Eighth year of Chongzhen

Chapter 14 Mass Production

Sincerity Bo's family was confiscated, and the whole family was sent to Qiongzhou, which did not cause much repercussions among civil servants.After all, civil servants have always looked down on Xungui, and some civil servants even clapped their hands in private when they saw Xungui being unlucky.

But this news caused a huge shock in the honorable circle.In the past, the houses that were relatively close to the Chengyi Bo's House just stayed behind closed doors, and the others were also vigilant, strictly ordering their family members to curb their arrogance, follow the rules, and behave with their tails between their legs.

Those families who were victims were also compensated accordingly, and their future life can be regarded as somewhat guaranteed.

A few days later, the imperial decree came down, Min Hongxue, the censor of Zuodu, became an official, and Li Banghua, the censor of Zuoqian, rose to fame because of his participation in the next earl, and was specially promoted as the censor of Zuodu.

It is not a secret that Min Hongxue and Liu Kongzhao have a good relationship, so everyone thinks it is reasonable for him to leave the post of Yushi of Zuodu because of Liu Kongzhao's involvement.So far, the matter of Chengyi Bo's Mansion is the final outcome.

In July of the eighth year of Chongzhen, the Huangzhuang presided over by Liu Chao finally finished farming, and the head of the Construction Department of the Ministry of Industry sent by the emperor also came to Huangzhuang with a few hands.

During the nearly one month of farming, Liu Chao was not idle.He arranged for several eunuchs from the palace and two village heads to take people to purchase chicken and duck seedlings, piglets, and grain, etc. He took some healthy women from the village to build a lot of chicken nests and duck nests pigsty.The money was spent like flowing water, Liu Chao felt distressed and worried, the emperor left 10 taels of silver, and those who bought this and that had already spent more than [-] taels.Zhuangzi's walls and workshops have not been built yet, so he is afraid that the money will not be enough, and the prince will blame him, and he will have a reputation for being incompetent.

Worry to worry, you can't delay the emperor's important event, can you?Liu Chao led people to set up dozens of large stoves, bought dozens of large iron pots, built more than ten stone mills, and the production of military rations officially started.Under the arrangement of the head of the Ministry of Industry, the young adults who had finished farming began to repair workshops and build walls in an orderly manner, and the whole village was full of vigor.

In the past, although there were many people in the village, they all ate at each house, but now the Holy Majesty ordered that the construction work is not counted as hard labor, and two meals have to be taken care of, which has become a huge problem.

About a thousand laborers in the village participated in the construction, and Liu Chao ordered people to build dozens of large stoves next to the stoves for making military rations.One stove needs at least three village women, and these more than one hundred large stoves used about [-] peasant women.

Every day at dawn, the peasant women start to work, carrying water, kneading noodles, raising noodles, kneading noodles, and then setting up huge steamers to start steaming.From chen to noon, the big dustpans are filled with rough flour pancakes.

Those half-grown boys and girls used some small stoves to cook mung bean soup.Liu Fengyu specifically ordered that the workers were not allowed to drink raw water, saying that this was what the emperor said.

After the children are burned, they are poured into wooden barrels to cool, and when they are almost cool, they are carried or carried to the construction site.It is hot and heavy work, and the human body needs a lot of water.After sweating profusely, drink a bowl of warm mung bean soup, which can relieve heat and thirst.

Zhang Laoer, a butcher in the village, was slaughtering a big fat pig weighing about two hundred catties.After the pigs are slaughtered and hair removed, the pork is handed over to the peasant woman next to it to cut into pieces. The pig offal and pork bones are washed and boiled in a large pot with water and salt. After a while, the meat becomes fragrant.

The middle-aged and middle-aged boys watching the excitement bit their fingers and drooled one by one. Zhang Laoer, who was full of flesh, took out a few big bone sticks, picked off the remaining meat with a boning knife, and then fished out a few small sticks. Put the bones into a big wooden box, and greet the boys with a smile.The children were afraid of Zhang Lao Er's ferocious face, and wanted to eat but did not dare to come over. A bold half-sized boy couldn't help but stepped forward, picked up a bone and started to bite, Zhang Lao Er stood aside and laughed loudly. Laughing, the rest of the children immediately swarmed up to grab food.

Zhang Lao Er wiped his sweat with an oilcloth towel on his shoulders, picked up a bowl of mung bean soup and gulped it down, and then wiped his mouth. I am the happiest during this time.

Liu Chao busy's heels were all pointing forward, and several young eunuchs and two village chiefs from the palace kept asking for instructions from one to another.He felt that he had lived for more than [-] years, and he didn't have many things in the past half a month. He returned to his residence at night, took a shower, finished his meal, fell asleep on the bed, and slept until dawn.

Busy is busy, but there is an indescribable sense of steadfastness and a sense of accomplishment in my heart.

Sending away a little eunuch who came to ask for instructions, Liu Chaogang was about to sit down for a while, when a capable man in casual clothes came towards him.

