Go back to the Ming Dynasty to be a thousand households

Chapter 25
Huang Laifu smiled, and said to her and Yang Xiaolu, "Divide the porridge and let everyone warm up."

There was another commotion among those tenants, all of them showed incredulous expressions, and then everyone was overjoyed and said one after another: "Thank you, Young Master Huang, thank you, Young Master Huang..."

Aunt Yang held the porridge in a bowl and said with a smile, "Come on, come on, come one by one, everyone has something."

The tenants came up one by one in turn, and after taking the bowls, they all walked up to Huang Laifu consciously, bent down and said, "Thank you, Young Master Huang." Huang Laifu nodded slightly.The tenants walked past Huang Laifu one by one, and when they returned to the arena, they all couldn't wait to drink.Drinking the hot and sweet thick rice porridge, many people shed tears involuntarily.

Many tenants drank one bowl and went to pick up the second bowl. Basically, everyone drank several bowls, but Aunt Yang cooked a lot of porridge, which was enough for them to drink.

Huang Laifu picked up the hot tea again and drank it slowly, feeling that Gu Yunniang's eyes were on him. Huang Laifu raised his head and smiled at her.

After the tenants finished their porridge, their spirits looked quite different from before. Huang Laifu coughed lightly, and the whole grain drying field was immediately silent.

Huang Laifu put down his teacup and said, "I called everyone here today to discuss something with you."

He said: "Everyone knows that these years are not good. God is not open. Every year, it is either a drought or a cold disaster, or a disaster. And everyone is currently farming in a single household. How can this method be used? survive the disasters to come?"

Seeing that everyone was listening intently, he said: "I have already talked with my lord father. From now on, I will manage this farm. I have decided to change the current leasehold method. I called everyone here today to discuss this matter."

The tenants below were a little worried and didn't know what Huang Laifu was going to do. After all, the Huang family had always rented in this way, and everyone was used to it.But just now when Huang Laifu kindly gave them hot porridge, they already subconsciously had expectations for Huang Laifu.

An old man who seemed to be prestigious among the tenants came out and boldly saluted, "I don't know what Mr. Huang wants the younger ones to do?"

The old man was quite tall, but his hair was gray, his skin was dark, and his face was full of ravines. The cotton robe on his body was worn out, and his whole body had been bent down by the heavy life and work.

Huang Laifu had read the account books on the farm, and knew a little about these tenants. Based on his previous memory, he knew that the old man was surnamed Liu, known as Mr. Liu, and that his nephew was the general banner of Wuzhaibao.Because of this relationship, he has been taking the tenant in the fields of the Huang family.

Huang Laifu nodded to him, and said: "Everyone knows that the current year is not good, and the fields are not harvested every year. This famine seems to have no end. If this continues, my Huang family will not be able to collect rent, and neither will everyone. Food and clothing. In fact, apart from natural disasters, there is also the fact that everyone is a single-family tenant, and they are busy with their own work. How can this resist natural disasters? Therefore, the current way of farming and renting needs to be changed.”

Everyone didn't understand what they heard, and looked at each other, everyone was worried, but at present, only the Huang family has the best land in Wuzhaibao, and they have produced some crops in these years.Moreover, as tenants, they have no choice. No matter where they go, what is waiting for them is the same result, maybe even worse.

The style of tenant servants prevailed in the Ming Dynasty. Generally speaking, the burden on tenant farmers was very heavy. Based on various records, the average rent rate in various places at that time should be around [-]%.However, compared with civilian households, the tenants of military households have a heavier burden. Not only do they have to farm the land, but they also perform various labors for the officers and tenants for free.These are not paid, and sometimes even have to bring their own food.

These military household tenants of Huang Laifu theoretically have no personal affiliation with the Huang family and can leave the tenant at any time.But of course he would offend the Huang family after leaving the tenant casually.

After offending Master Qianhu Huang Sihao, do they still want to hang out in Wuzhai Fort in the future?Besides, natural disasters continue now, leaving the fields of Huang's family, where can we find good land to cultivate? Compared with other fields in Wuzhaibao, Huang's fields are already the best in Wuzhaibao. There is some harvest, isn't it?Compared with those military households who have no land, it is already considered good.

Everyone looked at each other, but Old Master Liu said boldly: "Young Master Huang just said it, can you explain it in detail?"

Huang Laifu knew their worries and said, "Don't worry, everyone, as long as you follow what I said, you will definitely be able to live a better life than now."

He said: "The specifics are like this. In the future, the fields of the farm will be concentrated for farming, and the cattle and agricultural tools will be used together. What needs to be done in the farm, everyone will be deployed together. It is better to unite like this than to be alone. We must be strong. From now on, everyone’s status will no longer be tenants, but employees of the village.”

He said: "As for the remuneration, I will distribute monthly food and money to everyone. Each family's monthly food should be at least five buckets. The real amount will be distributed, and there will be no deductions."

When the tenants below heard this, there was a commotion, with excited expressions on their faces.When Huang Laifu said this, it was tantamount to turning them all into slaves of the Huang family.Speaking of which, the 60 servants of the Huang family are also the slaves of the Huang family. Of course, these tenants dare not expect to be treated the same as those servants.But if there is a full amount of five buckets of rice every month.

One bucket of rice is nearly 20 catties, and five buckets of rice is nearly one hundred catties. Based on the calculation of these people’s family of five or six, plus their children as the monthly rations of the banner army, they can drink just now every day of the month. Such a thick rice porridge noodle soup.

