The scenery along the way didn’t change much, but for some reason, Fang Jie always felt that he had discovered something different in his senses after he left Hadong Province and entered the scope of Gyeonggi Province. Chang'an, the imperial capital, was the heart of the Sui Dynasty, and Gyeonggi Province was the rib that protected the heart.
In the twenty-four provinces of the Sui Dynasty, the governors of all provinces except Gyeonggi Province were second-rank officials. But the governor of Gyeonggi Province is a member of the first rank.
Perhaps in the perception of ordinary people, a first-rank official is nothing more than a very big official. But you must know that this very big official represents the trust of His Majesty the Emperor. Since the establishment of the country in the Sui Dynasty, the successive governors of Gyeonggi Province have all been people who the emperor highly valued and trusted. Gyeonggi-do defends the imperial capital, how could the emperor hand over this large area to someone he doesn't trust
Just like, when fighting in battle, how dare the soldiers put their backs in front of the enemy
Gyeonggi Province is a relatively small one among the twenty-four divisions of the Sui Dynasty. Even so, Gyeonggi Province's territory is still larger than that of Eastern Chu.
When Fang Jie and his party entered Gyeonggi-do, the weather was already so warm that people began to fall in love with the afternoon sun. Whenever they passed by a village and saw those old people sitting peacefully on the pile of firewood basking in the sun and chatting, Fang Jie would have a feeling of envy and admiration. The feeling of nostalgia for the previous life. Old people are always a little tired and lazy, and they prefer to enjoy the warmth under the sun for a long time than young people.
The content of their chats may not involve any major national affairs, but often more about their memories of their youth.
When Fang Jie looked at those old people, he couldn't help but think, among these old-looking villagers, maybe some of them were veterans who survived countless battles in the battlefield, and maybe some of them were once wealthy. Although their old age was not rich, it was very peaceful.
The social system of the Sui Dynasty has been gradually improved after a hundred years, and there are certain written regulations for the care of the elderly. For example, the elderly over the age of 50 can receive a monthly subsidy of 10 copper coins from the village, and the elderly of 60 years old can receive 15 copper coins, and they will also have cotton clothes and quilts every winter. If they can live to be seventy years old, not only can they get more subsidies and care, even the county magistrate will avoid the elderly who are over seventy years old when they travel.
Especially in this generation of emperors, the concern for the elderly makes people feel warmer. Therefore, God Bless Emperor Yang Yi was also called by the people the most respectful and filial emperor in the past hundred years of the Sui Dynasty.
Although there is a story that is not known to be true or false, it is very popular among the people. It is said that when the emperor was still the fourth prince, he once toured the south as an imperial envoy. When the guard of honor passed a stone bridge, an old man on crutches sat in the middle of the bridge to rest, perhaps because he was tired from walking. I don’t know if it was because the afternoon sun was too warm. The old man leaned against the bridge after sitting for a while. fell asleep.
The fourth prince Yang Yi stopped his men from waking up the old man and drove him away. He went over and took off his cloak to cover the old man. Fearing that the old man would catch a cold, he deliberately asked someone to remove the cotton pad in his carriage and put it under the old man, and gently helped the old man lie down on the cotton pad. Then he sat down beside the old man and took a cattail fan to repel mosquitoes for the old man.
At that time, the accompanying officials and attendants were all moved. After sitting like this for half an hour, the old man woke up. The fourth prince Yang Yi asked him how old he was, and the old man replied seventy-two years old. Yang Yi immediately sealed a big red envelope and handed it to the old man, saying that it was the imperial court's filial piety to the elderly over 70 years old.
He used the word filial piety, not gift.
After the old man woke up, Yang Yi helped the old man across the bridge, and then the team set off. Just when people thought this episode was over, Yang Yi did another thing that people had to admire. He ordered people to find out where the old man lived, and then arrested a large group of the old man's son, daughter-in-law, grandson and grandson-in-law, and severely scolded them in front of the whole village.
