Xia Xun said happily, and suddenly turned around and called. [] Xiaoying had just tightened her grip on the fork handle and pulled out the steel fork from the ridge. When she saw Xia Xun turning around to call, she was slightly startled, and she took advantage of the situation and picked up the steel fork.
He walked over and sighed: "Sir, this fork is made of fine iron!"
Xia Xun smiled and said, "What about that?"
Xiaoying said: "In our tribe, an iron pot is a rare thing. When a girl gets married, it is a very honorable thing to give an iron pot as a dowry. The rakes used to rake the grass are all made of bamboo and wood. I don't want to
Iron tools are already used everywhere in the fields here."
Xia Xun laughed, took the steel fork from her hand, and thrust it into the ground. As expected, the soil was loosened by the plow, and the iron fork penetrated in until it reached the iron hoop.
Xia Xun said: "Of course, within a few years, Liaodong will change drastically."
He waved his hand and said: "You, this is the field that the herdsmen opened up under the guidance of local farmers. The output of just a few acres of land is more than the food that can be obtained by nomadic herding in a year, not bad, right?"
If you are willing, how about I ask my guards to help me clear a field for you, make a dowry for you, and find a good family to marry? Otherwise, I can also help you find a shop in the city, Liaodong.
, there are many people in my daughter's family who are out in public doing business, which is not unusual. If you know how to read and count, you can also find a good job to do."
Sakura said quietly: "Sir, do you have to drive Sakura away?"
She stared at Xia Xun and whispered: "Sir, Xiaoying followed you because you still wanted to repay your kindness. Although you didn't kill the big enemy for Xiaoying, you... after all, you breathed a sigh of relief for Xiaoying.
..., Sakura will be very satisfied as long as she serves you."
"cough……"
There was a faint hint of affection between men and women in the girl's words, and the few shogunate officials who were following Xia Xun immediately turned their attention to him and turned a blind eye.
Xia Xun gave a bitter smile and said nothing.
Next, he visited several herdsmen who had settled here and asked about their current situation, whether they had a place to live, and whether they had any difficulties in food and clothing. The sun gradually rose, and Xia Xun sat under the big elm tree at the head of the village.
I picked a stone where farmers used to sit on the Longmen Formation in their spare time and sat down to rest. Someone brought a clay pot over, poured a bowl of cold water and placed it next to Xia Xun.
The clerks were busy with some specific matters and were not around. Xia Xun and the guards stood next to Xiao Ying, pointing to the stone opposite and saying: "Sit down!" After all, she is a girl on the grassland, without those coquettishness and
Be humble, Xia Xun ordered, and Xiaoying followed his instructions and sat down opposite him.
The wind blows from afar, and as soon as it passes under the shade of the tree, it brings a burst of coolness. The elm trees sway with the breeze, and the sun shines from the colorful branches and leaves, falling brightly and dimly on Xiao Ying's body, as if wearing a
A patterned dress. The light and shadow were scattered, reflecting the light virgin hair on her temples and ears, which really made me feel pity for her.
Xia Xun sighed softly: "Xiaoying, you insist on staying with me, do you hope... that I can avenge you?"
Sakura's eyes brightened: "My lord, with two battles and two victories, I easily wiped out the Tatar eastern grasslands. With this power, I will definitely be unfavorable. What a man wants is just merit. Therefore, my lord, originally
They will raise troops again, right?"
Xia Xun smiled and subconsciously turned to the northwest. Of course he saw nothing. Beyond the wilderness, there was a lush green mountain range, directly facing the blue sky.
After a moment of silence, Xia Xun gently raised his head, looking at the swaying treetops above his head, and sighed: "The trees want to be quiet but the wind doesn't stop, maybe... this war will not end here. But as long as the Tatars don't attack Liaodong,
I will not take the initiative to send troops again. In this battle, we must kill to stop killing. Otherwise, they will come to rob our people, so we have to fight, but I am not warlike!"
Xiaoying suddenly opened her eyes wide, as if she was a little surprised by the words coming from Xia Xun's mouth.
Xia Xun glanced at her and said: "A little disappointed, aren't you? Do you think that with the power of victory, I will start another war and build a legacy that will last forever? To defeat them, it may be necessary to
It is not easy to eliminate them! Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty used the power of his country to destroy countless families and wiped out other people? It is glorious to seal Lang Juxu! But who is in the hands of Lang Juxu now?
When Wokuotai occupied the Han Dynasty, someone suggested that he drive out the Han people and transform the entire plain into a large pasture. This stupid idea was refuted by Yelu Chucai. If they really intended to implement this idea at that time, they
I can't rule for more than a hundred years. I won't be stupid enough to try to wipe out the nomadic tribes and occupy the entire grassland.
Originally, we could not graze, nor could we farm on the grassland. A person’s way of life depends on his living environment. There are some things that cannot be solved by force. With our current conditions, even if we sacrifice many people and occupy the dominant position in the grassland, we cannot use it.
