Old Du's poems gave people the impression that he was worried about the country and the people. At least, that was what the people of the later generations thought. However, the real Old Du was not as good as they thought. He would rather continue to be poor and rely on his friends' help to survive than be a Hexi Commandant.
Because Hexi Commandant was too hard, too dangerous, and too annoying, it was not what Old Du was good at. Even if he had to beg for food, he would not be willing to be a Hexi Commandant. The imperial court also pitied Old Du and gave him the position of Right Guard Commandant.
The content of this position was to be responsible for guarding the armors and staff, and to manage the lock keys. It was a low-level position similar to Hexi Commandant. However, after some consideration, Old Du gladly accepted the position. It was also a very low-level position that did not fit Old Du's ambitions. Why could Old Du accept Right Guard Commandant but not Hexi Commandant? It was because Right Guard Commandant was a relatively easy job, while Hexi Commandant was a very difficult position. It was also a position that Old Du was not good at. Therefore, Old Du could only choose Right Guard Commandant instead of Hexi Commandant.
In fact, according to the perspective of the later generations, Hexi Commandant had a greater contribution to society. It was a position that did practical work and was worthy of respect. Right Guard Commandant, on the other hand, was a useless position that did nothing but eat and wait for death. This was the position of a warehouse keeper. It did not require any skills. Anyone could do it, but Hexi Commandant was not a position that anyone could do.
Of course, Ang Lee also felt that Old Du's choice was right. This guy could not be Hexi Commandant. Although Right Guard Commandant, Cao Commandant, was a useless position, at least Old Du could do it. He could use this position to support himself and get rid of the predicament of not being able to eat.
Through Old Du's bold words, "Don't be Hexi Commandant, I'll bend my back in desolation." It could be seen that at least in the Tang dynasty, the positions that really did practical work at the grassroots were not recognized by the mainstream. They did the dirtiest and most tiring work, but they were despised by the mainstream. The development of the country was stable and prosperous, and the credit must be given to the emperor and high officials. It had nothing to do with these small officials who did practical work. Once the people rebelled, it was these small officials at the grassroots who forced them. These small officials would become scapegoats.
In short, small officials like Hexi Commandant who did practical work were the most wronged. Since ancient times, they had been very disliked. Any aspiring scholar would not be willing to do these general affairs positions. Even if they could not eat, they would never do such a low-level position just to make a living.
They would either be a high and mighty official who pointed out the country, or be a useless person who relied on the help of friends to survive. They would never do mundane work just to make a living. This was very similar to the thinking of the leftover women in the later generations. They also said that they could either find a good husband who could satisfy them, or they could always remain arrogant and single. They would never casually find someone to marry for the sake of marriage. That was not the life they wanted.
From Old Du's example, it could be seen that in ancient times, these scholars were very arrogant. Their lofty dreams were to point out the country, do clerical work, or do work that only useless people could do. In short, they were all more elegant and dignified jobs. They would never do such a mundane job. Even if they were beaten to death, they would never do it.
In the civil service examinations of the later generations, on average, there were close to a hundred people competing for a position. There were even a few thousand people competing for a position. However, these were the more comfortable and popular positions. As for the more remote, difficult, and dangerous positions, there were very few people who applied. There were even many positions that no one was willing to apply for.
These people who applied were all aiming for a bright future. Did you expect them to be willing to be screws and go wherever they were needed? This was obviously impossible. In the area where the Wokou pirates were confronting each other, there was a large shortage of crew members on the law enforcement ships. However, no one was willing to sign up. No one was willing to risk their lives. What if something went wrong?
Looking at Old Du in front of him, Li An felt that this guy was not that great. He was just an ordinary person. The so-called worry about the country and the people was just his own feelings. If he really wanted him to do the mundane work of serving the people, he would not do it. He was such a hypocritical person. However, Old Du was definitely not a bad person. He should be a good person because he did not have any intention of harming others. Deep in his heart, he also wished that the people could live well.
Old Du was definitely a good person, there was no doubt about that. However, Old Du was not so good that he would sacrifice himself for the common people. He only sympathized with the common people who lived in poverty and had the compassion that a person with a conscience should have. He definitely would not be willing to donate his money to the poor who did not have food to eat. Even if he was asked to be a small official who directly served the common people, he would definitely not do it. He felt that it was an insult to himself. He would rather be a warehouse manager than start from the lowest level of a small official who did practical work.
After becoming the Right Guard Commander, Old Du went home. In the end, just as he reached the door, he heard the sound of crying. It turned out that his youngest son had starved to death. His family was crying bitterly.
Perhaps Old Du was too confident in his own talent. He felt that a great talent like himself should be a high-ranking official. Only by becoming a high-ranking official could he truly serve the country and the people. Being a low-ranking official would only delay his time.
During the An Lushan Rebellion, Old Du was still a storekeeper. Because his official position was too small, when he was captured by the rebel army, the rebel army saw that he was just a storekeeper and couldn't be bothered to put him in the prison. The prison was probably already overcrowded. It couldn't even hold all the high-ranking officials. A low-ranking official like Old Du would only take up space. This was also where he was lucky.
After all, Old Du was a talented person. And talented people could only be brought out in times of chaos. Old Du escaped from the rebel army's control area and ran to Su Zong's place. He continuously offered advice and won Su Zong's appreciation. This was a low-ranking official of the eighth rank. Although it wasn't much different from the storekeeper position, it was a low-ranking advisory position. Although it wasn't much different from the previous storekeeper position, an advisory type official could give opinions on the policies of the imperial court. Although the position wasn't high, it was considered a small position with some influence.
