"The Overlord of Chu is so heroic, but he can't let go of a poppy! Before Li Longji got Yang Guifei, he was also a wise king and saint. As the saying goes, it is difficult for a hero to be a beauty... I, I was waiting! The result was also in vain.
, is it possible that I should put my efforts on Zhang Ximeng’s son? Then, I guess I’ll be turned into a handful of bones.”
Li Shanchang was filled with desolation. He had never stopped thinking about fighting with Zhang Ximeng, but he knew very well that in a head-on conflict, there was no chance of winning, so he could only attack the people around him.
The only person around Zhang Ximeng who cares about is Zhu Ying, and this kid is indeed out of control, but it is a pity that if you want to touch Zhu Ying, Zhu Yuanzhang and Empress Ma can teach you how to behave without Zhang Ximeng.
So there was no choice but to take a step back and hope to attack Mrs. Zhang in the future.
No matter whether we are looking for you from the nobles of Huaixi, or from the civil servants, even if you are a commoner woman, as long as you nod your head, our methods will come, and we are guaranteed to pull you into trouble.
Let you not become a saint!
However, no one expected that these two people would actually get together, and it would be fatal!
Li Shanchang didn't sleep all night. The next day with blood-red eyes, he hurried to Zhongshu Province and ordered the Baochao Bureau to go to Kaifeng immediately. He also sent several officials there and dumped the entire currency and national debt to Zhang Ximeng.
, you have the final say.
Don't worry, Zhongshu Province has no objections and will listen to you.
Zhang Ximeng would never have thought that marrying Jiang Nan would increase his intimidation power so much?
They are not married, but that doesn't prevent them from working together. After all, that's what happened before.
On this day, Zhang Ximeng called Jiang Nan, and the two of them rode donkeys out of Kaifeng and headed towards Chenliu.
Jiang Nan was riding on the back of a donkey, looking around and asking: "When I read Tokyo Menghua Lu, I remembered that it said that the Bianshui water transport diverts water from Luokou, Xijing, into the capital, goes east to Sizhou, enters the Huaihe River, and transports water to the southeast.
From then on, everything from the southeast entered the capital and was given to both public and private parties. When we arrived in Bianliang these days, not to mention that the grand scene of the year was gone, how come even the Bianshui River disappeared?"
Zhang Ximeng snorted, "Why don't you thank Wan Yangou! His minister dug up the Yellow River, causing floods and siltation, destroying many river channels. Later, this man was even more afraid that the Jin soldiers would go south along the river and take advantage of Bian Gou.
The water transporting grain and grass destroyed the Hejin waterway. After the Jin and Yuan Dynasties, the Bian River has long ceased to exist."
After Jiang Nan heard this, he looked around again. As far as he could see, it was desolate and desolate. He couldn't help but said, "Is there a way to restore Bianshui River?"
"It's difficult. After all, the purpose of maintaining the Bianshui water transportation was to supply the needs of the capital. Now that the capital of the Ming Dynasty is in Yingtian, if you want to restore water transportation, not to mention how much it will cost, even if it is restored, who will transport the grain, cloth, and silk to?"
Jiang Nan did not continue to ask why the capital was not moved to Kaifeng... In fact, after seeing the desolation along the way, she also felt that Kaifeng had lost the possibility of being the capital.
At least not in the short term.
Otherwise, if the Central Plains is so desolate and a bunch of freeloaders are created, wouldn’t that be just for your own enjoyment?
Accompanied by guards, the two people walked forward again.
Suddenly, a huge thing appeared in the distance, obviously higher than the surface of the earth, like a dragon, lying on the ground. The dragon's body was deep into a pool of water, its head was held high, and it was very energetic!
The two men couldn't help but beat the donkey at the same time. When they got closer, they finally saw clearly that it was a running keel waterwheel.
Dozens of young men are here, taking turns riding the water tanker to bring up the water.
The water after it comes up flows out along the ditch dug in advance. The water outlet is at a high altitude and the water flows very fast. However, after flowing for a while, the terrain gradually becomes gentle and the flow slows down. The sediment carried in the water gradually settles and covers the surface.
On the ground, the ground covered with white particles was covered with a black appearance.
Zhang Ximeng did not disturb the working people, but silently observed from the side... Gradually, Zhang Ximeng saw the secret, and he took the initiative to chat with Jiang Nan.
"Did you see that they pump water with water trucks, and the pumped water is mixed with sediment and flows through the saline-alkali ground. The flowing water can take away the salt-alkali on the surface, and then the sediment in the water covers the ground. This
The land can soon be used to grow food, this is a great method!"
Jiang Nan listened with interest, "Xiang Zhang, is this trick enough? Is there any other way?"
"Yes." Zhang Ximeng said: "In fact, in some places that are not suitable for farming, it is not bad to plant grass. As long as there is grass cover, evaporation can be reduced and water can be retained... By the way, do you know the reason for soil salinity?
?”
Jiang Nan shook his head.
"You know salt. It's something you eat in daily life. It's soluble in water. There's also alkali, which is also soluble in water. The white particles we see on the surface of the earth are these things. In the final analysis, it's because of the flooding of the Yellow River... The Yellow River
The water burst the embankments and flooded the plains thousands of miles away, leaving deep pools of water. If these floods cannot be drained, the height of the groundwater will be raised, making the groundwater level higher."
"When the flood recedes and the weather becomes hot, the underground water will continue to flow upward. After the sun evaporates it, the salt and alkali in the water will remain on the surface, forming a saline-alkali land, making it impossible to grow food."
Zhang Ximeng tried his best to explain, and Jiang Nan tried her best to listen, but she was still a little confused.
