Datang: From exiled prince to eternal tyrant

Chapter 31 The Kingdom of Shu is Recruiting Workers
The news of the defeat of the Guanyuan Army quickly spread throughout Chang'an's senior management.

The fighting power of the "disorderly people" in Shu State shocked the government and the public.

Although the common people don't know what's going on, all the high-level officials know that those disorderly people are the Shu army.

Of course, the fact that Changsun Wuji was defeated and escaped by Li Ke was originally a dispute between the two princes, and there was no need to disclose this matter to the people.

The streets of Chang'an are still peaceful on the surface, and the people are still bustling and busy.

However, in the streets and alleys after tea and dinner, the common people still quietly gathered together.

"Have you heard that the King of Shu is recruiting workers?"

"I heard that too!"

"They will distribute travel expenses outside the south gate, only those with family members will be able to ask for it."

"Ah? I haven't heard of this. If someone pretends to claim it, wouldn't it be an advantage?"

"That's right, the travel expenses for the whole family to go to Shu Kingdom are quite a lot, right?"

"Well, I'm afraid I will get two or three pennies?"

"Are you a fool? They went with escorts, a group of ten households, with a carriage!"

"Hiss...how many carriages would that cost!"

"My cousin Zhang Laoer in the western suburbs of the city took people there. After arriving, he immediately divided the house, arranged for the work of digging wells, and gave five guanqian (equivalent to 120 yuan for future generations) to settle down. The wages are settled daily. You can bring back ten catties of grain a day for food and lodging, four hundred copper coins (equivalent to [-] yuan for future generations) at the end of the month, two bolts of cloth at the end of the year, and the wife can also go to the textile factory and get half of the man's money!"

"Hiss... isn't it true that every household has new clothes during the Chinese New Year? I've also heard that if you are a craftsman, you will get twenty kilograms of grain a day, eight hundred copper coins and four pieces of cloth at the end of the month!"

"So good? Is there no division of land?"

"You stupid donkey? The female labor force takes five catties of grain a day and eats it, and the male labor doubles. How many acres of land do you have to plant? The couple can only get fifteen catties of grain a day plus six hundred a month. A copper plate plus three bolts of cloth? I can’t kill you!”

"That's good, but without land, there is no security."

"What's the guarantee? Regardless of whether you are a farmer or a worker, the Shu Palace takes care of life, old age, sickness and death, and you can retire at the age of 55. If you farm at home, you have to farm even if you don't die for a day!"

"Yeah, I guess the Shu Palace won't be in short supply. I'm waiting for some pension money. I'm really afraid that there will be problems. It's like saving more money while I can work!"

"Yes, you can save a lot of family wealth!"

"I heard that if you want to farm land, you only need to pay the national tax as soon as you pay the sixteenth tax. The Shu Palace also funded the digging of wells for water conservancy."

"It's true. Now the Shu Palace is also reclaiming land for farming cattle. I heard that there are many new tools. The Shu Palace now has more cattle and works faster."

"Forget it, I've been bullied by the gentry here all day, so I just sold the land and went to the Shu Palace!"

"It just so happens that the landlord over there has been coveting my land for a long time. Sooner or later, I will let him get it. I will give it to him tomorrow. I will take some money and go to the Kingdom of Shu to collect five guanqian money for settling expenses!"

"Yes, even if there is no work over there, if you go to farm, there will be no gentry and you will not be afraid of being robbed of the land opened up."

"Go together, go together!"

Many people chatted enthusiastically and clamored to go with them.

Indeed, quite a few tenant farmers left behind their burdens and dragged their families away.

After all, even if they get a harvest, those gentry will always find a way to make them owed.

Then what are you waiting for?
He kicked his son and ran away.

Wu Laosan was also among the running crowd at this time.

Behind him, his younger brother was pulling Xinruan and his old mother in a wheelbarrow, while his skinny wife was taking care of them.

This is his entire family. It’s not like he doesn’t have any children. One child died while another was born, and three of them were not raised.

It's a fool to stay in your hometown and be exploited by the gentry after you've reached this point.

Like all runaways, they all fled with a pile of debt on their backs.

He knew the news that Chengnan was recruiting workers, but so did his landlord.

"Brother, will anyone really pick me up?"

Wu Laosan's younger brother Wu Laosi asked while pushing the cart.

"Nonsense, so many people have gone away, so why not take our family on purpose?"

"Niu Awu from the next village has already gone and joined the Shu Army. His salary is twice that of a craftsman!"

"Your brother, I have a lot of strength. If I can't go there and try to join the army directly, Yuefeng will send it directly to the family."

"At that time, I will find a way to find a wife for you. No one can stop me in this matter!"

Wu Laosan carried the heavy burden on a shoulder pole, looked left and right with a look of vigilance on his face, and said without looking back.

"Will Master Zhang send someone to intercept him on the road?"

Wu Laosan's daughter-in-law asked tremblingly.

"That dog, I let go now."

"Whoever dares to stop me can't kill him."

Wu Laosan was thinking about his shoulder pole with a murderous look on his face.

The whole family walked out of the five miles south gate in fear.

They were surrounded by people with their families, many of them were dressed in rags and looked terrified.

Obviously, he was also worried about being cut off by the gentry.

As a matter of fact, quite a few Qing Pis, who are wandering in the countryside, are already thinking about sticks to identify those relocated households who have passed by.

If anyone recognized a tenant farmer under their employer, they would not hesitate to intercept them.

There have been many conflicts these days, and even tenant farmers were outnumbered and killed.

"Wu Laosan, why are you going!"

Just when Wu Laosan's face was full of vigilance, a sultry voice instantly changed his expression.

Obviously, he was being targeted.

"Husband, what should I do!"

"Brother..."

At this time, both his brother and his wife called him with exclamations.

The terrified voice immediately made Wu Laosan angry.

Whoever it was, his family members were frightened, and they would probably be angry.

He turned his head with a murderous look on his face, and it was Ma Er, a scoundrel from the same village who came into view.

At this time, he looked at Wu Laosan with a malicious expression on his face, and more than 30 thugs followed him.

"You bastard, I don't want the harvest from the autumn harvest, I'll leave it to Mr. Zhang."

"The account has been settled, so what do you want?"

Wu Laosan scolded angrily.

"Whether the account is settled or not, you have to go back and talk to Mr. Zhang, right?"

"Empty mouth and white teeth, you said it will be settled after the account is settled?"

Ma Er's horse face was full of cruel smiles.

"I have been a tenant farmer for that surnamed Zhang for five years, so the more I farm, the more I owe money. What's the point?"

Wu Laosan knew that things could not go well, so he simply dropped the burden, carried the head-high shoulder pole directly on his shoulders, and gave his younger brother a look of protecting the female relatives.

His younger brother quickly pulled out a sickle from under the car, and protected the old mother, sister-in-law and the wheelbarrow behind him.

(End of this chapter)