Chapter 1024: Simplified in the Emperor's Heart

Wang Yan never treats those who follow him badly, and even less treats those who have made contributions badly.

Thirty adult strong men are basically the majority of the power of Wang Family Village. If these people all die outside, the production capacity of Wang Family Village will drop off a cliff.

So after returning to the village, Wang Yan arranged to send meat, cloth, oil, and salt to each family. For the two families who died, Wang Yan directly built new houses for them. For those who were seriously injured but didn't die, but basically lost their labor ability and could only do some light work, Wang Yan directly asked Steward Wang Fuli to lead a cow from home and send it over, and also brought a pile of forage.

In addition, he announced the expansion plan of the village school, and also wanted to set up a mill for coarse processing of grain in the village.

It's not that primitive accumulation is bloody, it's not bloody and not rich. This time he went out and robbed, enough to turn Wang Family Village over. But obviously, it can't be done like that. After all, he directly gave money to make the villagers rich, compared to him leading the villagers to work together to get rich, the gap is still very large. One lies in the cohesion of the villagers, and the other lies in the long-term wealth of the villagers.

Wang Fuli, who went out to send the cow back, just saw the young master who had just finished bathing, lying lazily in the courtyard basking in the sun and drying his hair. It was still very rude, only wearing a pair of big shorts modified by the old woman in the house, tea was placed by his hand, and Little Dongliang was sitting on a small stool on the side reciting a book, very comfortable.

"Young master, everything has been arranged properly."

"Very good, Uncle Fu has worked hard. In the few days I was away, did anyone come to look for me?"

"The eldest young master of the Sheng family came twice, left two letters from the eldest lady, and passed the message from Master Sheng, asking the young master to go to the mansion after returning. Master Ouyang's son came once with the eldest young master of the Sheng family, stayed in the study for half a day, and they took some books and left separately."

"I will write a reply in a while, you ask someone to take it to the Sheng mansion to find the eldest young master of the Sheng family, I will visit Master Ouyang tomorrow morning, and go to the Sheng mansion in the afternoon."

"Yes, young master."

"How are the houses of the two brothers Youjin and Youyin?"

"It will be done in another half a month, and the matchmaker has also seen a few families, and it should be done this year."

"The so-called establishing a family and starting a career, don't let Youjin and Youyin farm and do carpentry anymore. Even if the books are not read well, they have opened their minds. The family business is getting bigger and bigger, and more and more people are used. You take them to take over the management, and it will be easy to be on their own in the future."

"Okay, I will arrange it." Wang Fuli nodded with a smile and arched his hands, "Then I will go down first."

Wang Yan didn't even open his eyes: "Dongliang."

"Oh."

Little Dongliang, who was drinking tea, hurriedly wiped his mouth with his sleeve, continued to hold the book, and recited on the small stool...

Because of the special close relationship, Sheng Changbai and the little fatty Ouyang Fa are basically the same as their own home when they come to Wang Yan's house. After all, one is the future brother-in-law, and the other is the son of the teacher who formally kowtowed and apprenticed. Wang Yan's family has no women, and these two little adults are not conscious at all as they come into contact with Wang Yan more and more. When they come, they eat and take.

People worship the strong. Wang Yan, a rural landlord like this, managed the family at the age of fourteen, with no one to help, can be called self-reliant. Since the mourning period passed this year, he has shown super cultural and calligraphy levels, and recently he has become a representative figure of Yangzhou scholars, with increasing prestige. He is not lacking in romance, and has talent. He can propose to the woman he likes on the street, and can write famous sentences passed down through the ages.

Although this is inseparable from Sheng Hong and Ouyang Xiu, it is necessary for Wang Yan to have the ability to make Sheng Hong willing to marry his daughter and Ouyang Xiu willing to accept disciples.

So this eldest brother-in-law and unlucky senior brother, for the two half-grown children who are pretending to be mature, are very enviable and jealous, but they can't help but get close to show closeness.

Wang Yan pinched the little fatty's chubby face: "Good senior brother, I heard that you are very good at enjoying, let the nanny in my house make all kinds of cakes and eat them all."

