Controlling mountains and rivers since the Warring States Period

Chapter 71 Harvest (Part )

After a while,
It's harvest time.

He Bo was not good at farming, but Xi mentioned that it was almost time to harvest grain on both sides of the Zhang River in August and September.

If we don’t harvest it now and delay it, all hope for this year will be gone.

Xi, who received his son's filial piety, seemed to be full of motivation. He actively completed the tasks assigned by the ghosts and gods every day. However, when delivering various documents, he couldn't help but sigh, "Mr. Ximen must be very busy recently."

"I am too embarrassed to ask him about the law."

He Bo asked him, "Why?"

"Because this year is sure to be a bumper harvest, how can I disturb him at a time like this?"

Then He Bo remembered that it was indeed the harvest season.

The crops in the fields grew lushly, with their heads drooping as if they were unable to bear the weight.

"Yes, it's time to harvest the millet."

He Bo thought that this was the reward for his hard work for a year, so he planned to go ashore and watch.

"Want to go together?"

Without forgetting his two subordinates, He Bo extended an invitation to Xi and Ji Wu.

Xi agreed immediately, but he couldn't help but ask the ghost, "Which face should I use when I take Ji Wu with me?"

When He Bo picked up Ji Wu and communicated with him before, he always used the majestic Tu Bo face. The youthful appearance of He Bo had never been revealed to Ji Wu.

"Of course, I'll use the face that you two are familiar with!" He Bo raised his hand and made a "stroking his beard" gesture, and immediately changed from the young He Bo to the middle-aged leader-like Tu Bo.

"It's a good time like this, I can't just take one with me!"

After becoming a ghost, it is very difficult to return to the human world without the permission of ghosts and gods.

Not to mention that it is the crucial moment of harvesting grain, full of vitality and laughter. It is not a good idea to put a lonely ghost into such a scene.

So He Bo took two ghost officials and randomly went to a city on both sides of the Zhang River.

Ximen Bao is in charge of the overall situation in Ye County. Even without the protection of gods and ghosts, the harvest can be better than in previous years, but it will inevitably be more difficult.

therefore,

He Bo wanted to see the changes in other cities.

Capable officials like Ximen Bao are not found everywhere.

At this time, the managers of many cities were not very capable and most of them were of aristocratic origin.

After all, this was the early years of the Warring States Period and everything was still in a transitional period.

Many of the old characters still exist, and new characters are growing rapidly.

It is difficult for commoners with average abilities to compete with nobles with average abilities and become state officials.

Only those who stand out can overcome all obstacles and receive special treatment from the monarch.

Only when he goes to places managed by people of ordinary abilities can He Bo's hard work be revealed.

……

The autumn is intense,

He Bo stood at the edge of the field and watched people harvesting corn.

Xi felt itchy, so he ran over to ask for help and worked the farm for the farmer for a while.

The farmer was surprised that there was such a good thing in the world, so he readily handed the stone sickle in his hand to the other party and squatted in the shade at the edge of the field to rest.

"This place is not as prosperous as Ye County, let alone Pingyang."

Xi held the stone sickle, bent down and started to cut food, while talking to the ghosts and gods.

"Although it is difficult for ordinary people to have their own ironware, gentlemen can still find some and use it as public rental items."

When Xi was still alive, the officials of Pingyang City opened up some ironware and allowed civilians to rent and use it. However, the process was complicated and required many people to jointly guarantee it. If it was lost, everyone would be held responsible.

But in general, when the harvest season comes, in order to prevent unexpected weather events from wasting a year's hard work, normal officials and common people will try their best to promote the use of iron tools so that they can collect grain in time.

As a result, in Boyang city, many farmers still use tools made of stone and wood.

Ji Wu folded his hands and said, "It's so difficult to get those nobles to do normal things!"

"Iron tools are useful, but they only hide them. Even if they have more than they can use, they will not give them to the lowly people."

"Even if we don't use it as a farm tool, we have to make it into a weapon!"

"As long as I have a sword in my hand, why should I worry about not being able to get food?"

Ji Wu still has a lot to say in this regard.

