big song poppi

Chapter 189 0186 [Learned from Brother Han]

"Meet the county magistrate!"

In the White Tiger Hall, there were several clerks on duty. When they saw Han Zhen, they immediately stood up to greet him.

Han Zhen pressed down his hand and motioned for them to sit down.

He walked to the front seat and sat down. A clerk made a cup of tea with great discernment and brought it to Han Zhen.

Han Zhen had an impression of this person and called him He Rong. He was considered an old man in the village.

"It's work."

Han Zhen smiled slightly and took the tea cup.

After blowing on the tea and taking a sip, Han Zhen asked casually: "What is the population of Songshan Village now?"

He Rong replied: "Back to the county magistrate, there are now a total of 430 people in the village."

"so much?"

Han Zhen was slightly taken aback.

No wonder Changzhi County couldn't attract many fugitives from the mountains, and all their emotions went to Songshanling and Xiaowang Village.

However, if you think about it, you can understand that the actions of the court and local officials in recent years have completely exhausted the credibility of the government.

The people are as afraid of him as a tiger.

When a fugitive in the mountains sees a servant, he is afraid that he will run faster than a rabbit.

In the eyes of those who fled, bandits and bandits were more trustworthy than the government.

Hearing this, He Rong smiled bitterly and said: "Actually, there are far more people than that, but the village cannot accommodate any more people. Chief Ma can only send the extra people to the county seat and let the magistrate settle them down."

Han Zhen asked: "Is there enough food in the village?"

When the stronghold was first conquered, there was not much food left in the granary in the stronghold. Fortunately, it was just in time for the summer harvest.

Now that the population has tripled, I don't know if the food harvested in the previous summer is enough.

"If you can get [-]% of the autumn harvest, you can save some food and barely survive until next year. If it is less than [-]%, you need to buy food." He Rong answered truthfully.

Han Zhen nodded to express his understanding.

As long as it lasts until next summer's harvest, it will be fine.

The excessive taxes and miscellaneous taxes in the Northern Song Dynasty were so serious, why did the people never collapse?
The recruitment method is one aspect, and the other major contributor is Champa Dao.

In the absence of high-yield crops such as corn, sweet potatoes, and potatoes, Champa rice is the crop with the highest yield.

It is indiscriminate of land and drought-tolerant. It can survive even in the barren dry land in the north and has one crop a year.

If you live in the south where there is abundant rainfall, you can achieve two or even three crops a year.

The main output of grains that are harvested three times a year is not low.

In the early Song Dynasty, only 300 million shi of grain was transported to Tokyo from all over the country every year.

But since the introduction of Champa rice during the Zhenzong period, this number has increased sharply to 700 million shi.

By the time of Huizong, it had reached more than 800 million stones.

The emergence of Champa rice nearly tripled the grain output of the Northern Song Dynasty.

Not to mention light corvee and low taxes, as long as there are not so many exorbitant taxes and miscellaneous taxes, the people can be fully fed and clothed just by farming. If the year is good, there will still be a sum of money left at the end of the year.

After finishing a cup of tea, there was a commotion outside.

Immediately afterwards, Ma Sangou's loud voice sounded: "Instruct the cook to kill these wild boars and have a good meal tonight."

Not long after, I saw Ma Sangou leading a little girl carved in pink and jade into the White Tiger Hall.

"Second Brother Han?"

Ma Sangou looked happy when he saw Han Zhen.

Han Zhen asked with a smile: "How was it? How many wild boars were hunted?"

"More than a dozen, the rest ran deep into the mountains when they heard the noise."

Ma Sangou said, picked up a cup of herbal tea and poured it into his mouth.

The little girl stared at Han Zhen curiously with her big eyes, and said in a sweet voice: "Uncle, you are naughty to daddy again."

Daddy?

Han Zhen was stunned and couldn't help but raise his eyebrows.

Seeing this, Ma Sangou sneered: "Second Brother Han, I'm getting married."

Han Zhen frowned slightly: "Why didn't you notify me of such a big event as getting married?"

Seeing his displeasure, Ma Sangou quickly explained: "You were busy doing big things in Yidu at that time, how could I distract you. And neither my wife nor I wanted to make a big deal, we didn't even invite the monkeys, we just paid our respects. He conquered heaven and earth and drank the Henu wine."

Han Zhen's brows gradually relaxed, and he immediately said with a smile: "You're okay, little boy. Last time I came here, I was your godfather. It's only been a while now that I've become my biological father."

At first glance, the woman was born into a family of officials, so being able to be captured by Ma Sangou was really something.

"Hey, I learned this from Brother Han." Ma Sangou rubbed the back of his head and said with a naive smile.

"..."

Han Zhen suddenly stopped laughing.

This piece of shit, if you don’t learn from the good ones, you will learn some crooked ways!

At this time, Ma Sangou suggested: "Second Brother Han, just stay for dinner tonight and treat it as wedding wine."

