Three Kingdoms: A Million Soldiers Grown from the Fields

Chapter 194 Half-Year Results
Before the joyous afterglow of Zhang Xian's wedding had completely dissipated in Jinyang City, the candlelight in the inner hall of the prefectural governor's mansion had already been burning all night.

The bliss of newlywed life is undeniable, but weighing heavily on Zhang Xian's shoulders are 600,000 hungry mouths.

Lady Zou Wan came from a family of scholars and was deeply righteous. Instead of showing any signs of resentment, she took the initiative to take over the internal affairs of the prefecture and some of the responsibilities of supervising workshops such as textiles and clothing after becoming familiar with the environment, thus relieving Zhang Xian of some of his worries.

Whenever Tong Yuan saw the young couple, one working tirelessly day and night to handle military and political affairs, and the other managing domestic matters methodically, he would stroke his beard and smile, hoping that his grand-disciple would arrive soon.

On the huge map of Taiyuan Prefecture in the center of the prefectural council hall, the vermilion lines representing roads are extending in all directions at an unprecedented speed.

Half a year! Just half a year! From the arrival of the migrants at the end of last year to Zhang Xian's wedding in June this year, Taiyuan Prefecture has added nearly 400,000 people! With 200,000 local residents and 400,000 migrants, the registered population of Taiyuan Prefecture has now reached more than 600,000!

The latter also has a large number of refugees coming from Jingxing.

This is both an asset and a challenge.

Inside the meeting hall.

Xun Yu, Chen Ji, Han Ji, Wang Lie and other core subordinates stood solemnly.

On the huge sand table, wooden strips representing newly built roads, green cloth pieces representing newly reclaimed fields, and small red flags representing post stations densely covered the core area of ​​Taiyuan Prefecture.

Xun Yu stepped forward and pointed to the sand table.

"Thanks to Lord Lai's skillful management and the effective organization of the Ministry of Works, the policy of providing relief to displaced people through work has been remarkably successful."

"Now that the county road network is complete, the number of merchants coming and going has increased."

His fingers moved along the two most prominent thick red lines on the sand table.

"The main road from Jinyang to Lüchi has been widened and reinforced for a total of 130 li, and has been paved according to the standard of rammed earth set by the lord! The road surface is three zhang wide, flat and solid, and can be traveled without hindrance even in the rainy season! The grain from Lüchi's granary will reach Jinyang's official granary within four days!"

"A new road north of Jinyang, Yangqu, Mengxian, and Baijingbao! This road is 190 li long and connects the newly reclaimed area in the north of the prefecture with the gateway to Taihang."

Among them, the section from Jinyang to Yangqu is 70 li long, which is widened based on the old road; the section from Yangqu to Mengxian is 60 li long, which is mostly newly built; and the section from Mengxian to Baijingbao is 50 li long, which runs through the river valley and foothills, and the project is the most difficult!
Now, the entire roadbed is open, and 70% of the rammed earth pavement has been laid. The entire line will be open to traffic by August at the latest! Once this road is open, supplies and provisions from the refugees brought in through the Taihang Mountain trails can reach Jinyang directly, while military supplies and provisions from Jinyang can be quickly transported from Baijingbao to Weize Pass, protecting the eastern border!

"These two main routes total 320 li! In addition, the secondary routes from Yuci to Shouyang and from Yangqu to Langmeng have also been newly built and widened for more than 100 li. In total, the newly built, widened and hardened official roads are no less than 450 li!"

Han Ji added from the side that he was in charge of the engineering department and knew it like the back of his hand.

"At its peak, the labor force employed was no less than 60,000 displaced laborers per day! The work was divided into sections and contracted out, with competitions as incentives, and the wages were in the form of millet, salt, and cloth. Those who performed exceptionally well were given priority in settling down and allocating land! Although the laborers suffered, they had food and hope, so their morale was high!"

Zhang Xian, sitting at the head of the table, nodded, his eyes shining: "If you want to get rich, build roads first. If the roads are accessible, the army can move about without hindrance!"

"What is the status of the post station setup?"

Chen Ji replied, "Reporting to the lord, in accordance with the lord's order to establish a post station every thirty or forty li and to increase the density of posts in strategic locations."

Along this newly constructed 450-mile main road and important branch lines, 23 new post stations have been built! The average distance between them is about 20 miles, and the distance between them is even shorter at dangerous passes and large ferry crossings.

All were located in areas with abundant water resources and open terrain.

He explained in detail: "The post stations were all uniformly built, with rammed earth walls and three to five rooms in the main hall with tiled roofs, which served as the postmaster's office and a place for messengers to rest and store supplies."

The two side wings each have five rooms, which served as the living quarters for the post station staff and stables. There is a well in the backyard, and a kitchen and hay storage area in the side yard.

