typeface
large
in
Small
Turn off the lights
Previous bookshelf directory Bookmark Next

Chapter 1: Returning from Beijing

On March 27, the twelfth year of Chongzhen in the Ming Dynasty, the sun was rising. The sunshine was warm and bright, but not dazzling.

Outside Juyongguan, on the wide official road, pairs of armored sergeants, riding horses or on foot, rolled toward the west.

These sergeants were guarding a large cart with a fine coffin. In front of and behind the cart, white flags were fluttering. It was Zhang Cheng's sergeants who were guarding the body of Zhang Yan, the commander-in-chief of Xuanzang Town. There were dozens of carts behind it.

, above are the found remains of Lin Zhiyi and other generals.

There were too many remaining soldiers who died in the battle, and they were all cremated. They could only take their ashes home. The procession marched slowly and solemnly.

Behind the team, there are also many large carts carrying some grain, horse supplies, brand-new armor and military battles, flags, golden drums, military tents and other things for setting up camp.

There were also groups of craftsmen pushing carts in the middle of the group. There were as many as 300 households, and they were dragging their families with them, but they were a group of nearly 2,000 people, marching with difficulty.

Zhang Cheng rode his horse on a hill not far away and looked back at the majestic Juyongguan behind him, feeling filled with emotion in his heart.

Half a year ago, he confidently led more than a thousand fine cavalry under his command out of the border. Now, he led more than a thousand cavalry sergeants, plus hundreds of craftsmen, on the road back home.

The only thing that changed was that he was promoted from Qianhu to guerrilla general.

On the official road, there is already a hint of green, and the thick willow trees on both sides send out new branches and buds, which are tender and green. On the hills on both sides of the official road, in the wilderness, there are also clumps of green grass growing, almost covering up the weeds.

The color of beard.

It’s another year of new green grass. This is a new beginning and a new hope. I wonder if Zhang Cheng’s future will be as vibrant as these clumps of new grass!

…………

After the imperial court awarded the meritorious officers and generals who joined the imperial guard this time, they also gave them a banquet. After a cheerful banquet, each general led his troops back to their respective garrison locations.

The generals in Guan Ning returned to their respective towns. Among the generals in Shaanxi, only Shaanxi General He Renlong's troops rushed back to Shaanxi and went into the Shangluo Mountains to suppress the remnants of the rebels. The remaining generals such as Cao Bianjiao, Zuo Guangxian and others

Will follow Hong Chengchou to garrison Jiliao.

Yesterday, Chen Xinjia, the governor of Xuanda, left the capital for the Xuanda garrison surrounded by three general soldiers. Zhang Cheng left a day late because he had to wait for his uncle Zhang Yan's coffin to be set up and returned home three days later.

.

Before leaving, he specially summoned Zhang Cheng, first gave him some gentle words of comfort, and then told Zhang Cheng that he would wait in Baoan Prefecture and hoped that he would catch up to him quickly.

During these days in the capital, Zhang Cheng was not idle. Yang Tinglin had not yet left the capital and returned south. He had to wait for Lu Xiangsheng's body to be enshrined for seven days before returning home to protect Lu Xiangsheng's spirit.

Zhang Cheng visited Yang Tinglin many times, and left his subordinate Zhang Guodong and fifty elite cavalry behind, accompanying Yang Tinglin to protect Lu Xiangsheng's spirit when he returned home.

During this period, Yang Tinglin did not forget Zhang Cheng's previous instructions. He used his connections to not only find sweet potatoes in Beijing and Tianjin, but also peanuts, corn and potatoes. At this time, people here called them potato seeds, which means growing in the soil.

The big beans produced.

It has been a hundred years since peanuts and corn were introduced to the Ming Dynasty from the Nanyang area. They were only commonly grown in the south. They were also grown in the north, but they were not widely promoted.

Sweet potatoes and potatoes were only introduced to the Ming Dynasty in recent decades, and their cultivation has not been widely spread in the south. They were only planted for a period of time when Xu Guangqi was training the new army in Tianjin.

