A small soldier of the frontier army in the late Ming Dynasty

Chapter 147
"It's a pity that the soldiers and civilians are so poor in such a good place!"

At this time, Wang Dou was standing on the bank of the Sanggan River and sighed. In the past ten days, Wang Dou had traveled all over Baoan Prefecture, inside and outside the prefectural city, every military fort in the territory, and farmland mines in various places. After reading it, the poverty of the soldiers and civilians inside and outside the city deeply shocked him.

The irony is that the local conditions are so superior, especially near the city of Zhou, where large tracts of land are fertile land.

But why is the life of soldiers and civilians so poor in this vast land?

Hearing Wang Dou's emotion, everyone around him sighed together.

Beside Wang Dou, Zhang Gui, the prefectural city management officer, Han Chao, Xie Yike and other guards stood.

Not far from them is a canal called Henan Huimin Canal, which meanders out of the Sanggan River and irrigates a large area of ​​land on the south bank of the Sanggan River.However, the situation of this canal is not optimistic. Many places have been silted up and abandoned. Judging from the situation of the canal, the Henan Huimin Canal has not been dredged and repaired for many years, and the water diversion effect has been greatly weakened.Not only that, but most of the large canals on both sides of the Sanggan River are like this.

In order to ensure farming, starting from the year of Xuande, the imperial court successively excavated and built five major irrigation canal systems on both sides of the Sanggan River: Beipingpo Canal, Henan Huimin Canal, Zhonghuimin Canal, South Huimin Canal, Gongwu Canal, etc.Around these five rivers and canals, various small ponds and canals were densely built around them to irrigate the surrounding fields up to tens of thousands of mu.It's just that they haven't been repaired for many years, and these canals are now less than [-]% effective. Wang Dou saw that many originally good fields had become wilderness.

In the tenth month of the lunar calendar, the weather is getting colder. Zhang Gui rubbed his bearded face and reported to Wang Dou: "My lord, most of the essence of the farmland in Baoanzhou City is located in the Hunhe and Yanghe rivers. What's sad is that most of the land here is tax-free land that can't collect tax and grain."

According to what Zhang Gui said, the farmland near the city of this state originally belonged to common military households and civilian households, who paid a large amount of summer tax and autumn grain to the imperial court every year.

But up to now, more than half of the large tracts of fertile land here, and the farmland of military households, are occupied by military officers at all levels in the state city and the Weicheng.More than half of the fields in the civilian households are occupied by local gentry and powerful landlords. Most of the military households and civilian households on the original land have become tenants under their names.There are very few soldiers and civilians who can own their own military fields and civilian fields near the city of this state.

From Zhang Gui's mouth, Wang Dou knew that the military households in Baoan Prefecture used to have more than 3 mu of land, but now, almost 2 mu have been occupied by military officers at all levels, and the civilian households under the prefectural government are not much better. Their private households originally had more than 3 mu of land, but most of them were also occupied.

These powerful literati and military generals occupied most of the fertile land, but tried every means to evade the collection of taxes and grains. The heavy burden was passed on to the bottom military households or civilian households who still owned farmland, causing them to become even more impoverished and bankrupt.

Zhang Guidao: "My lord, I will tell you the truth. The grain collected by military households in our prefecture city is 1000 shi per year. However, after I took office, the annual grain collection is less than [-] [-] shi. The numbers are getting smaller and smaller every year, and the military households are unbearable to be exploited, and they continue to flee. This summer, the Tartar soldiers entered the bandits again, and by next summer, the military rations collected in the state city may be less than a thousand shi."

He sighed: "The superior is urging him so hard, and every time he scolds, the inferior officer suffers."

Wang Dou nodded: "After the war, ten houses and nine empties, the fields belong to the rich, the rich get richer, the poor get poorer, such a cycle of differentiation, how can the security of the army and the people not suffer? Taxes and food cannot be collected, and you are also in this position." Difficult, Lao Zhang, I understand you."

Zhang Gui was even more grateful when he heard this. The embarrassment of his former subordinate being his immediate boss has completely disappeared now. He just wants to hug Wang Dou's thigh and make a career, so that Wang Dou thinks he is a person who is valued. good choice.

Looking at the large field in front of him, Wang Dou sighed silently. It is impossible to collect food from these literati and military generals. The counterattack of huge interests will tear Wang Dou to pieces.A glimpse shows the whole leopard. After Wang Dou's investigation these days, all the places that can make profits, such as commerce and mining, have been divided up by the powerful landlords, literati and generals. If he wants to make the army and the people rich, he has to find another way.

Han Chao has followed Wang Dou for a long time, so he naturally understands the situation in front of him. He said: "There should be a large piece of wasteland near the city of Zhou. We don't collect grain from those literati and generals. We will refer to the old method of Shun Xiangbao. Cultivating wasteland and distributing it to those military households who have no land should be able to open up a new world."