Each post station was staffed with fifteen postmen, thirty strong horses, and several pack horses and draft oxen. Between the post stations, military intelligence and official documents were relayed by trained foot soldiers and post horses, and could be delivered from morning to evening, covering a distance of a hundred miles in a single day!
Private merchants and travelers could also pay to use the post stations to rest, change horses, and replenish supplies. These twenty-three post stations, along with ten existing and renovated ones, covered the entire area of ​​Taiyuan.

Zhang Xian walked to the window, looked into the distance, and his face showed a hint of the weariness of a newlywed.

"Not bad," he nodded in approval.

"What's the summary after six months of land reclamation?"

Xun Yu's expression turned serious, and he continued, "My lord, the first priority for the newly added 400,000 refugees is to provide them with land and resettle them, so that they have stable property and a stable mind!"

He unfolded a thick volume of household records: "Within half a year, we concentrated our efforts and relied on the surrounding areas of the four cities of Lüchi, Yangqu, Mengxian, and Jinyang, as well as the river valleys and plains of the Fen River, Hutuo River, and Tu River, to carry out large-scale land reclamation!"

"In the surrounding areas of Lüqi County, the fertile fields of the Hutuo River Valley have seen 150,000 mu of newly reclaimed farmland! In the north of Yangqu County, along the banks of the Yangxing River and the former site of Langmeng, 130,000 mu have been newly reclaimed! In the basin of Meng County, 80,000 mu have been newly reclaimed! In the surrounding areas of Jinyang, along the banks of the Fen River and the gentle slopes at the foot of Xuanweng Mountain, 100,000 mu have been newly reclaimed! In Yuci, Shouyang, and other places, more than 40,000 mu have also been newly reclaimed! In total, 500,000 mu of newly reclaimed wasteland have been achieved!"

"Moreover, the number of displaced people's farmland in the five counties in the Qixian-Jingling direction has not been fully counted yet, and we will probably only have a clear number when the autumn harvest comes."

"500,000 mu?" Zhang Xian asked in a deep voice.

He knew how difficult it was to reclaim wasteland, especially in an era when tools were relatively primitive; road construction and land reclamation were jobs that could cost lives.

Han Ji stepped forward, a hint of emotion on his face: "It was all built by human effort!"

"My lord, you can't imagine the scene! Along the banks of the Fen River, on the Hutuo Plain, at the foot of Mount Xuanweng... everywhere you look, there are people clearing the land! As soon as the first light of dawn appears, the horn sounds, and countless figures surge toward the wasteland like ants."

"The able-bodied men led the way, followed by the women, children, the elderly, and the weak, with the oxen and horses neighing, until the sun set and dusk fell, when the exhausted crowd dragged their heavy steps back to their huts...day after day!"

"The hardships and suffering they endured are too numerous to recount," Wang Lie sighed. He was responsible for educating and comforting the refugees and knew all the blood and tears involved.

“People often die from illness and exhaustion, and conflicts and frictions are inevitable. However, the county officials, doctors, soldiers and patrols constantly handle disputes in a timely manner, treat patients and distribute medicines, which is why we now have 500,000 mu of new farmland.”

Zhang Xian remained silent for a long time, then walked to the sand table, ran his fingers over the vast green area representing the newly reclaimed land, and said in a deep voice: "What the people ask for is nothing more than this: the tillers have their land, the weavers have their clothes. There is still much for us to do. Wenruo, how is the spring sowing and summer planting going?"

Xun Yu: "The trial of double-cropping in Luxi was successful, and the experience was promptly promoted! The soil fertility of the newly reclaimed land is still thin, so this spring we will mainly sow millet and beans, which are tolerant of poor soil and have a short growing season."

In places like Lüsi and Yangqu, where water conservancy is relatively convenient, some of the fast-growing beans and drought-resistant oats brought by the lord were planted.

All newly reclaimed land and some cultivated land have been prepared in accordance with the Lord's decree to accumulate fertilizer, with extensive composting ponds set up to collect human and animal excrement, wood ash, river mud, etc., to compost into green manure, which is then applied during sowing to replenish soil fertility.

The rainfall this summer has been adequate, and the rice seedlings are growing...generally well. Barring any major disasters, a good autumn harvest is expected!

"Good!" Zhang Xian's eyes gleamed.

"With these 500,000 mu of new farmland as a foundation, plus the existing farmland, the grain production of Taiyuan Prefecture this autumn will surely reach an unprecedented peak!"

"When you arrive, how are things regarding water conservancy?"

Han Ji immediately replied, "Reporting to my lord, water conservancy construction is progressing simultaneously! In the past six months, the primary focus has been on dredging and small-scale water storage."

