Guide to Traveling through the Northern Song Dynasty.

Chapter 441 0436 [World Elegy]

Of course, it was impossible for Zhu Guoxiang to send someone to deliver cabbage. He also shipped hundreds of ships of corn.

Except for the Chengdu Plain, Sichuan is all hilly and mountainous.

Hundreds of years later, with several stages of water pumps, it is only necessary to build a mountain pond for water storage, and rice can be grown in mountain depressions.

At this time, not to mention growing rice on the mountain, even growing wheat, sorghum, and corn, you have to find ways to find and store water.

This year Zhu Guoxiang promoted corn and sweet potatoes throughout Sichuan, mainly planting them on dry land in the mountains.Moreover, let the agricultural officials and local officials repeatedly warn the people that they should continue to grow corn in areas that are particularly difficult to irrigate, and in dry weather, because corn is far more drought-resistant than corn.

In autumn and winter, there is a bumper harvest of corn and sweet potatoes.

A bumper harvest in Quanchuan!
This year was really good. Not only did Zhu's father and son survive the crisis smoothly, but also the people in the Song Kingdom breathed a sigh of relief. Even the core territory of the Jin Kingdom had alleviated the food shortage.

"These corns are all transported to the reclamation area and exchanged for beans with the farmers there." Zhu Ming said to Li Hanzhang.

Li Hanzhang said: "There are more than 400 boats in total, and half of them go to Nanyang Mansion. Two stones of corn for one stone of beans, isn't it a bit too kind to the people?"

Zhu Ming shook his head: "Corn doesn't cause hunger, so the price is already low. Beans are collected to make military supplies. They can be used to extract oil, fertilize fields, and raise horses. The wounded will heal faster if they eat more beans."

In the case of insufficient meat protein, if you want to ensure the physical fitness of ordinary soldiers, you must supplement them with soy protein.

Especially the wounded!
In the newly occupied Nanxiang Basin, all the wasteland was planted with beans, which happened to be exchanged for corn as strategic materials.Moreover, if two stones of corn are exchanged for one stone of beans, the people in the land reclamation will have more food to survive the lean months next year.

It can also demonstrate the benevolence and righteousness of the Zhu family and his son, and improve farmers' trust in the government.

A multiplicity of things.

Since the Chinese cabbage was shipped with the ship, Zhu Ming and his wife and concubines often ate it for the remaining half of the winter.

Ju Ming was almost sick from eating, but his wives and concubines liked it very much.Because Chinese cabbage has a refreshing taste and a somewhat sweet aftertaste, it was considered a top vegetable in ancient winters.

Next year, Chinese cabbage will also be promoted throughout Sichuan, so that ordinary people can eat fresh vegetables in winter.

Naturally, there were winter varieties before, and the most common one was cabbage.This thing is a close relative of Chinese cabbage, but the yield is far less than that of Chinese cabbage, and it is not as easy to store as Chinese cabbage.

On the outskirts of Hanzhong Fucheng, Zhu Guoxiang also reserved fifteen acres of rice fields for himself to grow different types of rice across the country.

It is definitely not possible to engage in three-line hybrid rice, that thing is through artificial means to turn accident into inevitability, highlighting the advantages of hybridization.In the case of farmers planting, the second generation of offspring cannot be consistent with the female parent, and the hybrid advantage becomes accidental again. How high the yield of the farmers' self-reserved seeds depends on luck.

With the level of ancient science and technology, Zhu Guoxiang was unable to produce seeds for farmers on a large scale.

Therefore, his rice experimental fields follow the traditional way of breeding improved varieties.For example, Kangxi personally selected and bred improved varieties, which became popular in some rice areas in the north and were later replaced by improved varieties with higher yields among the people.

In fact, since the introduction of Champa rice in the Northern Song Dynasty, the folks have also unconsciously selected and bred improved varieties, and now more than ten branches of Champa rice have been born.

If the government does not interfere with the people's self-selection and breeding for two to three hundred years, two-crop rice will gradually be born, or even three-crop rice.There will also be early rice, middle rice, and late rice. According to different conditions in different places, different rice plants can be seamlessly connected with other crops.

