Chapter 356: 'Essential Techniques for the People of Qi'
Early the next morning,
Li Changan took nine chief secretaries and headed for Zewu County.
Xue Shiqing stayed in the county and paid close attention to the distribution of disaster relief money and grain.
The situation everywhere is very serious and there is no need to delay.
The other county magistrates returned to their own counties last night to cooperate with disaster relief.
When Li Changan came to Zewu County, everything he saw was a muddy land.
Some places are still shining with water, and the water that came up has not completely receded.
The people were scattered in various places, all with sallow faces and thin eyes.
When they saw Li Changan and others walking over, they just stared blankly, and occasionally a few stretched out their hands to ask for some food.
"Where are the people from the Ministry of Industry? The construction of roads and canals here has not started yet?" Li Changan asked the supervisor next to him.
"The arrangements haven't been made yet, but the relief food will be delivered today."
Li Changan nodded and walked into the mud without hesitation.
The other principals and clerks following behind looked at each other, what is this?
Although they didn't want to follow him into the mud, Li Changan walked in and they had to follow.
But no one expected that this walk would take a whole day.
"No...why has he walked so far? Don't you feel tired yet?"
"Does the seventh-level martial arts realm require him to walk on the muddy road?"
The chief officers and office bearers were only at the sixth level in terms of literary skills, and their martial arts skills were even weaker, and they were gradually unable to keep up with Li Changan's pace.
In the evening, when everyone was patting their sore and swollen legs that were almost unconscious, they found that Li Changan was helping an old man carry a small bag of rice home.
"Old man, only barley was grown here before, why didn't you think of growing rice?"
"Rice?" The old man took the small bag of rice from Li Changan's hand, with a hint of memory on his wrinkled brown face.
"Our own rice seeds are not very good. County Magistrate Zhang Weimin went to the county town to ask for seeds before, but they never came."
"So County Magistrate Zhang took the big guys to plant barley instead. At least they can support themselves."
"If we raise two more pigs and a dozen chickens and ducks, we can eat some meat every year."
Li Changan sat casually on the threshold, "I heard that County Magistrate Zhang died a few months ago?"
After hearing this, the old man couldn't help but shake his head and sighed,
"Yes, Magistrate Zhang and his son were washed into the flood together."
"By the time we fished it out, everyone was already soaked in it."
Li Changan asked again, "What do you think of County Magistrate Zhang?"
The old man looked at Li Changan suspiciously, "Young man, who are you? Why are you asking about Magistrate Zhang?"
"The others are already dead, let him sleep well and don't bother him anymore."
Li Changan explained, "Uncle, I am the counselor of the Southern Patrol Division, and I am here specifically for disaster relief. My name is Li Changan."
"Disaster relief, disaster relief... We talk about disaster relief every day, but aren't there many people who are starving to death?"
"In my village alone, more than a dozen of them have been buried."
The wrinkles on the old man's face are like ravines, with a lot of mud hidden inside. "What did you say your name was?"
Li Changan said, "My name is Li Changan."
The old man simply washed the rice and poured it into the pot to make porridge. When you are not full, you must not cook dry rice, otherwise you will eat too much if you are not careful.
It's better to cook porridge, just cook it with soup and water, so that you can eat more meals.
"Li Changan?"
"I seem to have heard of this name. It was widely circulated some time ago. Is it the one?"
A thoughtful look appeared in the old man's cloudy eyes.
"What's your name... Uncle Zhongyong?"
Li Changan smiled and nodded, "That's it."
The old man looked at Li Changan and said, "Young man, you went to fight at such a young age?"
"You have to hurry up and have a baby."
Li Changan twitched his lips and quickly changed the subject, "Old man, tell me about Magistrate Zhang. If he is really a good official, I can go to the court and help him get some rewards."
"That must be a good official." When the old man heard that he was asking for a reward for County Magistrate Zhang, he quickly said, "He is the first magistrate I have ever seen who works in the fields with the people."