"The dredging was carried out on key sections of major rivers such as the Fen River, Hutuo River, and Dongguo River, especially the Hutuo River section within Lüchi County. Last year's winter wheat harvest owed much to irrigation. This spring, 30,000 laborers were organized to spend two months widening and deepening the river channel for more than ten miles, reinforcing the embankments, and clearing silt, which greatly increased its irrigation capacity and benefited tens of thousands of acres of newly reclaimed farmland."

"The small reservoirs are for extensively repairing ponds and water cellars!" Han Ji pointed to the small blue dots representing water conservancy on the sand table.

"At the foot of the mountain where water flows, along roads, and near villages, thousands of small ponds were dug and thousands of deep water cellars were dug due to the convenience of construction. Although this is not as large as the main canal, it is superior in terms of the number of points and the wide coverage."

The nearby water supply could alleviate the urgent need for drinking water for people and livestock in newly reclaimed fields and along the route, and also store rainwater to prepare for unforeseen droughts. The labor required was mostly comprised of displaced people resettled nearby, and the work was carried out as a form of work relief during the off-season.

Zhang Xian nodded in approval: "This is a pragmatic move. The construction of the Grand Canal requires long-term planning. We should wait until the foundation is more stable before proceeding with the project gradually."

The next day, Zhang Xian, accompanied by a troop of personal guards, traveled lightly and personally inspected the newly built Langmeng Post Station.

This post station is located in the north of Yangqu County, at the midpoint of the new road connecting Jinyang and Meng County. It is situated by mountains and water, and its location is crucial.

Although the post stations in Taiyuan are now called post stations, they are all places he plans to use as future locations for the establishment of new counties. The postmasters at each post station are also talent reserves for future county magistrates.

The postmaster of Langmeng Post Station was a sturdy man in his thirties named Li Dun. He was originally a wounded and retired squad leader in the Jiaqi Army. Because he was literate and had a steady personality, he was selected as the postmaster.

Upon seeing Zhang Xian arrive in person, he was so excited that he was at a loss for what to do and hurriedly welcomed everyone into the post station.

The rest stop was small, but clean and orderly.

A simplified map of the post station's jurisdiction, a timetable for post journeys, and reception regulations are displayed on the wall of the main hall.

Inside the stable, more than twenty post horses had glossy coats and were full of energy. In the backyard, by the well, several postmen were cleaning the horse tack.

"Director Li, the post station is newly established. Have you encountered any difficulties? Have any passing merchants or messengers complained?" Zhang Xian sat down and asked gently.

Li Dun straightened his back: "Our lord's new policies are clear, and we have been following the rules smoothly. Merchants and travelers have been settled properly and have no complaints." Just then, a commotion came from outside the post station.

Looking over, everyone saw a caravan consisting of dozens of oxcarts and horse-drawn carriages, loaded with linen, pottery and other goods, parked outside the post station.

The caravan manager, a shrewd and capable middle-aged man, was instructing his men to water the livestock while he himself, carrying a water bag, drank from the cows and complained to the postman, "This damned weather! We just passed Meng County and got caught in a downpour. The road is easy to travel, but being soaked to the bone is really uncomfortable! Luckily, there's a post station where we can rest and warm ourselves by the fire. If this were back in those desolate mountains, several of us would have fallen ill!"

The courier smiled and reassured him, "Manager Wang, rest assured, there's ginger soup simmering on the stove. We'll make some to warm everyone up in a bit!"

Upon hearing this, Steward Wang laughed and asked, "How much should I charge for the ginger soup my team brews?"

"Two people can get one five-zhu coin."

"Then I'll have to trouble you." Manager Wang bowed and reached for his money.

While taking out his belongings, he recounted his experiences along the way, and the courier listened attentively, taking notes and occasionally chiming in with a few words.

Zhang Xian watched this scene from inside the window and nodded slightly.

The purpose of post stations was precisely this: they served as both eyes and ears and a source of income for traveling merchants.

“Li Yicheng.” Zhang Xian stood up.

"The post station is the face of a place and a place trusted by the people. It must be kept clean and tidy, and travelers and messengers should be treated kindly. Prices should be clearly marked and fair to all, young and old."

The necessary provisions, salt, and charcoal will be allocated regularly by the prefectural government. Any shortages must be reported immediately. Furthermore, once the road escort cavalry is established, you must cooperate closely with them.

"I will obey Your Majesty's orders!" Li Dun solemnly clasped his hands in a fist salute.

After inspecting Langmeng Post Station, Zhang Xian led his men to inspect several other post stations.

The postmasters at the post stations were mostly recruited from the army, so there were none of them who were slick or cunning.

Wherever he went, he could roughly see the specific situation of the place.

The post station was originally built on the basis of a police station, and in addition to maintaining roads, it also handled civil affairs.

He could tell the quality of a local postmaster by randomly visiting several resettlement sites for displaced people and asking around.

