"It's better now. There are many fish in the sea and many trees in the mountains." Zhang Xiaobao said to Wang Juan happily when he saw the people below catching the fish neatly.
Wang Juan also knew that it was because the environment was less damaged. "Actually, there isn't much of a difference between wild fish and farmed fish. Most people can't taste it at all. It's possible to farm them. As long as their natural enemies don't hunt them, the survival rate of the fry will be very high."
"That depends on what it's used for. If it's just taste, it's true that very few people can taste the difference between fish meat. But if it's used for medicine, it's different. I remember that there's a type of fish called Fungus Fish that can increase the peak value of red blood cells. Wild and farmed fish are very different.
It's better to keep as many wild ones as possible. With the advancement of science and technology, the methods that humans use to hunt and kill other creatures will also become more efficient. At the very least, we've seen a few creatures here that we've never seen before. "
Zhang Xiaobao still wanted to keep as many wild animals and plants as possible.
Xiao Bei was also listening at the side. He suddenly interrupted, "Brother, should we pity small animals?"
"Yes, and no. We should pity all creatures in the world, including ourselves. But we still have to eat what we need to eat. If we pity all creatures, wouldn't they starve to death? If we only pity animals and not plants, it's fake pity. If we really want to talk about righteousness, then all creatures in the world are the same. Why should we distinguish between intelligent and unintelligent creatures? If we don't talk about righteousness, then this world is survival of the fittest. The strong preys on the weak. "
Zhang Xiaobao was not a member of the protection association. He didn't care at all.
"Then why do we pity them?" Xiao Bei didn't quite understand, but at least he knew a little and asked again.
"Because we need to leave it for younger brothers and sisters. We need to let them know what's in the world."
"Oh, then I understand. In the future, I'll eat at most three bowls of shark fin every month." Xiao Bei set a limit for himself. He wanted to leave the food for younger brothers and sisters.
Zhang Xiaobao picked up his sister and pointed at the fishermen below. "Xiao Bei, you can eat if you want. With this method, you don't have to worry about killing them all."
"Five bowls then." Xiao Bei added two more bowls. Who asked shark fin to taste better than vermicelli? Especially processed shark fin, which could be eaten as a snack.
*****
While Zhang Xiaobao and Wang Juan felt that such a fishing speed would not affect the ecological balance, the local fishermen on the sea were shocked.
"So fast. A net pulled up, and half the boat is gone. How is their net not broken?" The shy young man pulled up the net, but there were only six or seven fish in it. He looked at the small boat that was lowered from the ship and was very surprised.
His father didn't speak immediately. Instead, he narrowed his eyes and looked at the boats. After a while, he said, "Thousand Jin Horse Bones. These are the Thousand Jin Horse Bones."
"Dad, what are you talking about?" The young man didn't understand.
"It means that someone spent a thousand taels of gold to buy the bones of a fine steed." The father said to his son.
"Isn't that stupid?" The young man did not know this story and only thought that it was stupid to spend a thousand taels of gold on a set of horse bones.
"Stupid? That's the only way to buy a fine steed. Speaking of which … "The father knew a lot of things and told his son this story.
After the young man heard it, he still couldn't understand the relationship between spending money to buy horse bones and fishing now. He asked blankly, "Dad, did they also buy horses?"
"They didn't buy horses, but they bought people's hearts. They could obviously fish by themselves, but they insisted on spending a lot of money to buy our fish. This is to tell us that they are true to their words. In this way, they won't lie to us and will come back to buy the fish."
The father thought more and could not think further, but he judged that today's fish could be sold for money.
The young man pondered for a while and finally figured out something. He said, "Dad, do they want to let us know that they are true to their words today and then wait for a while to let us work so that we can believe them?"
"Yes, I guess the weather is changing. I hope there won't be a war." The father was indeed different from ordinary fishermen. He immediately thought of this situation.
