The disgraced official I took care of was actually Zhu Houcong's childhood friend.

Chapter 192

This is why, in the eyes of the upper echelons of most feudal dynasties, the common people were nothing more than bargaining chips. For example, Guo Zixing, a famous general of the Tang Dynasty, tacitly allowed the Uyghurs to plunder and massacre in Luoyang after they helped the Tang Dynasty twice.

If these scholars and officials cannot see the common people at the bottom of society, no matter how hard Zhou Chu tries, it can only change the status quo temporarily. After Zhou Chu passes away, the people will die and the government will cease to exist.

Zhou Chu was well aware of how difficult the path he was about to take would be. Despite his smooth progress so far, he had not yet resolved the issue of the maritime ban alone, and the problems facing the Ming Dynasty were far more numerous than just this one.

Upon hearing this, Zhang Cong and Yan Song both looked slightly ashamed.

"To my shame, I have never actually experienced it."

Yan Song said with a face full of shame.

"So do I, your humble servant."

Zhang Cong echoed.

"In that case, I will take you two to experience the life of refugees today."

After saying this, Zhou Chu left the storeroom, mounted his horse, and headed west. The others followed, wondering what Zhou Chu was up to.

Suzhou Prefecture does not have many high mountains; the highest one is only a little over 300 meters above sea level and is called Qionglong Mountain.

The production of cement requires a large amount of lime, which naturally requires quarrying. This work started a few days ago, and with the cooperation of countless refugees, the quarrying of stones in the mountains is proceeding in an orderly manner.

Zhou Chu and his group soon arrived at the foot of Qionglong Mountain.

"Today, I will join you two to experience the lives of ordinary people in the Ming Dynasty."

After Zhou Chu finished speaking, he casually tossed the reins to Shen Lian beside him and went into the mountains to start moving stones.

Yan Song and Zhang Cong exchanged a glance, their faces full of bitter smiles. They had never suffered like this before, but there was nothing they could do. Zhou Chu had spoken, and even if it was for their future, they had to bite the bullet and do it.

Zhou Chu deftly picked up a large rock and started walking down the mountain.

"Take care of your strength and don't strain your back."

Zhou Chu looked at Yan Song and Zhang Cong and gave them instructions.

These two are both over forty years old. They've never practiced martial arts or done manual labor before, so they naturally have to be careful when suddenly doing this kind of work.

After Zhou Chu finished speaking, he ignored the two of them and continued walking down the mountain.

Zhou Chu brought the two of them to experience life, but he didn't really expect them to experience the hardships of ordinary people.

This was just an experiment Zhou Chu was making for the future. Perhaps in the future, those who passed the imperial examinations should not go to the Hanlin Academy to work as soon as possible, but come to the grassroots to experience life. In this way, they can truly understand the so-called hardships of the common people, instead of just reading a few words or sentences in books.

Only by truly experiencing the hardships of ordinary people can one put oneself in their shoes and consider things from their perspective, instead of constantly spouting classical Chinese phrases and empty rhetoric.

Even classical Chinese phrases cannot build dikes, and propriety, righteousness, integrity, and a sense of shame cannot bring food. These civil officials are all adept at political struggles, but they are all so incompetent when it comes to governing the country.

It was only then that Yan Song and Zhang Cong truly saw what kind of life these refugees were living. Each of these refugees was carrying a heavy-looking stone. Some looked very thin, but the stones they were carrying were so big that Yan Song couldn't help but gasp in shock.

Many of these people didn't even have a proper pair of shoes; Yan Song and Zhang Cong could even see blisters on some of their feet.

Soon, the two of them also felt the pain. After only two or three trips, blisters appeared on their delicate hands, and they were in so much pain that they gritted their teeth.

Shen Lian asked Lin Lu to watch the horses and went up the mountain to start moving stones. He practiced Wang Yangming's unity of knowledge and action, so he naturally wouldn't just stand by and watch.

Lin Lu also wanted to go up the mountain, but he had to watch over everyone's horses and couldn't get away.

Yan Song and Zhang Cong were physically exhausted and needed to rest for a while after each trip.

Zhou Chu didn't expect the two to be particularly capable; he mainly wanted them to have some experience.

After everyone had been busy for more than an hour, it was finally time to have lunch.

Zhou Chu, Yan Song, and the others arrived at the food station and each received a large bowl of white porridge and some dried radish.

Yan Song frowned as he looked at the thin porridge in the bowl.

However, he was already extremely hungry at this point, so he didn't care about anything else for the time being and wolfed down the porridge and dried radish in his bowl.

Why is your porridge so watery?

Having eaten his fill, Yan Song had more energy and went to the clerk in charge of serving the food to ask a question.

"Eat it or don't, it's up to you. If you don't want to eat, get out. You should be grateful to have anything to eat at all. Why are you being so picky?"

The minor official showed no mercy to Yan Song and angrily retorted.

"Didn't the prefect say that the porridge shouldn't be cooked too thin, and that salt should be added to it, otherwise how can people have the energy to work? Aren't you afraid of being investigated by your superiors for doing this?"

Yan Song now understood why Zhou Chu had brought him here, and he glared at the minor official before him and berated him.

"Hey, there really are some people who aren't afraid of death."

After the minor official finished speaking, he called to the others, and a group of people rolled up their sleeves and surrounded Yan Song.