Reclaiming Wasteland: Carefree Mountain Farmer

Chapter 159 The Trustworthy Mountain Farmer
In the main hall, Beiji Wu casually leaned against the dragon throne, looking down at the hundreds of civil and military officials below.

"Greetings, Your Majesty! Long live the Emperor!"

Beijiwu casually sat up. "Rise, everyone, please sit down."

"Thank you, Your Majesty!"

More than 500 officials sat in chairs, with more than 50 people in each row, divided into ten rows, and many guards and eunuchs stood on both sides.

The Mingtang Hall was very large, capable of accommodating more than 500 people, and also offering a high vantage point to see distant city buildings.

Beijiwu looked at Wan Qizhen, the heir apparent of the Shu Kingdom.

"Qizhen, how is your father?"

Wan Qizhen stood up and said, "Thank you for your concern, Your Majesty. My father is doing well. It is the New Year, and my father has sent me here to present tributes from Sichuan to Your Majesty."

Beijiwu nodded. "Alright, thank you for your concern, brother. I recently acquired a new batch of treasures and antiques. These will only gather dust if left in my vault. Take three cartloads with you when you go back."

"Thank you, Your Majesty!"

Wan Qizhen had a good relationship with Beijiwu and had witnessed how well Beijiwu governed Luoyang, so he knew that his own side was no match for them.

At first, I did think my father was crazy for giving Luoyang to Beijiwu.

But now we have to admit that this was the right thing to do.

Retreating to Shu and declaring himself king is far better than continuing to fight in Luoyang and the south.

At that time, they couldn't defeat the South, nor could they defeat the Northern Wu. Even if they didn't give up Luoyang, their whole family would have to flee.

Beijiwu looked at the civil and military officials he had selected.

"Speak your mind if you have something to say. This is the last court assembly of the year. After the assembly, everyone should go back and prepare for the New Year."

Rong Dingwen was about to stand up and report the situation when he suddenly heard someone shouting behind him.

"Your Majesty! I have something to ask you!"

Upon hearing the unfamiliar voice, Rong Dingwen and the officials from the Three Dukes and Six Ministries turned around and found that it was an old man they did not recognize.

Who is this person?

When the court officials were pondering who this person was, Chai Boshi sensed that something was amiss.

This old man doesn't seem like a good person!
Chai Boshi was certain that this old man was the kind of troublesome person who would risk his life to seek justice!
Li Tangqing did not disappoint Chai Boshi. The nearly fifty-year-old man stood up, took the initiative to walk from his seat along the reserved passage to the front of the hall, and humbly knelt on the ground.

"Your Majesty, I would like to know whether the Mountain Farmers tribe truly exists."

Li Tangqing's words caused the surrounding generals to hold their breath!
The local scholars were also terrified; they had never seen anyone so fearless.

Who is this person?

Meng and the others looked at this fierce man with suspicion and uncertainty. Was he really not afraid of death?
Chai Boshi was terrified and kept his head down, not daring to look at the person, for fear of being implicated.

The civil and military officials all admired the old man's courage; he did what no one else dared to do, and asked what everyone wanted to ask but dared not.

Even now, no one can be certain whether the Mountain Farmers are real or not.

If this is true, why is it that, apart from the Arctic Warriors, many people know nothing about the history of the Mountain Farmers, and even the Mountain Farmers' written language is something they have only just learned?

But if it's fake, the root of many earth-shaking changes in recent years, from writing to customs to military strategy, farming, and craftsmanship, lies in the mountain farmers!

Beiji Wu remained indifferent, showing no interest in the selected talent, but also no intention of killing him.

"I'll answer you here: Yes, the Mountain Farmers exist, and there are quite a few of them. It's just that I'm a person who always keeps my word, and the other Mountain Farmers sitting here are just following my orders. They have no right to express their opinions or objections, so they'd be bored here."

"Mountain farmers are hidden among millions of people, with agriculture as their foundation and industry and commerce as their supplement."

"Now that the world is stable, millions of people can rest and recuperate, thousands of households can go out to fight with peace of mind, and the common people can restore their trust in the court, you can sit here as officials and receive the court's salary."

