Zhi Xuan

Autumn is high and crisp, and the weather is getting cooler.

Outside the county seat, an altar stood tall, and the witch doctor prayed on the altar.A sheep is led to the audience and will be slaughtered after the prayers are over and offered to the gods.

The whole process lasted for half an hour. The blood of the sacrificed sheep was sprinkled around the altar, and the lamb was shared.

The people of Zhidi are used to cooked food and rarely eat raw meat.However, thinly sliced ​​raw mutton is still swallowed as part of the ritual.

After this sacrifice, the autumn harvest officially begins.

The village elder, who is familiar with the farming season, told Zhixuan that there might be rain in the near future.Once the autumn rain falls, all grains will be damaged.I don't want to lose all my hard work for a year, so I need to organize a rush to collect them as soon as possible.

Zhixuan listened to everyone's opinions and ordered to call all the manpower in Zhixian County to seize the time to carry out the autumn harvest.

The heavy rain may hit at any time, and every second is racing against time to harvest corn and wheat.

In order to save time, Zhixuan ordered people to make a large number of sickles early, and some people were transferred from the forest farm to join in the autumn harvest.

Several lower doctors have their own division of labor, and they are respectively in charge of the harvesting work of a field.

In addition to public land, Zhidi also has a large area of ​​private land.Now that the grain is ripe, harvesting requires a lot of hands.In this case, no one can stay out of it.Even some Chinese people were summoned and took the initiative to pick up the sickle.

Halfway through the harvesting work, the county officials in Feng and Liang successively sent letters to Zhixuan to report the sacrifice and autumn harvest.

There are more acres of land in Fengdi than in Zhidi, and Ji Gao, the county doctor, has been busy for a long time.This time I sent people here, in addition to delivering paperwork to report work, I also hoped that Zhixuan would allow him to summon craftsmen to produce farm tools in Fengdi.

The appearance of the sickle greatly improved the harvesting efficiency. Zhixuan once sent people to Fengfeng and Liangzhou to send a batch.It's just that for Fengdi, there are too many monks and too little porridge, which is not enough at all.But no matter how insufficient it is, Ji Gao can't build it without authorization, it must be approved by Zhixuan.

Zhi Xuan readily agreed to Ji Gao's request.

The talent recommended by Fan Xu is very practical and capable. Since he became a county doctor, he has done a good job in counting the population, measuring the land, and clearing up bandits and savages in Fengdi.Although it is not as drastic as Luo Gong's in Liangdi, it is still very capable of winning people's hearts and managing Fengdi quite well.

From the letter sent by the other party, it can be seen that Fengdi will have a good harvest this year, and the reclamation of wasteland in the coming year will also be done in an orderly manner, and it will be completed very well.

The development model of Liangdi is completely different.

Luo Gong sent a letter to Zhi Xuan, and the autumn harvest was second, mainly for another kind of agricultural tool, that is, the flail sent together with the sickle.

This kind of farm tool, which is similar to the extended version of the nunchaku, was in the hands of the people of Liangdi who were good at fighting, and played a huge role in exterminating the Hu tribe.

As a farm tool, the flail has a simple structure and is very convenient to make. The materials are everywhere, and it is more convenient than long knives.When you meet Di Rong who is riding a horse, you can use it as a long weapon.When it is swung, it can easily sweep Di Rong off the horse, and it can also attack the horse's legs, which is quite easy to use.

The reason for this kind of discovery is that the cold land has been very uneven recently, and Di Rong frequently went south, disturbing the border every now and then.

There is not much grain grown in cold land, but it does not mean that there is no food.Coupled with the cattle and sheep raised, Di Rong was even more jealous.At this time of year, Di Rong will go south in a large scale, burning, killing and looting, and storing food and supplies for the winter.

During the battle with the intruding Di Rong, more than a dozen subjects were trapped in the field. Without any weapons at hand, they could only fight with farm tools.

During the battle, the subjects found that both the sickle and the flail were very useful. In addition to harvesting wheat and grain, it was also quite handy for harvesting human life.

Di Rong was beaten into a daze.

They went south many times, but it was the first time they saw this weapon.

