Of course, it was impossible for Zhu Guoxiang to send someone to deliver cabbage. He also shipped hundreds of ships of corn.
Except for the Chengdu Plain, Sichuan is all hilly and mountainous.
After a few hundred years, there will be several stages of pumps to lift water, and only a mountain pond to store water will be built, and rice can be grown in the depressions on the mountains.
At this time, not only to grow rice on the mountain, but also to grow wheat, sorghum, and corn, we had to find ways to find and store water.
This year, Zhu Guoxiang promoted corn and sweet potatoes throughout Sichuan, mainly planting them on dry land in the mountains. He also asked agricultural officers and local officials to repeatedly warn the people that in places that are particularly difficult to irrigate and in drought weather, they should continue to plant corn, because corn is far more expensive than
Corn is more drought resistant.
In autumn and winter, there is a big harvest of corn and sweet potatoes.
Great harvest across Sichuan!
This year has been really good. Not only did the Zhu family and his son successfully survive the crisis, but also the people in the Song Kingdom breathed a sigh of relief. Even the core territory of the Jin Kingdom has alleviated the food shortage.
"These corns are all transported to the reclamation areas and exchanged for beans with the farmers there." Zhu Ming said to Li Hanzhang.
Li Hanzhang said: "There are more than four hundred ships in total, and half of them are sent to Nanyang Mansion. Two stones of corn are exchanged for one stone of beans. Isn't it a bit too kind to the people?"
Zhu Ming shook his head: "Corn doesn't support hunger, and the price is already low. But beans are collected to make military supplies. They can be used to extract oil, fertilize fields, and raise horses. The wounded will heal faster if they eat more beans."
In the case of insufficient meat protein, if you want to ensure the physical fitness of ordinary soldiers, you must supplement them with soy protein.
Especially the wounded!
In the newly occupied Nanxiang Basin, all the land was planted with beans, and corn was used in exchange for strategic materials. Moreover, by exchanging two stones of corn for one stone of beans, the people who reclaimed the wasteland could have more food to survive the lean months next year.
It can also demonstrate the benevolence and righteousness of the Zhu family and his son, and improve farmers' trust in the government.
Something that accomplishes multiple things with one stone.
Since the remaining Chinese cabbage arrived on the ship, Ju Ming and his wife and concubines often ate it during the half winter.
Ju Ming was about to vomit, but his wives and concubines liked it very much. Because Chinese cabbage has a refreshing taste and a somewhat sweet aftertaste, it was considered a top vegetable in ancient winters.
Next year, Chinese cabbage will also be promoted throughout Sichuan so that ordinary people can eat fresh vegetables in winter.
Naturally, there were winter varieties in the past, the most common one being Chinese cabbage. This thing is a close relative of Chinese cabbage, but its yield is far less than that of Chinese cabbage, and it is not as easy to store as Chinese cabbage.
Zhu Guoxiang also left himself fifteen acres of rice fields on the outskirts of Hanzhong Fucheng to grow different types of rice across the country.
We definitely cannot develop three-line hybrid rice. That thing uses artificial means to turn chance into necessity and highlight the advantages of hybridization. When farmers plant it, the second generation cannot be consistent with the mother parent, and hybrid advantage becomes again
Occasionally, the yield of farmers' self-saved seeds depends entirely on luck.
With the level of science and technology in ancient times, Zhu Guoxiang was unable to produce seeds for farmers on a large scale.
Therefore, his rice experimental fields followed the traditional path of selecting and breeding improved varieties. For example, Kangxi personally selected and bred improved varieties, which became popular in some rice areas in the north and were later replaced by improved varieties with higher yield among the people.
In fact, since the introduction of Champa rice in the Northern Song Dynasty, people have also unconsciously selected and bred improved varieties, and now more than ten branches of Champa rice have been born.
If the government does not interfere with the people's own breeding for two to three hundred years, two-crop rice, or even three-crop rice, will gradually be born. There will also be early rice, mid-season rice, and late rice. According to different conditions in different places, different types of rice will be planted and other rice varieties will be planted.
Crop seamlessly.
For example, rapeseed and rice were planted alternately in the same year, which only appeared in the late Northern Song Dynasty.