"All thanks to the mountain farmers."

"Without the Shan Nong tribe, there would be no Shan Nong Kingdom, no Wu Dynasty, and no prosperous and peaceful country as we have today."

What Beijiwu said was harsh, but it certainly put everyone at ease.

It's good that the mountain farmers exist; otherwise, it would be too far-fetched to change people's perceptions.

Li Tangqing was clearly courting death, and continued to ask, "Your Majesty, I would like to know how many mountain farmers are in Luoyang City, and whether they can claim to be mountain farmers by cutting their hair and changing their clothes!"

Upon hearing this, the civil and military officials nearby who had just cut their hair felt very uncomfortable.

Who is this person?

With such backbone, why did he serve the Wu Dynasty? Why wasn't he killed?!

Beijiwu casually glanced at the group of people below and said, "If your parents are from the mountain farming community, stand up and let this person see how many mountain farmers are here."

As Beijiwu finished speaking, the entire Mingtang fell silent. Everyone looked at each other and around them.

Wan Qizhen also watched with curiosity the internal struggles within the Wu Dynasty.

This matter has nothing to do with Wan Qizhen, nor with the Southern Dynasty of Shu; it is a matter for the Wu Dynasty itself.

Wan Qizhen, being a Han Chinese, always felt that there weren't that many people in the mountain farms; he thought there should only be tens of thousands.

When Wan Qizhen carefully looked around and, like the others, looked back, she quickly discovered a breathtaking scene.

no one?

Nobody here?!

The main hall was filled with several hundred people, including several important commanders under Beiji Wu, some of the earliest followers of Beiji Wu, and some commanders from the same village as Beiji Wu.

But after everyone held their breath and waited for two minutes, not a single person stood up!

Meng Hetong, Lang Wubing, Xue Chonghu, and Yan Shuangli, the four rotating commanders, all lowered their heads and dared not raise them, hating Li Tangqing to death.

The four of them were the least likely to oppose any decision made by the Arctic Army, and they were also very clear about whether they were Han Chinese who had surrendered or the original mountain farmers.

Wan Qizhen's heart pounded. He had thought that there were very few people from the mountain farm, but he never expected that there wouldn't be a single one here.

Both Chai Boshi and Li Tangqing, who had just been promoted, were shocked by what they had previously thought.

Both of them thought there were many imposters among the Shandong Agricultural University students, and that there weren't that many. But they never expected that there were so few of them—not a single one had stood up!

Didn't they say that there are four or five million people in the mountain agricultural sector?
Who exactly are the people from the mountain farm?
Not only Li Tangqing and Chai Boshi were intelligent people, but also the Han people and mountain farmers sitting at this moment realized an extremely terrifying possibility.

There may never have been any mountain farmers!
Beijiwu's brother used to say that there were no mountain farmers, and everyone thought that Beijiwu's brother was crazy.

It seems that Arctic Wu has gone mad. This person has really done something crazy, managing to rise from a small mountain village to his current position.

Chai Boshi never imagined this possibility, no matter how hard he tried. He always thought that the Mountain Farmers were at least a village, and that Beiji Wu led a village to defeat wave after wave of Beiyuan Army, and then, after growing in strength, he subdued the Beiyuan Army and became the Mountain Farmers.

Chai Boshi never dared to think any further about another possibility.

That means that before the Arctic Warriors could subdue the Kitahara Army, they first had to subdue Kitada Village!
At this moment, everything makes sense. Smart people have come up with a fact that is closest to the truth, but also the most challenging to our values ​​and beliefs.

After a five-minute silence, Beijiwu said calmly, "I know about what happened yesterday. A vendor selling fried dough sticks threatened three children, robbed them of their money, and was beaten to death by an angry mob."

Li Tangqing lay on the ground, too afraid to move, thinking that Beijiwu didn't know such a small matter, but he didn't expect that he knew.

The arrogant Beiji Wu continued, "In terms of indiscriminate killing and the number of people killed, I am probably one of the top in Luoyang. Even Wanye's sons and grandsons, who disregard human life, cannot compare to me."