For the next period of time, he traveled around Taiyuan County, inspecting the people's conditions.

Now that Xun Yu is in charge of public affairs and Lao He and others he has trained are skilled in crafts, he can focus most of his attention on the people's livelihood.

Occasionally, he would take Zou Wan to visit different places and introduce her to local stories.

Although Zhang Xian's marriage was initially based on lust, they developed an emotional foundation after spending time together, and he seemed to understand why Tong Yuan and the others took their marriage so seriously.

Time flies like an arrow, and the summer heat is replaced by gentle breezes.

After six months of hard work and sweat, the most exciting moment of autumn harvest has finally arrived!

The vast plains on both sides of the Hutuo River and the Fen River have once again become a golden sea.

The heavy ears of millet bent low, the plump pods burst open in the sunlight, and the oats in the newly reclaimed fields swayed in golden waves.

Compared to the bountiful harvest of winter wheat in April, the scene now is even grander, with an even larger crowd participating!

On the threshing floor, the drums of the new threshing machine spun rapidly under the pull of oxen and horses, emitting a deep and powerful hum, and golden grains poured down like a waterfall.

Women and children, carrying wooden rakes and brooms, laughed as they spread out the grain to dry.

The air is filled with the intoxicating aroma of freshly harvested grains and the warmth of the sun-baked cereals.

"Harvest! Bring every grain to the granary!" On the ridges of the fields, county officials shouted hoarsely, organizing the massive flow of people.

The newly resettled refugees are now the masters of this land.

Although their clothes were still simple, their faces no longer showed the fear and numbness they had when they first arrived; instead, they were filled with nervous anticipation and genuine smiles.

They wielded their sickles with practiced skill; this was the land they had cultivated and sown with their own hands! This was their hope for a livelihood, for feeding their wives and children!

"Old Zhao! Your ten mu of new fields look pretty good!" A man wiped his sweat and called out to the old man in the field next to him.

"Thanks to the magistrate! Thanks to this good harvest!" The old man, known as Old Zhao, straightened up, looked at the heavy ears of millet in his field, and smiled so broadly that all the wrinkles on his face smoothed out.

"After paying the rent and taxes, and keeping enough seeds and food, there will still be plenty left over! This winter, I can finally afford to feed my wife and children a few decent meals, and who knows, I might even be able to buy some new cloth to make some clothes!"

Similar conversations can be heard everywhere in the fields.

Hope, like this golden grain, weighs heavily on everyone's heart.

The official granary area outside Jinyang City is bustling with activity like never before.

Carts loaded with new grain, made of ox and donkey, converged from all directions along the newly built, wide official road.

Grain carts arrived in an endless stream from various places, including Lüqi, Yangqu, Mengxian, and Yuci.

Having experienced the process of arranging grain storage, Han Ji had foreseen this and within six months organized manpower to build dozens of huge circular granaries next to the existing official granaries using cement.

These granaries have thick walls, are raised at the bottom for moisture protection, and have ventilation openings at the top. They are the prototype of Zhang Xian's design for granaries, which incorporates elements from later generations.

The weighing officials were so busy that their feet barely touched the ground, and the huge measuring cups were constantly being filled and leveled for recording.

The abacus beads clicked and clattered, and the ledgers were flipped through rapidly.

"Yangqu County has newly reclaimed 130,000 mu of land, and has paid 180,000 shi of millet and 30,000 shi of beans!"

"In Meng County, 80,000 mu of newly reclaimed land yielded 95,000 shi of millet, 20,000 shi of oats, and 18,000 shi of beans!"

"In Lüchi County, 150,000 mu of newly reclaimed land have yielded a total of 250,000 shi of wheat, millet, beans, and sorghum!"

"Around Jinyang, 100,000 mu of new farmland were reclaimed, and 120,000 shi of millet were produced!"

Qi County.

"Jingling."

"."

Victory reports poured into the prefectural governor's mansion like snowflakes.

Xun Yu nodded from time to time as he looked at the final compiled figures on his desk.

This is not a statistic of cultivated land, but a statistic of reclaimed land in each county. This year's autumn harvest, relying on the hands of displaced people, yielded more than 1.3 million shi of tax grain.

Is it too much?

It's not much, not even comparable to the tip of the iceberg of the autumn harvest in Lüqi County.

But it was enough to reassure 400,000 refugees from Ji Province to become citizens of Bing Province.

Its practical significance far exceeds the revenue from tax grain.

After tallying the grain yield from the reclaimed land this year, Xun Yu immediately instructed local officials to begin reporting the harvest from the existing cultivated land.

The officials in charge of granaries also knew that the next period was the main event, and the amount of grain that would truly cause the granaries to overflow was about to arrive!

(End of this chapter)