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

Walked half a mile~
Green Pearl comforted her softly:

"Sir, please don't be angry. That's just how unruly country folk are."

Jiang Qingyun waved his hand.

"Not at all. I came down here to understand the people's conditions. You can't know the real situation on the ground if you always sit in the Forbidden City."

"No wonder people say that a prime minister's belly can hold a boat."

Green Pearl's words pleased Jiang Qingyun, and he instantly forgot his previous unpleasantness.

……

An endless wheat field.

Farmers dotting the landscape.

Behind a house, Jiang Qingyun was pleasantly surprised to find traces of black locust trees introduced from overseas. These lush and tenacious trees carry the hope for the ecology of North China.

"Hey, what kind of tree is this?"

"I don't know either. I saw a lot of people planting it, so I planted some too."

Is this tree nice?

"It's very good. It grows fast and vigorously. Its flowers are edible and its branches can be burned. It's a good tree."

Jiang Qingyun felt a weight lifted from her heart.

Starting from the Song Dynasty, the fuel shortage problem in the north became increasingly serious. By the end of the Qing Dynasty, there was not a single tree left in the entire North China region.

The farmers of the empire were all pragmatists; since the acacia tree, an invasive species that could easily spread, had already taken root, they no longer needed to worry about it.

Black locust will fill the ecological niche of coal.

……

As they walked, a dilapidated little village came into view.

"Let's go into the village and take a look."

Upon seeing a stranger enter the village, a lazy man squatting at the village entrance stood up.

"Who are you looking for?"

"We are out-of-town businessmen passing through your village. Fellow villager, I'll give you some money. Could you cook some food for the four of us?"

"Okay."

The lazy man immediately took on the task.

The village was quiet; everyone had gone to work in the fields.

After following the lazy man for a hundred steps, a crooked thatched hut appeared before them.

"Esteemed guests, we have arrived at our home."

The fence is crooked and weak; even a dog can't be kept out.

The mud walls, made of a mixture of straw and soil, were riddled with cracks, the largest of which were large enough to fit a fist, making them a paradise for insects.

The thatch on the roof had turned black due to prolonged dampness.

The ground is full of potholes.

The stagnant water, which had not yet dried up, emitted the stench of feces.

This is what a real countryside looks like!

"Don't laugh at the farmer's homemade wine, for in a bountiful year, he has plenty of chicken and pork to entertain guests" is the rural scene imagined by sophisticated urban literati.

"Sir, how about we call it quits?"

"They come, the security."

"Yes."

The third eunuch hurriedly stepped forward to wipe the three-legged wooden stool. Jiang Qingyun waved his hand, casually sat down, and memories of being a deputy section chief flooded back into his mind.

……

Not a moment.

The lazy man brought out several bowls of brown rice and a plate of pickled vegetables.

The monk Tianji quickly took it and ate a few bites.

Testing the poison~
Jiang Qingyun wasn't worried about the poison; he only ate rice and didn't eat pickled vegetables.

Ask questions while eating.

"Fellow villager, I see your family isn't doing too well. How many acres of land do you have?"

"No land."

"Then how do you make a living?"

"He's just dabbling here and there, getting by. What do you do for a living, sir?"

"What do I look like I'm doing?"

"The master looks like an official, but he's definitely not one."

"why?"

"An official can't be as amiable as you, nor would he eat my coarse rice. You're a scholar, aren't you, sir?"

"Yes."

……

After finishing his meal, Jiang Qingyun asked in a low voice:
"Brother, didn't you see the land allocation notice from the government at the county town gate?"

The lazy man perked up immediately upon hearing this.

"Don't don't."

Why not?

"They're illegally dividing up the master's land; they'll be arrested and beheaded sooner or later."

"Who said that?"

"It has always been this way."

The lazy man actually said something that was very inconsistent with his status, which aroused Jiang Qingyun's curiosity.

"Brother, what do you mean by that?"

"The government distributes land to the people, and the people take advantage of the government. Is there such a good thing in the world? I don't believe it, and I won't plant it."

"What about the rest of the villagers?"

"They're all serving the land."

Suppressing his anger, Jiang Qingyun got up and left.

Lazybones, beyond redemption!
……

Grain Payment Hall.

The entrance was bustling with carriages and horses.

Jiang Qingyun observed quietly from a distance for a while, then stopped a father and daughter who had just finished delivering grain and were pushing an empty cart.

My father was strong and dark-skinned, and he was barefoot.

The daughter was rather pretty, but her skin was a bit rough, and she timidly hid behind her father.

"Hey fellow villager, can I ask you for directions?"

"Just ask."

How do I get to Weishan Lake?

What are you going there for?

"What, we can't go to Weishan Lake?"

"There are many bandits over there, we dare not go."

"Don't the officers and soldiers care?"

"In recent years, the county government has been neglecting its duties and has not taken care of anything."

"Wouldn't that create chaos?"

"It's really chaotic, but it's still alright."

"Fellow villager, I'd like to invite you and your daughter to dinner. How about you tell me about the situation in our area?"

"What do you do for a living, sir?"

"I used to be a scholar, but now I run a small business."

