Lord: Start with a book of Water Margin

Chapter 283 Swamp Pearl
Five days passed in a flash. The spies sent by Jingyang Town to gather information had no news back. Everything was the same as before. However, the bones in the new grave beside the official road of Dulonggang were dug out and taken away at night. Zhao Zhen heard it but ignored it and let it go.

In the past few days, Zhao Zhen resumed his usual routine, practicing martial arts and handling county affairs. He put down the boundary stone he got from Chen Da, the Tiger of Jumping Stream, because he didn't know where the boundary was, so Xiao asked to lift it and put it between Nan Daying and Erlong Mountain.

In Xiao Rang's words, no matter what the terrain is, it can increase the distance between Baishi Manor and the southern border. Zhao Zhen thought it made sense, so he let it go.

There were not many surprises. This place was just an old village, in a dilapidated state, but fortunately there was a lot of arable land.

Tao Zongwang was asked to repair the village, and Xiao Rang removed 200 households that had split up, and drove cattle to the pasture to help the new farmers to open up the fields. Zhao Zhen gave this place a name: "This place came because of the Chen Da brothers. From now on, this village will be called Chenjiaji. This matter should be recorded in the village annals."

Chen Da, who was on duty at Dulonggang, was very happy when he heard this. He asked Xiao Rang to exchange all his land for Chenjiaji. After Xiao Rang consulted Zhao Zhen, he changed the land deed for Chen Da. Chen Da was even more delighted and boasted about it to everyone he met.

In addition to putting down the boundary stone, Zhao Zhen also dispersed the fog on the southern boundary for five miles, seeing that the luck was abundant. The first three miles were wasteland, and the last two miles were swamps.

Zhao Ji went forward to investigate, but he got stuck after only three steps, and was pulled back while holding the long stick.

Zhao Zhen saw it and said, "No wonder no one has ever come in or out of the south side. It turns out there is this swamp."

Xiao Rang looked around and stood on a slightly higher mound, looking as far as he could: "I wonder how big this swamp is."

Smelling the sour, rotten smell in the swamp and watching the bubbles popping up from time to time in the bay, Zhao Zhen said, "It's a dangerous place."

Wu Yong waved the newly made goose feather fan in his hand and said: "With this dangerous place, Erlongshan will not need so many people stationed in the future."

Zhao Zhen heard this and shook his head, saying, "This doesn't need to be adjusted. Liangshan is strategically located and surrounded by water. Two camps with 3000 people plus the navy are enough for defense. Besides, the soldiers have to rely on boats for transportation, which is inconvenient."

"Why not station here? Not only is it close to Baishi Manor, it will also be much more convenient for reinforcements from other places."

Zhao Zhen frowned and said, "I don't know when this swamp was formed. The smell is really bad. I don't know what's in it?"

Xiao Rang said: "It's a pity that it's too easy to get trapped here. Even some of the properties may be difficult to get out."

While he was talking, Zhao Ji had already rinsed it roughly with the water bag he brought with him.

Zhao Zhen asked, "Zhao Ji, are you feeling unwell?"

Zhao Ji, who was in a mess, held out a scallop and said, "Sir, we got into trouble once, but it's not without gain. There is still this scallop in the boot, bring it up with you."

Zhao Zhen, Xiao Rang, and Wu Yong looked at each other, and it was Xiao Rang who said, "If nothing else, it looks like there are a lot of scallops here."

Wu Yong said: "You might as well crack it open and have a look. If the meat is good, it can be considered an industry."

Zhao Ji heard this, took out his broadsword, and threw the scallop out of the water: "Hey, sir, there is a pearl inside."

After hearing this, Zhao Zhen and others hurried forward to take a look, and saw that Zhao Ji was holding an oval bead in his hand.

world log
In March, I got a pearl shell, and my luck increased by 5. Xiao Rang said happily, "It seems that this swamp, in addition to its defense function, can also produce this kind of pearls. I heard that the best pearls in the world are South Pearls and East Pearls, but I never thought that this swamp could also produce pearls."

Zhao Zhen said: "Hey, you don't have to worry about it, but I'm afraid it will take some thought to figure out how to mine it."

Xiao Rang said, "I read the Records of the Grand Historian. I saw the story of Dayu controlling floods in the Records of the Grand Historian: The Basic Annals of Xia. It says: 'Travel on land by car, travel on water by boat, travel on mud by sled, and travel on mountains by pole.' Let's make some single-wood mud sleds and try. I think it might work."

Zhao Zhen nodded and asked the farmhands who came with him to dig the silt at the edge of the swamp with machetes. In no time, more than 20 people dug out more than ten scallops.

After digging them open, they found four pearls of different sizes. Together with the one Zhao Ji brought with him, they actually got five pearls in total.

Two pearls are off-white, one is pure white, one is purple, and one is pink. The colors are varied. The best of the five pearls is the purple one, which is pure round and has a warm luster. Although it is only one-fourth the size, its value is not low. The others are either of poor shape or color, or too small, so their value is lower.

Zhao Zhen held the purple pearl in his hand and said, "This pearl is worth at least 40 strings of cash. It seems that this swamp has great potential. Brother Xiao Rang, you need to pay more attention to this place. Hire some farmers to specialize in pearl mining."

After hearing this, Xiao Rang responded, "Don't worry, sir. I will arrange for people to come here in the next few days to search for scallops and collect pearls. The gold here is more valuable than the gold produced in the northern foothills of Kushu Mountain. With such a large swamp, there must be even bigger pearls in it. If there are more than 70% of them, then this place will become a treasure land."

Zhao Zhen asked in confusion, “Oh?”

Xiao Rang explained: "It is said that pearls are 70% precious and 80% valuable. If there is any production, then it would be a treasure land."

Zhao Zhen was delighted when he heard this and said, "I hope that as Brother Xiao Rang said, there are pearls this big in the cave."

Xiao Rang arranged for people to come and collect pearls, but Zhao Zhen didn't bother to come and see. At dusk that day, Cheng Wan'er's mother came to Liangshan County under the escort of Jiao Ting, Shi Qian and Fu Yu.

That night, Zhao Zhen arranged a banquet, and the couple chatted with the old lady for a long time. At night, Cheng Wan'er even left Zhao Zhen and stayed with the old lady.

On the second day, Zhao Xing and Zhao Zhen reported: "Sir, when we left, the old man had already ordered the transfer of the Jingyang Town Chief to Feicheng to take up the post. I think he will be able to leave in the next few days."

Zhao Zhen heard this and sent people to monitor outside Jingyang Town. Sure enough, within two days, Yun Tianbiao was seen leading a group of soldiers out of the town and heading east along the official road.

After hearing this, Zhao Zhen breathed a sigh of relief. Finally, Yun Tianbiao was sent away. From now on, he would not have to go to such great lengths to guard Jingyang Town.

After resting for two days, Zhao Zhen suggested going to Liantai Temple to burn incense. The old lady heard about the magic of Liantai Temple and couldn't wait to go and see it.

In addition to Yuantong, Zhao Zhen also asked someone to invite Li Da's mother to accompany him. The two Buddhist women talked about Buddhist matters, and it seemed that they had met too late.

That night, Cheng Wan'er accompanied the old lady to the hot springs again. Zhao Zhen stayed in the Snow Mountain Peak camp to rest, and at night he had a drink with Shi Xiu and Xue Yong.

At the banquet, Shi Xiu could not help asking Zhao Zhen about his trip to exorcise ghosts and monsters. Zhao Zhen did not hide anything and told the two of them in detail.

After hearing this, they both sighed.

(End of this chapter)