A Good Landlord in the Tang Dynasty: Emperor Yuan Cong

Chapter 600 It smells so good

noon.

After the summer harvest, smoke curls up over Guazhou Fort.

Mr. Li hosted a banquet for all the villagers in the fort. The noodle maker kept cutting the noodles. The big pot was set up and the fire was blazing. He put handfuls of noodles into the pot.
There were many women cutting vegetables to go with the noodles.
There are also people who are mincing minced meat and mincing ginger, green onions and garlic.

Pour the sesame oil into the pot, and the aroma will be stimulated and hit your nostrils.

The villagers' mouths were watering when they looked at the noodles, oil and meat. Many villagers had not eaten since last night and were just waiting for a big meal today.

In addition to the villagers in this village, many wealthy landowners within thirty miles of Fanchuan also came after hearing the news. They all knew that Guazhou Fort had a generous and bold young boss with many backgrounds. The Li family of Longxi was also a student of Prime Minister Wu.

Everyone came uninvited and gave gifts.

Some brought chickens and ducks, some brought wine, and some brought snacks. Of course, some brought silk, cloth, or money directly.

Fanchuan has many subsidiaries of Chang'an nobles, but there are also some local landlords and owners. On today's occasion, nearby landlords and some prominent wealthy households also came.

We live together in Fanchuan for thirty miles, and we will be neighbors from now on. We must pay our respects first to avoid any conflicts.

Fanchuan is close to Chang'an, and it is like the back garden of the nobles. They, the wealthy landowners with small fortunes, cannot afford to offend any of them.

"Are you really going to invite everyone in the fort to eat noodles?"

"No, there are more than 200 households and more than a thousand people in Guazhou Fort. Mr. Li can invite them all,"

"I haven't accepted the gift yet, so I'll treat you to two meals. I'll eat guillotine noodles at noon, and eight big bowls of rice in the afternoon. It's said that I'll kill two big fat pigs."

"And chicken, duck and fish,"

"Oh my God, how many noodles and vegetables are we going to eat? Mr. Li is so generous."

"The rent will be reduced and the mortgage will be waived as soon as people come back."

When the landowners said this, they felt a bit sour. Most of these landowners were small landowners, with two to three hundred acres of land or even a hundred acres of land. They were not out of production. Although they hired long-term workers, the family worked in the fields all year round. They even often have some crafts, such as being masons or carpenters, stone masons, hoop potters, etc. They have to work to make money during the off-farm season. Some also do some selling business on the side, going into the mountains to collect medicinal materials or sell wood. Selling charcoal, etc.

For them, every acre of land is not only inherited from generation to generation, but also saved bit by bit with blood and sweat. In addition to hard work, they also need to be thrifty.
Just like this landowner named Luo, his family has more than [-] acres of land and has several long-term workers, but his wife and daughter also raise silkworms and weave cloth. He is not only a good farmer, but also a mason and stonemason, even in winter. They also go into the mountains to collect mountain goods.
Every time he went out to do craftsmanship, or to collect goods for sale, he would give his wife, children, children, and long-term workers a portion of their home rations, as well as oil, salt and other seasonings, and then lock the rest in the warehouse, and the key was required. Take it with you,
If sometimes we are delayed outside and don't get home on time, then the family has to save food or borrow food.
Another landowner named Liang also has more than 200 acres of land at home, but his family does not fire or eat on the 15th of every month. The whole family goes hungry. It is said that this is a rule passed down from ancestors to let the descendants know that they are hungry. In winter, Even eating one meal a day.

Usually it is half dry and half thin. Only when the farm work is busy, I only eat two dry rice with a little meat.

Frugality is an inheritance engraved in their bones.

In addition to being frugal, they, like most small landowners and rich peasants, find every opportunity to increase their wealth. For example, they will use the saved grain to borrow money and collect interest. In disaster years, they will also take the opportunity to buy land at low prices. It is precisely by relying on These small and medium-sized landowners can continue this from generation to generation. Some landowners can even grit their teeth and provide one or two scholars, or support one or two children to practice martial arts, select government soldiers, and if they are lucky, they can perform meritorious service in battles and receive medals. Officials truly transcend classes.

