Do You Know?: I, the Little Cabinet Elder, Regent of the World

Millions of simple and honest Tibetan people left their footprints all over Hezhou and Dangzhou.

On the flat fields, the golden wheat exudes a faint fragrance.

At a glance, one can see many simple and honest people holding weeding knives, skillfully harvesting wheat. The heavy stalks of wheat piled together look very tempting.

In addition, some people held long rice cakes tightly, loosened the soil, and casually tossed in seeds.

Harvesting and sowing at the same time is quite peculiar.

At the edge of the field, Jiang Zhao led a group of about fifty or sixty people, walking slowly.

"Is this winter wheat or spring wheat?" Jiang Zhao pointed to the farmers harvesting wheat, smiled warmly, and asked.

As a high-ranking official of the third rank in purple robes, wielding the power of a regional governor, Jiang Zhao's image became increasingly gentle when facing ordinary people.

"Winter wheat."

One person lagged half a step behind Jiang Zhao, wearing a Pingding felt hat, with long hair braided into a plait with some red velvet woven into it, and a dark blue cross-collar antelope robe with a leather belt around his waist, responding enthusiastically.

This person was Zhamu, one of the more than one hundred leaders of the Yulongke tribe in Hezhou.

Yu Longke's submission to the Great Zhou Dynasty and the subsequent granting of an official position undoubtedly benefited the survival of his tribe.

However, once he left, the tribe lost its official leader.

It was far too dangerous for a million Tibetans to gather together.

If instigated by those with ulterior motives, it will only create more chaos.

Therefore, for nearly two years, at Jiang Zhao's behest, the officials of Xihe Road have been intentionally dividing the large tribe into smaller tribes to prevent more than a million people from gathering together.

Gradually, the Yulongke tribe was divided into several groups, which were "largely dispersed and smallly clustered".

Zhamuqi's tribe, with about two thousand households, is the largest small Yulongke tribe in Hezhou.

Jiang Zhao understood, nodded slowly, looked at the Tibetan people turning over the fields, and asked, "Once the winter wheat is harvested, wheat is planted again. Is this a three-crop-in-two-years planting method?"

“Sir, you are truly learned, even knowing about farming.” The person in charge, Zhamu, explained, “Hezhou has fertile soil and water. By implementing the policy of three harvests every two years, we can have a surplus of grain.”

The so-called "three harvests in two years" means that winter wheat is planted in August or September of the first year and harvested in June or July of the following year.

Once harvested, millet is immediately sown, as millet matures in just three months.

Thus, the mature millet can be harvested around October of the same year.

Once harvested, winter wheat is immediately planted, thus forming a cycle.

Winter wheat was planted in August or September of the first year, and wheat was harvested in June or July of the following year. Millet was harvested in October. The whole process took a year, during which winter wheat was harvested once and millet was harvested once.

In theory, this is a double harvest per year.

However, considering the issue of fertile soil, maintenance is often involved.

Generally, after one cycle, the land needs to rest for three months to replenish its fertility.

That is, a time is specifically set aside for planting millet, instead of planting other grains.

As a result, the original "wheat-millet-wheat-millet" harvesting pattern became "wheat-millet-wheat".

The previous practice of harvesting four crops in two years has now become three crops in two years.

"It's nothing more than knowing a little bit of the basics through books."

Jiang Zhao smiled faintly and looked at the officials behind him with great interest.

This inspection of the people's farming was something he did on purpose, and he specially invited five members of the imperial clan to participate.

"What you learn from books is never enough; you have to try farming to know the hardships of it. Why don't you all go down and give it a try?"

As he spoke, Jiang Zhao looked intently at the five members of the imperial clan.

The five members of the royal family were all taken aback.

Zhao Ceying's eyes flickered slightly as she was the first to react.

This is just for show!

"As Sima Qian once said: 'Agriculture is the foundation of the world, and there is no greater task than this.' Agriculture is indeed essential!" Zhao Ceying quickly echoed.

Upon hearing this, the remaining four members of the royal family realized what was happening.

Working in the fields is a great opportunity to show your approachability to the people.

He opened up the fields and personally cultivated them to encourage the people!

No wonder the Pacification Commissioner specially summoned all five members of the imperial clan.

"Zhuge Liang, the Marquis of Wu, had a precedent of personally farming."

The book "Qimin Yaoshu" states: "It begins with farming and ends with vinegar and pickled meat; all livelihoods are recorded in detail."

"It all started with agriculture, the foundation of people's livelihood!"

"Farming is good, we must farm!"

Several members of the imperial clan expressed their opinions in succession.

Those who are good at reading will quote extensively from classical texts.

If reading books isn't working, then make up a sentence or two.

Anyway, we have to farm!

Su Shi, the prefect of Hezhou, raised his hand and said loudly, "What you say makes sense, sir. Only by personally tilling the land can one know how hard it is to obtain food."

The person in charge, Zhamuxin, was taken aback and quickly sent someone to fetch farm tools.

In the barbarian lands of Tibet, literacy was not common.

Even though he was in charge, he hadn't read many books and didn't understand what the important figures were talking about.

Anyway, I just want to farm the land myself.

Such an important person personally tills the fields!

How wise this is!

Before an incense stick could burn, dozens of farm tools were presented to them.

Jiang Zhao laughed heartily, picked up a long rake, adjusted his purple robe and jade belt, rolled up his trousers, and strode towards the farmland.

Several members of the royal family and dozens of officials picked up their farming tools and followed.