"Well, good senior brother, I brought them back to filial piety to my parents. The nanny in my house doesn't have as good craftsmanship as the nanny in your house." The little fatty was pulled by his fat face and had to squeeze a smile.

"Send the woman in your house to the village to learn next time, I heard that the restaurants in Bianjing have unique stir-frying methods, I recently studied the method, got a set of cooking utensils, and learned to do it at home. You have to move more, look at how fat you are."

"My mother said it's good to be fat."

"Obesity and short life, good senior brother."

Seeing his son stunned, Ouyang Xiu shook his head with a laugh: "It's just that he is young, and he will be thin when his muscles and bones grow. Why are you scaring him?"

Wang Yan laughed loudly, patted the little fatty's head, and sat down to drink tea with Ouyang Xiu.

When an official reaches Ouyang Xiu's level, basically there is nothing to do. Especially since he knows very well that he won't stay in Yangzhou for long. So he doesn't interfere with Yangzhou affairs at all, and doesn't change the original political ecology. It's just that at the beginning, he gave an instruction, such as repairing water conservancy, increasing investment in education, and then it had nothing to do with him.

Yangzhou local officials are sensible and cooperate well, Ouyang Xiu doesn't look for trouble, everyone is safe, and it is really leisurely. Otherwise, where would scholars have so much time for romance.

It is also because Ouyang Xiu has been in Yangzhou for a few months, and everyone he wants to see has been seen once, so he is leisurely. Like Sheng Hong's request to see him before, it was dragged for a period of time.

"Disappeared for seven or eight days, what are you busy with?"

"Small things in business." Wang Yan casually bluffed.

"I don't think it's a small thing. I heard that before you left home, you killed three pigs, and on that day, several men with disheveled clothes and injuries came back, and you left with people that night."

Ouyang Xiu looked at Wang Yan with a smile, looking at how you are going to make it up.

"Since Master is concerned, student will tell Master properly."

Wang Yan smiled and said, "Although the student has assets at home, it is not as good as one ten-thousandth of a big merchant. If you want to do something, you must break some money. What's more, who doesn't want to be rich and long-lasting in the world? The student is satisfied with small wealth, and doesn't lack food, clothing, and expenses, so I have to consider descendants. So I recruited strong men and organized two merchant teams, one for business in the north of the Yangtze River, and one for business in the south of the Yangtze River.

Unfortunately, a few days ago, the water bandits were making trouble on the river. The manager of the student's merchant team was killed on the spot, and the rest were injured and jumped into the river to escape. A total of fourteen people, only six survived. The goods and boats were robbed, and the losses were heavy. The student had no one to use, and had no choice but to take the villagers to find the goods back."

"I know you have bravery, but a gentleman does not stand under a dangerous wall. The transfer commissioner here is my old friend. If you come to find me, why do you take risks yourself?"

"Student can solve it himself, why bother Master?"

"Don't you know whether today's affairs will happen in the future, then see how you deal with it!" Ouyang Xiu blew his beard and stared.

Wang Yan shook his head and smiled: "Master, don't worry, everyone who has seen the student's face has been killed, and the student disguised his face. The people in the village are very reliable, and there is no worry about the future."

"How are the casualties?"

"Two died, one seriously injured was saved by the student, and they have all been arranged properly."

Ouyang Xiu asked curiously: "How many water bandits are there?"

"Twenty-six, including water transport laborers, and criminals wanted by the government. The main person is the younger brother of the concubine of the local water transport manager. Because he is addicted to gambling and can't pay back the high-interest loan, he specifically found some desperate people to rob cargo ships that were alone and weak in the middle of the night."

"Does your village have such combat power?"

Wang Yan smiled: "Because the water bandits didn't have a climate, and the student captured the leader, they saw that the situation was not good, so they all jumped into the river. Only ten or so were killed, and the rest scattered like birds and beasts."

Ouyang Xiu understood. He didn't understand military affairs, but he understood human nature and understood the scattered morale.

He still stared at Wang Yan: "This time it is the riverside nearby. If it is thousands of miles away next time, see how you act."

