Hanhai Metropolitan Protectorate, Jingzhou.

This place is called Jingzhou, two hundred and thirty miles north of Datong Mansion, it is the southernmost state city of Hanhai Metropolitan Protectorate, and it is also a new city built by the imperial court.

At this time, outside the city of Jingzhou, Lao Li took his second son Li Fugui and his third son Li Xile to drive a carriage along the official road that had just opened up the foundation and came to the Shili Pavilion outside the city.

In the carriage, Lao Li said dissatisfiedly: "How good is it for our grandfather to stay in Huashan East Village, there is land and a house, and there is grain storage at home, what kind of fairy life is there, who in the village does not envy our family?" Why do you have to come to this grassland outside the border to make a living now!! ”

Although Lao Li was full of reluctance, the second son Li Fugui said excitedly: "Dad! Now this is the Hanhai Capital of the Dynasty, and the reclamation of this place is the call of the imperial court, let's follow the call of the imperial court, can there still be a mistake? ? ”

The third son, Li Xile, also said: "Yes, the imperial court has so many preferential policies, according to the preferential policies of the imperial court, plus the preferential policies given by the Hanhai Metropolitan Protectorate alone, our grandfather can get 400 acres of land, whether it is planting crops, vegetables or grazing, the imperial court has relevant detailed support, and also distributes houses and courtyards for free, and distributes various subsidies and materials, this is a great opportunity for our family to climb to the sky and make a fortune!" ”

"That's it, Dad, we are out rich and poor, as long as we stand in Jingzhou City, then our Li family will have a family business, and there is a hometown in Jinan Mansion, Shandong, this south and north are all family businesses, think about it and be happy!"

Lao Li is not eloquent, and at this time, he has been speechless by the two sons, and there is a trace of longing in his heart: maybe this time he can really fight for the next family business!

"Alas!"

But Lao Li then said: "No matter how good this Jingzhou is, it is also the grassland outside the Guan......"

Then Lao Li pointed to the city that was still being built in the distance and said: "You see, even the city has not been built yet, even if there are thousands of family fortunes, this is also a place outside the gate!" ”

"What's inside and outside?"

The second son Li Fugui said: "Dad, you don't want to think about it, didn't Beijing City expand when it became an ancestor?" Nowadays, Beijing is the largest city in the world! It's the same with this Jingzhou, don't look at it yet, it hasn't been built yet, but with the support of the dynasty and a large number of people like us, Jingzhou will prosper sooner or later. ”

The third son, Li Xile, said: "Yes, at that time, our Li family will no longer be a village villager, but a city family, and it can be regarded as our grandfather and wife fighting for future generations!" ”

Lao Li saw his two sons say this, and finally made up his mind, and said: "It's okay, it's here anyway, let's hug each other and go all the way to the dark!" ”

"Haha."

Then the old Li Ye took a carriage and took his belongings to enter the city from the south gate of Jingzhou, which was under construction.

I saw that Jingzhou City was full of construction sites at this time, a large number of craftsmen and people were busy, and teams of merchants transported all kinds of materials, which not only enriched the goods in the city, but also brought sufficient materials and materials to various construction sites.

It can be expected that Jingzhou City will definitely rise from the ground at a very fast speed, and it will definitely become a prosperous city outside the Guanxi in the near future.

"I really can't imagine that there are so many things and so many people in this Jingzhou City."

Li Fugui sat in the carriage and looked around, talking excitedly.

Li Xile said with a smile: "When we passed through Datong Mansion City, didn't we already hear about it? The elder received a large amount of money and grain compensation from North Korea, and the imperial court was able to free up a large amount of money and grain, and the investment in the Hanhai Protectorate was also more, so there was such a grand occasion!! ”

"North Korea?"

For Lao Li's father and son, the affairs of the Korean Kingdom are too far away, even comparable to flying immortals outside the sky, and the current things are the most practical.

"Where is the mansion that the imperial court gave to our family?"

The second son, Li Fugui, took out a cardboard fold in the style of an official document, opened it, looked at it, and said, "It's at No. 6, Second Street, North Third District." ”

"North 3rd? Second Street? ”

The division of Jingzhou City is very peculiar, at least in the city within the Daming Pass, what district, what first street and so on.

So Lao Li and his son stopped the carriage and began to ask the pedestrians who came and went for directions, and the three of them were busy for a while before they asked the general direction, and then they drove the carriage to the north of the city, until the afternoon, they found a house.

Lao Li and his two sons got out of the carriage, only to see that the courtyard in front of them was very large, although the courtyard door was locked, but looking at the length of the courtyard wall, the size of the courtyard could also be inferred.

"Dad, this yard is much bigger than the yard of our hometown in Huashan East Village!"

The third son, Li Xile, said: "It's not just a lot, I think it's at least twice as big!" ”

Lao Li also nodded heavily, and was about to say something, when he saw a man in a soap suit striding over, and said with a smile: "The three of you are the people who migrated?" Is there an official letter from the place of departure? ”

Lao Li immediately reacted, this person must be a Xu official in this Jingzhou City, and his own grandfather can't afford to mess with him, so he hurriedly nodded and said: "Exactly, my father and son moved from Huashan Village, Jinan Prefecture, Shandong, this is an official letter." ”

Lao Li handed the official letter to the official with both hands, and saw that the official took it and checked it, and then said with a smile: "Hehe, it turned out to be Shandong, and it is a prosperous place for the elder of the pavilion, which is much more prosperous than here." The three of them can migrate over, it is the corresponding call of the imperial court, I really admire it! ”

Lao Li, father and son, hurriedly returned the salute.

