"Hehe, I think it's the first time for you to come to our Anzhou, right?"

The guy smiled and said: "If you see this road now, you can say it, if the guest officer sees the big roads from Anzhou to Jiping, to Caixian, and to Pingzhou, then it will be applauded." There are more people on the other side of the www.biquge.info than here, and the road is twice as wide as this, the road surface is smooth, and it is repaired every three or five times, and there are people who manage and maintain it from time to time. Speaking of new repairs, of course, this road is newly built. Two years ago, Grandpa Yiyong said that he wanted to build a road, so it was built. As for why it should be repaired, of course, it is for the convenience of the guest officers and the convenience of the carriage and horses. Guest officer, have you ever been to the market in Cai County, tsk tsk...... The carts, cows, horses, and camels that come in and out every day are too many to count! If there were no good roads, there would be no way at all. ”

The steward interjected and asked: "How many people will be used for such a long road and such a big project?" Come to think of it, you people in Anzhou are suffering! After this project is completed, there must be many people who have fled, right?"

"Escape?"

The smile on the man's face became thicker, and his voice became a little louder: "Guest officer, you guessed wrong." The people built roads for food and good. The people are still eager to do it. But in general, most of the displaced people from the north are doing this. On the construction site, they all eat a day, save two meals for their families, and they can also use this to reduce the year's forced labor. In addition, if you don't want rice and grain, the government will exchange it for cash. It is settled on the same day of work, and you can get copper coins as soon as the sun sets. Speaking of which, in order to build roads, there are also people who fight with each other and break their heads. ”

Tian Yu was very strange: "Grain? Who gave the grain? Is there so much grain in Anzhou?"

The man said as a matter of course: "Master Yiyong! His old man is merciful, and he has a share of the grain collected from the Zhuangzi here in Anzhou." He didn't want it himself, but left the part that was supplied to the army. The rest, not only when the road is built, but also have to be supplemented by themselves. Although we are rich in rice and grain in Anzhou, the number of victims who have come from the north in recent years has increased, and the consumption of rice and grain stored in the warehouse is also large. Guest officer, have you seen the victims who had just disembarked from the boat at the Caixian wharf earlier? All of them are yellow-skinned and thin, skinny and bone-covered, and they are all hungry in the north. After getting off the boat, they were given a bowl of hot porridge per person, and they didn't dare to give them more to eat. The body must be slowly conditioned with hot water. In the north, there are people who can't survive, and how many people can't survive the winter rely on the project of building roads by their grandfather. Now, there are more and more projects arranged by the Jiedu Embassy, and the wages are also very cost-effective. When the time comes, collect money and grain together. ”

Tian Yu and the steward looked at each other, and they both saw the shock and surprise in each other's eyes.

After a pause, the steward continued, "Is this store going to lose money when it's open?"

The guy nodded and said, "No, it's not! If it weren't for the rules set by Grandpa Yiyong, the price of the Qingling jade liquid sold in this Ping'an Inn would be cheaper than other places, and I'm afraid no one would come at all. ”

When this topic was spoken, the shopkeeper behind the counter came out to interrupt and shouted, "Go and see the lantern hanging outside the door, don't blow it out when the wind is strong, you will know that there is nonsense there." ”

The guy stood up with a dry smile and ran out to do things, Tian Yu and the steward glanced at each other, knowing that this problem might be a bit taboo, so the shopkeeper picked up people, and it was not early to see the sky, and it was time to go back to the room to rest.

Tian Yu and Mr. Steward were in the room. The inn set up in this location, no matter how neat and clean it is, the furniture and furnishings will not be good there, at most it is ordinary. The two of them didn't care about this, they sat there silently and didn't speak, and they were slowly digesting the words they had just heard from the guy's mouth. Thinking of just entering the territory of Anzhou, this experience is very different from other places, and both of them feel very emotional.

