Great Song

"Teacher, have you lost your mind and gone crazy in the new newspaper this day? Why did you write about farming?" After reading the newspaper early in the morning, some disciples took the newspaper and came to look for Cheng Yi.

Now Cheng's mansion has also built a newspaper office, hosted by Cheng Yi, and his disciples review articles.These disciples of the Cheng family regarded Ri Xin Bao as enemies.It is thought that it attracted the emperor and gave birth to disasters.However, they published a lot of words on the Mingde Newspaper and frequently targeted them, but the other party didn't take them seriously at all.In the previous issue, they had just refuted that belligerence would lead to death. In this issue, people started to write about farming. It was like punching in the empty space, making people feel uncomfortable all over.

Cheng Yi also just finished reading today's new newspaper, but his complexion is much darker than that of his disciples: "This writer's intentions are vicious, and he is afraid that he wants to encourage the people to buy the national debt and exchange it for land in Qinzhou."

The following disciples couldn't help being uproarious. "Are you so thoughtful?" "That's right, it's really a good intention to say that you must say a hundred acres!" "Written like this, the thoughts are too vicious!"

Isn't it malicious?Cheng Yi sighed: "You can't let them deceive the people. Farming is so easy? Not to mention that Qinzhou is located in the border area, the land is thin and poor, and there are Qiang bandits. Just one or two people take care of a hundred acres of land, it is a huge A joke. A big plow that can only be pulled by three oxen? Just these three oxen alone is a huge tax, but there is no mention of it in the story, what a shame!"

It should be noted that today's "planning and setting courses" is to calculate the property of the family.That is to say, according to family assets, households are divided into upper and lower households, etc., and the taxes paid can be quite different.In the family property, mulberry trees, cattle, waterwheels, and agricultural tools must all be counted.If someone believed what the newspaper said and went bankrupt to buy land and cattle in Qinzhou, the tax alone would kill someone.Such incitement is simply insidious!

They can't be allowed to behave like this!Cheng Yi immediately made a decision: "I will personally write an article to refute this matter. The land poverty in Qinzhou and the hardships of farming must be known to the common people!"

Now that the newspaper has been published for a month and I don't know how much money has been posted in it, Cheng Yi doesn't feel any pain in his heart.Among scholars, the reputation of Mingde Daily is getting better every day.As long as it goes on for a long time, why don't you worry about being famous in the capital and being known as the emperor?Their public spirit must be known to the world!

I don't know how many people have noticed this little thought in the Rixin Daily.There are many people who are as angry as Cheng Yi.Hehuang is already risking the world's disgrace by preparing for the war, let alone open up wasteland on the frontier?If it is really inspiring, wouldn't it add fuel to the fire and make the emperor have inappropriate thoughts.This disadvantage must be eradicated in the infancy!

However, these righteous indignation anger did not appear on Wang Anshi.After picking up the new issue of Daily News, he immediately turned to the page of essays to read today's new stories.This time, it is different from the previous two articles. It is about harvesting wheat with a sickle cart.It should be written in the style of a storyteller. The words are straightforward, but they are more vivid. It is refreshing to read.Seeing the bottom line in one breath, something flashed in Wang Anshi's eyes. He suddenly folded the newspaper and got up to look for the emperor.

Just after the morning court, before Zhao Xu started to deal with political affairs, he heard that Wang Anshi was asking for an audience, so he was naturally recruited.

After entering the hall, King Anshi saluted, and immediately asked, "Have the officials read these few issues of the Daily News?"

It is reported that he has indeed read it. Is there any problem?Zhao Xu nodded slightly confused: "I read it, but Wang Qing thinks something is wrong?"

"The newly published farming articles seem to have a lot of meaning!" Wang Anshi said.

Zhao Xu understood, and couldn't help laughing: "This should be advocating land reclamation, right? Maybe it can make the national debt sell faster."

Naturally, he also knew that publishing these anecdotes about farming would make the people think so much.If it can promote the sale of national debt and reclaim wasteland, it will be beneficial and harmless to the court.It was precisely because of this that Zhao Xu didn't care about the impeachment of those censors.This tabloid was run by Ling Xiaozi's husband-in-law, so it was a safe one.

Wang Anshi shook his head seriously: "This is not what I said. If the big plow, pump, and sickle cart can be manufactured, it will be of great benefit to the country!"

Zhao Xu was taken aback, and suddenly sat up straight: "Can these things really be made?!"

