Guide to Traveling through the Northern Song Dynasty.

Chapter 216 0211 [Return to Hanzhong]

Li Bao delayed for a long time, and when he arrived in Tokyo, it was almost winter.

Zhu Ming didn't just wait, he got to know several officials from the Ministry of Industry through Min Zishun.From time to time, please come out for a few drinks, saying that my relatives want to open an iron smelting plant, and help inquire about the relevant situation.

Speaking of the shortage of blacksmiths, officials from the Ministry of Industry immediately suggested that Zhu Ming go directly to Xuzhou to recruit.

There are 36 large-scale private iron smelting plants in Xuzhou.Their products are mainly sold to Hebei, but the competition is too fierce. There is a large circle of iron smelting bases around Hebei, and the imperial court has repeatedly prohibited the sale of Xuzhou ironware to Hebei.

Su Shi once went to Shushi, saying that recently the imperial court did not allow Xuzhou to travel northward, and all households in Yehu were worried about unemployment.It is very dangerous for those iron smelters, many people who are desperate for hunger and cold, to continue like this.Either allow Xuzhou iron to be sold to Hebei, or reorganize those iron smelters, otherwise something will happen sooner or later if this continues.

As a result, the imperial court unified the management of private smelters in Xuzhou, and temporarily allowed them to sell goods to Hebei again.

However, as the current situation changes, it is banned and released from time to time.In recent years, it has been banned again. The situation of Xuzhou Railway is very embarrassing. It has an iron smelting base in the north and an iron smelting base in the south, and it is crowded out wherever it is sold.

The 36 private iron smelters in Xuzhou are gradually reducing their production capacity. The unemployed workers live in distress, and some even become thieves.

Zhu Ming called Shi Yuangong: "I plan to smelt iron in Jinzhou, but Jinzhou is closed and the population is sparse. All households go to mine gold and grow tea, and the iron smelting industry is not prosperous. Many iron smelters in Xuzhou are unemployed. You bring gold and silver and go to Xuzhou to recruit blacksmiths. Would you like to go?"

"I will not disgrace my life!"

Shi Yuangong was very happy, he finally had something to do, and couldn't help but ask: "Mr. Xianggong is smelting iron, but he wants to build... what are those things?"

"Don't ask too many questions," Zhu Ming said, "I asked Deng Chun to accompany you to Xuzhou. When recruiting blacksmiths, it's best to recruit those with families and take their families away."

"Yes!" Shi Yuangong bowed his hands and accepted the order.

This is a test of Shi Yuangong's ability. If things are done well, they can be reused in the future.If you can't recruit people well, then use them as ordinary civil servants.

Zhu Ming invited the officials of the Ministry of Industry to drink again, and got an official document for Shi Yuangong to take with him.It is said that the imperial court intends to develop Jinzhou's iron smelting industry, and dispatched official Shi Yuangong to Xuzhou on business. The official shops along the way must cooperate, and Xuzhou must also cooperate.

Shi Yuangong carried official documents, and Deng Chun carried gold and silver.The four male sumo wrestlers married by the Zheng family also accompanied them to protect their safety.

In late autumn, Lord Shi Yuan set off by boat.

This guy has a big heart, Zhu Ming asked him to recruit at least [-] households, but he was thinking of recruiting [-] households.Only by exceeding the task can you show your ability.

Shi Yuangong is very sure that Zhu Ming must want to build weapons, otherwise why is he smelting iron inexplicably?

Shi Yuangong left Beijing for several days, Li Bao finally came.

After this fellow returned home, he unexpectedly became a relative by the way, and set off with his new wife.He is the third eldest, and there are two older brothers in the family, and the parents can just give the older brothers the filial piety.

Li Bao also brought a follower and introduced him, "Master, this is Liu Kui, my little brother in the village and my brother-in-law (brother-in-law). He insists on traveling with me to see the world."

Liu Kui is only 15 years old this year, very immature, very excited to see Zhu Ming, and immediately said: "Kui pays homage to Zhu Xianggong! I have already heard what my brother has done in Puzhou, and I am willing to follow him to do great things! "

Zhu Ming asked: "You are still young, can the elders in your family agree with you to travel far away?"

