Twenty or nine days is enough to freeze people, they can’t stretch out their hands. In previous years, the whole family would nest in the house at this time, shivering around the brazier. Calculating the ratio of planting grain to ration, hoping to dig more wild vegetables in the spring to satisfy the hunger. This year, however, is different.
Pushing open the crude wooden door, Li Er walked into the hut. His body was covered with hot sweat, and even the winter clothes were wet.
“Hurry! Take them off and lay them on the kang to dry,” Li Er’s wife rushed over, assisting him in removing his clothes.
Yet, Li Er first pulled out a piece of flatbread from his pocket and handed it to his wife: “Today, I placed third in the assessment, and this is the reward!”
Li Er’s wife immediately broke into a joyful smile, accepting the thick piece of flatbread.
Li Er’s family fled to Lucheng. His family originally lived in Qi County, but the local Huns made a fuss, saying they wanted to establish a country, and officers and soldiers came to crusade. After coming and going, the house was burned, and people were almost dragged to serve as soldiers. Forced to do nothing, Li Er had no choice but to take his family with him, trying to escape from Bing County.
Where exactly to escape to, Li Er was uncertain. Contemplating going with the flow, he crossed the Taihang Mountains and headed towards Yan County. Unexpectedly, upon reaching Shangdang, news reached them. The prefect of Shangdang was benevolent, issuing orders for the counties to shelter refugees and cultivate official fields. Li Er had reservations about this; after all, he had witnessed people being conscripted to build Gaiwu Castle along the way. Doing laborious tasks in the dead of winter was scarcely different from being a soldier in the relentless struggle.
After several more days of travel, upon arriving at the county seat of Lu City, he realized the rumors were true. In the wastelands of Lu City’s western outskirts, many structures had already been erected, and farmers were driving cattle and horses to clear the land. This was a sight that was unheard of in other places. How could these people dare to linger in Shangdang? The Huns were not far from here!
Exercising caution, Li Er made careful inquiries for quite some time and discovered that the one now holding high authority in Lu City was the legendary monk. Due to his blessings, the Huns who had previously attacked Lu City were all struck dead by divine lightning, and their piled-up fortresses were still visible outside the city walls! Upon seeing the towering mounds of earth and the official documents listing names outside the refugee camp, Li Er eventually made up his mind and stayed outside the city.
For cultivating the uncultivated land, the government officials provided plow heads and livestock. They could also borrow seeds from the government. The land tax was somewhat high, amounting to forty percent in the first year, with reductions in subsequent years as circumstances allowed. However, given that they were provided with so many resources and not subjected to excessive levies1, it wasn’t considered excessively high.
What brought even greater joy was that, in addition to the land-clearing work, soldiers organized training for them. Everyone who participated in the training received a set of winter clothes and a full meal each day. Although the training lasted for a full two hours, considering the relatively light farming work at the moment, it was manageable. After a month of training, there would be assessments every three days. Those who excelled in running, archery, and stone-throwing were rewarded with flatbreads.
Li Er wasn’t particularly robust, but he had exceptionally keen eyes and steady hands, allowing him to achieve a third rank in archery. And that wasn’t all—during the monthly assessments, if his team managed to secure a third rank, each member of the ten-person team would receive a flatbread!
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This thick flatbread, soaked in hot soup, would suffice to feed his wife and children for two days. It was practically life-saving sustenance. For newcomers like Li Er who had little surplus wealth, it was even more crucial.
As Li Er’s wife eagerly accepted the flatbread, he finally showed a hint of a smile. He shed his damp winter clothes and slipped under the covers of the earthen kang—a type of heated sleeping platform he had only encountered since arriving in Lu City. Every refugee household had one. Raised about three feet off the ground and designed similarly to a stove, it could be heated with firewood underneath. By adding wood daily, the bed could be kept warm and cozy, allowing them to sleep until dawn.
It was precisely due to these earthen kangs that those refugees lacking warm clothing were spared from freezing and starving to death. When they eventually built their own houses, they would need to construct an earthen kang first.
Li Er’s wife deftly placed the wet clothes on the kang and sat down as well. “The monthly assessment is just a few days away. Can your team win?”
Li Er sighed. “It depends on the others.”