Glancing at the sky outside, he saw that it was almost evening. Han Zhen nodded and said, "Okay, let's have a good drink tonight."

It's true that he hasn't gotten together with Ma Sangou for a while, and he still has something to explain.

Ma Sangou was overjoyed and ordered to the little girl: "Nanny, let your mother cook more dishes."

"Okay Daddy."

After that, the little girl walked out of the door with her short legs.

Watching his daughter leave, Ma Sangou asked with curiosity on his face: "Brother Han, what is Yidu like?"

Han Zhen replied casually: "After all, it is a county town in a state. It must be much more prosperous than Linzi. There are more than [-] people in the city."

"There are so many people!"

Ma Sangou's face was full of surprise.

After talking about what he had seen and heard in Yidu, Han Zhen asked, "Is there still money in the village?"

When he left last time, he left a lot of money to the village as public funds.

"Gone."

Ma Sangou shook his head and said: "The number of people in the village has doubled. Building houses for them, buying farm tools, paper clothes and bedding has already cost a fortune."

Han Zhen said: "Tomorrow I will ask someone to send another hundred thousand coins."

"Brother Han, you don't need so much. Mr. Zhang and the others have made some calculations. At most [-] guan will be enough. Corn at the end of autumn..."

Before Ma Sangou finished speaking, he was interrupted by Han Zhen: "It's not just about hoarding food for the winter. When I come here this time, I plan to readjust the structure of Songshanling. By then, the salary and benefits you are waiting for will also follow. promote."

When several clerks heard this, they felt happy.

Ma Sangou asked: "How to change the method?"

Han Zhen didn't answer and asked instead: "Isn't it just big pot rice that we eat in the village now?"

"That's right!"

Ma Sangou nodded.

No matter whether they were those who fled the village before or those who joined later, they didn’t have a single grain in their hands.

In fact, even the farm tools are from the village.

The only thing these people have is the wasteland they have cultivated.

But the problem is that the wasteland cannot produce food immediately, and corn and wheat cannot be grown in the wasteland in the first two years, so soybeans must be planted first to increase fertility.

The planting time of soybeans is around Qingming Festival, which means that it will be next autumn at the earliest before you can harvest your own food.

During this period, you can only eat a big pot of rice, otherwise you will starve to death.

When he first took over the village, Han Zhen set the rule of two bowls of porridge a day. Starting next year, the rent for the land will be changed to [-]% for each acre of land.In addition, for self-developed wasteland, [-]% of the rent must be paid.

That was the beginning, but now the situation is different. The entire Linzi County belongs to oneself, and these people are also the subjects under one's rule, so the rules will naturally change accordingly.

Han Zhen mused: "Starting next year, whether it is the original thousand acres of land or the wasteland they have reclaimed, the rent will be reduced to [-]%, and it will decrease by [-]% year by year. After three years of farming, the farmland will belong to them." "In addition, two meals of gruel a day are cancelled, and villagers are responsible for their own daily rations."

Big pot rice has the advantage of big pot rice. During special times, it can ensure that everyone can eat and will not starve to death.

But there are also disadvantages. Over time, passiveness and slowdown in work will inevitably occur.

If you want to have enough to eat, you have to cultivate the land well.

Ma Sangou's expression changed slightly: "This... Brother Han, if we don't have two meals of gruel, how will the people survive the cold winter?"

"Borrow!"

Han Zhen smiled slightly and replied: "At that time, we can lend the people food, agree on the repayment date, and pay back the food when it is due. When each household borrows money for the first time, no interest will be charged, and for the second time, one cent will be charged. And so on.”

This move is to prevent people from taking advantage of the loopholes and using loans to support loans.

Seeing Ma Sangou deep in thought, Han Zhen patted him on the shoulder and warned: "Don't be too rigid. The specific operation depends on the actual situation."

"Dad, grandma said it's time to eat."

At this moment, the little girl ran into the White Tiger Hall with her short legs, raised her head and said with a sweet voice.

Ma Sangou bent down and picked up the little girl, with a look of doting on his face, and then said with a smile: "Brother Han, let's go eat."

"Ok!"

Han Zhen smiled and nodded, stood up and walked out of the lobby.

All the way to the small courtyard, the young lady was setting up wine and food.

Seeing Han Zhen, the young lady made a graceful bow and called out: "Second Brother Han."

Han Zhen smiled and nodded, a trace of satisfaction flashing in his eyes.

Although this woman was born into a family of officials, she does not have the temperament of a wealthy lady. She has a gentle yet strong temper. Looking at the dishes on the table, one can tell that she is a good cook.

It can be regarded as a good match for the living room and the kitchen.

After sitting down, Ma Sangou poured a glass of wine for Han Zhen, then poured another glass for himself, raised his glass and said, "Brother Han, I'd like to toast you!"

"You and my brother, why are you so polite?"

Han Zhen raised his wine glass, clinked it, and drank it all in one gulp.

