Chapter 571 The righteousness of the prince

Chapter 571 The righteousness of the prince

Shouyang is located on the south bank of the Huai River, bordering Bagong Mountain to the north, Shaopi to the southwest, Feishui to the east and connected to Hefei in the south. Since ancient times, it has been an important amphibious and military town in the Huainan region. Now it is Nanliang South Yuzhou Administrative Office.

There are excellent farming conditions around Shouyang, so farming is prosperous. At the same time, there is convenient and developed land and water transportation, so commerce is also very prosperous.

The big city located to the east of Luocheng has a waterway connected to the Feishui Pier outside the city. There are many shops nearby, and traders and gangsters roam around. It is the most prosperous place in the city. Whether it is exotic treasures or daily necessities, you can find it in the shops. It can be said to be all-encompassing.

In the early morning, the morning sun was rising, and the cool night breeze was still blowing on my face. The Dongcheng Pier gradually became lively.

Large and small boats moored on the waterfront are about to set sail, and many women in colorful clothes and makeup are getting off the boats. These are all the actors and actresses that the merchants and passers-by on the ship summoned to the ship yesterday. They said their goodbyes after having a good night.

Many dynasties in the past emphasized agriculture and suppressed commerce, but the Southern Dynasty was an exception. First, the development of the south was not as developed as that of later generations, and the land that could be cultivated was still limited. Second, since the southern migration, the conflicts between natives and foreigners in the south have been sharp, and the problems of land annexation and population shelter have also been very serious. Third, many late-migration scholars lacked land and population. Waiting for productivity and resources, we can only find another way to make a living.

The accumulation of various reasons made commerce in the Southern Dynasties developed, and merchants became a very dynamic social class. In particular, the participation of many high-ranking officials gave the merchants a free and open-minded image of being wealthy, traveling around the world, enjoying themselves, and ignoring restraints. This more catered to the bohemian style of the upper class in the Southern Dynasties. They were not ashamed of this industry, but rather proud of it.

A thoroughfare city such as Shouyang is also a very important commercial center in itself, so the service industry for those merchant groups who have the strength and enthusiasm to consume has also developed rapidly.

Therefore, there are many restaurants and theaters in Shouyang East Market, and most of them are doing very well, which can be said to be particularly in line with people's food and sex instincts.

Practitioners in the theater are called Changji, and Chang mainly refers to musicians. Jibentongji refers to people who possess a skill, so Fangji practitioners often refer to craftsmen.

People have different interests and hobbies, so when an industry becomes developed, it will be subdivided into different categories.

The singers are also divided into different categories according to the services they provide. The names of Xiqu Niang and Wu Mei Niang reflect the specific division of labor in singing and dancing. There is also a Ye Du Niang who accompanies guests to spend the night. In some places, she is also called a rooster crow woman, which means that the romantic marriage ends after the rooster crows.

The city's theaters are generally either government-run or private. The government-run theaters are mainly owned by family members of criminals, female criminals, and women from slave households. The income of these official theaters often accounts for a small proportion of local fiscal revenue. Relatively impressive. As for the private sector, the scope is even wider. As long as you have the conditions and the intention, you can participate.

One night of romantic love, the relationship ends with money and silk, even if they are separated, it is not enough to make people sad and heartbroken. But there are also some emotional women who compose songs along the river, sad farewells to their generous and considerate benefactors: "The east platform is more than a hundred feet tall, Ling Fengyun, I will never forget you after I say goodbye..."

"Shouyang Music" is a Western tune from the Qing Dynasty. The lyrics are full of sad farewells and longing for reunion. It sounds on this prosperous wharf where passengers and goods are constantly coming and going. It is singing about the love between merchant women and merchants.

The lackeys on the pier may not be able to feel this melancholy meaning, but it is a rare audio-visual enjoyment to see those gorgeously dressed prostitutes singing with melodious tunes, and many people stop their busy work. Follow your footsteps and listen carefully.

However, there are many people at the pier, and it is inevitable that there will always be interruptions by libertines playing at this time. At this moment, in front of a steamed cake restaurant next to the pier road, a man with a red face, sparse hair, and short legs was knocking on the table. He smiled and said, "Can that trick be used to compose a Northern Song?"

While he was talking, the Hu man himself began to dance and sing loudly. Although his feet were a little lame, it did not affect his performance: "Looking at the Mengjin River in the distance, the willows are dancing. I am a kid from the Lu family, and I don't understand Han children's songs! "

Shouyang is located at the strategic point between the north and the south, and there are many Hu people in the area who are busy making a living. When they heard this old Hu man singing and dancing happily, there were also many Hu people who sang along: "Driving the sheep into the valley, the white sheep are in front. The old woman does not Marry, step on the ground and call the sky..."

