Guide to traveling through the Northern Song Dynasty

After Yuanfeng's restructuring, most of the transport envoys were merged into one.

Jinghu Road is different. South Road and North Road each retain their own transfer envoys. The main reason is that taxes from Sichuan and Guangxi must be sent to Jinghu Road for transshipment.

Hunan Transportation Department, all three are good officials.

The transfer envoy is named Zhou Yin. He has been an official for twenty years, but he still chooses people. He has not even been able to get into the official position in the capital. He was transferred back and forth in Guangdong, Guangxi and Hunan, serving as county magistrates and doing water conservancy projects everywhere. Finally, he was recommended and his political achievements were known to the emperor. Within five years, he was promoted from county magistrate to transfer envoy.

The deputy transshipment envoy is named Zhang Ju. He is an official and is incorruptible. He is currently writing a letter to impeach Wang Fu, Tong Guan and Cai You.

The transfer judge's name was Huang Shuao, Huang Tingjian's younger brother. At an old age, he was implicated by Huang Tingjian and could not be promoted. He has always been upright and honest, and kept subordinate officials submissive.

However, the three good officials could not withstand Wang Fu's forced expropriation of husband's money.

Because it is a decree issued by the imperial court, the official document must be forwarded according to procedures. Among the state and county officials below, there are always those who want to gain political achievements and be promoted, and there are always those who want to take advantage of the opportunity to make profits.

Ju Ming took a boat all the way to Hengyang and heard loud cries at the dock.

The magistrate of Hengzhou is forcibly recruiting rural soldiers, because Fang Qifu has grown bigger and may lead his troops to kill him at any time.

The common people inside and outside the city either sent strong men to serve as soldiers or paid free husband money.

Moreover, it was a two-time subscription, once to the court to defeat Liao, and once to the magistrate to defend the city.

Ju Ming, accompanied by his followers and students, silently watched the chaotic situation outside the city.

There are poor people who sell their sons and daughters in exchange for free money. Several areas were formed outside the city, and Ya people shuttled among them, picking and choosing like cattle.

With expressionless faces, everyone rehired the boat and took two days' rest before continuing their journey north.

Before arriving at Xiangtan, they encountered officers and soldiers.

Large and small boats transported grain, grass and baggage, and Xiang troops and rural soldiers walked along the river. Not to mention that these soldiers were poorly equipped and even their clothes were in tatters, they were heading south like zombies.

Ju Ming's ship was surrounded by official ships, and the officers planned to blackmail them severely in the name of searching for spies.

"Where did they come from and where are they going? Do you have a reason?" an officer asked.

Ju Ming didn't answer, so Bai Sheng stood up and showed his cards.

By the way, it is similar to the road guide of the Ming Dynasty.

Senior officials all have waist badges and a number of followers who can receive salaries. The higher the official's rank, the higher the attendant's waist card level.

Ju Ming's ivory official badge has been taken away, and his entourage waistband will naturally have to be handed over as well.

However, Bai Sheng had already been asked to engrave a copy privately, and now he came out with a fake brand to bluff people.

The fake brand has a very high level and is a follower of a court official.

The officer looked at the fake waist badges and saw that Zhu Ming and the students were very impressive. He quickly bowed and apologized: "Excuse me for disturbing you, officers. Go slowly."

When the ship continued sailing, Zhang Bor couldn't help but said: "My lord, it is a serious crime to make official badges privately!"

Ju Ming said: "I can't care anymore."

Zhang Bor was actually full of doubts and wanted to know what Ju Ming planned to do.

"There are deserters, there are deserters!"

There was a commotion on the shore, but they took advantage of the pause and the hundreds of soldiers behind them fled en masse.

Zhu Ming led everyone to the bow of the ship and saw only a few hundred soldiers and horsemen chasing the deserters. More than ten people were hacked to death one after another. The remaining ones knelt down and begged for mercy, and were tied up to see the general who led the army.