……

Countryside eateries.

Two thatched huts and an open-air shed.

After everyone was seated, they first drank some plain water without tea leaves and patiently waited for the dishes.

"Big brother, what's your name?"

"Zhao Wu."

"So it's Brother Zhao Wu. My surname is Wen, and I'm the eldest in my family."

"Don't dare."

"Brother Zhao, how are things at home?"

"Sigh, life used to be so tough. But things are better now, there's hope for the future."

"Oh?"

"The new emperor is the reincarnation of Manjushri Bodhisattva. He ordered the government to allocate land to us, and our family received a full 80 mu! 80 mu!"

Jiang Qingyun smiled.

How do you know it was the Emperor's will?

"If His Majesty doesn't issue an imperial edict, the government won't be so kind; it must be His Majesty's will."

Brother Zhao deliberately lowered his voice.

"The food is here."

The innkeeper quickly brought out four dishes and a soup, the only meat dish being a pot of braised cabbage and pork.

Zhao Wu felt somewhat uneasy.

"Brother Wen, this...this isn't a good idea."

"eat!"

……

Eat and chat.

Jiang Qingyun casually asked, "Fifth Brother, how much grain did your family pay last year?"

"45 shi (a unit of dry measure)".

"so much?"

“I still have 50 shi of grain left at home, which is enough to eat. Moreover, the new emperor said that there will be no more corvée labor, and the people will be given grain for working for the government.”

"It's good to have something to look forward to."

Brother Zhao chuckled.

suddenly~
A strange musical instrument sound came from the official road not far away.

The shopkeeper hurriedly ran out and lowered the straw curtain to cover the shed.

"Sir, please do not make a sound."

Then he ran outside the shop and knelt down on both knees.

……

The drumming grew louder and louder.

The sounds of various instruments, such as the small drum, erhu, suona, gong, and flute, intertwined together.

Dozens of people surrounded a sedan chair. Sitting on the chair was a middle-aged man in a purple robe, holding a whisk and resting with his eyes closed.

Jiang Qingyun frowned.

After the procession passed.

The shopkeeper dusted off his knees and rolled up the straw curtain again.

"Sir, I'm sorry." "Manager, who were those people who just passed by? They had quite the grand entrance."

"You don't even recognize him?"

"I am a merchant passing through."

"He is the leader of our Bagua Sect. He has boundless magical power and superb medical skills. Tsk tsk, he can cure all diseases with just one talisman."

"Are you a believer too?"

"Yes."

Jiang Qingyun gestured to the shopkeeper to go about his business.

At this moment, two plainclothes guards, disguised as traveling travelers, also entered the shop, each ordered a bowl of noodles, and began to eat by themselves.

……

inside the house.

Green Pearl carefully examined the farm girl.

"Little sister, what's your name?"

"Zhao Cuier".

"Cui'er, what a lovely name. Is she betrothed yet?"

"not yet."

"How many people are in the family?"

“Me, my dad, and my brother.”

"Where's your mother?"

"They starved to death a few years ago."

Cui'er felt embarrassed by Green Pearl's gaze and lowered her head.

Green Pearl smiled and pulled out a silver hairpin from her hair.

"Give it to you."

"No, I can't have it."

"Take it. Cui'er, be good and go pour tea for that Master Wen outside."

"Hey."

Green Pearl had a premonition that the young master, tired of delicacies, might want to eat some country vegetables to refresh his palate.

Although this Cui'er was of average appearance, she was clean and simple.

……

really.

Jiang Qingyun stared at Cui'er's back for a couple more times, noting her round buttocks, her waist without any excess fat, and her wild and untamed charm.

The honest and simple-minded Zhao Wu was completely unaware.

As the saying goes, "He who eats another's food is bound to him; he who takes another's money is bound to him."

"Brother Wen, if you don't mind, why don't you stay at my house for the night?"

"Isn't this bad?"

"It's alright, it's not far, my house is just ahead."

Twelve miles!
It was indeed not far for a farmer who walked all year round, but Jiang Qingyun's back ached from walking.

The third eunuch deliberately lagged behind, and when he saw that only one of the two plainclothes guards who had been following him remained, he felt much more at ease.

A quarter of an hour later.

"Brother Wen, we've arrived."

"Nice, a clean little courtyard."

Jiang Qingyun looked around. The thatched roof was made of new straw, the mud walls had many repair marks, and the mud floor was simple but not bumpy.

Millstone, well, everything is there.

The fence was neat and tidy.

Dogs can't squeeze in, but they can't stop people.

……

"Cui'er, you help the guests wash their faces, I'm going to kill a chicken."

Brother Zhao is indeed very honest and kind.

Cui'er, her face flushed, brought over a basin of water.

"Sir, you may wash."

"Put it here."

Jiang Qingyun didn't do it himself, but sat casually on the stool, letting Lüzhu do everything for him, washing his face, wiping his neck and wiping his hands.

Cui'er was stunned.

She felt vaguely uneasy, sensing that these four people were strange, but she couldn't quite put her finger on why.

Two quarters of an hour later.

Dinner is ready.

Before the sun set, everyone ate dinner in the courtyard.

