Chapter 543 There is a Scale Between Heaven and Earth
Autumn, the 29th year of Jiajing.
It was all thanks to God... not the Emperor. At least in the south, the literati all said it was all thanks to God. This year the weather was good and the crops were harvested well. After the wheat harvest, all places checked themselves and saw a significant increase in income in many places.
Wherever income increased, biogas digesters were implemented without exception.
Those who didn’t build a biogas digester are now regretting it and vowing to build one this year. Those who built a biogas digester are grinning from ear to ear as they see the extra crops they harvested.
I could make new clothes for my child, secretly buy some cosmetics for my wife, and quietly give her a surprise... If there was any left, I would make myself a pot of muddy wine and a plate of fennel beans...
Isn't life satisfying at this point?
You ask why they don't pursue silks, fine cosmetics, exquisite wines, delicacies from land and sea... those old farmers will tell you that there is always a mountain to be climbed, and in the end you end up enjoying nothing, and you spend all day thinking about how to make money.
"It's not people who make money, it's money that makes people!"
An old man stood by the edge of his field, looking worriedly at the farmland after the wheat harvest.
The son muttered, "Only if I have money can I buy you good wine."
"Compared to that fine wine, your father would rather see you working from sunrise to sunset." The old man coughed dryly, "Look at Zhang Xiaoer in the village. He has made a fortune in business, right? But he goes from village to village all day long, working day and night, and he is so busy that his wife and children rarely see him at home. Is this how he lives?"
"Isn't this... about supporting the family?"
"The rich have their own way of living, and the poor have their own way of living. As long as I can have enough food and clothes, and see my family in front of me every day, I would not trade it for a god as my father."
"But if we don't build the biogas digester next year, I'm afraid the crops in the fields won't be able to grow. Without the increased grain income, life at home... I'm afraid it's going to be hard, Dad." The son squatted on the edge of the field, worried.
"Oh! They all say it's a punishment from God." The old man simply sat on the edge of the field.
"Dad, how about... let's continue!" The son said, "What kind of divine punishment is this? If it is divine punishment, why did they only punish the family in Xinli Village?"
"God has mercy on us, that's a warning!" The old man looked at his son and knew what he was thinking. "Boss, don't have those little ideas. Increasing income is important, but life is more important. Don't forget, everyone in that family was killed in the bombing."
The son was silent.
At this time, a peddler covered with various goods came from the side path. When the son saw him, he couldn't help but look envious, "Second Brother Zhang, are you back?"
The man was Zhang Xiaoer, a peddler in the village. He smiled and said, "Yes!"
"How's business?"
"not so good."
"What?"
"Today, many people went to the capital to watch the excitement, and there were fewer people in the villages."
"What's the excitement?" The old man waved. "You look tired and sweaty. Sit down and take a rest. Big brother, get a bowl of water for the waiter."
"Okay!" Zhang Xiaoer came over and took off the goods on his body. He looked exhausted. After drinking a bowl of water, he said, "Originally, the income increased this year, and those people were willing to spend money on their wives and children. My business has also improved a lot. But after the incident of the divine punishment explosion that killed people, no one is willing to spend money. Oh!"
"Tell me about what happened in the capital city, Second Brother Zhang." The man looked at him eagerly.
Zhang Xiaoer put down the bowl and said, "Do you know that uncle?"
The man nodded. "That's what he said. The biogas tank is a good thing he made. Those people said... that family violated the law of heaven! God will punish them."
"Mohist School." Zhang Xiaoer wiped the water stains from the corners of his mouth, "That master was assassinated in the city today..."
"Oh my!" The man was surprised, "Who is so bold?"
"It is said that Huang Tongzhi was whipped by that uncle and did not dare to resist at all." Zhang Xiaoer said, "Then that Ye family also came out and blocked that uncle, saying that he was a star of misfortune... Oh my goodness, many people came to watch the fun."
"I know about this matter. It is said that my parents and grandparents died." said the old man.
"Uncle San, some people say that every year, how many women die of complications during childbirth? Are they all killed by evil spirits?" Zhang Xiaoer, after all, has a lot of experience. "Besides, that uncle's father and grandfather died of old age, so how can they be considered killed by evil spirits?"
"Brother Zhang, why are you speaking for that uncle?" The man was curious. "I heard that we in the South are his mortal enemies!"
"It's those scholars who are his mortal enemies. We... Third Uncle, you have a biogas digester at home. Isn't that great?"
"Mei, but aren't we worried about...divine punishment?"
"God's punishment, bullshit!" Zhang Xiaoer opened his shirt, "Let me first talk about that uncle. Today, he whipped the old man of the Ye family in public and said that he would leave the Ye family and have nothing to do with them anymore."
"Tsk tsk! This guy is so cruel." said the man.
"The Ye family wants to seize the property." Zhang Xiaoer said, "When the grandfather was still alive, the Ye family wanted to adopt a child to him, in order to wipe out the family. As soon as the grandfather passed away, the Ye family used all kinds of means to seize the property!"
"Ah! So cruel? Isn't it just a rumor?"
"It was someone from the Ye family who said it in public, and the Ye family didn't refute it at all."
Zhang Xiaoer picked up the empty bowl and said, "Another half bowl."
The man poured him some water and asked, "Second brother, what happened next?"
"Later, someone said that this divine punishment might be a conspiracy!"
"What do you mean?" The man poured him half a bowl of water and handed it to him.
Zhang Xiaoer took a sip and fanned himself with his clothes. "After the assassination, the noble whipped Huang Tongzhi and told him to tell Yang Fuzun to clean up his behind and wait to be imprisoned in the Jinyiwei prison!"