Letting an old man in his seventies go out alone without anyone to accompany him is unfilial, especially... the old man is planning to walk more than ten miles to the town to buy the sweet-scented osmanthus cake he wants to eat. It is even more intolerable that no one offered to help the elderly to buy.
After the whip was whipped, the old man's son and grandson accepted the punishment with tears.
This incident has been eulogized by the people, and of course it soon reached the ears of His Majesty the Sui Emperor at that time. His Majesty the Emperor was silent for a long time after he knew about it, and then dismissed the idea of making the third prince the crown prince after a while.
It was later said that the old man lived to be in his nineties and died without illness.
Before he died, the old man took his nearly 80-year-old son by the hand and said that he had wronged you and made you unable to raise your head in the village for half your life. But it's worth it for our family to live a lifetime of worry-free life after being whipped. Isn’t there still such a heavy sum of money? Now that I’m going to die, I can take out this money and go to the city to buy a house. Let the children go to the city. I can’t let them follow you to the village again. The people here are a laughing stock.
Of course, no one else knew this.
Fang Jie heard this story before entering Gyeonggi-do, and he just smiled and said a word in a low voice. Although Dagou, Mu Xiaoyao and Mr. Zhuo all heard it, no one understood the meaning of this word. Mr. Zhuo thought about it quietly, only to realize that this seemingly foolish young man's mind is surprisingly clear.
The word Fang explained was: "Xiu."
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In the seven counties of Gyeonggi-do, Fang Jie and the others entered Gyeonggi-do from Hadong and took Xiping County. After passing through Xiping County in a straight line, it was Beidi County. After passing Sanshui, Sanyang, and Sanyuan, it was Chang'an City, the imperial capital of the Sui Dynasty. .
I have to say that the law and order after entering Gyeonggi-do is amazing. When Fang Jie and his party walked along Hexi Road and Hedong Road, they occasionally encountered robbers a few times through the mountains. After entering Xiping County, Fang Xie suddenly realized what the difference he had always felt was. In every city and even every village, not to mention strong men and gangsters, even the beggar Huazi didn't see a single one.
After walking hundreds of miles in Xiping County, I didn't see a single beggar. Even in Fang Jie's previous life, this is a grand event that is difficult to achieve. It can be seen that the officials of Gyeonggi Province who are closest to the imperial capital really dare not do nothing.
"The prosperity of the Sui Dynasty is rare in the world."
When he was looking for an inn to stay in Lulai County, Fang Jie couldn't help but let out a sigh of emotion.
After hearing this, Mr. Zhuo just smiled and said that it was because the officials in Gyeonggi Province knew a truth and did not dare to slack off.
Fang Jie asked why, Mr. Zhuo smiled and said that since the founding of the Sui Dynasty, the officials of Gyeonggi Province were the most killed by successive emperors. Because it is too close to the imperial capital, and the officials don't trust each other very well, so if anyone makes a mistake, the memorial to impeach him may be placed on the emperor's case in a short time.
What the officials have to beware of is not only the so-called troublemakers who dare to enter the capital to sue, but also their colleagues around them. No one knew if it was his good friend who was drinking and drinking tea with him before, but the next day he wrote a memorial to the court about his faults.
"Officials don't protect each other, and don't even trust each other..."
Fang Jie murmured and then sighed, "I don't know whether such an officialdom is a blessing or a misfortune for Da Sui."
Mr. Zhuo became interested when he heard this sentence. After sitting down, he asked, "What is happiness? What is misfortune?"
Fang Jie sat down on the bed, lay down with his head on his arms and said, "Fortunately, because the officials don't protect each other, the common people will naturally benefit a lot. Because of this, His Majesty the Emperor doesn't have to worry about officials forming cliques for personal gain." Courtiers, if local officials do not collude with each other, the Sui Dynasty will be stable. Your Majesty may be happy to see such a situation, and may even be moved by it. Anyway, I have never seen it before, officials We are wary of each other to this point."
