You can't only love the Qing Dynasty when you're eating the fruits of others' labor.

Chapter 108 Seven-Three and Three-Seven

"Drive~"

On the official road from the capital to Tongzhou, a troop of cavalrymen, bundled up tightly, were braving the wind and snow to make their way.

"Sir, there's a post station ahead. Let's rest for a bit."

"it is good."

As soon as I entered the inn, I ran into someone I knew.

"Your humble servant greets Your Excellency the Censor and wishes Your Excellency a long and prosperous reign."

"It's you? Get up."

"Thank you, sir."

The postmaster was originally a miscellaneous servant in the military command.

……

"How does it feel to be a post station manager?"

"Thanks to the great man, it's simply wonderful."

"But I've heard that the affairs of the post stations are extremely complicated."

"I have a capable deputy."

"Hmm, you certainly know how to be an official."

Jiang Qingyun walked into the warm house.

A short while later, the postmaster's wife arrived.

The woman was somewhat attractive, and she had a very small baby on her back.

"The countryside is simple, and the hospitality is inadequate. There is mutton soup, rice, and a pot of wine. Please enjoy your meal, sir. I will go and tidy up my own room. Please don't find it offensive."

"No need, I need to get going soon."

Just then, the postmaster came in.

"I have opened a school in the south of the city. When your child is a little older, I will send him there to begin his education."

"Your Excellency's kindness and virtue are unforgettable for my entire family."

The couple were overjoyed, knowing that sending their child to Nancheng School meant a bright future for him.

……

With the warhorse well-fed and the men well-eaten, Jiang Qingyun was focused on continuing his journey through the wind and snow.

50 riders!
Traveling light and simply is not advisable; a grand and imposing procession is the way to go. As an official, who can guarantee that he won't encounter unsuspecting thieves or assassins disguised as thieves on the road?

Wu Yuanheng, the prime minister of the Tang Dynasty, once said: "You are most likely to be shot by an arrow on your way to work."

The Governor-General of Liangjiang, Ma Xinyi, once said: "It's easy to get stabbed when you get off work."

Before I traveled through time, a senior once said:
One must have a deep understanding of the ruthlessness of political struggles and be wary of opponents who might overturn the table and play by the rules.

……

Half an hour later~
A group of people appeared ahead, with five Green Standard Army soldiers escorting at least 60 disheveled refugees.

Jiang Qingyun immediately slowed down his horse, while Zhou Cang and several guards increased their speed.

He ran over and asked:

"Which government department are you from?"

"We are from Baodi Camp in Tongzhou Town, ordered to arrest fugitives. Which government office are you from?"

Zhou Cang turned to look at Jiang Qingyun, who slowly urged his horse forward and sized up the Green Standard Army captain leading the way.

"Why do you look so familiar?"

"Ah, I pay my respects to the young master."

"you are?"

"Biao Xia was originally a groom under the command of the General."

Jiang Qingyun smiled.
That's how the world is; when one person attains enlightenment, even their chickens and dogs rise to heaven. My father's stable boy has now been promoted to a rank-and-file captain.

……

"Where did the fugitive come from?"

The general approached and said in a low voice.

"Young Master, after that incident in Zhenglan Banner, people are gone, but the fields remain. In Tongzhou alone, a full 2 mu of banner farmland were left behind."

"Unclaimed fertile land!"

"Young Master is wise. A few days ago, everyone was watching and dared not make a move. Now that the storm has passed, the servants of all sorts of deities have entered the fray, seizing people and land."

"And what about my dad?"

"The General is wise and mighty, and of course he would not miss such a good opportunity. He has already seized 3500 mu."

Jiang Qingyun nodded and pointed to the group of trembling people next to him.

"So, these people were all banner slaves of the former Plain Blue Banner?"

"Yes, they are all unclaimed flag slaves."

"Release them!"

"what?"

“My wife is about to give birth, so let’s do some good deeds. Tell them that those who want to leave can go, and those who really have nowhere to go can stay and become tenant farmers.”

