Chapter 37: Township Inspection
"In the end, the Wu Family's foundation is too thin and the rise, too fast. It is far less entrenched than the Zhou Family… To say the least, a County Deputy, an Official Registrar, my Wu Family can't help them…"
With a sigh, Wu Ming suddenly stood up and came outside.
There were two maids waiting, arranging the clothes with him.
"They are all here?"
"The branches of Baishui Village, Qinshi Village, Datian Village, and even other townships are all here!"
A bright-eyed maid called Lurui said softly, exhaling a blue warm air and ith the fragrance of hair, made Wu Ming happy.
"Good! Go to the ancestral hall!"
It was just that the time was not right, Wu Ming naturally extinguished his thought for fun and came to the Wu Family Ancestral Hall.
This Ancestral Hall covers a wide area with cornices, and red bricks and green tiles.
In front of a small square, laid a densely packed group of people, in the hundreds, men and women, old and young. Seeing that Wu Ming came in, they bowed with a smile on their faces. Only a few old men still maintained their manners.
This is the Wu clan.
Of course, almost no one are close relatives, they are basically side branches, clinging to each other and try hard to climb the family tree.
Such a clan, to really talk about blood, it is also huh.
However, in ancient times, people who wanted to protect themselves formed groups which later became family. Those with the same surname were still a family 500 years ago! As long as the genealogy matches, no outsider can say any gossip.
"Everyone!"
Wu Ming raised his hand slightly.
The following people saw this famous little star was like another person, his body imbued with great majesty and could not help but be quiet.
"Everyone… I am the Wu Family's Patriarch and I'm saddened to hear the news of Qingshi Village!"
Wu Ming talked eloquently, completely different from the ridiculous and lustful dude who acted before: "This time, I have called everyone to set up the rules for the Wu family!"
"…not reading books, not knowing rituals, which Great Household in Yunping is not an heirloom of poetry? I saw my nephews' lives who are farming in the fields, playing in the countryside, and wasting so much time, it's really sad… I've decided to build a Clan School, a hundred acres of field. As a school field, all Wu family children can enroll for free, provided with room and board, and the outstanding ones will also be rewarded!"
When the statement came out, it became awkward.
The cost of studying is not small, but for half-size children whose fathers were poor, Wu Ming opened a school and took care of the meals, giving these children a future. It really surprised the people below.
"Good!"
At this point, a clan elder who had silent spoke: "It should have been like this! Is should have been so!"
These people naturally had received Wu Ming's news and had a good discussion.
It is indeed a good thing to see now, and naturally, it is supported vigorously.
Wu Ming said with a smile on his face: "So, you and I will enter the ancestral hall, set the regulations, and sacrifice for the ancestors, thus becoming law!"
At this time, the Ancestral Hall's door opened, Wu Ming led the way and the men squeezed inside. The rules are strict and women could only wait outside in envy.
Incense smoke lingered inside. After the negotiation, Wu Ming hand-written the ritual, which was read by a clan elder, burned it, and lit incense to worship the ancestors.
Everything was methodical, Wu Ming did it in a stern way. With a glance, he had a lot of style but he didn't know what he was thinking.
"Virtuous nephew! You can do this, it is to lay the foundation of my family for a hundred years, the decrepit will rest in peace…"
"Pretty good, you are the master of the household, it's our great blessing!"
…
Several old people, who were really thinking about the Wu family, could not help revealing their true feeling and teared up.
Wu Ming responded with a smile one by one, and completely washed away the dandy impression of the previous dude.
I’m afraid that after today, in a four miles radius and eight townships, it’s going to be circulated that ‘the prodigal son will not change the gold’ or something.
It was busy until noon and another feast was set up again. The hundred people were invited to have a good meal. The pigs were deliberately slaughtered for that purpose; the fragrant, fatty, and braised pork, as well as the white noodles and steamed buns. It's very rich, and Wu Ming also knew that many people would come here, perhaps for this meal, made the back kitchen more generous.
At that time, the village was very poor and it was rare to eat meat on holidays. The clansmen, who saw this feast, were all overjoyed. The strong wind scatters the cloud, women, children, everyone had a smile on their faces and finally packed the leftovers, only to leave with it.
"Young Master!"
At this time, Steward Wu, who was sent to the county city, came back but his face was embarrassed: "Eldest Young Lady is retreating, no one has seen her, the villain is incompetent!"
"Retreat…"
Wu Ming touched his chin: "Let it pass, you go down first, plan the school well, and prepare the deed for 100 acres…"
Seeing that Steward seemed distressed, he laughed: "Why? Feeling worthless?"
"No… I was thinking, if Missy knew, she must be pleased…"
Steward Wu laughed with him, and said a few words before he left, and his eyes seemed to have a little red.