Then, the official said: "I am the steward of the second street of the third district in the north, and the three of them can find me if they have anything to do in the future, whether it is a business or a private matter, just call me Lao Chen, and we will be a family in the future." ”

As he spoke, Lao Chen took out a large set of keys, then looked for them carefully, took out a few keys from them and handed them to Lao Li, and said: "This house is the house assigned to you by the imperial court: four main rooms, three left and right wing rooms, two inverted seat rooms, and two gatehouses, and it will be your home in Jingzhou City in the future." ”

Lao Li took the key excitedly, although Jingzhou is not as prosperous as Jinan Fucheng, but Lao Li's father and son did not live in Jinan Fucheng, to put it bluntly, they lived in the village.

But now that the imperial court has divided a mansion with fourteen large and small houses in the city, Lao Li is of course excited, this is the family foundation that the father and son have not been able to accumulate for many years, and this is not counting the four hundred acres of land outside Jingzhou City!

Sure enough, then Lao Chen said: "Today, Lao Li, your father and son will clean up first, and take a good rest, after all, coming from Jinan Mansion in Shandong, this or two thousand miles away is really hard enough." Early the day after tomorrow, you wait for me at home, and when the time comes, I will call a few neighboring families, and we will go out of the city to see the land together. ”

"Good!"

After listening to Lao Chen's words, Lao Li and his two sons completely put their hearts at ease, with a house and land, the father and son can live, and they can live well, and their hearts are naturally extremely down-to-earth.

It's just that Li Xile said with some concern: "It's just that these four hundred acres of land, how can we take care of it?" ”

Lao Chen laughed and said; "After the land deed is processed, you can go to the fourth street of Nancheng to have a look, there is a market there, there are Manchu Han military banner slaves sold by the imperial court, and there are also Hu people from various parts of the grassland who come to beg for a living, and if you strengthen it, it is very favorable, and the imperial court will also give a certain subsidy. When the time comes, you can hire some Hu helpers, or buy some Han army banner slaves. ”

Lao Li immediately waved his hand when he heard this, in Lao Li's understanding, whether it is a slave of the Han Army Banner or a Hu helper, they are all unruly and ruthless, how can they help their family take care of the land in peace? Li Fugui and Li Xile also hesitated.

Lao Chen immediately laughed when he saw this, and said: "Don't think about it, those Han army banner slaves have all been cut off by the official army, and their thumbs have been cut off by the official army. And as slaves, they all have a time limit, as long as they work hard, they will be able to regain their freedom one day, so as long as you don't abuse those Han Army Banner slaves, they will not make trouble. ”

"As for those Hu people, they won't make trouble, and they are more obedient than Han helpers."

Lao Li asked in surprise, "Why is this?" ”

"Why? Identity! ”

Lao Chen explained: "The imperial court has a rule: all the ministries of the grassland must be divided according to the state and county boundaries demarcated by the imperial court, and the subordinates of each ministry must learn Chinese, learn to write Chinese characters, learn Han etiquette, and learn a craft, in the Han family's home, or in the Han workshop for at least three years, obtain the employer's signature and approval, and pass the verification and approval of the imperial court, you can obtain Han status and enjoy the treatment of the Ming people." ”

"That is to say, those Hu people can only have a better life if they work hard and take the initiative to integrate into my Daming, otherwise they will have no way out on the grassland!"

Speaking of this, Lao Chen said with a smile: "So, do you say that those Han Army Banner slaves and Hu people gang unions are making trouble?" They won't, and they will even be very docile! ”

At this time, Lao Li and his two sons suddenly realized, and they all came to their senses, and immediately decided to wait for the land to be in hand, they would go to Nancheng to have a look, and with their own savings, they could really hire a few helpers to come back.

"What about ploughing cattle and other things? The imperial court will also distribute it, right? ”

Li Xile took advantage of Lao Chen's happiness and asked again.

Lao Chen said: "This is natural, it seems that your father and son want to open up the wasteland and farm the land?" ”

Lao Li's father and son nodded one after another.

Lao Chen said: "Then after you get the title deed, you will go to the land of the government in the city to report, and then there will be people from the government to distribute all the materials to your family in accordance with the regulations of the imperial court, including cattle, seeds, rations, etc." Then your family's land will be included in the government's water conservancy plan, and you won't have to worry about land irrigation. ”

"And such good things!"

At this time, Lao Li's father and son were all relieved, which was almost equivalent to the imperial court throwing money at the people who migrated to the Hanhai Metropolitan Protectorate!

Lao Chen said: "Of course! It's just that you must also know that the imperial court treats the people so well, and it also bears a huge amount of money and grain expenditures, so the preferential treatment of tax exemption for five years for newly reclaimed land stipulated in the new policy is gone, and you will officially open up the land next year, and you will have to pay taxes as usual the year after tomorrow. ”

Lao Li's father and son nodded one after another, this is also reasonable, you can't let yourself encounter any good things, right? The court has invested so much money and food, and it must return to its original capital, otherwise the court will collapse, and won't the people of the world still suffer?

On the same day, Lao Li's father and son sent Lao Chen away and cleaned the new house, full of enthusiasm. In the evening, the father and son went to the street to buy some food, and also made a pound of soju, and drank it in the new home, and for a while laughter and laughter floated out of the house, full of joy and hope.

(End of chapter)