Tibet

A large carriage left Huaqing Palace and returned to Chang'an City in the falling snow.

In the carriage, Wei Jiansu and Zhang Li sat opposite each other covered with blankets.

Wei Jiansu sighed and said: "We were really wrong. We thought that the emperor wanted to protect the monarchy. In fact, he really wanted to abolish slavery and increase the population. Alas!"

Zhang Li was silent for a moment and said: "Wei Xiangguo, I suddenly figured it out just now. In fact, we should support the emperor. This is a rare historical opportunity."

"How do you say this?"

"Think about it, Wei Xiangguo. The royal dignitaries of the previous dynasty have almost done their job, and most of the Guanlong nobles have gone overseas, and the new dignitaries have not yet been formed. The abolition of slavery is now the time of least resistance, plus the emperor's Authority can really solve this millennium-old disease.

If it is not solved now, it will be impossible to abolish slavery in a few decades when the prince ascends the throne and new powerful people are formed. Now as long as the abolition of slavery is deeply rooted in the hearts of the people, the powerful people in the future will naturally be employed. , would not even think of buying slaves. "

Wei Jiansu nodded, "You are right. If we don't seize this opportunity now, we will never have it again in the future. When we go back, the Political Affairs Hall will issue a notice requiring all officials to abolish slavery before the end of the year, or at least no longer be implicated in it. I think it was a good result today.”

"What does Wei Xiangguo think about the imperial examination that the emperor mentioned?" Zhang Li asked again.

Wei Jiansu laughed, "This issue has been complained about for a long time, and the emperor finally admitted that he was a bit out of touch with reality."

"Then how should I change it?"

Wei Jiansu smiled slightly and said: "There must be a way. Let's go back and negotiate carefully."

The carriage accelerated in the wind and snow, heading towards Chang'an City.

Zhang Hao hurried back to the house and immediately asked the housekeeper to find his second son Zhang Zhongyu. Zhang Hao knew the situation of his family. There were more than a dozen slaves in his house. Last year, he transferred all the slaves' children to civilian status, but the slaves have not yet changed their status. , this is not difficult, just convert them directly to civilian status and continue to use them. Even if they have to pay wages every month, Zhang Hao can also bear it.

But Zhang Hao's difficulty lies in the manor. He has a manor covering an area of ​​50 hectares, located in Longzhou.

There are no tenants in his manor, only fifty slaves farm for him. These fifty slaves only consume 10% of the manor's harvest every year, and the remaining 90% belongs to the Zhang family. But what if they are tenants?

The tenant farmers wanted to take 50%, and the Zhang family suddenly lost 40%. Fools knew that it was more cost-effective to use slaves as much as possible.

Therefore, Zhang Hao also knew that the abolition of slavery could be delayed as long as he could, but now he could not delay it any longer. In the morning, Wei Jiansu and Zhang Li went to see the emperor and brought back clear news. The emperor had a tough attitude. In addition to compromising on the implication, other Everything is still done in accordance with the previous decree. Before the end of the year, all slaves in officials' homes must be converted to civilian status. Otherwise, they will be dismissed from their posts and will never be hired.

Of course, Zhang Hao also supports the abolition of slavery and agrees with Zhang Li's explanation that now is a historical opportunity to abolish slavery. If we do not abolish slavery now, it will be difficult to eradicate this millennium-old disease in the future.

Not long after, the second son Zhang Zhongyun hurried over, bowed and said: "My son, meet your father!"

Zhang Hao said slowly: "The emperor has made up his mind to abolish slavery. Don't take chances anymore. Hurry and change all the slaves in the house to civilian status, sign employment agreements, and pay them wages."

"Father, there are more than a dozen people, and the wages are not low!"

"Are they eating your food for nothing?" Zhang Hao said angrily.

"My child obeys!"

Just as Zhang Zhongyun was about to leave, Zhang Hao shouted: "Come back!"

"What other instructions does father have?" Zhang Zhongyun came back quickly.

"There are fifty slaves in Longzhou Manor, have you forgotten?"

Zhang Zhongyun was shocked, "Do the slaves in the manor want to transfer their registration?"

"Nonsense! Aren't they slaves?"

"But when they become civilians, they can only sign a tenant agreement. With the current market conditions, the tenant rent must be divided into at least 50%. Otherwise, no one will farm, and we will suffer too much loss."

