Wei and Jin cooks

Dashan said: "But I heard that Taigong Guan wants to be the village elder."

"He's already the village chief, why does he still want to be the village elder?"

Dashan said: "There is no conflict between the two. I heard from people in the county government that they can serve both roles."

"No, no, my boy went to the county town and said that the Yamen will distribute seeds and farm tools to each village. If Guan Taigong is made both the village head and the village elder, half of the seeds our village should receive this year will be taken up. ."

"That's right. Other newly built villages have more wheat seeds before autumn than we do. Alas, we used to be lucky and thought that our village was hiding in the mountains and was safe from disasters. But now it seems that we might as well suffer After a big disaster, it’s better to rebuild a village.”

"Bah, bah, bah, swallow your words quickly. Do you really think that war disasters are easy to bear? Look at how many people died in other villages? Although it is difficult now, it is not fatal," one person said: "I am on the bulletin wall I heard people there said that the general hates people who enrich themselves the most, so this time he sent many censors to implement the decree. I spent two cents to inquire with the chaplain who was guarding the bulletin wall, and I heard that the county magistrate wanted to personally Meet the elders of each village.”

"So, if we ask the county magistrate for help, we will definitely make Dashan the village elder."

"Yes, we can collect the travel expenses. As long as Dashan becomes the village elder, we won't be afraid that Taigong Guan will deduct our grain seeds in the future."

"And when you're paying taxes, you don't have to worry about him using a big bucket when you measure the grain."

When there is no village elder, they will be squeezed by the village chief. The Guan family is the family with the most land in this area, and the villagers need to go through him to contact the county government.

But things are different now. Although the village elder is still above the village elder, the general said that the village elder can also see the county magistrate, has the right to see the county magistrate, and is responsible for reporting matters to the county magistrate.

They have one more way to communicate with the way above.

Unlike them, other villages are lively and open.

Lai'an Village was very lively. Their village chief beat gongs and drums to read out these new decrees, and then asked everyone to elect a village elder.

The village chief knocked the gong twice and said: "The general said that the village elder does not have to be old, but he must be a capable and virtuous person. He must think about the big guys and have the ability." , knows how to lead everyone to grow more land, make more money, and have more children."

"I, I, the head of the village, please let me be the village elder. I am a nice person and I am the best in the village in farming."

"Shit, if you are the first in the village in farming, then I will be the first in the township and the county. I asked you to dig two more inches of soil during autumn planting. I said it will snow heavily this winter, so you have to plow deeply. , you refused to listen, how much of your wheat has been frozen now?"

"Bah, bah, bah, who said my wheat is frozen? It's not sunny yet. You wait for the snow to melt and the spring breeze blows, and they will come back to life immediately. But you, look at your wheat, is it short in winter? Yes, will there be a harvest this year?"

"Fart, my wheat seedlings are very thick. When the spring breeze comes, they will grow upward like leeks. They must be better than yours. You can't be the village elder. I have to be!"

There are many people in the village competing to become the village elder. Some people directly asked the village chief, "Li Chief, if the village elder succeeds, can he take over as the village chief?"

Li Chang: "Then you have to wait until I die."

"It can't be changed, even if the county magistrate can't be changed?"

"You haven't become a village elder yet, and you want to squeeze me out?" The village chief waved his hand angrily: "You are not qualified. Who else wants to be a village elder next?"

The crowd burst into laughter and pushed several people out. A capable woman also came out to answer the call and said, "I'll be the village elder. I can farm, weave and tailor, and I can do accounting. I can do it better than you." ."

"That's not okay, you are a woman!"

"What's wrong with the woman? The general is also a woman!" The woman said: "The general has recruited female officers, why can't there be a female village elder? The general's announcement did not say that the village elder must be a man. Everything depends on ability. I am more capable than You are big!”

"Then...then the announcement also said that it depends on public opinion. Enough people in the village must agree."

As soon as the words fell, someone immediately shouted: "I agree! I think Zhen Niang is good."

"I also think Zhenniang is good!"

"That won't work. You are all women, so naturally you stand with her. Each household can only be represented by one person, and let the head of your household speak out."

"Why can only the head of the household speak? Then I have to set up another household. Anyway, now I can also set up a female household."

"You want to be a female householder and you want to be able to establish it immediately? After the household is divided, labor and taxes will increase. Can you, a woman, afford it?"

The fight for village elders gradually went sideways, and it turned into a family. Should only the head of the household be able to vote, or could the hostess also vote?

Many villages quickly selected a village leader after receiving the announcement, but there are also many villages, like Lai'an Village, that could not decide on a village leader for a long time because of various disagreements.

In the past, this kind of thing would naturally not reach Zhao Hanzhang's ears, but now that the world is settled, Song Xin and Yuanli's intelligence personnel are scattered all over the place to get information for her, and she has sent people to take over many counties and counties. As long as these The news reached the ears of the county magistrate and county warden, and she soon learned about it.

Zhao Hanzhang first received information from Song Xin, and then received reports from some counties.

She thought about it briefly and realized that she had been negligent, so she summoned Ji Yuan and others to discuss it. Not long after, a new decree came down.

For matters such as the election of village elders and village chiefs, which require the people to vote together, all people over the age of twelve, regardless of gender, have one vote and can make their own choices.

Persons under the age of twelve do not have the right to vote unless they are the head of the household.

As soon as the announcement came out, it didn't take long for the village elder to come to An Village to decide. Zhenniang successfully became the village elder and followed the village chief to the county to meet the county magistrate.

Liu Kun didn't expect that not only a female village elder but also a female village chief would be born under his rule. He couldn't accept it for a while, so he went to see the magistrate of Lu County and asked quietly: "Magistrate Zhang, are you like this?" what's going on?"

Magistrate Zhang said with a serious face: "Your Majesty, Chief Lu Li is quite famous in Lu County. During the imperial expedition to the north, he not only provided relief to the victims in the county, but also donated a large amount of food and grass. When rebels invaded Lu County, it was Chief Lu Li who led the elders. Only by resisting can the people's strength and wealth be preserved, and their ability, virtue, and hope can all be worthy of a li chief."

If she hadn't been older, he would have written to the general to give her the position of county magistrate. He felt that she would be a better county magistrate than him.

Granny Lu raised her head and glanced at Liu Kun quickly, then lowered her head and asked humbly: "Do you not like women to serve as officials?"

"No, no, no," Liu Kun quickly denied. It wasn't that he didn't trust the woman's ability, but he just found it... inconvenient. "It's just that I'm not used to working with female officers."

It's only a mile long, and he basically can't see it.

Liu Kun felt relieved and said with a smile: "Since it was elected by the people, so be it. Everyone will stay here today. I have arranged a new song and dance, and I invite you all to enjoy it!"

Everyone agreed, and Granny Lu lowered her eyes, hiding the sarcasm in her eyes.

See you tomorrow