Zhutian: Starting from the Space-Time Merchant

Chapter 145: Have we scholars wasted ten years of hard study?

There is a saying: "Above is heaven, below are Suzhou and Hangzhou."

The beauty of the gardens in Suzhou and Hangzhou is unparalleled in the world.

The East Garden, a private garden built by Xu Taishi, the former Vice Minister of the Court of Imperial Stud.

I took a rare day off and strolled leisurely along the forest trails, enjoying the scenery.

“Pile up rocks and stack up stones, arrange strange peaks, and lush forests.”

Walking among the artificial hills and strange rocks, and the lush trees, I was in high spirits. "The integration of environment and artistic conception is truly wonderful."

It has been three days since Suzhou was captured.

For the past three days, Lin Dao has been busy with the aftermath work.

They used the "Records of Gentry" to arrest people and confiscate their property, reorganize the servants of each household, release the conscripted militia back home to divide the land, and count the spoils of war.

Having finally managed to relax a bit, I made a special trip here to admire the world-famous Suzhou gardens.

"Your Majesty."

In the waterside pavilion, the Bian sisters burned incense and brewed tea, and after making the necessary arrangements, invited Lin Dao to take his seat.

A breeze blows, the shallow lake water flows around, and the bamboo shadows on the shore sway.

Looking around, Lin Dao sighed, "This kind of place used to be only for rich people."

Bian Sai believes that Lin Dao was right; only high-ranking officials and dignitaries could access such gardens, or at least be renowned scholars.

He was a merchant by birth and had never been to such a garden without an invitation.

In fact, Lin Dao was referring to high-end business banquets in the modern world.

In the modern world, the idea of ​​having beautiful women in ancient costumes dance for you in a lavishly decorated private room is no longer considered high-end.

They all moved to the ancient and charming gardens.

A beautiful woman plays the zither, pursuing a certain artistic conception.

Previously, Lin Dao had only heard of it and was not qualified to join it at all.

Sipping tea while listening to the sounds of music, with a beautiful woman by your side.

He has now fulfilled his long-held wish.

"Your Majesty."

Bian Sai, observing Lin Dao's good mood, then gently parted her cherry lips and asked, "Having arrested so many gentry, what should we do with them?"

"Ok?"

Lin Dao raised an eyebrow and glanced over.

By listening to the sound of strings and understanding their refined meaning, one's experience in forest trails gradually becomes richer.

Upon hearing Bian Sai's words, I understood what she meant: "Who do you want to plead for?"

"Your Majesty."

Bian Sai hurriedly bowed and said, "My sisters and I used to live near Tiger Hill."

“There were often thugs harassing me, but I was able to escape thanks to the help of Mr. Wu Jishan.”

"Wu Jishan," Lin Dao thought carefully.

There really is such a person.

He was a Jinshi (a successful candidate in the highest imperial examinations) and had close ties with members of the Jesuit order.

Historically, he surrendered to Zhang Xianzhong, and after serving as Minister of Rites for only a few months, his entire family was killed.

A few days ago, when attacking Suzhou, this man led his household servants to defend the city, but the servants revolted and he was immediately arrested.

Lin Dao picked up his teacup. "Then let's go see him off."

"Prepare some wine and food, and let him die a full-bodied ghost."

Bian Sai's expression darkened slightly.

Her intention was to save a life, even if it meant taking all her family's wealth.

However, the king was extremely cruel to the gentry.

Anyone who has been listed in the "Records of Officials" will not be spared.

As the sun set, the Bian sisters, carrying food boxes, arrived at the Suzhou Prefecture prison.

It was packed with people.

There were so many prisoners that there weren't enough uniforms, so they didn't even change their clothes.

What one sees is all silk and satin, but it is filthy and tattered.

The arrival of the two sisters attracted everyone's attention.

Those who could move all threw themselves against the barriers, calling for help.

Those who knew the sisters wept bitterly, begging them to help them get out.