"It's important to suffer big losses. As a dignified assistant prime minister, I won't take the lead. Let other officials think of it. I changed it, and it must be completed before the end of the year!"

Zhang Zhongyun had no choice but to agree to retreat.

Early the next morning, Zhang Zhongyun set about converting the fourteen slaves in the mansion to civilian status, canceled the deeds of sale, and went to the county government office to change the slave status.

This news immediately caused a sensation in the entire Zhang Mansion. The housekeeper came and asked, "Second Young Master, do you want to change the slaves in Longzhou Manor?"

Zhang Zhongyun's face was full of confusion: "I don't really want to change it, but it is said that slavery must be abolished before the end of the year. Alas! It's difficult to do!"

The butler tried to figure out his master's thoughts and said cautiously: "Master, how about we wait and see first? This kind of law is basically just a gust of wind. Once the limelight passes, it will be nothing. If the situation is more serious, it will be too late to abolish slavery. By then we will abolish it." Wouldn’t it be enough to change the date to December 30th?”

"That makes sense!"

Zhang Zhongyun originally did not want to abolish the slaves in the manor. He felt that it was relatively remote and could not be investigated at all. His father made a fuss out of a molehill. Now that the butler's words have hit his heart, he can wait and see. If there is an investigation in Chang'an in January next year, It was very strict, and he would have time to abolish the slaves. If the investigation was not strict, or as the steward said, it was just a gust of wind, and he would not have to abolish the slaves, otherwise he would suffer a big loss.

Zhang Zhongyun deceived his father and said that all slaves had been abolished. Zhang Hao believed his son and asked no more questions.

After Li Ye ascended the throne, he did not interfere with family affairs, but Li Dai did not forget it.

He first rehabilitated several of his brothers, expelling their charges and conferring titles posthumously.

The elder brother's family all returned from Lingnan. He accepted the whole family as a royal family, gave them the titles of marquis, earl, etc., gave them mansions and land, and rewarded them with a lot of money. Every household became rich.

Of course Li Ye would not stop his father. He quickly gave him the house, land and money, and also approved the title.

As the saying goes, when one person attains enlightenment, chickens and dogs ascend to heaven. They are not chickens and dogs, they are their own people. It is normal for Li Ye to grant them the royal family as his emperor.

He has not forgotten those who were kind to him in the past, such as Pei Min, who is now General Longwuwei and is in charge of 30,000 imperial guards.

Gao Lishi's son Feng Qunong, who served as the Shaoqing of Guanglu Temple, and his consort Cheng Changyin, who is now the general of Zuojianmen Wang, as well as their neighbors who were good to them in the past, were rewarded 500 guan each by Pei Sanniang.

In the afternoon, in Li Linfu's old ancestral hall in Pingkangfang, the old house was inherited by Li Linfu's eldest grandson Li Yu. Li Yu is currently the observer of Huainan and the governor of Yangzhou. He is not in the house, but the ancestral hall is public.

Xinping County Duke Li Wei summoned all clan members to announce important matters. Li Wei is now the second clan leader.

Dozens of clan members gathered together, and all of them had their names entered into Zongzheng Temple, but they were from another clan.

Li Wei said loudly: "We are summoned here to convey the important order of the Emperor. I know that many people have bought slaves before, and now the abolition of slavery has begun to be tightened. So before the end of the year, you will turn all the slaves in the house into civilians." , you can sign a contract and continue to be employed, but you have to pay wages.”

The crowd immediately started shouting, "We all bought it with money. If we want to abolish slavery, we must compensate for it!"

Li Wei said coldly: "No compensation will be given. It is okay not to abolish slavery. By January next year, that is, next month, those who do not abolish slavery will be expelled from their titles, their houses and land will be taken back, and their families will also stop monthly labor." Money, you can weigh it yourself! I believe you know how many slaves you want to keep, or whether you want titles, houses, and property."

"Clan leader, are you serious?"

Li Wei nodded, "I'm not scaring you. If you don't abolish slavery, you won't give the emperor face. If you challenge the emperor's authority, even the generals will be dismissed. Now there is no slave in Daming Palace and Xingqing Palace, and all officials are abolishing slaves." Slave, don’t struggle with your wealth.”