Xu Guangqi was not only a cabinet minister of the Ming Dynasty, he was also a contemporary scientist and practitioner. He trained the new army, forged artillery, and improved firearms.

They also tried to promote the widespread planting of peanuts and corn, and also promoted sweet potatoes and potatoes in the north. They also improved rice seeds in the south and tried planting them in Tianjin, Tongzhou, Liangxiang and other places.

Xu Guangqi presided over the compilation of "Chongzhen Almanac" and translated "Elements of Geometry". He also compiled "The Complete Book of Agricultural Administration", "Sweet Potato Book", "Agricultural Relics Miscellaneous Book", "Agricultural Book Draft", "Taixi Water Law" and other works.

It is a pity that his hard work caught up with the troubled times in the late Ming Dynasty. If the country was stable at this time, under his leadership, China would definitely catch up with, or even lead the world.

In addition, we also contacted several farmers who had planted northern rice. Xu Guangqi tried to improve northern rice when he was training the New Army near Tianjin, but the effect was not very good.

But those sweet potatoes and potatoes were what Zhang Cheng needed urgently. At that moment, he and Yang Tinglin went to find those farmers. They had all hid in the city to avoid the raiders. They were all farmers for generations.

When they heard that the general in front of them was General Zhang Cheng, who had been entrusted with killing slaves, they were all stunned and even spoke incoherently. Zhang Cheng also explained many times and promised to ensure that they were safe and would not be disturbed by military disasters.

, they agreed to follow Zhang Cheng to Xuanzhen.

Therefore, Zhang Cheng asked them to visit more farmers who had planted sweet potatoes, potatoes, corn, peanuts, northern rice and other crops. As long as they were willing to go to Xuan Town, each household would be given ten taels of silver, as well as a set of farm tools, seeds, and tillage equipment.

Cattle and other supplies.

He also left the commander-in-chief Iron Man behind, the second general of his right post, to be responsible for purchasing corresponding farm tools, purchasing corresponding improved seeds, and escorting these farmers to Xuan Town.

In addition, Yang Tinglin also introduced a friend to Zhang Cheng. He was Yu Shangyou, the censor. Although this person had a good relationship with Yang Tinglin because they were both censors, he was not as loyal to the Ming Dynasty as Yang Tinglin.

On the surface he is a pure spirit, but privately he enjoys making friends and has a very lively mind.

Yu Shangyou was originally from Fengcheng, Jiangxi, originally from Shishou, Huguang. He was a Jinshi in the fourth year of Chongzhen, the same year as Yang Tinglin, and both were censors.

However, this man later surrendered to Li Zicheng. In the 16th year of Chongzhen, he was appointed Minister of the Civil Service Government. In the following year, after Li Zicheng invaded Beijing, he was appointed Minister of the Military Government.

However, Zhang Cheng feels that he needs just such a person. As long as he has a lively mind, he can be used for me. As for money, it is money only when it is spent. If it is stored in the treasury, it is not even as good as a clod of soil.

Before leaving, Zhang Cheng left Zhang Guodong a thousand taels of silver and gave him a task: to escort Lu Xiangsheng's body back home and, with the help of Yang Tinglin, search for Chen Zilong.

According to Zhang Cheng's memory, Chen Zilong should be sorting out the manuscript of Xu Guangqi's "Agricultural Policy Complete Book" at this time. If he remembers correctly, it should be published this year.

Chen Zilong was also a loyal minister of the Ming Dynasty. He and Yang Tinglin had always been on good terms. This time Yang Tinglin sent Lu Xiangsheng's coffin back to his hometown and went to Jiangxi. He could use his help to find Chen Zilong and purchase "The Complete Book of Nongzheng".

By the way, I asked for other books by Xu Guangqi such as "Sweet Potato", "Agricultural Relics", "Agricultural Draft", "Taixi Water Method", etc. Zhang Cheng also asked Zhang Guodong to try his best to purchase peanuts, sweet potatoes, potatoes and other improved seeds for future farming needs.

, it would be better if there are farmers who know how to plant.

This chapter has been completed!
Previous Bookshelf directory Bookmark Next