Liu Chao felt that he was unfamiliar, and when he was about to speak, the stalwart man took out a waist card and shook it at him, Liu Chao's heart shuddered, Jin Yiwei!Or the emperor's personal bodyguard!He hastily cupped his hands, but before he could speak, the man winked and signaled him to silence.Then he whispered: "Sheng Jia has arrived at the manor, and I specially asked me to tell you that this is a tour in micro-clothes, so don't disturb others, and don't let people know the identity of the Holy Master!"

Liu Chao followed the man to the workshop site, and saw Zhu Youjian dressed as a scholar from a distance, Wang Chengen beside him in a green cap, and dozens of strong men with bulging waists scattered around, looking around vigilantly.

He hurriedly trotted to the emperor's side, just about to kneel down, suddenly remembered the guard's instructions, and instead bowed deeply and said: "Emperor... the master didn't say anything in advance when he came, slave... The little one is welcome!" ,
Zhu Youjian was looking at the built workshop. Hearing this, he turned his head and said with a smile: "It's been a few days of leisure, and I have nothing to do at home. I suddenly thought of your place, so I came to take a look. It's doing well! I didn't expect that in less than a month, I would actually Looks like it!"

"Don't let Mr. Huang boast, it's all the duty of the little ones! The little ones are afraid of delaying Mr. Huang's important affairs, so they quickly organize people to start work as soon as the farm is slack. The workshop has basically been completed, so there are not many people here, so we all go The construction site over the wall!"

Liu Chao was flattered, and replied with a smile on his face.

"How much military rations have been produced? Have the chicken and duck seedlings been distributed?" Zhu Youjian asked.

"I want Master Huang to know that more than [-] pieces of military rations have been produced, and they are all packed in bags of five catties according to Master Huang's instructions. Chicken and duck seedlings have been distributed to each family. Each family has about fifteen chickens and ten ducks. Seedling."

Liu Chao reported back.

"Continue to increase the production of military rations. After the completion of the workshop, people will purchase cloth and cotton to start making winter military uniforms. We must not cut corners!"

Zhu Youjian said.

"Please don't worry, Mr. Huang, the slaves will take good care of them!" Liu Chao replied hastily.

Then Zhu Youjian, accompanied by Liu Chao, went to the shed where the military rations were fried, and he could smell the fragrance from a distance.

In the past, the military rations of the Ming army were made of dry rice, which was soaked in hot water when eating. Some troops also used noodle cakes with holes in the middle to string them, which was convenient for carrying.But the biggest disadvantage of these two kinds of military rations is that they are single in nutrition, not to mention the taste.Soldiers spent a lot of energy in combat and marching, and the calories provided by noodles and rice were very small. Moreover, even such military rations were often in short supply. Many officers and soldiers of the Ming army often chased the enemy hungry and fought. The combat effectiveness and morale can be imagined.

The military rations produced in Huangzhuang are compounded with various grains, and salt, oil and sugar are added, which are sufficient in nutrition and calories.This kind of military rations can hold a few catties per catty, and it is easy to carry. Soldiers just tie the intestine bag in a knot and hang it on their bodies. Even if each person hangs two bags, the weight of ten catties will not affect combat and marching.Of course, this is not Zhu Youjian's original creation, he just copied the experience of a certain army in later generations when it was growing up.

In front of the steaming cauldron, a healthy woman is struggling to stir the grain in the pot with a wooden shovel, bursting with aroma.After frying a pot, use a wooden shovel to shovel it into the dustpan next to it, and then lift it up and put it on the row of wooden tables on one side by two peasant women who are helping. Packed in intestinal bags.A intestine bag was filled with about five catties, and soon a bag of military rations was packed, and after the knot was firmly tied, a special person was responsible for filling it into the sack.

Zhu Youjian nodded after reading it. He didn't understand this kind of thing, so it should be like this.

After watching the military ration production process, Zhu Youjian didn’t go anywhere else, so he walked outside the village and said to Liu Chao: “Tomorrow I will arrange for the Ministry of War to send people to receive the military rations, and you have to increase production. Many of the army are fighting against the enemy hungry. I feel very sad to hear this. The officers and soldiers shed blood and sacrificed, but they often don’t even have a full meal. This is the dereliction of duty of the court and mine. So, you want Do your best, produce more, and let the officers and soldiers of the Ming Dynasty eat delicious military rations as soon as possible! Tomorrow, the Ministry of War will start shipping immediately after receiving it, first give it to Hong Du and Lu Du, and then send the subsequent production of military rations to the front line of Liaodong, everything is up to you!"

"Master Huang, don't worry, even if the servant does not eat or sleep, he will never delay the important matter!"

Liu Chao replied firmly.

"Okay, I believe you, Wang Chengen, go back and say hello to Cao Huachun, and promote Liu Chao to the Twelfth Superintendent Book!"

Liu Chao is Fengyu, from the sixth rank, the Dianbo is the sixth rank, and has been promoted to one level.

Wang Chengen bowed in response.

Excited, Liu Chao's eyes were flushed, and he was afraid that the villagers would not dare to pay respects when they saw it, so he could only bow deeply, with his hands over his head, and saluted, "It's hard for a servant to repay Master Huang's kindness even if it's broken into pieces! To repay the great favor!"

Zhu Youjian smiled and patted him on the shoulder, then got into the carriage and drove back to the palace.

(End of this chapter)