Hyper-Dimensional Player

Chapter 873 - 92: Establishing Livelihood for the People, Food and Clothing as Heaven

Guangzhou.

After Duncan ascended to the throne, Xing Wang Fu was changed back to Guangzhou, but among the populace, Guangdong and Guangxi were still referred to as Xing Wang Fu, as they believed it was the land of the dragon’s rise.

At this moment, in a small alley on Temple Street, a young man in tattered clothes furrowed his brows and said to his companion, "Lu, are you really not planning to take the imperial examination again?"

The man named Lu, dark-skinned and tall, forced a bitter smile and said, "My family can no longer sustain itself with money and food. Now, I just want to find a job."

Upon hearing his friend’s words, the young man’s expression also changed, as his attire indicated his family was of average means.

"Would you like to hear a word from me, Brother Liu?"

The tall man clasped his hands and said, "Nowadays, with the world in such disarray, we from humble backgrounds need not obtain scholarly fame to showcase our talents and aspirations."

"Your Majesty employs people without sticking to conventions."

"Judging by the scale of this year’s imperial examination, the court likely has other plans."

This is the worst of times, but also the best of times.

However, for scholars, especially those of Confucian upbringing, the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms should be the darkest period, one could say in nearly a thousand years of Chinese history, no era’s scholars were worse off than now.

For this reason, the power of Confucianism was weakened to its utmost, and it was only later, due to the Song Dynasty’s extreme favoritism towards the scholar-official class, that their social status was restored.

Among all the scholars in the world, Confucians in the Guangdong and Guangxi regions were the most looked down upon.

Because of Liu Chang’s decree.

In fact, because Your Majesty heavily employed Li Fengji and others, scholars from other regions sarcastically called them the ’Eunuch Faction’.

While Duncan restored the imperial examination system after ascending the throne, he did not elevate the status of Confucians, let alone extremely favoring scholar-officials as the Song Dynasty did.

Zhao Kuangyin’s ascension was not rightfully obtained, relying on appeasing scholar-officials to consolidate his position, which led to few capital punishments for erring civil officials during the Song Dynasty, while military generals were often killed outright. But under Duncan’s reign, even civil officials are executed, emphasizing that this era does not lack talented individuals, and if you don’t do your job, there are always others willing to take your place.

"Do you still need to go to the College of Houji?"

The man surnamed Liu furrowed his brow, kindly advising, "If you achieve success in your studies, won’t you still have to work in the fields?"

Scholars, being proud and ambitious, are unwilling to do dirty and tiring work.

The man named Lu smiled without saying a word, and softly said, "The Grand Minister of Agriculture is one of the nine ministers, and he is the headmaster of Houji College."

"Do you know he is not of Confucian origin? He doesn’t even have any scholarly titles?"

"Brother, think it over."

After saying this, the man named Lu took his leave, but being long-time friends after all, some things, although not explicitly stated, could be subtly hinted at. He broke off a branch, paused for a moment, and handed it over, saying, "Brother Liu, if you have thought it over, you can come to the Courier House to find me, and we can head north together."

The man surnamed Liu held a section of the branch, puzzled. Though quite capable, his pride did not allow him to take off his long gown or set aside the dignity of a scholar. In his heart, he longed more for achieving fame through the imperial exams and being honored with high office.

As he walked toward the Western Market, suddenly there was a commotion ahead, followed by firecrackers and gongs, drawing a crowd toward the Guangzhou Provincial Governor’s Office.

"What happened?"

Curious, he followed the crowd and soon saw a bulletin being posted by the yamen officers, which was a court bulletin.

Someone standing at the front read out loud, and as the words passed back, fragmented, he only caught part of it.

—"By the decree of the Emperor, carrying out the mandate of Heaven:

Cao Yanxing, a merchant from the Lute People, presented cotton seeds, greatly benefiting the nation and relieving the people from cold and hardship, extending the land’s taxable resources. He is hereby conferred the title of Cotton Marquis, awarded a purple-gold seal, and a stipend of a thousand dan of grain. Decree acknowledged."

What?

Granted a title of Marquis?

The surrounding area was abuzz with surprise, and Liu Ranhong couldn’t help but feel envious, asked around, and soon learned the story.

The Lute People have a long history in the Central Plains, known in Han literary records as the ’Nine Surnames of Zhaowu’ (Kang, An, Cao, etc.). From the Tang Dynasty to the Five Dynasties, Lute people often held positions as generals. Cao Yanxing was said to be from Guazhou and had presented an item called cotton.

Liu Ranhong, being a quick thinker, soon furrowed his brows and thought to himself, "Why does this bulletin specify the Lute People’s identity?"

"A barbarian conferred the title of Marquis?"

"Is the court planning to develop the Western Regions?"

Below was a lengthy introduction about cotton, written in vernacular, as it was said that Your Majesty detested classical prose.

Moreover, the infamous World Peace Subduing Form’s holder, the Duke of Yan Sheng, was also conferred by the Song Dynasty, and Your Majesty, after ascending the throne, directly revoked the titles of Confucius’s descendants and reappointed them as the Officials for the Worship of the Great Sage, Perfectly Holy Teacher.

This attitude makes Your Majesty’s stance on Confucianism obvious.

Can’t the country be governed without Confucianism?

What a joke.

At the end of the bulletin, there was a segment about merchants from Kucha presenting a crop known as ’watermelon,’ which also received great rewards, though not a title, merely a government position.

The focus above was still related to cotton, providing popular science about its function.

"Presenting this item actually exchanged for a title."

"What magical properties does this cotton have?" Liu Ranhong was also curious.

How did this good fortune not fall upon him?

China has two species of cotton, one from the Indian subcontinent, with Asian cotton introduced to Hainan Island and the Guangdong and Guangxi regions via India, Myanmar, and Vietnam. Another species originates from the African continent, with herbaceous cotton introduced to Xinjiang and the Hexi Corridor via Africa and West Asia during the Northern and Southern Dynasties, the latter being slightly better.

The widespread use of cotton in the Central Plains began in the late Song and early Yuan periods, with large-scale compulsory planting initiated by Zhu Yuanzhang of the Ming Dynasty.