Liu Kui said: "I have four brothers in my family, and my parents are taken care of. I can't study well, and I prefer to play with guns and sticks. This time I came to follow my husband, and the elders also agreed."

"Then let's go on the road together." Zhu Ming is willing to accept, although it is useless for the time being.

When leaving Beijing, I bought a few horses by the way.

In the middle and early period of the Northern Song Dynasty, there was a serious shortage of horses, not only war horses, but also folk horses.Before Wang Anshi's political reform, people in Tokyo mostly rode donkey carts, and even officials often rode donkey carts.

After the promulgation of the horse protection law, although war horses are still not enough, ordinary horses are sufficient.Especially when Emperor Huizong of Song Dynasty succeeded to the throne, horse policies were constantly changing, and horse farmers were frantically exploited. Bad horses were flooding in Tokyo, and horse-drawn carts had gradually replaced donkey carts.

Zhu Ming bought a few bad horses, all of which were used to carry Shi Mo.

He was afraid that Hanzhong and Jinzhou would not be able to buy this kind of heat-resistant material, so he simply purchased it in Tokyo.

Graphite, also known as Shi Dai and thrush stone in ancient times, was used to make eyebrow pencils for women.

Friends sent each other off and set off westward.

Passing through the Guanzhong area again, Zhu Ming found that the situation here was even worse.The imperial court continued to fight against Xixia, which seriously affected the people's livelihood in Shaanxi, especially when it came to Qinfeng Road, where the situation was more obvious.

When they entered Baoxie Road, it was already October in the lunar calendar.

According to the situation in previous years, it should have snowed long ago, but this year it has been delayed.

Zhang Tong said: "Next year there may be a drought of locusts."

"You know how to predict the weather?" Zhu Ming laughed.

Zhang Tong replied: "I have read military books, which say that a general should know astronomy and geography. If there is no snow this winter, there will probably be severe drought in the coming year."

"I hope there won't be another severe drought." Ju Ming sighed.

For more than ten years, there have been many droughts in the Shanshan and Shaanxi areas. Although it was not as severe as in the late Ming Dynasty, it also caused large-scale harvest failures.The upper reaches of the Yellow River have seen little rain for years, and parts of the lower reaches have even become clear. There are auspicious reports of "the Yellow River is clear" everywhere.

When they arrived at Guochuan Town, they heard that Zhu Ming was passing by. The guard Jia Zhongfu and the tax collector Cao Shu hurriedly greeted him.

"Jia Zhongfu (Cao Shu) pays homage to the junior officials!" The two bowed their heads together.

Zhu Ming smiled and said, "Why do you call me a small official?"

Cao Shu said: "Your father is a high-ranking official, and your husband is a small official."

Zhu Ming asked, "Do you know my father?"

Jia Zhongfu said: "We were once blackmailed by eunuchs. Zhu Daguan not only tied up the eunuch, but also returned all the money he extorted. I have seen countless officials, but I have never seen Zhu Daguan who is as honest as he is. Officials reuse Zhu Daguan. people, the people of the world will be blessed.”

"Hahaha, you can talk." Zhu Ming laughed.

Jia Zhongfu said: "Everything I say is sincere."

Zhu Ming encouraged: "Be good and guard the city, don't let the bad guys pass."

Jia Zhongfu said: "I will do my best."

Zhu Ming said, "Since you're here, let's stay and eat."

Jia Zhongfu and Cao Shu were overjoyed. They knew that the Zhu family's father and son were upright, and they might be able to get promoted if they were successful.This place is located in the mountains and deep valleys. Although it can catch some oil and water, it is really too remote.

While eating and drinking, Ju Ming treated them kindly and said a few words of encouragement from time to time.

It is not to solicit, but to pave the way for the future.

At that time, send some people to directly trap them, and without any effort, they can take Guancheng and firmly occupy the exit of Baoxie Road.

Continue to drive along Baoxie Road, and enter the lunar November in a blink of an eye.

