The country is based on the people

Author: Gongsun Wujiu

The country is based on the people

Zhang Yue nodded and continued: "The entire Western Region is actually not much different from Loulan. The crops all rely on water power, and the amount of sowing is based on the width of the irrigation. That's why the countries in the Western Region regard water regardless of land."

"The Western Regions are different from the land in Guanzhong. The most important thing in the Western Regions is land. Now the area protected by the Western Regions is almost the same as that of the mainland of the Han Dynasty."

At this point, Zhang Yue knelt down and picked up a handful of water from the ditch.

After the water drained from the gaps between his fingers, Zhang Yue continued: "Do you know how many people there are in the Western Regions and how many people there are in the Han Dynasty?"

Zhang Huan said without hesitation: "There are 1.7 million people living in the Western Region. If the population of other countries is included, the number will be around 6 million!"

"As for the big men, I once heard Du Gong say that there should be 60 million!"

Zhang Yue nodded and said: "Yes, the Han Dynasty only has a population of nearly 60 million in Guanzhong, Shuzhong and Guandong."

"Do you know that the area of ​​these three places is only half of the Western Region, but why their population is ten times that of the Western Region?"

Zhang Huan said without hesitation: "Food!"

Zhang Yue said: "Yes, the land of the Western Region is twice that of that, but the population is only eleven. The key lies in food."

Zhang Yue pointed to the ditch in front of him and showed it to Zhang Huan, "Every ditch here is connected to a large area of ​​farmland."

“Without these ditches, there wouldn’t be these patches of farmland!”

At this time, Zhang Yue asked Zhang Huan again: "Do you know how many people there were here twenty years ago, and how many people there are now?"

At this time, Du Ling and others had also stopped and listened with interest to the conversation between father and son.

Zhang Huandao: "I remember that twenty years ago, this place belonged to the Shan Kingdom, with a population of less than five thousand. Now the population of Gaochang and Tieshan City has been ten times that of the past."

Zhang Yue nodded and said: "Yes, why is it that the population of the same land has changed ten times in just twenty years?"

"Twenty years ago, in order to feed a mere 5,000 people in the mountain country, it was necessary to plunder the neighboring country. But now the population has increased ten times that of the past, but the people are not in danger of hunger?"

Zhang Huandao: "Is it because we have enough farmland and food?"

"Yes, it is precisely because of so much farmland that the people's food and clothing are guaranteed!"

Zhang Yue pointed at the farmland in front of him.

Following Zhang Yue's hand, Zhang Huan could see that the farmers were actually harvesting wheat at this time.

Fires and thick smoke can still be seen in some harvested farmland, as farmers are burning the dry straw and weeds in preparation for planting in the next season.

"The existence of these fields depends entirely on the water brought from these canals for irrigation. Without water, there would be no farmland."

Zhang Huan nodded and said: "Sir, I still have something unclear!"

"These canals are enough to divert water to the fields, so why do we spend so much effort building wells and canals?"

Zhang Yue nodded and said: "If you know something, you know it. If you don't know it, you don't know it. This is knowledge!"

"If you don't understand, you should ask someone who understands...professional things must be done by professionals!"

Zhang Yue praised Zhang Huan and then revealed the reason.

"The weather here in Gaochang is dry and hot. If there were no wells and canals, I don't know how much water would evaporate under the scorching sun..."

"The water in Gaochang comes from the annual melting of snow in the mountains and groundwater. Every drop of this water is hard-earned. Without wells and canals, this water would quickly evaporate under the sun's rays..."

"Boy got it!"

Zhang Huan looked at the fields around him and said, "I once heard the professor talk about adults' theory of water conservancy and state affairs at Luntai Official School..."

"Young man thinks that the Qin land in the past actually has something in common with the Western Regions..."

"During the Spring and Autumn Period and the Warring States Period, Qin was also a barren land among the Xia Dynasties. Duke Mu once said that "the world despises Qin." Waiting for the Qin people to develop water conservancy, Qin suddenly became a prosperous land."

"At the time of King Xiao Huiwen, the people of Qin no longer had to worry about hunger...so the people of Qin had the ambition to conquer the world..."

Zhang Yue praised: "Yes, when I was young, I once heard someone say that only those who are full can talk about their ideals and ambitions..."

"This person also said, "To find work, you need to find people who are not short of money, and to do things, you need to find people who are short of money..."

Du Ling on the side couldn't help but sigh when he heard this sentence: "Although this sentence is vulgar, it tells the truth of the world... If you know where this sage is now, Ling should ask for advice face to face..."

Zhang Yue sighed in his heart: "I met this person by chance when I was young, but now I can't find him!"

Du Ling felt regretful when he heard this: "It's a pity that if such a wise man can serve the Han Dynasty..."

As Du Ling spoke, he shook his head and sighed.

Zhang Huan suddenly said: "No wonder you want me to travel around the world when I get older..."

Zhang Yue couldn't laugh or cry when he heard this. He didn't expect that Zhang Huan would think of this because of his lie.

However, after thinking about it, it still made some sense. Traveling around the world might actually meet some worthy people.

After everyone took a rest, they continued walking along the canal.

Soon I saw some people forming a circle in front of me and seemed to be building a well.

Sure enough, the farmer official said at this time: "Gentlemen, gentlemen, would you like to take a look at the well and canal that is being built in front of us?"

"Please lead the way!"

Everyone was naturally interested when they heard the words, and immediately walked forward.

I saw so many people in colorful clothes walking over accompanied by agricultural officials.

The person who built the well immediately realized that the status of these visitors must be high.

The leader immediately came up with a group of workers.

"I'll wait and see you, noble man!"

"Everyone get up!"

Zhang Yue stepped forward and helped the leader up, then asked about the well and canal.

The plumbers who built the canal were afraid to speak at first, but soon started chatting under Zhang Yue's guidance.

Finally, Zhang Yue and Zhang Huan personally went down the well and canal to experience the hardships of hydraulic engineering.

…

In the next few days, Zhang Yue continued to inspect the agricultural planting situation in Gaochang.

By the way, I also asked the agricultural officer to send over the agricultural production data in recent years.

"Why are you so frowning, sir?"

Zhang Huan asked Zhang Yue, and Du Ling also cast a questioning look.

Zhang Yue sighed and handed several people the information on Gaochang's agricultural production in recent years.

“The average yield per mu is only one stone and three buckets!”

Du Ling first discovered something was wrong.

“Why is the average yield per mu so low?”

Du Ling asked the agricultural officer on the side.

The agricultural official sighed: "Although Gaochang has initially built a complete water conservancy, the newly reclaimed land is barren and it is difficult to grow wheat..."

Du Ling carefully read through the information and found that it was indeed what the agricultural officer said.

The grain yield of the land that was reclaimed earlier is not low, and is even higher than the average yield per mu in Luntai, which can be said to be second only to Guanzhong.

But the further the land is reclaimed, the lower the yield per mu will be.

"But because the new land is not fertile?"

Yang You asked at this time

The farmer said: "Not only that...the key is that the soil is not good."

The agricultural officer explained it again, but some people still didn't believe it.

“Let’s go and have a look tomorrow!”

Zhang Yue had a thoughtful expression on his face.

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