In the Southern Song Dynasty, I competed with Mongolia for the world

Chapter 26 Such a Song Dynasty must be preserved
The Song Dynasty was the richest dynasty in Chinese history. The peak fiscal revenue of the Southern Song Dynasty was close to [-] million throughout the year, and there was no agricultural tax that relied on exploiting farmers.

At that time, the development of industry and commerce also reached the peak of the feudal dynasty. In the last years of Shaoxing, the customs revenue in the two markets of Guangzhou and Quanzhou alone reached 200 million.

Among the major dynasties in history, the collection of agricultural taxes on a large number of farmers has always been the basis of national governance. The Song Dynasty was the only one that did not do so. It was not until the end of the Qing Dynasty that the income from industry and commerce exceeded the agricultural tax.

At this time, the commerce of Lin'an City was very developed, with a population of nearly one million. After Zhao Yurui went to the street, what he saw was "thousands of tiles, full of houses, no space, and congested alleys."

The history books of later generations recorded the prosperity of Lin'an in detail, but Zhao and Rui's heart became extremely heavy when they thought that everything would be turned into ashes with the invasion of Mongolian cavalry decades later.

Because if he lived long enough, he might even have the chance to see it with his own eyes.

When the time comes to flee overseas with a boatload of little girls?
Zhao Yurui is definitely not willing to jump into the sea on the cliff.

No, you can't play anymore at that time?Should be 80 or [-] years old?

Zhao Yurui recalled it for a while, and didn't remember how many years the Southern Song Dynasty perished, but if he took care of it carefully, he might have a chance to see it.

"Cousin." Quan Yong's voice suddenly woke him up.

"Ah." Zhao Yurui recovered and found that Zhou Lai and the others were all looking at them strangely.

"Let's go to West Lake." Zhao Yurui said loudly.

Before they came, they had already inquired about the place and went directly to the West Lake.

There is a big market beside the West Lake, where you can hire slaves and servants.

On the way to the West Lake, Zhao Yurui recalled what she had just learned from Li Huangna recently, the unique slavery system of the Song Dynasty.

Let's put it this way, before and after the Song Dynasty, slaves and maids were all like slaves, they were inferior people attached to the master's family.

In the later Yuan Dynasty and Ming Dynasty, there were many kinds of lowly households, and it was also stipulated what clothes the lowly households could not wear and what they could not do. The Ming Dynasty even had to control the lowly households when they walked. Walking on the side is really not as good as a dog, because a dog can also walk in the middle.

From the Northern Song Dynasty, the status of slaves was gradually raised in the two Songs, and the distinction between slaves (private slaves) and benefactors (official slaves) was gradually improved. After the Southern Song Dynasty, the legal status of slaves was unprecedentedly improved. They were beloved and no longer untouchables. If the family is difficult and the life is poor and they sign an employment contract with the employer, they are no longer the private property of the master. They only have a contractual relationship with the master. Once the contract period expires, the slaves will no longer be served by the master.

Since slaves and maids in the Song Dynasty were no longer untouchables, slaves were no longer called slaves in law, but were replaced by the titles of "human resources" and "female envoys".

So after Zhao Yurui arrived in the Southern Song Dynasty, some of the maids he saw all called themselves names, or me. Those who claim to have a small bottom also have those who claim to be small.

In order to protect the rights of slaves and maidservants, the Song Dynasty also stipulated that the contract for hiring female envoys and servants should be signed for a maximum of ten years.

Comparing with other dynasties, no matter before the Song Dynasty or the Yuan, Ming and Qing Dynasties after the Song Dynasty, slaves and maidservants were not treated as human beings. They were like livestock, and could be disposed of by their masters at will, and their lives could not be guaranteed.

It can be said that the Song Dynasty was the best dynasty among the feudal dynasties for slaves and maidservants.

The economy, technology, civilization and culture of the Song Dynasty were also the pinnacle of the feudal dynasties. Except that they were a little unfriendly to the soldiers, they were far superior to other dynasties.

Although the comments of later generations are different, and even more people ridiculed the two Song Dynasties, they are already worthy of support just because they regard slaves and maids as human beings.

"Such a Great Song Dynasty must be preserved." Zhao Yurui came to the east side of the West Lake at this time. Looking at the densely packed crowd in front of him, for the first time, he had the idea of ​​protecting the Great Song Dynasty and civilization. Great Song clan.

There is a huge square on the east side of the West Lake. This is the official designated place, allowing those men and women who want to sell their labor because of poor family conditions to come here to recommend themselves.

Of course, it is impossible for many people to come every day, so there will be intermediary 'tooth people'.

Not long after Zhao Yurui brought Zhou Lai and the three of them there, a few toothmen walked up to them.

"Does the petty official want a female envoy? I have a young and decent one."

"Your official, do you want to see the envoy?"

"There is a young lady here, do you want to see the little official?"

When the Ya people saw Zhao Yurui wearing fine clothes at a young age, with three followers by her side, they rushed forward to recommend the envoy.

Zhao Yurui thought that Yu Tianxi sent eight of them at once. Although they might all be undercover agents sent by Shi Miyuan, his house really didn't need so many maids.

Quan Yong beside him suddenly whispered: "Cousin, who pays for the eight female envoys in the family?"

"..." Zhao Yurui was taken aback by his question, and then said: "Mr. Yu sent it, they should pay for it."

I can't afford it.

Besides, he didn't get the contract, so he definitely didn't pay the money, but there is also a disadvantage in this way, which proves that these people are all from Shi Miyuan or Yu Tianxi.

Do you want Xiaotao's contract to come over another day?Zhao Yurui thought to herself.

"Don't look at the female envoy, is there any tall and strong young man?" Zhao Yurui said: "It's fine if you are over fifteen or sixteen years old."

Some of the toothmen yelled yes, some turned around and left, obviously only the envoys were in their hands.

The two dentists stuck it up, with flattering faces: "Little official, I have many young gentlemen in my hand, all of them are white and tender, good-looking and decent. They are well-behaved and obedient."

"..." The corners of Zhao Yurui's mouth twitched: "I want to be tall and strong, able to fight."

"..." The two toothed men looked at each other in blank dismay, but immediately said again: "Yes, yes, there are all kinds of petty officials."

"this way please."

The two pointed in two directions, then stared at each other.

"Don't worry, look at them one by one, this way first." Zhao Yurui casually pointed in a direction, the fat toothman was overjoyed, and the other toothman could only quickly follow Zhao Yurui.

"What are the prices for men and women now, and how do you charge them?" Zhao Yurui asked in front of two people.

The two men looked at each other, and the fat man whispered: "According to the age, within 15 years old, three to five pens per year, women are five hundred to eight hundred coins less than men, and can pay monthly. You can also pay annually.” That’s a minimum of more than 200 renminbi a month, and the salary is quite low, which is beyond Zhao Yurui’s expectations. The last time Zhao Yurui bought a chicken, it cost 75 renminbi. In comparison, the price is almost the price of cabbage. .

He used to watch TV and movies, and rich people would pay a few taels for a maid or a book boy. That was free of wages, and it might have been made up indiscriminately.

In fact, the masters of the Song Dynasty wanted to pay their servants wages, and of course they didn’t have to. It was a one-time payment. For example, the Song Dynasty stipulated that the contract of selling one’s body was limited to ten years. Generally speaking, if you get the right to use a certain servant for ten years, after the expiration, the contract will be automatically terminated, and the servant will be free again, and you can also pay wages month by month, but no matter how you pay, you have to cover their food, lodging and even clothing.

(End of this chapter)