In this way, being a hired worker is much better than being a tenant. As a tenant, the harvest is uncertain, but as a hired worker, you have a fixed monthly salary.All of a sudden, many people's faces lit up and they started whispering.

Replacing the tenancy system with the monetary employment system is also a common method of the British farms not far behind, and the large factories and large farms of later generations.

Seeing the expressions of the tenants, Huang Laifu knew that they were moved.He said: "Of course, if you come into my house, you have to do things honestly. There are those who steal, rape, cheat, and are lazy and refuse to do it. The light ones are whipped, and the most serious ones are eliminated from the Huang family. Everyone knows that this way, this person will be in Wuzhai. Fort results."

Huang Laifu smiled slightly, and all the tenants were awe-inspiring.Of course they knew that Huang Laifu and the Huang family could do what they said.In this way, is there any way for this person to survive in Wuzhai Fort?
Seeing the effect achieved, Huang Laifu said: "Of course, I, Huang Laifu, have always rewarded those who are sincere and willing to work hard."

He said: "From now on, you will be called Zhuang Ding. I will divide your monthly rations into three grades based on the monthly performance of the Zhuang Ding in this village."

He said: "The first-class Zhuang Ding is one person, and the salary is 2 stones per month and 8 coins for silver, which are paid in full."

Everyone below exclaimed, this is the treatment of Huang Jiajia Ding.For a moment, everyone wondered whether they could become that Zhuang Ding.

Huang Laifu said: "Second-class Zhuang Ding consists of five people, and each person has one stone per month." Everyone was excited again.

Huang Laifu said: "The rest are third-class Zhuang Ding. Each person has five buckets of monthly food."

There are heavy rewards in the front and heavy punishments in the future, so don't worry that everyone will refuse to do it.And the people below were also talking excitedly as if seeing a bright future.

"There is more." Huang Laifu continued, making everyone's hearts jump.

"If the first-class Zhuang Ding and the second-class Zhuang Ding can remain unchanged for at least 7 months, the first-class Zhuang Ding will reward 5 liang of silver, one fat pig, three chickens, three ducks, and salt in the first five days. Five catties, 20 catties of wine. The second-class Zhuang Ding rewards five coins, 10 catties of pork, 1 chicken, 1 duck, 2 catties of salt, and 5 catties of wine. As for the third-class Zhuang Ding, I will also give each person pork 5 catties, let everyone have a good year."

The crowd was uproarious again.This kind of favor and property rewarded by Zhuang Ding years ago has surpassed that of Huang's family.The second-class Zhuang Ding also made everyone's heart itch.Even the treatment of the third-class Zhuang Ding is much better than when he was a tenant.

"There is more." Everyone's heart beat again.

"There are more than 1 mu of land in this village. If the annual grain production reaches 28 shi (about 200 catties, about [-] catties per mu), in addition to the above rewards, each person will also receive a grain reward at the end of the year. Have."

“如一年产粮达2千石（约37万斤，亩产300斤左右），每人年底赏粮2石。如一年产粮达3千石（约44万斤，亩产400斤左右），每人年底赏粮3石。”

"I, Huang Laifu, can do what I say, and I will never break my word!"

The people below were even more noisy, and everyone was stimulated by these rewards and their whole bodies were on fire.

Suddenly a person below shouted: "Young Master, we will do what you say, and I will definitely die for you."

"Yes, yes, if you don't want to do it, is this still a human being?"

"I will only follow the order of the elder and younger!"

Seeing the fiery scene of the crowd, Gu Yunniang, Steward Yang, Jiang Dazhong, Yang Xiaolu, Aunt Yang and others were all stunned. They didn't understand how Huang Laifu came up with these methods. Depending on the situation, the effect is very good.

Huang Laifu smiled and nodded in satisfaction. Everyone's reaction was completely within his expectation.In fact, the above methods are some common practices of later generations. As a businessman of later generations, Huang Laifu is naturally very familiar with these methods and can easily use them at his fingertips.

He raised his voice and said: "As long as you follow me and do things sincerely, I, Huang Laifu, will never treat him badly. A good day of food and clothing is waiting for you."

He said: "Okay, that's all for today. In the past few days, everyone will re-sign the contract with Steward Yang. During the time before the beginning of spring, I will arrange for everyone to do some dredging of trenches and excavation of wells and ponds." Nothing. But you don’t have to worry, I will provide food for everyone every day, and I will definitely make everyone full.”

He said mysteriously: "Every three days, I will give you meat again. A large plate of fatty pork will definitely be enough."

Hearing that, everyone below was drooling, and everyone was yearning and happy again.

Everyone was full of hope, and after thanking Huang Laifu, they all discussed and left excitedly.

Looking at the backs of all the tenants leaving, now it is all the Zhuang Ding, Yang Steward was amazed.He said to Huang Laifu: "Young master's ability, I really admire this old slave. In this way, those Zhuang Ding are not all scrambling to do things?"

Jiang Dazhong and Yang Xiaolu also hurried up to express their admiration.Gu Yunniang walked around Huang Laifu a few times, and said in a low voice, "I didn't expect you to be so good and know so much."

Huang Laifu was overjoyed, thinking that this little lady finally convinced me, he smiled and said, "Yunniang, you know a lot, Brother Laifu, just take your time."

Hearing his teasing tone, Gu Yunniang's pretty face flushed, and she gave a light pooh.

(End of this chapter)