From a son-in-law to a favorite of the empress

Chapter 479

"Why don't you go to Luoyang?"

Li Yu'an was very curious.

Zhou Yuan said: "Because it is not necessary. To understand the living standards of a region, don't go to the economically developed urban areas, but go to see what kind of life the most ordinary people there live."

Li Yu'an thought for a while, then nodded and said: "You are right, they live well, there is meat on the table."

What can change in more than four months? Enough food can be collected, houses can be repaired, and there can be a plate of meat on the table.

This amazing change happened in the Central Plains, a place with millions of refugees and everyone displaced.

This was once the poorest, most backward and most miserable place in Dajin.

This is now one of the best places in Dajin, and even ordinary people have food to eat.

Deng Su did a good job.

Zhang Bailong did a good job.

Although Zhang Bailong rebelled, he divided the land and organized the people to farm, and did not delay the spring plowing.

The war was lost, but after Deng Su took over, he actually arranged for local constables to help with the autumn harvest without asking for money.

This not only eased the relationship between the government and the people, but also saved food.

The people on this land, as long as they are given a little living space, they can live a good life.

Unfortunately, most dynasties did not even leave such a little space.

It seems that the rise and fall of the ages is not determined by the dynasty, but by the people.

If the people prosper, the world prospers, and if the people perish, the world perishes.

Zhou Yuan went north all the way to Datong Prefecture, and the villages he saw were gradually recovering.

This piece of land is radiating a vitality that does not belong to this era!

The Single Whip Law and the Land Tax are truly great reforms that will last for thousands of years.

Bringing Deng Su to the Central Plains is really right.

"Sister Virgin, the path we chose at the beginning was correct."

Zhou Yuan sighed sincerely: "This decadent land must use the "One Whip Law" and the "Taipei" system to stabilize the economy, stabilize taxes, and lay the foundation for the world."

"This is just the first step."

"The second step is easier to go. The economic foundation will further promote the budding of capitalism, promote the prosperity of commerce, and promote domestic demand."

"And the huge domestic demand will promote the development of handicrafts and promote technological revolution."

"And the technological revolution will greatly change the face of the world, change humanities, and then change culture and thought."

"The rebirth of this land from the ashes may really not need to suffer a hundred years of suffering and unimaginable pain."

"It can achieve self-salvation and self-transformation in the mighty tide of history."

Li Yu'an looked into Zhou Yuan's eyes and shook her head, saying, "I don't understand."

She quickly added, "But I can feel your emotions. You are talking about a great thing. Your goal seems to be more than just world peace."

Zhou Yuan smiled and didn't continue.

Too early, everything is too early.

The road ahead is still very long, perhaps it will take decades, or perhaps one or two hundred years, each generation will do its own thing, Zhou Yuan's ambition is not that huge.

He just subconsciously pinched Li Yu'an's delicate cheek and whispered: "I hope we can witness a miracle, a miracle of civilization."

Li Yu'an slapped his hand away, covered her mouth and laughed: "I see you seem to want to discuss the miracle of life with me now, but I think it's better to put off the matter of having children for a while."

Zhou Yuan was stunned for a moment, then laughed out loud.

He swore that he was just excited this time, not deliberately taking advantage.

He smiled and lay down, resting his head on Li Yu'an's plump thighs, and smiled: "I'll sleep for a while, call me when you get off the bus."

Looking down at his face so close, Li Yu'an kissed him gently, catching Zhou Yuan off guard.

Then she whispered, "Great hero, don't forget Gaoli."

"Hmm..."

Zhou Yuan rubbed her soft belly and fell asleep.

...

After several days of traveling, Zhou Yuan and his companions finally arrived at Datong Town.

After a long period of preparation, one hundred carriages were ready to go, and the escort team of more than three hundred people was also ready, just waiting for Zhou Yuan's order.

Dozens of large tables were set up in the square of the huge manor, and more than three hundred people gathered together to have a banquet.

Zhou Yuan raised his wine glass, looked at everyone present, and said loudly: "Everyone, this trip north is cold and there is a risk of death at any time."

"You are willing to follow me, and I, Zhou Yuan, will remember this trust in my heart."

"At the same time, I, Zhou Yuan, also promise you that you will only encounter natural disasters on this trip, not man-made disasters."

"One hundred taels of silver per person, 40 taels first, and then 60 taels after the goods are delivered."

