Three Kingdoms: Ancestors of the Han Dynasty

Chapter 344 Questioning

The night was dark, light snow was flying in the sky, and the vast farmland beside the road was spread out on the field, and there were clear boundaries between tens of acres of land, which were obviously divided by the county government.

Beside the rice paddies, Habayashi Wei and others are setting up camp, or collecting firewood in the mountains, or buying ingredients in nearby villages.

Facing the snowflakes, Liu Chan wore a cloak and walked among the fields.In the twelfth lunar month, the fields were desolate, and with the recent light snowfall, a little snow had accumulated in the fields.

Liu Chan breathed a sigh of relief, pointed at the nearby fields, and said, "Xiu Zhao, although there are military incidents this year, these fields are not deserted. This family should have a good life in January and February."

Dong Yun patted the snowflakes on his sleeves, and said: "Your Majesty's words are true. Although there have been frequent wars in recent years, they haven't really hurt farming."

"It's snowing heavily, let's go back to the camp." Liu Chan looked at the snow that was falling more and more in the sky, pointed to the direction of the camp, and said, "Two years ago, when I was a big man attacking Long, it was winter, and the troops were sent out in the twelfth lunar month. Soldiers; a year ago, against the Wei Dynasty against me, sent troops in April, and stopped in June."

"In the past two expeditions, the time was short and the distance was short, which did not have a great impact on the people. Only this year, the army was sent out in April, and the army has not stopped until the twelfth lunar month. It has a great impact on this year's farming!"

Dong Yun was half a body behind, and said: "Your Majesty, don't worry, it will not take long for the soldiers against Wei to retreat, and the Prime Minister will be able to return to the teacher, or the Prime Minister is on his way back to the teacher at this time."

Liu Chan waved his hand with a smile and said, "Forget it, just don't miss the spring plowing next year. Let's see what we can eat tonight."

Liu Chan had already returned to the tent while chatting and laughing, Liu Chan took off his cloak, handed it to the handsome maid, and sat on the table.

When Liu Chan was about to take out "Lu Shi Chunqiu" to read, the guards outside the tent reported: "Your Majesty, the head of the pavilion in Baishui Township has been summoned."

During the Qin and Han Dynasties, townships and pavilions can basically be regarded as the second smallest administrative system of the Han Dynasty, with one pavilion for ten miles, one township for ten miles, and both townships and pavilions.

As for the saying of ten pavilions and one township, it is just a transcription error. There were more than [-] townships in the Western Han Dynasty and more than [-] pavilions. On average, it was only one township and four pavilions. There are about a hundred households in a mile, and ten thousand households in a township, so it is impossible.

The pavilion has a salary of hundreds of stones for a long time, and is under the jurisdiction of the county government like the township officials.

As for the smaller li, the post of lizheng was set up to be in charge of household registration, taxation and labor.

Liu Chan closed the "Lu Shi Chunqiu" just opened, and said in a deep voice: "Call the chief of Baishui Pavilion to come in!"

Baishuiting is about [-] years old, dressed cleanly, arched, thin, plopped on his knees, and shouted: "The chief of Baishuiting, Ma Bao, pays homage to Your Majesty. May your Majesty live forever!"

After finishing speaking, the head of Baishui Pavilion knelt down and dared not get up.It was cold and windy outside the tent, but he was so nervous that his head was sweating, and his trembling body was full of fear.

Liu Chan raised his hand and asked the guard to put the rope bed (Mazha note ①) on the ground, and said kindly: "Don't be nervous, I just ask a few words, just tell the truth, sit down and talk!"

"promise!"

The head of the Baishui pavilion wiped his sweat with his sleeve, and sat with half of the horse in a stiff manner, very well-behaved.

"How old is Qing, and how long have you been the head of the pavilion?" Liu Chan asked gently.

The head of the Baishui pavilion was stunned for a moment, and replied respectfully: "Your Majesty, next year I will be five years older, and I have only served as the head of the pavilion for five years."

"In the past five years, how do you feel about the life of the people in Xiangting? Is there enough food?" Liu Chan asked.

"Ask truthfully!" Liu Chan urged.

The head of the Baishui Pavilion hesitated for a while, and said truthfully: "Your Majesty, the life of the people in the village pavilion was very good in the first three years, but in the next two years, it was not as good as every year. Long, the fields are all plowed by women and old people, if it is not for the winter clothes left in previous years, the people will suffer from the cold this year."

Liu Chan sighed when he heard the words, this is an agricultural society, and the family is a production unit, not an individual.The phrase "men farm and women weave" is true. Men farm and women weave, both are indispensable. Once women have no weaving, there will be a shortage of clothes at home, summer and cold clothes.