Unlike swords and long halberds, not to mention the length of this thing, the stick attached to it can also turn.Even though he had already dodged from the front, he was still hit by the thrown stick, grinning his teeth in pain.If you accidentally hit the head, you will die on the spot.

In the letter to Zhi Xuan, Luo Gong mentioned this battle emphatically.

Twelve subordinates, relying on farm tools, fought against the Rong people who were several times their own, and the opponent was still riding a horse, but they did not lose the wind in the slightest.When the help arrived, their morale was boosted even more, and they chased the cavalry on two legs, wielding the flail in their hands, and swept the horse's legs, causing the soldiers to fall one by one, and the last one who ran out was less than a slap.

After the battle, the subjects communicated with each other, and they all came to the conclusion that this thing is useful.

In order to increase the combat effectiveness, the flail was also lengthened, and wooden thorns and stone cones were added to the short stick to double the lethality.

After Luo Gong found out about this, he personally led fifty soldiers and subjects armed with flails to go north, attacked three Rong tribes in succession, beat the warriors in the tribe to death, and took away all the cattle and sheep.

When these cattle and sheep are brought back to Liangdi, except for the part left according to the convention, the rest will be sent to Zhidi for distribution by Zhixuan.

Through this trip to the north, the people of Liangdi not only explored new ways of fighting, but also discovered a way to make a fortune.

Di Rong can go south to rob, and they can also go north to push flatly.

It doesn't make sense that grassland tribes can harass the Central Plains, they can't retaliate against others in their own ways.

What's more, they are better at fighting than farming and grazing.

The subordinates who participated in the northward sweep of the army took the initiative to approach the village elders, hoping that the village elders would come forward to meet the county doctor and state that they all wanted to join the new army.

These subjects include nationals and ordinary people, men and women, adults and teenagers, and some old people who are full of energy.Although his temples are gray and his face is full of dimples, his shirt is ripped off, and his bronze-colored tendons are not inferior to the young man, and he is even more powerful when he wields a flail and long knife, and he can still kill Di Rong.

Like Ji Gao, as a county doctor, Luo Gong also conducted statistics on the population under his rule.Excluding the slaves who farm and herd, almost everyone in the whole territory is a soldier.As long as he can afford a weapon, he can go to the battlefield. Even a half-grown child has the ambition to destroy Di Rong.

After reading Luo Gong's letter, Zhi Xuan couldn't help pinching his forehead.

His previous premonition was correct, under Luo Gong's management, Liangdi would indeed cultivate a group of professional soldiers.And it's not an isolated case, but all of them are rushing on the road towards militarization.

If this development continues, it is hard to say whether it is good or bad.For now, it is very beneficial to the development of the fief and the construction of the new army.As for what will happen in the future, I can't think of it yet, and it's not time to think about it.Just like building a house, worrying about the roof before the foundation is finished is purely thinking too much.

In his reply to the two county officials, Zhixuan agreed to their request to build farm tools, and also allowed Liangdi to transform the flail into a weapon.

At the same time, Zhi Xuan will send a group of craftsmen to the two places to help them create finished products as soon as possible.

After the work is completed, the craftsmen will not leave immediately, but will build local workshops to train skilled hands. Later, more agricultural tools will appear, which can be directly manufactured locally, without the need for large-scale transportation.

According to the plan, before the end of the rush harvest, the grain storage barn will be built.In addition, treadmills and stone mills have to be produced in batches and put into use one after another.

To open up wasteland next year, a plow to replace Leisi is essential.But Zhi Xuanguang knew the shape, but he really didn't know how to do it.

According to the knowledge he possessed, don't expect Qu Yuanli to be able to complete it in one step, even whether Zhiyuanli can make it is unknown.After all, this is not a simple principle of leverage, nor is it possible to figure out the trick by relying on the craftsmanship of a craftsman.

Regarding the future development of the fiefdom, he urgently needs to recruit a group of professional talents, but where to find and who to poach is a real problem.

The replies to the two county officials were sent out, and the craftsmen called together set off together, each escorted by an army of knights, and rushed to the two places as quickly as possible.

Zhi Xuan was still restless.

After the barn was built, the treadmill and stone mill were also finished.

Several village elders were very satisfied after the trial. After returning to the village, they broadcast the name of the young master Xuan Xian, praising him for his generosity and kindness, which is rare in the world.

