Guide to Traveling through the Northern Song Dynasty.

Chapter 37 0036【Lime is also a poem】

night.

Bai Chongwu, the second son of the Bai family, has already returned from the county. He was born white and fat, which is exactly the ancient standard of wealth and honor.

"What happened to Xiangzhi County?" the old white member asked.

Bai Chongwu said in a low voice: "Before I had time to tell my father, just two days ago, the state issued an official document that this year's money for purchases and purchases would all increase. Also, it was ordered to make up the previous years' taxes. The state will make up for it. If it is not complete, the state officials will have to pay for it; if the county does not make up for it, the county magistrate will also have to pay for it. That county official is already very worried."

The old white man was silent for a while, and it took him a long time to let out his breath: "This world, alas..."

Bai Chongwu said: "Grandmother's birthday banquet, my family invited many dignitaries, and nearly half of the squires in the county will come to celebrate her birthday. I am afraid that the county magistrate has no intention of coming here. He is just taking this opportunity to persuade the squires in the county to actively Grain."

"What's Zhu Er's plan?" the old white member asked.

Bai Chongwu said: "Zhu Er is an official fan, he will do whatever the county magistrate says."

Zhu Er used to be the leader of the rebels. After being recruited, he served as the chief secretary and county lieutenant of Xixiang County.In just a few years, he was completely integrated into the system, wishing to be a dog to the county magistrate.

He was afraid of being looked down upon by scholars, so he spent huge sums of money to invite old scholars and changed his name to Zhu Zongdao.

I also compiled a family tree for myself. The first ancestor can catch up with the god of fire Zhu Rong, and the distant ancestor is Zhu Xun, the general who protects the country in the Eastern Jin Dynasty...

This guy completely forgot that he was born in hardship, he was obedient to the county magistrate, he was aggressive in the face of the villagers, and he was very active in collecting taxes every year.

The old white member said: "Take good care of me, I wish you two, don't cause trouble. The five brothers of Baiford, let them take turns this year, how can they handle it for a while. If you can avoid it, hide it. If you can't avoid it, think of a way."

"That's the only way to go." Bai Chongwu said.

In the middle and late Northern Song Dynasty, only counties with more than [-] households had county magistrates.In the Huizong Dynasty, it usually took a county with [-] households to have a county magistrate.

In small counties, the head book and county lieutenant are often held by the same person.

Therefore, in the entire Xixiang County, there are only two officials in the county government, one is the chief official Xiang Zhixian, and the other is the assistant official Zhu Zhuzhu.

Suddenly, Bai Chongwu said: "Xiangzhi County seems to have plans to buy land."

When the old white member heard it, he felt much more relaxed: "It seems that the Liu family is going to be in trouble."

Bai Chongwu said: "I'm afraid that the county lord's appetite is too big, and he won't be able to eat enough for the Liu family."

"I can't choke him to death!" the old white member sneered.

Local officials in the Song Dynasty were allowed to buy property in their place of office.This caused many local officials to buy land frantically in their jurisdictions, seeing that there was no hope of promotion in the short term.

Moreover, good land must be bought. If the landlord does not sell it, then the landlord will be forced to death!
This year, the imperial court suddenly wanted to increase taxes, which happened to give Xiang Zhi an excuse.

In the villages around the county seat, the Liu family occupies a lot of good land, and its backing has declined, so it is an excellent fat sheep waiting to be slaughtered.

As long as Yuanwai Liu is forced to ruin his family, the county magistrate can take advantage of the opportunity to buy land, and secondly, he can get money and food for business, which can kill two birds with one stone.

And other squires are also happy to see the results: killing a Liu family can feed the county magistrate, and he can also reduce taxes.

When the second son left the study, the old white member called the eldest son over again, and told him, "Prepare your money and lend it to the village neighbors to pay taxes this year. Maybe you can buy a lot of land next year."

Bai Dalang was startled for a moment, but then he was overjoyed and said happily: "I see."

The imperial court raised taxes, a god-sent opportunity.

The county magistrate took the opportunity to prey on the big households, and the squires took the opportunity to prey on the small people.