The assessment was conducted for each team. In their team, there were still two members who consistently fell short. However, the news he heard today ignited a spark in him. After some thought, Li Er whispered to his wife, “With the coming of spring, it’s likely that we’ll be formally organized into troops. If there’s a battle, I want to try fighting.”
Upon hearing this, Li Er’s wife’s expression changed. “Weren’t you supposed to defend the homeland? Why would you want to go to the battlefield…”
“If the Huns invade, we’ll have to defend the homeland,” Li Er’s expression turned serious. “This is the best opportunity. It’s said that those who participate in battle will be equipped with wooden spears and longbows. If we wait longer, we might have to provide our own weapons. Plus, enlisting in the army exempts one from corvée2 labor, and victory brings rewards. It’s better than staying cooped up at home.”
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Exemption from corvée labor was quite enticing for most farmers. The labor was backbreaking; it was because officials frequently assigned laborious tasks to the common people, sometimes even requiring them to leave their hometowns to build walls and dig canals, making their lives incredibly arduous. Being new to the area and still residing in the refugee camp, if he were conscripted into labor, the burden on his family would become even heavier.
On the contrary, in battle, time wouldn’t be overly long, and there would be rewards for victory. He had trained diligently precisely to improve the lives of his family, hadn’t he? Since he had learned these skills, he should showcase them. Perhaps, he might even be rewarded for his efforts!
Hearing this, Li Er’s wife couldn’t help but clasp her hands together: “May the Yaoshi Buddha protect and bless, granting my husband a realm of prosperity. May he triumph in all battles and return in safety.”
This was the most common prayer in the refugee camp, akin to the Yaoshi Buddha tablet enshrined at home. Li Er’s expression grew more solemn. Yes, as long as that Buddha who sat on high manifested his divine presence, it would be enough to ensure their tranquil guardianship of this corner of the world.
※
“My Lord, within two months, the various counties have taken in a total of four thousand households of refugees. Land reclamation is many times more than previous years, the momentum is too aggressive, and it might need to be slowed down,” Duan Qin reported, holding the newly compiled official land registry.
“Shangdang originally had thirteen thousand households. The turmoil in the past few years, coupled with the great calamities, has likely reduced the number considerably. Just in terms of cultivated land, it should be sufficient. However, the issue of food is slightly more severe,” Liang Feng carefully perused the land registry, deliberating, “For this winter, let’s proceed as planned. We’ll decide everything after the spring of the coming year. If the harvest is bountiful, then we can consider expanding cultivation.”
During the Tai Kang reign of the Western Jin Dynasty, a population census had been conducted, revealing slightly over ten thousand households in Shangdang. Even if one were to include the prominent families and hidden households, it probably wouldn’t exceed twenty thousand. Calculating five members per household, for all ten counties of Shangdang, there were only a hundred thousand people. This number sounded like a joke when heard in later times. Any random prefecture-level city had to have at least a million residents, right? Even during the peaceful years of the Eastern Han Dynasty, the number would need to be multiplied by five to surpass this.
And what about now? After experiencing warfare, natural disasters, and widespread famine-induced migration, it was doubtful whether there were even ten thousand households remaining in Shangdang commandery. That’s why he had said that settling these people wasn’t a problem. But while there was land, it didn’t necessarily mean they could sustain the population. Whether it was for cultivating crops or for provisions, both were major shortcomings. Luckily, he had reported to Sima Teng, stating that due to the repeated warfare this year and the passage of refugees, a portion of the autumn tax had been intercepted. Otherwise, it was unlikely they could even support the current population.
Without food, they naturally had to find a way to obtain it. Unfortunately, the state of affairs nowadays was one of widespread famine. Last year, Luoyang had been in chaos for an entire year. When Zhang Fang kidnapped the Emperor, he had even plowed through the Luoyang Imperial Palace. Let alone production, it would be considered fortunate if there were no calamities in Si County next year. With a grain shortage in Si County, there was no hope for the supply route of grain to Bing County. Even if they had grain, there was no guarantee they could bring it back. Coupled with the intense turmoil caused by the Huns, the trade routes were practically severed. If they wanted grain, the only option was to cultivate it themselves.
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“The experienced elderly farmers from each county should be recruited to the commandery as soon as possible, along with those skilled in water management. This winter, we must develop a suitable spring cultivation plan,” Liang Feng suggested.
