Guide to traveling through the Northern Song Dynasty

Shangbaicun, rice experimental field.

The villagers are watching the farming magic. This has become a habit. Every time Zhu Guoxiang comes to the fields, everyone will come to watch the excitement.

Zhu Guoxiang likes to teach agricultural knowledge. He pointed to the rice field and said: "Everyone must know that after transplanting the rice seedlings, the rice seedlings will dry up."

The villagers nodded in unison, of course they knew.

Zhu Guoxiang continued: "The seedlings withered after being transplanted. It was because the roots of the seedlings were broken when the seedlings were pulled out. Why did the seedlings I cultivated turn green faster and grow stronger after being transplanted? It is because the seedlings were cultivated under controlled water and drought conditions. The roots are really not many and not deep, so pulling out the seedlings will not cause much harm. Once inserted, the roots of the seedlings will recover quickly and will grow wildly. But the seedlings you cultivate have many and deep roots, and pulling out the seedlings will cause great harm. , they don’t grow well when they turn green.”

The villagers suddenly realized that it was the root problem.

After the rejuvenation period passed, the situation became more obvious. The seedlings in the experimental field were much stronger than those in the neighboring fields.

It is precisely because of this that the villagers are eager to learn.

Zhu Guoxiang said: "Now is the tillering period. Whether the rice can have a good harvest depends on whether the tillering is good. The water should not be too deep, but shallow water should be irrigated frequently..."

"I know," said an old farmer, "if the water is irrigated too deep, the ears will grow slowly."

Another villager said dissatisfiedly: "Master Liu, don't interrupt. Listen to Mr. Zhu."

Zhu Guoxiang didn't care. He was happy to communicate with farmers: "Everyone needs top-dressing fertilizer at the beginning of tillering. But the fertilizer that is most urgently needed, let me call it nitrogen fertilizer. Where can I find nitrogen fertilizer? It is in beans. Soybean meal and bean dregs are all It can provide nitrogen fertilizer. Spreading one or two pounds of soybean meal is more effective than pouring several buckets of manure."

The villagers looked happy, they learned something real again today.

The method of using soybean meal as nitrogen fertilizer was popularized in the Ming Dynasty, but the Song Dynasty was really unaware of it. Soybean meal at this time is mainly used to feed pigs, cattle and horses.

Zhu Guoxiang said: "At this time, top dressing is best accompanied by cultivating and weeding. It can make the soil more breathable, and bury the soybean meal into the plowed soil, which is more conducive to root development and tillering."

The villagers silently took notes. Lu An was holding a small notebook and writing quickly with a brush. He wanted to compile it into words and give it to the old man.

Zhu Guoxiang added: "When it reaches the late stage of tillering, it must be suppressed and it cannot be divided too much. Too many tillers will also affect the harvest. How to suppress it?"

The old farmer shouted again: "Water!"

Zhu Guoxiang nodded happily: "Yes, it is irrigation. Deep irrigation can suppress the tillers. But if the field is too fertile, deep irrigation will not be able to suppress the tillers, and drainage is needed to dry the field!"

Bai Dalang also came to listen to the class at some point and asked in surprise: "Draining water and drying the fields, aren't you afraid that the seedlings will wither?"

"Don't be afraid, but you need to keep an eye on it at all times," Zhu Guoxiang said. "You need to count the number of stems of the seedlings. Check them every day. Based on the number of stems, you can choose whether to drain and dry the fields."

Bai Dalang muttered: "No wonder the rice in my fertile fields sometimes grows very well, but there is no harvest during threshing. It turns out that the fields are too fat and the deep irrigation water cannot hold down the tillers. This is like a small people's house. If there are too few people, we will not be able to thrive, and if we have too many people, we will not be able to support them. The fertile fields of my family cannot produce a good harvest, because we have too many children and grandchildren, and they all need to eat, but the food rations at home are not enough."

Zhu Guoxiang said again: "I will now teach you how to judge the stages of tillering, mainly by looking at the color of the leaves..."

"Xianggong Zhu, Xianggong Zhu!"

A fisherman suddenly rushed over and said breathlessly: "I passed a fleet just now, and I saw Zhu Xiucai, standing on the bow of the boat, looking so majestic!"

Zhu Guoxiang turned around and looked towards the river, faintly seeing the tail of the fleet.

His son was about to go to suppress bandits, so he was inevitably a little worried. But there is no point in worrying. We simply continue to teach agricultural knowledge, teach villagers how to identify leaf colors, and teach villagers how to determine the appropriate number of stems.

All farmers with rich farming experience have benefited a lot today.

Many of them knew what Zhu Guoxiang said, but they knew it but didn't know why. Moreover, they can only get a general idea and manage it according to traditional methods. They don't understand anything more detailed.

In particular, drainage and drying of fields requires very delicate operations. If you are not careful, the seedlings will be sunburned to death.

While explaining the knowledge and directing the operations, Zhu Guoxiang smiled and handed over his hands while waiting for the tenants to finish the work. "That's it for today. Let's go back and work on our own."

The villagers went home happily, and those who were thoughtful even gave Zhu Guoxiang gifts.

The gift is not expensive, maybe an egg, or a green onion, to express their feelings.

But Bai Dalang stood at the edge of the experimental field and kept staring at the seedlings, and then looked at the rice fields next to him.

The more he looked at it, the more he liked it. The seedlings in the experimental field were growing so well!

The seedlings in ordinary paddy fields, no matter how well they are taken care of, are just vulgar and powdery.

The seedlings in the experimental field are all like ladies in the family. They are not only well-informed and well-educated, but also proficient in music, chess, calligraphy and painting.

