Chapter 21: The words of this general are the rules!
In the southwest suburb of Xuanfu Town, the Yang River flows right through here and merges into the Sanggan River to the southeast.
The Zhang family has two farms here, not far from the Yang River. It is more convenient to get water for irrigation, and the annual harvest is also very good, much better than other farms.
Less than twenty miles to the north from here, there is another farm of the Zhang family. This farm is adjacent to a mountain forest, but the cultivated land has been abandoned due to lack of rain. More than half of this farm is also idle.
The people Zhang Cheng rescued from Mafang, as well as the refugees he took in along the way, as well as the people who were forced to join the bandits from Taishan and Waitou Mountains, a total of more than 1,300 people, were temporarily resettled here.
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According to Zhang Chengzhong's instructions, his aunt also ordered the village head to follow the arrangements of the team officer He Shihui. Fortunately, together with these common people, they brought back a large amount of grain and money.
He Shihui followed Zhang Cheng's instructions and provided two simple meals a day in the form of work-for-relief, while these people began to repair the houses in the village and even expanded some new houses according to the terrain.
They are hard-working farmers. Although building a house requires skills, they don't need to build any tall gates, courtyards or pavilions. They just build some mud and thatched houses to protect them from wind and rain.
They then expanded the village by a third or more. They then dug ditches and built canals, reclaimed wasteland, and built a village wall outside the village that was two people high and one foot wide.
An ordinary farm was built into a fort.
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"He Shihui, it's not bad. This castle is well maintained."
Zhang Cheng stood on the newly built fort wall, looking out at the fields. Those original fields were planted with winter wheat. It was almost the harvest season. The wheat waves were dancing in the wind, and the golden patches were hidden among the new green clumps.
Medium, especially beautiful.
Further away, the newly opened wastelands are also being planted with spring wheat. Although there may not be any harvest, it is always better than nothing.
"General, the valleys and forests over there have been expanded into horse farms. The war horses, mules and horses we brought back are all kept here, and they are all under the care of the horse owners led by Zhongli and the horse stable."
He Shihui was very excited when he was praised by Zhang Cheng, and began to introduce again and again: "After half a year of recuperation, the spirits of the people who escaped have recovered very well, and Feng Yuanshan is also good at planting crops.
He was in charge of most of the work of building canals and reclaiming wasteland. We really couldn't help, so we organized these young men to practice in their spare time, as well as those who mended, washed and cooked. Su Zhenxiang also
Sister-in-law takes care of it."
"Well, it's indeed good. You have done a good job. You should leave professional matters to professionals. We laymen should not get involved blindly."
Zhang Cheng was very satisfied with He Shihui, and then said: "Go down and have dinner in this castle today. Call Hu Zhuangtou, Ma Zhongli, Feng Yuanshan, and Sister-in-law Su to have dinner together."
He Shihui agreed, and immediately ordered people to make arrangements, and then reported: "General, we have brought back a total of 1,321 people, including 874 males, seven of them young and strong.
One hundred and nineteen people, ninety-seven children;
There are four hundred and forty-seven women, including seventy-one girls, and the men and women are still living separately according to the general's order."
"Damn it, the ratio of men to women is seriously imbalanced!"
When Zhang Cheng listened to He Shihui's report, he just said this sentence, which made He Shihui stunned for a moment, with an expression of confusion.
Zhang Cheng ignored him and asked: "How many orphans are there among those boys?"
"Oh, I didn't check this carefully, but I estimate that there should be more than sixty."
Zhang Cheng looked at the busy farmers in the fields in the distance and said to He Shihui: "He Shihui, please investigate and find all the orphans here who are over ten and under sixteen years old. We will find them useful."
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At noon, there was a large house near the fort wall in the north of Xinzhuang Castle. It was crowded with people, and a group of women were busy nervously.
A slightly strong woman wearing ordinary clothes was standing in the courtyard. Opposite her was Zhang Cheng. Zhang Cheng said: "I will ask you to come to the table. Just serve it. Which one?"
If you have any objections, just come and find me."
At this time, Hu Zhuangtou trotted over and asked respectfully in front of Zhang Cheng: "General, the food and wine are almost ready. Do you think we should open the table?"
"Open it, tell me to go down and tell the people below to pass on the food."
After Zhang Cheng finished speaking, he called Ma Zhongli, Feng Yuanshan and others to sit down.
They politely asked Zhang Cheng to go first, but Su Zhenxiang still stepped back, very timid. Zhang Cheng pretended to be angry and said: "Sister-in-law Su, if you are like this, don't stay in Xinzhuang Castle."
This sentence was a bit harsh. When Su Zhenxiang heard this, she trembled and said hurriedly with a slight cry: "I listen to the general, I listen to the general..."
Su Zhenxiang's reaction surprised everyone, but Zhang Cheng disagreed. He laughed and said: "Take a seat!"
Surrounded by everyone, Zhang Cheng sat at the head of the table, and the rest took their seats one after another in the order of Chen Zhong, Lin Fangping, He Shihui, Hu Zhuangtou, Ma Zhongli, Feng Yuanshan, and Su Zhenxiang.
After everyone was seated, Su Zhenxiang was still standing at the table, not daring to sit down. Zhang Cheng smiled and said, "Sister-in-law Su, why don't you sit down?"
"General, the bitch knows the general's intentions in her heart, but the rules from ancient times have not allowed village women to sit at the same table as the general. The bitch really doesn't dare to sit down." Su Zhenxiang answered timidly.
"Sit down!"
Zhang Cheng said in a deep voice with a cold face, Su Zhenxiang couldn't help but sit on the chair after hearing this.
After glancing around, Zhang Cheng continued: "Today, before drinking this bowl of wine, let me tell you that since you have followed me, you must follow my rules from now on.
The rules that existed before have been changed since this general. From now on, we must follow the rules set by this general;
There are no rules before. Starting from the general, you must act according to the general's instructions. The general's words are rules and must be followed;
If you can't do it, you can withdraw now. If you don't retreat now, if you retreat later, it will be a betrayal!"
Everyone at the table was stunned for a moment. They might not be able to understand it for a while, but Chen Zhong, Lin Fangping, He Shihui and other three people quickly left the table, knelt on the ground, clasped their fists and saluted: "We only act in accordance with the general's orders.
As long as the general is ordered to do so, he will go through fire and water without hesitation!"
With the leader in charge, Zhuangtou surnamed Hu immediately left the table, knelt down and kowtowed: "Hu Siwang only obeys the general's orders, but his life or death depends on the general's words."