This was an unavoidable approach. By recruiting these experienced elderly farmers and using their expertise as a reference, they could compile a reasonable cultivation method based on the collective wisdom in agricultural texts. This approach had been attempted before in the Liang residence and had yielded quite good results. However, each county had its own geographical conditions, so further investigation was necessary. If possible, it would be best to document these agricultural achievements, compiling them into volumes similar to the renowned “Essential Techniques for the Welfare of the People” that would be celebrated in later generations. Works like the “Book of Expansive Triumphs” and the “Monthly Ordinances for the Four Classes of People” were agricultural texts from the Han Dynasty; they needed to be updated and renewed.
Duan Qin nodded. “The farmers are already on their way, and in a few more days, they should arrive in Lu City. The announcements for the library have also been posted. Master Cui said that in another ten days, the library should be open.”
This library was something Liang Feng had recently conceived. It was a careless remark from Ge Hong that had prompted him to consider the matter of book preservation. Scholars like Ge Hong, with modest backgrounds, didn’t have the means to use paper. If they wanted to collect desired books, they had to transcribe them onto bamboo slips. Although Ge Hong was only twenty-one years old now, his written works already numbered in the tens of thousands. Having traveled from the southern regions all the way to the north, he had lost a significant number of bamboo slips along the way. Even now, as he conceived his new work “Baopuzi,” he often sighed, wishing he had met the Lord of the Liang residence earlier.
This also brought another issue to Liang Feng’s mind. In times of turmoil, the most vulnerable things were likely bamboo slips. When fleeing for their lives, aside from those obsessed with books, how many would carry bundles of heavy bamboo slips? Instead, they would opt for valuable items like gold, silver, and valuables. However, if bamboo slips were replaced with paper books, one could carry several times more, and the transmission of knowledge would be less likely to be interrupted. Moreover, copying books also requires manpower. If they established a library, could they attract more reserve talent?
When he shared this idea with Duan Qin and Cui Ji, both immediately warmed up to it. No one understood better than them the allure and importance of books for those from humble origins. So, after careful consideration, they established a separate library within Chongwen Hall, specifically for housing paper books. Any scholar with good handwriting could enter the library to transcribe books. For every five volumes transcribed, they would receive one blank sheet of paper for free, along with ink and brushes of their choice, allowing them to copy the books they desired.
The mere mention of this concept had people eager to take part! If everyone could enter the library and personally transcribe five volumes of books, then copy one more volume to take away, it was truly an unprecedented opportunity! The books held by those prominent families were nearly impossible for commoners to access. Moreover, the books they themselves could find were only a few kinds. With such an arrangement, it was like throwing open a treasure trove to the poor. Who wouldn’t be famished with knowledge and eager to copy several more books?
With people copying books, there naturally had to be people providing books. In addition to Liang Feng’s personal collection, he also proposed an idea. Anyone who contributed fifty volumes of various books to the library could enter freely and read the books in the specially designated warm reading room. They could use the ink and brushes as they pleased and even peruse others’ unique copies. This way, some book collectors would be tempted to lend the library some of their books for public transcription.
This would increase the number of copyable books and become a true paper-based library. Having tens of thousands of volumes would be as easy as hitching a carriage!
With such a treasure trove in hand, they need not worry that eager scholars would not come from afar to read. Coupled with the Liang residence’s woodblock printing technology, there would be no lack of talent retention!
Nowadays, the number of people who can afford to purchase scripture paper has decreased significantly due to the turmoil of war. The sales of the “Diamond Sutra” have also declined. It might be better to allocate the surplus paper to more valuable purposes. Liang Feng’s desires extended beyond just food; there were more crucial considerations to account for.
“The library must pay close attention to fire prevention, and the warm reading room should also be well maintained, achieving perfection in every detail,” Liang Feng emphasized carefully.
Taking advantage of the fact that the true harsh cold hadn’t yet arrived, there were several more things to attend to.
1taxes, fees, or compulsory contributions that are collected by a government or an authority from individuals, households, businesses, or other entities to support public services, infrastructure, or various government activities.
2a term used to describe unpaid labor or services that are required of people by the government or a ruling authority.
