Three Kingdoms: A Million Soldiers Grown from the Fields

Chapter 195 Food Stamps
For the next two weeks, Xun Yu's officials were almost constantly moving between granaries in various places.

Then they brought back data on the autumn harvest of grain from the cultivated fields.

The cultivated fields in Lüchi County are a top priority! This year's autumn harvest is also very satisfactory.

Thanks to the experience of Lüqi County, the autumn harvest in various counties this year is also quite abundant.

After more than half a month of summarizing and compiling, all the grain and fodder for the seventh year of Guanghe have been registered and stored.

Luqi County: 5.4 million shi (a unit of dry measure).

Jinyang County: 2.8 million shi (a unit of dry measure).

Meng County: Two million shi (a unit of dry measure).

Yuci County: 1.9 million shi (a unit of dry measure).

Qi County: 1.5 million shi (a unit of dry measure).

Jingling County: 1.4 million shi (a unit of dry measure).

Yangqu County: 1.4 million shi (a unit of dry measure).

Shouyang County: 1.1 million shi (a unit of dry measure).

Langmeng County: 640,000 shi (a unit of dry measure).

Other border counties under actual control: approximately 680,000 shi (a unit of dry measure).

The total cultivated land in Taiyuan County: approximately 18,820,000 shi (a unit of dry measure)!

Moreover, this only represents the autumn grain yield from cultivated fields.

We also need to add data entry for the summer harvest and the fields of displaced people.

The total grain income from winter wheat and summer wheat harvests in Lüqi and other counties amounted to approximately 1.5 million shi (a unit of dry measure).

The autumn tax paid from newly reclaimed land belonging to displaced people in the entire county was approximately 1.3 million shi (a unit of dry measure).

This year, the total grain harvest in Taiyuan Prefecture has exceeded 21 million shi (a unit of dry measure)!
After Xun Yu copied the final compiled figures onto specially made parchment, the entire hall fell silent.

The abacus beads in Chen Ji's hand froze, Han Ji opened his mouth, and Wang Lie plucked out several strands of his beard.

Twenty-one million koku! This number was beyond the limits of their imagination.

"When the granaries are full, people know etiquette..." Xun Yu's voice trembled slightly, and he looked at Zhang Xian in the main seat, his eyes filled with admiration.

Sitting in the main seat, Zhang Xian stroked his eyebrows with his fingers. This year's grain harvest of more than 20 million shi (a unit of dry measure) indicated that his finances and supplies were exceptionally abundant.

The resettlement of displaced people no longer troubled him.

But new problems will also arise.

The reforms in Taiyuan have been ongoing for a year and a half, during which time the administration, roads, and banditry have all been greatly improved.

A good location will naturally lead to prosperous commerce and attract a large number of merchants, including foreign merchants.

The new problem lies with these businessmen.

After a moment of contemplation, he stretched out a hand, making the already quiet hall even more solemn, and everyone's attention shifted from the food list to him.

"It's not time to be happy yet, Wenruo."

"exist."

Xun Yu slightly rose to acknowledge the gesture.

“With abundant grain in various regions and counties, the attention of a large number of merchants will naturally be drawn to this grain.”

"I'm giving you a mission: not a single grain of grain from Taiyuan is allowed to leave Taiyuan!"

Xun Yu quickly realized: "What does my lord mean?"

Chen Ji continued, "Does the lord mean to set up grain distribution points? To prevent merchants from hoarding grain at low prices when there is an abundance of grain, and then selling it at high prices when there is a shortage?"

Having spent over a decade in officialdom, Chen Ji was quicker than Wang Zuozhi in dealing with dirty dealings.

Zhang Xian nodded slightly: "It's not just the grain depots, it's the public treasury."

His gaze fell upon the person he trusted most.

Han Ji looked at him without speaking, but Zhang Xian knew he was waiting for Zhang Xian to give the order directly.

He waved his hand: "Open up all the stockpiles of the people's workshops, including cloth, salt, tools, cattle, horses, sheep, pigs, chickens, ducks and geese, and all other items that the people want to exchange after they have enough grain. The market is now open to supply them."

"Send a message to Zhao Shi, the judicial officer, and tell him to get moving and inspect all the counties. Any merchant who dares to play the game of buying low and selling high to deceive the people should be severely punished!"

"promise!"

Without saying a word, Han Ji bowed and walked out of the hall.

Now all matters related to crafts in Taiyuan Prefecture are under his jurisdiction.

“Your Highness.” Zhang Xian looked at Wang Lie.

“Speak frankly, Your Excellency,” Wang Lie said, stroking his beard as he stood up.

"After the autumn harvest, there will be a period of leisure for farmers. During this time, I will trouble you to travel around the countryside and tell the people how to protect their belongings."

"Your Excellency is benevolent and kind." Wang Lie stroked his beard, smiled, and nodded.

Few officials could do this, and he was extremely glad that he had agreed to Xun Yu's offer to serve in the government, even though he had only agreed because of the Xun family.

But after a year and a half, he genuinely recognized the magistrate who had been his friend, and even felt a kind of paternal affection for him, like that of a parent caring for their own nephew.