After a long time, it was Tian Yu who spoke first, but there was obviously a bit of anger in his voice: "Abuse of people's power is simply abuse of people's power." It is said that it is a tax, but how much of the money and grain in Anzhou is handed over to the state? Although Yang Tianhong, the Duke of Yiyong, is a nobleman of the imperial court, he is also the envoy of the Anzhou Festival who guards one side. Like this, he used the country's taxes to give grace to the people, and he got a good reputation in vain, this Yang Tianhong's plan is not small, and his plan is not small!"

Scholars know that the Son of Heaven is the greatest, and then he is the courtier. However, the world is the emperor's world after all, and if the courtiers and nobles make trouble, they will become traitors. Tian Yu felt very indignant, and said in a low voice: "There has been a great drought in the north for many years, and hunger is everywhere. The people even eat the roots and bark of the trees, and there is indeed an abundance of rice and grain in Anzhou, and even the construction of roads is spent with white rice. The gentleman also saw it today, and the horses are fed with fine materials. Sorghum, bran, and black beans, which of them are not the food of the people? If they were placed in the north, they would have survived countless people. But in this Anzhou, even a remote inn is well stocked. Yang Tianhong must have taken it from the hands of the people and used it to get money here. This kind of method is used in secret, and it is impossible to say it on the surface. In my opinion, a good reputation is actually dirty, lowly, and filthy!"

Just as the steward was about to open his mouth, someone knocked on the door outside. When I got up and opened the door, I saw that it was the leader of the Ding guard who had gone out to hang out. After entering, the leader of the Ding guard opened his mouth and said, "Son, this inn should not be a black shop, but there are a few things that are wrong. I saw ten horses in the stable, and they didn't look like guests. In addition to this, there are at least five guys in the store who should be from the elite of the army, and they are not very old. This kind of thing has never been seen outside. Could it be that this shop is opened by soldiers in the army? But according to that guy's statement, the Ping'an Inn belongs to Yang Tianhong, Duke of Yiyong!"

These two questions make people even more curious. Before Tian Yu could discuss, Mr. Steward just waved his hand and said, "Everyone should rest early, don't sleep too deeply at night." If you have anything to say, save it for tomorrow and go out on the road. After all, this is not your own place, so you should be careful. ”

The next day, everyone got up early. The shop was very considerate and prepared breakfast, the horses were fed enough forage, and the rest for the night was also in excellent condition. When he left the store, Tian Yu specially rewarded the usual money. The shopkeeper and the guy accepted it with a smile. The guy who talked a lot even said: "A few guest officers, now, the world is our Anzhou days. Do everything to get rich. A few of you did come to the right place this time. ”

For this kind of words, Tian Yu and his party didn't have much feeling. It's just that when he went out, the steward said with emotion: "If all the inns in the world are like this, then where can't you go?

In the outside world, bandits are rampant and strongmen are in charge. If there was no family guard, Tian Yu would have been robbed by the bandits early. It was also on Anzhou's side that I really felt safe. Speaking of which, the word "peace" is also worthy of its name.

Maybe it's because the Ping An Inn near this boundary monument really makes people feel good, and Tian Yu and his party subconsciously slowed down. Speaking of which, even the Anzhou border is like this, so the more you go in the direction of Anzhou Fucheng, there must be no worse reason in it. In this case, there is no need to rush to the road. Anyway, there are safe inns along the way, and it is convenient to stay at night, so it is best to take a walk and see.

That's what travels are all about.

With such a thought in my heart, this time I walked, but it became slower and slower. If you are an ordinary businessman, you will only see the fields on both sides of the road are neat, and the villages along the road are neat, and there are not so many rules. However, the Tian family has been working hard to be an official for generations, and Tian Yu has not only studied poetry and books since he was a child, but also made deep efforts in civil affairs. Before he was promoted in the examination, he had followed the elders of his family to train in the yamen, and he had traveled to many places, and his knowledge and experience were far higher than those of his peers and even much higher than most people.

There are few such scholars in this era. But there are people who are good at all times. Tian Yu himself feels that he should be the kind of person who can change the times.