"My God, Mr. Yang... Mr. Yang... that majestic Mr. Yang, it's impossible?" the man said in surprise.
"No?" Zhang Xiaoer sneered, "Today, hundreds of people attacked the government office and were about to rush in, but that noble suddenly sent soldiers to stop them."
"Hey! Shouldn't he be watching the fun?"
"Afterwards, a general said that most of the so-called rioters were family members of powerful people, and they were going to rush in and kill the coroner."
"Second brother, hurry up and tell me!" the man urged.
Zhang Xiaoer put down the bowl and said, "At that time, the divine punishment killed six people. The coroner from the government office went to examine the bodies and heard that there were injuries on the bodies..."
He looked at the father and son, "Knife wound!"
"Oh my God!" The old man was horrified. "Could it be..." The man jumped up. "They must have killed someone. It must be so! I said there was no such thing as divine punishment. This must be their doing."
Zhang Xiaoer stood up and said, "I have to go back."
"Brother Zhang, what happened next?" the man asked reluctantly.
Zhang Xiaoer hung the goods on his body and said, "Later, I heard that there was a fight outside the city and many people died. Those officers and soldiers came back with heads..."
Watching Zhang Xiaoer walking towards the village, the man said happily, "Dad, can we continue to work on our biogas digester?"
The old man hesitated and said, "Wait a little longer."
"What are you waiting for?" the man said, "Your little grandson is waiting to exchange the extra grain for maltose!"
The old man was moved, but still said cautiously: "Let's see how this matter turns out. If it's not a punishment from God, we'll naturally continue. If it's a punishment from God..."
The man looked towards the city, "Dad, I saw Yang Fuzun traveling in the past. He looked so majestic, and I was afraid. I thought Yang Fuzun might be a star who came down to earth. But if it wasn't a punishment from the gods, then they... Dad, would a star do such a bad thing?"
The old man was silent.
"Dad, tell me, who is better to us, that uncle or Mr. Yang?"
"We have seen the benefits of the biogas digester. Yang Fuzun may seem majestic, but he has been the prefect for a long time. Has our family ever harvested an extra grain of rice or earned an extra penny?"
"No! The land of several families in the village has been encroached upon by the wealthy."
"Can being impressive and majestic be used to make a living?"
"cannot!"
"That biogas digester has really earned a lot of money for our family."
The old man stood up and patted his butt. "If it's not a punishment from God, I'll talk to the village and get that uncle... an umbrella for all the people."
……
There was a lot of garbage in front of the government office, and two corpses were lying in front of the gate, with arrows all over their bodies.
Those rioters had already run away without a trace, but there were still more than a hundred people watching the fun.
There were two more soldiers beside the coroner, and Yang Changhe also sent two yamen runners to follow him.
At this moment, the coroner became the point of contention between the two sides, and no one dared to let go.
Chen Bao smiled and said, "Remember, if anyone dares to attack the coroner, no, anyone who comes close will be killed. If there are dead people, the uncle will take care of it, just kill them."
The two yamen runners were obviously frightened and looked at Yang Changhe together.
Yang Changhe said calmly: "This is someone from my Suzhou Prefecture."
Chen Bao chuckled, "Now he is a witness in this case. Lord Bo said that he had never encountered a bandit who dared to ambush officers and soldiers in the Nine Frontiers, but now he encountered one in Suzhou Prefecture. It can be seen that the public security in Suzhou Prefecture is chaotic. The memorial has been sent to the capital, and I think the Ministry of Personnel will be quite happy, after all, there is an extra vacancy. No."
Chen Bao looked at the officials and said, "Master Bo said that there are many more vacancies!"
The officials remained silent.
After Chen Bao left, the coroner was taken to another place by people from both sides. Yang Changhe's body shook for a moment, "Jiang Qingzhi wants to kill us all."
The whip marks on Huang Jing's face were swollen badly. He grinned and said, "As long as we kill that woman and frame Jiang Qingzhi, we'll see who will suffer in the end."
Yang Changhe gritted his teeth and said, "Go ask Yang Bai if there is any news?"
Yang Bai naturally had no news, so he told the visitor, "It's probably intercepted now. Tell Mr. Yang to be patient and wait for good news!"
……
In an open area more than thirty miles away from the city, more than three hundred riders were speeding up.
And in front of them were dozens of unguarded carriages.
In the carriage, the dying woman opened her eyes and said, "Is this the underworld?"
Chen Ji drew his long sword.
But suddenly there was the sound of horse hooves from the side.
Dozens of cavalry appeared on the side.
The deputy captain in the lead drew his sword and shouted, "Attack!"
"Ma Fang!" Chen Ji cursed, "This bastard has been squatting on the side. Attack, attack!"
Under the pincer attack from the two groups of troops, the more than 300 cavalrymen could only hold out for a moment before they collapsed.
"Chase!" Ma Fang shouted, raising his knife.
Chen Ji rode over and asked, "Why are you chasing me?"
He felt it was more important to escort the woman back to the city.
"My Lord said so." Ma Fang looked at Chen Ji, his eyes turning red, "We are going to kill those powerful people this time, and make them lose their courage when they hear my Lord's name!"
When more than ten riders fled outside the city, the generals guarding the city shouted, "Stop! Stop!"
But Ma Fang, who followed shortly after, turned a deaf ear to them.
The short killing was over.
More than a dozen heads were hung under the horses' necks.
Dozens of cavalrymen looked at Suzhou City quietly.
At this moment, Suzhou Prefecture was in complete silence.
(End of this chapter)