"If it is really like this, then the student should have suitable manpower in his hands, why do I need to fight?" Wang Yan laughed loudly, "Don't hide it from Master, this trip has gained a lot, enough for the student's hard work for a long time. After really holding great power in the future, I must first increase commercial taxes, and then suppress bandits."

"Why work so hard? Why not take the knife to the local big families, which can not only make money but also establish prestige, which is a good thing."

Wang Yan seemed not to understand Ouyang Xiu's sarcasm, nodded repeatedly, as if thinking, and slowly opened his mouth: "Master's words are very true, so I can't suppress bandits first, first increase commercial taxes. If local big families, connecting the local, with people in the court, small officials and low positions, I am afraid it is difficult to succeed.

When looking for a mistake, send someone to kill a wealthy family, and add it to the mountain bandits. Then increase commercial taxes, and then suppress bandits. Master is truly mature, this strategy of governing the country is spoken out, student admires it very much. And accept the student's bow."

The young Ouyang Fa felt the shock of the adult's shamelessness. He is intelligent, and he has knowledge following Ouyang Xiu, and understands the meaning of Wang Yan's words. Based on his understanding of Wang Yan during this period, he knows that the unlucky senior brother dares to do so.

The little fatty has this understanding, not to mention Ouyang Xiu. He was just joking and sarcastic, but he didn't expect Wang Yan to say such mature and chilling thoughts directly. Suddenly, he regretted accepting Wang Yan as a disciple. He thought that if the good disciple arrived at the local area in the future, even if there were no mountain bandits, he would have to create a mountain bandit to take the blame, so that he could swing the butcher knife to the head of the wealthy family.

He felt that if Wang Yan reformed, he should be more powerful than Fan Zhongyan and his group, really dirty...

Looking at Wang Yan who was bowing there, Ouyang Xiu waved his hand helplessly: "Okay, you have too many ideas, I can't teach you."

"Master is humble, now cultivating one's moral character, he will be able to return to the center in the future. If the student passes the Jinshi next spring, and enters the officialdom for the first time, I still need Master to take care of me."

"Where do you need my care, Kuanfu the day before yesterday, oh, Kuanfu is Wen Yanbo's courtesy name, moved to Tong Zhongshu Menxia Pingzhangshi, Jixian Academy University Scholar two months ago, now he is the prime minister of the world.

The day before yesterday, he wrote to me, saying in the letter that your name has moved the capital, the Emperor asked him what he thought of you, saying that the Emperor had read your calligraphy, read your poems, drank the new tea you researched, and used the soap you made, very fond of it, and the evaluation of you is very good. You are already simplified in the Emperor's heart, why do you need my care?"

"Even so, the student still needs Master's protection. Moreover, Master taught the student before, being an official must be stable, must understand the slow and urgent, the student is young, and needs Master's guidance and whipping."

"You." Ouyang Xiu pointed at his beloved disciple in vain, and this matter ended here.

After examining his studies again, leaving a few pieces of calligraphy, and having lunch, Wang Yan said goodbye to Ouyang Xiu's mansion and came to the Sheng mansion.

Because someone had already come to say it in advance yesterday, Sheng Hong was staying at home. Mainly because Wang Yan was embarrassed to go to the yamen to find someone, and Sheng Hong happened to come back for a nap.

Still in the study, Wang Yan, Sheng Hong, and Sheng Changbai sat there, watching Hualan who was pouring water and brewing tea.

In the letter, Wang Yan exchanged with Hualan about the ways of brewing tea. Unexpectedly, by today, Hualan had already been able to skillfully play with tea skills. Of course, there was no lack of Hualan looking at him with affection from time to time.

It is normal for Hualan to be worried after not having news for many days. Although she knew it was impossible, she always couldn't help but think wildly, whether Wang Yan ran away or something.

After a while, Hualan finally brewed the tea, looking at Wang Yan expectantly, hoping to get some affirmation.

"Good!" Wang Yan not only spoke loudly, but also clapped his hands vigorously.