Wan Qizhen didn't know why the topic of his own side had come up again, so he carefully lowered his head, not daring to make his presence known at all.

Arctic Martial continued speaking, still nonchalantly.

"The city's security was not achieved through fighting; it was the peace and abundance that the mountain farmers earned by working in the fields and risking their lives in battle. But it also involved punishing evil and promoting good."

“I don’t think what happened yesterday was a bad thing. You care about the Han people and the mountain farmers. When you see the mountain farmers killing the Han merchants, you only see their identities as Han people and mountain farmers. What I see is that most people can unite to stand up for justice for their own people.”

"As long as you don't argue with the officers and soldiers, and you see them cooperating obediently, having some courage isn't a bad thing. In the future, when we go to the battlefield to defend our country, we will rely on the people of Shannong." "If you don't like the Wu Dynasty, then go to the Wen Dynasty. I'm keeping the Wen Dynasty here to give those who don't want to stay in the Wu Dynasty a place to go."

"If you think the Wu Dynasty is bad to the Han people, you can go to the Wen Dynasty, which is good to the Han people. The emperor there is Han, the soldiers are Han, and the court employs Han people. I am an upright person, and for the past two or three years, I have been allowed to leave but not allowed to enter."

"Many of the people from the Southern Dynasty here either came early, or used their connections in the court to get special treatment from various places, or bribed their way in. After you came in, I have been constantly filling in the gaps that I hadn't discovered."

"Now the Wu Dynasty uses both household registration and work unit verification, and has left the Huainan area as a buffer zone. Except for refugees who cannot survive, people from the south are strictly prohibited from coming to surrender within the Yellow and Huai River basins. They are only allowed to leave, and once they leave, they are not allowed to come back."

Li Tangqing was in a state of utter confusion. He had originally intended to risk his life to make King Wu aware of the problems between the mountain farmers and the Han people, but King Wu not only knew about it, but also sided with the mountain farmers.

The worst part is that there's no attempt to cover it up, and no one seems to think there's anything wrong with the mountain farmers' actions.

Arctic Martial Arts has figured out Li Tangqing's behavior pattern.

"I understand. You may not even know what you're thinking, but I can roughly figure out what you need."

Beiji Wu calmly said, "You have a sense of responsibility and the backbone of the Han people. You are willing to speak up for the people, even if it means your own death. So let me ask you a question: can you replace the citizens of Luoyang, or the Han officials in this hall, or the people of Luonan County, or even the Han people who live in peace and prosperity further away and do not need to pay taxes?"

"Who among them has grievances? Do they need you to speak for them? If you can lead the Han people back to the Southern Dynasty to serve the emperor of the Southern Dynasty, I will give you one tael of silver for each farmer you take away, and five hundred taels of silver for each minister you take away, which will free up positions for the rest of them."

“I said I’d release them, and I’ll release them; I said I’d give them money, and I’ll give them money. Go ahead and do it. I’d like to know whether the difference between Han Chinese and mountain farmers is greater, or the difference between Han Chinese themselves is greater.”

"Did people not die in the street during Han Chinese dynasties? You want to arrest the farmers who stood up for the children of the mountain peasants and punish them. Do you know whose hearts and minds are you shaking?!"

Li Tangqing hurriedly replied, "Your Majesty, I dare not! I am incompetent, please punish me!"

Beijiwu laughed and said, "You are not incompetent, but you just became an official and you are always eager to do things. You have forgotten who you should speak for and what the big picture is. You should not come to Luoyang in the future. Let others report your work on your behalf. Go to Huainan first to take charge of the reclamation of wasteland. Your main task is not to farm, but to make those who have come to join you do hard labor."

"Go out to sea to fish, quarry stones, dig sand, mine, and reclaim wasteland for farming. They only provide food but don't pay wages. If you don't want to work, you can go back. You have to prove your worth before you can be given important positions."

"It's perfect to entrust this matter to you. Too much clarity leaves no room for fish. Now is precisely the time when we need the mountain farmers to fight, grow grain, and defend our country. And yet you tell me at this moment that we should treat Han Chinese and mountain farmers equally."

