The soil and water conservation in the Han Dynasty was very perfect, at least it was not like later generations where there were felled forests and empty commercial and industrial areas where no one settled and no one knew what they were used for.
However, this kind of original ecology is quite uncomfortable for Fei Qian.
It's okay on the official road. As long as you leave the official road for about 200 steps, it is basically overgrown with weeds. Fortunately, according to the standards of the official road in the Han Dynasty, the road needs to be at least one foot wide, so it cannot be built in the middle of a dense forest. Most of them choose some wide ground.
, otherwise the mountains are high and the forests are dense. Fei Qian is really worried that someone will jump out and yell that I am driving this road and carrying this tree...
When we first left Luoyang, there were a lot of people, and the cars and horses were sometimes blocked together.
However, as we get further away and the distance increases, the number of people and horses gradually decreases, and sometimes we don’t even see one for most of the day.
The official road is paved with bluestone slabs, which are repaired by dedicated personnel from the official government. Therefore, although it is not very smooth, it is much better than the dirt road next to it.
Luoyang is located in the hinterland of the Central Plains. Most of the places on both sides of the official road have been cultivated into fields, and crops mainly including wheat and millet are planted. It is late autumn now, and the harvest has basically been completed. There are still some bare fields left.
Things like wheat straw heads.
Fei Qian had really been sitting for a long time, so he got out of the car and followed the car for a walk. His whole body was really shaken.
There was no rubber in the Han Dynasty. In order to strengthen the wooden carriage wheels and prevent wear and tear, a circle of iron sheets was nailed to the sides. When such wheels rolled on the stone slabs, the people inside the carriage felt sour -
It's okay if it's close to Luoyang. It's the capital of the country after all, and the roads are smooth. Although there are some vibrations, it's still within the acceptable range. But if it's far away, it can only be haha.
Rich people would lay some furs and other things in the carriage to reduce the vibration and pain of the journey, but Fei Qian was not that luxurious yet. He just chose the cotton and linen cloth that most people use, so although it would be less painful, it would still be a bit less painful.
It's limited, and it's really uncomfortable to sit there for a long time.
As Fei Qian walked, he looked at the farmland on both sides of the road. He suddenly thought of a question and turned to Zhang Zhao and asked: "What is the average yield per mu of this field?"
Zhang Zhao looked at it and said: "Fei Langjun, I don't know much here. I just know that in my hometown, one acre of land can be harvested almost three stones of millet throughout the year. If the year is good, it will be more, and if the year is bad, sometimes it can only be one stone."
many."
Three stones, Fei Qian thought about it, and it’s really not too much.
Measurement in the Han Dynasty was very complex. Stones were divided into large stones and small stones. There were also other measurement units such as bells, cauldrons, dendrobium, buckets, hens, and liters...
Also, because the Han Dynasty court had not yet realized that different measurement units would cause various troubles, and did not require uniform measurement instruments to be made in all regions, resulting in extremely inaccurate calculations, many times they were only estimates.
For example, the stone mentioned by Zhang Zhao, Fei Qian guessed, should be the stone calculated by the military. Converting it this way, the yield of about 3 stones per mu can be converted into the concept of later generations, which is in the range of 270 city catties to 280 city catties.
And the output of 280 kilograms or 3 stones is really very small.
To give an example, as far as Fei Qian knows, the court calculates rations like this: they are divided into eldest men, eldest women, envoy men, enslaved women, unentrusted men and unenabled women - "big" means growing up.
In ancient times, adults were considered to be over 16 years old (inclusive); to use means that they can be used for commanding, which refers to 6 to 15 years old; to have not used means that they cannot be used for just eating, which refers to those who are under 6 years old.
A big man is a strong laborer, and the lunar eclipse has a big stone of 1 stone and 8 buckets;
The eldest daughter and the servant are in the second position, the lunar eclipse is 1 big stone and 3 buckets;
The third level of the maid and the unused man, the lunar eclipse stone is 1 stone;
The last stage is the Unmaiden, 7 buckets of lunar eclipse boulders.
