Late Han Zhao Tang

Chapter 172: Zhizheng went to the village and met a wise man

May, the first year of Zhongping.

Zhang Yu, who had some free time, left the government seat Huguan and took his entourage to visit the countryside of Changzi County.

"How is this year?"

Zhang Yu bowed and went into the village. Suddenly he walked into a private house and chatted with a farmer under the pretext of asking for water.

"Thank God, I can have some peace this year and plant a lot of crops. But it hasn't rained in recent days!"

The farmer was over thirty years old, with a face full of wrinkles. When he handed the water to Zhang Yu, one could see many calluses on his hands.

Zhang Yu was very modest. He asked Zhang Feng to remove the saddle from his horse and asked, "What are you going to plant in the fields? Are you going to plant wheat this year?"

“It’s planted!”

Seeing Zhang Yu and his men riding horses with swords in hand, the farmers were not panicked and said, "We have planted millet in the fields and are just waiting for the harvest in autumn. We dare not not plant wheat because millet is used to pay taxes. Although wheat is not edible, we still have to plant it to avoid famine. Next year, we will plant beans in the old land and millet in another land. As long as there is peace, we can cultivate it for two or three years and there will be a surplus."

Since Zhang Yu discussed the tax reform with the public, Zhong Yao discussed with the public and set a standard for each household to pay three shi of millet, one piece of silk (or cloth), and five liang of cotton. When using goods instead of money to collect taxes, the Shangdang people knew that the government was taking advantage of the situation, but they only complained.

Zhang Yu said with a smile, "This year you will plant millet, and between now and tomorrow you will plant wheat, and next year you will plant beans. After that, you can change fields and plant millet. Repeat this process, and you will have three crops in two years. You really know how to farm."

During the three or four hundred years from the Eastern Han Dynasty to the Sui and Tang Dynasties, due to the popularity of winter wheat in the middle and lower reaches of the Yellow River, a two-year three-crop farming system was formed in the middle and lower reaches of the Yellow River, in which millet was planted in spring, wheat was planted in winter, wheat was harvested in May of the following year, beans were planted in June, and beans were harvested in September.

At the same time, due to the two-year three-crop farming, the middle and lower reaches of the Yellow River quickly rose to become China's economic center.

The essence of the southward shift of the economic center is that with the popularization of wheat cultivation in the Yangtze River Basin, the rice-wheat rotation system was developed. The harvest of rice and wheat from the two-year three-cropping system is far greater than the harvest of millet, wheat and beans from the two-year three-cropping system.

Today, since Shangdang is close to Hebei Province and is the birthplace of early Chinese civilization, it is not surprising that the people in the county have mastered the farming model of three crops in two years.

Zhang Yu returned the bowl to the farmer and asked, "Are you happy now under the rule of Lord Zhang?"

The farmer put away the bowl, sighed, and said, "Whether you are happy or not depends on who you compare yourself with. If I compare myself with the refugees who were relocated here, I am happy. They work with the government every day to get food, reclaim wasteland, and plant millet for autumn and winter."

"Compared to the wealthy families, we are certainly inferior. There are only my wife and I, an elderly person and two children. Although we have more than 100 acres of land, excluding the fallow land, half of it is arable, and the annual yield of millet is 60 to 70 dan. The government collects 3 dan, and we also need to pay silk and cotton."

"After careful budgeting, I can only get some fruits and vegetables for the four seasons so that my family can barely make ends meet. I dare not buy any more clothes. If someone gets sick, I am afraid I will not be able to afford it."

Zhang Yu remained silent upon hearing this. What the farmer said was consistent with his understanding.

Although there were a lot of fields of 100 mu, it was impossible to cultivate them all, and they had to be rested every year. And because of the special nature of three crops in two years, the use of millet had to be spread over two years. After deducting the taxes paid and the seeds for cultivation, the people could not eat millet often, and they mostly ate wheat rice and bean rice.

When there is corvée, there are no able-bodied men to work the land, and the fields will be left uncultivated. If there is also illness, the family will have difficulty in making ends meet. Therefore, when there is no war, corvée is not frequently imposed, and there will be a surplus of food for one year in three years.