Being a Zuo Shiyi meant that Old Du could often interact with high-ranking advisory physicians and help them deal with various matters. This way, he could be considered to be in contact with the higher-ranking officials. Although this position was small, it was definitely a real position and not a useless one. Although the rank didn't increase much, Old Du should still be satisfied with this job. Old Du was full of wisdom. Being able to be an advisory type official meant that he could spread his views on the current situation and governance through the advisory physicians. If the imperial court accepted this, Old Du would have the opportunity to have a meteoric rise.
Of course, in the end, Old Du didn't have the opportunity to have a meteoric rise. Although he was capable, it was a pity that he was too weak in politics. His good friend, Fang Guan, was an empty talker. After being valued by Su Zong and entrusted with the heavy responsibility of quelling the rebellion, he didn't achieve any good results. Instead, he caused an unprecedented failure. He was simply a piece of trash. Later, because of forming cliques, he was demoted to the Governor of Fen Province and was removed from his position by Su Zong. This was very reasonable. Shouldn't he be punished after losing a battle? Shouldn't he be demoted for forming cliques? However, Old Du was a person with feelings. He actually didn't know the immensity of heaven and earth and actually went to plead and defend Fang Guan in front of the Emperor. Moreover, he went to defend Fang Guan many times. This completely angered Su Zong and he was demoted.
Old Du was really bold. He was only a Rank Eight Upper Zuo Shiyi. His position in the imperial court wasn't high and could be said to be dispensable. Such a small character actually went to bother the Emperor many times for his good friend. He really thought too highly of himself. Moreover, the Emperor didn't demote Fang Guan for no reason. It was because Fang Guan was too disappointing. He was a scumbag who loved to talk big. Old Du completely considered the problem from the perspective of personal feelings. As a result, he was also disliked by the Emperor and was demoted to leave the imperial court.
Although Old Du's action of risking his life for his friend was more righteous, he didn't think about what kind of person his friend was and whether it was worth it for him to do so. To bother the Emperor so many times for a scumbag friend was not worth it. Perhaps in his eyes, regardless of whether his friend was a good person or not, he had to risk his life for his friend. This was really not worth it. If he thought too highly of himself and didn't take the Emperor seriously, he would naturally be demoted. Even if Ang Lee was the Emperor at that time, he would also demote Old Du. At least, he would first teach him a lesson and then use him according to the situation. As an Emperor, he definitely couldn't be led by the nose by others.
The Old Du in front of him still didn't like to smile and always liked to have a cold face. It was not that he was not hospitable, but it was really because this guy was born like this. Even if he smiled, he didn't look good.
Speaking of his career, Old Du was generally quite satisfied. Although the position of chief editor of the Tang dynasty newspaper was not high, the work he did was what he was best at. His writing was very good, so nothing was more comfortable than being a chief editor. As for worrying about the country and the people, the Tang dynasty was now in a golden age. The An Lushan Rebellion had long been resolved by Ang Lee. Even if Old Du wanted to worry about the country and the people, he probably didn't have much of a chance.
The current situation was that the ordinary people in the capital found it difficult to afford a house. The pressure of renting a house was also very great. As the chief editor, Old Du could express his views and put forward his opinions through the Tang dynasty newspaper. It was no different from being a zuo shiyi. Overall, it felt similar.
"It's only been a few years, but the food in the people's homes can't be finished. In the past, I always heard that people starved to death, but now I hear that people are stuffed to death. The spirit of the people is also much better! The land of Guanzhong can grow food twice a year. It's amazing! I'm afraid that no one will go hungry in the future. "
Old Du suddenly sighed and said.
Ang Lee said with a smile, "At least not in the short term. However, with more food, the population will also increase year after year. And with more people, the demand for food will be higher. If the population of the Tang dynasty suddenly increases by ten times, there won't be enough food."
Old Du said with a smile, "I'm afraid that the population will increase by ten times in a hundred years. I'm afraid we won't be able to see such a situation!"
Therefore, it was impossible for the population to increase 32 times in a hundred years, because if it doubled at this speed, the whole planet would be crowded. Even if it doubled by ten times in a hundred years, it was impossible. Since ancient times, there had never been such a rapid population growth. In the later generations, when there was no need to worry about food and clothing, it would take 40 or 50 years for the population to double. It would be good if it could double by four or five times in a hundred years. There were too many realistic conditions that would limit the rapid population growth. No matter what era it was, the rapid population growth would lead to many unpredictable things and even social unrest. Therefore, it was better for the population growth to be a little slower, or it could be said that the stability of the population was the most important. Only the stability of the population or the slow planned growth of the population was the most beneficial.
"Old Du is right. Even if the population increases by ten times, there is nothing to be afraid of. There are still a lot of uncultivated land in the Tang dynasty. If high-yield crops are planted there, the population can be raised by ten times! Haha! "
Ang Lee said with a smile.
In ancient times, the death rate of children was very high. Any illness could take away a child's life. It was not easy to successfully live to adulthood. The growth rate of the population would naturally be affected, or even not increase at all. If there were droughts, floods, poor harvests, or wars, the population would decline on a large scale, and there might even be a tragic situation where less than one in ten people would survive. In many troubled times, there would be a large-scale decrease in population. When a new dynasty was established, the population might only be a small part of the previous one. For example, the population at the end of the Sui Dynasty was 50 million, and by the beginning of the Tang Dynasty, there was only 15 million left. Although there were many cases of concealment and omission, the fact of a large-scale decrease in population could not be wrong. After experiencing war, it was normal for the population to decrease by more than half. Almost every time there was a change of dynasty, the population would decrease by about half. Although there were many cases of concealment and omission, the fact of a large-scale decrease in population could not be wrong. After experiencing the chaos of war, it was normal for the population to decrease by more than half. Almost every time there was a change of dynasty, the population would decrease by about half.
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