Based on the average population of three generations living under one roof, with 2 people per generation, that is, grandparents, parents, sons and daughters, a family will eat 9 shi per month, which is the annual output of 3 acres of land.
Annual rations require 36 acres of land.
In addition to various miscellaneous expenses such as rent, taxes, expropriations, transfers, etc., the most basic guarantee for a Han Dynasty farmer not to go bankrupt is to have at least 50 acres of land.
And it’s just eating, not other things, and you can’t get sick...
Fei Qian shook his head. Regardless of ancient times and later generations, this disease has always been the most terrifying thing in the hearts of the most basic and lowest-level people——
But the more basic it is, the people at the lower levels are the most susceptible to getting sick...
After walking for a while, Fei Qian saw a farmer plowing the land in the distance, so he spoke to Zhang Zhao, went up to the working farmer, bowed his hands, and asked: "My dear, I have a question."
Please tell me, how is this property?"
The farmer who was plowing the land straightened up, looked at Fei Qian's clothes, and saw Zhang Zhao and others guarding Fei Qian behind him. He thought it was a disciple from some aristocratic family who came to check on the people, so he said politely: "I don't dare to be a guest."
Words. This land is considered to be a large acre, and the harvest this year is pretty good. We have harvested 4 tons of corn."
The old farmer smiled widely, obviously satisfied with this year's output.
Fei Qian pointed to the fields in the distance and asked, "Are all the nearby fields like this?"
The old farmer shook his head and said: "It depends on the land. The upper fields produce more, but if it is the poorer fields..." The old farmer pointed to an area near the foot of the mountain, "Look, sir, there is newly opened wasteland over there. It was only opened this year."
This is the first time of plowing, and there is no water on the mountain. It depends entirely on human labor. If you can get one stone per acre, it is great."
Fei Qian took out a few coins and five baht from his arms, thanked the old farmer, and handed over the coins.
The old farmer thanked Fei Qian repeatedly and reached out to take Fei Qian's hand. He was afraid of getting Fei Qian's hand dirty, so he used the short jacket he was wearing to cushion it before taking Fei Qian's money.
Fei Qian returned to the carriage and continued on his way. He said nothing, but his heart was like boiling water, and various thoughts kept popping up...
In fact, that old farmer is like the lowest cornerstone of the Han Dynasty today, but if you don’t go out, you don’t know how miserable this cornerstone is now. The old farmer just now was living well, but what about those who encountered natural disasters? What about those who have no land to farm? If there is no land at home.
Is anyone sick?
No wonder during the Yellow Turban Rebellion not long ago, the three Zhang Jiao brothers were able to incite thousands of peasants to revolt at every turn...
If everyone could have enough food, clothing and warmth, who would engage in rebellion?
In the later stages of every dynasty, the most basic and lowest people are forced to survive, so they naturally turn against them. This has been the case from ancient times to the present.
As long as you meet the minimum living requirements, these simple people will naturally support you and follow you, and the so-called popular support will naturally arise.
Fei Qian thought about it and felt that it was still difficult to solve this problem. Most of the land today has been merged and reorganized during the two hundred years of the Eastern Han Dynasty. Most of it has fallen into the hands of aristocratic families, such as the Chen Liuwei family and the Hongnong family.
The Yang family, Xuzhou Mi family, etc., and touching the land of these noble families means cutting off the roots of these people's wealth, and they will inevitably encounter fierce resistance...
Or is there a way to improve productivity to temporarily relieve yourself for a period of time?
Or introduce new high-yielding species?
Fei Qian looked up at the sky. The sky in the Han Dynasty was clear and blue with white clouds, which was very eye-catching.
If we want to change the future destiny of these people living under this beautiful sky, we still have to start from the most basic things...