Twenty or nine days is enough to freeze people, they can’t stretch out their hands. In previous years, the whole family would nest in the house at this time, shivering around the brazier. Calculating the ratio of planting grain to ration, hoping to dig more wild vegetables in the spring to satisfy the hunger. This year, however, is different.
Pushing open the crude wooden door, Li Er walked into the hut. His body was covered with hot sweat, and even the winter clothes were wet.
“Hurry! Take them off and lay them on the kang to dry,” Li Er’s wife rushed over, assisting him in removing his clothes.
Yet, Li Er first pulled out a piece of flatbread from his pocket and handed it to his wife: “Today, I placed third in the assessment, and this is the reward!”
Li Er’s wife immediately broke into a joyful smile, accepting the thick piece of flatbread.
Li Er’s family fled to Lucheng. His family originally lived in Qi County, but the local Huns made a fuss, saying they wanted to establish a country, and officers and soldiers came to crusade. After coming and going, the house was burned, and people were almost dragged to serve as soldiers. Forced to do nothing, Li Er had no choice but to take his family with him, trying to escape from Bing County.
Where exactly to escape to, Li Er was uncertain. Contemplating going with the flow, he crossed the Taihang Mountains and headed towards Yan County. Unexpectedly, upon reaching Shangdang, news reached them. The prefect of Shangdang was benevolent, issuing orders for the counties to shelter refugees and cultivate official fields. Li Er had reservations about this; after all, he had witnessed people being conscripted to build Gaiwu Castle along the way. Doing laborious tasks in the dead of winter was scarcely different from being a soldier in the relentless struggle.
After several more days of travel, upon arriving at the county seat of Lu City, he realized the rumors were true. In the wastelands of Lu City’s western outskirts, many structures had already been erected, and farmers were driving cattle and horses to clear the land. This was a sight that was unheard of in other places. How could these people dare to linger in Shangdang? The Huns were not far from here!
Exercising caution, Li Er made careful inquiries for quite some time and discovered that the one now holding high authority in Lu City was the legendary monk. Due to his blessings, the Huns who had previously attacked Lu City were all struck dead by divine lightning, and their piled-up fortresses were still visible outside the city walls! Upon seeing the towering mounds of earth and the official documents listing names outside the refugee camp, Li Er eventually made up his mind and stayed outside the city.
For cultivating the uncultivated land, the government officials provided plow heads and livestock. They could also borrow seeds from the government. The land tax was somewhat high, amounting to forty percent in the first year, with reductions in subsequent years as circumstances allowed. However, given that they were provided with so many resources and not subjected to excessive levies1, it wasn’t considered excessively high.
What brought even greater joy was that, in addition to the land-clearing work, soldiers organized training for them. Everyone who participated in the training received a set of winter clothes and a full meal each day. Although the training lasted for a full two hours, considering the relatively light farming work at the moment, it was manageable. After a month of training, there would be assessments every three days. Those who excelled in running, archery, and stone-throwing were rewarded with flatbreads.
Li Er wasn’t particularly robust, but he had exceptionally keen eyes and steady hands, allowing him to achieve a third rank in archery. And that wasn’t all—during the monthly assessments, if his team managed to secure a third rank, each member of the ten-person team would receive a flatbread!
Advertisement
This thick flatbread, soaked in hot soup, would suffice to feed his wife and children for two days. It was practically life-saving sustenance. For newcomers like Li Er who had little surplus wealth, it was even more crucial.
As Li Er’s wife eagerly accepted the flatbread, he finally showed a hint of a smile. He shed his damp winter clothes and slipped under the covers of the earthen kang—a type of heated sleeping platform he had only encountered since arriving in Lu City. Every refugee household had one. Raised about three feet off the ground and designed similarly to a stove, it could be heated with firewood underneath. By adding wood daily, the bed could be kept warm and cozy, allowing them to sleep until dawn.
It was precisely due to these earthen kangs that those refugees lacking warm clothing were spared from freezing and starving to death. When they eventually built their own houses, they would need to construct an earthen kang first.
Li Er’s wife deftly placed the wet clothes on the kang and sat down as well. “The monthly assessment is just a few days away. Can your team win?”
Li Er sighed. “It depends on the others.”
