Go back to the Ming Dynasty to be a thousand households

Chapter 198 Sigh
March 1592, 12 AD.

The weather is getting colder and colder. From time to time, a gust of cold wind blows in, and some snowflakes are sandwiched between them, hitting everyone's faces, bringing some tingling sensations.

But Ye Mengxiong, Mei Guozhen, Li Rusong and others walking on the road didn't notice this problem, they just looked at everything on the roadside in surprise.When they came from Kelan Prefecture and entered the territory of Wuzhaibao, Ye Mengxiong and others were in an incredible mood.

Compared with the various military forts along the way, Wuzhai Fort looks very different, rich, busy, full of vitality, this is Ye Mengxiong's inner feeling.The wide road surface is clean and firm, and there is no dust in sight. I heard from the locals that this road is called a cement road.There are also continuous wheat fields along the road, castle-like farms, military households with ruddy faces walking on the road, and children playing happily, making people feel like they are in a dream.

A few months ago, when Li Rusong led the army through the old camp fort, he felt that the place was full of vitality and was very different from many military forts. However, compared with Wuzhai Fort, there was a difference between heaven and earth.

The closer to Wuzhaibao, the more pedestrians on the road. Ye Mengxiong was also surprised to find that there were some long carriages walking on the road from time to time, which seemed to come out of Wuzhaibao City and lead to various farms outside the city. , as long as you spend a few pennies, you can take a carriage and travel between inside and outside the city, which makes everyone very curious.

In fact, the appearance of this kind of carriage shop was also beyond Huang Laifu's expectations. With the development of Wuzhai Fort and various farms outside the fort, the relationship between them became closer and closer, and people came and went frequently.So some shrewd businessmen saw business opportunities and opened this horse carriage shop. In order to make more money, they lengthened the carriage and traveled from the city to various farms every day.The price of the carriage is not expensive, and it stops at the beckoning, which is a bit similar to the bus of later generations.

To be honest, Wuzhaibao has developed to the present, and the development of many things has deviated from Huang Laifu's imagination. It is similar to Wuzhaibao as a living thing. It already has its own vitality and will find the right direction and find itself. way out.Huang Laifu is also optimistic about the change, just pays attention to it silently, and doesn't interfere much. Of course, the commercial tax of those emerging industries cannot be exempted.

Ye Mengxiong saw that beside a concrete intersection, under a big pagoda tree, there was a tea shop selling steaming hot tea. A group of local people were sitting there crowded with bags, drinking hot tea. .When a carriage came from the front, everyone got up and waved to the carriage, then the carriage stopped, everyone got on the carriage, and the carriage drove away slowly.

This is a wonder that Ye Mengxiong and Mei Guozhen saw. In addition, the perfect water conservancy facilities in the farmland along the way, the densely packed deep-water irrigation wells, and the rounds of large waterwheels by the river are even more interesting for everyone to see. Be in high spirits.In particular, the iconic scenery of Wuzhai Fort: the Huanglaifu waterwheel, made everyone's eyes wide open.

This is true of these big men, not to mention the small soldiers in the marching ranks, all of them opened their mouths wide, and felt that everything in front of them was fresh.And the richness of the local military households also made them envious.

Ye Mengxiong sighed: "As early as in the past, the old man heard about the Wuzhai Fort from the mansion newspaper. At first, he didn't believe it. When he saw the soldiers led by General Huang, he was also amazed at the fine armor of his soldiers and horses. Li, now the old man understands."

Mei Guozhen also sighed: "General Huang is a great talent, it's a pity that he is a general."

The two of them were talking, while Li Rusong, who was riding behind them on his horse, was silent. The situation in Wuzhai Fort touched him very much. Thinking about how difficult it was for him to control the land of the Xuan Mansion and raise thousands of servants , Maybe you can learn something from Huang Laifu.

There are also two brothers Li Rubai and Li Ruzhang who are closely following Li Rusong. They are also looking at everything around them freshly, while discussing loudly, saying that when they arrive at Wuzhai Fort, they must ask Huang Laifu for more Wuzhai. Canned Luncheon Meat.They never forget the taste of canned luncheon meat.

Liaodong Town, Xuanfu Town, Datong Town and the army of Helu are slowly approaching Wuzhaibao City, and it is even more lively at this time. From time to time, you can see merchants' carts and horses transporting goods, as well as densely packed workshops on the roadside.In each workshop, there are busy workers coming in and out.

With the development of Wuzhaibao, it has also driven the economic development of the surrounding Junbao prefectures and counties, especially during the slack season, more people from the surrounding areas come to work.Every day, a large amount of grain and rice products are shipped out from Wuzhai Fort, sold to various parts of Daming, and various raw materials are imported from nearby areas, forming a well-shaped economic development circle.A typical example is Kelan Prefecture. Because of the purchase of wool, many people have gained a way to make a living, and the local economy has also developed as a result.

Surprisingly, a large proportion of busy workers are female workers.Seeing the army approaching, they didn't have a trace of fear, as if they knew that they were absolutely safe in the Wuzhai Fort, and everyone was just busy with their own affairs.This caused some strange feelings in the hearts of everyone passing by the army. Every time they passed by a place, there were women from good families who quickly avoided and closed their doors. Only this place is not afraid of them.

Not far from the south gate of Wuzhai Fort, the army like a long snake stopped and prepared to set up camp. Li Rusong especially emphasized military discipline and should not harass the local area of ​​Wuzhai Fort.Although Li Rusong was arrogant, during the time he had been in contact with Huang Laifu, he also understood Huang Laifu's character, and there was no need for him to have any conflicts with the Wuzhaibao army.Of course, Wuzhaibao is responsible for the food and grass that the army passed by.