"Let's do this. When we get back, let's make a wooden basin, fill it with sand, and then pour some more salt water on the sand. Then put the wooden basin in the sun and see if there will be an extra layer on the surface of the sand.
Salt."
This time Jiang Nan understood a little bit, "Then, how to solve the problem?"
Zhang Ximeng said: "Know what it is and why it is so. Since it is a problem of water level, drain the water out and most of the problem will be solved. As for the remaining salt and alkali on the surface, just water it with water and dissolve it and take it away. In addition, there are also
One problem is to prevent the underground saline and alkali from rising up again, and you must prevent exposure to the sun. Plant saline-alkali tolerant pastures to avoid direct sunlight. After one or two years of recovery, you can probably plant rice."
Jiang Nan smiled and said: "Xiang Zhang, I didn't expect you to be so proficient in water control. You are really knowledgeable about the world!"
Zhang Ximeng chuckled, "You can't know! But speaking of it, what I know is only superficial. If I were to actually work, it would be even more impossible. Let's ask about the Land Master!"
Sure enough, while the people were resting, an old man was invited. He was the newly elected president of the local community. Under him, there were more than 300 people, of whom only less than 40 were young and strong, and the rest were old.
Weak women and children, not even a single livestock.
Now that life has reached this point, it is really difficult.
But as the conversation deepened, the old man's eyes shone and he looked very excited.
He told Zhang Ximeng that not long ago, a group of people came and after surveying the terrain, they formulated a water control strategy for them.
The first step is to dig three-foot-deep drainage ditches around the land and divide the land into neat squares.
Then this huge keel waterwheel was delivered.
With the keel waterwheel, water can be pumped from the pool to irrigate the fields.
The water flow takes away the salt and alkali on the surface, flows into the pre-dug ditch, then continues to flow, merges into the river, and is finally drained completely.
After these actions, the salinity on the surface of the earth was indeed reduced.
The old farmer grabbed a handful of soil, threw it into his mouth in front of Zhang Ximeng, and then said with a smile: "It's no longer salty or bitter, I can grow crops!"
The old farmers don't know what salt-alkali is, but they do understand that as long as the land is neither salty nor bitter, without those white things, they can grow food. As long as there is a harvest, they will live.
"This court is really extraordinary! What a good emperor, what a good emperor!" The old farmer praised Zhu Yuanzhang without any words, with two thumbs up.
"The man who came back to help us is also a good official! His name is... Du Guang'an. The young man is good-looking, has thick arms, and is energetic. He is really a good official. This keel waterwheel was sent here by him.
I heard people say that he is very clever and can do anything, which is really amazing!"
Zhang Ximeng is not surprised. The good students Jia Lu likes are not ordinary!
"Old man, this land can be cultivated now, but you don't even have the cattle to cultivate it. How can you do it with just manpower?"
The old man was startled and said: "I have to be busy even if I am too busy. I have to plant these fields even if I die. My old bones are exhausted. If I can make the children eat well and survive, I will just shut up."
My eyes are closed."
Zhang Ximeng thought for a while and then said: "Old man, I would like to ask you, what do you think if I let you borrow money to buy cattle, farm tools, seeds, and plow the fields well?"
"That's not possible!"
The old man was so frightened that his expression changed, and he waved his hands hurriedly, "Young man, you are young and ignorant. If you borrow money, you will never be able to repay it in this life. The donkey will wallow in endlessly. As long as you borrow it, your land will be yours."
His house, wife, daughter... will all be robbed sooner or later. The old man has seen too much, and he can't borrow it even if he dies!"
Jiang Nan suddenly said: "If we don't borrow it, how are you going to farm?"
"Bring someone here!"
The old man clenched his fist, raised his withered arm, waved it vigorously, and gritted his teeth and said: "The old man has discussed with the big guys to find a way to collect some money and get some seeds first... and then we, one by one, will count."
, don’t treat yourself like a human being, treat yourself like an animal!”
"Risk your life to plant this season's crops... If anyone is exhausted, the person who is alive must take care of his family. Even if he is half exhausted, he can still survive half. But if he borrows money
, if we owe others, we are all doomed!"
I would rather die than borrow money!
Jiang Nan's heart was so sad, these were such tragic and helpless words!
It is conceivable that not only during the past ten years of war, but even in the peaceful years, he had had enough of being exploited by powerful people, and everyone became frightened.
"Old man, if you don't want to borrow money, then why are you still willing to get this keel waterwheel?" Zhang Ximeng asked suddenly.
The old man was stunned for a while, and then said with a sullen face: "This, this is different! This, this is given by His Majesty the Emperor. His Majesty is a good man, and the officials below are hard to say."
Zhang Ximeng smiled slightly, "Then if His Majesty asks you to borrow money, will you be willing?"
The old man frowned, "Young man, who are you? How could the emperor listen to you?"
Zhang Ximeng smiled and said nothing.
At this time, a tall guy ran over and saw Zhang Ximeng and his party from a long distance away. He quickly dusted off the dust on his clothes, put down his rolled up trouser legs, and then ran closer and bowed.
Shen said: "Du Guang'an, a common man, pays homage to Prime Minister Zhang!"
Zhang Ximeng glanced at him and found that he was covered in mud and water, his trouser legs had been lowered, and his feet were still bare, so he couldn't help laughing and said: "What, you are still working?"
Du Guang'an said with a simple and honest smile: "I am in good health. I can carry three people by myself. If I don't work, it will be wasted."
Zhang Ximeng laughed loudly, "Jia Gong really found a good student!"
Then Zhang Ximeng turned to the old man and said: "Old man, you see, all officials are like this. They ask you to borrow money and pay back the debt after harvesting. Are you willing?"