"Ask the person who led the escape and kill three of them to enforce military law!"

Not long after, three unlucky guys were picked out at random, taken to the edge of the Xiang River and beheaded.

Continue north to Changsha and plan to change ships again.

But there were no ships at all. They had either been conscripted to fight, or were used as water vessels to transport grain. The boats Ju Ming hired in Hengyang were unwilling to continue their journey, and the boatmen were worried about the safety of their families.

Zhu Ming led everyone on foot, and after passing through Qiaokou Town, they entered the territory of Xiangyin County.

A large amount of land here was abandoned. After careful inquiry, I found out that the Xiangyin County magistrate expropriated taxes and levied excessive amounts of money, and he had not moved from his official position for five years.

In order to please Cai Jing, this man went crazy to acquire land. As a result, Cai Jing dismissed him as prime minister and he was impeached and charged. Now he is trying to please Wang Fu by doubling the amount of money for free husbands. The subordinate officials follow suit and collect an average of two guans per Dingkou.

Naturally, the common people couldn't afford that much, so they attacked the landlords.

Let those landowners who have no backers guarantee free compensation to nearby farmers. The landlords had been exploited for several years and had to pay countless exorbitant taxes and miscellaneous taxes. Now they were asked to pay compensation, and even the landlords and peasants fled in large numbers.

The county magistrate of Xiangyin didn't care about this. He had already bribed the superior officials and went to the capital to give money to Wang Fu's party members. He would soon be promoted and transferred away from here.

Before leaving office, why don't you make a fortune and make back the money you gave away?

The students were all numb. They had seen worse things.

When they went south to join Ju Ming, they passed through Gyeonggi Road and Gyeongseo Road. Those places had suffered natural disasters for three consecutive years and were exploited by the eunuch Yang Jian. They had to pay both taxes and rent, which was equivalent to paying taxes twice.

However, under Cai Jing's clever manipulation, Tian Fu had already doubled. If Yang Jian did this again, he would actually have to pay several times the tax.

This is just the official gift, exorbitant taxes and miscellaneous taxes are not included.

"Sir, is it really useful to advise the officials?" Chen Dong looked at the abandoned fertile soil and became extremely confused.

Other students also looked at Ju Ming.

Ju Ming said firmly: "I will let him listen. If he really doesn't listen, think of another way."

When I arrived outside Xiangyin City, there were beggars everywhere. Many of them were farmers who had fled from the countryside. They couldn't find work in the city and had to beg.

It took Ju Ming two days to finally hire a boat, but he could only cross Dongting Lake to Yuezhou.

…

On the west side of Dongting Lake, there is a large lake in Wuling County, Dingzhou, which is connected to Dongting Lake through Yuanshui.

As the government continues to increase taxes, businessman Zhong Xiang finds it difficult to do business. As early as more than ten years ago, he came into contact with Manichaeism in other places, copied the teachings and brought them back to his hometown, and made some modifications himself.

At this moment, hundreds of people gathered at Zhong's house.

"The light is universally pure, and there is always happiness, silence, and no curse. He is happy and has no troubles. If there is suffering, there is no point in it... He always enjoys the light of happiness. If there is illness, there is no point in it... If there is one, he can live in that country. After all, everyone will have no worries..."

The believers chanted scriptures and yearned for a bright kingdom without suffering.

This thing is spread all over the south. Zhejiang is called Manichaeism, Fujian is called Mingjiao, Huainan is called Erjunizi, Jiangdong is called Siguo, and Jiangxi is called Vajra Zen. In addition to poor peasants, the congregation also includes subordinate officials, Xiang soldiers, scholars, bandits, actors... all three religions and nine streams are included.

Zhong Xiang led the believers to finish singing the scriptures and began to preach the doctrine: "There are all kinds of laws in this world, and it is not a good law to divide the rich and the poor, the high and the low. If I am allowed to practice the law, I should equalize the rich and the poor... "

"Those who join my religion are all brothers and sisters, and they are generally equal. No one who becomes an official should be superior. Whoever accumulates wealth must also help his poor brothers..."

