According to the etiquette system, at the beginning of spring plowing every year, the court held a grand ceremony. The emperor presided over the plowing of the tribute fields to give the world a good start for spring plowing.
Time passed quickly. Fifteen days before the spring plowing ceremony, 50,000 new plows were delivered to the construction site beside the Bahe River. It was not transported to Chang'an, but the emperor was secretly invited to come over for inspection and acceptance. The uniform shapes were neatly stacked on the car. From a distance, it seemed as if one car had transformed into thousands.
Wondering if his eyesight was dazzled, Li Er rubbed his eyes. This, is this the result of Xiao Rui's two months? Although farm tools are much easier to make than weapons, how many people does Xiao Rui have? Only three thousand old, weak, sick and disabled people can produce such a large output?
Xiao Rui stood beside the emperor and introduced: "Although fifty thousand new plows cannot be distributed to every household on Guanzhong Road and Henan Road, they are enough to match the original old-fashioned plows. Some of the plows can even be divided into Give it somewhere else.”
Li Er is more concerned about the strength of the new plow. Is it easy to use? Is it really that much better than the old plow?
Xiao Rui confidently led the visitors aside. On this beach of the Bahe River, cattle, new plows, and skilled cultivators have been prepared.
After waving to the ten groups of people on the river beach, there was a crack of whips and a moo of cattle, and everyone's eyes were focused on the land on the river beach.
Eat soil, dig ditches, divide soil... hiss! This speed, this speed...
Xiao Rui smiled, and the effect was visible to the naked eye. The cattle seemed to have no weight on them, and the people holding the plow behind them had to jog to keep up. There was even a group of people who accidentally fell down because the cattle were running too fast.
But even after chewing a mouth full of sand, the man was completely unaware of the pain and embarrassment. Instead, he squatted on the ground and laughed wildly.
The village chief next to him went over and kicked him and cursed: "Old Qi, what are you doing stupidly? The saint is watching over there, and he can't even lift a plow?"
Lao Qi patted the dirt on his body and laughed at the village chief: "Who doesn't know that I, Lao Qi, am the best farmer in the village? Today's fall is worth it! I am willing to fall. With this new style of god Plow, I'll give a few other people a ridge of time. I'm sure to eat the stew at your house today."
The village chief laughed and scolded: "You kid, don't brag. In the past, there were not enough oxen and the land was difficult to plow. You are good at plowing, so you can plow faster than others. Today, take a closer look. The oxen were provided by the housekeeper. The sandy land is flat, but whose divine plow is not grinding away at the dirt? What kind of technology is needed for this kind of land?"
ah? ?
When Lao Qi saw it, he immediately panicked. He rushed over to pick up the plow and whipped the cow hard!
The emperor and officials by the river burst into laughter watching this scene.
Sun Wuji, the uncle of the state, took the lead in congratulating him: "Congratulations, Your Majesty, with this new plow, I won't have to worry about this year's spring plowing."
Li Er asked cautiously: "At this rate, it will be more than two acres per day? What about other soil plots? Is there any actual measurement?"
Xiao Rui pointed to the five people on the river bank, "The soil quality on the river bank is common in Guanzhong. I specially set up several groups for comparison."
After everyone observed carefully, they discovered that although the fields cultivated by the ten groups of people were close together, the land under their feet was indeed slightly different. Everyone admired Xiao Yushi's careful arrangements.
Su Jin, the great farmer, rushed into the field excitedly and observed more closely: "It eats the soil deeper than the common plow, and it also has a mechanism that can adjust the depth of the soil. This, this design can be directly adjusted according to the soil quality and needs. , adjust the farming plan, ingenious, ingenious!"
Turning around and trotting back, the old man, who was over fifty, was as excited as a child, "Your Majesty, Your Majesty! This new type of plow will not only speed up spring plowing, but also increase grain production if the soil is eaten deeper. , I’m so happy! Old minister, please give me credit for Xiao Yushi.”
The sedan chair was carried by everyone, and the officials who were visiting all congratulated each other, and they all shouted to ask for credit for Xiao Rui. Among them is Changsun Wuji, who doesn't like Xiao Rui.
Li Er looked at Xiao Rui, "Boy, what do you think?"
Xiao Rui cursed secretly in his heart, asking me? You clearly want to wipe out my achievements and prostitute me for nothing. How shameless are you?
But after thinking about it, forget it, the plow agreed to be regarded as compensation for the dowry to Xiangcheng. Although it cannot be stated clearly, it is a gentleman's agreement. It doesn't matter whether he is promoted or not. I don't care about it.