"If anyone is unfortunate and falls on the way, I will give 300 taels of pension to your fatherWife and children."

"But I hope that all of us can come back alive!"

"Drink this bowl of wine! Rest for a night! Tomorrow morning! We will be on the road!"

All the people present were young and strong, and their physical fitness was good, otherwise they would not dare to take this risk.

The key is, one hundred taels, in this chaotic year, one hundred taels of silver can support a family for many years.

The timid will starve to death, and the brave will die of gluttony. Let's fight.

Everyone also drank the wine in the bowl and started eating.

Zhang Fei came to Zhou Yuan and whispered: "Sir, according to your instructions, everything is ready, including 107 carts of supplies, 11 carts of food and water for our round trip, a total of 118 carts."

"The established route has been strictly analyzed by the shopkeeper of the Shanxi merchant. They have walked this road seven or eight times, and it is guaranteed to be no problem. The supplies along the way are also sufficient. "

Zhou Yuan nodded and said, "Since everything is ready, we don't have to worry about it, just go there directly."

Zhang Fei said, "The shopkeeper of the Shanxi merchant is worried about the war."

Zhou Yuan smiled and said, "Nurhaci used the whole country's strength to attack Jizhou. The Mongolian tribes are eyeing the three sides and have no time to deal with us."

"As long as we go directly along the previous trade route, there will be no problem."

Zhang Fei was relieved a lot, and then said, "Sir, the spies also sent news that Jizhou has fallen."

Zhou Yuan suddenly raised his head: "What did you say?"

"On the fourth day of November, Jizhou City was broken, Di Xianyong died for his country, Qu Shaogeng returned to defend Jinmen, and Qiu Huan retreated south to Shanhaiguan."

"On the fifth day of November, Nurhaci ordered a massacre of the city. Some of the people in Jizhou had escaped before, and the remaining about 100,000 people were all massacred."

"The anti-Japanese army of 200,000 people either died in battle or fled, leaving only more than 40,000 people. ”

“Yesterday, which was the seventh day of November, Wu Dingzhong, the governor of Shandong, and Pang Lixing, the governor of Jizhou, were ordered to urgently support and form a temporary anti-luo army of 120,000 people, and they are heading to the north of Shanhaiguan.”

Zhou Yuan was silent for a long time.

Then he said, “How many troops did Shandong and Jizhou send respectively?”

Zhang Fei said, “Shandong Leiden has 70,000 troops, and Jizhou has 50,000 troops.”

Zhou Yuan couldn’t help but sneer, “The total number of Shandong defenders is 110,000. If you take into account the empty salaries, it’s good to have 80,000 or 90,000. 70,000 were directly lost. Jizhou is even more exaggerated. The 80,000 establishment has lost 50,000.”

“The defenders of these two provinces have been emptied. If something big happens, there will be no one to suppress it.”

At this point, he couldn’t help but say, “Where is the military expenditure? ”

Zhang Fei said: "The treasury is empty. Yesterday, Prince Fu offered sacrifices to the gods and asked the noble families in Shenjing to donate military expenses. The royal family and nobles were among them. More than 60 families were named and donated a total of 1.2 million taels of silver. ”

Zhou Yuan wanted to laugh and said in disbelief: "How much? 1.2 million taels? Less than 20,000 taels per family?"

Zhang Fei smiled bitterly and said: "The whole Shenjing is wailing, and the noble families are all suffering from poverty."

Zhou Yuan said: "Which of those noble families is not worth millions? Even those who are declining have hundreds of thousands. Donating 20,000 is like asking for life... We should let the Donglu people enter the pass and chop off their heads!"

Zhang Fei said: "1.2 million taels is indeed not enough. The army is unstable during this expedition. Too many places need silver. The Ministry of Revenue has calculated that the pension cannot be less than 3 million. ”

"There is no news about how Prince Fu will deal with it later. "

Zhou Yuan was silent for a long time before he sighed: "With Jizhou gone, Nurhaci no longer has the northern constraints, and the army can directly attack Shanhaiguan with all its strength."

"Once Shanhaiguan is broken, it will be easy to enter Tianjin, and the capital will have no support."

"There are only 70,000 people left in Xuanfu, and they have to guard against Mongolia, so they can't get away at all."

"Ha, this winter is really interesting!"

Zhou Yuan shook his head and couldn't help but pick up the wine glass and drink it all.