Several times, Tian Yu turned over and dismounted, got down from the official road, and walked to the fields on both sides to observe carefully, and went to the village to ask for questions. The guards also cooperated, but they just explained on the side, saying that my son-in-law was curious or something. As for the gentleman in charge, he looked at the scenery on both sides with an indifferent expression at first, and then he didn't urge Tian Yu, but would follow him to see, ask, and ask his own questions from time to time.

There are often people coming here in Anzhou. The road is unimpeded, there are many merchants coming and going, the people here are simple, begging for water to drink, and entering the farmer's house to spend money to eat, which is a very common thing, and it has not attracted attention.

Speaking of which, this ditch was dug first by our Grandpa Yiyong of Anzhou. In the past, Master Cao Tingshi also sent people to dig ditches, but the Yue people violated the border year after year, and everyone was concerned about saving their lives, who would have the spare time to dig ditches and drain water? Later, the grandfather killed countless Yue barbarians, and he scared those barbarians and drove them away, so he had the idea of tidying up the fields well. Those who want water everywhere send people to dig it themselves, but they must follow the regulations arranged by Grandpa Yiyong. First, the grain must be handed in regularly, and the Jiedu embassy must send people to come and see it regularly. If the ditch dug is not in accordance with the rules, it will be punished at that time. Speaking of which, this is a good thing, everyone is willing to hand over the food, and others will honestly help you see if there is anything wrong with the food. The crop must have water to grow well, but if there is too much water, it must be drained as soon as possible. Otherwise, the crops rot in the ground, and nothing can really be harvested. ”

"A few years ago, when the Xuanhuo Army first entered Anzhou, I saw my grandfather from afar. It's very young, and the rules are very big. At that time, everyone didn't understand why Grandpa Yiyong had to take care of such trivial things as pooping and peeing? According to the regulations issued by the Jiedu Embassy, there was a pond outside every village, and the open space in the village could not be convenient, and every thatched house had to be cleaned up on time, and the manure was sent to the pond to be soaked, and the grass and wood ash were added to fertilize the fields at that time. Speaking of which, this kind of thing is troublesome, but the fertility is not small, the crops grow well, and the village is clean. In the end, my grandfather was born in a big family, and he can't see the dirt, but he also benefits us. Think about the old days, the village was a mess, full of filth, and it couldn't compare to now. I don't know how we got here at that time, but I still don't think it's a big deal. Hehe! It's kind of funny!"

"Grandpa Yiyong is a great good man in the world, true compassion! Grandpa has exempted us from half of the tax, and I heard that the land endowment in the northern places is so high that it is staggering, and after a year of hard work, the family can't keep anything at all. Our family used to have a cousin in the north of Gongzhou, and the money had just escaped a few months, saying that the family over there could no longer live, and even the house was taken over by the government. Tut-tut, that's miserable, fortunately, our Anzhou won't be messy like there, it's really thanks to Grandpa Yiyong!"

After chatting several times along the way like this, Tian Yu was even worried that he would be deceived at first, so he deliberately asked in a few different places, but the answers he got were all the same. Tian Yu even left the official road and ran in one direction for more than half an hour, just because he was afraid that both sides of the official road would be like goods. But later, no matter which direction he went, the voice he heard was the same, and Tian Yu gradually lost interest in continuing to ask.

Anzhou is truly monolithic, and there is really no difference in people's livelihood in various places.

After finding a random place to have lunch, Tian Yu didn't investigate around like before, and he didn't have the heart to find someone to visit again. Because the further you go, the better the cronies of the people are. Soon, the sun was setting in the west, and Tina merged with the official road they had taken into a wider official road. Ask someone around, and know that this is the main road from Yaoxian to Anzhou. Tian Yu originally thought that the words that the innkeeper said yesterday were very exaggerated, and there should be a lot of water injection in them, but he didn't expect that the actual situation would be the same as what he said. Seeing the smooth and spacious road in front of him, the merchants and people coming and going on the road are very lively, and it looks like a peaceful and prosperous world.