"Your Majesty, I am an official of the Tang Dynasty. It is my duty to contribute to the country. I dare not be greedy for merit."
"You kid...am I someone who doesn't know rewards and punishments?" Li Er scolded with a smile.
Xiao Rui said seriously: "There is still half a month before the Spring Plowing Ceremony. The top priority is to quickly transport these plows to Guanzhong Road and Henan Road and distribute them all to the people."
Li Er was very satisfied with Xiao Rui's attitude. When everyone only saw rewards based on merit, this guy could still remember the business, which was good. It seems that he is really not an official person and only does things sincerely.
"Let's all discuss how to distribute it to the people effectively?" the emperor asked the officials he brought. He emphasized the common people, and his meaning was very clear. If the grain was given to the people, the taxes would be paid to the state treasury in the future. But if it was given to the nobles, not all the grain collected would be paid to the court.
Sun Wuji, the uncle of the country, was the first to speak: "First of all, we must not ask for money, but give it out for free, otherwise ordinary people will not be able to afford it."
The emperor nodded and said thoughtfully: "Send people from Sinong Temple and follow the supervision to distribute them. All counties will distribute them uniformly."
Everyone was talking and offering advice and suggestions. Xiao Rui finally saw the abilities of this group of imperial elites. When they were put to practical use, it turned out that there was strength in numbers and they had a lot of ideas.
Su Dan, the great Sinong who had been staring at the riverbank, said, "Your Majesty, I thought that we might be able to distribute the food according to the quality of the soil."
Everyone fell silent and listened to the thoughts of this experienced farmer, "Fifty thousand plows, evenly distributed, can only achieve an average efficiency of two acres per day. But what if all of them are given to the sandy land along the river? According to A plow with an efficiency of at least three acres can cultivate an additional 50,000 acres of land in one day. After the riverbank land is plowed, there will still be enough energy left to support other plots of land."
Xiao Rui looked at this big farmer in surprise and thought it was amazing. This entry point was something he had not thought of, or Xiao Rui had thought about it, but his idea was just the opposite. It would all be given to ordinary land, and there would be no delay in using old plows on the riverbank.
But there are professional people for professional things. At this moment, Xiao Rui chose to support Da Sinong.
He didn't feel official in this old man. Instead, he felt that he was as simple as an ordinary old farmer who devoted himself to farming.
After some deliberation, Li Er made the decision to distribute according to the suggestion of Da Sinong. Of course, the supervisors of Sinong Temple should also follow suit. I am not afraid that the people below will cheat and distribute them indiscriminately, but I am afraid that the people below will not do the job well and put these new plows in the warehouse to eat dust.
Changsun Wuji suggested: "Your Majesty, please give this new type of plow a name!"
Give a name?
"Xiao Rui, what's the name of this plow?"
Xiao Rui explained: "Based on its shape, which is different from the old straight shaft, I call it a curved shaft plow. The craftsmen who made it, as well as the people who participated in the experimental farming, called it a divine plow, and some called it a treasure plow." Plow..."
Everyone laughed. The name was vulgar but very appropriate. Isn’t it a treasure given by God?
Li Er nodded and said: "In that case, let's call it the God-given plow! God gave me the precious plow of the Tang Dynasty."
Everyone congratulated in unison, "Congratulations to Your Majesty for receiving the precious plow from heaven. May our Tang Dynasty live forever!"
Amidst everyone's congratulations, Li Er looked at Xiao Rui and fell in love with this unofficial son-in-law even more. The person who becomes the emperor knows the emperor's mentality and likes to exercise power, but he does not like the ministers who only know how to exercise power. Instead, he looks down upon those who work sincerely. Especially when the Tang Dynasty was first established, all kinds of wastes were prospered. Emperor Li Er was also a sincere person who did not like to exercise power.
"Xiao Rui, for inventing the God-given plow, you take the greatest credit. In order to solve the livelihood of retired veterans, you worked tirelessly on the construction site to build the Bahe Workshop. Although you don't take credit, I will reward you according to your merits, so that we in the Tang Dynasty can There are more talents like you who work hard."
"My intention: Xiao Rui has been promoted to the position of Shaoqing Si Nong of Sinong Temple. From the fourth rank, since you are proficient in agriculture and industry, you can assist the senior Si Nong in the following spring plowing."
Hiss... He seems to be only eighteen or nineteen years old, right? From the fourth grade? Red robe? The youngest red robe in the Tang Dynasty, right?
But looking at his achievements and his tanned skin, everyone would give a thumbs up and say: "I'm convinced!"
