The bullock cart drove slowly, and Lu Shangjing watched silently.
Because they were built uniformly, the houses were all exactly the same and arranged neatly, with five households in a row, facing each other, but there were ten households with one fire, one fire chief, five fires one armor, and one armor chief.
Three hundred households were divided into Liujia, dividing the ten thousand acres of land. Now that spring has come, the mountain vines have returned to green and cover the fields.
Farmers are still digging canals.
This winter came early and left late. With the new wave of spiritual energy on the Black Water Ocean, the imperial capital was still covered in silver makeup, while Yingzhou has ushered in warm and humid water vapor, but the icy cold air from Mobei did not fade away immediately, so the warm front
, cold fronts alternately come and go on the Great Plains, strangulating each other.
This month's spring cold period may be bad news for ordinary farmers, but it is the best for cassava... As a short-day crop, the greater the temperature difference between day and night, the faster the tubers will expand - in comparison, it is easier to lose the capital.
Weeds occupying potato seedling resources are at a disadvantage.
We worked together last winter, and with the arrival of de-frozen soil, it was difficult to continue construction of branch canals, Nanlian Mountain roads, water trucks, houses, and relocation...all were completed before the beginning of spring, and everything was in good order.
But now, thousands of acres of cassava seedlings have woken up from the severe cold in winter and continue to grow. The insects have been frozen to death in waves in the repeated cold returns, freeing the tenant farmers from the most arduous work of weeding and insect control, and they can
Time and energy were invested in cleaning the remaining branch canals.
I saw the river meandering away, and a row of drainage trucks built on the embankment, ten meters high, which looked very spectacular. Everything else was closed, and only three of them had their gates open. This meant that there was no need to use such a large amount of water at this time.
Lu Shangjing shouted: "Stop"
I immediately got out of the car and took a closer look at the waterwheel. I saw that the waterwheel was spinning and making a "squeaking" sound. The bamboo tubes on the wheels continued to pour river water into the canal, and the canal continued into the distance.
Not far away, there were more than a dozen children playing and playing. Lu Shangjing watched and thought to herself: "We use military methods to organize households and open canals for farming. My lord's talent is really far-reaching."
"It's a pity that the evil spirit in this land has not dissipated. Otherwise, there will be tens of thousands of acres of fertile land soon."
After getting on the bullock cart, we went to the land of Yijia again.
Along the way and at crossroads, fifty households were lined up neatly. In the middle was a huge drying ground, a granary, a commander's station, a patrol station, and a grocery store and hotel.
Not far away, there was a well, which was entirely built with blue bricks. A well pavilion was built on it to protect it from wind and rain, and a windlass was set up to lift water. Lu Shangjing inspected it and saw the clear water in the well, and nodded with satisfaction.
At this time, there were still some craftsmen who were building a temple. The specifications were not high, but they were thoughtful. Lu Shangjing arrived at the sentry post again, climbed up the stairs, and looked around.
I saw thousands of people busy in the green fields and ridges, which are in an irregular leaf shape, bounded by the southern Yu River. The main canal reaches Xinzhuang in the north, and branch canals and fine canals spread on both sides. The complete irrigation water network has basically been completed.
Shaping - Such smooth leaf veins can theoretically support thick leaf mesophyses, and future paddy fields are no longer a dream.
"The climate has become a success and it has finally lived up to its trust. The only worry is that this bad land has just shown signs of recovery. When will it really turn into fertile land?"
Just as I was thinking about it, two tenants carried a large basket over, put it down with a bang, and shouted happily: "Mr. Lu, come and see, this is the first basket of freshly cut potatoes, it's great."
"Oh." Mountain potatoes are planted in winter and harvested in spring. They are generally harvested in March. It is a bit early now, but it is not a problem to harvest a batch first. Lu Shangjing went down to take a closer look.
I saw the potato cubes were neat and huge, each with a snow-white skin, smooth to the touch without cracks. This was rare, and I couldn’t help but believe: “Is this true in the fields?”
"They are all," the younger tenants responded loudly, their faces flushed with excitement: "They are all the first batch collected from each fire. Before I had time to choose, this kind of appearance is only one out of a hundred in the mountains, and there are no insects.
Even if I bite it, there is no poisonous gas, and even humans can eat it... I heard that it is a bad land when I came here. If there is such a bad land that specializes in growing yam, Mr. Qing will not lose money if he buys it..."
"If you don't look at who made the purchase, how can you lose if it's Young Master Qing? You're the only one who is making such nonsense." One person curled his lips disdainfully.
"Isn't this just loyalty? I'm... stubborn and anxious for the young master."
"I think you are worried about the Yue family, right? Shuiling's daughter-in-law hasn't even come here yet, so she is weeding and digging ditches every two days. Those who don't know better think you are their son-in-law."
"You are jealous..."
Lu Shangjing couldn't hear the argument at all, so she took off her clothes and ran to the nearest field. She dug in the mud with her hands and dug out a snow-white potato. She dropped it and dug out a few more, still the same, or even bigger.
A moment of trance and joy came over him, causing him to bury his head deeply and greedily breathe in the fragrance of the earth... The smell had indeed changed.
The dull tenants behind him were still arguing about "a bad land for growing high-quality potatoes." Lu Shangjing only felt ridiculous in her ears, but when she really thought about it, she couldn't help but tremble physically and mentally.
"Ten thousand acres of paddy fields, even top-grade paddy fields..." After a while, Ye Qing's calm and determined expression came to mind, and Lu Shangjing came back to his senses and nodded at the two of them: "Go and invite the third master over, Mrs. Qian is still in the study?