The other fishermen were also puzzled. Why did the other side buy from them when they could obviously catch more fish? Six or seven copper coins could buy a bucket of brown rice, but if they wanted to exchange fish for a bucket, even if it was a bucket of fifty or sixty catties of fish, the other side would not trade. What was the meaning of this?
*****
Perhaps the words of the young man's father had an effect. The weather suddenly changed. The sunny sky suddenly became gloomy near noon. Then the wind and clouds rose, lightning flashed, and thunder rumbled.
People who often went fishing would look at the weather. Otherwise, it was very likely that they would not be able to return. But there were always times when they misjudged. When they came out today, they thought that it would be sunny all day, but in the face of the sudden dark clouds, they were all caught unprepared.
When the wind brought the waves down, they no longer cared about fishing. They all steered the boat to the shore.
But the storm came so quickly. Before they could start to go back, bean-sized raindrops fell densely. Lightning flashed across the sky from time to time.
"Wow! It's raining, put away the clothes. "Xiao Bei shouted and jumped excitedly on the deck. He had no intention of going into the cabin to take shelter from the rain.
Xiao Yuan also stood proudly at the side and said, "A bamboo staff and straw shoes are lighter than a horse. Who's afraid? A coat of misty rain is enough to make life miserable. Ah, let the storm come more violently."
"All of you come here. You really think you're the sea swallows." Zhang Xiaobao arranged for people to lower the mast as he shouted at his younger siblings.
The little guys could only give up the opportunity to fight against the wind and waves. They turned around and ran into the cabin. They changed out of their clothes that had just been soaked by the rain and crawled into bed to enjoy the warmth.
Zhang Xiaobao continued to stand on the deck and watch as the mast of his boat was cut down piece by piece. Every time a piece fell, the people who climbed up would move down a little bit.
If Old Man Pi and the other two knew about this, they would definitely regret not following them. If they wanted to see Zhang Xiaobao and Wang family doing high-tech work, they had to follow Xiao Bei and the others.
The mast of an ordinary boat was made of wood. This time, the mast of the fleet was made of steel pipes. When it was made, it was made to be seamless. But in the end, it wasn't as seamless as a gun-barreled car. However, it was enough to support the sail.
Piece by piece, the hoops were taken down in the current weather to reduce the surface area affected by the wind and prevent the boat from capsizing.
The big boat was firmly anchored in the coastal waters. The small boats were finished. The people on the small boats that were sent out to explore put on life jackets and vigorously rocked the boat, wanting to get closer to the big boat. When a wave hit, they were either pushed far away or capsized. Only the fishing boats nearby returned to the big boat.
The fishermen were at a loss. Every day when they went out to sea to fish, they left with the courage not to return. But everyone hoped to live. After all, the changes in the weather couldn't be completely controlled by people, unless they were very experienced old people.
But even such old people could only feel that today wasn't a good day. Sometimes, they would make wrong estimates. So many young people believed the old people when they heard that they wouldn't go out to sea today even if there was a storm. After seeing that it was a sunny day, they believed the old people's words.
There were also people who clearly felt that the weather wasn't good and had no choice but to come out to make a living.
For the fishermen at sea today, this was a coincidence. The old people in the village didn't tell them what the weather would be like today. They just reminded them to be careful as usual.
All the fishermen knew how to swim, but they didn't have life jackets. They also didn't have the rattan armor that people wore during the Three Kingdoms period that could shoot knives and arrows and be used as boats. That bit of swimming was too insignificant in the face of a storm.
The small boats sent out by Zhang Xiaobao and Wang Juan capsized, but the people on them could still float on the sea. The local fishermen could only rely on their own abilities to find a way to survive.
If the boat capsized, the fish were gone. Similarly, they couldn't control their lives.
"Save the people. Leave it to me to Team Zero." Just as Zhang Xiaobao watched the people dismantle the mast, he saw the fishing boats capsize one after another. After a while, they came out wearing diving suits made of shark skin and holding life jackets in their hands.
