In November of the second year of Chongzhen.
As the weather gets colder. Snowflakes fall from the sky from time to time.
The price of cloth in the city has increased again, as has the price of vegetables.
All right! After the war, the prices of various materials increased, especially the price of firewood, which increased from three silver cents per hundred catties to five cents silver.
On the trail leading from the official road into Yichuan, many people helped each other move forward.
The people who escaped from the autumn harvest returned to their original villages by taking advantage of the space, and spread the news about Yichuan County to the surrounding areas. The people living for more than a hundred miles around were all from the same village, and each village was connected to Yichuan County. Migrating within Sichuan.
"I see smoke from the kitchen ahead. It must be the porridge soup kitchen in Yichuan County. Everyone, please work harder." The village chief shouted loudly.
No need to shout, the group of people could smell the aroma of pancakes from a distance.
Seeing this, the group of people couldn't help but speed up a bit.
When a group of people turned a slope, they saw a flat ground full of people.
There were hundreds of government officials around to maintain order.
On the slope, Han Xi frowned when he saw another group of people fleeing the famine.
Looked at the panel.
City: Yichuan
Population: 51,002
Maximum troop strength: 2050/2550
Money: 13620 taels/silver
Popular support: 40
Food: 20 stones
After winter, more and more people are fleeing the famine in the country. The population within the territory has exceeded the 50,000 mark.
But Han Xi couldn't be happy. There were almost 7,000 households.
There are only 1,600 hectares of cultivated land in the county. It has long been allocated to 4,500 households, and it is certainly impossible to redistribute the farmland.
It is even more impossible to open up wasteland. These years, northern Shaanxi has been experiencing drought as a whole.
Therefore, if we can build water conservancy projects and save 1,600 hectares of cultivated land, it would be considered good.
However, all of the 1,600 hectares of cultivated land are planted with potatoes. With the taxes raised, it will not be difficult to support 2,500 households for free.
But it is impossible to really raise money for nothing. Even if it is really free, these people will not be at ease.
Therefore, Han Xi's initial plan is to develop light industry, and a ceramic tile workshop is a very good choice.
Han Xi recalled in his mind that there was a cloth factory, a blacksmith shop, a tile workshop, a mill, a carpentry factory, a street sweeper, and a water conservancy company.
As Han Xi's thoughts spread, his goals gradually became clear.
Slowly, I felt that there were not enough manpower.
Just when Han Xi was looking forward to the future, a scouting post quickly approached him. When he got there, he heard his report: "The magistrate, there is an army of King Qin who wants to enter the country to replenish a batch of supplies. Do you want to allow it?"
King Qin’s team?
Han Xi touched his chin and pondered, and quickly remembered that this year Hou Jin seemed to be entering the customs for the first time. There were teams from Shaanxi and Shanxi entering Beijing to Qin Wang.
Thinking of this, Han Xi said: "Take me over and have a look."
After saying that, Han Xi quickly ran down the slope.
the other side.
The northwest official road enters Yichuan on the trail.
General Xu, who came from Pingliang Mansion, was surprised when he saw the county soldiers blocking his way.
The soldiers behind General Xu were all whispering.
"Are these just county soldiers? Why do they feel more powerful than our border troops?"
"I feel the same way. Did you see that coat? It must be very warm wearing it!"
"Look at them, they have six hundred horses. Is this county so wealthy?"
Listening to the whispers of the soldiers behind him, Xu Shen couldn't help but think about pretending to be a bandit in this county.
After thinking about it, Xu Shen decided to wait until he entered the county to see the situation.
At this time, the sound of horse hooves was heard in the distance.
General Xu Shen looked over and saw hundreds of cavalry approaching, which surprised him again.
It is really a luxury to have 600 horses in a county.
To raise a horse and keep it capable of fighting, it will cost at least three taels of silver a year to feed it with refined grains.
Six hundred horses, which equals one thousand eight hundred taels a year.
I don’t know if this county can generate such tax revenue in a year.
At this time, Han Xi, who came over, was stunned for a moment when he saw the officers and soldiers in front. He thought, this is the beggar army, right?
All of them have thin face bones and protruding bones, and their thin cotton clothes are covered with patches.
When Han Xi looked at the other general, he saw that the horse had not arrived, but the laughter came from far away. Then he asked Xu San next to him: "Look at that general, does he look like A Niu after he gained weight?" ?”
After hearing this, Xu San, who was riding a horse on the side, also looked at it, and then replied with a surprised look on his face: "It really looks like him, maybe he is some relative of A Niu."
When Xu Shenjiang heard the laughter from the other side, he felt a little unhappy. When he saw the face of the magistrate opposite, he was slightly surprised. He didn't expect that the magistrate was so young and handsome.
To be able to pass the Jinshi examination and serve as a county magistrate at this age is obviously a capable person.
Xu Shenjiang put away the dissatisfaction in his heart, and immediately smiled at Han Xi in front of him, "I didn't expect the county magistrate to be so young. He is really young and promising!"
Han Xi looked at General Xu without replying, and a bold idea arose in his mind.
Xu Shen will be looked at by Han Xi's sharp eyes and feel uncomfortable all over, and a crisis will arise in his heart.
Han Xi's performance next made him shocked.
Han Xi waved his hand and said lightly: "Kill this general."
As Han Xi finished speaking.
Just listen to the "pop bang" sound of gunfire on the trail.
Xu Shenjiang pointed at Han Xi with a look of disbelief.
When the Ming troops behind saw them, they were startled for a moment, and then they all gathered together and looked at Han Xi and his party on the other side with vigilance.
The more than fifty servants brought by Xu Shen were also shocked at this time.
"Kill these fifty people, as well as those President Qian and President Bai, and you will be able to join our Black Wind Village. If you see the clothes on our bodies, you can join." Han Xi said seductively.
The officers and soldiers on the opposite side were shocked again. They did not expect that the group of people on the opposite side dressed so seriously were actually a group of hidden bandits.
At this time, the fifty servants on horseback were a little panicked.
Commander Qian, Commander Bai, and other generals in the officer corps were all panicked.
"Don't listen to the nonsense from the other side. Today everyone saw that this group of people killed General Xu Shen. He will not let us go." A Qian general in the army shouted loudly.
Han Xi saw that the other side had not started fighting each other yet, so he was not in a hurry, and waved to Xu San next to him. Xu San understood, smiled, took out a heavy bag from under the saddle, and threw it on the ground.
Suddenly, silver coins were scattered on the snow.
"One head, twelve taels." Han Xi said calmly.
Suddenly, all the officers and soldiers breathed out.
"Kill these sons of bitches and let them bully us." A tall, thin man shouted and thrust forward with his spear.
Suddenly, the body of Mr. Qian who had just shouted was pierced by a spear in front of the tall, thin man.
Mr. Qian looked at the person behind him in disbelief, his hands trembling as he tried to point to him.
"Kill!"
After the tall, thin man took the lead, the others no longer hesitated, and immediately thousands of officers and soldiers started fighting each other.