Another person walked out of the hall.

Zhang Xian breathed a sigh of relief; the core of Taiyuan County consisted of him and these few individuals.

The external military generals are Zhang Liao, Zhao Yun, Zhao Gou, and Huang Zhong; the external civil officials are Xi Zhong and Guo Jia.

The only people who could discuss matters with him were Xun Yu, Han Ji, Chen Ji, and Wang Lie.

These eleven people formed the brain and limbs of Taiyuan County.

After pondering for a moment, Zhang Xian spoke again: "Wenruo, draft a letter to Daling, informing Fengxiao that it's time to roll up his sleeves and get to work!"

"I'll give them a year to reclaim Xihe and assimilate the people of the Xihe grasslands!"

"Yuanfang! You will continue to be in charge of the personnel department. All schools and literacy night schools will be under your command. Within two years, I want to see a reserve of no less than 30,000 personnel."

"promise!"

Xun Yu and Chen Ji both accepted the order.

The day.

The prefectural government's decree to open granaries and distribute goods was like a boulder thrown into a calm lake, creating huge ripples in the markets of various counties. But these ripples brought not chaos, but a reassuring stability.

Each county's official granaries directly displayed signs, and grain leveling points were set up in prominent locations in the market. On the huge wooden signs, the official buying and selling prices for the day were written in striking cinnabar every day.

All kinds of goods and supplies were readily available. Near the grain depots, cloth, salt, tools, and livestock were all readily available.

Officials, holding standard measuring measures, loudly proclaimed their greetings, exchanging grain for goods and purchasing grain with money, treating both the young and the old without deception.

Although the queue was long, it was orderly because everyone knew that if they couldn't get a turn today, there would be another one tomorrow, as the grain in the official granaries was as plentiful as mountains and as deep as the sea.

Well-informed grain merchants were still plotting the night before how to buy up new grain at a low price when it hit the market, and then sell it at a high price when the new grain doesn't arrive on time in winter and spring.

However, once the Taiyuan Prefecture issued its thunderous grain stabilization order, all thoughts of hoarding and speculation vanished instantly upon seeing the bottomless grain reserves and listed prices in the official granaries.

He tried to use force again, but before he could even start causing trouble, the group led by the judicial officer swarmed in like a group of sharks that had smelled blood.

Zhao Shi's guillotine arrived in an instant. He didn't say anything grand or even use torture. He just stared at the group of people who wanted to take the initiative.

The name of the Judicial Officer was already well-known in Taiyuan, and his chief clerk, Zhao Shi, was known as the "Iron-Faced Judge." The judicial guillotine, initially stained with the blood of powerful figures, immediately intimidated these men, rendering them incapable of any further ambition.

For ordinary people, surplus grain turned into cash, which also revitalized the market.

For the newly resettled refugees, the scene was like a dream.

They had been worried that the small amount of millet and beans left over after deducting rations, seeds, and rent, or the pumpkins harvested from their own yards, would not fetch a good price and might even rot in their hands.

But now, they can directly exchange money or goods at government granaries or from reputable merchants.

By exchanging grain for money, the flow of wealth became more convenient, and the market had never been so bustling.

In front of the salt vendor's stall, small bags of millet and beans were piled up.

"Four liters of beans for half a pound of salt!" The transaction was simple and straightforward, and of course, this was only possible because Taiyuan was not short of salt and iron.

At the cloth merchant's stall, a peasant woman traded a basket of dried pumpkin for several feet of thick coarse linen cloth, her face beaming with satisfaction.

At the entrance of the blacksmith's shop, men exchanged their saved wheat or millet for much-needed hoes, sickles, or to repair old farm tools.

Salt, cloth, and ironware—essential goods for daily life and production—were once luxuries for many refugees, but now they are readily available thanks to their surplus grain.

Once basic survival needs are met, a glimmer of hope for improving one's life begins to sprout in everyone's heart.

In addition to the regular grain rations, the prefectural government also made preparations in advance.

Xun Yu, Chen Ji, and others were not unaware of the hidden dangers of low grain prices harming farmers.

They had already devised a countermeasure: while opening warehouses to sell grain at stable prices and suppressing inflated market prices, the prefectural government simultaneously issued a price guarantee purchase order.

The government granaries were open to purchasing grain, and there were government collection points next to each grain distribution point.

The listed price here is slightly lower than the market price before the price stabilization, and there is a clear commitment to open purchase without any upper limit!
A reasonable price ensures that even the most ordinary farmers can still obtain a fair income, sufficient to sustain their livelihood and continue production, after deducting the cost of cultivation.

This is the responsibility of the prefectural government!
Regarding the workshop system, Zhang Xian and his colleagues also made reforms. In response to the potential pressures faced by emerging workshops and the workers' urgent need for physical food, the county government introduced a food coupon system similar to the previous work point system.

Grain was redeemed by ration coupons, with credit as a guarantee.

The reputation that Taiyuan Prefecture had built up over the past year and a half, along with Zhang Xian's personal prestige, was sufficient to implement this new policy similar to paper money.

Thanks to Zhang Xian's reverse engineering skills, he was able to deduce some unique anti-counterfeiting techniques that could be implemented in this era from the banknotes he brought.

