After Yan Yuting left, Qiao Zhiqing sent a reply to northern Shaanxi and sent a letter to Feige, and after lunch, he called Hu Wenhai to take a wing of the pro-military battalion to the countryside to inspect the farmland.At this time, it is close to the autumn equinox, and another month is the day when the late rice in southern Jiangsu is ripe, and the grain and grass problems of the three armies for a year all point to those days, and the rice in the Qing army is imported from Siam by Pan Ji and foreign companies, but it cannot fundamentally solve the long-term supply problem of the army, and once it falls out with the imperial court, military food will become a big problem.So Qiao Zhiqing didn't dare to slack off at all, and after thinking about it, he decided to go to the field in person."
Dashuai, the countryside in the south of the Yangtze River is really fucking different from our north, you look at this land, the pieces are really fertile, when will we buy a piece of land here, plant some rice and vegetables, raise some chickens, ducks, cattle and sheep, those days are really leisurely."
A group of people straddled horses along the country road, surrounded by patches of green rice, and the rice was already full of ears.Hu Wenhai looked at the farmland around him that was about to be harvested, and couldn't help but sigh loudly."
Yes, this Jiangnan has been the land of fish and rice since ancient times, and it is really better than our hometown, but there are mountains of gold and silver hidden in the ground of our hometown, but you don't know it yet."
The autumn afternoon weather is very refreshing and pleasant, without the humidity and heat of summer, Qiao Zhiqing's mood is also refreshed."
Dashuai said that it was funny, in our place where there is drought and little rain all year round, we can plant some sweet potatoes and sticks, and where can we dig up gold and silver mountains."
Hu Wenhai shook his head in disbelief."
When Wenjie and the others return to their hometown, they will soon send us gold and silver."
Qiao Zhiqing laughed, slapped his horsewhip, and galloped towards the village in front.Hu Wenhai still didn't believe it, let out a roar, and followed closely behind Qiao Zhiqing with his subordinates.The men and women of the village had just had lunch, and were still leisurely basking in the sun outside the door, walking on the mountains, when they suddenly heard the sound of horses' hooves outside the village, and they habitually dispersed, and they all hid in their own small courtyards, picked up hoes and shovels to prepare for defense.There are less than 50 households in the village, neatly arranged in three rows, the houses are all newly renovated, and the courtyard walls and gates are made of tree branches, so you can see the inside at a glance from the outside.After Qiao Zhiqing and his soldiers got off their horses, they looked at the panicked appearance of the villagers, and couldn't help but chuckle and shouted, "Everyone come out, this official is Qiao Zhiqing, the prefect of Suzhou, don't be afraid." ”"Come out, don't be afraid, don't hurry up to greet Master Qiao when you see it."
Hu Wenhai also chuckled and shouted at the villagers on both sides.The villagers looked at a group of people wearing strange clothes on the road, and they didn't dare to move for a while, Qiao Zhiqing was still wearing the camouflage uniform of the Qingzi Army when he came out, and he couldn't complain about this group of war-torn villagers.Finally, an elderly man took the lead and walked out, and the villagers also followed him and surrounded him with a nervous face, a total of more than a hundred people, old and young."
You are really the prefect of Suzhou" The old man lived on crutches and looked at Qiao Zhiqing with a puzzled expression.Dressed in coarse cloth, with white hair hanging down and his forehead full of wrinkles, it was obvious that this old man must be a man of weight in the village."
Old man, don't be afraid, this official is indeed the prefect of Suzhou, and today I will go to the countryside to see how you are doing."
Qiao Zhiqing stepped forward to support the old man with a gentle face.The old man trembled excitedly, and shouted at the villagers behind him, "It's from the official family, don't be afraid." ”After speaking, he knelt down and bowed to Qiao Zhiqing.Only then did the villagers feel relieved, and they followed the old man to bow down.Qiao Zhiqing hurriedly supported the old man's body, shook his head and said, "The old man is rude, just stand and talk, now the government does not advocate kowtowing." ”The old man trembled flattered, "How can this be done, how can the rules left by the ancestors be changed, the prefect doesn't look down on the old man." ”Qiao Zhiqing shook his head noncommittally, and replied, "Old man, you misunderstood me, the younger generation is young, where do you dare to be bowed by you, if you insist on doing so, then please accept the junior first." ”Qiao Zhiqing said that he was about to give a big salute to the old man, but the old man hurriedly held him up, and replied in horror, "Adults can't, if you don't worship, you won't worship, the old man will answer you." ”"That's right, let's all come and sit down and talk."
Qiao Zhiqing smiled happily, helped the old man to sit down under the willow tree on the side of the road, and the villagers also sat around Qiao Zhiqing with an incredible face."
The old man has long heard that the new prefect of Suzhou is unusual, and he really deserves his reputation when he sees it today."
The old man held his beard beside Qiao Zhiqing and laughed."