Meanwhile, seeing all the important figures in official robes walking into the fields, many Tibetan people were astonished and couldn't help but watch.

Some residents ran towards their homes to spread the news.

As a result, more and more people gathered and began to observe.

It should be noted that this was personally tilled by a high-ranking official in purple robes!

The sight of such an important figure tilling the fields inevitably arouses curiosity.

Dozens of officials, holding farming tools, demonstrated how to cultivate the land themselves.

Of course, only eight people actually worked the land.

Jiang Zhao, Su Shi, Zhamu, and five other members of the imperial clan.

The remaining officials were mainly responsible for praising and flattering.

In any case, I can't steal the limelight from my superior and the members of the royal family.

"In the past, Fan Zhongyan guarded the border and cultivated the land; now, the young Grand Secretary holds the reins of power and still wields the plow and hoe in the fields. Observing his diligence in plowing and cultivating the land, he is no less than Zhuge Liang, the recluse of Nanyang!"

"In his spare time from managing military, criminal, financial, and grain affairs, he still followed the aspirations of Yan Hui and Guo Wai!"

"In the past, Kong Rong shared pears with the Duke, and Gong Yi gave away thousands of acres of fertile land so that the people on the border could be nourished by grain and silk. Is this not a manifestation of the ancient sages' virtues?"

"The ancients said that 'a prime minister must rise from the local government,' but now, looking at the young Grand Secretary and his sons, I realize that 'a wise minister is raised in the fields, and a wise ruler is born in the alleys.'"

"These young noblemen, adorned in crimson and purple robes, often strolled the fields in plain clothes. It's just like the story of Emperor Wen of Han's frugal spending at the Terrace of Heaven!"

"These gentlemen are truly kind and approachable. If they were to ascend the throne one day, they would surely be wise and virtuous rulers for all time!"

"In the past, Li Xi served as the magistrate of Yucheng, turning a bitter well into a sweet spring; now, the young master cares for the common people, transforming a humble kiln into a spring terrace. This 'uprightness left behind by the Zhenguan era' is no less than that of the sages of the past."

Praises were endless.

Jiang Zhao had not done physical labor for a long time, and he could barely keep going after raking for the time it takes for an incense stick to burn.

As a result, the people below praised him so much that he gained extra strength and raked for a full two incense sticks' worth of time.

Sweating profusely, Jiang Zhao looked up at the members of the imperial clan.

Almost the same.

The praise was so overwhelming that it forced people to force themselves to continue plowing the land and establish a reputation for being "people-friendly" and "virtuous."

Jiang Zhao sighed inwardly.

Great!

That's such a load of bull!

I feel like I'd be letting down all the praise if I didn't work hard.

Fortunately, there were quite a few onlookers, and from the murmurs of discussion, it was clear that the effect was acceptable.

After all, many Tibetan people knew the identities of these people from the flattering words.

The group included high-ranking officials, local officials, and several individuals who might become future crown princes or emperors.

Such a person, plowing the land until he's sweating profusely, is bound to attract attention.

The high-ranking official and his five sons tilled the fields together, encouraging the people to work diligently—a truly exemplary act of being close to the people.

One act of plowing a field spreads from one person to ten, from ten to a hundred, and from tribe to tribe.

In less than ten days, news about the plowing had spread throughout Xihe Road.

In addition, many literati wrote poems and lyrics to praise this initiative.

Great Confucian scholars such as Shao Yong, Zhou Dunyi, Zeng Gong, and Su Zhe successively wrote articles praising this event.

Su Shi, in particular, wrote six poems in a row that became famous throughout the world.

For a time, scholars and officials throughout the land discussed this endlessly.

Chapter 113: Preparations for the Academy, the Designation of Jinshi (successful candidates in the highest imperial examinations)! (3k)

He opened up the fields and personally cultivated them to encourage the people!

This practice has existed since ancient times and has many benefits.

Firstly, if those in power personally engage in farming, it can encourage the people to participate in agriculture.

Secondly, when those in positions of power personally engage in farming, it can demonstrate a "people-friendly" attitude.

Thirdly, by having those in positions of power personally engage in farming, they can also demonstrate their "emphasis on agriculture."

When superiors set an example, subordinates will follow suit; if the top leader values ​​it, the lower-level officials will naturally follow suit.

In Xihe, farming and promoting agriculture and sericulture were the focus of attention. Besides Jiang Zhao, who was almost a regional governor, there were five other members of the imperial clan who might be the crown prince.

Once spread by scholars and writers, his act of personally cultivating the land became known throughout the world.

Xizhou, Office of the Deputy Pacification Commissioner.

Jiang Zhao held a vermilion brush and continuously sketched out names.

One of the names is that of a second- or third-class Jinshi (successful candidate in the highest imperial examination).

Without exception, all of these successful candidates were newly appointed scholars who had passed the imperial examinations in the past three years.

In terms of official rank, almost all of them were ninth-rank officials, with very few being eighth-rank officials.

Once names were marked and the list was passed down, anyone who intended to be transferred to the frontier would start as an eighth-rank county magistrate or county lieutenant.

Among them were some friends from Huaizuo.

Zhang Ci and Chen Fu.

In addition, there were some outstanding members of the Jiang, Chen, and Zhang clans.

Just like the Jiang family, under the guidance of their patriarch Jiang Zhi, two of their children became Jinshi (successful candidates in the highest imperial examinations) in their thirties and forties, showing great promise.