Giving a slap in the face and then giving a sweet date is a method often used by those in power. It has to be said that this method is very useful.
After taking away these people's illegal income, they must feel unhappy. After returning, they might be up to no good and find trouble with Li Xiang. Even if there is a team specializing in checking the number of people, they will find loopholes from other places. Li Xiang cannot just focus on this.
So at this moment you have to give them hope, that is the hope that can change your entire family.
If you keep working on the farm, no matter how many generations you have been there, you will still be an ordinary citizen. At most, you can have food to eat and live a slightly better life than the people outside.
Scholars, farmers, merchants and artisans, everyone wanted to join the scholar-official class, but unfortunately many people were not cut out for studying. Even if they knew a few words, it would be extremely difficult to reach the top through the imperial examination.
So at this time another way emerged, which was for the master to reward one's birth.
Take Li Xiang now for example. No matter whether it is the Eastern Palace or other government offices, he can place his own people there. As long as this precedent is set, even if they are the lowest-ranking clerks, it is also a new beginning for a family.
Of course, no matter which position you sit in, in the eyes of others you are Li Xiang's man. If you betray Li Xiang, maybe you will succeed in speculation in the future, but it will also leave you with a lifelong infamy. Don't expect others to be close to you.
Of course, for these people now, they don’t care about this. Even if they have to be Li Xiang’s dog for the rest of their lives, they hope to be a dog that stands high.
"Tian Kui, if I remember correctly, your eldest son should be nineteen years old, right?"
In Li Xiang's memory, Tian Kui had four sons and one daughter.
"Thank you, Your Highness, for remembering my family. My eldest son is in charge of watering the fields."
Tian Kui was so excited that tears were about to fall. His Highness said this in front of so many people, which meant that he was treated differently from others. Even if some people wanted to compete with him, they had to consider their own abilities, especially Zhang Xifa next to him.
"The Imperial City Office is about to be established. I have three hundred yamen runners under my command. Although they are of the lower ninth rank, they are still paid by the court. I will ask your eldest son to pack up and come to the palace this afternoon. I will have someone teach him a lesson."
Li Xiang said it lightly, but the eyes of the people below were almost burning with anger. They also had similarly talented young men in their families, and they also wanted to have such an opportunity. To Li Xiang, being from the ninth rank was nothing, as even a hair plucking from it was thicker than his. But for these people, it was different, as this was a leap in class.
If it were the 21st century, Li Xiang might have awarded a deputy mayor with just one word. For these honest farmers, the position of deputy mayor would be a heavenly honor.
"Thank you, Your Highness, thank you, Your Highness..."
Tian Kui knelt down in front of Li Xiang and knocked his head loudly. His efforts over the years were finally noticed by someone. No matter how hard he worked in the past, Li Chengqian only cared about the money and never rewarded anyone.
If this goes on for a long time, many people will become disheartened. Without any reward, people will work hard for you out of boredom, unless they are crazy.
"Get up, this is what you deserve. Including you, if you can reach the number set by me during this season's grain harvest, then everyone will be rewarded. I will give birth to the two families with the highest unit output."
While these people wanted to show their loyalty, Li Xiang did not let them talk nonsense, but told them about his reward. This was much better than giving money. Who doesn't have a son or grandson in the family? If they could work for His Highness, it would be like the Qian family was lucky.
A minute ago, Tian Kui's son was just like us, working in the fields at most, but now he is an official, so what if he is from the ninth rank? If he goes to the countryside, even the local rich people in the surrounding area will have to support him.
After Li Xiang finished speaking, he asked the patrol team to take the seeds with them and set off. He would supply seeds according to the size of the fields and also supervise these people to plant the seeds.
"Father."
When Li Xiang turned the corner and was about to go back, he ran into Li Chengqian who was standing in the corner.
Li Chengqian looked at Li Xiang like he was a monster, which made Li Xiang feel uncomfortable all over. No wonder Li Chengqian looked at him like that. This was simply beyond the imagination of a child. What on earth was going on in Li Xiang's head? Even Li Chengqian, his biological father, wanted to open it and take a look.
"Did father give any instructions?"
Li Xiang felt his back go numb when he was stared at, as he saw that his biological father was about to pry open his head.
"That was a good job."
Li Chengqian didn't know how to evaluate his son. After all, compared with his son, he was too ridiculous in the past. He could only say these few words.
"What do you think about the Goguryeo spies?"
Li Xiang knew that Li Chengqian had something to say. Although this old man never left the Eastern Palace, he still had unique opinions on many things. This time he came to the door, he must have something to advise him.
"Follow the clues and defeat them one by one."
Li Xiang answered without thinking, these people are parasites in the territory of the Tang Dynasty. If they are kept, they will bring many disadvantages to the Tang Dynasty in the future.
"Have you ever thought about it? We all know that they are harmful to the Tang Dynasty, but why are they still able to survive until now?"
Li Chengqian did not comment on Li Xiang's strategy, but pointed out the fundamental problem.
Protection from the powerful!
These four words flashed through Li Xiang's mind, and a shocked expression appeared on his face. Li Chengqian nodded with satisfaction when he saw his son's expression. His son's thinking ability was indeed very strong. With just a slight hint from him, he could find the problem.
Come to think of it, Changsun Wuji is the most powerful official. He is usually responsible for finding these spies, but he has not been able to handle these matters clearly, which means that he cannot afford to offend these powerful officials.
"Didn't my grandpa dig a hole for me again?"
Li Xiang felt his hands and feet instantly go cold. He originally thought it was just a simple matter of catching a spy, but unexpectedly it turned out to be a big trap.
"I dug a hole for you and your second uncle to see who can be the best for the people."
When Li Chengqian said this, he felt a little lonely in his heart. He should have been competing with Li Tai, but now he let his son take over. He really wasn't a competent father...