"Speak up… this person didn't make a fortune when he was born, but had children with several generations of the family, no wonder so…"
Wu Ming paused for a moment and sighed again.
In ancient times, it was impossible to know the roles of individuals in the clan.
Even, even if it's a rebellion, because of the connection with the clan, as long as Wu Ming did, these clansmen and their families had to accompany Wu Ming all the way.
Of course, this is the time when the power is strong, and if it is in a weak position, it is also common to be invaded and desecrated.
However, at this time, Wu Ming's branch was weak and was naturally bullied, but now, with the rise of Wu Qing, even the position of the patriarch has been snatched over, it was naturally different!
"Although it is a world of personal detachment, the assistance of an organization and the influence of friends is not useless. At least, a lot of trivial things can be done.
Opening a school, cultivating morality, and allowing children to read and be literate is a big event.
Wu Ming knew that Wu Qing must have had the idea but she was only a daughter. Wu Ming was unable to support the wall so there was a delay.
Now? Everything is different!
"Among the clansmen, the natural quality is uneven; they need to be screened. The ones who coveted my family's fields are directly excluded, as for children of other clansmen, they shall be treated equally…"
These older generations have too much thought, Wu Ming dares not use them.
However, after the younger generation knows how to read and write, they would enter his system and be smoothed the edges and corners, which were basically useable.
Even, you can also let some go home and have children read with their parents, at least to understand the words.
Such perseverance, ten years, and even decades of hard cultivation, the style of writing will prosper, if only a few talents can be raised from these people, the family business will naturally be stable, and the clan will flourish.
However, this is the way in an era of peace. In a troubled world, there is another way.
Scholars are just seeds, both civil and martial matters are indispensable.
Now being persecuted by the Zhou family, Wu Ming was even more anxious to control more power.
On the second day, the morning light was faint and the weather was still cold.
The Wu family had twenty hectares and two hundred household farmers, and was a second-none force in the surrounding land. At this time, the Township Militia had 50 men lined up. Although they were not elites, they were all sturdy men, which is very good.
"Cough!"
Seeing Wu Ming coming over, Feng Han gave a light cough, and more than 50 people screamed in unison: "I have seen the great Young Master!"
"Exempt the ceremony!"
Wu Ming was satisfied when he saw them.
In fact, if the entire fortress is fully mobilized, two hundred people can come out but there would be a delay.
In accordance with the ancient military system, the five households made a difference, which means that among the five people, a strong man was born to engage in a demobilized military, so as not to delay the normal production activities of the entire society.
There are now two hundred households in the Wu family, mobilizing 40-50 people is easy.
No matter how much they are, you must be attacked and must be used to defend the fort. At that time, everyone is a soldier, defending the lives of their families in the dock. Hundreds of people working hard to defend, enough to withstand thousands of troops!
Wu Ming is very confident in controlling these people.
Because at this time, the tenants' family lives and dies as the whole family stays with the main family. If Wu Ming is in a bad mood and takes over their land, they will immediately become homeless and become refugees.
Since the Zhou dynasty, the annexation of land has become increasingly serious and there has been a constant flux of natural and man-made disasters. These displaced people were in a dead-end.
"I intend to rebuild the Inspector Office!"
Wu Ming first saw the drill and then announced it loudly.
"In accordance with the system, the Inspection Office has one Township Inspector and five soldiers, all of them can be registered as citizens, receive a share of the money. There can be another ten helpers, a total of 16 people!"
The Inspectorate is in charge of thieves in the county, and the Inspector Office in each township is under the jurisdiction of the Inspectorate. In fact, according to the unspoken rules, once a township has a strong man, the recommended person will be recommended by the Inspector Office to be approved.
Although they are officials, it's still a way out for the following people, and suddenly there is a commotion.
Now, the Township Militia teams will be divided into groups to compete, 16 people will be selected to launch the Township Inspector!"
'It's a pity…If Feng Han could become the Township Inspector, it would great!'
This thought, Wu Ming could only think about it in his heart.
Feng Han was at the level of the Mortal Body 8th Realm, within the realm of Inner Astral Boundary. If he wanted to join the army, he would directly enter and can get an official status and granted 9th Grade Vice Squadron Leader.
Although the Township Inspector has some real power, in the end, it would be a humiliation for Feng Han, which is a shame.
Although Feng Han made friends with Wu Ming, his status was still Wu Family's Guest Official and he could leave if he wanted to.
"Haha… who won the official competition? How can you not call me?"
Suddenly, the sound of dull thunder sounded outside the school.
Immediately after, a sturdy man with silken eyebrows and leopard eyes, a beard like a needle, and a spitting thunderous man entered with a smile.
Although it was late autumn, he didn't wear a top and his muscles are like steel and there were centipede-like scars on the top, making him daunting.
"He`s a good man, but it would seem that he's unruly!"
Wu Ming's eyes flashed: "Who is this person?"