Sheng Hong and his son were startled, looking at Wang Yan who was surprised, only Hualan covered her mouth and smiled.

"Go down, go down, what kind of system is this!" Sheng Hong said unhappily.

Hualan left a resentful look at her father and walked out unhappily.

"Hey..." Sheng Hong pointed at Hualan's back bad-temperedly, turned to look at Wang Yan, "It's really that the daughter is not kept. People haven't married yet, and this has already been splashed out."

Wang Yan smiled and raised his teacup: "Uncle, drink tea, drink tea. Hualan is still young, how can she know that without uncle's fulfillment, there would be no current eye-to-eye. Nephew keeps it in his heart."

"Humph."

Sheng Hong gave a proud and self-satisfied hum, drank a cup of tea with relish, and said, "I really don't understand business, I didn't dare to let the main house stir-fry new tea with all its strength. I heard that the price of stir-fried tea has doubled compared to before. Now other tea merchants have begun to study the new method, and it is estimated that when the autumn tea comes down, every family can sell new tea, which is a pity..."

He shook his head, but didn't avoid talking about the fact that he missed this wealth because of his misjudgment.

"Uncle doesn't have to blame himself. In the final analysis, the main house lacks courage. Uncle doesn't understand business, but they do. Even if uncle strongly ordered them to stir-fry more new tea, they wouldn't fully execute it, and the result would be no different from now. Conversely, if they think they can earn a lot of money, even if uncle lets them stir-fry less, they won't listen."

"The truth is this truth, but not earning is losing, thinking about it is still stuffy in the chest."

Wang Yan smiled and didn't say any more comforting words. People understand it themselves, so he didn't need to talk more.

Sheng Hong turned to ask: "Where did you go without a sound these days?"

"The merchant team that went out to do business in the south of the Yangtze River was killed, robbed of goods, and robbed of boats when they returned. I went for a trip and grabbed them all back."

"No injuries?"

"Isn't this fine?"

"A gentleman does not stand under a dangerous wall, why take risks?" Sheng Hong was also bad-tempered, and then shook his head and sighed, "You are indeed valiant, but it's a pity that the dynasty values literature and despises martial arts, and generals are difficult to stand. If it weren't for this, maybe you could also be a marquis immediately."

This is a truth known to everyone, which is determined by the particularity of generals. The so-called scholar rebellion, ten years will not succeed. It is because there is no one, because they don't know how to fight.

Generals are different, with trusted generals and subordinates, and long-term contact with soldiers. Often a powerful general has the support of tens of thousands of soldiers. This is a real, trained combat soldier, not comparable to the 100,000 people who gathered to make trouble. They will fight in formation, understand the prohibition of orders, know many things about fighting, especially the old soldiers who have been on the battlefield for years, and go home like home. Although discipline is not very good, there is also discipline.

Whoever sits in the position of the Emperor is terrified. To hand over the power that can kill oneself to others to fight outside, no one knows whether the leader will turn around and do it himself. Especially the old Zhao family's rise to power is a rebellion of yellow robes, which is naturally more sensitive.

Of course, Great Song also has many restrictions. Generals don't know soldiers, soldiers don't know generals, because generals cannot command the army like arms, which to a certain extent weakens the combat effectiveness of the army.

But there are also times when it is useless, such as if the general is like Di Qing, there is no soldier who doesn't know the general. Soldiers all know Di Qing, that is the role model of the army, killing all the way from the prisoner, countless people worship, any Great Song army in his hands, basically can exert stronger combat effectiveness. Otherwise, how did Di Qing die miserably...

Like Gu Tingye in the play, he is not mixed well in Great Song. Of course, the original play is overhead, and now it is also overhead, but it is really overhead to Great Song, which is quite difficult.

"No matter, civil officials also have the opportunity to go to the battlefield. Maybe in the future, nephew will be the Privy Council Commissioner, and the world's soldiers and horses will be dispatched by me, and nephew will go to the front to supervise the battle, which is the same."

Sheng Hong squinted at his cheap son-in-law: "Thinking is quite beautiful."

"It's just to think beautifully."