"Whoo."

The sergeant immediately complied without the slightest hesitation. Half an incense stick later, more than 20 people silently left, while the rest stood there blankly, their eyes numb, like birds and beasts despite being born human.

……

The gate of Tongzhou city.

There were barricades in front of the city gate, and a garrison of Green Standard Army soldiers stood guard.

The atmosphere was slightly tense.

A man who looked like an officer stood in the middle of the road, respectfully bowing with his hands clasped.

"This officer is a Qianzong (military officer) of the Tongzhou Left Battalion, ordered to guard the East Gate. May I ask who you are, sir?"

"My father is Jiang Zhongcheng."

"Ah, so it's the General's son, the Censor of the Censorate. Quickly, move the barricades."

Jiang Qingyun wasn't in a hurry; he pointed at the barricades.

"Is something wrong in Tongzhou?"

“A few days ago, a group of canal workers caused trouble, but it was a minor matter and has already been resolved.”

Jiang Qingyun nodded, spurred his horse into the city, and headed straight for the rear office of the general's mansion.

"Yun'er~"

"Mother~"

The moment Ms. Wen saw her son, her eyes lit up.

"Where's my father?"

"He's been summoned to the Zhili Governor-General's Office; he should be back tomorrow. Has Green Pearl given birth?"

"Yes, mother and daughter are safe."

"Great! Amitabha! A woman's first pregnancy is always a perilous journey, but subsequent pregnancies are smooth sailing. How about Jiangnan?"

"It will be soon, around the time of the Spring Festival."

Wen lit sandalwood incense, placed it in the incense burner, and muttered incantations.

"May God bless the birth of a healthy son. If my wish is fulfilled, I will surely sculpt a golden statue for the Bodhisattva."

"Yun'er, come too, sincerity will bring results."

Jiang Qingyun bowed several times with his hands clasped, then looked up to examine the porcelain Guanyin statue. The statue's face was neither sad nor happy, but utterly serene.

……

"Mother, who are they enclosing land?"

"From princes to commanders, from Manchu bannermen to Han bannermen, everyone is scrambling to claim land from the Plain Blue Banner. Your father is a general, and he has already claimed three or four thousand acres."

What are the plans for these lands?

"Hire people to plant it."

How do I pay the rent?

"Fifty-fifty."

Wen spoke with great pride, saying that such a generous profit-sharing ratio was rare in Zhili Province.

Most tenants paid a fixed rent, known as "iron plate rent." This fixed rent was a fixed amount that tenants had to pay regardless of whether it was a year of famine or a year of plenty.

"Let's change it to 73."

Ms. Wen was taken aback and stared at her son.

"Who gets seven? Who gets three?"

“The tenants get seven, and we get three.”

“Yun’er, a 30/70 split is quite a lot. But the tenants get 30% and the master gets 70%.

"Mother, do you still remember the slave rebellion in Jiangnan?"

Ms. Wen's face changed instantly. She sighed and turned her back.

“Mother, listen to me. The path of life is the path of our own. Let’s split it 70/30. In a few years, our family will be the famous Jiang family of Zhili Province.”

Wen chuckled.

"Yun'er, doing good deeds will arouse public indignation."

"Public outrage? Who is in the public eye?"

“There’s no point in arguing. Your mother can accept the seven-three rule, but your father can’t.”

"It's alright, I can make decisions for my father."

……

"Yun'er, let me ask you something serious: are you a follower of Huang Zongxi?"

"Partly yes."

Wen remained silent, her eyes filled with worry.

"Mother, what do you think of this old Mr. Huang's theory?"

"My opinion is not important. What is important is that no monarch in the world can tolerate his theories, and his head will be chopped off sooner or later."

Jiang Qingyun smiled.

"Old Master Huang advocated theories such as the ruler being a harm to the people, prioritizing the people's livelihood, and governing the people according to the law. Mother, let me put it this way, even 200 years from now, those who promote his theories will still be beheaded."

"However, he is right."

(End of this chapter)