Ancient ritual: The emperor personally plows the southern suburbs, and the queen personally plows the northern suburbs.
Specifically, the emperor went to the fields to plow the fields, pushed and returned three times, and the queen or queen went to the mulberry field to pick three leaves, which are all symbolic.
Plowing is usually done in February, while sericulture is done in March.
On the eighth day of February, Shao Xun personally went to work in the fields—real work, not symbolic work.
He chose a family of yellow-headed soldiers.
The soldier had just recovered from illness and was too weak to plow the land, so Shao Xun took over the work.
A fellow team member, Paoze, grew winter wheat at home and did not need spring plowing, so he came to help. Shao Xun was not pretentious, and everyone just worked together.
"This village is nice." Shao Xun said, "I see you don't want to live in the manor anymore. It's right in the village. It's nice."
The farmland is right in front of the village, lined up from east to west.
Across a small river, there is another piece of farmland to the south.
One of the two fields is low-lying, and the other is higher. The lower-lying fields are irrigated by artesian canals and have higher yields, while the higher-lying fields need to be irrigated manually, which is more troublesome.
Further south, there is a small river. The other side of the river is full of reeds and bamboo forests, and then there is another village.
Liu Han has occupied Pingyang for many years, and the situation is relatively stable. Slowly, more people are leaving Wubao and living in the village. Because Wubao is really inconvenient, the place is small, dark and humid, and you have to walk every day to work
It's a long way and really troublesome.
During the season when fruits are ripe, many people live directly in the fields, or return to originally abandoned villages to simply clean up their homes and make it easier for them to do farm work.
However, if an enemy comes to loot, or if the situation becomes tense, the residents of Wubao will still quickly pack up their belongings and hide in the fort.
"No." After hearing Shao Xun's words, more than ten people responded in unison.
"Okay, very energetic." Shao Xun laughed.
Although their household registration records indicate that they are all farm workers, non-soldiers, field troops, and tenant farmers, they are indeed not ordinary farmers. After the spring plowing is completed, give them ten days and a half to deal with the chores at home, and then they will
Start gathering, practice a few times, and then let them go home.
If there is a war in the future, they will serve as logistical auxiliaries for the soldiers. When necessary, they will also be used as soldiers, or as garrison troops to suppress newly occupied areas.
Therefore, Shao Xun was not afraid to give them the greatest win over.
We have been given materially, but we also need spiritual support to further consolidate it.
"After spring plowing, follow me to the Luliang Mountains to hunt, drink wine and eat meat together." Shao Xun said again.
Everyone agreed one after another.
There is nothing much to say, I just like to be around Prince Liang, he is the backbone of everyone.
Without him, the Huangtou Army group would not be so stable, and everyone's interests might be harmed.
Shao Xun was busy until noon when he came to an orchard.
More than ten carriages were parked here.
Yang Qin, who is about to leave his post, is standing at his last post, greeting the soldiers to prepare meals.
He also has a small government office in Pingyang, which he shares with Liu Ling, Yuan Xi and Zheng Dong.
This is the yamen of Wan Shengjun.
Shao Xun personally served as the governor of the Wansheng Army, but he did not have so much time to deal with military affairs. Generally speaking, the four newly promoted deputy governors were responsible for each of the ten thousand people.
Yang Qin, the pro-military governor, was appointed deputy governor of Wan Shengjun.
Liu Ling still retains his post as deputy governor. The more than 10,000 Qingzhou soldiers under him will be disbanded this year. Shao Xun wants to see whether he is willing to part with them and whether he dares to cause trouble.
Zheng Dong was the former Lieutenant General of the Right Guards Hall of the Forbidden Army, and he was an old subordinate of Shao Xun when he was selecting sudden generals in Luoyang.
Yuan Xi resigned from the post of Lieutenant of Nanyang and became the deputy governor of Wansheng Army.
Wan Shengjun is a civilian when not recruiting, but a soldier during war. For the four people, this is tantamount to relinquishing military power from their hands. From their point of view, it is difficult to say whether it is worth it, but they have no choice.
I can come to Pingyang to take up my post.
The pro-military governor recruited some new recruits, and now there are 1,500 people.
Almost all the original officers and veterans were transferred to the Wansheng Army, and those who stayed were given promotion opportunities.
Tong Qianjin, the "one-eyed dragon", Xue Yong, who brought more than a hundred warriors to join the army, and Huang Zheng, son of Huang Biao, the third commander of the Forbidden Army's Left Guard Division, served as building masters.
As for the position of pro-military governor, Shao Xun thought about it and temporarily let Huang Zheng hold it concurrently.
After this adjustment, both Qinjun and Wanshengjun need to adapt and become familiar with each other again. Fortunately, there is plenty of time at the moment, so just take your time.
The lunch meal was very simple. Shao Xun, Yu Wenjun, and Yang Xianrong sat on the carpet and finished eating quickly.
After taking a short rest, Shao Xun took Yu Wenjun's hand and publicly inspected various farmlands under Yang Xianrong's blank gaze.
"This piece of reed is also useful." Shao Xun pointed to the dense reeds by the river and said, "The reeds can be used as cotton clothing to keep warm, and the reed poles can also be cut back to make chicken coops, duck coops, or even used as
Courtyard gate."
Yu Wenjun listened quietly to these novel things, with a smile on his face. But it was not because he was interested in these things, but because of the person who spoke.
"Your Majesty." The people who were sitting on the ridge eating fell to the ground.