For example, rape and rice were planted alternately in the same year, which only appeared in the late Northern Song Dynasty.

Zhu Guoxiang has now also begun to engage in "auspiciousness", asking local officials to offer mature and high-quality ears of rice.It is not allowed to be one plant with two ears or one plant with three ears. It must be the one with large ears, many grains, plump, and no pests and diseases. The place of origin, planting and harvest time must also be indicated.

Under the scientific selection and breeding, the speed of cultivating stable and good breeds is far faster than folk luck.

If it takes 100 years for the folks, Dean Zhu may do it in a few years.

……

Regarding the playwright, Wei Tai recommended a little old man.

"I pay my respects to the Generalissimo!"

This man was called Zhang Juhou, and Zhang Shixun, who had paid homage to chancellor three times during the Renzong court, was Zhang Juhou's uncle.

In terms of seniority, Zhang Juhou is still Chen Yuyi's distant uncle.

Zhang Shixun accumulated a lot of money as a prime minister, but he moved to Tokyo long ago.The eldest son is an upright official, and the second son is an otaku.Especially the second son, who has not been an official for 30 years, just stayed at home and practiced calligraphy, and was evaluated by Song Shenzong as the best cursive script in this dynasty.

The Zhang family's ancestral house was in Laohekou, and the family property was inherited by Zhang Juhou's grandfather.

Zhang Juhou's father was a concubine and did not receive much when the family was separated. He moved to Xiangyang with his wife and children and bought several shops for business.

It can also be regarded as the family of the little rich.

Zhang Juhou's elder brother went to be an official. He couldn't pass the Jinshi examination, so he stayed in Xiangyang to take care of the family property.

"Did the old man bring the play?" Zhu Ming asked.

"Reporting to the Generalissimo, I have brought all of them." Zhang Juhou hurriedly took a stack of scripts.

"Wait a minute." Zhu Ming asked the old man to sit down and wait, and read the scripts himself.

Read only one script carefully, and skim through the rest.

All adapted from historical stories, the content is more serious, promotes the thought of loyalty and filial piety, and occasionally satirizes reality.The reason why this old man's script is so popular in Xiangyang is that apart from the well-written arias, it also includes a lot of slang and jokes, which can be called both refined and popular.

"Excellent writing." Ju Ming commented.

Zhang Juhou has always wanted to seek an official position, but unfortunately he has no other skills except writing scripts.

Probably thinking that Ju Ming likes to listen to operas, Zhang Juhou quickly said: "There are some actors in this old man's house. If the Generalissimo likes to listen to operas, you might as well choose a few to use at your house."

Zaju in the Song Dynasty is a fusion of song and dance dramas in the Tang Dynasty and military dramas.

Joining the army drama is similar to ancient sketches, and after merging with song and dance drama, it established the basic form of ancient Chinese opera.That is to say, there are songs and dances, libretto and narration. The operas of later generations are all descendants of Song and Yuan zaju.

Ju Ming asked, "Can you make the Zaju more popular?"

Zhang Juhou said: "Old zaju has been well written, so people in Xiangyang like to watch it."

Zhu Ming shook his head: "I want the soldiers to watch the opera, not only for the entertainment of the army, but also to gather the morale of the army. I also want to teach the soldiers to know loyalty and be kind to the people. You can understand that Zaju wants to show the incompetence of the Zhao and Song royal families, The people all over the world are miserable. I raise the banner of righteousness to lead the soldiers and the people to live a good life. The soldiers and the people are one, and the soldiers come from the people. If the people are not doing well, the soldiers are not doing well. They also have to suffer from war. Most of these soldiers come from the countryside, and Zaju must be written to be close to the peasants."

Zhang Juhou opened his mouth, hesitant to speak, this request is too high.

After sorting out his words, Zhang Juhou said: "Marshal, I have lived in the city of Xiangyang since I was a child. Even if I go out of the city, I go out to visit mountains and rivers. I am very familiar with the common people in the city, but I don't know farmers and farming. Suddenly, I am a farmer. It may be difficult for soldiers from different backgrounds to write miscellaneous operas, and they don't like to watch them when they are written."

Zhu Ming asked: "Mr. Geng this year?"

Zhang Juhou replied: "Two out of fifty."

