Northern Prefecture Rivers and Mountains

Chapter 14 Farming
In the blink of an eye, it was the 13th year of Taiyuan (389 AD). At the beginning of the new year, a light snow fell, moistening both sides of the river.

It was just a not-so-cold winter, but as many as six or seven hundred people froze to death around Jingkou.

For poor families, every winter is a disaster.

At the beginning of the year, the government conscripted laborers to build river embankments for the Wang family's tens of thousands of acres of silted fields. Each household was required to provide one laborer. Liu Yu took the initiative to step forward, brought his own dry food, and went to the riverside.

The light snow has dissipated, winter has passed, spring has arrived, and the spring plowing season is just around the corner. Yet, the government is levying corvée labor at this very moment, completely disregarding the lives of the people...

Liu Daogui repaired his own ten acres of thin farmland, renovated the canals, and leveled the land.

Farming is really not a job for humans these days. Without cows, it all depends on your hands.

The only thing to be thankful for was that some of the swords and knives that were taken back from the Diao family's slaves were melted into iron plowshares and iron rakes, which were used in turn by four or five families.

Liu Zun's parents died early and his family had no land. Liu Daogui worked in the fields, and he also helped. This guy was as strong as an ox and had great strength, so he was a good worker.

Knowing that the Liu family was short of people, his cousin Liu Huaisu often came to help.

"I heard that the court is going to re-employ General Liu." Liu Huaisu was well-informed and chatted while working.

In Jingkou, the governor was naturally Xie Xuan, and the general was Liu Laozhi, both of whom had extremely high reputations.

"Isn't the imperial court suppressing the generals of the Northern Palace?" Liu Daogui was very concerned about this matter.

The Northern Army is one of the few remaining ways to advance.

Liu Huaisu said, "A while ago, the Liu family somehow established a relationship with the Wang family of Langya and received their recommendation."

The king and the horse share the world.

We are talking about the Wang family of Langya. Now, the noble family headed by the Wang family of Langya is fighting fiercely with Sima Daozi, who comes from the royal family.

We need thugs like Liu Laozhi.

Liu Daogui suddenly remembered Huan Xuan whom he met in the Fugui Casino that day, and he wondered how much relationship he had with him.

The Huan family is also a force that cannot be ignored in Jiangdong.

"How do you know so much?" Liu Zun, who was digging hard, looked curious.

Liu Huaisu said, "The young general has recruited me to serve in Ningshuo."

Major General Liu Jingxuan has always been close to Liu Huaisu and they often discuss world affairs together.

The imperial court re-employed Liu Laozhi, and the Northern Army grew in strength, so the Liu family of Pengcheng naturally benefited from it.

"Congratulations." Liu Daogui was delighted.

There has been no news from my uncle in Jiankang, so I guess the situation is not optimistic.

It was already very difficult for a lower-ranking noble family to get a place in the Imperial Academy, let alone anything else. During the Yongjia Rebellion, the Northern Kingdom was destroyed, and there were countless noble families who had fallen on hard times and wanted to rise again.

Every path to advancement is crowded with people, and countless families have been trampled upon.

If my uncle can become a prefect or a governor in the future, the Xiao family will be very lucky.

As a native of Jingkou, the best choice is of course to join the Northern Palace Army.

Given the relationship between the two families, if Liu Huaisu becomes successful, he will definitely help the Liu family.

These days, if you leave your clan, you are worse than pigs and dogs.

Why were the refugees from the north so miserable? Because they were separated from their clans and hometowns.

The Liu family of Pengcheng followed their grandfather to Jiangzuo and preserved their clan, which allowed them to gain a foothold in Jingkou. Otherwise, they would have become servants or tenants of the powerful families.

Although Liu Daogui is satisfied with the current situation, the situation is becoming increasingly pessimistic. Last year, his family ran out of food, and he doesn't know what the situation will be like this year.

If there were any natural or man-made disasters, there would be countless casualties. In order to survive, one must do everything in one's power to climb up.

"You two brothers are both extremely brave and will surely achieve great success on the battlefield. Once I have established myself in the Northern Palace Army, you two can come with me. The Major General has already praised you highly."

"Thank you, brother." Liu Daogui bowed.

"You're being too formal." Liu Huaisu waved his hands.

"Hey, with such a good thing happening, how could you forget me?" Liu Zun came over quickly.

"Of course you are indispensable. When the time comes, we brothers will work together to create a bright future." Liu Huaisu couldn't help but smile.

Liu Daogui said: "It's enough to have something to eat. Life and death are determined by fate, and wealth and honor are determined by heaven. What's the future?"

These days, the imperial court has closed the door to commoners. Even if one can reach the level of Liu Laozhi, he is just a knife in the hands of the gentry.

Liu Daogui’s principle is not to take life too seriously.

Sometimes, you try your best to climb up, but under the current structure and system, people from poor families basically have no chance of making a breakthrough.

"Haha, with your personality, you are suitable to be a hermit." Liu Huaisu laughed.

"Not everyone can be a hermit. Without money, family background, and reputation, you are not a hermit, but a savage." Liu Daogui knew his own limitations.

The hermits of the Wei and Jin dynasties all came from extraordinary backgrounds and had certain family backgrounds.

At present, both sides of the Yangtze River, mountains, rivers, lakes and marshes are occupied by powerful people. You can't even be a wild man. The most likely possibility is that you will be captured by the powerful people and become a servant.

Servants are slaves. You can beat them if you want, kill them if you want, or sleep with them if you want...

Liu Daogui touched his face and found it was quite straight, but he couldn't help feeling a chill all over his body.

The three of them worked until sunset before returning home.

As the sun sets, the mountains and rivers become picturesque, and the warm breeze makes people feel intoxicated.

But the frozen corpses lying on the roadside, with their faces dark blue and covered with insects and ants, destroyed this peaceful beauty.

Many of them were children and women. Before they died, their clothes were stripped off. Their miserable appearance was unbearable to look at.

"The world is becoming more and more chaotic. I heard that in the East Palace, there are tens of thousands of people who have converted to the Tianshi Dao." Liu Huaisu looked compassionate.

The Jin Dynasty moved south and made Jingkou the Northern Prefecture, Jiangling the Western Prefecture, and Kuaiji the Eastern Prefecture.

Dongfu was also the base of prominent families such as the Sima family, Wang and Xie. Xie An once lived in seclusion in Dongshan in Shanyin County, Kuaiji Commandery, leaving behind the famous story of his comeback.

Even the headquarters of the aristocratic families are so corrupt, one can imagine what kind of world this is.

Anyone with a little insight knows that the Tianshi Dao will rebel sooner or later.

After the Yongjia Rebellion, Taoist rebellions broke out one after another in all parts of the country.

More than ten years ago, Lu Song from Pengcheng led a few hundred people and easily broke into the palace, almost giving the Sima family a heart-wrenching blow.

"That is the court's business. We can't even afford to eat, so why should we worry about it?" Liu Zun's voice was muffled, but his words were impressive.

Liu Huaisu was stunned for a moment, then nodded, "That's true."

At this time, a burst of crying attracted the attention of the three people. Looking to the east, they saw three or four ox carts full of boys and girls heading towards Diaojiabao.

Liu Daogui sighed. If you are rich, you should help the world; if you are poor, you should take care of yourself. The Liu family is barely making ends meet now. They have no right to pity others, and they can't change the way the world is.

"Let's go." Liu Huaisu lowered his head.

The atmosphere suddenly became dull and depressing, making people feel a little breathless.

(End of this chapter)