After a pause, the head of the Baishui Pavilion added: "But thanks to Your Majesty, we are fortunate to have the new farming method and the Shuzhong plow. People's families have accumulated savings over the years. This year is only a little more difficult than before."

Liu Chan calmed down and continued to ask: "The plow and new farming methods in Shuzhong have been popularized in the county for several years."

The head of the Baishui Pavilion counted with his fingers, and said: "This year, it has been counted for six years, but the common people have used it for only four years."

At this time, the twelfth lunar month of the eighth year of Jianxing (AD 230), six years ago was probably the second year of Jianxing (Jianxing 224), and four years ago was the fourth year of Jianxing (AD 226). Xing first year.

Liu Chan nodded with some satisfaction. The Zitong County officials were not lazy in their administration. Aside from the training and promotion time, it was not easy for Hande County to promote to Xiangting in the second year of Jianxing.

"After using this method, how is the harvest?" Liu Chan asked with a smile.

Speaking of this, the head of Baishui Pavilion grinned and said: "Thanks to His Majesty's grace, after the people in the pavilion use it, the harvest will increase by [-]% to [-]%, and some people can even increase by [-]% if they take care of it carefully. hair, but the common people have savings from previous years, so they can make do with it.”

After listening, Liu Chan felt a little more at ease. If the people in Zitong County can live, then the people in the Central Shu Plain must also be safe.

Liu Chan said happily: "After you go back, tell the people of Baishuiting that there will be no war next year, and they can work with peace of mind."

"No, there will be no war in the next two to three years." Liu Chan changed his words and solemnly promised.

The elder of Baishuiting was overjoyed, knelt down and kowtowed, and said: "I thank Your Majesty on behalf of the [-] households of Baishuiting."

Liu Chan raised the corner of his mouth, and suddenly asked lightly: "I have another question, do you have servants in Qing's family, and how many acres are there?"

The head of the Baishui Pavilion was beating wildly. Not knowing what Liu Chan meant, he nervously told the truth about the situation of his parents: "Your Majesty, my parents have two servants, one wife and concubine, two sons, two daughters, and the eldest son has married and separated. And out, the eldest daughter gets married. As for Tian Mu..."

"Answer truthfully!" Liu Chan spoke lightly again.

The head of the Baishui pavilion swallowed a sip of water, and continued: "At my next home, the upper field is [-] mu, the middle field is [-] mu, the poor field is [-] mu, and two cows."

According to the ancient mu system, poor field and middle field are 1:3, 1 mu poor field is equal to 2 mu upper field, good field and middle field are [-]:[-], and [-] mu poor field is equal to [-] mu upper field.

Calculated in this way, the head of Baishuiting's family has about [-] mu of Shangtian, one servant, two wives and concubines, two underage children, one for himself, a family of seven, and two cows.

Liu Chan closed his eyes and tapped on the table with his fingers, thinking about the family property of the head of Baishui Pavilion.

As the sound of finger tapping kept ringing, the head of Baishui Pavilion saw that the emperor had not spoken, gritted his teeth, and continued: "After the eldest son gets married, he will allocate [-] acres of upper field, [-] acres of middle field, [-] acres of poor field, and one cow. , a servant alone."

Hearing this, Liu Chan finally opened his eyes, which is in line with the identity of the head of the Baishui Pavilion. How could a head of the pavilion who is in charge of thousands of people only have those family properties.

Liu Chan looked at the head of the Baishui Pavilion, and said lightly: "There is no difference between the number of your brothers and the number of fields!"

The head of the Baishui Pavilion wiped off his cold sweat and responded repeatedly.

He didn't expect the young emperor to be so clear about the ways of the country. His Ma clan was a small and powerful family in Hande County. His father made his fortune when Liu Yan was the state shepherd. He had three brothers, and most of the land they occupied was After the father's death, the family divided the income equally.

It's just that when Duke Zhuge Liang was in power, although he suppressed land annexation, he and his brothers also secretly occupied some acres of land.

The head of the Baishui pavilion was very upset, for fear that the emperor in front of him would investigate the matter of occupying the land at this time.

"Go back!"

After a while, the emperor let himself go without saying a word.

The head of the Baishui Pavilion heaved a sigh of relief, stood up and cupped his hands and said, "Your Majesty has been benevolent for thousands of years."

"When Xiuzhao camps tomorrow, he will order ordinary people, and I will continue to ask questions."

"promise!"
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① "Three Kingdoms · Wei Shu · Wei Wudi" quoted "Cao Man Biography": "The general crosses the river, the front team is suitable for crossing, and the super is dying, the public is still sitting on the bed."

(End of this chapter)