I served as an admonisher in the Song Dynasty

Chapter 275 Zhao Yunrang prepares a wedding gift for his daughter, and Cai Xiang presents the "Picture of Giving Birth without Raising a Child"

July 12, near dusk.

After being released from office, Su Liang walked out of the Yushitai and prepared to go home.

As the reform gradually moves towards the implementation stage.

Everyone in the Reform Department also gradually returned to their respective yamen, and would only gather in the Reform Department when discussing matters.

This is a critical period for listening to the official voice and public opinion.

Fan Zhongyan stayed in the Political Affairs Hall, Wang Yaochen stayed in the Third Division, Fu Bi, Zeng Gongliang, and Liang Shi stayed in the Privy Council, and Su Liang stayed in the Yushitai. It was obviously easier to get feedback from various local and state governments.

Wang Anshi is still in Zhidongming County, and he is working enthusiastically.

He doesn't pick positions at all.

Not too hard, not too tired, full of energy.

Wherever you do it, you can benefit one party wherever you go.

Sima Guangdu laughed and said: If Jiefu can stay in Dongming County for three years, the people will build a statue and everyone will be his natal family.

However, it is expected that Wang Anshi will be transferred back to the Third Division at the end of this year.

His function in the Third Division is obviously greater.

……

Outside the Yushitai Gate.

Uncle Ji's carriage has been waiting outside for a long time.

The Yushitai is not far from Su's house. Su Liang doesn't like to ride in a carriage and likes to take a walk home.

But now he is very famous in Bianjing City, and many people know his face.

In addition, his article "On the Misunderstanding between the Privy Council and the Three Yamen" was placed behind the Shame-Recognizing Hall. There was a group of poor academics who wanted to argue with him day after day about Su Liang's corruption of the imperial court's national laws.

In order to avoid trouble, Su Liang had to take a carriage home, accompanied by guards.

Through this article "On the Dismissal between the Privy Council and the Three Yamen", Su Liang gained a new understanding of some scholars in the Song Dynasty.

The sage said: Reading can help you cultivate yourself and understand your principles.

However, some scholars not only do not understand it, but also endanger their interests once it is involved.

They are like robbers and don't make any sense at all.

They believe from the bottom of their hearts: warriors are inferior to literati, warriors should be driven by literati, warriors can only be generals, and literati can be commanders...

Thinking the same as them.

There are also some alternate idle officials in the Academy and the Pavilion.

These people have a mysterious confidence.

I think that I have read a few military books, which means I am good at literature and martial arts.

When you mount the horse, you can stabilize the country and bring peace to the world; when you dismount, you can pick up the pen and write beautiful articles.

If the imperial court does not reuse it.

They lamented that they were born at the wrong time, and that they were nothing more than pearls covered in dust.

I often write poems to feel sorry for myself, and go to Goulan to get drunk.

Very hypocritical.

In fact, the court regarded them as useless.

If you don't use it, they are a group of people with merit and fame after all. If you use it, it won't be of much use.

Su Liang thought.

In the future, we must find an opportunity to teach these people with high ambitions and low ambitions a lesson, otherwise their thoughts will poison more people.

……

After Su Liang got on the carriage.

Before they had gone far, they were blocked by a carriage at the corner.

Su Liang opened the curtains and took a closer look.

Hanging on the carriage is actually the sign of Runan County Prince's Mansion.

At this time.

Zhao Yunrang, Prince of Runan County, poked his head out of the window.

"Jingming, how about going to Fanlou for a drink. I haven't seen you for many days and miss you very much. How about we chat for a while?" Zhao Yunrang said with a smile.

Ever since Su Liang announced the marriage between Zhao Zongshi and Gao Taotao, Zhao Yun has been very kind to Su Liang.

Every year and festival, gifts are given to each other.

However, the two have no contact in private.

When Su Liang heard this, he knew that Zhao Yunrang must be looking for something. He immediately smiled and said: "The prince invites you, how dare you refuse!"

"Okay, just follow my carriage!"

……

About two quarters of an hour later.

Zhao Yunrang and Su Liang came to Fanlou.

Zhao Yunrang booked the best private room on the third floor in advance and ordered the best wine and food.