These gentry and powerful officials had never suffered such torment.

Not only were there no incense or candles in the cell, but there were also lice and rats!

The two sisters lowered their heads slightly and followed the soldiers to Wu Jishan without saying a word.

Wu Jishan had passed the imperial examination and had a small single room.

"Wu the Great Philanthropist".

Once inside the cell, the soldiers set out small tables and chairs.

The Bian sisters took out wine and food and placed them on the table. "When we lived in Tiger Hill, we received help from a great benefactor."

"I have come today to repay your kindness."

A loud crash came from outside.

Several people, barely alive and covered in wounds, were dragged in by the soldiers and put into different cells.

They immediately opened the iron chain gate and, amidst screams, pleas, and begging for mercy, dragged away another batch of people to be extorted for money.

Upon witnessing this scene, Wu Jishan's legs trembled and his face turned deathly pale.

He pleaded with the Bian sisters, "Please, you two, put in a good word for me! I'm willing to serve the King!"

After the city fell, many scholars expressed their willingness to serve Lin Dao with utmost loyalty.

Unfortunately, Lin Dao didn't trust them.

How could any good scholars emerge from such a massive, corrupting environment as the Ming Dynasty's intellectuals?
He preferred to trust the soldiers who had attended night school rather than the scholars of the Ming Dynasty.

Bian Sai shook her head with a wry smile, "The great philanthropist thinks too highly of us sisters."

Although they followed Lin Dao, they knew their own status; they were merely serving maids.

There's no way someone could have such influence as Lin Dao to release them.

The king is not someone who is easily swayed; he is someone who truly accomplishes great things.

"A truly kind person." Bian Sai took out a wine cup, poured some wine, and comforted her, "When we sisters were in Yangzhou, we saw those salt merchants suffer greatly."

"The great philanthropist should obey the king's orders, give what is due, and hand over what is due, so as to avoid suffering."

"Perhaps, the body can be preserved intact for burial."

Wu Jishan looked puzzled and said, "We are willing to surrender!"

"We are willing to serve Your Majesty."

"If the king doesn't want the help of us scholars, who will govern the country? Wouldn't we just become bandits?" He really couldn't understand it.

Even figures like Li Zicheng and Zhang Xianzhong are said to have started recruiting scholars.

Why is Your Majesty still following the old path of bandits?
Bandits, bandits, they wander until they have nothing left.

"A great philanthropist."

Bian Sai pushed the wine cup forward and said softly, "I have heard Your Majesty say that the Ming Dynasty will perish at the hands of scholars."

"Given the precedent of the Ming Dynasty, he will not accept scholars."

“Especially those who are great philanthropists and have official titles, they will not have the slightest chance.”

Wu Jishan instinctively replied, "The Ming Dynasty isn't dead yet."

As soon as he said those words, he himself felt they were dry and uninteresting.

The area outside the Great Wall had long been destroyed, and the various Jurchen Mongol tribes constantly harassed and even broke through the Great Wall to wreak havoc southward.

The Guanzhong Plain and the Central Plains were further reduced to the territory of bandits, and the government troops could only struggle to hold on.

Now even in the relatively peaceful Jiangnan region, forest roads have been opened.

In all parts of Jiangnan, there was no way to stop it.

Given the current circumstances, the demise of the Ming Dynasty is only a matter of time.

Bian Min placed the chopsticks over and said, "Great philanthropist, don't even think about it."

"I have heard the King say that from now on, officials in all regions will be selected only from the army."

“How could that be?” Wu Jishan, who had just picked up his chopsticks, shook his head repeatedly upon hearing this. “Those soldiers don’t even know a few characters, how could they become officials?”

"Putting everything else aside, they can't count; they don't even know how much tax to collect."

“No.” The younger Bian Min was somewhat stubborn. “The King’s soldiers are different.”

“They have to attend night school every night.”

"Learning to read, learning arithmetic, and other things."

"I have heard that in the King's army, one must know a hundred characters to become a squad leader."

