In the summer, Cao's army returned to Xuzhou, and Liu Bei led his army to rescue Tancheng. The people of Xiaopei were like frightened birds. They closed their doors to avoid the military disaster, which delayed the summer harvest. It was not until Cao's army retreated in July that they dared to come out to harvest.
Looking around, the villages outside Xiaopei City are covered in green and golden colors.
Harvesting food was more tiring than planting. There were no mechanical equipment at that time, and everything had to be done manually. It can be said that although the harvest season is joyful, the sweat paid is also several times more than usual.
First, the harvested millet seedlings must be manually threshed, then concentrated in a spacious area on the farm to dry, and finally shelled and packed before they can be eaten.
The remaining millet stalks cannot be abandoned. They need to be bundled or stacked together. Some of them are used as fodder for war horses, some of them are used to make fires for cooking, and some of them are returned to the fields to be used as fertilizer.
Ganji's whole family went to work to harvest millet. The ten acres of land in Lantian were indeed planted to a new height, and the ears of millet were huge and plump.
At the time of harvest, Liu Bei also returned from Tancheng. He put down his military affairs and went to the vicinity of Xiaopei with Guan Yu. In ancient times, when the wise emperors encouraged farmers to teach farmers, they would personally go to the fields to cheer up the farmers.
For land cultivated by his own tribe like Wangjiazhuang, Liu Bei would also be concerned about the harvest at this time. Grain and grass supplies were the guarantee for enclosing the land in war.
"There is a severe drought in Guanzhong this year, and the local people have been displaced. Fortunately, the weather is good in Xuzhou, and Cao Cao left in a hurry and did not have time to grab food. It seems that our food problem can be alleviated." Liu Bei sighed while looking at the endless millet seedlings.
"Most of the military camps near Xiaopei are new ones. I don't think the corn output is necessarily impressive. It's too early to say whether the taxes can be paid according to the quantity..." Guan Yu said worriedly.
Liu Bei nodded and said: "We still have to ensure the food rations of our people. If that doesn't work, I have to shamelessly ask Mr. Tao for food..."
"Tao Gongzu was afraid that he would also be short of food. He heard that Xiapi Prime Minister Zuo Rong was in charge of grain transportation, but this guy brought a lot of taxes from the three counties of Xiapi, Pengcheng, and Guangling. He built the Futu Temple, and the Buddha was painted with gold statues and clothed with brocade... "Guan Yu shook his head and said.
"Mr. Tao Fu neglects his employment. No wonder Pengcheng was defeated by Cao Mengde last year." Liu Bei said regretfully.
At this time, Liu Bei suddenly discovered that the millet seedlings not far away were several inches high in the ground next to him. He rode over with doubts.
"Did you sow this millet?" Liu Bei asked Ganji.
Ganji's family was harvesting the ten acres of land in Lantian. He looked up and saw that his employer had arrived, so he raised his hands and replied: "Yes, General."
Ordinary people would not dare to look directly at an official or his family, but Lan Tian did not have such a psychological burden. After Ganji stood up, he also raised his head to look at the visitor.
Judging from the costumes of these two people, you can tell that Liu Bei and Guan Yu have arrived. Although Liu Bei's ears are larger than ordinary people, they are definitely not as exaggerated as hanging down to his shoulders. Relatively speaking, Guan Yu, who has a long beard, is indeed extraordinary.
"good!"
After Liu Bei finished speaking, he pulled off a bunch of ears of millet and said, "The grains of this millet are full. I think there will be a good harvest this year. Can you pay the rent and taxes this season?"
Ganji hesitated at first and then nodded. He took care of the 70 acres of land and weeded it frequently. The yield was 190 shi, which was almost enough to pay the rent and tax. It was slightly lower than the average yield per mu in this era, but it was not easy.
In addition to making up for the rent and taxes, the output of these ten acres of Lantian is the Gan family's rations for the next few months. If the village chief is more cruel and deducts seeds and advance rations, he may have to find someone to borrow grain to pay off the debt.
Ganji felt regretful at this moment. If he had known that everything had been planted according to Lantian's method, there would have been a bumper harvest.
Liu Bei was a mat weaver and shoe seller, and he was very aware of the hardships of the people. However, due to the high consumption of the troops, he set the tax rate relatively high.
Just when he was about to leave, Liu Bei saw Gan Qian's profile and was surprised, thinking that there was such a beauty in this countryside.
While walking on the road, Liu Bei said to Guan Yu: "Second brother, go back and tell Gongyou (Sun Qian) that you should not be too harsh on the farmers when collecting rent taxes this season. If it is not enough, just pay it to the next season..."
"I know, brother."
