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Volume One: Fierce Battle in Changsha Chapter 328: Foot Binding and Braid Cutting

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    Speaking of foot binding, Xiao Yungui has never understood the beauty of the so-called three-inch golden lotus!  During this period, foot-binding developed during the Ming and Qing dynasties, and the shape of the foot-binding reached its peak. Women's feet not only had to be small and shrunk to three inches, but they also had to be bowed and wrapped in the shape of horns and millet.  Xiao Yungui didn't think there was any beauty in that arch that broke the foot bones!

    Hong Yun'er told him that some later generations of scholars had studied it and said that foot binding was an effort to resist the Manchu Qing Dynasty and maintain the "integrity" of the Han people, and it had anti-Qing significance.  After the Manchus entered the customs, in order to better facilitate their rule, they implemented the bloody "shaving their hair and changing clothes" law as a sign of the submission of the Han people. This included prohibiting Han women from binding their feet and prohibiting Manchu women from imitating the Han people's foot binding.  Therefore, Zhuan believes that the rulers of the Qing Dynasty banned women's foot binding not for the health of Han women, but just to change the customs of the Han people, to better rule the Han people, and to prevent the Sinicization of the Manchus.  Unfortunately, the foot-binding order of the Qing Dynasty only applied to Manchu women, and the foot-binding order of Han women was ignored.

    Xiao Yungui despised this very much. If it was really what the master said, then all the Han men in the late Ming Dynasty should die!  Even if Xiao Yungui himself is a descendant of those Han men, Xiao Yungui thinks they deserve to die!  The moral integrity of a nation is actually built on the cruelty of women, while men humiliate themselves by shaving their hair and changing clothes. Where is the justice?  In Xiao Yungui's view, this is not the integrity of the nation, but the sorrow of the entire nation!

    But after talking to the village officials, Xiao Yungui discovered that today, the nature of foot binding has changed.  Regardless of any ridiculous national integrity, foot binding has become a Han social custom and an important bargaining chip for women to get married. Its evil nature has become the second braid of this nation.  At this time, Xiao Yungui understood why Tianjing used very violent methods to ban foot binding. The integrity of this nation needs to be reforged with blood and tears!

    "His Royal Highness the King of the West has learned a lesson. Since ancient times, men have been ashamed of women's big feet and proud of women's small feet when marrying. Foot binding is a model of women's beauty and virtue and cannot be banned altogether. Many of my subordinates in the countryside are unwilling to let go and plan to commit suicide.  A woman who seeks suicide, the King of the West has a good life, why should he ruin his virtuous reputation just for the sake of a little girl's foot binding?"

    "Yes, Your Highness the King of the West, as the saying goes: the most beautiful girl, the golden lotus is the best, look at the pair of crests. The new bamboo shoots have taken off their petals, the moon has sprouted buds, and the thin legs are softly embroidered with flowers. This woman's little feet are extremely beautiful.  Charming"

    "That's enough!" Xiao Yungui couldn't hold back the suffocation in his chest and shouted, interrupting several rural officials who were shaking their heads to persuade the King of the West to give up the order.  These rural officials were all scholars with Manchu and Qing fame, and they also represented the conservative forces of local feudal literati.  I am extremely opposed to letting go.

    King Xi gave a sharp shout.  All the township officials in the palace were silent. This was the first time that King Xi showed his power in front of all the township officials, which shocked them all.

    Xiao Yungui walked back and forth on the treasure steps, shouting angrily: "Does your face depend on women's little feet? Do you think your wife's chastity depends on those pairs of feet that can't even walk?  Are you using your little feet to maintain your dignity? Do you think binding a woman¡¯s feet can help you maintain your dignity?¡±

    The King of the West was like a furious lion, with all his beard and hair spread out, so that all the township officials were so angry that they did not dare to say a word.  King Xi roared and cursed all the Han men, including himself.  Chen Tian had an indescribable feeling when he heard it. Although Chen Tian didn't like small feet, he always felt in his heart that they were inherited from his ancestors, just like Su embroidery.  It was something passed down from our ancestors, how could it be like what King Xi said?  But Chen Tian felt that King Xi was right. A woman's chastity was not actually found in those little feet.

    After scolding angrily for a whole moment, King Xi returned to the throne and sat down, his eyes still filled with anger.  At this time, the Queen of the West stood up, walked forward heroically, and said with a smile: "Although King Xi's words are not very pleasant to hear, they are true. All the township officials are in charge of the people of the area. Can you  Do you want to listen to this little girl like me?"

    In fact, at the beginning of today's meeting, Chen Tian was fascinated by the grace of the Queen of the West. Chen Tian had never seen such a beautiful and heroic woman like the Queen of the West. Her speech, behavior, and gestures all revealed a kind of charm.  Come in an alternative style.  At this moment, Chen Tian's heart suddenly swayed when he heard the soft voice of Queen Xi.

    All the township officials stood up and bowed together and said, "Your Majesty, please speak." When Chen Tian sat down, he heard an old scholar-looking township official behind him mutter: "It's not appropriate to be a hen in the morning." What he said  Although it was soft, Chen Tian still heard it. Chen Tian couldn't help but turn around and glare at the man. The man's face began to turn pale and he didn't dare to speak anymore.  Chen Tian turned around, but he felt vaguely in his heart that the person was right. For someone like the Queen of the West to appear in public, some ordinary people in Meng Lang would look at her, and she was afraid that her reputation would be tarnished.