After the two sat down, Zhao Yunrang praised Su Liang fiercely.

Spit flew everywhere and he talked incessantly.

From the time when Su Liang became a Taiwanese admonisher, to his self-rescue in the Jinzouyuan case, he praised Su Liang's plan to fake death against Xia Song.

Full of compliments.

Su Liang couldn't get a word in, so he had to smile politely from time to time.

Not long after, Zhao Yunrang said he was tired.

Su Liang picked up the wine glass and said quickly: "Your Majesty, if you have anything to do, just tell me. If I can help, I will definitely help you. If I can't help you, don't force me."

After saying that, Su Liang drank it all in one gulp.

Zhao Yunrang hesitated for a moment, then drank the glass of wine with a smile.

"Then I will get straight to the point! I have a daughter who was granted the title of Princess Changle by the government. Now she has reached the age of marriage. I love this girl very much and want to find a good family for her."

Su Liang was stunned.

I thought to myself: Is this old guy crazy and wants me to be his son-in-law?

"Now, I have found a good man. He is the young man of the Wu family in the west of the city. He is planning to hold a wedding next month and is calculating which day will be the auspicious day."

Su Liang took a long breath, it turned out that he was overthinking.

"Your Majesty, congratulations. I will definitely go and ask for a wedding drink on the day the princess gets married."

"Easy to say, easy to say, I will definitely tell you!"

Zhao Yunrang continued: "For Changle's marriage, I started preparing a dowry three years ago. Jing Ming, you may not know that it is too difficult to prepare a dowry for your daughter now. According to my status, I can't be too shabby. For the sake of dignity, , I also borrowed some money and supplies from Shi San (Zhao Zongshi) and Tao Tao. Although the dowry this time is not as good as Tao Tao, it is one of the best in Bianjing City..."

In the Song Dynasty, there was a trend of generous marriages.

The cost of marrying a daughter is much higher than that of marrying a wife, and the dowry must be at least twice the betrothal gift.

Because the size of the dowry determines the daughter's status in her natal family. The richer the dowry, the higher the status.

If a woman does not pay a dowry but only needs a bride price, then she is not marrying a daughter, but a concubine, and the bride price is the money to buy the concubine.

Some people sell their houses and land to marry their daughters, while others borrow money from here and there to get their daughters to marry. They are almost bankrupt and are called: marrying their daughters with a broken family.

There is an old saying among the people: If a family has five daughters, thieves will not care about them!

This shows how expensive it is to marry a girl.

When Queen Cao got married, the Cao family "borrowed debt to pay for the dowry" and it took several years to pay it off.

During the reign of Zhenzong, there was another interesting story.

At that time, the prime minister Xiang Minzhong and Zhang Qixian competed to marry a widow named Chai.

The reason for the fight was not because of Chai's beauty, but because Chai had one hundred thousand sacks (meaning plenty of food and money).

It can be seen that Song people are also very realistic.

Getting married is impossible without money.

Su Liang was confused when he heard this. He didn't understand what this had to do with him.

At this time, Zhao Yunrang finally got to the point.

"Although the dowry is ready, the only drawback is that there is a small flaw in the first gift of the dowry. I want to use tribute tea Jianxi Xiaolong Tuan as the first gift of the dowry."

"Jingming, you should know how rare Jianxi Xiaolong Tuan is. It can only produce dozens of cakes a year, and the official family can only distribute seven or eight cakes to ministers. This year it is even more rare and has been distributed long ago."

"I relied on my connections to get enough two cakes, but the two cakes were too little. I knew that when I gave birth to my daughter in March, the government gave me a generous reward of four cakes. Do you think you can get me to buy two cakes? I would like to Pay a high price! Next year, I will ask the officials for the reward in advance and then return it, how about it?"

"Just think that I owe you a favor. If you need anything from the Runan County Prince's Mansion in the future, please tell me at any time. I will do my best!"

Only then did Su Liang understand.

The other party went around for a while, and it turned out that he wanted to borrow the Jianxi Xiaolong Group.

This year, the Jianxi Xiaolong Group is indeed rare.

Money can't buy it.

If Su Liang hadn't given birth to a girl, I'm afraid he wouldn't even be able to get a piece of the pie.