How long will it take to return it to the people living on the grassland? Maybe one day, we will have the conditions to solve this problem, but not now, and that person will not be me!"
Xia Xun stood up and walked forward slowly. Xiao Ying subconsciously stood up and followed him.
Xia Xun stopped, looked at the north, and said: "After the victory, what do I want to do? What I want to do is to consolidate and prosper Liaodong, and make it the strongest border wall of the Ming Dynasty. What I want to do, I asked myself
That's all that can be accomplished through hard work. As for things like dividing and reuniting, splitting borders and splitting soil, whoever can do it, how big of a bowl, how much rice to eat, I wonder if I don't have that ability!"
Xia Xun took a breath and said: "One person can't do what it takes a few lifetimes to complete. Life is over, so I just have to do what I can do. I am now working hard to develop agriculture and commerce in Liaodong.
, industry, unites people of all ethnic groups in Liaodong through common interests. When it truly forms a synergy, no one can stop it, including me, the initiator. When the development here has reached the point where it will not be ruined by people,
If things get to this point, I will leave with peace of mind..."
Sakura stood behind him, staring at him intently, and suddenly asked: "Sir, what are you doing by doing this?"
Xia Xun raised his head and looked at the long white clouds in the sky. He thought carefully for a long time, then slowly turned around, stared at Xiaoying, and said, "Yes, tell me, what do I want?"
What kind of answer is this? Sakura couldn't help but be stunned...
※※※※※※※※
After returning to Kaiyuan City, Xia Xun did not go back to the shogunate directly, but sent Wanshiyu back first. He and Sakura rushed to the farmer's market in Kaiyuan with great interest.
Although Hadaburg still maintains its status as the largest trade market in Kaiyuan due to many years of operation, the markets in Kaiyuan are no longer limited to this place. Because Xia Xun liberalized the trade policy, trade markets in various places
They have sprung up like bamboo shoots after a rain. Driven by commerce, they have greatly promoted the development of various industries.
The market that Xia Xun arrived at was the smuggling trade place that spontaneously formed when he first arrived in Kaiyuan. Now it has become extremely prosperous, with merchants of all ethnic groups and people participating in the market flowing in and out.
Officials from the Department of Commerce and Industry rushed over after hearing the news. While accompanying Xia Xun to visit the market, they carried their account books and reported to him the situation of market trade: "Yesterday, there were a total of 847 transactions.
The goods traded included one thousand one hundred and thirty-four pieces of wood, ninety-one iron pots, fourteen and a half pieces of satin, one hundred and eighty-six pieces of cloth, seventy-five cattle, and four hundred and twenty mink skins.
One hundred and twenty two pounds of ginseng, horse..."
While listening to his report, Xia Xun looked at the endless crowds of people, including those who bought and sold soil to find grain, those who took out bail, those who bought grain, rice, salt and sauce, those who pushed carts, and those who drove cattle.
The women in Han and Hu costumes were walking around the market as if to kill time with their children. It was really lively.
Xia Xun smiled at Xiaoying and said, "Isn't it nice of you to do this? When the whole Liaodong is so prosperous, if someone wants to stop people from living such a good life, will they agree? If an official wants to do this
Evil official, will they oppose this evil official? If the Tatars want to plunder and scare away merchants from far away, will the people here pick up their swords and guns and resolutely drive them away?"
As soon as Xia Xun said this, there was a quarrel not far away. Xia Xun frowned and turned his head to look. The clerk in the Commercial Office was extremely angry when he saw that the governor was here, but someone didn't give him any respect.
After rushing over, Xia Xun also walked over and listened carefully.
It turned out that the vendor who was selling cattle, sheepskin and live animals was recognized as a member of the Tatar tribe nomadic on the Horqin grassland. Because of their hostile relationship, several Han merchants and Jurchen merchants nearby took the opportunity to threaten him.
Buy all his goods at a low price. If their price is only slightly lower, the people of this tribe will probably swallow it. But their price is too low. If they follow his price, others
It would be better to take the cattle and sheep back and eat them yourself. Naturally, he refused to agree.
These Han merchants and Jurchen merchants took the opportunity to make loud noises and incite everyone's hostility against them. Many people surrounded them for a while. The men who came from Horqin panicked and were not willing to sell cattle and sheep so cheaply.
If I sell it, I'm afraid it will cause disaster and no one will be able to leave.
Xia Xun couldn't help but feel a little angry when he heard the reason. He walked up and asked, "What's going on?"
The clerk from the Shang Dynasty hurriedly smiled and said: "Sir, the buyer wants to buy his horse at the price of one piece of silk and two pieces of cloth for each horse. The seller refuses. There is some dispute between the two parties. It's a small matter, a small matter.
…”
"Little things?"
