Three Kingdoms: A Million Soldiers Grown from the Fields

Chapter 182 Double Robbery
The scorching sun at the end of April, already carrying the heat of early summer, poured down relentlessly on the land of Bingzhou.

The fields outside Jinyang City have shed their tender green of spring and been replaced by an endless expanse of breathtaking golden yellow.

Those are ripe winter wheat! The heavy ears of wheat droop low, swaying and bobbing in the breeze.

The strong and pure aroma of wheat, mixed with the warmth of the earth baked by the sun, permeates the air, and every breath brings a sense of fulfillment from the harvest.

Compared to ordinary winter wheat, the winter wheat grown in Zhang Xianjiayuan's farmland matures earlier. The low temperatures in winter allow the cold-loving winter wheat to accumulate enough nutrients, and then it grows rapidly after the spring warms up.

Compared to the area outside Jinyang City, the 90,000 mu of wheat fields in Lüchi County are even more eye-catching.

This is the experimental field where Zhang Xian first promoted deep plowing, new agricultural tools, and winter wheat varieties in Bingzhou, and it is also the place where he poured his heart and soul into cultivating the land.

The newly built threshing ground was set up not far from the field. It was smooth as a mirror and hard as stone with freshly made cement, reflecting a warm grayish-white color in the sunlight.

The alluvial plain of the Hutuo River was bustling with activity at this time.

"Fellow villagers! From now on, Luqi County will implement double-cropping!" Han Ji, who had rushed back from Baijingbao, personally presided over the event.

"What is double harvesting?!" he shouted, then pointed to the endless wheat fields.

"Harvest winter wheat! Plant summer beans!"

"We must ensure this land continues to produce crops! For the sake of the lord, and for our own sake, we must grow even more grain!"

"Oh!"

The double-harvest system is a new agricultural policy that will be gradually promoted after winter wheat leaves the rural and pastoral areas of Jiayuan.

However, it is currently only being piloted in Luqi County. In later generations, the "double harvest in the south" and "three summers in the north" both describe continuous farming with two or three harvests a year.

It consumes a great deal of soil fertilizer, and ordinary land simply cannot withstand the pressure without the replenishment of mature fertilizers.

Therefore, Zhang Xian has not yet promoted it widely. He is first trying to rotate winter wheat, broad beans, and soybeans in Lüqi County.

Let's see if the land can withstand such continuous cultivation with the help of nitrogen-fixing crops and the supplementation of farmyard manure.

As Han Ji finished speaking on the stage, the people of Luqi around him were all eager to try. The grain distributed to their families was something they could see and touch. Their lord had not lied to them. In just one year, each of their families now had surplus grain.

No one among the common people resisted labor; the more they planted, the more grain they would receive after the distribution of grain.

They understand this simple and unadorned truth perfectly!
"Time to harvest!"

"rush in the harvest!!"

"Swish! Swish! Swish!" The crisp sound of sickles cutting through wheat stalks filled the air, and the people of Luqi, who had been preparing for a long time, started harvesting the moment the words were spoken!
Golden wheat stalks fell in swathes and were quickly bundled into sheaves as tall as a person.

Their movements were swift and powerful, sweat dripping from the grooves of their muscles onto the scorching earth.

Han Ji also stepped down from the platform, took a sickle from a county clerk, rolled up his sleeves, and joined in.

Not only him, but also many of the yamen runners and officials in Luqi County were busy in the fields.

Only by understanding the hardships and struggles of farming can one truly appreciate its value!

"Transport team! Keep up!"

As the wheat fields fell one by one, a group of officials who had finished harvesting ahead of schedule led a team to organize the removal of the fallen wheat.

Ox carts, donkey carts, and wheelbarrows loaded with bundles of wheat shuttled back and forth along the ridges of the fields and on the makeshift roads leading to the threshing ground.

The men driving the carts shouted and cracked their whips, their faces glistening with sweat and joy.

On the threshing floor, several huge, drum-type threshers, requiring three or four people to operate, emitted a deep hum.

This is the Craftsmanship Camp, a new product improved based on Zhang Xian's guidance and the principle of waterwheel gears!

The sturdy packhorses, blindfolded, pulled on the crossbar connecting the threshing machine drum, steadily circling under the urging of the laborers.

The rollers spun rapidly, covered with hardwood protrusions!
Several strong men placed bundles of wheat ears, facing downwards, into the rotating drum!
“Swish!”

Golden wheat grains, like a golden rain, poured out from the specially designed chute below the threshing machine! Instantly, they spread out and piled up into a growing golden mountain!

It is several times more efficient than the traditional method of striking with a flail!
If it weren't for the short lifespan of the belts, Zhang Xian would have liked to just get a home-use threshing machine.