Old white members still have a bottom line, and they don't blindly force them.

Let the five Baiford brothers take turns, and they are responsible for collecting taxes in the village. Villagers who have no money at home can only borrow from the old white officials.

The five brothers must not be able to collect all taxes, and it will be a matter of time before they break up and flee.

The villagers who have been forced to pay taxes will only resent the five brothers, and the old Bai Yuanwai is a great benevolent person.When the loan cannot be repaid in the coming year, the villagers will have to sell their land to make up for it.

The old white members bought land at a low price, not only annexed the land, but also a little relief, but also a good reputation.

Leaving the study, Bai Dalang walked briskly and was in an extremely happy mood.

His own mother died of dystocia, and his relationship with his stepmother has never been good.He can't study well, so he can only do things conscientiously, and managing family property is his pleasure.Seeing the land property increase little by little, and seeing the money and food piling up like a mountain, he can wake up with a smile when he falls asleep.

This year and next year, the land can be merged again, and Bai Chongwen can't wait.

……

Early in the morning, Ju Ming got up yawning.

After washing up, he came to practice sword in the courtyard.

After practicing for a while, Zhu Ming found that his mother-in-law and daughter-in-law were not there, so he asked his father who was urging his children to read in the morning: "Where is Mrs. Shen? Are you going out to work so early?"

Zhu Guoxiang said: "Old Madam Bai is celebrating her birthday, they are going to help."

After a while, two men from the village came to Shen Yourong's house to move tables and stools.

But the birthday banquet is divided into three grades:

In the first stall, the guests are all distinguished, and they eat in the courtyard of the Bai family mansion.

The second stall, the guests are the clan members of the Bai family, eating in the courtyard of the tile-roofed houses in the village.

The third stall, the guests are ordinary villagers, eating at the threshing ground in the village.

The desks and stools of Mrs. Shen's house were moved to the threshing ground, and the old white workers had to set up a running water mat outside, and the beggars passing by could grab a bowl.

Zhu Guoxiang said: "I asked Mrs. Shen last night, and the gift money can be given as you see it. It's not like in movies and TV dramas, where you have to announce the gift list loudly on the spot, and you can get it done by registering the gift when you give it. Ordinary villagers also rely on If you don’t give gift money, you can go to the threshing floor to eat and drink.”

"This Bai family's treatment of the villagers can be regarded as benevolent." Ju Ming commented.

Zhu Guoxiang said: "I plan to give a hundred dollars. But it's a bit shabby. After all, the place where we eat is in the courtyard of the Bai family's mansion. Do you have any birthday poems?"

"How about Tang Bohu's song?" Zhu Ming asked.

Zhu Guoxiang asked: "Which song is Tang Bohu?"

Zhu Ming said cheaply: "This woman is not a human being, a nine-day fairy descended to the mortal world. All the children and grandchildren are thieves, stealing flat peaches and presenting them to their loved ones."

Zhu Guoxiang immediately remembered that although he had never memorized this poem, he had seen it in TV dramas, and he couldn't laugh or cry: "The old lady Bai is already 90 years old, you are not afraid that she has a heart attack, and she didn't catch her breath. Become a funeral seat on the spot?"

Zhu Ming said with a smile: "I asked, the old lady Bai is very tough, and has never been ill. In view of the Erlang God, I also specifically inquired. In the Song Dynasty, there was a custom of birthday peaches, and there is also a legend about the Queen Mother of the West's peach feast."

"There's no need to take risks. Rethink a birthday poem." Zhu Guoxiang still chose to be cautious.

Ju Ming thought about it carefully: "Just Cixi's song."

"Cixi also wrote poems?" Zhu Guoxiang felt a little surprised.

Zhu Ming said: "One of them, you must have heard it, pity the parents of the world."

"This is good!" Zhu Guoxiang made a decision immediately.

In Shen Yourong's house, there is only straw paper for calligraphy practice, but it doesn't matter what kind of paper, what is important is what is written on it.