Seeing that the singing of the courtesans was interrupted, the pier suddenly became a paradise for Hu children to sing and laugh. Even some people were unhappy and pointed at the old Hu man who was the first to make a fuss and angrily shouted: "Thieves and lame slaves!" Why don't you keep silent! Where is Huainan where you are waiting to go crazy..."

After the old Hu man heard this, the cheerful expression on his face suddenly disappeared, and he walked towards the man who yelled and scolded him. As he walked towards him, dozens of strong soldiers suddenly followed him around the restaurant. As he walked, the old Hu man was surrounded from front to back.

Seeing this scene, the man's expression suddenly changed. He clasped the basket full of fashionable goods in front of him and said in a trembling voice: "Everyone in the state knows that the prince has entered Shouyang. In addition to market assessment, Stop renting land, promote business and please the people. You thieves and slaves dare to commit crimes in the market, are you not afraid of arrest and punishment by the government? "

After hearing this, the old Hu man's steps slowed down a little, and the anger on his face also subsided slightly. The countryman's companions saw that he was afraid, so they all came forward one after another, shouting about the good policies recently enacted by Prince Jing of Henan, hoping to scare away these villains wandering the market.

"Haha, even the humble man in the village knows the righteousness of the prince!"

Hearing these scoldings, the old Hu man laughed instead of getting angry. However, after pondering for a moment, he still lowered his face and ordered: "Catch the thief who is insulting me!"

Following his order, several strong soldiers from behind marched straight forward. Although there were several companions gathered around the countryman, he was no match for these fierce soldiers. The countryman was soon twisted and sent forward.

This old Hu man was naturally Hou Jing who settled in Shouyang. He looked down at the begging villager and sighed: "Although I know that the prince is righteous, it is a pity that he has committed a sin. I will spare your life. But if you don’t punish them, you will always feel unhappy.”

As he said this, Hou Jing raised his hand, pinched the man's teeth and opened them with force. He then pulled out a knife and inserted it into his mouth to cut out his tongue. Seeing the man's mouth full of blood and hearing his incomprehensible howls, the people around him shuddered and avoided him one after another.

Hou Jing then threw the goods out of the countryman's basket and loaded them with iron coins. Then he had some of his companions brought over and ordered: "You will send this countryman and his reward money to you later." Go back to his house, if someone dies in the way, or if you take a piece of money, I will kill you and so on!"

Although several people still didn't know Hou Jing's identity, they were all frightened by his surly and cruel methods. After hearing this, they nodded in agreement, then picked up the basket containing the money and hurriedly left the place with the fainting fellow villager.

After this incident, Hou Jing lost his mood and continued to wander around the pier, so he swaggered toward the city surrounded by his followers.

After a short period of chaos, the pier here quickly became crowded again. Although some people were talking about the bloody scene just now, some newcomers to the pier could no longer feel the freshness at that time. fear. As for the blood remaining on the ground, it was soon buried by the passing footsteps and smoke.

The Southern Dynasties focused on trade, and not only high-ranking officials, powerful and wealthy households relied on this to make profits, but even small ordinary households also participated in it. It's not because their income from farming and weaving is so rich that they need to sell it on the market, but because a large part of various household taxes and miscellaneous taxes need to be paid with money. They can only sell their agricultural products on the market and pay the taxes after exchanging money.

Therefore, the benefits and taxes obtained from trade have always been an important part of the Southern Dynasty's finances. The so-called market valuation is to levy a certain tax on the goods traded in the market according to their value.

Since this kind of city tax is set based on the value of the traded goods, the higher the value of the goods, the more tax you need to pay, so even wealthy merchants feel that this is a heavy burden. For ordinary people, it is even more ruthless and cruel exploitation.

Although the imperial court exempted officials from taxes in order to consolidate its rule, this only increased the power of collusion between officials and businessmen, and had no effect on promoting normal business behavior.

Because Huainan was far away from Jiankang Province, many powerful locals were not valued and awarded official posts by the imperial court. They also had to endure heavy tax exploitation and suffered multiple political and economic discrimination and unfair treatment.

Hou Jing's announcement of the decree to abolish land rent assessment in Shouyang City was groundbreaking. Land rent was subject to seasonal restrictions and had not yet seen benefits in the short term, but the suspension of market assessment was effective immediately.

Therefore, after Hou Jing's decree was issued, it gradually spread over time, and people came to the city one after another to conduct transactions. Some local tycoons also praised the decree, and even directly led some slaves to join Hou Jing's command. Use practical actions to support Hou Jing's rule in Shouyang.

After Hou Jing walked around the city for a week, he saw many businessmen gathering and goods piled up like mountains. He was extremely satisfied. He couldn't help but sigh and said with a smile: "Southerners are greedy for goods and gullible, so they rush to buy goods to avoid tax assessment." The goods are for me! As long as there are plenty of people and goods in this city, I don’t have to worry about running out of supplies! In the past, when I was in Beizhou, I had to work hard to gather the short resources. Who would have thought that it would be so easy now?”