The assessment was conducted for each team. In their team, there were still two members who consistently fell short. However, the news he heard today ignited a spark in him. After some thought, Li Er whispered to his wife, “With the coming of spring, it’s likely that we’ll be formally organized into troops. If there’s a battle, I want to try fighting.”
Upon hearing this, Li Er’s wife’s expression changed. “Weren’t you supposed to defend the homeland? Why would you want to go to the battlefield…”
“If the Huns invade, we’ll have to defend the homeland,” Li Er’s expression turned serious. “This is the best opportunity. It’s said that those who participate in battle will be equipped with wooden spears and longbows. If we wait longer, we might have to provide our own weapons. Plus, enlisting in the army exempts one from corvée2 labor, and victory brings rewards. It’s better than staying cooped up at home.”
Advertisement
Exemption from corvée labor was quite enticing for most farmers. The labor was backbreaking; it was because officials frequently assigned laborious tasks to the common people, sometimes even requiring them to leave their hometowns to build walls and dig canals, making their lives incredibly arduous. Being new to the area and still residing in the refugee camp, if he were conscripted into labor, the burden on his family would become even heavier.
On the contrary, in battle, time wouldn’t be overly long, and there would be rewards for victory. He had trained diligently precisely to improve the lives of his family, hadn’t he? Since he had learned these skills, he should showcase them. Perhaps, he might even be rewarded for his efforts!
Hearing this, Li Er’s wife couldn’t help but clasp her hands together: “May the Yaoshi Buddha protect and bless, granting my husband a realm of prosperity. May he triumph in all battles and return in safety.”
This was the most common prayer in the refugee camp, akin to the Yaoshi Buddha tablet enshrined at home. Li Er’s expression grew more solemn. Yes, as long as that Buddha who sat on high manifested his divine presence, it would be enough to ensure their tranquil guardianship of this corner of the world.
※
“My Lord, within two months, the various counties have taken in a total of four thousand households of refugees. Land reclamation is many times more than previous years, the momentum is too aggressive, and it might need to be slowed down,” Duan Qin reported, holding the newly compiled official land registry.
“Shangdang originally had thirteen thousand households. The turmoil in the past few years, coupled with the great calamities, has likely reduced the number considerably. Just in terms of cultivated land, it should be sufficient. However, the issue of food is slightly more severe,” Liang Feng carefully perused the land registry, deliberating, “For this winter, let’s proceed as planned. We’ll decide everything after the spring of the coming year. If the harvest is bountiful, then we can consider expanding cultivation.”
During the Tai Kang reign of the Western Jin Dynasty, a population census had been conducted, revealing slightly over ten thousand households in Shangdang. Even if one were to include the prominent families and hidden households, it probably wouldn’t exceed twenty thousand. Calculating five members per household, for all ten counties of Shangdang, there were only a hundred thousand people. This number sounded like a joke when heard in later times. Any random prefecture-level city had to have at least a million residents, right? Even during the peaceful years of the Eastern Han Dynasty, the number would need to be multiplied by five to surpass this.
And what about now? After experiencing warfare, natural disasters, and widespread famine-induced migration, it was doubtful whether there were even ten thousand households remaining in Shangdang commandery. That’s why he had said that settling these people wasn’t a problem. But while there was land, it didn’t necessarily mean they could sustain the population. Whether it was for cultivating crops or for provisions, both were major shortcomings. Luckily, he had reported to Sima Teng, stating that due to the repeated warfare this year and the passage of refugees, a portion of the autumn tax had been intercepted. Otherwise, it was unlikely they could even support the current population.
Without food, they naturally had to find a way to obtain it. Unfortunately, the state of affairs nowadays was one of widespread famine. Last year, Luoyang had been in chaos for an entire year. When Zhang Fang kidnapped the Emperor, he had even plowed through the Luoyang Imperial Palace. Let alone production, it would be considered fortunate if there were no calamities in Si County next year. With a grain shortage in Si County, there was no hope for the supply route of grain to Bing County. Even if they had grain, there was no guarantee they could bring it back. Coupled with the intense turmoil caused by the Huns, the trade routes were practically severed. If they wanted grain, the only option was to cultivate it themselves.
Advertisement
“The experienced elderly farmers from each county should be recruited to the commandery as soon as possible, along with those skilled in water management. This winter, we must develop a suitable spring cultivation plan,” Liang Feng suggested.