"As for the misfortune... I mean, in case, in case of any dangerous situation in the Sui Dynasty, the officials and generals will not trust each other at all. This is a huge hidden danger. If there is such a crisis, the biggest problem that Tai Sui will face will come from inside instead."
Hearing this sentence, Mr. Zhuo just smiled and asked: "Then, in your opinion, which country's soldiers can step into the territory of the Great Sui? Meng Yuan? Or the weak Eastern Chu? Nan Yan?"
In the tone of this sentence, the arrogance and self-confidence of being a Sui people are vividly displayed.
Fang Jie thought about it carefully, then shook his head: "I really can't think of any other country in this world whose soldiers can run amok in the territory of the Great Sui."
"but… "
He paused and said, "If it wasn't for the wise emperor through the ages, I'm afraid I wouldn't dare to let the courtiers below be so trembling and intrigue. Otherwise, wouldn't the emperor be so tired that he would vomit blood?"
"Disrespectful."
Mr. Zhuo understood Fang Xie with a glance and said.
"Respect and disrespect are not on the surface, but in the heart."
Fang Jie said seriously.
Mr. Zhuo glanced at Fang Jie and suddenly sighed: "I don't see much respect for His Majesty the Sui Emperor from your heart."
Fang Jie was stunned, and then said angrily, "You're cheating!"
Mr. Zhuo smiled, pondered for a while and said: "Since you also said that unless you are a wise king through the ages, you are unable to control such a court situation, then I can tell you seriously. Since your majesty can single-handedly turn the court situation into this, naturally you can also Turning the court into a different situation with one hand. When His Majesty wants the officials to be disunited, none of them dare to unite. When His Majesty wants the officials to be united, who dares not to be united?"
Fang Jie was taken aback for a moment, and then said sincerely, "It's domineering."
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Mr. Zhuo looked at Fang Jie and asked seriously: "Why do I always feel that you are full of doubts and uncertainties about everything, even a sense of crisis? I have never seen this kind of thinking in any young man, even I am afraid that the old man who is dying is not as clear as you in certain things, you live in worry every day like this, aren't you tired?"
Fang Jie thought for a while and replied, "Maybe it's a habit."
Mr. Zhuo said: "Then I'm more curious, what kind of experience made you develop such a habit?"
Fang Jie smiled and said, "Can't you watch it yourself?"
Mr. Zhuo rolled his eyes at him and said, "Do you think that reading minds is omnipotent? As I said before, reading minds is meaningless to those who have a firm mind or a strong defense. I can't see the deepest part of your heart. That's why I'm wondering how can you have such a deep city at your age?"
Fang Jie said solemnly: "Is this considered talent?"
Seeing that he didn't want to say more, Mr. Zhuo couldn't continue to ask. He was silent for a while and said: "Actually... What I'm more curious about is that although you have been saying that you are not sure about being admitted to the Yanwu Academy, no matter in your tone or heart, you don't seem to have much to enter the Yanwu Academy Worries. What kind of skills are you hiding?"
Fang Jie asked, "Sir, do you really want to know?"
Mr. Zhuo nodded.
Fang Jie looked around to see if there was no one around, leaned close to Mr. Zhuo's ear and said in a very soft voice: "I won't tell you..."
Seeing Mr. Zhuo's deflated expression is really cute, Fang Jie smiled and said: "Actually, I'm not sure whether I can enter the martial arts academy, but I seem to be a little sure that I can sneak into the officialdom of the Sui Dynasty. Maybe... I am more suitable to be a civil servant ?Because the methods I can think of up to now, although they sound ridiculous and naive, are novel and practical after all. Maybe they can really impress the masters and scholars in the Sui court, and even His Majesty the Emperor will look at me with admiration. .”
Mr. Zhuo thought for a while and said, "Perhaps you will only find out after you become a civil servant... It turns out that the smell of blood between literati is much stronger than that between generals."