“The people of Shannong are pragmatic and not idealistic. I rarely reason with people and I don’t listen to advice. You are a government official, not a scholar in a classroom. You should consider people-oriented principles. The people of Shannong are all from the Wu Dynasty. I am not giving preferential treatment to the people of Shannong, but to those who serve me.”

“The eunuchs and maids in this palace are all Han Chinese. Which mountain farmer would dare to kill them? No matter which mountain farmer it is, even if they say it in jest with their family and friends, it is a capital offense. No trial is needed. If it is found to be true, they will die.”

Li Tangqing finally realized that the issue wasn't between Han Chinese and mountain farmers, and that continuing to dwell on the distinction between mountain farmers and Han Chinese was pointless.

In reality, it's just a matter between the powerful and the lower classes; it's been going on for thousands of years, and it's always the same old story.

Beijiwu looked at the others and said, "Is there anything else? If you have a question, just say it directly. To put it simply, I don't like beating around the bush or playing guessing games."

After what happened with Li Tangqing, no one dared to say anything at this time.

Wang Daoji stood up and slowly bowed: "Your Majesty, I am deeply ashamed of my late father's defection to the enemy, and I request that Your Majesty withdraw the reward."

Beijiwu nodded and said, "Your father's matter has little to do with you. I have been on the battlefield and know how things can change in an instant. I also know that many people, even if they have fought all their lives and walked through the gates of hell several times, will still make irrational decisions when they are really facing a life-or-death crisis."

“I have heard about what happened at home. After the family suffered a change, the issues of dividing the land, money, and women are not the root of the problem. What I admire about you is that you know how to unite people.”

"You know who can help you, who are parasites, and who is worth winning over. You can offer benefits to get others to stand behind you and do things for you. That's the way of being an official."

"Serving the country and the people is just empty talk from Confucian scholars; over the past thousands of years, few Confucian scholars have actually been able to do it."

“Mountain farmers are pragmatic, not idealistic. You can call yourself a mountain farmer from now on. I will take back your father’s 500,000 mu of land. If your Wang family can produce two outstanding talents in the future, and all the officials in the court will witness it again, then I will return the 500,000 mu of land and a quota of 10,000 households to your Wang family.”

Wang Daoji knelt down and kowtowed, saying excitedly, "Thank you for your kindness, Your Majesty! I am deeply grateful! I will go through fire and water for Your Majesty, even if it means my death!"

Beijiwu didn't believe this and said with a smile, "I will take those 500,000 mu of land to cultivate. Considering that your life is not easy now, I will give you 100,000 silver coins, 100 sets of farm tools, and 500 draft horses. You can use half of it to farm and the other half to herd horses and sheep. Take it slow. It will take at least two or three generations to manage those 500,000 mu of land properly."

"Yes!" Wang Daoji immediately replied, "Your Majesty, I obey! I thank Your Majesty for your great favor!"

Beijiwu added, "The Li family is just sitting around doing nothing and not making any progress. Let them be. We'll see how things go in ten years."

"What else?"

Prime Minister Rong Dingwen stood up and said, "Your Majesty, natural disasters continue in the south, and many refugees have fled to Huainan to cultivate the land. There are also many people who want to abandon the darkness and embrace the light. I beg Your Majesty to make a decision."

Arctic Martial knew about this matter; someone had already written to report it.

"Let them continue planting. Fortune changes every year. I don't know where disaster will strike next year. Right now, everyone is planting and storing grain. If a place is affected by a disaster, other places can go to help."

"I can't control the South. The area from Huainan to the Yangtze River is my territory, but now it's mainly our own people, and those who have submitted to me early on. We have to follow the principle of first come, first served, to ensure fairness for the majority."

"Moreover, some people always go wherever the situation is good. This year, if there is a crop failure in the south, they run to the north. Next year, if there is a disaster in the north, they run to the south. How can I expect these people to serve me when something happens?"

"Nowadays, it is the mountain farmers who are farming, selling vegetables, smelting iron, making salt, and making clothes. The newly built place has not even been enjoyed by our own people yet, so we cannot let outsiders benefit from it."