However, if you can really collect four cakes and Jianxi Xiaolong Tuan as a dowry gift, it will be very honorable indeed.

Su Liang thought for a while and said with a smile: "Your Majesty, it shouldn't be a big problem, but after all, this thing is a gift from the government to my daughter. I need to discuss it with my wife. What do you think?"

"That's natural, that's natural." Zhao Yunrang said with a smile.

"Besides, it should be fine if the officials know about this matter!"

"No problem. I just want to save face, and I definitely don't want to plot against you!" Zhao Yunrang became nervous instantly.

It is easy for people to criticize Taiwan admonishers for having polite interactions with the clan in private.

But if the officials knew the truth in advance, it would be nothing.

Su Liang cupped his hands and said, "Your Majesty, don't blame me for thinking too much. I'm really afraid of being framed!"

"understand!"

Zhao Yunrang smiled. From his attitude towards Su Liang, it could be seen that he had definitely put a lot of effort into getting his daughter married.

……

late at night.

Su Zhai, in the bedroom.

Tang Wanmei leaned in Su Liang's arms with a happy face.

Since giving birth to her daughter, Tang Wanmei's skin has become more shiny and her body has become much plumper.

Su Liang held Tang Wanmei's hand and told Runan County King Zhao Yunrang's request tonight.

"No problem, just treat it as a gift for us. When our daughter gets married, they can just return the gift!"

"Okay! Tomorrow, I will send you two loaves, just call them a random gift."

At this time, Su Liang suddenly said: "I remember when we got married, you... didn't seem to get any dowry?"

Tang Wanmei pinched Su Liang's nose.

"Nonsense, I...have given you everything I have. I have given you everything in our family. Do you still think it's too little?"

"Yes, yes." Su Liang suddenly became happy.

Tang Wanmei thought for a while and said seriously: "Should we also start preparing our daughter's dowry?"

"She's less than five months old. Don't think so far ahead. Let's get down to business first..." Su Liang pounced on her.

……

The next day.

Su Liang brought the two cakes of Jianxi Xiaolong Tuan to the Prince of Runan County and called them a congratulatory gift. He would just return the gift when his children get married.

Zhao Yunrang was very moved.

If it weren't for his special status, he would have wanted to take Su Liang's hand.

……

July 14th, afternoon.

Yushitai.

The Taiwanese admonishers were attracted by a memorial and a print written by Cai Xiang, the Fujian Road transfer envoy.

The memorial is titled: "Begging to reduce the number of soldiers in Xinghua, Zhangzhou, Quanzhou and Dingmi Zazi".

The print is titled: "The Picture of Giving Birth without Raising a Child".

Cai Xiang reflected on an unethical custom that occurred throughout the Song Dynasty and was most prevalent in the southeastern region: failure to give birth to a child.

Don’t give birth to a child.

That is, giving birth to a child without raising it, drowning it, abandoning it, or giving it away.

"I am destined to live in a narrow land in the south where the people are poor. I have to work as a servant all the year round, and I can only get married. If I can't take care of myself during this period, my father and son will move around and escape to other places. What's more, they often don't give birth to children..."

Su Liang couldn't help but frown as he read the contents of Cai Xiang's memorial.

After seeing the content of "The Picture of Giving Birth without Lifting a Child", his face became even more serious.

There are five scenes of giving birth without raising a child.

One, in a shabby room, with dim candlelight, the wife watched her husband drown the baby in a wooden basin with tears in her eyes.

Second, on a stream, several babies sitting on wooden basins were drifting along the water, not knowing where they were going.

Third, early in the morning, a swaddled baby was placed in front of a temple.

Fourth, a baby abandoned on a wild mountain sat in a bamboo basket and cried loudly. A wild beast looked in the direction of the cry in the distance.

Fifth, a young mother heartbrokenly handed over her baby to a human trafficker in exchange for a small string of copper coins.

These five scenes are not fictional, but are daily occurrences in the southeast.

On the side, Yushi Zhongcheng Tang Jie murmured: "The custom of not raising a son in the southeast is very sad, but it is not the fault of the people at all. It is only because of the excessive wealth and the evil custom of marrying richly."

(End of this chapter)