"One must be able to write two hundred characters to be qualified to serve as a squad leader."

"One must know two hundred characters and be able to do addition and subtraction to be qualified as a flag commander."

"Only those who can read more than 300 characters and understand arithmetic calculations are qualified to be appointed to military ranks of 100 or above based on their military achievements."

"If you don't meet the standards, even if you make great contributions such as killing generals and capturing flags, or being the first to charge into battle, you will only receive gold and silver as a reward, and you will still be just an ordinary soldier."

Bian Sai added, "Those soldiers are incredibly enthusiastic about learning."

“Even during marches, they would hang writing boards on the backs of the soldiers in the front row so they could learn to read as they went.”

People in the Central Plains have always been like this: as long as there is a way to rise in society, they will do everything in their power to squeeze in.

It's just studying, nothing serious.

Wu Jishan was dumbfounded by what the two sisters said.

"how so?!"

He couldn't believe it. "If that's the case, then all those years of hard study by us scholars have been for nothing?"

"It will probably be changed in the future," Bian Sai said uncertainly. "When the world is at peace, I think scholars will still have a chance."

"Great philanthropist, have some wine and food."

"This is all we sisters can do."

After a rare day off, Lin Dao moved to the Humble Administrator's Garden to continue his busy work.

A group of retired soldiers set up government offices at various levels in Suzhou's prefecture, county, and township.

Several thousand soldiers were recruited locally to form the Suzhou Battalion, which was used to garrison the area.

These soldiers were all allocated land, which belonged to them, and they did not have to pay taxes during their military service.

This will greatly inspire their fighting spirit.

As for the main source of recruits, they were the servants of the uprising who surrendered Suzhou and the able-bodied men who defended the city.

Those who excel in physical fitness, basic cultural knowledge, or a special skill will be recruited into various field battalions.

As for the shops and such within the city...

For businesses that register their own taxes, simply record it on the tax form so they can pay taxes on time in the future.

The shops owned by powerful officials behind the scenes were all confiscated.

The shopkeeper and his staff continued to work there.

Then there are numerous cases.

In the final days of a dynasty, countless injustices occurred.

The day after Lin Dao entered the city, some people cried out and begged the upright official to make a decision.

All of these matters were sent to the military law department.

All the clerks, constables, and runners in the prefectural and county government offices were arrested and interrogated until they confessed on their own, and then their confessions were cross-checked and confirmed.

In addition, there were the distribution of relief supplies and the organization of the resumption of production and daily life.

There are just too many things to do.

"No wonder so many people like to be bandits."

"It is indeed simple and convenient to just rob and plunder."

"Governing a local area is not that easy."

Lin Dao, who was working long hours, rubbed his temples.

He immediately signed the final document and posted it in various places.

Three days later, a public trial was held in front of the Suzhou government office.

Anyone with a grudge or enmity can come and identify the person on the spot.

Those officials and gentry who have already been squeezed dry will make their final contribution at the public trial.

Meanwhile, hundreds of miles away in Huai'an Prefecture, at the River Conservancy Office.

Upon receiving the imperial edict, Shi Kefa was filled with helplessness.

The emperor ordered him to lead troops south to annihilate the notorious bandit Lin Dao and recapture Nanjing.

Imperial edicts are simple; anyone can write one with a pen.

But getting things done is as difficult as climbing to the sky.

The news that the invading Jurchens had been defeated and annihilated by Lin Dao was already common knowledge.

Shi Kefa, who had previously gone to the aid of the emperor, was very clear about how formidable the Jurchens' fighting power was.

When the Ming army fought the Jurchens in open field battles, they collapsed at the first contact.

Yet the fierce Jurchens were defeated by Lin Daobu, whose fighting strength must have far surpassed that of the Jurchens.

With only a few thousand soldiers under his command, who were both short of food and pay, how could he possibly go and recapture Nanjing?

"Your Majesty, you think too highly of me."

(End of this chapter)