Lord: Start with a book of Water Margin

Chapter 431 Golden Spear Camp

Zhao Zhen returned to the Baishi Valley training ground, and a group of farmhands and soldiers came forward to separate the cattle and horses.

After working for a long time, they finally separated the livestock on the training ground and drove them to different pastures.

The mares were sent to Duan Jingzhu of Xiaoping Mountain, and the cattle and sheep were temporarily kept at Kushu Mountain Ranch. Zhao Zhen planned to build a ranch at Baizi Mountain and Yuntaigang, just like Kushu Mountain Ranch, to provide meat, milk and other products to the nearby county.

As the territory expands, the policies of Liangshan Prefecture have also changed a lot. The most important one is the land policy. The amount that each household can purchase has also been relaxed a lot. In line with the system of the Song Dynasty, the government only collects taxes according to the acreage, and divides them into five levels. Of course, at present, only the number of acres of land is counted, and the classification will have to be done later.

Rich households and landlords who owned land could not evade taxes. If they had a lot of land, they would recruit farmers to cultivate it. After all, abandoned land would also be taxed, and if it was not cultivated for three years, it would be taken over by the prefecture and county.

Furthermore, after the fog was dispelled, there were many wastelands in Liangshan Prefecture. Farmers were allowed to apply, register, reclaim the wasteland and cultivate the land, and be exempted from taxes for one year.

In this way, wealthy households and landlords will not be able to oppress landless customers at will, the rent will be reasonable, there will be no shortage of taxes, and there will be no loss to the government.

As for the future when the population increases and the land is insufficient, the landlords who hold the land willfully increase the rent and force the landless farmers to resist, it is still a long way off for Zhao Zhen. After all, after reaching the third level, Zhao Zhen must materialize the land under his control.

As for forced labor, after discussing it with Xiao Rang and others, Zhao Zhen did not fully accept the Song Dynasty's system.

All corvée labor was hired labor. Except for the families of soldiers, all other families had to pay labor fees, which were collected by household, with different fees for the five classes of rich and poor. This part of the money was used to dig harbors, repair waterways, open rivers, build roads, add houses, and tidy up city walls. It was mainly used to support the [repair camp], and it could also be used to hire farmers during the slack season.

As for the clerks, that is the most different thing about Liangshan Prefecture. In addition to officials, clerks are also registered. If the clerks do a good job, they can become officials. This is also a supplement to the selection of officials.

It was another way to become an official besides the imperial examination, recommendation by inspection, and favoritism. Firstly, it prevented talented people from being buried. Secondly, it was also to give officials hope and encourage them to work hard.

According to the Song Dynasty system, officials have regular salary, salary, position salary, yuansui servants clothing and food, tea, wine, kitchen supplies, firewood, charcoal, salt, horse feed and grass, rice, flour and sheep, and official land. Of course, Zhao Zhen did not have so many names, only regular salary, position salary, and rank salary. Li also received regular salary, position salary, and rank salary according to their positions. But the amount was less.

After settling the cattle and sheep, Zhao Zhen sent someone to call Jin Dajian.

After greeting, Zhao Zhen pointed at the carved blocks on the ground and said to Jin Dajian, "Brother, I just got these carved blocks of the Diamond Sutra. Together with the illustrations, there are a total of 64 blocks. I have asked Yuanguang, the abbot of Waguan Temple, to take a look. You can arrange for the printing of 2,000 copies of this book. Send 1,000 copies to the village and have Zhao Duguan keep them. I will bring them back to the main world next time."

"For the other 1,000 volumes, let Yuanguang deliver them to various places according to the number of monks and nuns registered in the temples. The rest will be divided into two places, stored in the Waguan Temple and the Lotus Temple."

After hearing this, Jin Dajian nodded in agreement.

Zhao Zhen continued, "I heard from Xiao Rang that he had collected all the engravings of the Four Books and Five Classics from several other counties?"

Jin Dajian smiled and said, "Yes, not only that, there is also a carved plate of the Zuo Zhuan. In terms of exquisiteness, this book is the most exquisite among the ten books. These days, we are repairing the carved plates and re-carving the damaged characters. In a few days, the book will be completed."