"Tell the governors of each city that anyone who enters our territory must not move around without permission or seize fertile land. Give each household five mu of dry land and mountain fields for temporary resettlement."

Rong Dingwen did not expect that Beijiwu was so indifferent to the land in the south.

"Your Majesty, why not seize this opportunity to recover the vast and beautiful lands of the south and unify the north and south?"

Beiji Wu is a laid-back and lazy person who has no obsession with unification.

"We signed an alliance long ago to not invade each other. Since we agreed to it beforehand, we should abide by it. Besides, we have enough land now. The Northwest is experiencing drought again this year. It's been three years since the last time we had snow and floods. Let's take care of our own people first."

The rest of the people wanted to reclaim Jiangnan, so that the Han people could rule over the Han.

However, Beiji Wu had no intention of recovering Jiangnan or expanding his territory, and the others could not force him to.

Beijiwu increasingly realized that being an emperor meant going against the people of the world, and that being a good emperor would be extremely tiring.

To reclaim Jiangnan, we must also reclaim a group of weak-willed Jiangnan literati and a group of gentry and landlords who are trying every means to avoid paying taxes.

The lives and deaths of others are none of Arctic Martial Arts' concern. Arctic Martial Arts has enough people to develop slowly; it doesn't need that many more.

Even when recruiting people, the focus should be on able-bodied laborers, preferably those poor people who are willing to work hard.

Beijiwu looked at the large group of people and said, "Alright, if there's nothing else, then disperse."

Seeing that Li Tangqing and Wang Daoji were both fine, Wen Shumo, who was originally fine, suddenly found himself in trouble.

Wen Shumo loudly requested, "Your Majesty! I came from the South this year and am very familiar with the affairs there. There are many things that have not been reported in the newspapers. Please allow me to inform you!"

Arctic Martial frowned. "Speak."

Everyone else looked at this unnamed civil official, feeling that there were many, many unfamiliar, yet very brave people in the court.

“From the first year of the Wu Dynasty, before the emperor went south to Luoyang, a large number of officials and troops followed King Wen to Lin'an. Later, millions of northerners flocked to Jiangnan and other places, and the price of rice soared.”

"In the Huanghuai Province, a pound of rice costs only eight copper coins. In Lin'an, the price of rice was three or four copper coins per pound when the capital was moved. Last year, it skyrocketed to thirty to eighty copper coins per pound, a tenfold or twentyfold increase!"

“In cities and towns all over Jiangnan, there are disaster victims everywhere. Housing is crowded, with several families sharing a room. A small room costs a thousand yuan a month. Public resentment has long been boiling over!”

"This is still a good year in Jiangnan. This year, there has been a major disaster and no harvest. The price of grain will definitely skyrocket. In addition, there are more than 500,000 officials and their families gathered in the city. The people have no place to live and no food to fill their stomachs. There will definitely be great chaos at this time!"

"His Majesty's power extends throughout the four seas. As long as His Majesty's army arrives, officials in all parts of Jiangnan will surely respond to the royal army and abandon darkness for light!"

Arctic Martial Arts had no intention of letting these people abandon their evil ways and come to his home to enjoy a life of luxury.

Beijiwu said coldly, "The Han people in the south are in trouble, and instead of helping them, you people are thinking of kicking them when they're down!"

"You keep advocating war and urging me to send troops to punish them. The Shan Nong people are a peace-loving people. You people, after enjoying a few good days, start pointing fingers at the country and treating the power of the nation as your own, a weapon to satisfy your selfish desires!"

"Anyone who travels to Jiangnan without permission will be removed from the register!"

Arctic Wu simply refuses to listen to these intellectuals.

"Anyone who tries to persuade me to break my promise will be killed without mercy!"

Wan Qizhen never expected that Beiji Wu would be so trustworthy; he was just like his father, an unbelievable figure.

Li Tangqing also began to believe that there really was a group of morally upright, selfless hermits and mountain farmers.

That's why we were able to cultivate a wise and virtuous ruler like Beiji Wu, who was skilled in both literature and martial arts, and was honest and trustworthy.

(End of this chapter)