novelhk Page 2012
Page 2012
The mule cart moved slowly.
The iron pagoda of Kaibao Temple appears to be getting bigger and bigger.
Ma Kuo casually asked, "I've been away from home for a long time, and I'm only returning today."
"How is everything in Tokyo?"
The driver said, "That gentleman is lucky."
"During the siege last year, countless people starved to death and died of disease."
"After the Ming emperor ascended the throne,"
"Food was hard to buy for the first five months,"
"Each household had to carry a household registration certificate to purchase limited food rations."
"Back then, there was also cheap meat available,"
"I later found out that all those cheap ones were human flesh."
"The King of Liang has dispatched 10,000 troops,"
"Arrest all the criminals in the underground sewer!"
"Back then, they'd be executing a batch every two or three days at the execution ground,"
"Li San'er, the executioner next door to my house,"
"I had to change my knife twice because of all the cutting."
Ma Kuo asked, "Were many of the imperial relatives and officials from the previous dynasty killed?"
The driver said, "It's not a lot, but it's not a little either."
"Those officials and clerks, those with such a terrible reputation,"
"Dozens were chopped down."
"And there were also those exiled to southern Sichuan as soldiers,"
“If the whole family goes together, there will probably be over a thousand people inside and outside.”
"But there is something strange,"
"That official from the previous dynasty became the agricultural promotion official of the new dynasty,"
"Quite a few people went to the western suburbs to see the novelty."
The driver got more and more excited as he talked.
Pointing to the iron tower in the distance, he said,
"The previous emperor lost his empire because he loved Taoist practices."
"The new dynasty officials do not like Buddhism and Taoism."
"King Liang ordered the temple to be cleaned up,"
"Only this Kaibao Temple remains in the outer city,"
"All the other temples and monasteries were demolished."
"Several prominent families also split up and relocated,"
"It's actually a good deal for tenants both inside and outside the city."
"The property cannot be taken away or sold?" Ma Kuo asked.
The driver said, "Idle wealth can be taken away."
"But they must offer enough money to the imperial court."
"As for real estate and shops, they must not be sold."
“The government won’t acknowledge the sale of these items.”
“Like those houses that were left behind,”
"As long as the tenant can provide a lease of 20 years or more,"
"You can just give them a few bucks and get a house for free."
"Leases exceeding fifteen years,"
"You only need to pay 30% of the house price,"
"Then you can get the house deed from the government."
"Ten-year lease, buy a house at half price."
"If the money isn't enough,"
"They can also pay the government in installments every year."
Chapter 1771 Sharing the Same Misfortune
In those large cities of the Song Dynasty,
Even if they were classified as upper-class households by the government.
Many families also rely on renting out their homes to make a living.
Some people rent for decades at a time!
Ma Kuo frequently served as an envoy to the Liao and Jin dynasties.
Emperor Huizong of Song bestowed a great deal of wealth upon them.
But his family has always lived in rented accommodation.
Tokyo housing prices are too high.
Moreover, there aren't many properties available for sale.
Therefore, Zhao Yuan engaged in real estate development.
Even though most of the newly built houses are located in the northern suburbs,
Many wealthy people are also willing to snap up those "new houses outside the Sixth Ring Road".
The driver chatted about many interesting anecdotes about Tokyo.
This gave Ma Kuo a general understanding.
Get off the bus at your doorstep.
Ma Kuo knocked on the door.
The door opened a crack.
The door was immediately opened wide, and someone inside shouted.
"My husband is back! My husband is back!"
The house was immediately in an uproar.
Several old servants also came running over.
Inquire about the whereabouts of Ma Kuo's entourage.
Ma Kuo's expression darkened: "They were killed while fighting the Jin soldiers."
"Only Jong-sil is still alive,"
"He was placed in Shouyang to recuperate."
Upon hearing this, an old servant immediately fainted.
Some women were crying and wailing.
"My lord, His Majesty has sent someone to deliver a message,"
"If you return to the capital, I will immediately come to see you."
"I've already had someone prepare a bath,"
"I'll go after I bathe and change," said his wife, Zhao Tuoniang.
Ma Kuo went to the back of the house to get some money.
As a pension for close associates,
He then pulled his wife aside to speak with him alone.
"Any news from your parents?"
Zhao Tuoniang said sadly, "My uncle is defending the city in Shandong to the death."
"They have been killed by the bandits,"
"My aunt and second uncle also suffered a terrible fate."
"Only my third uncle managed to break through the encirclement and fetch reinforcements, thus escaping the disaster,"
"He has now obtained a military post in the new dynasty."
Ma Kuo swayed.
It took me a while to accept reality.
Zhao Tuoniang helped her husband sit down.
I wanted to say something good to comfort him.
"We only rented this house for six years,"
"His Majesty has granted special permission to purchase at 30% of the original price."
"I have already bought the house,"
"Would you like to see the house deed, sir?"
"No need," Ma Kuo waved his hand.
In the past, buying a mansion in the outer suburbs of Tokyo for 30% of the price...
Ma Kuo must have been overjoyed.
But now that his parents have passed away,
My second brother, sister-in-law, nephew, and niece are all dead.
Only the third brother survived by breaking through the encirclement.
His close associates who grew up with him,
He also died while fighting guerrilla warfare against the Jin army.
The survivor is still recovering in Shanxi.
Compared to these lives,
What's so special about a mansion in Tokyo?
Feeling dazed and confused, I took a bath and changed my clothes.
Ma Kuo traveled by carriage to the palace.
I heard that Ma Kuo has arrived.
Zhao Yuan hosted a separate banquet for them.
They also summoned Xiao Wulila, the envoy from the Liao Dynasty.
The two met and had many feelings.
Ma Kuo first went to the Jin Kingdom with his father.
He was ordered to negotiate an alliance with the Jin dynasty to resist the Liao dynasty.
During Tong Guan's campaign against Liao,
Ma Kuo spent the entire journey in the Liao Kingdom.
They attempted to persuade the Liao emperor and his ministers to surrender.