This time, there were 25 people in Team Zero. They were already prepared when the storm came. After Zhang Xiaobao gave them the instructions, they came out in the same attire as Zhang Xiaobao.
Pulling the water mirror, Zhang Xiaobao shouted, "Go into the water!" and jumped into the water headfirst. The life jackets were thrown aside when Zhang Xiaobao was about to enter the water.
With a splash, it did not take long for Zhang Xiaobao's head to emerge from the water. He swung his flippers and grabbed the life jackets that were not far away. He put them on and swam toward the fishermen.
Wang Juan stood on the deck, holding the last section of the mast that could not be dismantled with one hand and looking at the water with the other with the binoculars. She was not worried that anything would happen to Zhang Xiaobao. Zhang Xiaobao was a good swimmer, and he was wearing a life jacket. Moreover, they were near the sea, and the boats were still there.
She was only worried about whether all the fishermen who had fallen into the water could be saved. This storm that came without warning was a crisis, but it was also an opportunity. If it was done well, it could reduce the distance between them and the local people. If one person was missing, it would definitely cause pain to the family.
As for the inaccuracy of her experience, Wang Juan did not complain. When she encountered a typhoon in Lu Zhou, she also hid first and then found out that the typhoon had changed direction. Experience was important, but it was not omnipotent. Not to mention experience, even with satellite positioning and navigation, there were still ships that sank in the storm.
That measurement was accurate enough. The air pressure and the flow of clouds were all monitored, but it could not prevent all disasters.
In the sea, Zhang Xiaobao swam with all his might. This was the first time he went into the water to save someone. The most annoying thing was the waves. Fortunately, it was daytime. If it was nighttime, there was basically no need to think about saving people.
A wave crashed down. Zhang Xiaobao's body spun as he held his breath and bobbed up and down in the water. As soon as the feeling on his face changed, he shook his head and continued to swim toward the target.
The members of Team Zero also adjusted their breathing and physical strength as they gradually approached the fishermen. Fortunately, the fishermen were quite capable. During this period of time, 16 of them kept popping their heads out of the water from time to time. Moreover, they were very smart to take off their only pants before they fell into the water.
The waves crashed, but none of the 16 people shouted to the others. This was a contest of physical strength, lung capacity, and the storm. After being smashed into the sea by the waves, they had to swim upstream with all their strength. They could not exhale. They could only take a breath when their heads popped out of the water, and they had to hold it immediately.
The most terrifying thing was the undercurrents in the water. After being smashed into the water by the waves, a 'small' undercurrent could offset the reaction force of the four limbs when swimming.
Zhang Xiaobao jumped into the water first, and he was also the first to swim to the person closest to him. He did not pull the other person but just followed beside him. Then, he threw an extra life vest in front of the person.
This person was not stupid. He reached out and hugged the life vest in his arms. Then, after enduring a wave, he turned around and put on the life vest as soon as he popped out of the water. After that, he shouted with all his might.
"Save them." Zhang Xiaobao also took advantage of the time to shout. Then, he swam to the next person. Soon, he and the person who was saved first grabbed the arms of another person. The person who was grabbed reacted quickly. His upper body immediately relaxed, and his legs kicked. He followed Zhang Xiaobao and the other villagers and swam to the big boat.
After an hour, the rain became heavier. Spring thunder had sounded countless times, and there were no longer any intact boats on the sea.
The 16 people who were saved sat in the largest cabin, rocking back and forth with the waves. They had a lingering fear.
The sixteen fishermen were all rescued. Fifteen of them were in good condition. Only one of them had some internal injuries and vomited blood. He vomited after boarding the boat. Xiaobao looked at him and felt that he was fine. It was not lung bleeding, but bronchiectasis. He just needed to take some medicine and recuperate for a while.
The 15 people who were intact were each given a bowl of warm rice wine, and the injured people could only drink some water.
Zhang Xiaobao changed into a new set of clothes and started cooking the porridge. The sixteen of them also put on the guard's uniform. No one cared about whether it fit them or not. All of them were thinking about what happened just now.