This was an unavoidable approach. By recruiting these experienced elderly farmers and using their expertise as a reference, they could compile a reasonable cultivation method based on the collective wisdom in agricultural texts. This approach had been attempted before in the Liang residence and had yielded quite good results. However, each county had its own geographical conditions, so further investigation was necessary. If possible, it would be best to document these agricultural achievements, compiling them into volumes similar to the renowned “Essential Techniques for the Welfare of the People” that would be celebrated in later generations. Works like the “Book of Expansive Triumphs” and the “Monthly Ordinances for the Four Classes of People” were agricultural texts from the Han Dynasty; they needed to be updated and renewed.
Duan Qin nodded. “The farmers are already on their way, and in a few more days, they should arrive in Lu City. The announcements for the library have also been posted. Master Cui said that in another ten days, the library should be open.”
This library was something Liang Feng had recently conceived. It was a careless remark from Ge Hong that had prompted him to consider the matter of book preservation. Scholars like Ge Hong, with modest backgrounds, didn’t have the means to use paper. If they wanted to collect desired books, they had to transcribe them onto bamboo slips. Although Ge Hong was only twenty-one years old now, his written works already numbered in the tens of thousands. Having traveled from the southern regions all the way to the north, he had lost a significant number of bamboo slips along the way. Even now, as he conceived his new work “Baopuzi,” he often sighed, wishing he had met the Lord of the Liang residence earlier.
This also brought another issue to Liang Feng’s mind. In times of turmoil, the most vulnerable things were likely bamboo slips. When fleeing for their lives, aside from those obsessed with books, how many would carry bundles of heavy bamboo slips? Instead, they would opt for valuable items like gold, silver, and valuables. However, if bamboo slips were replaced with paper books, one could carry several times more, and the transmission of knowledge would be less likely to be interrupted. Moreover, copying books also requires manpower. If they established a library, could they attract more reserve talent?
When he shared this idea with Duan Qin and Cui Ji, both immediately warmed up to it. No one understood better than them the allure and importance of books for those from humble origins. So, after careful consideration, they established a separate library within Chongwen Hall, specifically for housing paper books. Any scholar with good handwriting could enter the library to transcribe books. For every five volumes transcribed, they would receive one blank sheet of paper for free, along with ink and brushes of their choice, allowing them to copy the books they desired.
The mere mention of this concept had people eager to take part! If everyone could enter the library and personally transcribe five volumes of books, then copy one more volume to take away, it was truly an unprecedented opportunity! The books held by those prominent families were nearly impossible for commoners to access. Moreover, the books they themselves could find were only a few kinds. With such an arrangement, it was like throwing open a treasure trove to the poor. Who wouldn’t be famished with knowledge and eager to copy several more books?
With people copying books, there naturally had to be people providing books. In addition to Liang Feng’s personal collection, he also proposed an idea. Anyone who contributed fifty volumes of various books to the library could enter freely and read the books in the specially designated warm reading room. They could use the ink and brushes as they pleased and even peruse others’ unique copies. This way, some book collectors would be tempted to lend the library some of their books for public transcription.
This would increase the number of copyable books and become a true paper-based library. Having tens of thousands of volumes would be as easy as hitching a carriage!
With such a treasure trove in hand, they need not worry that eager scholars would not come from afar to read. Coupled with the Liang residence’s woodblock printing technology, there would be no lack of talent retention!
Nowadays, the number of people who can afford to purchase scripture paper has decreased significantly due to the turmoil of war. The sales of the “Diamond Sutra” have also declined. It might be better to allocate the surplus paper to more valuable purposes. Liang Feng’s desires extended beyond just food; there were more crucial considerations to account for.
“The library must pay close attention to fire prevention, and the warm reading room should also be well maintained, achieving perfection in every detail,” Liang Feng emphasized carefully.
Taking advantage of the fact that the true harsh cold hadn’t yet arrived, there were several more things to attend to.
1taxes, fees, or compulsory contributions that are collected by a government or an authority from individuals, households, businesses, or other entities to support public services, infrastructure, or various government activities.
2a term used to describe unpaid labor or services that are required of people by the government or a ruling authority.
