Today is the ninth year of Tianbao in the Tang Dynasty, and it has been nine years since the Kaiyuan era. Since the Kaiyuan era can leave a strong mark in the history books, it naturally has its heritage. Although the reign name has changed, the character of the emperor who worked hard to govern may be

It has also changed, but there is still some afterglow of the prosperous times echoing between heaven and earth.

The military of the Tang Dynasty was still invincible, but its twilight had begun to show. When conquering enemy countries, there were no longer frequent reports of successes, and occasionally there were reports of some defeats.

The victory or defeat of the armies of past dynasties in conquering enemy countries seems to be related to the diligence of the emperor. At that time, the high-spirited Li Longji joined forces with Princess Taiping to annihilate the Queen Wei Group. Two years later, he ascended to Dabao, holding the national weapon, sitting in the north and facing the south.

King, after ascending the throne, Li Longji worked hard to govern, saved the building from collapse, and personally created the famous Kaiyuan Dynasty. It must be said that Li Longji was a great emperor in his early years.

But later, the prosperous age became less like the prosperous age.

The hidden dangers laid by the policies in the early years gradually showed signs. The Tang Dynasty border was divided into ten vassal towns, and the military governors of each town had exclusive power. Military, financial and civilian powers were concentrated in one body. The vassal towns gradually became vassals of one side. The central court had control over the vassal towns.

The control of the feudal lords became weaker and weaker. In order to expand the military and support the troops, the feudal towns imposed more and more heavy taxes on their subjects.

When the burden of the people at the bottom becomes more and more unbearable, the so-called "prosperous age" seems to be glorious, but in fact it is burning and dangerous. However, the emperor of Shengming, who is sitting firmly in the Long Court of Chang'an, is still immersed in building the Tang Dynasty with his own hands.

He couldn't extricate himself from the sense of accomplishment in the prosperous age. He was intoxicated in the gentleness of Concubine Yang, and he no longer treated the government and people's livelihood as diligently as before. He handed over the power of the prime minister to treacherous ministers like Li Linfu and Yang Guozhong, but his thoughts gradually shifted to

Huaqing Pool, Liyuan Leban.

The prosperous age still seemed to be a prosperous age, and no one noticed that a faint aura of twilight gradually enveloped the vast territory of the Tang Dynasty.

The small goals set by Gu Qing are as difficult as reaching the sky for the farmers in Shiqiao Village.

In the prosperous Shiqiao Village, most of the farmers could not guarantee food and clothing. If the weather was good, things would be fine, but if there was a disaster, life would be difficult for the farmers in the village. After paying the government taxes every year, the remaining grain

They had to eat in a planned way, and could only eat a small amount every day. At the same time, they also hunted, caught fish, dug wild vegetables, and mixed everything they could eat into millet, so that they could survive for a year.

Year after year, this is the current situation in Shiqiao Village. No one thinks about changing it, because farmers depend on the weather for their livelihood, and no one knows how to change it.

Gu Qing doesn't want to be a farmer. He doesn't discriminate against farmers. He just doesn't understand farming. From the perspective of personal interests, farming is undoubtedly an occupation with a very low or even negative return rate, and it also involves considerable risks. Farmers

They can't change their fate because they have no other ability except farming and working hard, but Gu Qing is different.

If you want to change the status quo, you must first make money.

But Gu Qing doesn't have many chips in his hand right now, and the only thing he can use is the coal he discovered today. Civilian ironmaking is like committing suicide. Gu Qing doesn't have the guts to challenge Wang Fa at the moment. What else can he do with the remaining coal?

Gu Qing sat on the threshold, staring at the stars in the night sky in a daze.

I don't know how much time passed, but the cool night breeze blew over his shoulders. Gu Qing felt a little chilly, so he stood up, sighed, and went back to his room to sleep.

My head hurts so much, I’m so tired from thinking about things. It’s hard for a clever woman to make a living without rice, and start with nothing. If life in this life is a game, and fate is the one who controls the game, then it must be adjusted to hell mode. If you want to

If you want to pass the level without losing your head, you must be tough enough.

Early the next morning, Gu Qing walked out of the house. He planned to walk around the village to find inspiration for making money.

This is the first time Gu Qing has appeared in the village since time travel, and the effect is very touching.