However, compared to farmers, soldiers have a much better livelihood. Soldiers have two stone of food rations per month, auxiliary soldiers are exempt from taxes, and combat soldiers are exempt from taxes and can also receive military pay. Their lives are much better than those of farmers.

During the war, Zhang Yu had to implement the policy of putting the army first. If Zhang Yu failed, he was afraid that other warlords would exploit him more than Zhang Yu.

"Let's go check out other houses!"

Zhang Yu waved his hand and took Zhang Feng for a walk around the village.

Danshuiting, as a township pavilion under Changzi County, had previously accepted more than a hundred Baibo households.

Zhang Yu found an excuse, called the older child and asked, "Where are your father and mother?"

The child was brave enough to say, "My mother is working in the fields, and my father is in the city making arrows!"

Zhang Feng found an opportunity and said, "The roads in Changzi County are well maintained, so the county magistrate can recruit refugees to make arrows there."

"What do you want?" the child asked cautiously.

At this time, the women in the fields saw their children being questioned by Zhang Yu and his party, so they put down their farm work and hurried over to talk to them.

The woman was not very old, but her skin was dark from constant overwork and her face looked wary.

Seeing this, Zhang Yu smiled and said, "I am here to ask for directions. I see that most of the fields are barren and no men are working on them. I am curious and have come to ask for directions."

The woman said, "I am not from here. I was settled here by the government and given a hundred acres of wasteland. I just need to cultivate it. As for the surrounding areas, I really don't know anything about you!"

After saying this, the woman took the child and left, fearing that Zhang Yu and his group were planning to do something bad.

Seeing that he was regarded as a bad guy, Zhang Yu did not care and said, "The refugees must be resettled. Although life is hard, they can still make a living. When we sow wheat in winter, perhaps our livelihood will improve next year."

Zhang Feng flattered him, saying, "When you arrived at Shangdang last year, many fields were abandoned and the people had to gather together before they dared to set out on the journey. Now, in just over half a year, from Huguan to Zichang, the abandoned fields along the way are all being cultivated by the people. And because the bandits have disappeared, the people are living in peace and contentment. This is all thanks to your contribution!" Zhang Yu glanced at Zhang Feng and said with a smile, "Maoshan has made a lot of progress!"

As he spoke, Zhang Yu looked at the boundless fields and said with emotion: "Shangdang was originally in decline. Although the people now have farmland to cultivate, it is still difficult to change the decline of Shangdang. If you want to make Shangdang prosperous, it will take two years, or even five or six years, to change its current appearance."

Zhang Yu knew that Shangdang was a desolate place. It was impossible to expect Shangdang to change its current situation within one or two years. If two years was not enough, then three or four years would be enough.

In history, Cao Cao was able to recruit refugees, implement military settlements, and reclaim wasteland in Yingchuan, where people's livelihood was impoverished. Am I not as good as him?
As for Yuan Shu, who had already taken control of Jingzhou, Zhang Yu, needless to say, was a typical example of a person with great ambitions but little talent. Although he could win the hearts of heroes, he was a mess in terms of political and military talents, and had no kindness or righteousness towards the people.

Historically, although Yuan Shu did not occupy Jingzhou, he at least owned Nanyang County with a population of one million. However, after his actions, the population of Nanyang declined, and he could not defeat Liu Biao in the south and Cao Cao in the north. He fled eastward and proclaimed himself emperor in Shouchun.

In Zhang Yu's eyes, although Yuan Shu has replaced Liu Biao and occupied Jingzhou, to be honest, he will be easier to deal with than Liu Biao. It's a pity that the people of Jingzhou will have to suffer from Yuan Shu.

To be successful in troubled times, one not only needs strategy and military talent, but also the knowledge of farming.

If you don’t know how to farm, you’re doomed to go nowhere on the road to supremacy!

When Zhang Yu was inspecting his foundation, a scholar came forward with his luggage to ask for directions.