"Afterwards, there is no need to use a mallet to pound millet."

Leaving aside the stone mill for the time being, the stepping wheel appeared in the valley field. After using it, several strong women were all full of surprises.

Zhidi mainly eats millet, and occasionally also eats millet and wheat.

Wheat can be eaten with its shell, but millet cannot be eaten. It must be shelled before it can be eaten.

Shelling the grain is a heavy labor. It is necessary to put the corn in a container and beat it with a stone or a wooden mallet until the shell is removed.The whole process is time-consuming and laborious, and it is not a small test for the rice pounder.So much so that pounding rice became a kind of punishment, which was specially used to punish prisoners.

The appearance of the treadmill liberates the hands, using the principle of leverage, it is quite labor-saving to use, so that pounding rice is no longer a drudgery, and it will naturally be welcomed.

Time passed day by day, and the work of looting in the fief continued.

The village elders took turns to watch the night, observing the weather every day, and found that there were rain clouds in the sky in the distance, and immediately reported to Zhixuan, saying that heavy rain was coming.

"Young master, we need to speed up the collection of grain."

The village elders are familiar with farming and are extremely accurate in predicting changes in the weather.Several people have concluded that there will be rain, so there will be no mistakes.

Fortunately, the harvesting work in Zhidi is coming to an end. A large amount of grain has been transported into the barn, and bales of hay have been covered outside, which is enough to keep out the rain.

After the last mu of millet had been harvested and sent to the barn, there was thunder in the sky, a heavy rain fell from the sky, and a strong wind swept across the entire county.

As the rain fell, the water levels of the small rivers and streams in Zhidi rose, and the ditches in the new city accelerated their flow.The rainwater slides into the ditch along the Qingshi Road, and gathers with the incoming river water to form a water network in the city.

Worried about the drainage of the new city, Zhixuan went out of the city in the rain.

When he arrived, he found that several senior officials in charge of the construction of the new city were already in the city, directing manpower to check the various water canals, and reporting any problems immediately.

For the lower officials who have been neglected all the year round and are almost marginalized in the court and family, being able to personally supervise the construction of a city is not only Zhi Xuan's trust in them, but also a great honor.

If you treat me like a gentleman of the country, I will repay you as a gentleman of the country.

They earnestly implemented this sentence and showed Zhi Xuan the true meaning of a sincere gentleman with practical actions.

The wheels rolled over the bluestone road, and fan-shaped water splashed on both sides.

A doctor in a coir raincoat was ordering someone to pry open the stone slab to check the water level of the ditch.

Zhixuan pushed the car door open, Doctor Xia happened to look up, saw the person coming through the rain curtain, and gave some instructions to the servants, then walked over to salute.

"How is the situation in the city?" Zhi Xuan asked.

"Young master, don't worry, the waterways everywhere are smooth, and there is no worry about waterlogging."

Zhi Xuan put on his coir raincoat and got out of the carriage, and inspected the city together with Doctor Xia.

Some Chinese people have moved into the new city, and the squares on both sides of the street are more popular, and they are no longer as empty as they were when they were first built.

When the heavy rain hit, the residents in the city came out of their houses one after another. The men were impatient to wear coir raincoats, and all of them were bare-chested to check the ditch in front of their houses in the rain.

For the sake of convenience, some people don't even wear trousers, but only wear a pair of calf-nosed jackets.

What's more, a cloth strip is hung around the waist to block the front, and the back is not tied at all.No one thought it was wrong, but followed suit one after another, that is called a celestial body.

When Zhixuan passed by, several strong men generously saluted Zhixuan.

Observing the reaction of the doctor next to him, seeing that he is used to it, Zhi Xuan is very sure that if he asks the other party to put on his pants, these free-spirited subjects will definitely shake their heads together and think that there is something wrong with his mind.

For ordinary people, good linen is very rare. Who would wear it to go out on a rainy day?

Pure prodigal son!

It has been raining for several days and the temperature is getting colder every day.

Zhixuan went out of the city for three consecutive days to confirm that the ditches in the new city were unblocked and there would be no waterlogging, so he was finally relieved.

Due to the rapid temperature change, some children in the city caught cold, and Zhi Xuan coughed all day long.Sang doctors and witch doctors brewed a large amount of herbal medicines and distributed them in the city for several days to ensure that everyone could drink a bowl.