These grain coupons were well-made and difficult to counterfeit. They were then used to pay workers part of their wages, and were stamped with the seals of both the Prefectural Government's Ministry of Works and the Official Granary.

The denominations of the tickets, clearly marked as one dou, five dou, one sheng, five sheng, or even one shi, could be exchanged for the equivalent value of grain or converted into money at any prefectural granary or designated merchant.

The workers felt incredibly reassured when they received the coupons that could actually be exchanged for food rations. This was especially true for workers with families, as it brought them more peace of mind than pure cash.

Moreover, grain coupons have a stable value and are not subject to the risk of devaluation of currency in the market.

The people trusted their Prefect Zhang and the prefecture under his rule, and they also had sufficient material reserves as a source of support.

Once introduced, the grain coupons quickly began circulating among the various workshops, aside from the inevitable initial setbacks.

Grain coupons even began circulating among the general public.

This move boosted workshop production and employment, and stabilized social order.

The circulation of grain coupons was equivalent to pre-spending some of the grain from the official granaries, but it was eventually returned through exchange, forming a new system that could be partially circulated with the grain from the official granaries and the credit of the prefecture government as backing.

This not only alleviated the pressure of currency issuance but also further consolidated the core position of government-owned grain granaries as an economic stabilizer.

Even if Zhang Xian doesn't lose his mind and continues to maintain the status of grain coupons, in time grain coupons can gradually replace the status of the existing currency and become a new monetary system.

If monetary power can be seized, then Zhang Xian's regime will have one foot firmly planted in an invincible position!
Half a month later.

The West Market of Jinyang was bustling with people.

A young apprentice who had just received half a month's wages squeezed into a cloth stall and took out a grain coupon and a few five-zhu coins.

"Shopkeeper, tear off six feet of blue cloth and use this ticket to pay half!"

The cloth merchant, after verifying the bright red double stamps on the ticket, readily agreed: "Alright! It's a ticket from the official granary, hard currency!"

Nearby, an old farmer was trading a small bag of new millet with a salt merchant. Looking at the long queue in front of the official granary and the reassuringly low grain prices, he sighed to the people next to him.

"I've farmed all my life and never seen a year like this! There's plenty of grain, and the price is stable! Your Excellency's methods have truly given us farmers a way to make a living and save face!"

Tea shops and restaurants are nearby.

The grain merchants gathered, shaking their heads and smiling bitterly; they had suffered a major setback in Taiyuan this year.

Those with clean hands and feet are fine; at most, they just won't receive any grain. But those with dirty hands and feet not only have their own property confiscated, but I heard that many of them were also taken to labor camps in the Taihang Mountains.

Looking at the bustling crowds on the street, several merchants shook their heads and smiled wryly.

"Forget about hoarding grain! The official granaries in Taiyuan are bottomless, and they even have price guarantees. Forget it, I'd better stick to doing something else this year!"

"It's a pity. If this grain were sent to places like Jizhou and Qingzhou, the price of one shi of grain would easily increase by more than ten times, let alone dozens of times."

"Stop talking, or I'll get tempted again. If the Chief Justice Cao gets his eye on you, I'll drag you all down with me."

"Screw you!"

Inside the restaurant, a man and a woman sat facing each other. As they listened to their conversation, the young man couldn't help but smile.

The woman opposite him, who looked as if she had stepped out of a painting, smiled and her eyes crinkled when she saw him happy.

"My husband has been happy several times today."

The man lifted his cup, blew on the slightly hot tea, and took a sip: "Wan'er should know what I'm happy about."

The woman's eyes sparkled: "How could I possibly fathom the General's thoughts?"

"Haha, you naughty boy."

Zhang Xian chuckled a few times and shook his head: "Wenruo and the others are quite capable. Give them a target and they can get things done thoroughly. Thanks to them, I'm able to have the leisure to accompany my wife around."

"How is it? Does the scenery in Taiyuan compare to that in Wuwei?"

He looked at Zou Wan, raising his eyebrows slightly.

The woman covered her mouth and smiled: "My husband was waiting for me here? Yes, yes, Taiyuan County is much better than Wuwei County."

While they were laughing and joking, Zou Wan suddenly stopped covering her mouth and gagged.

Zhang Xian was taken aback, then got up and went over to gently pat her back.

"What's wrong? Did you eat something bad?"

After gagging for a while, Zou Wan looked up and shook her head: "I didn't eat anything."

"Give me your hand." Zhang Xian reached out and grabbed Zou Wan's wrist.

He took his pulse and closed his eyes. After a long while, he opened his eyes and was stunned.

"It's there!?"

"Somebody come!"

He shouted loudly, instantly attracting the attention of the restaurant guests. Before they could react, they heard a series of people getting up and footsteps.

Twenty or thirty exceptionally burly men surrounded the two men on the second and first floors, respectively.

"Send...send the lady back to her residence."

Even after experiencing so much and wading through mountains of corpses and seas of blood several times, he was still somewhat stunned when faced with his wife's first pregnancy.

Am I going to be a husband and then a father?!

(End of this chapter)