Soldiers come to the world

After the New Year, there was another heavy snowfall in Guan, turning all parts of Guan into a snow-covered world again. Although the rivers were frozen and the land was solidified, these unfavorable factors could not stop the enthusiasm of people in Guan to build water conservancy projects, which can be seen everywhere in Guan. Crowds of farmers are dredging the river, digging canals, and huge waterwheels are also erected by the river.

This morning, on the official road to the south of Xianyang City, a team of two thousand cavalry came from a distance. Walk slowly on the official road.

In the carriage sat Hanwang Liu Jing and his successor Liu Zhi. Today Liu Jing made a special trip to inspect the progress of the winter farmland water conservancy repairs. In fact, the farmland water conservancy construction began after last autumn harvest.

After conquering the pass, the Han Dynasty paid great attention to the agricultural construction of the pass. In the year when Chang'an was established as the capital, the Zhengguo Canal, which was almost deserted, was dredged, and a lot of manpower and material resources were successively invested. Every year, the old irrigation system of the pass was fully repaired and transformed. These efforts have not been in vain. Guan has had a bumper harvest of grain almost every year. Even when encountering the 20-year drought in Jian'an, Guan also relied on the advantage of water conservancy to overcome the drought and kept the grain production.

The people of Guan have tasted the sweetness of building water conservancy projects. Less than half a month after the New Year, another upsurge of building water conservancy projects has set off in the land of Guan.

Liu Zhi sat in the carriage, silently watching the farmland outside the window and the busy people by the river in the distance through the window.

He is only 13 years old this year, but he has a maturity and thinking that his peers do not have. This is slowly formed after he got along with the prime ministers for two years. He knows the profound meaning of putting the people first. It refers to all the people in general, but specifically refers to the self-cultivating farmers. They grow food and pay taxes, so that the country can be strong and prosperous, and the Han country can be passed down from generation to generation.

He can understand his father's emphasis on agriculture. Many people are fathers who prefer businessmen, but he understands that businessmen are just a political tool of his father, and farmers and agriculture are the foundation of the country that his father values.

"Zhi'er seems to have something on his mind?" Liu Jing sat aside and asked with a slight smile. Since getting in the car until now, his son has hardly said a word.

Liu Zhi quickly bowed and said, "I have nothing on my mind, I'm just thinking. Seeing that the battle is imminent, why didn't father inspect the barracks to boost morale, but instead came to inspect the water conservancy?"

"Then have you thought of the reason?" Liu Jing asked again with a smile.

Liu Zhi nodded silently, "My boy has already realized a little bit."

"Then you tell Weifu, what did you think of?"

"The child feels that his father is actually thinking about the reconstruction after the war, and his father's thinking has gone beyond the war."

Liu Jing was somewhat interested, "Continue talking!"

"After the war, a large number of refugees will gradually return to their homeland, and the population of Guan will decline. If the population is lost too much, it will inevitably seriously affect the agriculture of Guan. For example, one person can only plant fifty acres of land, but with perfect water conservancy, one person may be able to plant one hundred acres, I wonder if my child is right?"

Liu Jing was surprised that his son had such deep thoughts. Is this the thought of a 13-year-old boy?

"Is this what you thought of yourself?"

"Half yes, half no. When the prime ministers held a meeting in the political affairs hall, they mentioned that the return of the population would affect the agriculture. So I thought that developing farmland water conservancy might be a countermeasure."

Liu Jing nodded and said, "Although what you said is not comprehensive, I am really pleased that you can think so far."

"Then can the father tell the child what else the child has not thought of?"

Liu Jing smiled slightly, "Actually, your thinking is too complicated. War is of course important, and agriculture is equally important. For my father to inspect water conservancy today, it does not mean that my father will not inspect war preparations. In fact, when I come out to inspect today, the focus is not It's about water."

"It's about the baby!" Liu Zhi suddenly understood.

Liu Jing patted Er'er's head affectionately, "You're right, I came out to inspect for my father today, and I actually want you to care about the water conservancy of the farmland."

"The boy understands, the boy should come out and inspect by himself."

"That's not necessary, you can follow the prime ministers to inspect in the future."

The two fathers were talking, when the carriage stopped slowly, Li Qing, the leader of the guards, rushed up and said, "Your Highness, we're here!"

Liu Jing looked out of the car window, the carriage was parked in front of a field, and a small river was hundreds of miles away. Many farmers gathered by the river, as many as a thousand people, and there were more than a dozen officials.

Liu Jing nodded, took her hand and said with a smile, "Let's go!"