"Is your body still healthy?" Zhu Ming asked again.

Zhang Juhou said: "It's pretty good. I can eat, sleep, walk and sing."

Zhu Ming said: "Then ask the old gentleman to visit the army and record the life and experiences of the soldiers. First, write two dramas, one is about the uprising in Hanzhong, and the second is about the refugees reclaiming wasteland. It is necessary to show that the government is unjust and the people are in poverty. The reason for the uprising is Comply with public opinion. It should also be reflected in the fact that under the rule of my father and son, the people live a better life. It is best to have some love, because of government exploitation, it is difficult for lovers to get married, and it is the kind of separation between life and death."

"Let this old man go to the barracks to deal with soldiers?" Zhang Juhou felt that this task was very difficult.

Zhu Ming lured him: "I will set up an official position in the Grand Marshal's Mansion to be in charge of military affairs. It's the fifth grade!"

Genuine fifth grade?
Zhang Juhou understood what Ju Ming meant, as long as he did his job well, the job would be his.

"The Generalissimo has entrusted him with a heavy responsibility, the old man dare not refuse, he will do his best!" Zhang Juhou hurriedly got up and bowed to accept the order.

The old man braved the wind and snow to go north by boat to the reclamation area, not only visiting the military camp, but also contacting the reclamation refugees.

The refugees provided the most material. There was no need for Zhang Juhou to make up stories about life, death, and death. Every household was forced to death by the government.

"Do you have someone in mind in your hometown?" Zhang Juhou asked a farmer from Beijing Northwest Road.

Farmers fell into memories, mixed with sweetness and pain: "When I was 14 years old, I made an engagement with Du Erniang in the village. Erniang was younger than me, and she was only 11 years old when I got engaged. After the engagement, she blushed when she looked at me , and showed me a purse..."

The farmer took out his purse, which was dilapidated and dilapidated: "The second mother always shouts, fourth brother, fourth brother. She said that the fourth brother is really strong and can carry a heavy burden. She said that the fourth brother is quick at digging the soil and growing wheat faster than other families." Hurry up. She said fourth brother... woo woo woo woo..."

As he talked, the farmer's voice began to choke, and then he burst into tears.

Zhang Juhou was also a little sentimental when he heard it, and after the peasant wept for a while, he asked, "What's wrong with Du Erniang?"

"The government's square field is said to be an order from Mr. Cai," the farmer said, wiping away tears. "The second mother's family has several acres of Susukida, but somehow it has become more than sixty acres, and the government has turned her family into a third-class household. One In the four seasons of the year, it is either this tax or that tax. How can I afford to pay the tax of more than [-] acres of land? Her father first sold the land and made it a tenant for the landlord's family. But the owed tax still could not be paid, and was forced by the government to pay the tax. I have to sell my daughter..."

"Oh!" Zhang Juhou sighed.

But the farmer continued: "Four years later, the second mother came home and crawled back all the way begging for food. Her legs were crippled by the vicious woman of the master's house, and she was seriously ill. The master's house did not buy medicine for her." I threw it in the alley and told her to leave quickly. I have already married another wife. Seeing that Erniang was pitiful, I secretly took food to visit her. God bless, Erniang recovered from her illness, and her father married her to a neighbor from the village. The old widower. The old widower treated Erniang very well, but all the money he saved was used to marry his wife, and his life was difficult. There was another severe drought, and the old widower took Erniang to flee famine..."

"I was fleeing famine at the time, and met Erniang on the way. She was lying on the side of the road with a big belly, as thin as firewood, and two wild dogs were still gnawing on her...just gnawing on her like that, one hand was already dead. After gnawing, half of my neck is gone...I picked up a stick to beat the dog...I...I am her fourth brother...Wow..."

The farmer couldn't continue talking, crying heartbreakingly.

Zhang Juhou sat silently, waiting for the peasants to finish crying before asking.

He had heard too many stories like this in recent days, and his whole outlook was being reshaped.

Zhang Juhou in the past didn't care much about the farmers, he just felt that they were hardworking and ignorant at the same time.

What is displayed in front of him now are vivid and emotional people, as well as countless joys and sorrows in the world.

(End of this chapter)