Wang Yan laughed loudly, "Previously, Master Ouyang told me that the Emperor asked Prime Minister Wen Yanbo how nephew is, Wen Yanbo's evaluation is very good, and said that the Emperor has read nephew's calligraphy, read nephew's poems, drank nephew's tea, and used the soap nephew made, very fond of it. The Emperor already knows nephew, I think he must have moved the capital."

"Since this is the case, don't you study at home, go out to kill people? Such a great reputation, if you don't pass the exam this time, I'm afraid people will laugh at your big teeth."

Sheng Hong and Ouyang Xiu have no extra interest in the water bandits who died in Wang Yan's hands, and Sheng Hong is even too lazy to ask about the details, directly thinking that Wang Yan killed people. But it is also true, robbing from bandits, if you don't kill people, how can you rob?

Wang Yan smiled, turned to ask: "Changbai passed the word a few days ago to ask nephew to come to the mansion, is there anything important?"

"The world is peaceful, where is there anything important? It's just that I haven't returned for many days, fearing that something went wrong. The exam date is approaching, you must not slack off."

"Uncle, rest assured, the provincial examination is hard to say, the solution examination must pass."

"Since this is the case, I will test you..."

Sheng Hong is naturally not really testing, but wants to use the excuse to find Wang Yan to write big characters, and the small abacus is ringing. He looks like a senior pointing out the younger generation, and takes Wang Yan's calligraphy to do favors for his friends, not asking for help at all.

In fact, Wang Yan hasn't written many big characters so far. He only enters the city once every three or five days, leaving two or three pieces, which is negligible compared to those who want to own Wang Yan's true works.

Wang Yan's calligraphy now has a price, and it is said that it has soared to a thousand guan a piece. This is the base price, just like modern times, it also depends on the content of the writing, the length of the scroll, etc. If they are all relatively good, the price will be higher. For example, the first piece of "A Cut of Plum Blossoms" that has been stamped with Wang Yan's seal and collected by Sheng Hong, is a treasure that can sell for a small landlord's family.

After the Emperor's recognition of Wang Yan's calligraphy spreads to the folk, the price will rise again. After Wang Yan dies, it will climb, because each piece is out of print...

Still that sentence, as long as no one maliciously targets, small imperial examination, Wang Yan really can pass with his eyes closed.

It's just that this time the killing and robbing broke the original stable life. Otherwise, he would still be looking at books at home safely, developing the economy of Wang Family Village, leading the villagers to get rich, going to the city every three or five days, visiting Ouyang Xiu, Sheng Hong, and by the way, eye-to-eye with Hualan, participating in scholar gatherings very occasionally, mutual flattery, writing a few poems, leaving a few pieces of calligraphy, and it passed.

Now he is back to his previous life.

The change in Wang Family Village is bigger day by day. Because perfume, soap, etc. are all produced by people in the village, Wang Yan gives a lot of money, and even the young people in the village who work in the city have returned, actively participating in the production and construction of Wang Family Village.

Even if tired, the faces of every Wang Family Village villager are smiling. After all, it was not easy before, and there was no money. Now it is tired, or more tired, but the days are looking better, and will be better, all of which are hope.

At the same time, a new merchant team was organized to develop business in the south of the Yangtze River, and manpower was added to the merchant team in the north of the Yangtze River. At the same time, for the guards of the merchant team and the men over fifteen in the village, military training began.

This is not illegal, not forbidden, because as the only representative in the village, he has the obligation to cooperate with the local government to organize local soldiers for military training, protect the border and settle the people. Of course, in actual execution, local soldiers are all doing work, the same as corvee, repairing bridges and paving roads, building cities, etc., all are their work. The Xiang soldiers are the same, but the Xiang soldiers have a compilation, belong to the local army, and can be mobilized by the long-term officials of each state and road, of course, they are also doing work...

Then when it comes to Wang Yan, the operation is very flexible. With the endorsement of the Yangzhou county magistrate, his Wang Family Village's local soldiers will not be drawn out to do work, as long as they train at home.

So Wang Yan's foundation power is getting stronger day by day... ===== CHAPTER 1025 =====