Jiang Qingyun, Monk Tianji, and the Third Eunuch each had a bowl of coarse rice in front of them, pure rice.

Each of Zhao Wuge's family members and Lüzhu had a bowl of mixed rice in front of them.

Simple and unpretentious~
……

We've just started eating.

A peddler disguised as a plainclothes guard passed by the door carrying a load on his shoulders.

The rattle drum made a thumping sound.
Before long, they were stopped by the villagers.

The market is booming.

Because of his cheap prices, the villagers considered the peddler an honest man, and he easily stopped at a nearby house to rest.

Jiang Qingyun:
"Fifth Brother, back when we were at the Grain Payment Hall, you said things were really chaotic, but then you also said things were alright. What did you mean by that?"

Brother Zhao Wu sighed and began to explain.

After hearing what he said, Jiang Qingyun understood.

With government offices short of staff and their constables unwilling to go to the countryside, various gangs and churches sprang up, creating chaos and terrorizing the villages.

However, it's still less harmful than government officials idly going to the countryside.

So the world is indeed in chaos now, but ordinary people can accept it. They try to avoid all kinds of associations and sects in their daily lives.

The lesser of two evils!
The survival logic of ordinary people is that simple.

"Where did Brother Wen come from?"

"Capital."

"Oh dear, have you seen the new emperor yet?"

"I'm not that lucky!"

"The new emperor is truly a living bodhisattva."

While sighing, Brother Zhao put another piece of chicken into Jiang Qingyun's bowl.

The monk Tianji lowered his head and ate his rice. Along the way, many of his ideas had completely changed.

Jiang Qingyun: "Fifth Brother, will the grain tax office come down to collect the grain?"

Zhao Wu's expression suddenly turned serious. "No."

"how?"

“Brother Wen, there are more than a dozen families in our village who haven’t paid their grain taxes or obtained land deeds. They say the gentry will come back and the land they’ve been allocated will be taken away sooner or later.”

"Will not."

"Brother Wen, are you really sure you don't know how?"

You can rest assured.

"Sigh, those people have no conscience. How can they not pay their taxes?"

Brother Zhao was filled with worry.

Jiang Qingyun understood this concern very well: law-abiding citizens were afraid of being dragged down by unruly citizens who didn't follow the rules, and sharing the consequences.

……

sunset.

The night was dark.

At the village entrance, dogs barked wildly at the distance.

The villagers were puzzled, but Jiang Qingyun knew what was going on. His guards were camping in the wilderness some distance away and had sent out observation posts around the village.

When traveling incognito, one can't really go alone, can one?

Under the dim oil lamp, Green Pearl served her by washing her feet and changing her clothes.

"Master, let me have Cui'er come and serve you in bed."

"That's not a good idea~"

"Don't worry, sir, this is that girl's good fortune. So many beautiful women in the world yearn for her but cannot have her!"

"Be mindful of the potential impact."

"Master, don't worry."

Green Pearl grew up in the Jiang family mansion, and the master-servant mentality was deeply ingrained in her. If the young master was happy, she was happy. She was willing to do anything as long as the young master was happy.

Young Master can rest assured that Green Pearl is capable of handling things.

This is a tacit understanding formed over 20 years of living together.

……

The dogs outside kept barking.

Jiang Qingyun lay on the clean straw mat, gazing at the dark roof in deep thought.

For the current United Empire, steam engines, sailing warships, cement, glass, flintlock muskets, breech-loading cannons, and architecture are not urgent matters.

Fukuzawa Yukichi's three-step rise to power was correct!!!
The order must never be reversed.

Before changing the hearts and minds of the entire population, rushing to develop science and technology will only result in another Westernization movement.

The argument of lazy people~
The rhetoric of troublemakers~
It is imperative to eliminate this within my lifetime!
Otherwise, these scoundrels will drag down all those who are kind-hearted and respect contracts.

Fortunately, this was in the 17th century.

The Empire currently has no major internal troubles, nor does it face any serious external threats. The Empire has enough time to complete Fukuzawa Yukichi's three-step theory!

Jiang Qingyun warned himself that he would never develop science and technology before changing the public's mindset!

Fine horses, steel swords, bows and arrows, and matchlock guns are enough to maintain the empire's security.

Overtaking on a curve is not a good strategy.

On the racetrack, no part of the journey can be skipped.

Only by taking each step steadily and practically can we go further.

……

creak~
The broken door, made of several irregularly shaped wooden planks, was pushed open, and it turned out that Green Pearl had brought Cui'er over.

"come in."

"Ah."

Cui'er's voice was as soft as a mosquito's buzz, her face as red as blood, her head bowed and eyes downcast.

Green Pearl skillfully adjusted the oil lamp on the table to its brightest setting, and then had Cui'er remove her outer garment, leaving her only in a crudely stitched red bodice.

"Cui'er, don't be afraid."

"Ah."

Green Pearl then brought over a wooden basin and had Cui'er squat down to wash it.

The New Life Movement, promoted for many years, has a first principle: everyone should practice good hygiene! Unfortunately, it hasn't been implemented in rural areas. (End of Chapter)