The people in Changze County who didn't have any work to do went to the north. They found a plot of sandy land and started to plant ginger and watermelons according to the requirements.
Planting ginger required digging ditches and burying the sprouts.
Planting watermelons also required digging ditches to replenish water. However, watermelons didn't need to be covered with mulch in the current weather.
Because it was sandy land, the step of deep plowing was also saved.
Of course, the output couldn't be compared to the Li Family Zhuangzi's greenhouse, but it was suitable for the local people to follow and learn.
The best way was to plant and manage crops that were suitable for the local situation.
The livestock they brought were put to use at this time. They helped to pull the ditches. Folding buckets made of oilcloth and brackets were opened one by one.
The people took carrying poles and buckets to carry water. Even the watermelon sprouts had to be watered for the first time.
After that, they didn't need to water too much to prevent it from affecting the sprouts.
Six to seven hundred people worked together. The Li Family Zhuangzi's people used the canned food, dried meat, and dried vegetables they brought to make rice.
They worked until noon. Everyone used the clay bowls they were given to eat rice.
They scooped the stewed vegetables directly on top of the rice and added dried salted vegetables. Everyone ate happily.
County Magistrate Qu Zhi also held a bowl and stuffed rice into his mouth with chopsticks. He also worked.
He didn't want to work. He felt that everyone was working, including the yamen runners. If he didn't do it, would Li Dongzhu impeach him?
The commoners ate their food and drank the soup made by the children. They looked at each other and suddenly had a different feeling.
"This is what a county should be like. Other places have mediocre people. Everyone works together. We never have mediocre people."
Guo Shou suddenly said while chewing on salted vegetables. This was what he felt.
The people beside him nodded. Yes, this was the feeling. They were also people of the Tang dynasty, even if they were north of the Great Wall.
The county officials didn't find any problems and didn't care about it.
Everyone was just muddling along. They lived one day at a time. In the future, they would have children. When the children grew up, they would get married and have children.
When they died, their roots wouldn't be broken.
Today was different. The land that needed a lot of water could be used to plant watermelons and ginger.
In the future, he would be in charge of a large piece of land. When it grew well, he would learn how to plant it next year and have another livelihood.
Let's see if we can burn a scoop and use the bricks to build a new cave. Let's choose a good place and build more caves. When the child grows up, he will have a new home.
At this time, the Li Family Zhuangzi's people took out a loudspeaker and shouted, "Everyone, let me tell you a piece of good news. According to my family's Dongzhu's calculations, we found a coal mine.
As long as they removed the several hundred feet of soil from the top, they would be able to dig. This coal mine had a high heat value, so it was good for burning.
It's not far away. After you dig it out, I'll teach you how to build a kiln. Everyone can bake the bricks by themselves.
The selected coal can be sent to other places to be sold at a high price. If you are willing to learn the local coking method, we will teach you. "
"Wow!" The commoners were in an uproar.
We have coal here? You can see it after digging out more than a hundred feet of soil?
We don't need to dig. We can just dig a hole. Our homes are all cave dwellings, so we know how to dig holes.
"Where? Where is it? "Qu Zhi's eyes widened. There was a coal mine in my county, and it was a good coal mine?
In other places, you need to collect money to dig out the coal. You can transport the coal freely, but you can't.
I'm the county magistrate. Can I collect money? When the time comes …
"Everyone, don't worry. You can dig the mine yourselves. No one will collect money from you. The mine is under the control of the imperial court." The Li Family Zhuangzi's people shouted again.
Qu Zhi: "…"
He wanted to vomit blood. It was not easy to find a mine that could make money. Why was it under the control of the imperial court?
"When we have coal, everyone can burn coal in the winter. Although our cave dwellings are warm in the winter and cool in the summer, it's still cold in the winter.
Build a kang bed and arrange the chimney properly. Don't get poisoned.
When we have well water, we need to plant more grass and use it to raise sheep. Don't ask the sheep to dig out the roots of the grass.
There's a way to solve the problem of the sand. When the time comes, everyone will work and get paid. You can use the straw lattice to prevent the sand from blowing. I'll teach you all. "
The Li Family Zhuangzi's people did not care about the county magistrate. He was just following Li Yi's instructions.
The commoners who were eating looked at him. Some of them suddenly started to cry.
How many years has it been? Finally, someone came to take charge.
He taught them everything. He even helped them to draw a path for the future. They just needed to follow it.
In the winter, the cave dwellings would not be cold anymore. It was said that it was warm in the winter and cool in the summer. In fact, it was still cold. It was just warmer than outside.
"When we finish planting the ginger and watermelon, everyone will be very busy and tired before winter comes. Can everyone survive if we lend you the livestock?"
The Li Family Zhuangzi's people shouted again.
"Yes, f * ck them. We'll have good days ahead." Guo Shou was the first to speak.
Then, the others all started to shout. They were not afraid of working. They were only afraid of not knowing what to do.
"Let's eat. After eating, quickly plant the ginger and watermelon. Then, we'll go find a mine."
"We're going to have our own kiln. Burn bowls. Burn many bowls. Burn a big water tank."
"And plates. It costs a lot to buy a plate."
"When the time comes, we'll sell them too."
"The livestock lent to us have to be raised well."
After working for the whole morning, the people did not seem tired at all. They had endless energy.
…
In the Political Affairs Hall, Bi Goo and the others did not know about the earth-shattering changes that were happening in that remote county.
They were discussing how to lay the wooden tracks, which were different from the concave roads.
It was similar to the ones used to transport coal and warehouses. The wheels of the carts ran on them.
From the tracks in the warehouses at the docks, they already knew how powerful the transportation ability of this thing was.
"His Majesty did not come today. He said that the memorial was for Gao Lishi. His Majesty did not attend court today. How can he know about political affairs?"
Song Jing complained. He knew that Li Longji's health was not good, but he did not take medicine.
He only took diet therapy in the Li Family Zhuangzi and soaked in the hot springs.
Bi Goo was thinking about the blueprint and how to arrange the tracks. When he heard Song Jing's words, he asked, "Does the Li Family Zhuangzi not know about political affairs?"
Su Yi shook his head. "Li Yi is here, so is the government. His Majesty is of course not afraid of any problems."
Song Jing sighed. "How long can the wooden tracks last? Should we soak them in tung oil? Or paint them with asphalt? "
He already knew that some of the wood used to build the foundation could be painted with asphalt to prevent it from rotting, but he did not know that there was a method of boiling it.
"No need. The smell is too strong and smoky. After a few years, we will change them to iron tracks. Xiao Yi's first furnace to smelt steel was put into use, and the results were good.
In the future, there will be more furnaces like this, and they will be able to smelt more steel in secret. We are not allowed to see it. "
Bi Goo was very satisfied with Li Yi's secrecy measures. He had asked to see it, but Li Yi firmly refused.
Moreover, they did not know which village in Zhuangzi was in charge of which area. None of the villagers told the outside world about the details of Zhuangzi.
"The water level has begun to rise, and boats have appeared on the water net. Should we stop them?" Su Yi changed the topic.
Song Jing shook his head. "The people have another way to live. We cannot stop them. Be careful of Li Yi's anger. You can ask Li Yi. Li Yi will allow it."
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