Zhu Guoxiang immediately went to fetch water and grind ink, spread out a large sheet of straw paper, and cut it into A4 size for use.

The son recited poems next to his son, and his father wrote them down. Zhu Guoxiang's calligraphy is much more beautiful than Zhu Ming's.

In the middle of the morning, when the ink was dry, Zhu Guoxiang said, "Take the money and go out!"

He took the child with him and went straight to the Bai family's mansion. There were still a few gift givers lined up at the door.Of course not the distinguished guests themselves, but the entourage they brought.

When it was the father and son's turn, Zhu Ming put the gift on the table: "The gift money is enough, and a birthday poem."

The servant in charge of receiving the gift threw the iron money into the box, and carefully picked up the straw paper, intending to put it aside to press, where several birthday poems had already been pressed.

Perhaps it was because the straw paper was too nonsense, before the servant put it down, he couldn't help but look at it twice, and praised: "Good poem!"

There are two servants to receive gifts, one to register and one to receive.

The person in charge of the registration is Bai Dalang's book boy, and he is currently assisting Bai Dalang in managing the property.

The person in charge of receiving is Bai Erlang's book boy, who is currently working as a housekeeper for Bai Erlang in the county.

"Two of you, please!"

Bai Erlang's housekeeper is a man of knowledge, and his attitude instantly becomes respectful.

After sending Zhu Ming and his son in, he called a servant who was doing odd jobs: "Put this poem in the hands of Erlang himself."

There are quite a few guests inside.

There are squires from various villages, wealthy businessmen from counties, official officials who have been promoted by old white officials, and a few well-known scholars.

There was also a stage set up in the courtyard, and the food hadn't been served yet, and the distinguished guests were eating snacks, chatting and watching the play.

The county magistrate's name is Xiang Bi, and his style name is Weitian. He sits at the main table with Mrs. Bai.

Li Hanzhang and Zheng Hong, of course, also sat at the main table.

Knowing that Li Hanzhang is the son of the state judge, Xiang Bi, the magistrate of the county, was very enthusiastic and actively talked from beginning to end.

Bai Chongwu, the Erlang of the Bai family, wandered around to greet guests.This fellow is fat and chubby, with a smile on his face, and he can also talk about scenes. He can be called all-round and slick, and he can chat with anyone with a lot of laughter.

As soon as they finished chatting at the table, the servant handed over the straw paper: "Mr. Erlang, Housekeeper Qin asked me to deliver it."

Bai Chongwu took a look, and saw on the straw paper——

"It's a great honor to invite you to the old matriarch's [-]th birthday banquet. I don't have anything long left, but I offer a birthday poem to repay the favor of the master."

"The love between parents is the most sincere in the world. Tears and blood are melted into the bodies of their children. I will work hard to be a son, and I have pity on the hearts of parents in the world."

"Zhu Guoxiang and his son Zhu Ming pay homage."

To be honest, Cixi's poem, except for the last sentence, can be described as a mess.

Leaving aside the change of tone and rhythm in the past dynasties, even in the Qing Dynasty, according to the Beijing Mandarin at that time, this poem was "lost sticky", that is, there was a big problem with the flat-to-tune format.

Although Bai Chongwu hadn't won the Juren, he had read the classics.

After reading the first three sentences, I already frowned, and I only felt hot eyes.When he read the fourth sentence, he suddenly smiled.

There is no fourth line, called loss of stickiness, a doggerel.

With the fourth sentence, it is called "obstinate", turning decay into magic.

In terms of poetry creation, flatness, antithesis and rhyme can all break the rules.Tang people are the least particular about it, while Song people are more particular about it.For a period of time, the poets of the Ming Dynasty deliberately imitated the carelessness of the Tang people in order to restore the past.

Taking the straw paper to the main table, Bai Erlang put his hands together and said, "Look, grandma."

Old Madam Bai has also studied, but her knowledge is not high, and doggerel is just right for her appreciation level.

The old lady finished reading the poem carefully, and immediately smiled from ear to ear, revealing two rows of smooth gums: "Well written, really well written, I like it very much!"

(End of this chapter)