Kang Zijiao was born into a poor family and recorded it in the official documents of the Ministry of Personnel. In fact, his family background was lower than that of a "poor family" and had almost no family. Before he was ten years old, he was a slave. Because he was young, he could not do heavy work and studied with his master's children, so he knew the words and wrote very well. The teacher praised him, but he was not qualified to get a fame and honor.

When he was ten years old, his father accompanied his master to go out for business, he fought alone with several robbers on the road, saving his master's life, but he was seriously injured and lucky enough to regain his life, but he could never get out of bed.

The master was quite kind-hearted and redeemed the Kang family and gave them a small piece of land. He heard that the Kang family's son was good at studying, and he used his own connections to help the Kang family modify their household registration and erase the records of the slaves so that he could take the scientific examination.

But the father did not have such great ambitions, and he hoped that his son would do business or farm and be an honest and honest person. The ten-year-old Kang Zijiao had already seen his own path clearly, insisted on studying, and changed his name to "Self-Jie" because he knew that on this path, he had to encourage himself and improve himself.

The household registration has been changed, but the identity has not been found. In the school, Kang Zijiao was still regarded as a "slave" by his classmates, especially the old master's child, who called him to drink, asked him to bring tea and water, and ordered him to do his homework for him...

Kang Zijiao accepted it because his father reminded him almost every day: "You have to be grateful. The master gave you your current identity. You are a slave, so it's good to be able to read. Working hard to get a scholar can be considered as an explanation to the master."

Kang Zijiao nodded every time, but felt depressed. In school, he had no friends and had some time to have time, and his partner was the son of Zhuang Nong and the slave.

Kang Zijiao passed the exam successfully and wanted to continue studying. He had a big fight with his father. His father couldn't get up and could not control his son. He gritted his teeth and said, "Learn, it depends on when you can lose all the acres of land in your family."

His father's prophecy came true. In less than ten years, Kang Zijiao did "lose all" property and wanted to go to Beijing to take the exam, so he had to sell the land and raise money.

But my father didn't see that he had passed away. Not long after, my mother also went with her father. The land at home was rented to others for farming, but it was not affected.

Since he became a scholar, Kang Zijiao got rid of his old classmates, including the master's son. He was the only child in the same village who passed the scholar exam and was able to continue his studies in the city.

But he is still a "slave son". People in the county schools often joke about this matter and even expressed their willingness to pay for him to be a entourage.

Kang Zijiao no longer tolerate it. Whenever he encounters ridicule, he will fight back with more mean words. His temperament becomes more and more arrogant. No one likes him except a teacher.

Kang Zijiao did not cut off contact with a few childhood friends. Every time he went home, he still went to visit him and chatted casually. Therefore, he always felt that he knew the sufferings of the people better than most scholars.

He not only thought so, but also said so, and even dared to say it in front of the emperor.

Han Ruzi really didn't like Kang Zijiao very much, so she stayed by her side and was reluctant to be appointed as an official. However, she admired him with a blunt heart. At the same time, she was also angry, "When the enemy is in front of me, I still don't forget to release my private slaves, reduce rent, and reclaim land, but you said I don't know the sufferings of the people?"

"Have Your Majesty really lived among the poor?"

"No, but I have seen that many of the guards around me are from poor people." Han Ruzi refers to the fishermen. Although there are only a few hundred, they are the most reliable protectors around him.

“各家的私奴呢?陛下见过多少?”

"I haven't seen it before." Han Ruzi told the truth. When Kang Zijiao used his aggressiveness on others, the emperor was still very happy. Now he was reaping his own consequences and felt even more embarrassed. "Does the private slave want to leave his old master?"

"Why do you want to? The owner is holding on to the sky when the sky falls, but now he is leaving the house with nothing. Who will carry it when the sky falls?"

Han Ruzi frowned, "Why do you have to say 'The sky collapses'?"

“从前生活被打乱,原来有房居住,有饭可吃,现在却是居无定所,吃饱一顿担心下一顿,民以食为天,对私奴来说,吃不饱就是‘天塌了’.”

"I have issued an order. When a private slave leaves home, he will receive compensation. If he is willing to join the army or reclaim the land, the government will also distribute it to the land."

“陛下传旨了?”

"Of course, and it was you who saw it with your own eyes." Han Ruzi became more and more angry, but she didn't want to show it completely.

“旨意传给谁了?”

"Kang Zijiao, what do you want to say, just say it, there is no need to beat around the bush." ​​Han Ruzi said coldly.

Kang Zijiao bowed his hand to apologize, "Your Majesty's imperial edict was first introduced to the Prime Minister's Office, and then to various departments. The post station was distributed to all counties in the world, and the counties were copied to each county, and the county was transferred to the township, and the township told the people. An imperial edict was to be learned by the people, and each hand was under the control of the officials. These officials were either from aristocratic families or had close ties with the aristocratic families. They were the group of people that Your Majesty wanted to suppress. I would like to ask, are they willing to convey this imperial edict truthfully?"

Han Ruzi's anger disappeared completely and his tone eased, "What did Kang Qing hear?"

"It's not that I heard of it, but that I saw it with my own eyes. Just outside the capital, many private slaves cried loudly on the road, refusing to leave their old master, thinking that they would never be able to leave again."