Women and teenagers, carrying large wooden rakes and newly made bamboo brooms, gathered around the grain piles, spreading out and smoothing the threshed wheat grains, letting the scorching sun and dry summer winds carry away the last moisture.

Their movements were swift and energetic, their faces glistening with golden wheat awns and glistening sweat, yet their smiles were radiant.

"Quick! Quick! Sweep this side, it's piled up here!" A man with a hoarse voice directed the women and children in the house to quickly sweep it up.

On the other side, more and more bundles of wheat were being transported in and fed into the ever-flowing threshing drum.

Yangqu, Yuci, and Jinyang, these three counties, besides Lüchi County, which also received winter wheat, are also busy harvesting.

Although the 30,000 mu of winter wheat fields in Yangqu, the 20,000 mu in Yuci, and the 40,000 mu of winter wheat fields around Jinyang are not as large as those in Luqi, the joy and awe brought by the heavy harvest are no different.

On the river valley slopes outside Yangqu City, the newly resettled refugees were also immersed in ecstasy.

Although these fields had nothing to do with them and the grain did not belong to them, witnessing the harvest was enough to soothe their hearts, which were bewildered by fleeing the war.

The wheat fields in Yuci County are relatively scattered, but the newly built official road has greatly facilitated transportation.

One after another, oxcarts loaded with golden wheat drove along the flat, solid, gray-white rammed earth road toward the newly built granary in the county town.

The people along the way, seeing this bountiful harvest, couldn't help but beam with pride.

The 40,000 mu of wheat fields on the outskirts of Jinyang City are directly related to the county's granaries and military supplies.

The prefectural government dispatched a large number of officials and soldiers to maintain order and supervise the weighing and storage of goods.

The enormous government granary was quickly filled with bulging sacks of wheat.

Three busy and stressful days have passed.

Jinyang, the main hall of the county government.

Xun Yu sat upright in the main seat, his expression calm, but a hint of excitement could not be hidden between his brows.

Seated at the lower end were Chen Ji, Wang Lie, and other core subordinates.

Good news reports from Luqi, Yangqu, Yuci, and the four suburbs of Jinyang piled up on the desk like snowflakes, each one showing the yield per mu and the estimated total output, all telling the story of the significance of this bumper harvest.

"The area of ​​Lüqi is 90,000 mu, with an average yield of 3.5 shi per mu, for a total yield of 315,000 shi!"

"Yangqu has 30,000 mu of land, with an average yield of 2.8 shi per mu, for a total output of 84,000 shi!"

"In Yuci, there are 20,000 mu of land, with an average yield of 2.7 shi per mu, for a total output of 54,000 shi!"

"In Jinyang, there are 40,000 mu of land, with an average yield of three shi per mu, for a total output of 120,000 shi!"

Xun Yu tapped his fingers lightly on the compiled figures on the table: "In Lüchi, Yangqu, Yuci, and Jinyang, new grain will be added, estimated to be no less than 573,000 shi!"

This number made everyone in the hall pause in their breath! You have to understand, this isn't the autumn harvest, but April, right after the spring planting!
Before Zhang Xian arrived, the total grain tax revenue of the entire Taiyuan Prefecture was only this amount!
"This is all thanks to the methods taught by our lord, the new farming tools, and the superior winter-loving seeds! It also depends on the hard work of the agricultural officials of the counties and the thousands of farmers!"

Xun Yu's voice was filled with emotion: "Here, I can only greet you all with utmost reverence."

He rose and bowed, saying, "You've all worked hard!"

"You've worked hard, Magistrate!"

There was a response from below.

After exchanging pleasantries and compliments, everyone was overjoyed.

Chen Ji immediately replied, "Your Excellency, now that the grain and fodder are plentiful, we should consider how to use them. I believe this is the most important task, and we should reserve sufficient grain for the army and the salaries of officials at all levels."

The expansion of the Jiaqi New Army is imminent, and the cost of feeding the men and horses is enormous.

Secondly, reserve a sufficient amount of seeds. This year's winter wheat harvest is bountiful, and the seeds are of excellent quality. Select a number of these seeds to be used for winter sowing this year and promote them throughout the county!
Furthermore, the ongoing maintenance of the Taihang Mountain trails, the construction of new roads in the five counties, and the water conservancy projects in various regions all require a large labor force, and the food supplies for the laborers must be adequately guaranteed!

Wang Lie stroked his beard and nodded: "Education and pacification of the people also require the support of food and fodder. Although the newly settled refugees have been allocated land, this year is their first year of settling down, and their production is not yet sufficient to fully support themselves."

The prefectural government should provide relief through work, or reduce or waive some of the grain loans as appropriate, so that the farmers can focus on farming and become more inclined to accept the government's policies.

The schools must also have sufficient rice and grain for literacy education.

Xun Yu nodded, his gaze sweeping over everyone: "What you all said is spot on."