Xiao Bei and the others did not sleep. They gathered in their cartoon pajamas. They wanted to hear what it was like to fight the storm in the water.
"Big brother, is it different from swimming in the waves? I can usually eat while swimming in the water. "
Xiao Bei was wearing a hat with long ears, white cotton pajamas, and slippers with two rabbit eyes. He moved his legs to the side of the shy young man and asked humbly.
It was always hard to refuse such a cute child. The shy young man wanted to hug the little guy and kiss him.
The young man looked at Xiao Bei and revealed a rare smile. He said, "It's different. Usually, when the waves are calm, I dare to jump into the water to catch fish. When there is a heavy rain, it is good as long as I can stay alive. The waves come one after another. Sometimes, when they hit, I can't swim even if I want to. It's over if I can't hold it."
"Oh, thank you, big brother. That's very scary. Xiao Bei has decided not to be a sea swallow. It's very sad to be in the water and not be able to come up to breathe. Big brother, how long can you last in the water?"
Xiao Bei believed the young man's words and dismissed the idea of jumping into the sea. He turned his head and asked Zhang Xiaobao.
Zhang Xiaobao thought for a moment and replied, "If it's just this kind of wind and waves, I can last for two hours. I'm just afraid of encountering sharks. Also, the water is too cold now. If I stay in the water for a long time, I will lose my strength. If I fall into the water now, I can last for half an hour at most."
Zhang Xiaobao's swimming was almost instinctive. However, he could not withstand the current environment. This was not like Lu Zhou. The temperature of the sea there was high. He did not have to worry about cramps, and his body heat loss was less. The temperature of the sea now was seven to eight degrees above zero. With the waves and rain, it was not easy to last for half an hour.
When the fishermen heard Zhang Xiaobao's words, their first thought was that Zhang Xiaobao was showing off. Even they, as fishermen, could not last for that long. How could a child speak so arrogantly?
Only the two people who were saved by Zhang Xiaobao believed in Zhang Xiaobao's ability. This was because in the end, when the first person to be saved realized that the second person to be saved could not hold on any longer, Zhang Xiaobao took off his life vest and gave it to the second person. However, he was not affected by the waves at all. No one knew how he moved, but he was able to swim through the waves.
Usually, one would be smashed into the water by the waves. However, the first person to be saved saw Zhang Xiaobao swimming with the waves before he immediately swam out of the waves. Although each time he swam through the waves, he was still able to swim to the bottom of the boat.
At this time, the shy young man's father said, "May I ask if there is anyone on the boat who is going to be an official in the province? I am the village chief of this coastal village. Let me thank you in person. My surname is Li."
Even if the people here did not like the officials sent by the Tang Empire, they had no choice but to acknowledge their status in the face of a life-saving grace.
"Old Uncle, are you talking about my elder brother? It's my elder brother and my elder sister. My elder brother's official position is now higher than my elder sister's. He is the provincial governor. Old Uncle, if anyone bullies you in the future, especially when you are an official, you can tell me. My name is Xiaobei. I will join forces with others to impeach him. "
Xiaobei glanced at his elder brother and began to chatter. Sometimes, his words were not clear. People had to think to understand.
With a 'hua' sound, the 16 fishermen who were sitting there a moment ago stood up almost at the same time. They looked at Zhang Xiaobao with astonished eyes.
This was no longer a problem of youth.
The first person who was saved opened his eyes wide and stared at Zhang Xiaobao as if he had seen a ghost. He asked, "You … you are the provincial governor?"
"Yes, I am the new provincial governor of Jili Province." After the change of identity, Zhang Xiaobao needed to put on airs. He represented the imperial court.
For the first person who was saved, age was not a problem. The problem was that it was the provincial governor who jumped down to save him. At the critical moment, he even gave up the clothes. When did the provincial governor's life become so worthless?