Xia Xun lowered his face and said: "Even a layman like me can tell that these horses have fat nostrils, broad chests, tall bodies, big hooves, shiny coats, and teeth that are in the prime of life, even if they are not of the upper class.
Top grade, each horse is worth at least four pieces of silk and six pieces of cloth. According to the official price, even the foals are worth one piece of silk and three pieces of cloth. For such a low price, and to gather a crowd to threaten them, this is buying
Or rob?"
As soon as the merchants heard the clerk respectfully calling him "Master of the Ministry", they all knew that this man was the Governor of Liaodong, and they did not dare to breathe.
Xia Xun said angrily: "These traders are bullying the market and disrupting order. They will be arrested and severely punished!"
Those profiteers hoped to pretend to be grandsons, so Xia Xun let them go, not wanting to be punished. The other Han merchants took advantage of the fact that they were both Han people, so they had the courage to shout: "My lord! My lord! They are Tatars."
People!"
Xia Xun said coldly: "What about the Tatars? Are they coming to rob you with swords and guns? If so, you can still be so brave, and the governor will praise you vigorously! As long as you do business according to your duty, we will
Treat everyone equally, no matter who breaks the rules!"
After hearing what Xia Xun said, the clerk from the Department of Shang was not polite. He immediately called people over and arrested several profiteers and punished them. Xia Xun thought about it and felt that this situation might not only happen in Kaiyuan City.
, he has specifically stated that when doing business, he must not use various excuses to defraud customers, and now there are still people who insist on it. If management in this area is not strengthened, it will easily destroy his purpose of economic and trade relaxation.
So after the market returned to calm, Xia Xun ordered two plainclothes guards to escort Xiaoying back home, and rushed to the Commercial Office. He had to explain this matter carefully, and he couldn't let a few smelly fish spoil it.
A pot of soup ruins the good situation today.
Xiaoying stared blankly at Xia Xun's back until his figure completely disappeared from the crowd, then glanced at the Tatar herdsmen who were congratulating each other with an extremely complicated expression, and walked away with the two guards.
※※
Tang Jie, the governor of the Fifth Army Command in Beijing, returned to his home in Kaiyuan with his wife and son.
He was originally from Liaodong. When the King of Yan conquered the north, he served under Qiu Fu. Because of his bravery in battle and repeated military exploits, he was gradually promoted by Qiu Fu. After Qiu Fu returned to Beijing from Jinling, he removed this old subordinate from Jinling.
The position of General of the Border Town was promoted to that of a minister in the Fifth Army Governor's Mansion. He no longer had to work as hard as before, and his status was also much higher. Tang Jie felt sincerely for this old boss.
This time he came back to visit relatives. Because he came with a special mission, Tang Jie was a little distracted. When he met his mother and brother, they didn't exchange a few common words before asking about Xia Xun's two campaigns against the Tatars.
His brother Tang Hao said happily: "Of course, we beat him twice, and it was so clean. In the first encounter, we took down a large tribe of more than 20,000 people. In the second encounter, it was even more powerful. We just captured all the prisoners."
Nearly 40,000 people, hey! To the east and south of the Horqin Grassland, now the Tatars basically dare not show up!"
He then said enthusiastically: "Brother, Governor Yang is opening a market in Guangdong, Liaodong. This means that there are people who have a way to sell it to the outside world. The game and mountain products that were originally piled there and not worth a lot of money can be transported to the south and become a huge fortune."
Ah! My brother is also participating in it now. He has built a business inn with some family members of generals and officials from Liaodong Dusi. Did you see when you came in just now that the house being built on the east side of the yard was built by our family? Haha, my brother now has
Rich man!"
Tang Jie was upset when he heard this, and responded in a squeaky voice, completely uninterested.
At this time, his son Tang Wuzhu was riding a horse and wandering around the streets of Kaiyuan. He had been back to his hometown a few times. In the past, the streets were deserted. As a person from Beijing, he felt that his hometown was a purely rural place.
I was too lazy to go out for a walk, but when I came back from this trip, I found that Kaiyuan was completely different, and I couldn't help but feel interested.
He is seventeen or eighteen years old, and his face is covered with acne. His father is a high-ranking official in the Governor's Office of the Fifth Army, and he came from Beijing. Tang Wuzhu can't help but feel a bit superior in Kaiyuan City. With his bright clothes and angry horses,
Racing through the streets, very arrogant.
As he was riding his horse, he suddenly caught a glimpse of a girl in Hu clothes wearing a white robe and long braids. Accompanied by two young men, each riding a horse, he flashed past the entrance of an alley. Although it was just a glimpse, he caught his eye.
It was so amazing that this boy suddenly became hormonal and immediately whipped his horse and galloped after him into the alley!
: No, there is a trend of writing big chapters recently. These two chapters are 8,700 words. If I split them and write another four or five hundred words, it would be three chapters. This is a bad habit.
Finally, as usual, I ask for recommendation votes!