"If all the people in Wuling County join our religion, we will keep their silkworm fields prosperous and their bodies rich..."

"Now the government is asking for money for free husbands. We have complained to the government, and the officials agreed to collect less money. The money and food saved in the township community will definitely not be enough. My family is willing to contribute 200 guan to help our brothers and sisters tide over the difficulties. I will also ask them to help the other squires, so I can’t see the brothers and sisters in the church being deprived of food..."

Hundreds of congregants were so excited that they all knelt down and kowtowed: "Thank you, the Great Sage, for your mercy!"

Zhong Xiang smiled and nodded: "You don't need to thank me for standing up. We are all brothers in the religion, and we should help each other."

Zhong Xiang has been preaching for more than ten years, and Fang La is also a descendant of Manichaeism in front of him.

There are more than a few hundred of his followers, they have spread all over Wuling County, and even opened multiple branches around Dongting Lake.

Many lower-level officials also came to join the religion, and he could get official news at any time.

All the gentry and merchants knew about Zhong Xiang's existence, and even successive county officials knew about it, but they did not dare to attack Zhong Xiang at all. Especially after the Fangla Uprising, the county officials were so frightened that they could only pretend not to see it and pray not to rebel during their term of office.

On the surface, what Zhong Xiang established was just a mutual aid association - a rural community.

Farmers can join the society by just paying some money and grain, and mutual aid is practiced within the society. When encountering government exploitation, Zhong Xiang is responsible for negotiating, trying to get the officials to take as little as possible, and then uses the funds within the society to help members in difficulty tide over the difficulties.

If there were not enough funds in the society, wealthy members would be asked to donate some, and they would even seek donations from gentry and merchants.

In the villages affected by Zhong Xiang, the people are obviously better off, which is similar to Daming Village.

After the believers dispersed, Zhong Ziang reported in a low voice: "Dad, I just received news that Fang La's general Fang Qifu has occupied three states in the south."

Zhong Xiang said: "The storm in the Song Dynasty has not been exhausted. Fang La made a big noise and was defeated in a year and a half. We cannot launch easily and have to wait and see the changes in the situation. You take some brothers and go to Yuezhou this year to count We need to preach in the county. The government is imposing excessive taxes, which is a great opportunity for preaching.”

Zhong Ziang said: "My child understands."

Prime Minister Zhong warned: "We must be careful not to alarm the government. We have no foundation in Yuezhou."

Just over ten miles east of where Zhong Xiang lectured, fourteen-year-old Mrs. Yang was working on a merchant ship. He is not called Yang Yao yet, that was his nickname after the rebellion.

Mrs. Yang attended private school for two years. She dropped out of school due to poverty and was arranged by her father to work on a merchant ship.

"My husband's money has been saved!" Yang Qin, the clan brother, ran over happily.

Although the two of them had a young age, since they were working on merchant ships, they had to pay their dues obediently.

Mrs. Yang asked: "Where did the money come from?"

Yang Qin said: "It's enough to pay some of it myself, help the company to help some, and then talk to the government."

"Is it really useful?" Mrs. Yang said in surprise.

The two brothers were both dragged into religion by their parents. They were usually busy working and did not listen to anyone's teachings.

After experiencing this incident, Mrs. Yang gained a sense of identity with Manichaeism.

That night, he and two brothers, Yang Qin, disembarked from the boat in the dark to listen to the altar leader's lecture.

After all, Mrs. Yang has studied for two years, listened to various teachings, and has a deeper understanding than ordinary believers. He fantasized about that bright country without oppression and suffering. He returned to the ship and stayed up all night, tossing and turning, but couldn't fall asleep.

What a wonderful life it is to be equal to the rich and the poor, to the rich and the poor!