When Hou Jing returned to the state capital with satisfaction, there was another piece of good news waiting for him.

"Congratulations, Your Majesty, great things are about to happen!"

In front of the gate of the state capital, Xiahou Jukuoxing, the chief minister appointed by Hou Jing, came forward to greet Hou Jing, bowed to Hou Jing and said with a smile.

"What? Could it be that Xu Sima has returned and things have been settled?"

Seeing Xia Houzhen's expression like this, Hou Jing's heart suddenly moved. When he thought of something important recently, he asked quickly.

Of course, it is not a good time to talk about confidential matters in front of the house. Xia Houzhen and other subordinates first welcomed Hou Jing into the house and screened away the rest of the crowd. Then Sima Xu Siyu, who had just returned from Jiankang and was tired of the world, came forward and kowtowed: "Servant The king ordered me to go south to Jiankang to contact King Linhe. King Linhe was extremely happy when he heard about the king's recommendation. He wrote a letter in his own hand and presented it to the king. "

Linhe King Xiao Zhengde was the nephew of Liang Emperor Xiao Yan. Xiao Yan adopted him as his heir when he had no children in his early years. After he had a son, he sent him home.

Therefore, Xiao Zhengde often harbored resentment, thinking that he should have been the heir, and his personality was extreme and violent. He even surrendered to the Northern Wei Dynasty for a time, claiming that he was the deposed prince of Nanliang. Later, he fled back because he was not treated well by the Northern Wei Dynasty. Xiao Yan did not blame him. He regained his official title and granted him the title of county king to comfort him.

Hou Jing himself didn't know much about Xiao Zhengde, but his subordinates Xia Houzhen and Xu Siyu in Shouyang knew quite a lot about his disobedience, so they suggested that Hou Jing contact Xiao Zhengde to act as internal collaborators. With this current scene.

"The old man of the Xiao family seems to be a philanthropic man, but in the end he can't even embrace the children who have been supported by his family for many years. He really has bad virtue and bad luck, which is ridiculous!"

After Hou Jing read Xiao Zhengde's sincere reply, he couldn't help but sneer again and again.

During the past period of time, Hou Jing lived in trepidation. After the defeat of Guoyang, he fled south with only a few hundred followers. He was in a hurry and didn't even know where he was going. Fortunately, Liu Shenmao, the leader of Huainan's Ma Tou garrison, suggested that he occupy Shouyang.

Originally the Marquis of Zhenyang, Xiao Yuanming, was the governor of Yuzhou to guard Shouyang. After Hanshanyan was defeated and captured by the Eastern Wei Dynasty, the Nanliang court sent Xiao Fan, the king of Poyang, to guard Shouyang. However, Xiao Fan had not yet arrived, so Wei Anju, the son of Wei Rui, was sent to Shouyang. Supervise state affairs.

Wei An has a cowardly, dull and uninformed personality, and can be said to be a typical example of a tiger father and a dog son. Despite going through some twists and turns, Wei An still obediently opened the city to incorporate Hou Jing, and Shouyang City was captured by Hou Jing.

Finding this important town in Huainan as a temporary residence was a blessing among misfortunes for Hou Jing.

However, after the Eastern Wei Dynasty defeated the Northern Expedition of Nanliang, they wanted to negotiate peace with Nanliang regardless of their previous grudges, and Nanliang agreed without any moral integrity, which immediately made Hou Jing feel a sense of crisis.

He really didn't expect that the kind-hearted Xiao Bodhisattva would become more capricious than him, and he worried all night long that he would be betrayed by Nan Liang to the Eastern Wei Dynasty. For this reason, he continued to issue letters to advise Emperor Liang not to negotiate peace with the Eastern Wei Dynasty, but with little effect.

What made him despair the most was that when he forged a letter from the Eastern Wei Dynasty and offered to exchange himself for Xiao Yuanming, Xiao Yan agreed immediately. In his eyes, he, a man who has lost power, is not as good as Xiao Yuanming, a useless person who is as stupid as a pig!

Since then, Hou Jing has completely given up his plan to live the rest of his life in Liang territory, and began to actively develop his own power. Since the proud monarchs of Nanliang do not intend to leave him a way to survive, then he will fight for a chance to survive on his own!

Fortunately, the seemingly peaceful and peaceful Nanliang Kingdom itself is also full of undercurrents and contradictions. Although Hou Jing has not been in the country for a long time, he is already aware of it.

Not to mention Xiao Zhengde, the scum of the clan who was repeatedly tolerated and indulged by Xiao Yan but still persisted in his evil ways. Even in Huainan, there were many people who were dissatisfied with Nanliang, which he could use to regroup his power.

Sorry, sorry, I went through a lot of information today to sort out the context and logic of the Hou Jingnan Liang Rebellion, and my head feels dizzy from exhaustion. I will write this point today, and try to write more tomorrow. . .