There has only been sleet and sleet in the sky for two days. It seems that there will be no snow this year, and the climate seems quite abnormal.

Next year, there will be a severe drought not only in Shanxi and Shaanxi, but also in Xixia, causing food shortages on both sides.Hebei, Shandong, and Henan in the Song Dynasty were drought-stricken for several months, and in summer, there were sudden and continuous heavy rains, and the Yellow River flooded and drowned millions of people!

Even the city of Tokyo is in danger, if you don't pay attention, you will be flooded into the city.

Before the twelfth lunar month, Zhu Ming finally arrived at Xingyuan Mansion (Hanzhong).

The magistrate of Xingyuan has changed again, his name is Li Youwen.This old man is Zheng Dang, personally recommended by Zheng Juzhong, and there are several records in the history books.

When Fang La raised his troops, Li Youwen was demoted to Ningbo, Zhejiang.Facing the crazy rebel army, this guy's first reaction was to worship the gods. The lake god who worshiped Dongqian Lake actually held up the rebel army-in fact, it was the imperial army's conquest, and the main force of the rebel army was fighting against Tong Guan. Those in Ningbo are just a group of remnants.

But Li Youwen was lucky, because of his meritorious service, he was promoted to a court official, and he went straight to Longtu Pavilion.

Hearing that Zhu Ming lived in a post house outside the city, Li Youwen called all the officials at the prefecture and county levels, and went out of the city to meet him with great fanfare.

Now that Cai Jing is the big boss, the other officials, although not openly cooperating, are secretly cooperating with each other.Zheng Juzhong tried his best to win over Zhu's father and son, and Li Youwen naturally followed suit.

"Li Youwen, prefect of Xingyuan, bring all the officials to visit Tanhualang!" Li Youwen put his posture very low, as if Zhu Ming was his boss.

Zhu Ming quickly took the other's hands: "Sir, why should you be so polite? You are the magistrate, I am the magistrate; you are older, I am young. In terms of emotion and reason, I should pay a visit."

Li Youwen said: "Those who are masters come first. Tanhua Lang has a deep belly and loves the people like a son. I have already admired him so much. Seeing him today, I really deserve my reputation. I plan to ask for advice on governing the people."

"Don't dare to take it." Zhu Ming smiled.

Li Youwen said: "Tanhualang, please go to the hotel to rest."

Zhu Ming did not refuse, and followed Li Youwen into the city.He has to show his face more in Xingyuan Mansion to frighten the officials at the prefecture and county levels, and it will be more convenient for him to do things in the future.

When the people in the city heard the movement, they took to the streets to inquire about the situation.

Knowing that it was Tanhualang who came, even the eldest girl and the younger daughter-in-law stood by the road to watch the excitement.

The Hanzhong area has not produced Jinshi for many years, and finally passed three of them last year.Bai Chongyan and Min Zishun have no news, only Zhu Ming is the most popular, let alone Yangzhou, even Xingyuan Mansion has various legends.

Especially Zhu Guoxiang, who was confiscated by the emperor many times, and was escorted by eunuchs on the road, and it was rumored that he had picked ten thousand years of Ganoderma lucidum.Coupled with such fairy food as corn and sweet potatoes, it is said that Zhu Guoxiang is a fairy descended from the earth.

Only when the gods come down to earth can they do so many things and give birth to a son who passed the exam at a young age.

"Tanhualang!"

A prostitute shouted excitedly and threw fruit over, causing the others to burst into laughter.

The atmosphere is even more enthusiastic. This is Tanhualang, a native of Hanzhong (the concept of Hanzhong already existed in the Song Dynasty).

Zhu Ming rode on the cornucopia, bowing his hands towards both sides of the street, as the same sentence, making an early appearance to let the people remember him.

Li Bao's brother-in-law Liu Kui, where has he seen such a scene?The cheers of the people all over the city sounded in his ears, as if they were welcoming his own family, and he felt that he followed the right person this time.

Zhang Tong also rode a horse, straightened his waist, and wished that one day he would be admitted to Tanhua and get the support of his fellow villagers when he returned home rich and honored.

(End of this chapter)