The old man has also heard about the younger generation," Qiao Zhiqing laughed with some curiosity.The old man nodded with a chuckle and responded, "I've heard, I've heard, I have a son who is on an errand in the barracks in Suzhou, he came back once last month, and told Lao Yu a lot of things about you, Lao Yu thought he was talking nonsense, and when I saw an adult today, it was really extraordinary." ”Qiao Zhiqing laughed loudly when he heard this, clasped the old man's hand and said, "It turns out that you are the family member of the Qingzi Army, then our two masters can be regarded as a family, and everyone is even more polite." ”The old man laughed along, and the villagers also relaxed a little when they saw Qiao Zhiqing's approachable appearance, and laughed along."
Why did you suddenly come down to our poor place, do you want to do something?"
the old man looked at the men and horses in the pro-military camp and asked suspiciously."
It's not a big deal, it's just that Suzhou has just settled down, and the official just wants to know how everyone's life is going, and if there is anything missing" Qiao Zhiqing looked around at the villagers' outfits and explained, the situation is indeed not optimistic, every villager is dressed in linen, and some don't even have shoes, squatting on the ground barefoot.The children were even more pitiful, all naked, black and shiny from the sun."
Oh, that's right, my lord is really a good official who is diligent and loves the people, he is a lot old, and there has not been a big official who has come to our country in person like you."
The old man sighed excitedly, and continued, "When the adults came, they all saw it, the more than 100 acres of fertile land outside the village were just planted in June this year, this year's rain is good, and there will be a good harvest in another month, but I don't know how much grain the official family will receive when the time comes" "Are the 100 acres of fertile land everyone's land, who in our village doesn't have land?"
Qiao Zhiqing asked the question he was most concerned about.The old man nodded and replied sincerely, "In the past, our village was called Wujiazhuang, and the 100 acres of fertile land at the head of the village were owned by Master Wu.Later, Changmao was driven away again, and these fertile fields had no owners, and the villagers divided the land by themselves, and everyone had no score in their hearts, and they didn't dare to plant anything, for fear that the Tianguan Mansion would take the land away. ”Qiao Zhiqing smiled and asked again, "Like the situation in our village, are there still any surrounding villages?"
the old man thought carefully in his heart and replied seriously, "The situation in the surrounding villages is similar, the rich people have run away, and the land has been barren for several years.Lord Qiao, it's not easy for farmers, there are few cattle in the village, and they can't even find a decent farm tool, everyone relies on hand plowing to make it what it is today.The situation in our village is relatively good, if the adults go further south, there are more fertile fields over there that are deserted, and the village is full of women, and there is not even a strong laborer who can carry the land.Therefore, I would like to ask the adults to collect less food this year, and leave some seeds and rations for everyone, so that everyone can have a hope in the coming year. ”The old man wiped away his tears as he spoke.Qiao Zhiqing held his hand tightly and comforted, "Old man, rest assured, this official has already asked the imperial court to reduce everyone's taxes for three years."
In the past three years, not only have you not had to pay taxes and grain, but the government has also provided each village with ploughing cattle and farm tools free of charge. ”"What Master Qiao said is true," the old man trembled excitedly, holding Qiao Zhiqing with both hands.Qiao Zhiqing nodded at all the villagers with a sincere face."
Lord Qiao is really the reincarnation of a living Bodhisattva, everyone kowtow to Lord Qiao" The old man sobbed, ignoring Qiao Zhiqing's obstruction, and knelt down with the villagers to brush Qiao Zhiqing."
Thank you, Lord Joe, thank you, Lord Joe."
All the people in the village cried along with the old man, and the scene was very moving.Qiao Zhiqing couldn't stand this kind of scene the most, so it took a lot of effort to get everyone up, and after chatting a few words, he said goodbye to the old man and the villagers, and took his own soldiers across the horse to patrol south.The villagers waved Qiao Zhiqing away, and they all jumped with joy, running around and telling each other, "The prefect doesn't collect rent anymore, and the prefect doesn't collect rent anymore." ”The brothers in the pro-military camp were also happy on the horses, Hu Wenhai knew what everyone was thinking, and stepped forward to ask Qiao Zhiqing, "Dashuai, when will the farmers in our hometown be able to divide some land, and there is no need to pay rent to the landlords and old wealthy" Qiao Zhiqing chuckled and looked around at the children in his hometown, and asked loudly, "Is everyone thinking like this?"
"Yes, Dashuai, we have been out with you for more than half a year, when will we go home, brothers are waiting for the family to live a good life." ”The men of the pro-military battalion shouted happily in unison."
Little cubs, you are thinking of going home to farm and marrying a daughter-in-law."
Qiao Zhiqing asked with a smile.And all the brethren burst out laughing.Qiao Zhiqing rode his horse and raised his whip and roared happily, "It's almost that day, and then the girls will be afraid that you will be dazzled." ”"Woohoo" all the brothers roared, and they all laughed and galloped with Qiao Zhiqing
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