"Many people don't understand. What law change, what fate revolution? Wasn't everything fine in the past? Everyone was living well, happy and harmonious. Now that you have a reform, a revolution, isn't it all for your ambition as the emperor? Offending the prestigious families and sects, isn't it all to make Yankang's territory bigger? Now that natural disasters and man-made disasters are happening year after year, it's all your fault, all your fault for the reform. This is a fallacy! "
In Bazhou Prefecture, Emperor Yanfeng and a bunch of civil and military officials were walking on the streets, looking at the people lining up in front of the official's porridge stall to get their food. Emperor Yanfeng walked over and came to the front of a porridge stall. The official who was distributing the porridge was about to kneel down when Emperor Yanfeng waved his hand. "The weather is cold, there aren't so many rules. How much does one person get? "
"Your Majesty, one bowl of porridge, two steamed buns, and a ladle of dried vegetables for an adult."
Emperor Yanfeng nodded and let him go down. He took the ladle and distributed the food to the victims. Behind him stood the civil and military officials of the imperial court. Emperor Yanfeng continued to speak while taking the ladle. "Those who lived well in the past were never commoners! Minister of Agriculture, tell them how many people one mu of fertile land could feed before the reform of National Division. "
Minister of Agriculture immediately said, "Before the reform, one mu of fertile land could produce a hundred and thirty catties of coarse grain annually. However, at that time, the fields were all in the hands of the influential families, monasteries, and Daoist temples. Farmers didn't have any fields. A farmer family had seven to eight people, and they farmed eighty mu of land. There were grains, fruits, vegetables, and even herbs. After toiling for a year and farming for two seasons, they didn't have any surplus grain and could barely fill their stomachs. They could only eat one or two meals of meat a month, but they would starve to death when they met with natural disasters and man-made disasters. Back then, many elders took the initiative to jump into the river or go up the mountain to avoid implicating their families. At that time, the influential families, monasteries, and Daoist temples had stored up countless grains and money. "
Emperor Yanfeng said, "Eighty mu of land is enough to feed a family of seven to eight people. Where did the grains go after a year of hard work? Tell them how many people one mu of land could feed after the reform. "
Minister of Agriculture continued, "His Majesty ordered the reform of National Division to take back all the land in the world. Influential families, monasteries, and Daoist temples weren't allowed to own land. Men and women had eighty mu of land, twenty mu of fertile land. In recent years, the population had increased by several times, and the land had also expanded by a lot. The rules had also been changed. A man was allowed to have 40 mu of land and 10 mu of good farmland. The National Division made martial arts practitioners and divine arts practitioners work in agriculture, ensuring good harvests during drought and flood. Rain during drought, and drainage during flood, there was no famine for 160 years. Now each mu produces eight hundred and twenty catties, and the land tax is two shi; farmers don't feel that eating meat is a waste of money. "
"One hundred and thirty jin, eight hundred and twenty jin."
Emperor Yanfeng pinched two steamed buns and placed them in the bowls of the starving people. He then scooped some dried vegetables and sighed ruefully. "What is buddha? This was the Buddha, the Living Buddha, the Living Buddha, the Buddha of all the people! It's not like you're a Buddha or a Daoist Master just because you're a Buddha or a Daoist Master just because you're a Daoist Master and you're a Daoist Master just because you're a Buddha or a Daoist! Minister of Agriculture, let me ask you again. Since the National Division Reform is going well and we have more food, why is there still famine when the natural disasters break out? "
The Minister of Agriculture hesitated and said, "This..."
"Speak!"