The father and the two got out of the carriage. At this time, two officials ran from the river, bowed and saluted, "See Your Highness!"

Of these two officials, one is Ma Jun, commander of military weapons supervision, and the other is Song Nan, prime minister of the Ministry of Industry. Liu Jing smiled and said, "Has it started yet?"

"Reporting to Your Highness, I have already tried it once, and it will be officially activated when Your Highness comes down."

"Then go and have a look!"

Liu Jing's father crossed the field ridge under the guard of a hundred guards, and walked quickly to the river. Liu Zhi was still confused. He didn't know what his father brought him to see?It seems that it has been planned for a long time.

Soon, he saw a long and narrow waterwheel beside the river, which was very different from the waterwheels he usually saw. It seemed to be narrower and lighter, like a probe drawing water from the river.

Liu Jing waved to the surrounding people, said hello, walked to the waterwheel, patted the waterwheel and said with a smile: "Is this the latest keel waterwheel made by Ma Gong?"

Ma Jun quickly said: "That's it, but this minister is just improving."

At this time, several old farmers who participated in the experiment excitedly said: "Your Highness, it is not only an improvement! It is an incredible invention. In the past, at least a dozen adults were required to push and draw water for the waterwheel, but now this waterwheel , a seven or eight-year-old child can pedal and operate, saving a lot of manpower."

Seeing that the ice on the river had been broken, Liu Jing smiled and said, "Maybe you can operate it!"

Ma Jun quickly found a little girl who could operate, about ten years old, and said to him: "Let's start!"

The little girl had a light body, and quickly climbed onto the waterwheel, holding on to the railing with her arms, and began to step on her feet. Soon, the waterwheel began to move, and countless farmers looked around nervously. Suddenly, someone shouted: "Water comes out!" Already!"

I saw the river gushing out from the waterwheel. As the little girl moved faster and faster, more and more water came out. The river gurgled into the ditches between the fields, and thousands of people cheered all around.

Countless farmers jumped up excitedly. No one could understand what it means better than them. A little girl can operate a waterwheel, which can save a lot of labor!The problem of water use in farmland will be solved to the greatest extent, which is also the problem that bothers them the most.

The little girl trampled on for a quarter of an hour without feeling tired at all, Liu Jing smiled at her son Liu Zhi, "Would you like to try it, my son?"

Although Liu Zhi is more mature than his peers, he is young at heart after all. He is also full of curiosity about new affairs. He has been watching the little girl's movements and found that the operation is actually very simple. The key is to pay attention to body coordination, and there will be no problems. , Even if he stepped into the air, his arms were still supported on the railing, so he nodded, "My child is willing to give it a try!"

Hearing that King Han was going to step on the waterwheel, countless people around exclaimed. Ma Jun wanted to dissuade Liu Jing, but Liu Jing waved his hand, "Let him experience farming and labor, it won't be harmful."

At this time, more and more farmers came from all directions, more than [-] people, and dense crowds stood on both sides of the small river. Everyone originally came to see the new waterwheel, but at this time they were attracted by Han Wangshi.

I saw a young boy dexterously climbing onto the waterwheel. Liu Zhi has learned martial arts from the guards for the past two years, and his body is much stronger than before. Both toughness and dexterity are far better than ordinary boys. This is why Liu Jing let him step on the waterwheel with confidence. The reason is that he knew the details of his son, and several guards who wanted to help Liu Zhi saw that he was very flexible and didn't need help, so they withdrew again.

The little girl standing on the waterwheel smiled and said, "Let me teach you, is that okay?"

Liu Zhi nodded, imitating the little girl's feet on the pedals, and his arms on the wooden railing, "Step slowly like this, don't go fast at the beginning, yes...slower, yes! That's it." The little girl Teach him patiently.

The two stepped on it together, and the water wheel started to turn, and gradually increased its speed. Liu Zhi gradually became more proficient, stepping faster and faster, the river water rushed out of the water tank, and tens of thousands of people around cheered again.

Liu Jing laughed. Shi stepped on the waterwheel himself, and it would definitely be a good talk. He hoped that his son could participate in agricultural work more deeply. Liu Jing turned around and waved to call the leader of the guards, Li Qing, and told him in a low voice: "Chun Plowing After the start, Shi also needs to participate, and arrange guards to take care of him."

"Don't worry, Your Highness, I will personally take care of the world!"

Liu Jing nodded, but it was a pity that it was time for him to set off again. He looked up at the gray sky. Today is the fifteenth day of the first lunar month, and in ten days or so, early spring will come.