Chapter One Hundred and Thirty-One: The Art of the Emperor
"The swan geese arrive at the first migratory hour, the mysterious birds return at the second migratory stage, and the flock of birds rear their heads during the third migratory period."
This is the third phase of Bailu!
On the first day of August in the twelfth year of Chongzhen in the Ming Dynasty, it was already the period of white dew.
The arrival of the Bailu solar term basically heralds the end of the sweltering hot summer. From now on, the weather will gradually turn cooler, with cold weather and dew condensation.
The ancients matched the four seasons with the five elements. Autumn belongs to gold, and gold is white. White is used to describe autumn dew, so it is called "Bai Lu".
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Everywhere along Xuanfu North Road is a busy scene. Most of them are preparing wheat seeds, sowing stubble in time, preparing the land, delivering fertilizer, and preparing to sow winter wheat.
“The white dew sows the mountains, and the autumn equinox sows the plains.”
On the first day of August, it is the white dew season. Winter wheat can be sown on relatively high places such as hillsides and hills. When the autumnal equinox comes, wheat can also be sown on the flat lands in river valleys.
In the fields that were opened up in the early days, Feng Yuanshan had organized a rush to plant a batch of spring wheat. Although it was planted a little late, it was still better than nothing, and he could produce some wheat.
While we are rushing to harvest here, we must seize the time to deliver manure to the fields, plow the fields, level the fields, etc., and make preparations for planting winter wheat as early as possible.
Compared to the past, the North Road this year is particularly lively. Whether inside the castle or in the fields outside the castle, there is a thriving atmosphere.
With the inventory of the military camp's farmland and several months of reclamation and canal construction, the military households on the North Road saw hope. The increase in farmland meant an increase in grain production in the coming year, and they would no longer suffer from hunger.
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In this way, everyone in every household has a job to do, even the children. Zhang Cheng sent experience bookkeepers to various forts. Each hundred households or several nearby Xintun forts,
Each city will have a teacher dedicated to teaching young children how to read.
According to the regulations formulated by Zhang Cheng, all children on Beilu must be literate when they are ten years old. They start learning from the Three Character Classic and the Thousand Character Classic. When they are fourteen years old, they are divided into different groups according to the situation of each child.
When they reach the age of fourteen, they will be assigned to various workshops to serve as apprentices according to their circumstances, or be enrolled in the military register for training. Some of them will return to their respective villages to farm and work.
Only those extremely smart children will be selected to go to academies in Dushi, Chicheng, Yunzhou, etc. to continue their studies and literacy when they reach the age of fourteen.
However, they also have to participate in training for no less than three months every year. Zhang Cheng does not want to cultivate a group of weak scholars who are powerless. What he wants is scribes who can travel to the ends of the world with a sword.
Mounting a horse can make you a general and command all the armies.
Get off your horse and sit in the court to rule all the people!
This is what Zhang Cheng asked of them.
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Shenshi is also called Wenshi. The ancients usually had two meals, morning and evening. Dinner was basically eaten at Shenshi, so it was called "Wenshi".
Kaiping Guard Commander Jin Xinpeng and his colleague Yan Qingrong went to Xiabei Road to clean up hidden military households, garrison posts, and garrison troops. They just returned from Xiabei Road at noon today and had just finished dinner.
Someone from the government came to report that his nephew Jin Yong, the general manager of Dushibuyingqianqian, came to ask for an audience. Jin Xinpeng knew that Jin Yong was in trouble again and came to ask for help, so he ordered his servants to ask Jin Yong to see him.
Go to the study room and wait.
Jin Xinpeng had just entered the study and had not yet sat down when Jin Yong stood up and greeted him urgently: "My uncle has worked hard all the way. Jin Yong also knows that he should have a good rest at this moment. He really shouldn't come to the door to disturb..."
Jin Xinpeng walked slowly behind the table and sat down. He interrupted Jin Yong angrily and said, "You're already here, so what's the use of talking about it."
Jin Yong just came to the table with a smile and called out: "Uncle..."