Zhao Zhen also smiled and said, "That's the best. We should continue to recruit all kinds of craftsmen in the bookshop. Calligraphers, engravers, proofreaders, printers, and mounters should all take apprentices. In addition to the Four Books and Five Classics, the rest of the classics should also be gradually completed. How is the movable type production going?"

Jin Dajian said, "Don't worry, sir. We are recruiting all kinds of craftsmen in the workshop. There are also two bookshops in Yuncheng and Yanggu County that can print books. I have asked people to find out. These two bookshops can't sell many books a year and can only survive. Sir, I want to buy them, and these two bookshops can share the printing business in the future." "Yuzhu paper can only be supplied to this place now, and the other two places can send craftsmen there. I plan to put books made of ordinary paper in these two places in the future."

"Also, the movable type has been made. According to Judge Xiao's idea, the movable type will be sent to various county offices, and the county and township annals of each county and township will be printed in 30 to 50 copies for reference. In addition, the county's decrees will also be printed and posted. In addition to the county town, the townships and villages will also be posted, and the village head and clerks will be read out."

Zhao Zhen said, "I have asked people to inquire about it. There are quite a few scholars in the state who come to take the imperial examinations. How come these two bookstores are not doing well?"

Jin Dajian said, "Sir, originally each county was blocked by fog, and ordinary people would not dare to go out unless they had no other choice. These are the only books a county needs. In addition, many families borrow books to copy and read, so they buy fewer books. In order to maintain business, the price of books is high, and when the price of books is high, fewer people buy."

"Once we have acquired the books, we won't have to worry. The great official can take them back to the main world to sell them. We can print more books and the price will go down. Gradually more people will buy them. In the future, it will be profitable, and more bookstores will open."

After hearing this, Zhao Zhen praised: "I never thought that you have such insight."

Jin Dajian smiled and said, "Although I can only carve characters, most of the people I associate with are well-read. If I hear them a lot, I will be able to speak them myself."

"There is one more thing I want to report to you, sir. The stone carving workshop in Wangtai Township, Wang Feng and Wang Jian, carefully selected the stones and carved seven or eight new stationery items for you. Wang Feng carved a Qilin Jinshan inkstone, and Wang Jian carved a pen holder. Both items have a faint white glow. I have sent someone to Wangtai Township to get them. When they are brought back, they will be delivered to your residence."

Zhao Zhen listened and nodded, saying, "These two have superb carving skills, so it's no surprise that they can make treasures. Since they can carve treasures, let them also have a position in the [Houyuan Crafts Office] and receive an extra salary. Later, I will have the prefecture issue a decree that from now on, all craftsmen who can make treasures can work in the [Houyuan Crafts Office]."

After sending Jin Dajian away, Zhao Zhen sent someone to invite Tang Long, Xu Ning, Xuan Zan, and Hao Siwen. After greeting each other, Tang Long asked, "Master, have you found some good iron?"

Zhao Zhen heard this and said, "Yes, I do have some good iron for you. I invited you here this time because I have something else to ask you."

"Please speak, sir."

"Can you carry this [Golden Spear] by yourself now?" Zhao Zhen asked.

Xu Ning said, "Don't worry, sir. Brother Tang Long has already mastered the three secret techniques of hooking the hoof and pulling the leg. The officers and soldiers in the Golden Spear City have also learned the techniques of using spears. Brother Tang Long now spends half of his time every day in the camp training the soldiers. The soldiers have already obeyed and can lead the troops on their own."

Zhao Zhen smiled and said, "That's best."

"As you can see today, the farm has purchased a lot of livestock, including more than 500 war horses. Excluding the mares used for breeding, we will select horses from the rest. Please ask the teacher, Xuan Zan and Hao Siwen brothers to form a battalion of cavalry."

Zhao Zhen continued, "This cavalry camp is commanded by Xu Ning, with Xuan Zan and Hao Siwen as deputy generals. They are stationed in the South Camp. The soldiers in this camp are called the Golden Spear Camp."

After hearing this, the three of them stood up and expressed their gratitude.

(End of this chapter)