"I'm disturbing you guys from eating." Shao Xun smiled and said, "Sit down."
After finishing speaking, he leaned into Yu Wenjun's ear and said a few words.
Yu Wenjun nodded obediently, then called the servants and gave them some instructions.
After a while, the servants pulled several carriages and distributed the preserved meat, cheese and even wine stored in the carriages to the Yellow Head Army soldiers.
Everyone was a little shocked at first, and then burst into laughter.
"The princess thinks of your hard work, so she gives you meat and wine." The servants said loudly.
"Thank you, Princess, for the reward." After hearing this, everyone shouted in unison.
After the news spread to the distance, the voices of "Thank you, Princess, for the reward" kept coming and going.
Yu Wenjun looked at Shao Xun happily.
Shao Xun smiled and asked: "Are you very happy?"
Yu Wenjun nodded.
"Let the soldiers be happy, let Li Yuan be happy, and you will be happy too." Shao Xun said: "If I am not here, you must remember these things. Wan Sheng's army has forty thousand men, and we are bound by kindness to protect me.
Two generations of Shaw's descendants."
Yu Wenjun nodded slightly, and then couldn't help but look at Shao Xun.
Shao Xun looked at her with encouraging eyes and sighed secretly in his heart: Yu Wenjun really has no subjective initiative. She often relies on him to encourage and push her before she does something.
Sometimes he is as patient with this wife as he is with his daughter.
She naturally likes to hide and doesn't like to take the initiative to shoulder heavy burdens. She finds it too annoying and fearful of difficulties.
However, after many years of marriage, with his efforts, Yu Wenjun finally changed somewhat.
At least, she is already relatively skilled when dealing with ladies.
Shao Xun had a serious discussion with her, and the final conclusion was that some things may seem difficult, but they may not be that difficult to do. Don't be afraid, just be brave and try.
Yu Wenjun basically agreed with this conclusion. Compared with the time when he first got married, he had made great progress.
But she always looks at Shao Xun from time to time. After finding that her husband is by her side, she will calm down and usually perform well at this time.
In fact, Shao Xun likes her little appearance. Both men and women like the feeling of being needed.
The two then turned around the small river bend, saw the lush wheat fields, passed through the gray fields, and walked through the slightly budding peach blossom forest.
Wherever he passed, the yellow-headed soldier and his "new family members" saluted one after another.
Yu Wenjun also boldly responded and said a few words, which deepened everyone's impression of the princess.
Before returning to the lunch place, seeing no one around, Yu Wenjun gently hugged Shao Xun and said, "I'm so tired."
Not physically tired, but mentally tired.
Shao Xun gently wiped the sweat from the tip of her nose and said, "For the sake of our children, what's the point of being tired?"
"I'm doing it for you." Yu Wenjun said softly.
Shao Xun was helpless, I'm paving the way for your son, why don't you do this for me?
Although he has not yet decided which son will inherit the family business in the future, the eldest son always has priority.
The Yu family has poor foundation and few talents, which has both advantages and disadvantages for Shao Xun.
In the past, I valued this point and was afraid of being too unprepossessing and being listed on the market under a backdoor scheme.
Now I am slowly realizing the disadvantages.
Forget it, you can't be angry with a wife whose heart is tied to you, just give her a beating.
In the first month of the first month, he held a grand banquet in Pingyang, which was too high-profile. The officials who showed kindness to him were of such a high standard...
****
As the sun sets, the day of spring plowing is finally over.
Shao Xun briefly washed himself by the river, took off his linen clothes, put on a brocade robe, and left in a car.
The soldiers of Wansheng Army packed up their farm tools and went home in groups, chatting as they walked.
When they arrived at the village entrance, everyone was stopped.
The leader of the team, Zeng Yi, knocked on the parked carriage with the back of his knife and said: "Each person has a handful of grain. Go home quickly and get a bag to pack it."
"Team leader, where did this food come from?" someone asked.
"After the spring plowing, the troops will be gathered for training. The princess thinks of our hard work, so she specially asks the king to give me a bunch of grain." Zeng Yi said, and at the end, he added: "The owner of the building said it."
"The princess is really a kind person." Everyone looked happy.
When there is a lean period, every family is in difficulty.
Last year, Hedong, Pingyang, Xihe and other places were indeed not affected by disasters, but after fighting for so many years and having to feed and drink tens of thousands of troops stationed here, the people were also extremely poor.
A handful of grain may not seem like much, but it really helps a lot. Otherwise, I would not have enough energy during training.
"Team leader, when will you practice? Where will you practice?" someone else asked.
"I heard it's the end of February or the beginning of March." Zeng Yi said, "If it's too early, there will be too many things at home and we won't be able to leave. Besides, there will be no food if it's too early."
"Team leader, you talked more today than you did in a month last year." Someone laughed.
"The team leader has so many things going on at home that the couch is shaking."
"The team leader is indeed different from last year. He seems to be a different person."
"Get out!" Zeng Yi cursed.
After everyone dispersed, he chuckled lightly.
The days in Pingyang were similar to those in Changshan, maybe even a little worse, but he didn't feel bitter. On the contrary, he gradually felt a surge of energy throughout his body.
This energy did not come overnight, but burst out from the bottom of my heart bit by bit over the past two months.
The two pieces of silk given by King Liang last year have been spent. Now he needs more silk, the more the better.
He actually wanted to start a war.
Chapter completed!