"Yuanfang has unified the county officials; you will be in charge of overseeing the military rations, official salaries, and the storage of loaned seeds!"

"Your Excellency, in order to appease, educate, and provide for the displaced people, I trouble you to coordinate with the Agricultural Department and the Household Department, in addition to this."

He paused for a moment: "Although the grain and fodder have been plentiful for the past two years and the people are somewhat well-off, you must continue to work hard and not follow the path of the officials in Yangqu and Yuci counties who were purged."

"A benevolent ruler will not discourage the loyal and righteous!"

"Yes, sir!" the crowd responded solemnly.

night.

Inside Jinyang City, the newly built detached courtyard of the county school facing the street was still brightly lit.

The size of the night school literacy classes has increased several times.

Inside the huge hall, oil lamps and modern candlesticks illuminated the room.

Unlike during the day, at night this place belongs to the young clerks selected from various departments, as well as the outstanding junior officers in the army.

Chen Ji sat upright on the podium, his voice steady and powerful, no longer the aloof person he was when he was first recruited; his brows now held the sharp edge of a pragmatist.

On the black lacquered wooden board in front of him, written in white chalk were "New Methods for Measuring Land", "Essentials of Mathematics", "Explanation of Laws and Regulations", and "Official Document Formats".

"Accuracy is of paramount importance in measuring fields! You must thoroughly master the 'rope measurement' method taught by the magistrate!"

Fields of varying shapes, including triangular, trapezoidal, and even irregular land, can all be converted into standard acreage using this "cutting and patching" and "decomposition" technique!
This is the foundation for collecting land taxes and allocating land; not the slightest mistake can be made!

Chen Ji pointed to the various geometric figures and calculation formulas drawn on the blackboard, explaining them in detail.

Before being recruited, he was a teacher at the county school in Taiyuan. Although there weren't many students at the time, he still retained his desire to learn.

Moreover, after several conversations, Zhang Xian discovered that he was not a pedantic scholar, so he tried to teach him some mathematics and geometric topology.

Now it seems that what I learned has been put to practical use.

The crowd below the stage buried themselves in their books, writing furiously, the paper making a soft rustling sound.

Practical knowledge is always more captivating than empty doctrines.

The atmosphere in the other quiet room was even more solemn.

Xun Yu personally oversaw the examination of dozens of students whose achievements and virtues were all outstanding and whose records were kept.

The topic is not some abstract philosophy of governance, but rather the most pressing practical matters facing Bingzhou at present.

"If you were the magistrate of Wu County, with spring planting imminent, how would you mediate the conflict between newly reclaimed wasteland by displaced people and the cultivated land of established households, in order to reassure the people and ensure the success of spring planting?"

"We now have 10,000 shi of grain, which needs to be transported from Jinyang to the Jiexiu New Army camp. The journey is 300 li. How should we allocate laborers, livestock, and vehicles to save time and grain?"

"A landslide occurred on a trail in the Taihang Mountains due to heavy rain, blocking the grain transport route. What emergency measures should be taken to prevent future problems?"

The trainees were deep in thought, some writing furiously, others with furrowed brows.

Xun Yu sat upright, his gaze calmly sweeping over each young and focused face.

These strategies test not only quick wit, but also practical abilities and an understanding of public sentiment and military affairs.

Having shed his workshop-like aura, Zhang Xian occasionally appears outside the window of the county school's villa.

He didn't go in to disturb them, but just watched quietly for a while.

Looking at those figures studying diligently under the lamp, looking at Chen Ji, Xun Yu and others sharing their knowledge with unwavering focus, looking at these young people from the bottom of society or the military, their eyes burning with the desire to change their destiny.

He knew that these people were the true backbone of Bingzhou's future.

The old system of hereditary privilege is being quietly transformed here by a new system that places greater emphasis on practicality and competence.

After watching for a while, he turned and left with steady steps.

Everyone has things they need to do right now.

For him, the most important thing right now is how to turn latex sheets into finished rubber products.

Only he could personally organize and structure the system of mathematics, physics, and chemistry.

Latex has been successfully produced now, but if it cannot be made into rubber, no matter how much latex is produced, it will not be wear-resistant or durable.

Although rubber products are ubiquitous in later generations, it is actually quite difficult to make them.

The main problem is that he didn't major in materials science, so he really didn't know where to start in this area.

However, although he cannot currently produce rubber products, he has a complete production theory for life-intercepting devices.

There's no way around it; it's perfectly normal for adults to carry a few condoms in their bags.

He originally intended to use condoms to reverse engineer the rubber production process, but after doing so, he discovered that the condoms he bought were latex products, not rubber products.

In short, he'll be quite busy lately.

If he can't develop rubber suitable for making tires, he'll only be able to sell condoms in the future, but are those things really easy to sell these days?

(End of this chapter)