"In the past, those county magistrates never listened to what we said. They only imposed heavy taxes and didn't care about our harvest."
"After County Magistrate Zhang came, he took us to farm together, and later we planted the barley seeds he brought over. Then we all had enough to eat and meat."
As he spoke, the old man remembered something and bowed to Li Changan, "Uncle Zhongyong, I was just rude."
"If you help County Magistrate Zhang ask for a reward, don't ask for gold or silver. His family has no one left. It would be best if you can ask for an ancestral hall for him. If you have anything to do, you can burn incense."
"So that everyone can remember him."
Li Changan quickly helped the old man up and said, "No need to be polite, old man. I will truthfully write down what happened to County Magistrate Zhang in the memorial."
"Someone should be here in two days to build roads and canals. I can do some simple work. At least I will have enough to eat."
"After this period of time, when we start farming again, I will find the best seeds for Zewu County. Your good days are yet to come."
Li Changan took advantage of the old man not paying attention, put a blood essence pill into the pot, and then said goodbye to the old man with fists in his hands.
night falls,
Everyone came to the county seat of Zewu County.
After Zhang Weimin's death, no new county magistrate took office here.
When Li Changan and others arrived at the county government office, they found that a layer of dust had fallen here.
Several people divided the rooms and went to rest separately.
Li Changan simply tidied up the study room and began to write in front of the flickering candlelight.
"The moon of Mid-Autumn... is to advise people to plant wheat. If they fail to do so, they may miss the right time. If they fail to do so, they will undoubtedly commit a crime."
"Wheat is the one that connects the valley of constant depletion, so it is especially advisable to focus on it."
"The method of planting Quwheat: use the volt as the time. It is called "ground". One acre of good land requires five liters of seeds, and three or four liters of thin fields yields ten shi per acre."
"Steamed, exposed to dry, pounded and peeled, the rice is not broken at all. When cooked, it is very smooth. Grind it finely, add silk to make cakes, and it is also very smooth."
"However, there are many filthy things in nature. One kind of this kind of thing will last for several years; the work of hoeing will be even more beneficial."
"If you sow large wheat, you can sow thin fields during the White Dew Festival; on the autumnal equinox, you can plant on middle fields; on the ten days after that, you can plant on beautiful fields. On the first day of the year, you can sow spring wheat and beans until the second month."
…
The candle flickered from time to time, making the sound of tiny sparks flying.
Nearing the night,
"Knock knock knock..."
There was a knock on the door,
"Enter."
A manager opened the door and saw Li Changan still writing furiously, so he stepped forward and bowed.
"Why did Mr. Liu come so late?"
Director Liu took a look at what Li Changan wrote and said, "Senior Councilor, are you sorting out what you saw today?"
Li Changan smiled and nodded, flicking the wick, and the room suddenly became a little brighter.
"I heard a lot of things today that I haven't heard of in daily life, and I really benefited a lot from comparing them with the files."
"Zewu County is very suitable for rice and wheat cultivation, and can even achieve three crops of early rice, late rice and barley a year."
"As long as the land is leveled, production can be resumed quickly, and leaving high stubble of rice and wheat can fertilize the land and maintain its fertility."
Manager Liu couldn't help but look at Li Changan with admiration.
The Uncle Zhongyong in front of me has never been exposed to farming, so I didn't expect that he knew so much.
"What the Senator said is absolutely true."
Li Changan put down the pen in his hand and asked, "Why are you here, Master Liu?"
Chief Liu quickly clasped his fists and said, "Sir, my subordinates have received news that there will be several officials' sons from the capital tomorrow who want to see you."
Li Changan was stunned for a moment, then nodded, "Thank you, Mr. Liu, for informing me. I understand."
"I'll take my leave." Manager Liu bowed and left the room.
Li Changan smiled and shook his head, these guys are really interesting.
Just come and ask someone to spread the word.
Is it possible that I should wait for them specially?
Li Changan looked at the things he had sorted and thought about it.
Write four simple seal characters on the forehead,
""Essential Techniques for Elevating the People"!"