Late Tang Dynasty Floating Life

Chapter 1409 Father and Son and Choice
If it is said when is the best time to take the road in Liaodong, it must be winter and spring.

The road was frozen solid.The swampy land that could not be passed in the past is now a thoroughfare.There really wasn't any difficulty other than the cold.

But sometimes the cold is just too much to get over.

The common people are really short of warm clothes. All the methods they have tried have proved to be ineffective. It was not until the arrival of sweaters that the embarrassing situation was slightly relieved.

Some people may say that the warmth of sweaters still has limitations, such as not being able to prevent wind and snow. It is a real "livestock". When the wind is cold and the white hair is snowing heavily, they will continue to fight and fight.

But for ordinary people's daily life, sweaters are indeed enough. For messengers who are away all year round, there may be some shortages, so fur coats are needed.

Lu Yan, Fan Wenda, and Lu Henian were all wearing sheep fur. Except for the pain in their faces and ears, everything was fine.

On the day of the Spring Festival, they arrived in Liucheng County, Yingzhou.

Yingzhou is attached to Hebei Road, and Andong Prefecture is attached to Huaihai Road. These two key prefectures were separated by the Central Plains. Liaodong Road should be very distressed.Because the west of Liaohe River has developed for a long time, and it is connected to Youzhou. If it is given to Liaodong Road, it can help them solve too many problems.

But this is impossible.The court will not blatantly violate the principle of dividing political regions based on the system of mountains and rivers.What's more, people are more culturally inclined to the Central Plains - Lu Yan saw the people of Liucheng celebrating the Spring Festival outside the city.

After settling down at the station, Lu Yan hurried to the west of the city to visit his son.

Lu Qi, who used to be the "substitute teacher" of Confucian classics in Liucheng County, has become a full-time teacher and has become an assistant teacher of Confucian classics in the county, assisting doctors in teaching about forty students.

"Da Lang's demeanor is more solemn." Lu Yan happily took his son's hand and walked outside his house.

Lu Qi said: "People are forced out. When I was 13 years old, I taught students for the first time. I was nervous and dry, and my lectures stumbled. Fortunately, the students didn't want to study and didn't care."

Lu Yan laughed out loud.

Yingzhou is a veritable large county. There are more than 26600 households and more than 127000 people in the six counties under its jurisdiction. In addition to Bohai, Mohe, Sogdian, Khitan, Xi, and Goguryeo, there are also a large number of people from Guannei, Guanbei, The people who moved from Henan and Hebei provinces.

Such a place where various ethnic groups live together and the people's customs are complicated, if it is a troubled time, there will definitely be all kinds of ambitious people and executioners.But now it is the early years of the dynasty, and the state army in Yingzhou is over-allocated with 5000 men, who have actual combat experience. On the city wall, warn the people of the town.

In addition, he also struck hard at the tribal chief who did not want to register as an accountant, and he was merciless.

The chieftains were reluctant in every possible way, and some raised their troops to fight, but they were wiped out with one blow.

Some people hid in Liaoze with their tribes, but with the deepening of the development of the counties, it became more and more difficult for the Tibetans to hide, and finally they were all found out, and honestly led the tribes to conquer Khitan for atonement.After the atonement, you have to continue to register households. There is no doubt that Yingzhou will eventually become a traditional Central Plains state and county.

"Master Zhong has gone to Liaodong to study politics. Without his teaching, is there any problem in his studies?" Lu Yan put away his smile and asked his son seriously: "Have you ever thought of going to Longquan Mansion to concentrate on your studies and ask for advice from time to time? How about getting a good name in the future?"

Strictly speaking, the 16-year-old son has already entered the officialdom, although he is only a very low-level county economics assistant.Seeing the lack of people everywhere in Liaodong, it is not a problem to work hard to become a doctor of economics in the county at the age of weak crown.But after all, there is no fame, which limits future development.

"Actually, I've thought about it." Lu Qi sighed, and said, "But educating the Fanhu in Yingzhou is a matter assigned by the planter. I was entrusted by others, and the planter didn't ask, so I can't take the initiative to ask for resignation."

When Chong Jinxian was the governor of Yingzhou, he did send his students to each county in turn to educate the Tibetans and train them in Huafeng.But Zhong Jinxian has now gone to Longquan Mansion to be an academic administrator. Some students either find a way to follow them to Longquan Mansion, or resign and go home to study. Few of them persist.

Lu Qi is still staying in Liucheng County, teaching a group of students who don't seem to be able to become talents. This is an honest person.

"You are honest!" Lu Yan said with a wry smile, "What about your studies?"

"Besides teaching, he studied hard." Lu Qi replied.

Lu Yan felt at ease.