The villagers gathered in groups everywhere. As soon as Gu Qing showed his friendly smile, the villagers scattered in panic with a loud bang, as if Gu Qing had turned into a fart and exploded in the crowd, smoking everyone away.

Gu Qing's smile froze on his face and he stood still for a long time.

Is this what life is like, as lonely as snow? Is this what it means to draw a sword and look around at a loss?

I am just an ordinary village bully. I am violent, I beat people, and I dig holes, but I know that I am a good village bully.

Standing under the old locust tree in the center of the village, Gu Qing looked a little embarrassed.

It was probably the aftermath of the beating of the Ding brothers the day before yesterday. The little sheep suddenly turned into a big tiger. The villagers must not have been able to adapt to it, especially since the Ding brothers almost had both of their feet disabled. This method made everyone a little scared.

The cold scene at this moment was different from what Gu Qing had imagined. In Gu Qing's mind, he defeated the old version of the village bully and saved the villagers from the fire and water. He should be supported by the stars like a moon. Why did the villagers turn to him when they saw him?

Like seeing a ghost?

Feeling a little depressed, Gu Qing turned around and walked back with a cold face. When he reached the door of his house, he found Song Gensheng pacing back and forth in front of his firewood door, looking restless.

Seeing Gu Qing return, Song Gensheng stepped forward to greet him, grabbed Gu Qing's arm and entered the door.

"The Ding brothers want to harm you, you...go out and hide." Song Gensheng said anxiously.

Gu Qing frowned: "I just crippled their feet, what a big deal, why do you want to hurt me?"

Song Gensheng was stunned: "..."

I vaguely hear the sound of the three worlds shattering in my mind. Is this an illusion?

Isn’t it a big deal if someone’s feet are crippled?

"Why do you know they want to harm me?"

Song Gensheng came back to his senses and sighed: "I went out today and saw a few people gathering under the big locust tree, whispering, and pointing at your house from time to time. I took a look at them, and they were not from this village. I heard that these two days

The Ding brothers are recuperating at home. They asked someone to send a message to the neighboring village. I guess they have found helpers to treat you. The few people from other villages I met this morning were called by the Ding brothers."

Seeing Gu Qing's expressionless face and not saying a word, Song Gensheng sighed: "I told you the day before yesterday that the Ding brothers will never be kind. They have always been narrow-minded and will retaliate when they have a grudge. You almost killed half of them."

How can I not be hated by them if I have a life?"

Gu Qing pondered for a moment and said: "I always forgot to ask, how bad are the Ding brothers?"

Song Gensheng was surprised and said, "Don't you know?"

After a pause, Song Gensheng felt relieved again: "I forgot that you have a brain disease and you have forgotten many things..."

The corner of Gu Qing's mouth twitched. He always felt that "brain disease" and "brain disability" meant the same thing, and since he couldn't produce evidence, it was inconvenient to kill him...

"The Ding brothers are also orphans. My mother died of illness when they were very young. My father joined the army five years ago and died on the battlefield during the campaign against Tibet, leaving the two Ding brothers with no one to discipline them.

In the beginning, they fought with others for a bite of food, and then gradually became accustomed to using their fists to get everything. Now they no longer farm the land themselves, and rely on some side income to make a living, and their lives are better than ordinary villagers...

"

Gu Qing asked with interest: "What kind of extravagant fortune did they make?"

Song Gensheng sighed and said: "There are many poor families in the village. Those who cannot support their children will sell their daughters away and let them marry when they are eleven or twelve years old, or sell them into wealthy families as concubines or maids. The Ding family

The brothers brokered the deal, and many of the daughters' families in the village were taken out of the village by them. After signing the deed and pressing their fingerprints, the daughters were taken away by them. When they came back, they threw dozens of pennies away. I don't know how much they withheld from them.

.”

Gu Qing frowned: "This is the business of human traffickers. It is unscrupulous."

Song Gensheng said helplessly: "What can we do? The family really can't support them. If they don't find a good home for them, the whole family will starve to death. Selling them will give them a way to survive. In fact, this is a transaction between you and me. We can't

It is said that the Ding brothers are wrong. The villagers hate them because they are too domineering in the village. They hate their bullying of the villagers and their neighbors, but they have no hatred towards them for arranging the sale of their daughter."

Gu Qing took a deep breath.
Chapter completed!