Han Ruzi was silent for a while. He had been concentrating on fighting with the ministers. The fierce reactions of the officials made him think he was only one step away from victory. Now he realized that he was hit by the "speaking east and attacking west" and was in the wrong place to fight an unrelated battle. Even though he won, he still lost.

“私奴可愿从军?”

"Only a small number of them are willing. They are used to planting land and are extremely afraid of war. The north is about to start a war. No matter how much land is given, many people do not want to join the army. Moreover, the land promised by His Majesty will take three to ten years to obtain. The poor people are afraid of officials and do not believe in officials. When they hear that it will be three years later, they will not believe it."

韩孺子沉默得更久.

It's really difficult to be an emperor, but this sentence can only be hidden in my heart. Han Ruzi said, "What you said is true?"

"Your Majesty can send someone to investigate. It doesn't take too far. There are many large manors outside the capital. Ask them if they don't understand the entire content of the imperial edict, and are you willing to leave the old master and set up your own business?"

韩孺子当然要派人调查,“康卿可有妙计解决困境?”

Kang Zijiao replied: "Why did the officials and people be harmonious and the government orders were smooth at the beginning of the Ding Ding? Because the meritorious officials all came from the people and were familiar with the suffering of the people. Two or three generations later, the children of aristocratic families were used to being rich and well-behaved since childhood. They regarded wealth as natural. Sometimes there were dissatisfactions and only felt that they were suffering. But they knew that there were even more suffering in the world. It was really hard? Your Majesty asked about a clever plan. The poor minister only had one plan, and they mostly used poor children as officials, which might make the court know the people again."

Han Ruzi nodded, thinking that Kang Zijiao's plan was not "good" enough, "You retreat first and let me think about it."

Kang Zijiao bowed and finally said, "Kang is not humble and thinks he has the talent of the prime minister. If Your Majesty wants to use a poor family, you can start with Kang."

Han Ruzi laughed and waved her hand to order Kang Zijiao to step down.

Kang Zijiao did not hide his ambition to seek official positions, and Han Ruzi didn't care, but was thinking carefully about what he said.

Han Ruzi was the emperor. Even when he was forced to abdicate, most of the people he met were willing to use for him. The more free and easy ones were to retreat after the matter was done. Therefore, it was difficult for him to understand that there were actually people who were willing to be slaves but were unwilling to set up their own businesses.

He couldn't just listen to one sentence. Han Ruzi had to investigate clearly. After thinking for a while, he felt that neither Jin Chunzhong nor Jing Yao was suitable, so he asked Zhang Youcai to summon Chao Jing.

After a long period of luxury, Chao Jing no longer looks like a poor boy in a fishing village. His eyes are shining and he is aiming everywhere. He is not like a soldier in the Guards.

Han Ruzi explained the matter clearly and asked Chao Jing to go outside the capital to inquire about the situation. He specifically reminded him: "Don't disclose your identity, you are not good at this now."

"Clothes can't be done? I'll change my clothes."

"Well...not just clothes, you used to be quite dark, but now you seem to have turned white."

"Is that true?" Chao Jing touched his face, "I'm pretty dark compared to Zhang Youcai."

Zhang Youcai coughed.

"And I'm fat too." Han Ruzi looked up and down a few times, "Don't you usually participate in military training?"

Chao Jing turned red. He was smart and understood what the emperor meant, "I understand. Your Majesty wants to find someone who can speak to ordinary people and not be recognized for his true identity, right?"

Han Ruzi nodded.

"This is simple. Let Ma Da go with me. He is so dark that he can't even cover up even if he uses powder. He is still as short and strong as before. As long as he changes his clothes, no one can recognize him as a soldier in the Guards."

"Ma Da's temper..."

"If I watch, please don't worry." Chao Jing turned around and left, as if this was not the emperor's order, but the entrustment of an acquaintance.

"After so long, he hasn't learned the rules." Zhang Youcai said dissatisfied.

Han Ruzi smiled, "I would rather want the latter."

Zhang Youcai bowed and said, "The truth hurts people, only Your Majesty can bear it. There are several generals outside. Will Your Majesty meet today?"

"Tomorrow." Han Ruzi was really tired. After turning back to the harem, paying homage to the empress dowager, he did not go to Qiuxin Palace, nor to visit Concubine Shu Deng Yun. He returned to Tai'an Palace directly. He needed to stay alone for a while.

Soon after dark, the queen sent someone to send the pajamas that the emperor often wore.

Meng E put down her clothes and turned to leave. Han Ruzi called her, "How is the princess today?"

"Very good, I broke a cup." Meng E replied.

Han Ruzi smiled, but this was not the real reason why he called Meng E. He was hesitating and finally asked: "I once boasted that I mastered the imperial skills, but now I am not so sure."

Meng E waited for a while and replied, "Your Majesty once told me that a person matures twice in his life. The first time he knows what he can do, and the second time he knows what he cannot do."

"This is Yang Feng's words." Han Ruzi's heart moved, and suddenly there was no such thing as saying, "Thank you."

Meng E nodded and bowed and left.

"What can't be done?" Han Ruzi said softly. In a trance, Yang Feng seemed to be standing opposite him, looking at him coldly, waiting for him to give an answer, "What can the emperor not do?" (To be continued.).

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Chapter completed!