But he was interrupted by Jin Xinpeng: "Let's talk directly, why are you here today undecided?"
Jin Yong said with a sneer on his face: "A few days ago, uncle, when you and Mr. Yan went to Xiabei Road to check military households and fields, the admiral convened me and other military councils and made new arrangements for many matters."
"I have also heard about this. I admire Zhang Cheng's actions and Jin's. My North Road officers are indeed very evil. They all harm the public and enrich themselves, and do things to enrich their own pockets.
Fortunately, Zhang Cheng came out of Zhenbei Road. Less than half a year old now, the atmosphere of our North Road has changed a lot. I think Zhang Cheng's spirit is definitely not that of a person who can stay in Zhenbei Road for a long time.
Jin Yong, you are very lucky to have met such a person when you are still young. From now on, you must serve your master loyally and not be half-hearted and miss your future." Jin Xinpeng let out a burst of emotion and earnestly advised this clan.
nephew.
Jin Yong hurriedly added: "Uncle, don't worry, Jin Yong can save these things."
He paused and then said: "It's just that at the previous military meeting, the admiral ordered me to be the chief general and the Cavalry Ranger Qianqian Commander Chen Zhong as the deputy general to lead the troops under his command to suppress the bandit Zhao Shihu in Muxuanjian, Baoan Prefecture.
My nephew is a little confused and wants to ask my uncle to help him clear up his confusion."
Jin Xinpeng leaned back, leaned on the back of the chair, closed his eyes and meditated for a moment, and then said: "Zhang Cheng regards you as the main general. If he doesn't have other deep intentions, it is because he wants to promote you."
"Promote us?"
"Silly boy, think about it. Among the generals of Zhang Cheng's battalion, only you and Chicheng Song Shanquan are from the North Road, while Yunzhou Chiyuan and Ma Camp Ren Jilong are still guarding the same fort.
Even Sha Zhongwang of Beizha Pass is not included in the camp directly led by the Admiral, but this time you are named to lead the army in battle. This is not a compliment to you, what else can it mean?
Although the new army under your command has only been practicing for three months, there are nearly one-third of the old army among them, not to mention Chen Zhong’s Ranger Department cooperating with you. Think about the North Road, including Baoan Prefecture.
Over there, there is that bandit who can resist the army you lead."
"But why are you promoting me?"
"Oh, you are such an idiot. Among the generals under Zhang Cheng's command, except for Wu Zhizhong, Chen Zheng, and Zhang Guangda, Chen Zhong is his old brother. Zhang Guodong was originally under Lu Duchen's command, and Wei Zhice was really determined.
The scholars of the government defected to follow Zhang Chengqin during his reign.
Just imagine, he followed generals such as Chen Zheng in the early days, and later defected to generals such as Zhang Guodong and Wei Zhice, plus you and Song Shanquan, our generals from the North Road, Zhang Cheng now has three groups under his command, among which only the North Road
The generals' ranks are slightly lower,
The reason why he is supporting you now is, firstly, to win over the generals on our northern route, and secondly, to improve the military merits and positions of the generals on the northern route, in order to balance the forces of the three parties and prevent any one from becoming bigger and stronger. This is the emperor.
Zhang Cheng's technique is not simple."
Jin Xinpeng talked for a long time, then stopped to take a sip of tea, looked at Jin Yong who looked confused, and continued: "My North Road is fortunate to be the place where Zhang Cheng's first town is. This is an opportunity for you and other young people.
According to my observation, Zhang Cheng is definitely not a thing in the pool. Sooner or later he will become the commander-in-chief of a town and even have a greater future.
You are now one of Zhang Cheng's subordinates, and there are only a dozen or so people like you. As long as you are loyal to Zhang Cheng, sooner or later you will enter Zhang Cheng's circle of confidants. Then you may even become a general in the future, and you will have a chance.
A trip out of town, or all the way.
Just like when you go to war this time, you must not only be cautious in everything, but also be sure to discuss it with Chen Zhong. No matter what happens, you must act according to Chen Zhong's opinion.