He didn't expect this!The story is vivid and fascinating, but the emperor also wants to plow the fields himself, and he is also the one who has helped the plowshare and plowed the fields.Have you ever seen a plow that can only be pulled by three oxen?Not to mention the miracle of plowing the ground and sowing seeds at the same time!

But Wang Anshi said solemnly: "Originally there were only straight shafts for plowshares, and curved shafts were available in Tang Dynasty. In this dynasty, plowshares are shorter, light and dexterous, and there are foot plows that rely solely on human power. Farming things have changed from generation to generation. It is also the foundation of benefiting the people. Now the frontier counties are reclamating wasteland, manpower is short, but animal power is much cheaper. If we really change the farm tools, the effect of reclamation may be greatly improved. As for sowing seeds while plowing the land, it is not whimsical. I know that there are young horses in the south , shaped like a small boat, people sitting on it can divide the seedlings and plant them, which greatly saves manpower. There are still utensils available in paddy fields, let alone dry fields?"

These days, he has checked a lot of agricultural books, and even recruited people to ask a lot about farming.Are the ideas in these stories outlandish?Weird indeed.But it is not whimsical.It's just to recruit craftsmen and study it carefully.If it can be done, it will be of great benefit to all peoples!

And this is what Wang Anshi values ​​most, "If you want to be rich in the world, you must invest in the world."The wealth in this world comes from heaven and earth.If you want a rich country, you must do everything you can to get wealth from heaven and earth!But originally, what he valued most was water conservancy.Through the construction of water conservancy, the purpose of expanding acres and increasing production is achieved.After all, floods and droughts are what the people are most afraid of. If canals can be built, water can be diverted to irrigate the fields, and even lakes can be reclaimed, then the large tracts of land north of Chu can be effectively developed and become truly fertile fields.This is true of Jingchu, so must be the case of Qin Fenglu!It's just that dry fields are different from paddy fields. In addition to water conservancy, there must be qualified agricultural tools for farming and reclamation.

These stories, in the eyes of others, may be jokes and bewitching.In his eyes, he is no different from Hong Zhong Da Lu!As long as it works, why not try it?

Zhao Xu also became excited: "This, I have never thought of this..."

It has never been possible to increase animal power and reduce manpower.Even the Son of Heaven cannot be so extravagant.But the Northwest is different!There are all Qianghu people there, the price of cattle and horses is already low, and the population is sparse.If these agricultural tools can be made, maybe they can be as written in the story, full of grains of wheat!

There are still two years to go before the national debt is paid. If these agricultural tools are used in the border county in advance, are you afraid that the land in Qinzhou will not be sold? !

Wait, this method, the train of thought is somewhat familiar!Zhao Xu suddenly remembered: "That's right! Ling Xiaozi must have thought of this weird farm tool! Pass him to see him!"

To print a newspaper, a printing press must be built.Aren't the big plow and sickle cart in the story the same idea?The Daily News is also run by the Han family, so he must be behind the scenes to make suggestions!

When Wang Anshi heard this, his eyes shrank.He had heard the name of Ling Xiaozi for a long time, but he had never seen anyone before, and he didn't know what kind of person he was.

■

"I can't! I can't! I can't! Junior brother don't want to find the old Taoist. The old Taoist is alchemy, what does it have to do with killing insects?" Chi Liaozi almost shook his head like a rattle, and he didn't want to listen to Zhen Qiong's words anymore. Walk.

"Senior Brother... Senior Brother, don't go!" Zhen Qiong grabbed the other party's sleeve and eagerly looked over, "This insecticide is also beneficial to Shengmin, I have to try it a few more times..."

Chi Liaozi's head was about to explode: "Old Daoist, I have never planted land, and you are also a kid who doesn't distinguish between five grains. Let's get together and kill seedlings. It's almost the same! Don't think about it, there will be no projects in your yard." Is it? Don't miss the business!"

Half a month ago, Zhen Qiong came to him and talked about making insecticides.Chi Liaozi felt weird.However, his own elixir did not make any progress for a while, and this Xiaodao was talking about hype, so he was soft-hearted for a while, so he also tried it.The result is good, the insecticide can kill the insects, but the seedlings die faster.Reduce the dose, change the prescription, and even change the refining method for several rounds, and it will not be successful once!

This is simply a pit bigger than alchemy.Chi Liaozi woke up, why would he waste time?Immediately shake hands and leave.

Seeing his appearance, Zhen Qiong knew that he could not be persuaded anymore, and sighed plaintively.At first I thought that Chi Liaozi also studied herbal medicine and had some ideas about insecticides, but the results were good, and it was useless at all.It seems that there is still a specialization in the art industry. People have studied things for more than a hundred years, and they can't be made by themselves.