The children had all recovered, but Zhi Xuan's cough became worse day by day.

Doctor Sang discussed with the witch doctor and prescribed a prescription for him. After two doses of medicine, Zhi Xuan's condition improved slightly. He no longer coughed every day, and even couldn't sleep well when it was severe.

On this day, the witch doctor checked the pulse again, and seemed to have discovered something, his brows became more and more wrinkled.

"My lord, please open your mouth and let me look at the coating on your tongue."

Zhi Xuan found it strange, so he opened his mouth according to the witch doctor's instructions.

After taking a closer look, the witch doctor made a confession, rolled over Zhixuan's eyelids, and exchanged a look with Doctor Sang, his expression changed slightly at the same time.

"Young master is poisoned."

"The effect of the medicine is not strong, and the poisoning time is not long. It is so obvious when it is caused by wind and cold."

Doctor Sang and witch doctor are well-informed, and the latter is a veteran of medicine. He immediately identified what poison Zhi Xuan was poisoned, and prepared an antidote on the spot.

"This poison is taken from the seeds of wild fruits. It tastes bitter. If you want the young master to take it, you must take a small amount and mix it with your meal or drink."

Knowing the efficacy of the medicine and the method of prescribing it, one can naturally deduce the circumstances under which Zhi Xuan was poisoned.

When the government order heard that Zhi Xuan was poisoned, it was very likely that the attack was done in the house, his face was gloomy, and the murderous aura all over his body was almost visible.

It was the first time Zhi Xuan saw him so furious.

"Young master, please move temporarily, and the servant will thoroughly investigate the mansion, not letting anyone go!"

There are quite a few servants and maidservants in the mansion, and at least 20 of them can get close to Zhixuan's diet.These people were all brought from the western capital, that is to say, if the killer was really among them, the nail had been buried for at least several years.

If it was not buried in advance, but was bought recently, the situation would be even more serious.The people behind him are so powerful that they are quite a threat to Zhi Xuan.

After thinking about it, Zhi Xuan agreed with the government order's suggestion and decided to temporarily move to the medicine field and stay with the two old people for a while.

Nowadays, beside the medicine field is no longer a grass shed, but a newly built wooden house.Zhixuan temporarily moved there, not only to facilitate the thorough investigation by the government order, but also to take care of his body by the way.

Zhixuan's carriage drove out of the county, and the government order ordered the gate to be closed, and no one was allowed to enter or leave.

Soldiers were organized to patrol the county and new towns, not letting go of any suspicious and clues.

The subjects didn't know the details, but they could realize that something must have happened.

When the Yi doctor and the village elders came back from the county and told that someone had poisoned Gongzi Xuan, everyone was angry and their teeth creaked.

"Finding people out will require a thousand cuts!"

When the subjects fell into anger, the food delivery team from the western capital finally arrived late.

They should have arrived a few days ago, but they were blocked by rain on the road.In order to prevent the loss of food, the only way to continue on the road is when the heavy rain stops.

The team came outside the city and lined up in a long black line, with no end in sight.

The convoys of the monarch and Liuqing have their own flags, and they will not mix them up halfway.

The soldiers guarding the city gate received the order, separated out several people, and took the convoy to the new city.There are warehouses and cellars in the new city, as well as a large number of barns, just to store these grains.

In Mi's team, several honest-looking men gathered together, and one of them signaled to his companions to be more careful.

Five days ago, he released the bird that delivered the letter, and the nail hidden in the city was supposed to send a reply.But today, there is no letter, and even the bird has not flown back.

Either the messenger bird had been preyed upon, or something had happened to the townspeople.

In this case, the action should have stopped.But as dead men, they couldn't give up halfway, so they could only bite the bullet and go into the city, looking for an opportunity to assassinate.

It's not that they spared their lives, but because of Mi Clan's favor, Mi Ji even personally promised that after the event is completed, their children will change from ordinary people to Chinese citizens.

It is impossible for them to refuse such a condition.

Knowing that the target of the assassination is Gong Zixuan, because of all kinds of rumors, they are afraid, and they have no way out, they have to go all the way to the dark, and there is no way to turn back.