The black soil layer turned over by the plowshare was emitting traces of steam under the warmth of the noon sun. To Mr. He, it had a provocative flavor.
The army had finished plowing the land and took the oxen and war horses to other places. Mr. He looked up and saw endless fields in his field of vision.
Fifty acres of land belongs to his family. As a recent immigrant from Beizhili, he once dreamed about it in anxiety, but now it has all come true, it is like a dream.
Moreover, after planting so much land, only 30% of the tax, equivalent to fifteen acres, was given to the government, and the rest was all his own.
There is no Liao salary, and there is no need to worry about a bad year. The government collects taxes based on the harvest, which can be converted into silver and Liao banknotes. But unlike the mainland, where there is no income, there is still a penny of land rent and taxes.
Watching, watching, Mr. He actually forgot to go home for dinner, and was thinking about how to plant good land so that he could have enough food and drink in a year and completely settle down in his new home.
Along the field path, a middle-aged man walked up, with thick eyebrows and a square face, a small scar at the corner of his eye, and he didn't look evil when he smiled.
"Brother He, it's time to go to dinner." The middle-aged man greeted loudly, interrupting Mr. He's nonsense.
Boss Lao He put the hoe on his shoulder and responded with a smile: "It's Brother Chen. Let's go back to the village together!"
Chen Yuanzong stopped and waited for a while, waiting for Lao He to come over, and then they walked towards the village while chatting together.
"Brother Chen, you are an old man from Liaodong. You need more guidance on what to plant and how to plant it." Mr. He said politely: "Otherwise, such a good field will be lost."
Chen Yuanzong was a shaved-headed Liao man who escaped from the Jianlu-controlled area last year and was resettled in Fuzhou. Although he missed the spring plowing time, he participated in the autumn harvest and had an understanding of the harvest of various crops.
"Brother Qin is too polite, I am not an old man." Chen Yuanzong said humbly: "But when it comes to what to plant, I still have my own plan. Brother Qin is willing to listen, so I will tell you."
Boss Lao He hurriedly said: "Why don't you want to listen? I will remember everything you said."
Chen Yuanzong smiled and said: "This year my family also has fifty acres of land. Mainly because we don't have big livestock, so I don't dare to ask for more. I plan to use one or two acres of land to grow vegetables, which I can usually eat. In the autumn, the radish and cabbage harvested
Store it in the cellar, pickle some more, and eat some in the winter."
Boss Lao He nodded repeatedly, this was pretty much what he planned.
Chen Yuanzong continued: "Take out another two or three acres of land and plant peanuts and Chaoyangzhuan (sunflowers). Divide the remaining fields into three parts and plant potatoes, corn and rye."
Boss Lao He was silent for a long time and said, "Brother Chen, your arrangement must make sense, right?"
Chen Yuanzong nodded and said: "Peanuts and Chaoyang can be used to extract oil, and they can be used to stir-fry during the holidays. It is convenient for the family."
"Then why don't you grow beans?" Mr. He asked doubtfully, "Also, can't you grow wheat in Liaodong?"
Chen Yuanzong explained patiently: "Beans and wheat can also be planted, but the harvest is not guaranteed. The main reason is that the weather has been getting colder and colder in recent years, with late thaws and early frosts. If you plant them, you will be afraid that your hard work will be in vain."
"Potatoes, corn, and rye are the most suitable for Liaodong." Chen Yuanzong continued: "Last year was not a good year, but the yield of potatoes did not exceed 1,000 kilograms per mu. The harvest of corn and rye
, which makes sense.”
"It's a bad year, but you can still collect a thousand pounds?" Mr. He showed enough surprise.
Chen Yuanzong laughed and said: "If the year is good, there will be two or three thousand catties. Think about it, if the weather is good, one year's harvest will be enough for two years. We will lay a good foundation this year and think about planting next year."
Yes, but don’t worry too much.”
"So that's it." Mr. He's eyes lit up and he nodded vigorously in agreement, "I just settled down this year. I really need to lay a good foundation and have a good start."
Chen Yuanzong said with a smile: "The government also provides guidance in this way, and it is all for our own good. The yield of corn is not as good as that of potatoes, but in addition to being edible, the axes can also be used to make fires, and the straw can be used to feed livestock, so it has more uses than potatoes."
Boss Lao He stroked his beard under his chin and said with a smile: "The corn tastes good, and it is delicious when put into pancakes and cooked into porridge. Potatoes are also good, they can be used as a staple food, or they can be fried and mixed as a vegetable."
