On the occasion of rebirth Zhou Sui

Chapter 117
Zhou Zhoulang was originally a resident of Licheng County. His home was washed away because of the Yellow River's embankment, so he had to go to the county to find food.

At first, the government gave out porridge. A few leaves floated in the big iron pot, and a little rice was put in. It was almost a pot of clear water. Not to mention filling the stomach, it was not enough to fill the gap between the teeth.

Zhou Zhoulang still remembers that the former county magistrate wiped tears in public, saying that the treasury was empty and that there was really no food left, and that he was sorry for the people of Licheng.

Seeing his sincerity, everyone believed him and didn't make trouble.

During the period, some people fell down because of hunger, did not stand up again, and eventually became something to eat in the belly of others.

The three words "human cannibalism" have never been a distant legend.

Zhou Zhoulang still remembers that day, it was the late autumn of last year, Cui Che, the current governor of Qingzhou, and then comfort ambassador, brought thousands of cavalry to Licheng, and searched for it from the home of the county magistrate who wiped his tears and complained that the treasury was empty. Corn is nearly a thousand stones.

On the day the former county magistrate and his minions were beheaded in public, the angry people in Licheng begged for his corpse and shared his flesh.

With Cui Shijun, everyone can finally drink thick porridge, and no one will starve to death.

When Cui envoy came, he brought 300 million shi of corn, and when he left, he only took Yanrong with him, eliminating a huge harm for the people of Qingzhou.

Just ask the people in the four states, who is not grateful to him.

Zhou Zhoulang still remembers to this day, when Cui Shijun returned to Beijing, the scene of the people in Licheng lining the road and crying to see him off.

It's just that at the time, he never imagined that the Qingtian master would return to Qingzhou to take up a post.

'I will definitely report to Director Cui about the forced recruitment of young men by the county magistrate of Licheng! '

Zhou Zhoulang secretly made up his mind.

The imperial court implemented the land equalization system, and everyone had a share of the land. It was said that it was recruitment, and who would really want to let go of the land to do this kind of laborious salt work.

Not only Licheng County, but also other counties are in the same situation. Young Zhuang among the refugees was forcibly recruited by the prefecture and county and sent to Dongyang City.

Outside Dongyang City, there were many heads, all of them were living people, not the heads that Cui Che had chopped off.

Thirteen thousand recruited salt workers waited for Cui Che to make decisions for them under the temporary high platform. Almost all of these people were involuntary and forced to come.

In the anticipation of everyone, Cui Che, the 15-year-old general manager of Qingzhou, stepped onto the stage.

It was not the first time to give a speech on stage. Cui Che showed no signs of stage fright at all. He watched the tens of thousands of salt workers cheering thunderously, cleared his throat, showed a bright smile, and shouted cordially to the crowd:
"Keep everyone waiting for a long time, everyone stay safe!"

The entourage spread Cui Che's greetings, and the salt workers in the audience were astonished.

The Chief of Qingzhou is greeting us?Normally, even the county magistrate doesn't take a look at them. This group of mud-legged people is the governor of Qingzhou!Today's saint's son-in-law was born in the Cui family of Boling, such a person would greet them cordially.

After a brief silence, there were even more enthusiastic cheers.

"Today, the sage ordered Cui to organize the people to reclaim the beach and make sea salt. Cui can't do it alone, so he needs to rely on you."

As soon as Cui Che finished speaking, someone in the crowd shouted:
"If it weren't for Director Cui's relief, my five members of Zhao Qi's family would have died long ago. Manager Cui has treated me with great kindness. Frown."

Taking a closer look, Zhao Qi was Cui Che's personal companion, Zhao Wen, a school boy from childhood.

"That's right! Brother Zhao's words are good! Although I, Wang Wu, have never read a book, I also know that the kindness of a drop of water should be repaid by a spring, not to mention the kindness of saving a life. If you don't think about repaying it, you are no different from a beast!"

Another entourage of Cui Che squeezed into the crowd and echoed loudly.

Gradually, more and more people shouted to repay their kindness. Even Zhou Zhoulang forgot his original intention and clamored to follow Cui Che to open fields to make salt.

Cui Che raised his hand to signal everyone to be quiet, and then continued:

"Cui was appointed as a consolation ambassador before, and it is his duty to give porridge to save the people, so why do you need to reciprocate!"

Zhao Wen in the crowd sang in unison:

"Your Excellency says it is their duty, but how many officials in the world can self-denial and serve the public like Master Cui, and serve the people wholeheartedly! It is the blessing of the people of Qingzhou to have Master Cui governing Qingzhou!"

Although Zhao Wen claimed to be from Qingzhou in his Dingzhou Boling accent, which is absurd, but the salt workers did not find it strange.

A few years ago, the Northern Zhou Dynasty destroyed Qi, and then there was the Yuchijiong Rebellion. Many people from Hebei fled to Qingzhou because of the military disaster.

Cui Che showed shame, waved his hands and said:

"Cui doesn't dare to take on the great reputation of the Zhao Qi brothers. What Cui wants is nothing more than peace of mind. The reason for gathering you all today is not to ask everyone to follow me to open fields to make salt.

"Before Cui left Beijing, he asked the sage for an annual salary for the salt worker. The sage sympathized with the difficulty of the salt worker, so he agreed to Cui's request. Today Cui wants to inform you of this matter.

"The sage has an edict that each salt worker can get 3 shi of corn every year, and the husband and wife are exempted from taxes, rent transfers, and corvees, and the government provides three meals a day.

"Cui will select 3000 salt soldiers from among you. Those who are selected will get 6 stones of corn every year, and the rest will be equal to the salt workers!"

After all, there was buzzing in the audience, like a swarm of flies flapping their wings.

Cui Che, whose pseudonym was Wang Wu, followed Wang De and asked loudly:
"Director Cui! Just now you said that the couple's rent transfer will be exempted, which means that the government will still divide the land for my family?"

Wang De's words touched everyone's heart. With the annual salary of 3 shi per person, even if he was exempted from tax and corvee, he could barely support his family when he was provided with meals by the government. Only the annual salary can have surplus.

If the government still distributes the land to his family and does not collect rent adjustments, that is, land rents and household adjustments, then it will be much more cost-effective to cultivate the land by himself.

In fact, Yang Jian was willing to give such generous conditions because he was also attracted by the salt benefits Cui Che said.

The tens of millions of dendrobium produced in [-] mu far exceeds domestic demand.

However, hard currency like salt is not worrying about sales. Whether it is sold to Turks, Nanchen, Tuyuhun, or Goguryeo, it can bring a lot of income to the court.

Cui Che laughed and said:

"Of course the land is to be divided, but not for you. You have worked as a salt worker, so how can you have time to take care of the farmland! It is distributed to your wife, granting [-] acres of open air, no land rent, no household adjustment, and the output from the field How much is your own!"

There was another call from the audience.

Wang De suddenly said:

"Director Cui, but me, but I haven't married a wife yet!"

"Then hurry up and find a wife! Do you want me to be your matchmaker!"

Cui Che's words caused the audience to burst into laughter.

With such generous remuneration, no salt workers wanted to report on the county magistrate for forced conscripts. Instead, they were glad that they were selected into it. If they went further, they would become salt soldiers and earn more money.

"Director Cui, may I ask what the criteria are for selecting salt soldiers?"

This time it was finally no longer Cui Che's arrangement to sing with him, Zhou Zhoulang asked loudly.

"It's nothing more than a test of everyone's strength. Those who can ride horses will be selected first. Those who are interested can make preparations early. At tomorrow's hour, they will be selected here by Cui himself."

Cui Che replied.

(End of this chapter)