In fact, in this world, there are very few people who can concentrate on studying without distraction.Most people are always tired of mundane things and various distractions.My son is pretty good, and giving lectures is also a process of reviewing.His half-student, Yelu Quanzhong, found it extremely difficult to plow the land and study at the same time.

"Yingzhou looks like this, can it be educated?" Lu Yan asked again.

"As long as you persevere, there will always be results. If one year is not enough, it will be two years, if two years is not enough, it will be five years, if five years is not enough, it will be ten years, 20 years..." Lu Qi said: "After the registration of households and the people, the Tibetans changed more and more. It is a Han surname, and people from the Central Plains immigrated here and blended with each other. If the imperial court spends more efforts to rectify it, it will change its appearance sooner or later."

"So confident?" Lu Yan asked.

"There are veterans of the Forbidden Army in the state army. I have talked with them." Lu Qi said: "Actually, the states of Guanbei Road also looked like this at the beginning. The wind was fierce and the smell was everywhere. But the sage insisted on enlightening for 30 years, and finally achieved results. Hebei, Many officials in Liaodong came from Kansai Confucianism, and some of them were even descended from Dangxiang, Tubo, and Uighur, but you can see how they talk now, they are gentle and easy-going, and they are loyal and honest, they are already Chinese citizens."

"Da Lang has such insights, but I am ashamed of my father." Lu Yan sighed, "It's good that you have your own ideas, and it's not easy to say anything as a father. Maybe it's better to do this. The sage asked Mr. Chong has deep intentions to study politics in Liaodong Taoism, and studying politics is probably not the end of his official career. Since you worship under him, you should work hard to realize his ambitions, and it will be good for you."

"My son is taught." Lu Qi replied.

Lu Yan looked around, pointed to the vast snow field, and asked, "Have all these lands been reclaimed?"

"The year before last was the barracks of the Wansheng Yellow-headed Army, and it was opened up the year before last." Lu Qi said: "A lot of Cao people and Song people came here, and they are good at farming. In the seven years since the establishment of the pole, the income per mu has been six or seven. In eight years, the harvest per mu will be one dendrobium, and there are more than three or four bushels. Everyone in the village says that if there is no disaster and no harm this year, it will not be a problem to harvest one dendrobium per mu.”

"What a fat land!" Lu Yan sighed: "In this way, the state government can also breathe a sigh of relief, and does not need to subsidize immigrants. By the tenth year of Jianji, the government treasury may have a slight surplus."

In fact, the development time of Yingzhou is not short.

The Khitan era had a certain foundation. Yelu Abaoji really built it as a money and grain base, and many Bohai people migrated here. There are also a large number of soldiers and civilians who fled from Hebei.Since Li Cunxiao recovered Yingzhou, the imperial court has also invested a lot of resources, and the large-scale development has entered its fifth year.If it continues to develop, Yingzhou will become the second outside the customs, second only to Anton Mansion - well, maybe the third, because the Longquan Mansion in Bohai Sea is obviously richer than these two places.

"How are the children of the Lu family doing in Yingzhou?" Lu Yan asked again.

The Lu family is mainly distributed in Youzhou and Cangjing.Since last year, some children from distant families from poor families immigrated to Yingzhou.Although the relationship is a little distant, Lu Yan is still very concerned about the family.What's more, with the son here, it is always good to have a clan to take care of him to maintain the relationship.

"Everyone in Liucheng County has settled down." Lu Qi said: "The imperial court will set up Tuhe County (now northeast of Beipiao City) next year, which will be the seventh county in Yingzhou. I heard that the land will be given a lot, so some people will go there. I have settled down there. I haven’t been there yet, so I don’t know the situation, I’m ashamed.”

"No problem." Lu Yan said, "Khitan has been flattened, the Seven Sacred States are the northern domain of Yingzhou, and Tuhe County is regarded as the hinterland. It is expected that there will be no serious problems."

"Yes." Lu Qi nodded.

Is it really safe?Not necessarily.There was still a rebellion in the Seven Holy States last year, so it was suppressed.Khitan Great Khan Yeluyi is still alive, if this person is not eliminated, the Seven Sacred States will not be able to achieve real stability.

However, he also knew that this was not achieved overnight.With the presence of saints, all the storms will subside, and the Seven Holy States will eventually become the real screen of the country.

Yes, Lu Qi has strong confidence in the saint, perhaps it is also his inner expectation.

******
After parting with their sons, Lu Yan, Fan Wenda, Lu Henian and the others continued on their way.

They crossed the frozen Liao River eastward, and after a ten-day trek, they arrived in Shenyang County, Lisuo, Shenzhou on February [-], and stayed at the post station in the south of the city.

On the outskirts of Shenzhou, horseshoes sounded.