When new immigrants first arrived in Liaonan, the first foods they encountered were corn and potatoes.
For them, it was a novelty and tasted quite good. As a staple food distributed by the government, they quickly learned various ways to make it.
"That's right." Mr. He thought of another question and asked: "If you pay taxes according to the harvest, the government still sends people to weigh it every autumn harvest, right?"
Chen Yuanzong glanced at Mr. He and said with a smile: "This government should make it clear. As you think, if you go to the people's fields to weigh and collect taxes, how many people will it take and how troublesome it will be?"
Boss He was a little embarrassed and said with a smile: "I must have missed it. I have to trouble Brother Chen to explain it more clearly."
Chen Yuanzong shifted the hoe to his shoulder and said: "There are hundreds of thousands of acres of fields in military villages. The annual taxes are collected from the people based on their average output."
After a pause, he added: "The government also stipulates that the average output of military villages will be reduced by another 10% within three years for new people who receive land to settle down. In other words, the taxes should be less than the actual output of the people.
receive."
"In other words, if the people manage the fields well, they will harvest more and don't have to pay more taxes?" Mr. He's eyes lit up as he figured out the way.
Chen Yuanzong nodded with a smile and said: "Then it depends on whether you are good at crops, whether you work hard on the land, and whether you take care of it carefully. If you harvest more due to your ability, it will be yours."
Boss Lao He pursed his lips and smiled. Although he was not showing off, the look on his face made it clear that he must be a good man and had full confidence in farming.
It cannot be said that the fields in Juntun are not cultivated carefully, but if the people really work hard, they will definitely surpass Juntun in terms of intensive farming.
When the government sets such regulations, on the one hand, it reduces the workload and eliminates the need for each company to verify output; on the other hand, it is also a policy that benefits the people and can stimulate people's enthusiasm and enthusiasm.
As Chen Yuanzong said, whether you can charge more or pay less depends on your ability. If you are a lazy man and want to pay taxes according to the harvest, and you can still keep some tens of acres of land for yourself, then wait for the northwest wind!
Compared with the fixed taxes of the Ming Dynasty, this policy was very flexible and friendly to the people, leaving a lot of living space for the people.
The two of them entered the village chatting, and then parted ways on the way, each going back to his own home.
When Mr. He entered his yard, his daughter Guihua heard the sound and came out of the house, complaining: "Dad, why are you coming back so late? People are so anxious to find you."
In response to his daughter's complaint, Mr. He smiled, waved his hand, and asked, "Where's your brother? He's not back yet?"
Osmanthus fragrans said: "When I go to the county to pull seed grains, in addition to traveling, I also have to load the truck. How can it be so fast?"
Boss Lao He nodded and said: "Anyway, there is someone in charge of the food, so let's eat first."
Osmanthus fetched face wash water, Mr. He washed himself up, then went into the house and sat at the small kang table with his daughter, chatting while eating.
Originally, there were some complaints that Osmanthus had to come to Liaodong. Now that the dust has settled and his heart has settled, Mr. He can only be happy.
Osmanthus fragrans is a little confused. Although her life has settled down, only one of the sisters from the same village can see each other frequently.
"If you want, I'll take the time to go to the town after spring plowing." Mr. He was in a good mood and became more relaxed towards his daughter. He said, "That woman named Wu, didn't you say she was an official in the town?
This is also a blessing in disguise. If not in Liaodong, how could there be any reason for women to be officials?"
"What's wrong with women?" Osmanthus said unconvinced: "Sister Wu can read and write better than many men!"
In addition to Sister Wu, there is also Xiaoqin, who is also a very good friend who shares the same joys and sorrows with Guihua. Even if her father doesn't tell her, Guihua also wants to go and see them!
"That son of the old Zhao family in Murakami..." Mr. He tried to start.
"Dad -" Osmanthus didn't wait for her father to finish speaking, she pushed her rice bowl and made an angry long sound to stop her.
"Okay, okay, let's not talk about it for now." Mr. He was also helpless, but he was still happy in his heart.
In the village, families with single men stared at her because she had an unmarried daughter.
His own daughter is so rare that Mr. He doesn't intend to marry her off casually, but he must choose carefully and not let his daughter suffer hardship when married off.
Osmanthus arrived at the new world and saw the new atmosphere, so she didn't want to marry anyone casually. From then on, she had no freedom and stayed at home to give birth to children and cook!
Sister Wu is so good, she is an official! Xiaoqin is also good, she works by herself to earn money, and she doesn’t have to rely on others to support her.