The rest of the family is the same as the Ganji family. Although the weather is good, the corn production is basically not up to standard. Most of the farmers in Wangjiazhuang and even all the military villages near Xiaopei can barely pay the rent and tax, and they have to find a camp in order not to go hungry. Borrow grain from China.
The ten acres of land in Lantian was an exception. Even though it was relatively barren land, the average yield per mu reached 3.2 shi. In addition to the 10 shi to make up for the tax, the remaining 22 shi was equivalent to the current market jin, which was more than 2,000 jins of corn.
The village chief of Wangjiazhuang was surprised when he was collecting grain. The Ganji family was the only household in the village that did not owe rent and taxes.
Ganji went to the city to sell some corn, cut back some pork, and made a few taels of wine. Finally, Gan Qian made a harvest feast, and the family enjoyed it happily.
It has been five months since Lan Tian traveled back in time. The soup was watery all day long, and he even forgot about the taste of meat. Gan Qian's cooking method is extremely simple, and there are no condiments in this era, but it is wonderful when you eat it in your mouth.
That's really fragrant.
After less than ten days of rest after the harvest, a new round of autumn sowing began again. Only then did Lantian realize that in order to survive, farmers really don't have much rest in a year.
When the Gan family started plowing the land, almost all the farmers from Wangjiazhuang came. After the Gan family's harvest was spread by the village chief, the news flew everywhere like wings.
Ganji was pestered by his neighbors and had no choice but to reveal the news that his adopted son would farm.
Lan Tian looked at the longing eyes of these people, and his heart was full of respect for the late Mr. Yuan in the original world.
At this moment, he deeply understood how attractive having a full meal was to the common people.
Lantian knew that his scientific planting had become popular.
Neighbors come to the village every day to ask for advice. These enthusiastic neighbors take turns helping the Gan family farm. The main purpose is to secretly learn some skills and return home. The so-called practical operation is very important.
After the enthusiasm of the people in Wangjiazhuang was ignited, not only Lantian became a hands-off shopkeeper for a while, but even Ganji became idle. He thought to himself, is this a precursor to becoming a landlord?
In the blink of an eye, it is the end of the year. Under the guidance of Lan Tian, the people of Wangjiazhuang have achieved a bumper harvest. Not only can they pay rent and taxes in full, but they can also save some surplus grain. This life has become more prosperous.
In September of the first year of Xingping, Lan Tian was enjoying the cool weather in front of his house. A group of soldiers carrying burdens came to Wangjiazhuang. The leader of the group, a Confucian scholar, was a middle-aged man dressed up.
Ordinary people were frightened when they saw the official, but Lan Tian didn't take the visitor seriously at all. The middle-aged people were amazed when they saw his calm expression.
"Excuse me, little brother, is this Old Man Gan's house?" The man raised his hand and asked.
"Your Excellency?"
"I am Jian Yong under General Liu. I came here to visit Ganji today. I have a good thing to tell him."
Good thing? When Lan Tian saw the several loads of things wrapped in red cloth behind him, he had a vague feeling about it.
"Tian'er, who is talking outside the house?"
Ganji was taking a nap when he heard something moving outside and walked out waving the cattail leaf fan. He saw that the person who came was dressed like an official, so he looked at Jian Yong carefully.
Seeing this, Jian Yong raised his hands and saluted and said, "I am Jian Yong, Liu Yuzhou's tent, and I am here today to pay a visit to the master of the Gan family."
"That's it, little old man." Upon hearing this, Ganji hurriedly saluted, and then invited Jian Yong into the house.
The Gan family had a surplus of food and their life was getting better. Although they did not prepare tea or wine to entertain guests, they still had a bowl of water.
Jian Yong saw Gan Qian carrying water and said that his lord's taste was indeed good.
Soon, laughter could be heard in the room.
After Jian Yong put the betrothal gift and left, Lan Tian knew that it was Liu Bei who came to propose marriage. Seeing Gan Ji so happy, he couldn't do anything to persuade him. After all, he was still an outsider to the Gan family.
For Gan Qian, Lan Tian didn't have much love between men and women, but more gratitude for a meal, a brother-sister relationship. He just felt a little unworthy of this beautiful girl.
"Sister Qian, are you willing to marry?" Lan Tian asked Gan Qian secretly in the afternoon. She didn't know what her plans were, whether to marry Liu Bei, a guy in his thirties, or to be a concubine.
After hearing this, Gan Qian was very surprised and said: "How can I disobey my father on important matters such as marriage, parents' orders, and matchmaker's words? Besides, Liu Xuande has a reputation as a virtuous man, and now he is the master of Xiaopei. My sister should be able to enjoy the blessings along with him." ."
Lan Tian remained silent, saying to himself that Liu Bei spent the first half of his life wandering around, and I'm afraid he would not enjoy this blessing.