The military men who settled in Shenyang may have "contaminated" the habits of the Khitan people. Wearing furs, riding horses, and holding horned bows, they chased wild deer, gazelle, and roe deer, and carried out large-scale hunting activities.

"People in Guanbei like hunting in winter, but I didn't expect people in Liaodong to do the same." Fan Wenda was excited when he saw the lively scene of thousands of horses galloping, because it was rare to see such activities in the Central Plains, and it reminded him of his long-lost hometown.

Lu Henian watched calmly, chatting with the palace guards occasionally.

The palace guards are either veterans of the imperial army, or the sons of honored nobles, or the protons of foreign countries, young slaves, and they are no strangers to hunting, and they love it very much.

"If the government soldiers are scattered, they will be for the people, and if they gather together, they will form an army. In a year, there is only winter time to concentrate on training." A palace guard said.

"There must be a lot of ex-German soldiers in Anton Mansion and Shenzhou, right? We used to grab food from the same rice cooker as us. It seems that the killing skills have not regressed."

"Practicing in winter is good, but you can't practice in spring, right? Don't worry about the delay in farming season, spring is warm and flowers are blooming, and you can practice well! Only when you can endure hardships can you be a master, and it should be when the weather is freezing. practice."

"China and North Korea are a big country with unfathomable background. Even local townspeople are so elite."

"Haha, Ba Yegu, this isn't the Tutuan villager. Look over there, yes, those armors under the tree, the Tutuan villager won't be able to save them all his life."

"Hey, if I can't get ahead, I'll ask myself to be a mansion soldier, at least I can feel at ease."

"Your family ancestor is still alive, and his official career is going well. What are you worried about? Even if you are a soldier in the government, you can also be a school lieutenant, captain or something."

When the palace guards were on duty in the palace, the rules were strict and they were not allowed to talk too much.This trip out of Beijing can be regarded as a good time to talk about, and I happened to see the familiar military scene, so the conversation was very interesting.

Lu Henian stood on the snow field and watched silently.

When he was in Zhongshu Province, as a Lingshi, he came into contact with a lot of archives and materials.

There are seven counties in Shenzhou, originally 4 to 13400 people, most of them are concentrated in Baiwang County, which is the former head Xiajun Prefecture of Khitan nobleman Bodhisattva Man.After the imperial court restored this place and formally established the prefecture and county, it rectified and relocated some Han people. Now there are more than 65000 households and more than [-] people in Shenzhou. These are registered households.

In addition, there are more than 15000 households and more than 70000 mouths in Bohai, Mohe, Khitan, Xi, and Han tribes, most of whom are captured.

In fact, Shenzhou is not self-sufficient in money and food.

Most of the supplies needed by the sage's northern expedition to the Bohai Sea were robbed by a [-]-strong army.Why do you pay so little attention to the "image of Master Wang"?In fact, it is also very simple, save money and food as much as possible for the newly established states and counties in Shenzhou.

Of course, the conditions in Shenzhou are also very good.The Ping Navy and the civilian ships confiscated can travel upstream from the Daliao River, and the cost of transshipment is extremely low. Therefore, a large amount of military supplies has been stored, of which grain is the largest item.

The seven counties in Shenzhou are now completely supported by the imperial court, and they will not be weaned this year or next.

The government soldiers in Shenzhou are actually still recruiting soldiers with military rewards. 12000 troops, actually more than 11200, the land is enough, but the number of parts is far from enough.

The harvest they got from hunting now, such as skins and tendons, may be kept by themselves, but the meat must be handed over. After all, this will be a part of the court that will take care of them. They have to eat every day, and the expenses are huge.

However, from another point of view, the imperial court spared no expense to vigorously develop Liaodong, which is the right way.The larger the initial investment, the more and faster the future harvest.

Everyone underestimated the potential of this land and the determination of the saint.

After this interview, you may get an official status.Uncle suggested to be the county magistrate in Liaodong Road, which is an old and solemn statement.Being an official in other places is not as easy to attract the eyes of saints as in Liaodong.

But where to choose?
The development of the Liaodong provinces must be out of sync.From the current point of view, Longquan Mansion is the richest, has the most household registrations, and is the most comfortable to be an official—in fact, the Bohai Five Capitals are all good, and they are all quite comfortable.

Shenzhou is the fastest growing city outside of the old land of Bohai Sea, and it will even surpass Longquan Mansion in the future.The reason is also very simple. It can communicate with the Central Plains through the Daliao River and Liaohai. The transportation is very convenient, and it can eat more "milk" from the court.

But as an official in this kind of place, others will take it for granted if you make achievements, and you will be criticized if you fail to do so.Instead of this, it is better to choose individual places, such as Wu, Meng, Mei, Li and other states.

There is still time, you can slowly weigh and choose slowly on the road.

(End of this chapter)