Bai Dalang was not like his second brother, who worked hard at the county government office and intrigued all day long. Unlike his third brother, who has a wide circle of friends outside and is proficient in various poetry and classics.

His life is very simple, he just concentrates on taking care of his family business.

The shop business is booming, the tea is sold at a high price, and the fields have a good harvest. These can make him feel the greatest happiness.

Bai Dalang imagined that at this time next year, his paddy fields would be managed in this way, and the rice seedlings would all grow as white and fat as his second brother.

very nice!

Bai Chongwen went home happily, and even the acne on his face seemed to be shining.

"Dad, dad..."

Bai Chongwen turned around several times and finally found his father in the study. He said excitedly: "In the past, I wrongly blamed Mr. Zhu. Not only did he raise seedlings well, he was also an expert at managing rice fields. I listened to it in person today and learned a lot. There are so many things that can be used. Next year, my family’s paddy field will definitely have a bumper harvest if I use his methods!"

Old Bai said quietly: "The Bodhisattva is too big, and the temple here is too small. I don't know how to worship him."

Bai Chongwen heard the hidden message: "Father, what happened?"

Officer Lao Bai knocked on the table: "Read the letter your second brother sent to you."

The content of the letter mainly talks about a series of events that happened in the county town in the past half month. At the same time, there are many speculations by Bai Erlang, such as Ju Ming taking refuge in Xiangzhi County...

Bai Chongwen didn't see anything wrong and said doubtfully: "Zhu Dalang is doing well in training. He went to the county government to avenge his grandmother. The second brother is really like this. He can't even control his subordinates and actually deducted the archer's hand. Food rations. It won’t do any harm to my family if he takes refuge with the magistrate. The Archers are going to be disbanded anyway.”

"Confused!"

The old man scolded him and gave up all hope on his eldest son's IQ. He sighed, "Hey, go take care of the property and don't get involved in this matter."

Bai Chongwen scratched his head and left in confusion.

Old Bai Yuanwai couldn't understand, what on earth did Zhu Dalang want to do? What benefit would it bring to Zhu Dalang to seek refuge with that foolish magistrate?

I can't understand it, I really can't understand it.

There is only one thing that Old Bai, a member of the Communist Party of China, understood: Zhu Dalang is a dragon trapped in the shallows and cannot do anything. Once you encounter wind and rain, you have to take to the sky.

Why do you say this?

Because archers are so common, anyone can apply for the job, and no matter how hard they try, they will just become a bully who blackmails the people. And what about him, Zhu Dalang? In just half a month, so many things have been done, and more than three hundred archers have been made submissive.

If something really happened, even if the archers were disbanded, Zhu Dalang would probably be able to gather dozens of them if he raised his arms.

Dozens of young men, if they risk their lives, are enough to cover all the country.

Such a character is always a time bomb if he stays in his own village. What's more, there is a Mr. Zhu who can convince the villagers just by farming.

Old Bai didn't know it yet, but Ju Ming had decided to take over Heifeng Village, and the father and son would have to move sooner or later.

"Somebody come!"

With a greeting, the servant ran in.

Member Lao Bai said: "Send some good tea to Xianggong Zhu and thank him for teaching him the secret of farming today."

The servant quickly ran to Shen Yourong's house with tea leaves.

Shen Yourong is weaving silk. The raw silk reeled by himself will be finished in the next two days.

Lao Bai promised that her family would not have to pay summer grain this year, and all the silk cloth could be sold.

Zhu Guoxiang is still compiling teaching materials, and the village school is scheduled to start on the first day of next month.

"Ms. Zhu, this is the tea sent by the master. Thank you for teaching me farming." The servant handed it over respectfully.

Zhu Guoxiang was still writing calligraphy, nodded and said: "Just put it down."

The servant bowed and backed away.

Shen Yourong came over happily and put away a few balls of tea leaves. The more respected Zhu Guoxiang was, the happier she felt.

Time passed little by little, and Mrs. Yan came back from cutting the grass and went to the kitchen to cook.

In the evening, a villager rushed over, slapped the courtyard door and said, "Ms. Zhu, Mr. Zhu, something big has happened!"

Zhu Guoxiang walked out quickly and asked hurriedly: "What's the big deal? But it's not good to suppress thieves?"

The villager said: "Xiao Xiucai became the leader of the archers and led his men to kill Xiao Bai's wife. Some people in Xiabai Village fled to Baishitou. Later, archers also came to Baishitou and sealed up all the shops of Xiaobai's wife's family. I ...I just heard about it, so I came over to report to Mr. Zhu."

Shen Yourong was stunned when he heard this, thinking that there was something wrong with his ears.

Mrs. Yan also rushed out of the kitchen and confirmed: "Did Dalang kill Xiaobai?"

The villager nodded and said: "I heard that the bandits were colluded with by member Xiaobai. The bandits in the village last time were brought by member Xiaobai. Everyone said that Zhu Xiucai killed well and avenged our great revenge on Shangbai Village! "

"Amitabha, God protects Dalang from danger." Grand Po Yan prayed with her hands together, not knowing whether she was praying to Amitabha or the Jade Emperor.

This bastard didn't notice for a while, and he was really going to do something.

Zhu Guoxiang asked: "The archers are still in Xiabai Village?"

The villager said: "Most of them are still there."

Zhu Guoxiang said to his mother-in-law and daughter-in-law: "You guys eat first, I'll go to Mr. Bai to borrow a boat and go to Xiabai Village to see what's going on."

(It will be on the shelves at 12 noon on March 10th, so don’t wait in the early morning.)