After a glass of wine, Ma Sangou said, "Brother Han, do you still remember the rogue yellow leopard in Xicheng?"

"Remember, he was the most arrogant at the beginning, and he was the one who was beaten the hardest by me."

Recalling the past, Han Zhen couldn't help but have a smile on his face.

Ma Sangou said slightly mysteriously: "Last time I went to the county to buy farm tools, I met a yellow leopard. Guess what he is doing now?"

"Do what?"

Han Zhen was a little curious.

"Yakaro!"

Ma Sangou chuckled.

Not long ago, Han Zhen and Changzhi County carried out a severe crackdown on Linzi County. All those scoundrels were imprisoned, given a beating, and imprisoned for a few days.

He also warned them that if they do it again next time, they will not be leniently punished.

Since that severe crackdown, the atmosphere in Linzi County has been wiped out. Those rogues in the past can no longer be seen. They are working hard and farming.

Han Zhen didn't expect that the once rogue leader in Xicheng would become Ye Xianglang.

Three rounds of wine, five flavors of food.

Han Zhen said: "Three dogs, please go to Yidu and help me."

Hearing this, Ma Sangou's movement of picking up food froze.

After a moment of silence, he said seriously: "Second Brother Han, I want to stay here."

"Because of the young girl?"

Han Zhen glanced at the young mother and little girl beside him.

Ma Sangou nodded, shook his head, picked up the wine glass and drank it all in one gulp, he said with a sincere expression: "Brother Han, you saved my life. If it weren't for you, Ma Sangou wouldn't have known how to die." How many times has it happened? Now that you are doing something big, I should help you because of emotions and reasons. But I know how much I have, and I am not as clever as Xiao Siong or the monkey, nor as flexible as the little insect."

"I'm thinking about running Songshan Ridge well and leaving a way out for Brother Han. To put it bluntly, even if you lose in the future, Brother Han will still have a place to stay. We brothers can still be carefree. to live a lifetime.”

Han Zhen pondered for a moment, then suddenly smiled and said: "Okay, then it's settled!"

Everyone has his own choice.

In a person's life, there will always be friends who cannot keep up with him.

After hearing what he said, Ma Sangou also smiled again and raised his glass to toast again.

The meal lasted until the middle of the moon.

Ma Sangou was not a good drinker. After chatting with Han Zhen for a while, he was helped into the back room by his young mother.

Sitting in the living room, Han Zhen was drinking hot tea and looking at the night outside, slightly lost in thought.

"Second Brother Han."

At this moment, the young mother's voice sounded from behind.

Han Zhen came back to his senses and turned around to look, only to see the young lady standing aside with a slightly complicated look on her face.

Seeing this, he couldn't help but ask: "What's wrong?"

After hesitating for a moment, the young lady took out a letter from her arms and said softly: "Second brother Han, my surname is Wu, and I am from Zichuan. My father is Wu Daomin, the chief registrar of Changshan County. Han If my second brother comes to Changshan County one day, can he give this letter to my father?"

This is a smart woman.

How could she not know Han Zhen's identity now?
One day when we arrive in Changshan County, there is only one situation, which is to raise troops to attack Changshan County.

She said she was asking Han Zhen to help deliver the letter, but actually she wanted Han Zhen to spare her father's life.

After all, the letter has been sent, why can't I still kill him?

"it is good!"

Han Zhen looked at her with a half-smile, and then took the letter.

This request is not too much, and for Ma Sangou's sake, I have to agree to it.

"Thank you, Brother Han!"

Wu Lian looked surprised and thanked him repeatedly.

Not long after, Wu Lian had tidied up the wing room.

After Han Zhen washed himself, he went to the side room and lay down.

……

late at night.

There is no moon tonight and the stars are weak.

On the official road more than [-] miles away from Shouguang County, one can vaguely see vague figures and the sound of footsteps.

If someone lights a torch, they can see that this is an army of thousands of people.

I don’t know how long they walked, but the leader stopped and said softly: “Send the order, the whole army will rest on the spot for half an hour.”

As the order was passed, the soldiers slumped down on the ground, took out dry food and started eating.

Nie Dong sat cross-legged on the ground, took off the water bottle from his waist, took a sip, and asked: "Shi Canjun, how far is it from Shouguang now?"

Shi Wenhui replied: "We have just passed Wudaoling, and there is only less than ten miles to go!"

He is a native of Shouguang and naturally knows everything about it.

"Less than ten miles..."

After Nie Dong pondered for a moment, he asked, "Is there a suitable hiding place nearby?"

"Have!"

Shi Wenhui nodded and replied: "There is a large mountain in the southwest. There are many tigers and leopards in the mountain, so few people come there. Even spies who dare to go there will not go there."

"Okay, I'll lie in wait in the mountains and rest for a day. Wait for Zhang Wanxian to come out of the city to fight!"

Calculating the time, Liu Qi should arrive with the Wuwei Army by tomorrow at the latest.

(End of this chapter)