Osmanthus looked forward to and envied her. Although it was not very clear and she was mostly imagining it, her life would probably never be the same as it was in the mainland.
………………
The plan for the year lies in spring, and spring plowing is related to the harvest of the year. It is not only the hope of the people, but also the key to the stability and development of Dongjiang Town.
Mao Wenlong, Chen Jisheng, Guo Dajing and others were dispatched to inspect the various states to supervise the implementation of spring plowing.
The spring breeze blows in the face, the warm and cold early spring, the vitality of all things reviving, makes people feel excited and refreshed.
Gaizhou, as a newly occupied territory, is also the area where war is most likely to occur. Most of the land is occupied by military camps.
In addition to being used as a standard for taxation, the fields in military camps also bear most of the military supplies. Therefore, in addition to potatoes, corn, and rye, beans, alfalfa, peanuts, vegetables, etc. are also grown on a large area.
Fortunately, with corn, horses no longer rely solely on beans for their feed. The yield from home-grown crops may not be high, but there is basically no need to purchase beans from outside.
Arms are used as soldiers, and hoeing is done for the people. Dongjiang Town still has a system that integrates soldiers and civilians. Through garrison rotation, the most effective use of manpower and combat production are ensured, so that Dongjiang Town always has the power to continue to develop and grow.
Later generations of Guo Dajing never even touched a hoe, but with the memory of the ancients, he could be considered a good hand in farming.
Shen Dalong limped and shouted, driving the cattle in front. Guo Dajing held on to the plow handle and walked forward step by step.
The plowshare cut through the black soil and plowed straight waves in the fields as far as the eye could see.
These tens of thousands of acres of land were classified as veterans' farms, specifically to house disabled officers and soldiers and their families. Zhao Dalong moved out of his original village, settled in a nearby village, and became the owner of the farm.
According to Youjun's policy, the farm does not pay taxes, and all income belongs to the farmers, and is distributed equally according to the head of each family.
In order to take care of wounded soldiers and their families, cattle and horses were also given priority to farms, greatly reducing their workload.
"Old Shen!" Guo Dajing said to Shen Dalong while holding on to the plow: "To run this farm well, it takes more than just farming. Raising chickens, ducks, sheep, and even cattle and horses requires this.
The vast tracts of land are well utilized.”
Shen Dalong nodded, shook his whip, and said with a smile: "I have also discussed some methods with everyone, but I can't compare with your master's knowledge, and I need more guidance from you."
Guo Dajing said slowly: "Since we don't pay taxes, Dongjiang Town is not short of food from the farm. I suggest that the farm use one-third of its land to grow cash crops, such as peanuts, sunflowers, and sesame seeds, which can be sold for oil..."
"Build a brick kiln, excavate the earth and bake the bricks to build a house. The big hole left behind was converted into a pond to raise fish. You can also raise ducks and geese in the pond. The mud from the pond is dug every year to fertilize the fields..."
"It is prohibited to make wine with grains, but potatoes are not prohibited. You can hire a master and build a winery. Gaizhou has the largest garrison. Just from the consumption of the army, you can make a lot of money..."
"The key is to mobilize everyone. Regardless of men and women, each has his or her own job and can create value. It will be difficult for the farm to become rich or not."
Shen Dalong listened attentively, nodded repeatedly, and grinned happily.
From food and clothing to well-off society, from monotonous farming to agriculture, forestry, animal husbandry, sideline fishery, and to diversified operations such as oil extraction and wine making. This is not only the road to prosperity, but also can activate the local economy.
Nowadays, there are many convenient conditions for conducting diversified businesses.
Most of the newly resettled immigrants will plant potatoes, corn and other food crops in the first one or two years, in order to ensure that the whole family has enough to eat.
After one or two years of accumulation and a foundation for food, people will turn to cash crops in order to make more money.
This is an inevitable stage for a self-sufficient farming society, but in the mainland, people do not have such good conditions.
Just imagine, after paying taxes and barely having enough to eat, how can you still have the energy and courage to grow cash crops? You can only fill your stomach first.
Invalid Army Farm is in a better position to establish an agricultural and commercial consortium. As Guo Dajing said, there is no need to pay taxes and there are not many people. Half of the fields are planted with food crops, which is enough for food.
Of course, the Invalids Farm does not pay no taxes at all. But the symbolic significance of the taxes is greater, and compared with the total output, it is not worth mentioning at all.
In the general environment, with the continuous increase of land, the living standards of ordinary people are constantly improving. The demand for oil, wine, meat and eggs, etc. will also continue to increase. The agricultural and sideline products of Rongjun Farm will not be sold.