Zhu Guoxiang has also started to engage in "auspiciousness" now, asking local officials to donate mature and high-quality rice ears. It is not allowed to have two ears per plant or three ears per plant. It must be the kind with large ears, many grains, plump, and free from diseases and insect pests.
You must also indicate the place of origin, planting and harvest time.
Under scientific breeding, stable and improved varieties can be cultivated much faster than private luck.
If it takes a hundred years for the private sector, Dean Zhu can probably do it in a few years.
…
Regarding the playwright, Wei Tai recommended a little old man.
"I pay my respects to the Generalissimo!"
This man's name was Zhang Juhou. Zhang Shixun, who worshiped as prime minister three times during the Renzong Dynasty, was Zhang Juhou's great-uncle.
In terms of seniority, Zhang Juhou is also Chen Yuyi's distant uncle.
Zhang Shixun accumulated a lot of money as prime minister, but he moved to Tokyo long ago. The eldest son was an upright official, while the second son was a homebody. Especially the second son, who had not been an official for thirty years, stayed at home and practiced calligraphy. He was evaluated by Song Shenzong as
The first cursive script in this dynasty.
The Zhang family's ancestral home was in Laohekou, and the family property was inherited by Zhang Juhou's grandfather.
Zhang Juhou's father was a concubine and did not receive much when the family was separated. He moved to Xiangyang with his wife and children and bought several shops to do business.
It can be considered a small wealthy family.
Zhang Juhou's elder brother went to be an official, but he himself failed to pass the imperial examination, so he stayed in Xiangyang to take care of his family property. He especially liked listening to operas, and gradually began to create his own works.
"Did the old gentleman bring the play?" Zhu Ming asked.
"Reporting to the Generalissimo, I have brought them all." Zhang Juhou quickly held up a stack of scripts.
"Wait a moment."
Ju Ming asked the old man to sit down and wait while he read the scripts himself.
Only read one script carefully and skim through the rest.
All adapted from historical stories, the content is relatively serious, promoting the idea of loyalty and filial piety, and occasionally satirizing reality. The reason why this old man's script is so popular in Xiangyang is that in addition to the well-written arias, it also adds a lot of slang and jokes, which can be called
The above is for both refined and popular tastes.
"Excellent writing," Ju Ming commented.
Zhang Juhou has always wanted to seek an official position, but unfortunately he has no other skills except writing scripts.
Probably thinking that Ju Ming liked to listen to operas, Zhang Juhou quickly said: "The old man has some actors and actresses at home. If the generalissimo likes to listen to operas, he might as well choose a few to live in his house."
Zaju in the Song Dynasty is a fusion of song and dance dramas and military dramas in the Tang Dynasty.
Joining the army opera is similar to ancient sketches. After being integrated with song and dance dramas, it established the basic form of ancient Chinese opera. That is, there are songs and dances, lyrics and narration. The operas of later generations are the descendants of Zaju of Song and Yuan Dynasties.
Ju Ming asked: "Can the drama be written in a more popular way?"
Zhang Juhou said: "The old drama has become very popular in the market, so the people in Xiangyang like to watch it."
Zhu Ming shook his head: "I want to let the soldiers watch the play, not only for the entertainment of the army, but also to gather the morale of the soldiers. I also want to teach the soldiers to know loyalty and to teach the soldiers to treat the people well. You can understand that the drama is to show the ignorance and incompetence of the Zhao and Song royal families.
The people all over the world are miserable. I am raising the flag of righteousness to lead the army and the people to live a good life. The army and the people are one, and the soldiers come from the people. If the people are not living well, the soldiers are not living well. If the soldiers are not living well, the people are not living well.
They also have to suffer the hardships of fighting. Most of these soldiers come from the countryside, and the drama must be written to be close to the farmers."
Zhang Juhou opened his mouth and hesitated to speak. This was probably too high a request.
After sorting out his words, Zhang Juhou said: "Generalissimo, I have lived in Xiangyang City since I was a child. Even when I leave the city, I only visit the mountains and rivers. I am very familiar with the common people in the city, but I don't know about farmers and farming. Suddenly I became a farmer.
It would be difficult for soldiers with a good background to write miscellaneous plays, and they would not like to read them after writing them."
Zhu Ming asked: "Mr., what is your age this year?"