    The beautiful voice of Queen Xi Wang came over, and Chen Tian hurriedlyHe calmed down and listened: "Since ancient times, there have been words about the three cardinal principles and five constant principles, and women's appearance and virtues. As a little girl, I also know it. Maybe everyone is laughing at me at this time for a woman who is so public. It is not appropriate." After hearing this,  Chen Tian only heard the man behind him cough unnaturally.

    "But I still want to tell you here today that our Taiping Heavenly Kingdom regards all people in the world as equal. Men and women in the world have their own duties, but they are born equal. Women are born with natural feet, why do they have to bind their feet? And I  What the Kingdom of Heaven wants to restore is the Zhou rites of the Han people. Did the sages Confucius and Mencius say that women¡¯s feet were bound in the Zhou rites? The sages said that the body¡¯s hair and skin are received by the parents. So why did men in the Manchu Dynasty have to shave their hair to change clothes, while women were required to mutilate themselves?  Body?"

    Chen Tian's face suddenly felt like it was on fire. Although Xi Wang Niang spoke softly, her words were more painful than Xi Wang's.

    "Women are born with a low status, but why can men call out princes, generals, ministers, and Ning Yougen, but women can't? I know that we big-footed women from Guangxi are ridiculed as big-footed bastards, but we don't do that at all.  Do you mind, our husbands love us equally." After saying this, Chen Tian saw the Queen of the West looking at the King of the West with deep affection in her eyes, and the King of the West also looked at her with a warm look, which was similar to his own.  His wife always looked at him with that kind of awe in her eyes. Only then did Chen Tian understand that this was what the ancients said was the harmony between husband and wife.

    "We Guangxi big-footed women go to the battlefield to kill the enemy just like the men in the army, carry grain and grass in the same way, repair city walls, shoes and socks, and farm the same work. What are we doing that is not as good as men? I will only talk about this here today.  The release order will not be taken back."

    At this point, the township officials began to whisper and discuss again. Chen Tian felt very unhappy. Although he did not disagree with the ban in his heart, many people among the people he governed in the countryside were opposed to it.  Yes, how should we explain it when we go back?

    At this time, the King of the West stood up and answered: "The Queen of the West has made it very clear. The Kingdom of Heaven will be restored to the Zhou rites of the Han people. There is no such thing as footbinding in the Zhou rites. The West Palace will not take back the foot release order. On the contrary, I will also  Some political decrees will be added to the "Fang Zuo" order! Firstly, if a woman in the family has "Fanzuo", she will be exempted from 30% of the annual salary for that year! Secondly, if a woman in the family gets married and goes to the Hehui Hall to have a joint ceremony, if the woman has not given "Fusu"  , you need to pay more foot-binding tax! Thirdly, for ten years from today, grown-up girls who are not born with natural feet will not be allowed to go on the streets! Fourthly, no soldiers in our heavenly kingdom will be allowed to marry women with bound feet from now on! Fifthly, everywhere, everywhere  The government should set up Tianzu Association to promote the idea of ??letting go!"

    King Xi's words were resounding, and Chen Tian breathed a sigh of relief. King Xi's decree made it clear that it was okay not to relax enough, but he would have to pay more tax. If he relaxed enough, he could reduce some taxes. Chen Tian also gave an explanation to the people in the countryside.  .

    At this time, Chen Tian only felt that the old scholar behind him rushed out and knelt on the ground, with tears streaming down his face like a mourning heir, and shouted loudly: "His Royal Highness, the King of the West, this order must not be issued. To collect exorbitant taxes and levies under a clever name is the end of the country."  What a disaster! It¡¯s even more impossible to let go of this and ruin King Xi¡¯s reputation.¡±

    The King of the West said angrily: "My kingdom has abolished so many exorbitant taxes and miscellaneous taxes imposed by the Qing Yao, why didn't you tell me?! Why didn't you get along with the Qing Yao when they imposed all kinds of exorbitant taxes on you?"  Qingyao said that this is a disaster that will subjugate the country?! If anyone opposes it again, he will be punished for the crime of communicating with demons! This king practices the Zhou rites of the Han Dynasty, upholds equality in the world, and the new policy is to enrich the country and strengthen the people! Just let go  Cut off the second braid in your heart! Anyone who doesn¡¯t want to cut off the braid is a pure demon! I will not ignore the implementation of the New Deal just to seek compromise!"

    Chen Tian saw anger and murderous intent in King Xi's eyes. At this moment, he knew that the reason why the previous New Deal orders were changed was because King Xi knew that some of the New Deal rules were inconsistent with reality, so they had to be changed.  But if the fundamentals of the New Deal are touched now, King Xi will chop it down without hesitation.  At this moment, Chen Tian also understood the true meaning and limit of the New Deal, which is to cut off all the pigtails in everyone's hearts!

    ¡°Then the old scholar was dragged down, and this man became the first to fall in front of King Xi¡¯s new policy, but he was not the last.  A few days later, the West Palace Criminal Department announced the old scholar's charges.  Tongyao, his reputation as a Manchu scholar was obtained by donating classes. Chen Tian knew that this old scholar was not the only one in Sufu Province who had donated classes, but the King of the West used this to incriminate him.  Harming the people, this old scholar forced a tenant to death in the second year of Xianfeng, and I don¡¯t know where the West Palace Punishment Department found the poor farmer. In short, these two crimes of channeling demons and harming the people are enough.

    This made Chen Tian understand better that some heart-wrenching words should not be said, and the consequences are already visible.  For Xidian, this is not tyranny, this is just the blood and tears that must be paid to cut off that damn braid. Even if the blood and tears are their own, they have to swallow them. This is the inevitable change of the great era.  Avoid labor pains.  (To be continued, please search Piaotian Literature. The novels will be better and updated faster!
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