Zhang Guidao: "Brothers Han and North Korea, it's easy to say, how much food do you need to reclaim wasteland? Places near water sources are occupied by tyrants. Reclaiming farmland in land without canals will require a large investment."

On the banks of the Sanggan River and the Yang River, the local literati and military generals were unwilling to spend a large amount of money and grain to build water conservancy projects. For areas where irrigation was inconvenient, they actually built wells for irrigation. When the investment was too large, they also chose to give up. .For ordinary military households, they are even more powerless. In fact, the Ming Dynasty has always encouraged the reclamation of wasteland, but the reclaimed wasteland was eventually occupied by the tyrants, and the increasingly heavy taxation forced them to abandon the cultivated land and flee to other places. .

The output cannot match the input, and the result is that there is a large area of ​​wasteland near Baoan Prefecture, but no one is willing to reclaim it.

On the banks of the two rivers, literati and military generals were unwilling to spend money and grain to repair water conservancy, and Wang Dou was also not interested in spending money and grain to dredge these rivers and canals, doing useless work for these fields that could not receive tax and grain.He said: "There is no other way, the only way is to reclaim the wasteland. Although the investment is huge, as long as we get through the initial hurdle, things will be easy in the future."

Wang Dou estimates that the only way to reclaim wasteland far away from the river canal is to dig deep masonry wells, which cost more than 20 taels of silver, and each well can irrigate more than [-] mu of land. Although Wang Dou can think of various ways to save Financial resources, but the final investment is still very large.

At this time, he missed those high-yield drought-tolerant crops such as sweet potatoes and potatoes in later generations. Unfortunately, it is very difficult to transplant such high-yield crops.Without the corresponding good varieties adapted to the local geographical climate, even if these crops are found and planted reluctantly, the yield will not achieve satisfactory results.

During the reign of Emperor Chongzhen of the Ming Dynasty, when Yang He, Hong Chengchou, Zhang Yixian and others governed Shaanxi, in order to achieve success, Zhang Yixian forced the promotion of sweet potatoes and sweet potatoes in Shaanxi, but the result was a civil uprising.In fact, high-yield crops such as sweet potatoes were not widely promoted in northern China until the Qianlong period of the Qing Dynasty.

Wang Dou estimated that in the next few decades, he would not need to think about those high-yield and drought-tolerant crops, but he learned from the experience of Jingbian Fort and Shunxiang Fort that as long as there is a good system and planning, the soldiers and civilians can feel at ease. It is not difficult to solve the food problem of soldiers and civilians.In particular, Baoan Prefecture is so rich in resources. If it is well managed, it can completely make Baoan Prefecture a rich place in Xuanfu Town.

Wang Dou's later generations were history teachers, and he had a deep understanding of the history of the late Ming Dynasty, and the geography of Shanxi, Hebei and other places. According to Wang Dou's understanding of the geography of Baoanzhou, this Baoanzhou, which is also known as Zhuolu County in later generations, has a lot of resources in its territory. More than 50 mu of cultivated land has been reclaimed, most of which are irrigated.Since the year of Longqing, rice has been planted in Baoan Prefecture, which is known as "thousands of sanggans, but rich Zhuolu".Even if several tens of thousands of acres of land are occupied by tyrants, the remaining fields can be reclaimed, which can completely meet the farming needs of the soldiers and civilians.

Not only that, there are also a large number of woodland and pastures in Baoan Prefecture, up to nearly 200 million mu, which provided a good foundation for Wang Dou to raise cattle, sheep and horses. The animal husbandry in Zhuolu County was also very developed in later generations.There are also abundant coal and iron resources in Baoan Prefecture, which can provide a large number of raw materials for Wang Dou to develop military handicraft industry.

The population of Zhuolu County in later generations was as many as 33. At the end of Qing Dynasty, the population also reached about 33.With so many arable land resources, it is not possible to feed 10 people, but it is still possible to feed [-] people.

Seeing the vast land in front of him, Wang Dou was filled with pride. In two years, he would feed all the soldiers and civilians in the territory and train an army of 5000 people. This is Wang Dou's long-term goal as an ethics officer.In order to achieve this goal, I will wipe out all obstacles with the momentum of thunder!

……

On October 26, the ninth year of Chongzhen, the weather was even colder, and the biting cold wind blew in from the thick curtains from time to time, bringing some chills to the house.

"I heard that Lord Morality has returned from outside the city. It's very cold, and I don't know what he is doing outside the city."

At this time, he was in Dengshan's mansion, where there was a raging charcoal fire and mellow spirits, and several people in the house couldn't help feeling a little drunk.

Surrounding the table, besides Chi Dengshan, were General Huang Xian'en and the town governor Zheng Yu. At this time, it was the very obese general Huang Xian'en who was speaking.

After hearing Huang Xianen's words, Chi Dengshan murmured: "I heard that the lord of integrity cooperated with Zhang Gui, the officer in charge, to inspect the fields everywhere. Could it be that he wants to collect taxes and grains from our fields?"