Huang Laifu had already received the news, and together with Ma Jiuying and his father-in-law, they came to welcome Ye Mengxiong, Mei Guozhen, and Li Rusong.

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"Your Excellency, Lord Superintendent, and Lord Admiral, you have worked hard all the way here, and the lower officials are far away from welcoming you, and I hope you will forgive me."

Huang Laifu smiled and stepped forward to salute.

Eunuch Ma Jiuying also stepped forward to greet him.

"General Huang, you are too polite. General Huang's elite soldiers and horses are really beyond imagination. Our army set off together, but the general arrived a few days earlier. This old man really sighs."
Ye Mengxiong said with a smile that he was polite to Huang Laifu, but he was indifferent to Eunuch Ma Jiuying. Perhaps in the Ming Dynasty, there were natural contradictions between civil servants and eunuchs, and they didn't like each other.How could father-in-law Ma Jiuying fail to see his expression, and his expression changed a little at the moment.

Huang Laifu pretended not to see it, and greeted Li Rubai and Li Ruzhang brothers next to Li Rusong, and said with a smile: "The lower officials have prepared meat, food, and grass for the army, and they will be delivered later. I will prepare them in the mansion." Food and wine, to clean up the wind and dust for several adults, to fulfill the friendship of the landlord."

Ye Mengxiong said: "Then it's good to catch up with the situation. I have to work for General Huang."

"Please."

"Please……"

At present, Ye Mengxiong, Mei Guozhen, and Li Rusong led a group of generals, followed Huang Laifu into Wuzhai Fort.

Ye Mengxiong and the others saw that the walls of Wuzhai Fort were thick and extremely solid, so they couldn't help but secretly nodded.Li Rusong has been in the army for a long time, and he can see that as long as there is enough food and grass in Wuzhai Fort, tens of thousands of troops will attack day and night, and they don't want to take it in less than a year.

After entering Wuzhai Fort, everything inside left a deep impression on Ye Mengxiong and others.Not to mention the prosperity inside the castle, what impresses the most is that it is very clean and elegant inside, the streets and houses are orderly, all of which are straight and clean concrete roads, and there are continuous canals and green trees.

Not to mention the merchants, the military households walking inside are also full of energy and neatly dressed. There are almost no people in patches on the street, and there are no disheveled, ragged refugees and beggars.Unexpectedly, this place was originally just a poor military fort in Northwest Shanxi.

All kinds of things inside made Ye Mengxiong and Mei Guozhen nod their heads, and their understanding of Huang Laifu deepened.But Li Rubai, Li Ruzhang and other generals didn't expect this, they just looked around curiously, envious of Huang Laifuneng's possession of such a prosperous place.

Soon, everyone entered Huang Laifu's Vice President's Mansion, where hot food and drinks had already been set up, and a stove was burning in the main room, and the fiery charcoal fire made the whole hall feel warm and cozy.

Huang Laifu introduced his father Huang Sihao, mother Yang Shi and others for Ye Mengxiong and others, and asked his wife Gu Yunniang to come out to meet them.Huang Sihao, Yang Shi, and some sisters, who have never seen such a big official as Ye Mengxiong, feel a little nervous, but Yang Shi thinks that her son is getting more and more promising, and the officials she contacts are getting bigger and bigger. cents.

Everyone was chatting and laughing, only father-in-law Ma Jiuying still had a gloomy face because Ye Mengxiong and others didn't give him a good look just now.

Three rounds of wine, five flavors of food.

Mei Guozhen sighed: "If all the border towns in the world are like Wuzhai Fort, why worry about the country's unrest and the emperor's? In the past, when I watched the time from the mansion, I still didn't believe in Wuzhai Fort. I have to admire it."

Huang Laifu said: "My lord Mei has won the award. It is all thanks to the great blessing of the sage. The soldiers work together to achieve the current situation of Wuzhai Fort. The lower officials dare not do it alone."

Ye Mengxiong praised: "Neither arrogant nor impetuous, he is indeed a young hero."

He said to Huang Laifu: "General Huang, the old man is very interested in the Wuzhai Fort. After the banquet, the old man will ask General Huang to be a guide to show around Wuzhai Fort."

Huang Laifu knew that Ye Mengxiong would be promoted to Zuodu Yushi and Zuo Shilang of the Ministry of War due to his military exploits this time, and later promoted to Minister of the Ministry of War, and then transferred to Minister of Nanjing Ministry of Industry. Incorrect.Besides, the management of Wuzhai Fort is his proud work, and he is happy to export the successful experience of Wuzhai Fort, especially for capable people like Ye Mengxiong.

At that moment, he hurriedly said: "Mr. Xiong said, how dare the subordinates disobey his orders? I'm just afraid that Mr. Xiong will be exhausted. Do you want to rest for one night and let's talk about it tomorrow?"

Ye Mengxiong smiled and said, "It's okay, today is just right."

They are polite, but the generals next to them are impatient. It's just the boss talking, so they don't want to interrupt casually.It was so easy to wait for what Ye Mengxiong and others said to come to an end.

Liaodong Deputy General Wang Lue said loudly: "May I ask General Huang one thing, your Wuzhai Fort was just a poor military fort early on, how did it develop in just a few years?"

Everyone looked at Huang Laifu together.

Huang Laifu pondered for a while, then said: "Agriculture is the foundation of the world, if the agricultural problem is solved, the world will prosper."

Li Rusong thought of coming all the way, seeing all kinds of well irrigation trucks densely packed with wheat fields by the roadside, and thought deeply.But Li Rubai, Li Ruzhang, Wang Lue and the others were completely confused.

(End of this chapter)