weaving

Chapter 214
Daming, Chongzhen 12th year, March 27th, the sun is rising, the sun is warm and bright, but not dazzling.

Outside Juyongguan, on the wide official road, a pair of armored sergeants rolled westward on horseback or on foot.

These sergeants were guarding a large cart with a fine coffin on it. White flags fluttered in front of and behind the cart. It was the sergeants under Zhang Cheng who were guarding the body of Zhang Yan, a general in Xuanzhen, and there were dozens of carts behind. , above are the found remains of generals such as Lin Zhiyi.

The rest had too many soldiers killed in battle, they were all cremated, so they could only take their ashes home, and the team marched slowly, solemnly and silently.

Behind the team, there are also many carts loaded with grain, horse feed, brand-new armors and batons, banners, golden drums, military tents and other things for camping and setting up camps.

There are also teams of craftsmen who push small carts and follow in the middle of the team. There are as many as 2000 households, but a team of nearly [-] people is struggling to move forward.

Zhang Cheng rode his horse on a hill not far away, looking back at the majestic Juyongguan behind him, filled with emotion in his heart.

Half a year ago, he was full of ambition and led more than a thousand fine horsemen under his command to gallop out of the customs. Now, he is leading more than a thousand cavalry sergeants, plus hundreds of craftsmen, on the road back to his hometown.

The only thing that changed was that he was promoted from Qianhu to guerrilla general.

On the official road, there is already a hint of green, and the thick willow trees on both sides are sprouting new branches, which are tender and green. On the hills on both sides of the official road, and in the wilderness, there are also clumps of green grass, which are about to cover the weeds. Hu Huang color.

It’s another year of new grass and greenery, which is a new beginning and hope for life. I don’t know if Zhang Cheng’s future will be as vibrant as these clumps of new grass!
…………

After the imperial court rewarded the meritorious generals who joined the King of Weiqin this time, they gave a banquet again. After a joyful banquet, each general led their troops back to their respective garrison places.

All the generals in Guanning returned to their own towns. Among the generals in Shaanxi, only He Renlong, the general soldier of Shaanxi, rushed back to Shaanxi to suppress the remnants of the rebellion in Shangluo Mountain. The rest, such as Cao Bianjiao and Zuo Guangxian, all He will follow Hong Chengchou to garrison Jiliao.

Yesterday, Chen Xinjia, governor of Xuanda, surrounded by three general guards, left Beijing for the Xuanda garrison. Because Zhang Cheng had to wait for his uncle Zhang Yan's coffin to be sacrificed three days later, he would return to his hometown after guarding the spirit, so he left one day late .

Before leaving, he specially summoned Zhang Cheng. First, he comforted him with warm words, and then told Zhang Cheng that he would wait in the security guard city, and hoped that he would come after him quickly.

During these days in the capital, Zhang Cheng has not been idle. Yang Tinglin has not yet returned from the south of the capital. He has to wait for Lu Xiangsheng's body to be sacrificed for seven days before returning home for Lu Xiangsheng's spirit protection.

Zhang Cheng visited Yang Tinglin many times, and left his subordinate Zhang Guodong and fifty elite riders to accompany Yang Tinglin to protect Lu Xiangsheng and return home.

During this period, Yang Tinglin did not forget Zhang Cheng’s previous entrustment. He used his connections to find not only sweet potatoes in Beijing and Tianjin, but also peanuts, corn and potatoes. out of the soybeans.

Peanuts and corns have been introduced to the Ming Dynasty from Nanyang area for a hundred years, and they are only widely planted in the south. They are also planted in the north, but they have not been widely promoted.

Sweet potatoes and potatoes were only introduced to the Ming Dynasty in the last few decades, and they had not been widely planted in the south. It was only when Xu Guangqi was training the new army in Tianjin that he tried planting them for a period of time.

Xu Guangqi was not only a cabinet minister of the Ming Dynasty, but also a contemporary scientist and a practitioner. He drilled the new army, forged artillery, and improved firearms.

He even tried to promote the widespread planting of peanuts and corn, sweet potatoes and potatoes in the north, improved rice varieties in the south, and tried planting in Tianjin, Tongzhou, Liangxiang and other places.

Xu Guangqi presided over the compilation of "Chongzhen Almanac", translated "Original Geometry", and compiled "Nongzheng Quanshu", "Sweet Potato Shu", "Nongyi Miscellaneous Shu", "Nongshu Draft", "Taixi Water Law" and other works.

It's a pity that his hard work has caught up with the troubled times of the late Ming Dynasty. If the country is stable at this time, under his leadership, China will definitely catch up and even lead the world.

In addition, I also contacted several farmers who had grown northern rice. For northern rice, Xu Guangqi tried to improve it when he was training the new army near Tianjin, but the effect was not very good.

But the sweet potatoes and potatoes were what Zhang Cheng urgently needed. At that moment, he and Yang Tinglin went to find those farmers. They had all hid in the city to avoid captives.

When they heard that the general in front of them was General Zhang Cheng who killed the slave chieftain Yuetuo, they were all stunned and even spoke incoherently. Zhang Cheng explained many times and promised to ensure their stability and no military disasters. , they agreed to follow Zhang Cheng to Xuanzhen.

Therefore, Zhang Cheng asked them to find more farmers who had planted sweet potatoes, potatoes, corn, peanuts, northern rice and other crops. As long as they were willing to go to Xuan Town, each household would be given ten taels of silver, as well as a set of farm tools, seeds, and farming equipment. Cattle and other supplies.

And the Second Chief of the Right Whistle under his command will leave Chief Wang Tieren behind, responsible for purchasing the corresponding farm tools, purchasing the corresponding fine seeds, and escorting these farmers to Xuanzhen.

In addition, Yang Tinglin also introduced a friend to Zhang Cheng. He was Yu Shangyou, the censor. Although this person had a good relationship with Yang Tinglin because he was also a censor, he was not as loyal to the Ming Dynasty as Yang Tinglin.

On the surface, he is a clear stream, but in private, he likes to make friends, and his thoughts are very lively.

Yu Shangyou, originally from Fengcheng, Jiangxi, was originally from Shishou, Huguang. He was a Jinshi in the fourth year of Chongzhen, the same year as Yang Tinglin, and both were censors.

However, this person later surrendered to Li Zicheng. In the 16th year of Chongzhen, he served as the minister of the official government. After Li Zicheng invaded Beijing the next year, he served as the minister of the military government.

However, Zhang Cheng felt that he was in need of such a person. As long as he had a lively mind, he could be used by me. As for money, it was only money if it was spent.

Before leaving, Zhang Cheng left 1000 taels of silver to Zhang Guodong, and gave him a task to escort Lu Xiangsheng's body back home, and with the help of Yang Tinglin, search for Chen Zilong.

According to Zhang Cheng's memory, Chen Zilong was sorting out the manuscript of Xu Guangqi's "Nongzheng Quanshu" at this time. If I remember correctly, it should be published this year.

Chen Zilong is also a loyal minister of the Ming Dynasty. He and Yang Tinglin have always been friends. Now that Yang Tinglin sent Lu Xiangsheng's coffin back to his hometown and went to Jiangxi, he can use his power to find Chen Zilong and purchase "Nongzheng Quanshu".

By the way, ask for other books by Xu Guangqi, such as "Sweet Potato Shu", "Nong Yi Za Shu", "Nongshu Draft", "Taixi Water Law", etc. Zhang Cheng also asked Zhang Guodong to try his best to purchase peanuts, sweet potatoes, potatoes and other good seeds for future farming needs , it would be even better if there are farmers who know how to plant.

(End of this chapter)