Just as she was complaining, suddenly a servant came to invite her.Zhen Qiong didn't have anything to say, and followed others into the palace.This time, he was still facing the saint in the side hall of the Chuigong Hall, and there was a courtier who was in his [-]s standing beside the emperor, which was a stranger.Zhen Qiong only glanced at it, then bowed to the emperor and said: "See the officials for the small way..."

Zhao Xu was not in the mood to go through these red tapes, so he asked directly: "Did Ling Xiaozi come up with the agricultural tools mentioned in those stories in the Rixin newspaper?"

ah?Zhen Qiong was a little dazed, he didn't read newspapers very much.However, when it came to farm tools, he immediately thought of what he had said to Han Daguan that day, and asked tentatively: "The officials are asking about farm tools such as plows and pumps?"

"It really is you!" Zhao Xu exclaimed.

It seems right.Zhen Qiong immediately let go of her heart.These days, Su Song has been supervising the construction of water conservancy forging hammers, and he hasn't had time to talk to anyone about it yet.Unexpectedly, Daguan Han would be published in the newspaper, but this is also good.It is convenient for him to act.

Thinking about it, Zhen Qiong nodded again and again: "Xiaodao came up with it. There are so many lands in Qinzhou, if you buy them, you have to cultivate them. The farm tools must be prepared first."

Zhao Xu: "..."

Are you still going to buy government bonds?How much is that much land?Could it be that you still plan to buy one or two thousand national bonds?

After coughing, Zhao Xu finally recovered his voice: "Ling Xiaozi also has a heart. It's just these farm tools, do you have a plan in mind?"

"I'm not a craftsman, how can I make farm tools? But there are so many skilled craftsmen, so it shouldn't be a big problem?" Zhen Qiong asked back.

"This... I will send a general to supervise the development. I wonder if Ling Xiaozi can go to supervise it?" Zhao Xu asked hastily.

"I don't know farm tools, so I'm afraid it won't work?" Zhen Qiong thought for a while, and her heart moved, "I don't know if the officials have thought about making some insecticides?"

Pesticide?Zhao Xu was startled: "Is there any medicine that can kill insects?"

"There should be some. It only kills insects and doesn't hurt seedlings. But it's too different from what I've learned, and I haven't got a clue after half a day of research. Why don't the officials find some people who are familiar with farming to develop this." Zhen Qiong also thought I understand, I don't know how long it will take to let him make the insecticide.It's better to talk to the emperor directly and let the court do it.Now that some people have taken over the farm tools, when the time comes to develop insecticides, won't everything be fine if you buy them and scatter them?

He thought well, but Zhao Xu's whole thinking was subverted.Can the bugs born in this field be killed with medicine?He couldn't help looking at Wang Anshi who was standing aside: "Wang Qing..."

But Wang Anshi said without hesitation: "Jiacao and Mangcao have been used to control insects since ancient times. The interplanting of rice and wheat is also to prevent insects. The government might as well recruit people who are good at farming and develop methods to kill insects. It should have a miraculous effect."

Really?Zhao Xu's eyes lit up: "What about the locusts? Is there a solution?"

Locusts are one of the deadliest natural disasters.And it often indicates that the emperor is not benevolent, and God will punish him.If there is a medicine that can keep the locusts from growing, it is a blessing!

Unexpectedly, before Wang Anshi opened his mouth, Zhen Qiong wondered, "What kind of medicine do locusts need? Is it enough to burn this thing and eat it?"

Zhao Xu: "..."

Are locusts edible? !Could it be that this small way wants him to learn from Tang Taizong, eat locusts, and bear the punishment of heaven for the people?Although he wanted to imitate Li Shimin wholeheartedly, eating locusts really couldn't do it!

Xu Shi saw the roar in the eyes of the emperor, and Zhen Qiong smacked her lips: "Don't believe me, the officials. This thing eats rice and wheat all day long. It is very fat and tastes like chicken. It is dried and ground into powder, and chickens are raised. Raising ducks and pigs is excellent. The insect eggs excavated and fried with noodles are also very fragrant."

From the beginning of the Great Zhao Dynasty, there was a habit of eating locusts.In Dayi Dynasty, there were not many locusts to be seen.When he was young, he ran to the fields with his seniors, occasionally caught a few, roasted and ate them, and they were particularly oily, but they were rare and delicious.