Except for weddings and funerals, these landowners are reluctant to spend a penny. Many landowners are even reluctant to take a concubine.

This young Mr. Li bought a thousand acres of land and a twenty-acre village. He immediately reduced the rent and waived the deposit. He also invited tenants and even unrelated villagers to have dinner, not to mention eating guillotine noodles. Eight large bowls.

Many landowners do not have such luxury when marrying wives.

When everyone collects rent, they all think of ways to pile it up or kick it off. They even use big buckets to collect rent, and when lending money, they use small buckets to pay out. As for other hidden and disguised rent increases and exploitation, they are indispensable. , Mercy cannot become a landlord, nor can he save a family fortune.

"The party is open, let's eat some noodles!"

Zheng Erguan, the second son of Old Man Zheng, shouted excitedly at the top of his lungs, and then threw the prepared explosive pole into the fire. He was now hired by the prince and became the village boss of Guazhou Fort, and he was provided with food and accommodation for a year. , two clothes and six stones of rice, which made the boy so happy that he couldn't sleep for several days.

There was a popping sound,
The banquet began.

The villagers lined up to make noodles with their own bowls and basins.

“Get in line and you can add more when you’re done eating!”

There were no tables and chairs, but the villagers didn't care. After queuing up to get a big bowl, they immediately found an open space to squat down and eat, not even caring that it was still very hot just out of the pot.

It's so fragrant.

The white noodles, mixed with vegetables, minced meat toppings, and even chopped green onion and garlic are so fragrant.

The flax oil coats the noodles with a golden layer and makes them more fragrant, while the addition of balsamic vinegar makes the noodles even more delicious.

"Well, I've never had noodles that tasted so good, my God."

"good to eat."

Snoring thinly,
Without waiting for a bite, I finished a large bowl quickly and immediately went to queue again.

There are still many tables set up under the courtyard corridor. These tables are mainly arranged by the noble families of Fanchuan to give gifts. They are mainly the village heads and stewards, as well as some wealthy landlords on the plains on both sides. Arrange to serve.

Same noodles, but they also have a pot of wine on the table, and the Wu family's sweet potato roasting.

More than a thousand people eating guillotine noodles is really a spectacle.

Cheng Qian's face glowed brightly and he greeted everyone everywhere. He also got to know many neighbors and powerful landowners from all over the country.

Huaiyu also followed him, but he did not disclose the identity of Yi Guogong Wu Shaobao. Instead, he changed his clothes and only said that he was from the Wu family.

"Alang,"

Shi Shouxin came over and whispered in his ear, "The saint is here. He is outside the village. Duke Qi is accompanied by Dou Sinong and Duke Changsun."

Huaiyu quickly pulled Chengqian to greet him.

Li Shimin still visited incognito today, accompanied by more than ten hundred horses. More guards did not appear in front of him, so he waved to Cheng Qian from a distance.

"It seems that you are a little too happy to miss Shu. You haven't returned to Chang'an for so many days. You still set up a village here. Why, do you plan to become a landlord here?"

The darkened Cheng Qian stepped forward and saluted, "I want to have a deeper understanding of people's lives."

Li Shimin patted Cheng Qian on the shoulder, "Okay,"

"Let's go, I'm here to join you for your noodle banquet."

After Dou Jing returned to Beijing yesterday, Li Shimin specially summoned him and asked about his situation. Dou Jing naturally did not dare to hide anything from the emperor and told everything, especially the great changes in the prince.

Li Shimin specially brought his brother-in-law, Changsun Wuji, Zhou Shaofan, Hou Junji, Zhang Liang, brothers Dou Jing, Dou Dan, and Qin Qiong to Fanchuan today.

The monarch and his ministers all changed into civilian clothes. "Today I'm on a private visit incognito to Prince Gao Ming's banquet. Please be careful not to reveal your identity," the emperor said with a smile.