"Yes. Other than the increase in population, there's also the reason for eating meat and fighting wars. Food is needed to feed the livestock, feed the strange beasts in the army, train the soldiers, and fight wars. The most important thing is still the circulation of the farmland. Some of the farmland was bought by the influential families, sects, and temples, and they became landlords. "
Minister of Agriculture said, "The food is back in their hands. The previous rebellion of the sects was because they had money and food in their hands, which was why they were so daring. The famine this time shouldn't have been so big. Wasn't it because after the war, the national treasury was empty, and these influential families, sects, and temples weren't willing to give out food? The influence of the previous rebellion was too great … "
Emperor Yanfeng turned his head back and took a glance at the officials. "The influential families, sects, and Daoist temples were high above in the past, sitting in the sky and eating delicacies from land and sea every day. They talked about romance, paths, skills, and divine arts, talking about immortality. They had farmers to raise them, so who would be willing to lend a hand to these farmers? If the farmers weren't happy, they would directly send disaster and calamity! Is this snow disaster strange? It's not. In the past, when the sects ruled the country, this kind of snow disaster wasn't rare! However, it wasn't the gods sending disaster or the heavens sending disaster, it was the sects sending disaster and calamity to make these commoners submit and not dare to rebel! "
"When the National Division Reform made the sects work for the farmers and merchants, they weren't happy and didn't want to do it. When the National Division Reform opened primary schools, colleges, and Imperial College, imparting the abilities of these sects to the people of the world, they were even more unwilling. They wanted to rebel, they wanted to kill! Little did they know that eight generations ago, their ancestors were all farmers, and none of them were special! "
"All of you, look clearly and listen clearly. This time, I have beheaded them, and the next time you do what they did, I will also behead you! The officials I want aren't those sects that are high above, experts, buddhas, and so on. The officials I want are those that can do things down-to-earth! Scholars, farmers, merchants, and businessmen, scholars must be able to work for farmers, merchants, and businessmen! There are still some scholar-officials in the imperial court who think they are a level higher than others, damn it. — Historian, allow me to curse. — Damn it, grumbling and thinking highly of themselves every day! I can't wait to behead them! "
The civil and military officials lowered their heads, not daring to speak.
The two historians looked at each other and revealed troubled expressions. One of the older historians whispered, "Your Majesty, Son of Heaven should be careful with his words."
Emperor Yanfeng said, "I also don't curse often, so how can I curse when I'm not angry? Historian, please excuse me. "
As he said that, it was the turn of a monk who was queuing up to receive food. He carried a golden alms bowl and said with a smile, "Your Majesty said it well, but now that the natural disaster is here, how to stop the natural disaster and not let the people suffer is the right path."
Emperor Yanfeng took a look at the monk and gave him a bowl of rice, two steamed buns, and a spoonful of vegetables. "Not only did I say it well, I did it even better. Great monk, eat slowly, don't disturb the people of the secular world. "
The monk acknowledged and left with the golden alms bowl.
"Rulai!" The people behind Emperor Yanfeng were slightly shocked when they saw the monk.
After the monk left, an old Daoist came from behind. His clothes were untidy, and his hair was slightly messy. He carried a bowl and asked with a smile, "Has Your Majesty eaten?"
Emperor Yanfeng had a grim expression as he gave him food. He shook his head and said, "Not yet."
"Your Majesty should eat some, it's better for you to continue on your journey when you're full."
Emperor Yanfeng nodded and took two steamed buns and a bowl of porridge. He said to the civil and military officials, "Come and eat some too, we've encountered a problem."
The civil and military officials looked at the monk and Daoist as though they were facing a great enemy. They saw one of them carrying a golden alms bowl and the other carrying a bowl and basin as they squatted at the corner of the street. They were eating porridge, steamed buns, and dried vegetables happily.
The officials went forward and each received a portion of food before squatting at the corner of the street. Emperor Yanfeng also squatted there and ate silently.
After eating, Emperor Yanfeng went to the pressure well to wash the dishes while the officials lined up behind him. Rulai and Dao Master also went forward to wash the dishes while saying, "It's been a long time since we've eaten the food of the human world, it has a different flavor."
"I've been eating with these officials for a few months," Emperor Yanfeng said seriously.
Emperor Yanfeng said seriously, "Dao brothers should eat frequently and not let yourselves stay too high up and too far away."
"Being high and far away is to avoid the secular world."
Old Dao Master smiled and said, "You are the emperor of the human world, so what you manage are the secular people. On the other hand, those who cultivate Dao and Buddhism have to stay away from the disturbances of the mortal world. If they are disturbed, it will be hard for them to break free."
Emperor Yanfeng smiled and asked, "Dao Master, can you become a true god?"
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