"There is no unbreakable city in the world." Zhuge Xiaosheng was not as optimistic as he was. "We can only try to build it as strong as possible. Everything depends on man-made efforts, and success or failure depends on heaven."
"I really don't want to start a war with Li Wanjiang." Xiao Chen was very satisfied with Xiao Cheng, but he couldn't help but sigh, "No matter who wins or loses, there will be a lot of casualties among the soldiers, but how can they deserve it?" Woolen cloth?"
He built Xiao Chen so strong that he actually wanted the Zhou soldiers who would invade in the future to retreat. But now that I think about it, this idea is ridiculous...
In fact, it's not funny, it should be sad.
"Boss, do you think Li Wanjiang can't help himself now?" Zhuge Xiaosheng would only ask such childish questions in front of Xiao Chen.
"Maybe," Xiao Chen said, "But he might enjoy it."
Li Wanjiang enjoyed it, but Xiao Chen did not.
This is the essential difference between the two.
Leaving Xiaocheng and heading west, all you can see along the road are green wheat fields and large areas of sugar beets. Because Yanyun County purchases sugar beets in large quantities and the price is relatively high, many farmers have squeezed out a little bit. Sugar beets are grown on idle fields.
There was heavy snow last year, but the crops are growing well this year. God has shown mercy to Yanyun, and there are no large-scale insect pests. The golden autumn is destined to be a bumper harvest.
"It's only been more than a year, Yanyun has changed so fast." Baili Qingyun sighed, "When I passed by last year, there were no people in the wilderness. Now they have been turned into farmland. It seems that there are many more villages."
"Haha, I heard from Cong that our Yanyun population has increased by hundreds of thousands in just one year. Some of them immigrated from the Western Regions, some of them returned to their hometowns after living in northern Xinjiang, and many of them were refugees from the south... … According to incomplete statistics from household searches years ago, we now have three million people in Yanyun County." Xiao Chen said.
"Three million?" Shangguan Qiji was startled, "Didn't you say there were only a few hundred thousand?"
"This was calculated a year ago. I'm afraid it has increased a lot in the past six months. The old man is afraid that if the population is censused again, it will cause panic among the people, thinking that we are going to war again, so he wants to put it aside before talking about it, but the local states Counties all have statistics, and the final summary is almost the same." Xiao Chen said.
"With such a large population increase at once, can the food be eaten?" Baili Qingyun asked.
"You just saw that the population has increased, but you haven't noticed that there are more fields? The land that was previously barren has been cultivated again. After so many years, the land is strong and the crops are growing well. And we have been cultivating it since last year. By reclaiming wasteland, there are now more than ten times more fields than before, so self-sufficiency in food is no problem," Xiao Chen said.
"What about where you live?" Shangguan Qiji asked.
"The living standards of ordinary people are not as exquisite as those in the city. It is not difficult to build a mud house for shelter. Last year, a large amount of wood was accumulated in various places." Xiao Chen said.
"In such a cold weather, it is difficult for a wooden house to keep out the cold. Besides, how much wood will it cost?" Shangguan Qiji said.
"The wood is only used to make the beams. The main body of the house is still made of adobe bricks. A few thousand adobe bricks are enough for a house. Then the outer walls are smoothed with hay and mud, and beams are added on top. Some sawdust and hay are put inside the beams for insulation. , the top is made of reeds to make it waterproof, and the fire wall in the house is heated by a kang, so it will be no problem to survive the winter." Xiao Chen said.
"Then the heavy rain will cause the earthen wall to collapse?" Shangguan Qiji asked curiously.
"It's so easy to collapse. Don't you know that houses all have foundations? If you have the conditions, you can use stones to build them. This is called 'putting on shoes'. If the conditions are better, you can lay a layer of tiles on the roof. This is called 'putting on shoes'." If you don't have the conditions, you can dig some ditches to dredge rainwater around the house," Xiao Chen said.
"As for the walls, the grass mud needs to be plastered thicker, and it needs to be plastered again every two or three years, which is a bit troublesome. But fortunately, you can use local materials. As long as you have a laborer at home, you can do it yourself, and you don't have to hire someone. People, or fellow villagers help each other..." Xiao Chen knows the sentiments of the people very well.
Do you think he spends his time drinking and eating meat in the Governor's Mansion?
"Then what to burn in winter? It's okay if there are few people, but how can there be so much firewood if there are more people? Ordinary people can't afford so much charcoal, right?" Shangguan Qiji said.
"Yeah, that's a problem. Even if we have enough forests to burn, it won't work. Those trees are very important to the natural environment and must not be cut down indiscriminately. I cooperated with the Japanese people to develop coal mines, just to mine enough as soon as possible. Once the coal comes, the common people will also burn coal to keep warm." Xiao Chen said.
"Don't you have to sell all your coal to the Japanese?" Shangguan Qiji said.
"Haha, it's just a small part for them. Besides, our Yanyun County's coal mine reserves are very large, and it's not just the Black Mountain area. We mainly want to learn advanced mining technology from them. From now on, we will own other coal mines. Come develop it." Xiao Chen said.
"You really think long-term." Shangguan Qiji expressed his admiration. He always felt that Xiao Chen was not doing his job all day long. Unexpectedly, he not only understood the sentiments of the people, but also had a good idea of the future development of Yanyun County.
"If you don't have long-term worries, you will always have immediate worries. This is what the old man likes to say." Xiao Chen said, "Actually, I just use my brain and my mouth, and they are the ones who really do the work. Alas... We have nothing to do in Yanyun County now. If there is a shortage, there is a shortage of people to do things.”
"Did you hear Baili? He said this for you." Shangguan Qiji smiled at Baili Qingyun.
"Me? What does it have to do with me?" Baili Qingyun looked confused.
"Baili, your master Zhang Chuqiu is a contemporary hero. The so-called great hero serves the country and the people. As Zhang Daxia's disciple, shouldn't you also make a difference? You can't spend your whole life wandering around in the world, just for some personal grudges. Fighting and killing, fighting endlessly, right?" Xiao Chen said.
"You dare to teach Baili a lesson?" Shangguan Qiji quickly reined in his horse and stretched out his arms to signal Ling'er and Xiao Ye to get out of the way. "How can he tolerate your temper? He will definitely draw his sword and kill you. Let's leave quickly. Open it more, otherwise you'll be covered in blood."
Baili Qingyun showed a wry smile, "Fat brother, who do you think I am? I draw my sword at every turn."
"Brother, you don't really want Brother Baili to be an official, do you?" Ling'er doesn't think so. Baili Qingyun doesn't look like someone who can be an official.
"That depends on whether Baili wants it or not." Xiao Chen said with a smile.
Baili Qingyun was noncommittal and silent.
"Oops! Brother Baili, are you really considering this matter seriously?" Ling'er was so surprised.
"Ling'er, you don't know something. In fact, my ancestors were also officials. My father once lived in a mansion in Minzhou County of the Han Dynasty. But seeing the current situation in chaos, I felt that even his small experience was powerless. Huitian, that’s why I resigned and returned to my hometown." Baili Qingyun said.
"I just saw that Baili has the temperament to be an official." Shangguan Qiji was purely an afterthought.
"Brother Xiao said it well, a great chivalrous person serves the country and the people." Baili Qingyun said.