Zhang Juhou replied: "Two out of fifty."
"Is your body still healthy?" Zhu Ming asked again.
Zhang Juhou said: "It's not bad, I can eat, sleep, walk and sing."
Zhu Ming said: "Then I invite the old gentleman to visit the army and record the life and experiences of the soldiers. First, write two dramas, one is about the army in Hanzhong, and the other is about the refugees reclaiming wasteland. It is necessary to show the injustice of the government and the hardship of the people. The reason for the rebellion is
Comply with public opinion. It should also be reflected in the fact that under the rule of my father and son, the people live a better life. It is best to have some love, because due to government exploitation, it is difficult for lovers to get married, which is the kind of separation between life and death."
"Let me go to the military camp to deal with the soldiers?" Zhang Juhou found this task very difficult.
Ju Ming said temptingly: "I will set up a special official position in the Grand Marshal's Mansion to be in charge of military entertainment. It will be the fifth rank!"
Genuine fifth grade?
Zhang Juhou understood what Ju Ming meant. As long as he handled things well, this position would be his.
"The Generalissimo has entrusted you with a heavy responsibility. I dare not refuse, but I will devote myself to it!" Zhang Juhou quickly stood up and bowed to accept the order.
The old man braved the wind and snow to take a boat north to the reclamation area. Not only did he visit the military camp, he also went to contact the refugees from the reclamation area.
The refugees provided the most material. There was no need for Zhang Juhou to make up stories about life, death, and death. Every household was forced to death by the government.
"Do you have a crush in your hometown?" Zhang Juhou asked a farmer from northwest Beijing.
The farmer fell into memories, a mixture of sweetness and pain: "When I was fourteen years old, I got engaged to Du Erniang in the village. Erniang was younger than me and was only eleven years old when we got engaged. After the engagement, she looked at me
She blushed and showed off her purse to me..."
The farmer took out his purse, which was already worn out: "Second mother always shouted, Fourth brother, Fourth brother. She said that Fourth brother was really strong and could carry such a heavy load. She said that Fourth brother turned the soil quickly and grew wheat better than other families.
Come on. She said Fourth Brother...wuwuwuwu..."
As he talked, the farmer's voice started to choke, and then he burst into tears.
Zhang Juhou also felt a little sad after hearing this. After the farmer cried for a while, he asked: "What's wrong with Du Erniang?"
"The government is said to have ordered the land reclamation from Prime Minister Cai Gong," the farmer said, wiping his tears. "My second mother's family had a few acres of thin farmland, but somehow it turned into more than 60 acres. The government also turned her family into a third-class household. 1
Throughout the year, there is either this tax or that tax. How can she afford to pay the tax on more than 60 acres of land? Her father first sold the land and became a tenant to the landlord's family. But he still couldn't afford to pay the tax he owed, so he was forced by officials to
I have to sell my daughter..."
"Alas!" Zhang Juhou sighed.
But the farmer continued to talk: "Four years later, the second mother returned home, begging for food all the way back. Her legs were crippled by the evil wife of the owner's family, and she became seriously ill. The owner did not buy medicine.
, threw it in the alley and told her to go away quickly. I had already married another wife. Seeing that Er Niang was pitiful, I secretly took food to visit her. God bless, Er Niang recovered from her illness, and her father married her off to a man from a neighboring village.
The old widower. The old widower was very kind to his second mother, but all the money he saved was used to marry a wife, and life was difficult. There was also a severe drought, and the old widower took his second mother to flee..."
"I was also fleeing the famine at that time, and met Er Niang on the way. She was lying on the roadside with a big belly, as thin as firewood, and two wild dogs were still gnawing at her... just gnawing at her, one hand was already
After gnawing, half of the neck was gone... I picked up the stick and went to beat the dog... I... I am her fourth brother... Wow, oh, oh, oh..."
The farmer could not go on and cried heartbrokenly.
Zhang Juhou sat silently, waiting for the farmer to finish crying before asking again.
He had heard too many stories like this in recent days, and his whole outlook on life was being reshaped.
In the past, Zhang Juhou did not care much about farmers. He simply felt that they were hardworking and ignorant.
What was displayed in front of him now were vivid and emotional people, as well as countless joys and sorrows in the world.