"Excuse me, gentlemen, where is the city of Huguan?" asked the scholar.

Zhang Yu looked in the direction of the voice, sized up the scholar, and said with a smile, "I wonder why you are going to Huguan?"

The scholar bowed and said, "I heard that General Du Liao is looking for talents, and now I want to go to Huguan to take the exam."

Zhang Yu became interested and asked, "I am Yu Zhang, from Taiyuan County. I wonder what your name is and how knowledgeable you are?"

"My name is Chang Lin, with the courtesy name Bohuai. I am from Henei County. I first fled to Shangdang and temporarily lived in Gaodu." Chang Lin introduced himself.

Zhang Yu asked, "I heard that General Du Liao has issued an order that anyone who wants to go to Huguan for examinations can inform the county. The county will provide vehicles to take the scholars to Huguan. I wonder why Mr. Chang is traveling here alone?"

Chang Lin smiled and said, "I heard that Shangdang is peaceful and the people live in peace and contentment, so I intend to walk to Huguan to learn about the conditions of the counties along the way so that I can serve Du Liao!"

Zhang Yu pointed to the fields and said, "The people have something to farm. I think Zhang Duliao's administration is good enough."

Chang Lin nodded and said, "Although the registered permanent residents in Shangdang are declining, after Zhang Duliao recruits refugees from Henei and subdues the people of Baibo, Shangdang will surely be well governed in the next two years. When Shangdang is well governed, Zhang Duliao will have a great plan!"

"Oh!"

Zhang Yu was very interested and asked, "How do you know this?"

Chang Lin put down the bag on his shoulder and said, "Zhang Duliao temporarily changed the tax system to collect taxes in grain instead of money. His intention is not only to prevent grain prices from being affected by war, but also to store grain and grass to supply the troops."

"After relocating the people of Baibo and recruiting refugees from Henei, the number of households in Shangdang may reach 30,000. With 30,000 households and 3 shi per household, there will be 90,000 shi. With the income from military settlements and reclamation, the annual income can reach more than 100,000 shi. If Zhang Duliao has no intention of planning a big event, why is he hoarding military rations?"

"Also, along the way, I saw that many counties used work-for-relief measures, asking refugees to repair roads, mine iron and copper, and make weapons and arrows. If they have no intention of doing great things, why are they training soldiers and casting weapons?"

"Ha ha!"

Zhang Yu and Zhang Feng looked at each other and smiled, "You can see Zhang Duliao's intention from the tax issue. Chang Jun is very observant."

"I don't know what talents you have, and what position you want to seek in Huguan now?" Zhang Yu asked.

Chang Lin had already guessed that Zhang Yu must be someone special, so he was not modest and said, "If Zhang Duliao can entrust me with governing the people, I will make sure that the cities under my jurisdiction are well governed."

"Do you think the county governors are not as good as you?" Zhang Yu asked.

Chang Lin pondered for a moment and said, "Governing a county depends on governing officials. If officials are not well governed, how can the people live in peace? If I were the county magistrate, I would get rid of the corrupt officials in the county, simplify things, and let the people farm with peace of mind. I would also teach the people how to farm and increase the millet and wheat produced by the fields."

"Chang Jun does have ambitions!"

Zhang Yu praised him and said, "I am going to Huguan now. Would you like to come with me?"

"Thank you, Mr. Yu, for leading the way!"

On the way back to Huguan City, Zhang Yu was thinking a lot. His estimate was similar to Chang Lin's. According to calculations by Zhong Yao and Lu Fan, Shangdang County could store more than 100,000 shi of grain per year. If converted into military support, it would be enough for 10,000 soldiers to go on an expedition for half a year.

If he wants to expand his power further, Shangdang County alone is not enough, and he needs to plan for Taiyuan County as soon as possible. I wonder what the situation is in Dingxiang County now?

As for Dong Zhuo's appointment of the governor of Henei, Zhang Yu naturally knew that it was Dong Zhuo's doing. However, Zhang Yu had no intention of caring about it. The key now was to get the Bingzhou counties as soon as possible.

(End of this chapter)