpin and Zhaiyi, I will go back to the Du family in full dress to worship our ancestors," Du Shiniang said through gritted teeth.

"Okay, I will also wear the formal attire and go back with you." Li Yi said with a smile. He was really looking forward to what kind of expression Guo would have when she saw that Shi Niang had received the imperial decree of a county lady.

Ji Lingyi watched this scene from the side and couldn't help feeling a little envious.

She was born in a county mansion, married into a county mansion, experienced her family being broken up, and was banished to the imperial palace. Now she is A Lang's concubine.

There is no chance of receiving an imperial decree in this lifetime.

"Call Li Tiaoshun, Zheng Chouta, Zhang Guzi, Dou Boti, and Deng Neer."

Li Yi was able to confer the title of county lady on his wife this time, all thanks to the Wude plow. The invention of this new plow was due to the contributions of several people. They each told Li Yi about some different plows and even helped improve the new plow.
They also have a share of the credit.
The five men rushed back from the fields, covered in mud and sweat.

"I have good news for you. I presented the improved plow to the saint and received great praise. He was also given an official title and a reward of cattle, horses, slaves, money and silk.

From today on, Zhang Guzi will be the deputy head of our General Camp Farm, and Li Tiaoshun and the other two will be team leaders. Each of you will be rewarded with one dan of grain and one bolt of cloth, plus an additional five dou of grain per month in wages. Work hard, and I won't treat you unfairly in the future."

Five people, each of them will receive one stone of grain and one piece of cloth. Give them now.

The five of them were stunned by this pie that fell from the sky.
Although it was insignificant compared to the reward Li Yi received, the Wude Plow was not made by them. At most, they provided some information about other plows and helped to make some suggestions for improvement.

For a few words, you can get one stone of grain and one piece of cloth, and your salary will be increased by five dou of grain every month.

"Thank you Alang,"

Li Tiaoshun, who reacted quickly, knelt down in front of Li Yi.

The other four people also hurried to kneel,
"No need to kneel, just understand. I've always been a man who rewards meritorious service and never hesitates to give out rewards."

"Su Jun, let's slaughter a sheep so that everyone can share in the joy."

Twenty new slaves,

I didn’t expect that the first meal I had here would be delicious lamb, millet rice and lamb soup. It was a delicious meal.

Li Yi arranged for them to temporarily help with the autumn planting at the General Camp Manor.

"Your Majesty has granted me another thousand acres of land in Yizhou, Yijun. I plan to recruit a group of people from here, buy cattle, seeds, and farm tools to plant in the autumn, and also establish a farm there."

"Who will Alang send to take charge?"

"I'd like to ask Uncle Luo to help me manage things over there, and then hire two villagers from Luojiabao. With three people, we should be able to get this farm up and running. After the autumn crops are planted, there won't be much to do in the winter, so I can leave some people there and bring the rest back."

"Third Uncle can be trusted, I have no objection."

Li Yi also planned to set up a workshop to make plows. The Wude plow was actually quite simple. The plowshare and plowshare were made of iron, and the rest was made of wood.

The main thing is to hire a few blacksmiths to cast plowshares and plowshares.
Just hire a carpenter to make other wooden parts and then assemble them.

"We have so much land now. Even if we use it for our own use, it will save a lot of money compared to buying it. Moreover, this new plow will definitely be widely promoted in the future, and people will gradually change to it. This business may not make a lot of money, but it will definitely not lose money."

As long as a business can make money, no matter how much or how little, it can be done.

Moreover, if you start by making plows, you can gradually make other agricultural tools and even other types of goods.

And you can slowly train a group of skilled craftsmen, which is the amazing thing.

the next day,

Li Yi was still busy in the fields.

Luo San was invited over, and he also called Luo Wu, Er Leng and Fu Gui, who happened to be the four people who had served four times.

Li Yi led them to the disaster-stricken areas of Baqiao and Sanqiao, recruited dozens of people, and then gave them the ten cows rewarded by the emperor, and added two more cows.

The old ox pulled the cart, which was loaded with grain, seeds, plows, hoes and other farm tools, as well as some felt blankets, pots and bowls.
The group went straight to Yizhou, more than 200 miles away, to sow seeds.

Fortunately, the fields granted by Yizhou were all cultivated land, not wasteland.

Li Yi was sent to Zhongwei Bridge,
"I'll trouble you, Uncle San,"

Luo San smiled and said, "We are also paid by you, so it's not hard work."

Luo Wu also said: "Anyway, the arrangements made by my family are fine. My mother and wife are working in your workshop, Wuyi, earning food, and providing food and accommodation. The children will also go to school immediately, and they will also have a meal.

The crops on my land have been harvested, and now it’s autumn planting time, and my second brother is in the village with people to help us plant, so there’s nothing to worry about.”

Erlangzi chuckled foolishly, "The village chief pays a lot. Last time I went to serve, I worked for so many days for nothing. This time I'm going to Yizhou, and they pay me both money and food. It's a good deal."

The four men hadn't finished planting their own land yet, so they went to Yizhou to help Li Yi build a farm and plant winter wheat. Li Yi asked Luo Er to bring temporary workers to help them plow the land and plant the seeds, and he even provided the seeds.

They came to farm for Li Yi and earned a lot of money and grain, which was a good deal no matter how you looked at it.

For Li Yi, Luo San and the others are people he trusts. With these people leading the team, the thousand acres of land in Yizhou can be planted without missing this farming season.

The only people he can use now are the villagers from Luojiabao.

Luo Wu said with some envy, "The village chief has done a great job this time. He has set up farms everywhere. He must have five or six thousand acres of land. Next summer, he will harvest tens of thousands of dan of grain."

Li Yi laughed heartily. "It's not like the paddy fields in Luojiabao's Hehe Beach. Most of the land can only produce about one stone per mu."

Li Yi now owns an astonishing 4,800 mu of land, and he also owns 400 mu of land belonging to the school. If we include the 1,000 mu he manages for Xiuzhi,

Six thousand two hundred acres of land,

This autumn, most of the crops will be planted with wheat, and a small part will be planted with rapeseed.

Next summer, we will be able to harvest at least 5,000 shi of grain.

For the disaster victims outside Chang'an who were willing to sell their wives and daughters for a few dou of grain, this was indeed a bit shocking.

Luo Wu got on the ox cart and waved goodbye. "I will be the village headman in the future. I will be satisfied with earning money and food in peace and quiet."

(End of this chapter)