Zhao Xu just felt dizzy, why not only did he want to eat, but also turned out flowers?Doesn't sound like a fake.Could it be that locusts are really edible?Even if Renzong issued an edict to control locusts, it still needs to be sacrificed to the God of Jiu.How can there be any reason to let the people eat locusts?

Wang Anshi didn't know what the emperor thought, and immediately advised him: "Yao and Tang are both holy kings. There were nine years of floods in the reign of Yao, and nine years of drought in the reign of Tang. Why did they encounter such catastrophes? It can be seen that natural disasters are not necessarily punished by God. However, the common people are ignorant and dare not offend the might of God. The imperial court must offer sacrifices to the gods, but how can the people devote themselves to exterminating the locusts? If the locusts can eat, they will go away in fear, which is better than giving food! Whether it is eating or killing, the officials will It’s time to push it forward!”

Since the Renzong Dynasty, there has been a method of exterminating locusts.Digging insect eggs, burning locusts, and exchanging locusts for food.However, the emperor issued an edict and the officials urged them to do so. As long as the people are afraid, they will not be able to eliminate the harm with all their heart.But locusts can eat, it is very different.This is the key to eliminating the plague of locusts!

Hearing this, Zhao Xu was stunned for a moment.Yes, if the three generations are all holy kings, then it will be difficult to find out the root cause of these natural disasters.The heavens don't like it, how can it be called "Holy".If there is no concern of God's punishment, it doesn't matter whether people eat it or grind it into powder and feed it to chickens and ducks.What is important is that the imperial court should regard it as a disaster to prevent and even eliminate it.Just like building embankments for river management, we must take precautions in advance to minimize losses.

After a long while, he finally nodded his head slowly: "The locust plague, we should work hard to control it."

Wang Anshi was also very pleased with the emperor's answer, and said: "In addition to the locust plague, there are also insect pests such as scorpion, sticky, mulberry, borer, and scorpion. If we can control them one by one, it will surely solve the hardships of the people and effectively support the people. Pesticides, cultivation and fertilization methods should also be written down and passed on to the people."

"Yes!" Agriculture is important, but the foundation of the country, how could Zhao Xu not agree?It seems that a special agricultural bureau will be set up under the household department to supervise the manufacture of farm tools and integrate the methods of fertilizing fields and killing insects.Thinking that these were all the fanciful ideas of that Xiaodao, Zhao Xu couldn't help but turned his head and smiled at Zhen Qiong, "I'm afraid Ling Xiaozi needs to mention something about this insecticide."

"It's okay for me to help with this. It's just that the medicine is out later, so you have to give me some." Zhen Qiong said hastily.

Zhao Xu has long been used to this kind of attitude of no profit, and said with a smile: "In the future, Ling Xiaozi will have fields, farm tools, and medicines, all of which will be covered by me."

Anyway, just don't pay now.

Isn't this what Zhen Qiong wants?Immediately nodded happily.

On the contrary, Wang Anshi never expected that this Ling Xiaozi would only ask for such a small reward for his great achievements.This man is very different from what he imagined.There is no demeanor of a master of Taoism, but Han Miao who wrote the letter is completely different.

Zhen Qiong didn't care what others thought.After getting the promise from the emperor, I went home happily.

"Brother Miao! Your story is really useful! The officials came to me for questioning today, saying that they want to develop agricultural tools and insecticides. I don't have to worry about it!" How can I not share such good news with my officials? ?As soon as she got home, Zhen Qiong found Han Miao, and Ding Ling said.

After listening to him with a smile, Han Miao nodded in satisfaction, "It's best if the officials care about you. Qiong'er can spend more time with me."

Others thought that these articles were for the promotion of national debt, but only Han Miao knew that he was doing it to "reach heaven".Whether it is agricultural tools or insecticides, the imperial court is required to promote them.If Qinzhou does not develop for a day, land reclamation will be a loss business.And the land that Qiong'er wants to plant is also difficult to obtain due profits.Then the best way is to let the emperor take care of it and work hard to revitalize Qinzhou's economy and people's livelihood.Whether it is a newly established market or the development of agricultural tools, it is all for this reason.

This is for the benefit of Qiong'er, for the benefit of the court, and even more for the benefit of the people all over the world.Farm tools or pesticides are not a business that can be monopolized by one company, so why not maximize their effectiveness?

Zhen Qiong didn't understand these things, only the last sentence.Smiling, he threw himself into Han Miao's arms: "Brother Miao loves me the most. I'm resting at home these few days, just to accompany you!"

Han Miao also laughed with Wen Xiang nephrite in his arms.Isn't that the best?