Zheng Yu, the governor of the town, said: "Just don't worry about it. Wang Dou doesn't have the courage, and he won't be so reckless. If he really wants to do this, he will be the enemy of the entire city of literati and military. Does he still want to stay in this city?" ?”

There was a sneer on his gloomy face: "Wang Dou is still young and inexperienced in governance. He can't eat this place in Zhoucheng."

Chi Dengshan nodded slowly: "Brother Zheng is absolutely right."

Since Wang Dou took office, except for the appointment of relevant personnel in Shunxiang Fort, all the generals in Yuzhezhou City and other forts have not been moved. It is said that the new official took office three times, and Wang Dou did not burn even one.While everyone breathed a sigh of relief, they couldn't help but despise Wang Dou.In the eyes of the officials in Zhoucheng, Wang Dou was wandering around outside the city these days, and he didn't seem like a person who dared to take charge, which made them feel more at ease.

Zheng Yu and others have come to the conclusion that Wang Dou is good at fighting, but he is just a simple warrior. The relationship between people and things in Zhoucheng is complicated. Wang Dou is so young, and he was born as a soldier. My eyes are dazzled, and it's too late to enjoy, so how can I care about other things?
It's good that Wang Dou is like this, and they can enjoy Hu Wei in the state city as usual.

Zheng Yu, the governor of the town, thought for a long time and said, "Judging from the past few days, that Wang Dou may be a serious and internal idiot, no matter if I test it again. If he is at a loss after the incident, I will really rest easy. .”

Chi Dengshan said: "How to test?"

Zheng Yu said coldly: "Payment!"

He said: "The officers and soldiers in Zhoucheng haven't been paid for several months. As a superior, Wang Dou asked him for his salary, which is only right and proper."

Huang Xian'en was taken aback, he panicked and said: "Arguing about wages? This matter is no small matter, I have to think about it carefully, and don't make trouble so that things can't be dealt with."

Chi Dengshan pondered for a while, and said: "This matter is feasible. Right now, the officers and soldiers of the Ming Dynasty, from Bao'anzhouwei to Huailaiwei and other places, don't make troubles a few times a year. Isn't it all right? As long as things are under control, It's not enough to worry about."

Zheng Yu said: "Of course, I don't need to show up, I just need to encourage the generals. After seeing Wang Dou's handling methods, I will come out to clean up the mess."

Chi Dengshan gulped down the wine, and finally he slapped the wine bowl on the table, saying: "It's only natural to ask for payment, and the soldiers in the state city have not been paid for several months. With those acres of land, how can we support the servants?" ? The sergeant wants to eat, even if the incident happens and the trouble is brought to the Shangguan, I can justify it."

After Chi Dengshan yelled, the few people fell silent again, calculating the pros and cons of the matter. Huang Xianen was short of breath, and he poured a cup of wine into his mouth. Do whatever you want."

"it is good."

"Done, done!"

With the sound of several wine bowls being smashed to the ground, Zheng Yu, the governor of the town, said in a low voice, "I have a plan, so listen to it."

……

"Arguing about wages? Huh, some idiots, they think that Wang Dou is so easy to get along with?"

In the mansion of Qian Zong Tian Changguo, the secretary of the state city who manages the affairs of Baoanzhou, Tian Changguo let out a sneer at this time.

His inner room is as warm as spring, Tian Changguo is lazily leaning on the thick cushioned chair, his two big bubble eyes that always seem to be awake in the past are shining sharply, and the old stupor is gone.The officers and soldiers under Tian Changguo were in the same barracks as Chi Dengshan and others' subordinates. Today's noise from the officers and soldiers in the barracks quickly reached Tian Changguo's ears through his confidantes.

He told his general: "Take care of the people below you and don't let them get involved in trouble. Otherwise, if something happens, I can't protect you!"

After the confidant general took the order, he said in a low voice: "Master, do you want to send someone to inform Mr. Morality?"

Tian Changguo said: "No need, we just pretend we don't know about this matter."

For Wang Dou, Tian Changguo also couldn't figure it out. He wanted to use this matter to see what kind of person Wang Dou was and how he would deal with this emergency.

However, Tian Changguo once analyzed Wang Dou's promotion journey, and he can be sure of one thing, Wang Dou's easy-going appearance contains a decisive and ruthless heart.Every step he ascended, he stepped forward on a large piece of corpse. Tian Changguo would not want to be an enemy of such a person. Anyway, he had a close relationship with Xu Zucheng, the former integrity officer. Wang Dou could keep the state As long as the city's prosperity and wealth remain unchanged, he will be satisfied.

The confidant understood, and he left.

After he left, in the empty inner room, a creepy shriek sounded: "Chi Dengshan, Huang Xian'en, Zheng Yu, you three idiots, you are usually domineering and domineering, and you don't take me seriously. The officer is going to see how you end up!"

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Old White Bull:
There was a power outage all day yesterday, and there was nothing I could do to repair something. I hope the next few days will go well.

There is another chapter tonight.

(End of this chapter)