Li Shimin asked everyone to call him Erlang.

Although this group of people came to visit in casual clothes, once they entered Zhuangzi, everyone could still feel their extraordinary presence.

Cheng Qian greeted everyone and said that his father was bringing some elder friends from the family.

Li Shimin walked around and greeted the people of Guazhou Fort. Everyone was busy eating noodles. They all stood up and nodded to say hello to Young Master Li's father, and then squatted down again and continued to slurp noodles.

"You need a lot of flour for this meal, right?" Li Shimin asked with a smile.

Cheng Qian said, "Well, farmers are relatively good at eating. It is common to eat one or two kilograms of noodles in one meal. I have also made sufficient preparations and prepared three thousand kilograms of flour."

A pound of flour, kneaded with water and finally rolled into noodles will yield at least one and a half pounds. After boiling it again and adding vegetables and soup, it can become two pounds.

Many strong men in the village can eat two kilograms of noodles and soup, and can even untie their belts and serve two more bowls.

"People in village households usually lack food and drink, and have no fat or water in their stomachs. When they encounter good things and have the opportunity, they want to eat more, but they still have to say hello to everyone more, so as not to get hurt."

Huaiyu said from the side, "Don't worry, Erlang. I've been telling everyone, and asked the noodle maker to make less noodles, more soup, more cucumbers and other dishes every time, so that everyone can make more noodles, but More soup and less noodles will not hurt your body, and we also prepared hawthorn water,"

But Wu Huaiyu’s best trick to prevent everyone from overeating is to constantly remind everyone who is making noodles that there are eight bowls of chicken, duck and fish in the evening. Don’t eat guillotine noodles at noon, otherwise there will be good food in the evening. Can't eat anymore.

These words are still very tempting. Although everyone likes today's guillotine noodles very much, after eating a few large bowls, they are still trying to control their desire to continue eating, so they have to save some stomach for better food at night.

Of course, there are also some people who can't control themselves, eat too much, and even vomit on the spot.

There was a guy who ate seven large bowls of noodles, always adding more noodles and less soup, which was at least three kilograms of noodles. Finally, he was so full that he didn’t even want to move. If he moved, the noodles would come out of his throat. Come out,

"Give us a bowl of guillotine noodles, too,"

"Please come to the courtyard. There are tables under the corridor."

Li Shimin said, "Just eat here, just like everyone else. Watching them eat noodles makes me feel hungry."

Uncle Changsun Guo also said, "I remember that year when we fought against Song Jingang in Jiexiu, Song Jingang's 10 troops were defeated and fled north. We pursued all the way. We didn't disarm for three days and didn't eat for two days. When we caught up to Gaobiling, the soldiers The men were tired and the horses were tired. Liu Hongji pulled the reins of Erlang's horse and persuaded him to rest first and replenish food and fodder before chasing.
But Erlang insisted on going all out, so he whipped up his horse and led his army to continue the pursuit. They traveled more than [-] miles day and night, fighting for dozens of rounds, and finally caught up with Song Jingang in Queshu Valley. After a huge battle, tens of thousands of people were captured and killed. , obtained more than a thousand vehicles of baggage, Song Jinjiang fled with only a few dozen people, and his [-] army was defeated. Liu Wuzhou in Bingzhou was frightened when he heard the news, and abandoned Bingzhou and fled north into the Turks with only [-] cavalry.

When we returned to camp after victory and appeared outside Haozhou City, Fan Botong, the general manager of Haozhou's march, thought he was Song Jingang's soldiers and hurriedly intercepted us."

"Yes, later when Erlang took off his helmet, Fan Botong and Zhang Dezheng recognized him and rushed into the city to prepare wine and meat. We who ate at that time wolfed down the food." Qin Qiong also recalled the past of the Hedong War, "I remember that day I ate three kilograms of noodles, two kilograms of meat, and drank two kilograms of wine!"

Li Shimin said, "I remember that I also ate two kilograms of noodles that day!"