The fisherman who had always disliked the officials sent by the imperial court of the Tang Empire knelt down in front of Zhang Xiaobao. He knocked his head hard on the deck of the boat and said, "Sir, thank you for saving my life. After the storm, I will catch fish for you to eat."
"After the storm, it will be a rainbow. I will treat you to something else." Zhang Xiaobao finally looked a little like an official. He lowered his voice and said, "After the storm, it will be a rainbow. I will treat you to something else."
Zhang Xiaobao signaled the people next to him to help the fisherman up. Then he said to the village chief, "Village Chief Li, I was ordered by the emperor to be an official. I don't know much about this place. I hope the village chief can help me."
At the same time, he asked someone to bring the seal over and press it on a piece of paper.
Village Chief Li was dumbfounded. He would never have thought that a provincial governor would jump into the water to save someone. Moreover, it was a big child.
If he had not seen the mark of the seal, he would not have believed it.
"Third Master, His Excellency saved me. He let me wear the clothes that can make people float. Third Master." The second person who was saved by Zhang Xiaobao shouted to the village chief excitedly. He wanted the village chief to agree.
Village Chief Li finally reacted. He said to Zhang Xiaobao respectfully, "Your Excellency, from today on, Coastal Village will listen to your orders. But Your Excellency, Jili Province is not stable. You have to be more careful."
"I know." Zhang Xiaobao said.
*****
In the capital, Xingqing Palace set up the hot pot again. Li Longji sat in the main seat. He glanced at the people eating below and said worriedly,
"I have sent Zhang Xiaobao, the former county secretary of Baoxin County, and Wang Juan, the county deputy, to Jili Province. They will arrive soon. Do you have anything to say?"
Li Longji thought of the dispute there. Although it was nominally under the control of the Tang Empire, it was not stable. He was worried that something would happen to Zhang Xiaobao and Wang Juan. He regretted it now.
The people eating were Bi Su, Yao Chong, Liu Zhirou, and Zhang Shuo. They did not pay attention to the hot pot, especially Old Man Pi and Old Man Yao. They followed Zhang Xiaobao and Wang Juan everywhere and ate a lot of good food. They did not care whether they ate the pot of water in front of them or not.
Hearing the Emperor's words, the four people stopped what they were doing at the same time. They looked at each other and did not know who should say it.
Liu Zhirou saw Zhang Shuo looking over and did not give him any face. She snorted and said, "Humph! Your Majesty, I wonder who told you to send Xiao Bao and Cuckoo to Jili Province? It is very dangerous there, but it is next to the Khitans. Do you want Cuckoo to kill again? "
These words were actually directed at Zhang Shuo. Although the Khitans were temporarily obedient and submitted to the Tang Empire, everyone knew what was going on there. If they were not careful, it was easy to start an army.
Liu Zhirou was no longer an official, and he was almost finished. In the end, before he was finished, he was sent to De Yi Medical College. His illness, which was considered a serious illness by other people, was considered a minor illness by the medical college, was stabilized, and thus his life was spared.
Therefore, he felt that he owed the Zhang Family and Wang Family a big favor. If he did not help them, wouldn't he be ungrateful?
When Li Longji was asked by Liu Zhirou, he felt a little embarrassed by Weiwei. However, when he thought that he sent Zhang Xiaobao and Wang Juan there, he could not say anything. He could only sigh and say, "Will Xiao Bao and Cuckoo be in danger?"
At this time, he did not mention the registrar Zhang Xiaobao and the deputy county magistrate Wang Juan. Everyone present knew what was going on. Those two people were very special and could not be judged by their official positions.
Just when Li Longji was in a dilemma and regretting, a little eunuch rushed in and reported, "Your Majesty, just now there was news from Sanshui County. Zhang Xiaobao and Wang Juan sent a message by flying pigeon when they were on the sea of Jili Province. They urgently transferred 500 yamen runners from Sanshui County and Huayuan County to Jili Province. In addition, the capital also received a message from Lu Zhou. They suddenly dispatched six ships. They are big ships called gunboats. They are flying the flag of gunboats.
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