It is said that seeing is believing, but Tian Yu's mind couldn't help but think of the ragged people in the north of Chu and even in the Central Plains. If those people can be regarded as living and working in peace and contentment, and the world is peaceful, then the people of Anzhou are simply living in the legendary paradise.

In the final analysis, the roots of Anzhou still fall on Yang Tianhong, Duke of Yiyong.

"It seems that this Duke Yiyong is really not simple. Look inside and outside this Anzhou, up and down, almost everyone is saying that he is good. There are even people who have set up an immortal tablet for him. It is said that being an official is a thousand miles just to seek wealth, and the statement that the prefect of the Qing Dynasty and 100,000 snowflakes of silver in three years is true. But there are so many differences here in Anzhou, and each one costs a lot of money. From this point of view, Duke Yiyong did not leave behind his personal benefits in these matters at all, but instead settled the people of Anzhou in an orderly manner, and produced grain and rice here, and the people had enough food and clothing. No, it's not as simple as having enough food and clothing. Even far more than the countries of the Central Plains, even if the people in the capital of Chu State make a living, they are definitely not so rich. So...... I can't see through it, doesn't Duke Yiyong need money? What is he doing so much money for?"

Tian Yu was riding on the horse, puzzled, and asked suspiciously. Beside him, the steward also stopped there frowning, his right hand slowly stroking his beard, silent in thought.

Tian Yu said to himself again: "Farming, civil, military...... According to the decree of Da Chu, Yang Tianhong is the envoy of Anzhou, and he has the right to control everyone up and down in Anzhou, as well as the people's livelihood. However, we have visited so many places and seen so many people and officials, but where is it as neat and rich as Anzhou? Didn't we say that Anzhou had been repeatedly harassed by the Yue barbarians? But now it seems that this place is like a place of a hundred battles? It is clearly a paradise. Tell me, what does the common people's civil affairs have to do with him Yang Tianhong? Speaking of which, they should all be the duties of a civil affairs official at the first level of the assassin's history. Although it is true that the imperial court and the government have been a little lazy in terms of the people over the years, why did he, Yang Tianhong, make a big move here in Anzhou? Could it be that he is just to buy people's hearts?"

When Mr. Steward heard this, he hurriedly stretched out his hand and pulled the sleeve of Tian Yu, who looked angry, and said in a low voice: "Childe, this is not the place to talk and comment. Be careful!

"Son, look ahead!" At this time, a family member suddenly reminded in a low voice.

Tian Yu and the steward couldn't help but straighten up and look ahead. There was a slight commotion and confusion in front of the road, and the reason could be seen at a glance, although the front was full of people, cars and horses, but on the heads of people and horses, you could see dozens of spears and spear tips lined up neatly, and it didn't take long to see more than eighty sturdy young people, carrying spears on their shoulders, lined up in a neat procession from the edge of the official road, when passing by, the team walked very neatly, each young man was very healthy and energetic, looking ahead.

Such neatness, such spirit, you can hardly see it anywhere else. If you want to say that in other Chu counties, the soldiers are generally yellow-faced and thin-skinned, listless. Occasionally, some of them are sturdy, but they are all arrogant and arrogant. Not to mention the local prefectures and counties, Tian Yu has been to the capital, and even the elite troops recognized in the world as the Beijing Division Patrol Battalion are all lazy. But these young people in front of him were not domineering at all, they just walked on their own. But everyone who sees them will feel that they have strong power. If you really want to fight, this team is definitely very strong.

"Son, the ones I saw in the inn last night are similar to those in front of me, they are all the same. The leader of the Ding guard approached Tian Yu and whispered.

Tian Yu's expression was awe-inspiring, he shook his head slowly, and nodded slowly, with a look of disbelief on his face. Immediately, he shook his head continuously on the horse and said: "I really didn't expect that there are such elites in the south of my Great Chu Kingdom, and I don't know whose soldiers it is?" )