Hou Junji said that he had eaten five kilograms of beef and five kilograms of wine that day. Zhang Liang said that he had eaten a bucket of wine and five kilograms of beef and mutton each. After eating, he suddenly heard a loud noise and thought it was a ruptured intestine. When he looked down, he saw that the belt was broken.

Cheng Qian stood there and felt as if he was listening to a book from heaven. He thought that these villagers could eat two or three kilograms of noodles, and they all had an amazing appetite. Who knew that his father and these generals could eat even more?
Huaiyu laughed, "It's really better to eat. These peasants are really no match for these generals. Look at the figures of Hou Junji and Qin Qiong. They are all shy and have big bellies, and their waists are eight or nine feet. After a meal, Ten pounds of rice and meat is really not a problem.

The emperor, the prime minister, and the duke all brought a large bowl of noodles. They were squatting under the shade of the trees at the door, slurping noodles like ordinary villagers.

It tastes delicious.

Even Qin Qiong, a sick tiger who has been taking sick leave, today seems to have returned to the prosperous days of the Hedong Conquest of Song Dynasty King Kong and Wei Chi Gong, munching on noodles.
Huaiyu brought two big bowls of noodles, one for himself and one for Cheng Qian, who also squatted next to him and ate them together.

Cheng Qian Zhe's noodles are also very strong, so fierce that even Li Shimin, Changsun Wuji, Qin Qiong, Zhang Liang, Hou Junji, Zhou Shaofan and other fierce generals couldn't help but look at him with admiration.
Seeing the prince chewing noodles so fiercely, they liked him more and more.

This prince has an appetite.

"One more bowl!" Li Shimin finished his bowl and shouted proudly,

Cheng Qian also finished a large bowl and said, "Give me another bowl!"

Qin Qiong was very proud, "I want three more bowls!"

Not to be outdone, Hou Junji said, "I can still eat four bowls!"

He opened his mouth and said, "I can still eat five bowls!"

Changsun Wuji looked at the remaining half of his bowl, lowered his head and did not dare to say a word. This man suffered from diabetes. Wu Huaiyu examined him and repeatedly warned him to eat less noodles and rice and to control the amount. The big bowls are already over the limit.

After dinner.

Zhang Liang kept hiccupping, and Hou Junji was rubbing his belly and panting. Just now, these two guys had a noodle-eating competition, and their belts actually broke.

The emperor ate two large bowls of guillotine noodles and felt very happy.

"Now that Dalang has established this village, what are your plans for the future?"

"I plan to lead the more than 200 villagers in Guazhoupu to live a better life,"

"For example?" Li Shimin asked with a smile.

"I plan to continue growing melons here, improve melon seeds, and grow more delicious melons. Not only will I grow melons and sell them, but I also plan to pick them, harvest them, sell them, and fry them," the teacher said. You can also combine melon seeds with walnuts and raisins, add maltose, fried rice, etc. to make snacks.

The teacher said we need to increase the added value of agricultural products so that we can have higher returns,"

"anything else?"

"We plan to introduce mare's milk grapes from Gaochang in the Western Region and plant them here in the future. Not only can we sell grapes, but we can also make raisins and make wine,"

"In the future, we can also set up some workshops, such as making incense, wax, or ink and pens, so that everyone can have more opportunities to make money,"

"The teacher's lower Wubao is mainly for raising pigs, and the upper Wubao plan is to grow cotton and spin white cloth. By then, we women in Guazhoubao Village can also participate in cotton spinning and increase our income... "

Li Shimin laughed loudly after hearing this, obviously very satisfied. He said to Changsun Wuji with some pride, "Auxiliary engine, what do you think?"

"You have such abilities at the age of 11, and you will definitely be able to soar into the sky in the future. My ancestors have blessed you!"

"Hahaha!"

When Li Shimin was happy, he said, "I will also give you the eight hundred acres of land on the other side of the Jianhe River, just to practice your skills. Da Lang, you can't just talk but not practice. I will give you three years, and then you will have to practice your skills." It depends on the results,”

(End of this chapter)