Please come here too."
The two understood, mounted their horses and galloped back.
Everyone in the clan knows that Young Master Qing has not yet married, and Qianqian is the number one favorite. This is a love that will never leave him even in times of trouble. He has won Young Master Qing's trust, and even specially hangs books on the walls to cultivate reading...
All kinds of specialties gradually gave her the right to speak in the inner court and in major foreign affairs.
As for Ye Zifan, he is the clan leader's agent, and with such huge interests involved, he had to be invited.
Lu Shangjing threw the potatoes into the basket, looked at the fields cheering, and calmed down: "If necessary, the Cao family, the lord's mother's family, must be brought in, but it has not reached this stage yet, so there is no need to notify Cao Hushan.
"
I remembered something and gave the order: "Quickly call in the men and collect some land first. I want to see the yield data per mu before Mrs. Qianqian and the third master arrive."
...Half an hour later, Ye Zifan and Qianqian arrived.
Ye Zifan looked pretty good. He was wearing a beige cotton robe and was only concerned about his wife and son. His hair was half white, which made people look at him with pity. At this time, he was carefully checking the condition of the yams.
"There is still half a month left before large-scale cane planting, but just from one plot of land, the harvest will be 200 catties, and that one acre will be two thousand catties."
"It's higher than the 1,500 kilograms predicted when the Lord left. These are top-quality cassava for human consumption-" Lu Shangjing said.
Qianqian came back to her senses and frowned: "This is a great harvest, let's just pay it off now. In half a month, there will be large-scale vine growth. I'm afraid it will attract the attention of the county. I hope my uncle will mobilize the clan to protect it."
"This is normal." Ye Zifan came to his senses at this time and showed a hint of joy: "Two thousand catties per mu, and twenty million catties per ten thousand acres. The raw materials of this winery, at least for us, do not need to be purchased.
.”
Zifan turned around as he spoke, a little tired, but still thinking: "Take me to Jiali again to have a look."
"Yes" and the group of people walked along the canal, looking at the fields, canals, deep wells, houses, roads, warehouses, Ye Zifan looked at them one by one, nodding from time to time, sighing secretly in his heart.
When Lu Shangjing was first invited, his nephew gave him 300 acres of fertile land in one fell swoop and asked him to take charge of the farming. Zifan was a little unimpressed and felt that it was too much, but he didn't expect that it had only been half a year and everything was so organized. He could see for himself that it was true.
Falling behind.
Ye Zifan remembered something and asked: "The vines started growing in March. Do you want to continue planting yams or switch to rice?"
Lu Shangjing was deep and sophisticated, pondered for a moment, and then said: "Third Master, I think it is better to plant potatoes."
"Why?" Ye Zifan asked calmly, only nodding slightly to show that he heard.
"First of all, the bad smell has not disappeared in these ten thousand acres, which is just suitable for growing cassava. This is the biggest reason."
"My lord has made a three-year wine-making plan. Hearing about the conflict between the Northern Wei Dynasty and this Dynasty, whether it is to keep out the cold or clean wounds, the demand for spirits has increased. This is the largest source of wealth."
"Using grain to make wine will harm the farmers and villages, and it will easily cause criticism and give people an excuse. Maybe the state and county will give an order to dust it off. Using these potatoes that are not within the scope of controlled grains will be fine.
Even if there are a few villains, as long as the main points are not bad, the character of the lord Xie Yuangong will be able to withstand it, so now we are short of potatoes and cannot change the general strategy."
"Moreover, switching to rice cultivation is a huge change. Third Master, although these ten thousand acres of fertile land are in good order, everything is still being created. Problems arise one after another and the foundation is very shallow. These are just internal affairs. There are always solutions. If the county
Seeing it as fertile farmland is completely different, but it crosses the bottom line of a red house."
"My lord is in Beijing to take the exam. This is a critical moment, how can there be any setbacks? I have learned a little about luck and know that stability is more important than speed. The harvest of these ten thousand acres of sweet potato is not as good as ten thousand acres of fertile land, but it is still impressive. But
Once the change is made, although it will be beneficial in the long term, in the short term I am afraid that not only will it not be able to support the lord, but opposing the lord will damage his luck."
"I am originally a commoner. My late father died in debt. I have been in poverty for more than ten years. I was appreciated by the lord and received this favor... I can only repay the favor." Lu Shangjing said with a straight face: "I have to consider everything for the lord. If
If I delay my lord’s future, I will never be able to redeem myself with my death.”
This is a clear statement that he is Ye Qing's retainer, not the Ye clan's retainer.
Zifan listened without saying a word, and then said for a moment: "I can tell that what you said is from your heart. This is very good. As long as you work hard in farming, how can I hold you back? Qing'er
Since I have left all this farmland to you, I will not interfere and mess up Qing'er's plan."
After hearing this, Lu Shangjing thanked her deeply: "Thank you, Third Master, for your consideration and love. I will definitely do my best to build up this farmland."
Ye Zifan nodded with satisfaction and said: "As for the county, don't worry, I will handle it myself."
"Yes" Lu Shangjing responded, her eyes sparkling, making people feel ten years younger.
Qianqian, who had been silent all this time, smiled secretly. Compared with Mr. Lu's initial difficulties, the words of the young master came to mind: "Career is a good medicine for men."
Remembering that the return date was still several months away, I became melancholy again. I stood on the field road and looked at the sunset in the west: "I wonder how the young master is doing and when he will come back..."
In the silence, I could only see that this ten thousand acres of luck, which was originally gray-white, now saw white air rising up, converging into one piece, and disappearing into the void.