Xi then argued with him, "How can you just rob me of the harvest I have worked so hard for a year?"

Ji Wu said, "I only rob the rich people's homes!"

"There's so much food in their warehouse that it's enough to feed rats. I can take some and give some to others. Isn't that good?"

"I see, then you are indeed a good person!"

Xi heard this and quickly changed his attitude, thanking Ji Wu. Ji Wu snorted and raised his head with his arms crossed.

He Bo pushed him and said, "That's a good point. Why don't you farm with Xi?"

Ji Wu said confidently, "Because I don't like farming!"

"If I could stay in the fields, bent over and doing things all day, I wouldn't be running around as a ranger!"

"Then I'll go!"

"Carry the food back later!"

He Bo ignored him, assigned the tasks, rolled up his sleeves, and started harvesting crops with Xi.

They cut the millet one crop at a time, piled them together, tied them up with some straw ropes, and let Ji Wu carry it on his back.

The farmer watched happily on the side, feeling that the fact that he had encountered three cows and horses that offered themselves to him today was simply a miracle from the gods.

When he returns, he will go to the temple dedicated to He Bo to worship and thank the ghost god for his gift!
"Next, it's time to thresh the grain."

Ji Wu's oxen and horses were carrying heavy food, and He Bo and Xi were walking behind. The latter spoke about what they were going to do next with familiarity.

"We need to find a way to get rid of the millet grains!"

Likes to make wrestling movements.

"Or use a pestle."

Xi then imitated the action of holding a large wooden hammer and hammering it down again and again.

"And then?" He Bo asked without hesitation.

“Then it’s winnowing!”

Xi opened his hands, imagining that he was on the field. He grabbed a hand full of golden and plump millet, and the slippery millet slipped out from between his fingers. Then Xi threw his hands again, and the millet and the debris produced by threshing were thrown into the air. When the autumn wind blew, the debris was blown away, and only the heavy millet fell down.

“That sounds wonderful!”

He Bo felt a little envious.

Technology in later generations is so advanced that he has never seen such a scene.

"Let's go back to Ye County later. The crops have been harvested a few days ago there, and they should be winnowing now!"

I did good things in Boyang and witnessed with my own eyes that the Zhangshui River Basin indeed had a good harvest this year.

It’s just that some places are harvesting efficiently and quickly, while some are a step slower.

……

When we arrived in Ye County,
Ximen Bao was following the farmers, winnowing the grain together.

The autumn sun is just the right brightness, very bright but not scorching.

The grains of millet were thrown into the air and emitted light and heat together in the sun.

The farmers' sweat and laughter, along with the abundant harvest, filled the entire field.

Ximen Bao wiped the sweat off his face and went to rest. His wife handed him a bowl of water.

He raised his head to drink, and then caught a glimpse of the uninvited guest.

Although He Bo's face at this moment was not the one he was most familiar with, he could naturally recognize this appearance after being forced to work so many times.

In particular, this facial feature is somewhat similar to Ximen Bao himself.

Now, whoever is ugly will be embarrassed.

Ximen Bao turned around and wanted to leave.

He Bo stopped him, "Am I a man-eating evil ghost? Do I look scary?"

Ximen Bao recalled his terrible experience of working during the day and at night, and sighed tiredly, "Ghosts are more powerful than evil spirits!"

"You don't need me to do anything else today, do you?"

“Just came to take a look!”

He Bo saw Ximen Bao looked a little worried and laughed, "Don't worry!"

"I have contributed to this year's harvest, and I want to be a witness to it!"

Ximen Bao heaved a sigh of relief, invited the god and the ghosts to sit on the ground in the shade, and handed them a pottery jar filled with clear water, asking them to drink.

He Bo took a sip.
Pass it to Xi,
Xi took a sip.
Hand it to Ji Wu.

then,

Because it is not a physical entity,

There were traces of water on the seats where the three of them sat.

Ximen Bao patted his forehead and said, "I was so tired that I forgot that you can't eat human food!"

finished,

The god and two ghosts burst into laughter, mocking Ximen Bao for only remembering this matter now.

(End of this chapter)