It didn't matter whether he was a profiteer or not, Zhu Yunwen didn't care. The unreliable climate here leads to frequent droughts and floods. They rely on the output of the fields to survive. It is estimated that this group of people will not be able to save two taels of treasure in their hands twenty years from now.
Breeding lotus roots is a good side job. There are river boats for easy transportation. Even if it is taken to Nanjing, it won't take long. If it doesn't work, set up a lotus root starch processing factory in Guzhen, which can also solve part of the labor employment problem...
Lotus root powder has been around since the Northern Song Dynasty, such as the legendary "Kou Zhun brand" Tianchi lotus root powder (PS: Tianchi here is the name of the pond, not the one in Changbai Mountain), and the "Xihu brand" lotus root powder in the Southern Song Dynasty, but this thing has been around since its birth Since then, even the palace tributes have been difficult for nobles to eat, let alone ordinary gentry.
Zhu Yunwen planned to sell lotus root starch to earn more money to dig wells.
The old man didn’t believe Zhu Yunwen. Who would be so foolish as to collect so many lotus roots? This thing must not be left to spoil. Waste will be punished by God, so he asked: "Don’t bully me. How many people do you think can be eaten in the family?" How many?"
Zhu Yunwen found it difficult to answer this question. He couldn't say that there were thousands of people in the harem and tens of millions in the Ming Dynasty.
But there was always a need to give him a reassurance. Zhu Yunwen assured his father-in-law: "We are businessmen. As long as you are willing to open a pond to raise lotus roots, we can sign a contract. As long as you have all the lotus roots, we will take them all. You can also write a clause in the contract, If the merchants don’t come and the lotus roots are not sold, we can claim two coins per acre of pond.”
"Second Guan?"
The old man stood up, and even Feng Shangliu and Feng Maizi looked shocked. In this poor little place, who can afford two dollars? This man always talks twice when he opens his mouth. Wouldn't this be the case in the future...
"really?"
Feng Shangliu asked quickly.
Zhu Yunwen said seriously: "You can ask the county government to seal it to complete the contract."
The father-in-law confirmed again and again and finally believed Zhu Yunwen. Early the next morning, everyone in the village heard the news about digging ponds to raise lotus roots. Every household clamored to participate. Nearly a hundred people entered Guzhen County in groups, which really scared the county magistrate Wei Bin. For a moment, I thought there was a great injustice.
Wei Bin saw that Zhu Yunwen and Fengzhuang's people had reached an agreement, and thought about it. After all, there was a lot of wasteland outside, and digging some ponds would only take a little effort, not to mention that it would be beneficial to the people if merchants came to collect the goods.
Taking into account the simplicity of the contract, and the fact that the people were worried about a 28/20 split, they thought this plan was too risky. If it didn't sell for a good price, if it lost money, if it happened, it wouldn't be much...
The people only wanted to see profits immediately and did not want to take risks, so they discussed with Zhu Yunwen whether they could buy them all at two cents per catty. Zhu Yunwen looked at his father-in-law and everyone with a somewhat helpless look in his eyes. People here just want stability.
That being the case, it's easy.
Zhu Yunwen promised to come to buy lotus roots ten times from September to December every year. The people of Guzhen dug out the lotus roots, cleaned them, and sent them to the Huihe Ferry. They were weighed on the spot and paid 2 cents per catty of lotus roots and three cents per catty of lotus seeds. price acquisition.
Out of caution, Xia Yuanji also added some additional content, such as emergencies, such as rivers being blocked by boats, heavy snow blocking roads, etc., delays in acquisitions, what the standards were during the acquisition, and refunds if the goods were inflated, etc.
After the contract was written, Zhu Yunwen wrote "year 600" in his own handwriting and used the seal "Practice brings true knowledge". As for the father-in-law and others, they just wrote their names in Yamen script and pressed their fingerprints.
The happy people went back, and Zhu Yunwen and others left Gu Town and went to the southeast to visit the historical sites. Although Gu Town is not well-known, the stories that happened here are known to everyone, that is:
The Battle of Gaixia.
Some people say that the Battle of Gaixia took place in Guzhen, and some say that it took place in Lingbi. In Zhu Yunwen's opinion, this is not important, because Xiang Yu's troops alone during the Battle of Gaixia were as many as 100,000. Liu Bang wanted to kill Xiang Yu, but he didn't. It is unrealistic to have more than three to five times the force.
Hundreds of thousands of people were in this area, inevitably arguing here and there about which tent Yu Ji committed suicide outside. They were really full.
The ancient battlefield has now become a desolate wilderness, with not many homes nearby, overgrown with weeds, scattered ancient trees, and the river flowing quietly.
"A generation of overlords fell here, leaving behind many sighs and sighs."
Zhu Yunwen looked at the vast land and pondered endlessly.
Xia Yuanji listened to the news and said with a smile: "The Battle of Gaixia ended the four-year conflict between Chu and Han, the overlord fell, and the Liu family established a strong Han Dynasty for four hundred years. I hope that the Ming Dynasty will far surpass the Great Khan, that a hundred generations will prosper, and the country will be prosperous for ten thousand years." "
Zhu Yunwen looked at Xia Yuanji and said somewhat depressedly: "What a hundred generations, ten thousand years, in this case it is enough for the ceremonial officials and censors to talk about it. You, the Minister of Household Affairs, don't need to flatter me, right?"
Yang Shiqi pointed to the hills in the distance: "The Overlord of Chu had nine victories over the outside world. He was defeated in the Battle of Gaixia once, and the situation was at an end. It can be seen that the reciprocity of the war is difficult to determine. Only by completely defeating and annihilating the opponent can the next one be carried out. Conclusion. Citing ancient theories, at present, the imperial court is planning for the Western Region. I believe that if there is a war, it should be wiped out at once, plow the court and sweep out the holes, and completely control the Western Region. We must not be merciful and dare not pursue. "
Xia Yuanji frowned and said, "Sun Tzu says, don't chase after poor bandits. Why are you going against the grain with this wine sacrifice?"
Yang Shiqi laughed loudly: "This is because the people have a good saying, they must beat up the drowned dog. If Timur is going to march eastward, we can take advantage of the situation and control the northwest, seize the inner territory, and push the controlled territory straight away. The land controlled by Timur!"
Zhu Yunwen smiled and praised: "Don't chase the poor enemy, but beat the drowned dog. It depends on the timing. I heard a poem that also said that the overlord is quite powerful."
"sharp?"
Yang Shiqi and Xia Yuanji looked at each other.
Zhu Yunwen clasped his hands behind his back, his eyes a little deep: "It is better to use your remaining courage to chase the poor bandits, and not to pretend to be an academic overlord! If heaven is affectionate, it will also grow old, and the right path in the world is subject to vicissitudes of life."
"hiss!"
Yang Shiqi took a deep breath, and Xia Yuanji couldn't help but cheer up.
Although this poem seems a bit incomplete, it is only four sentences long and is still full of heroic ambition. It contains insight into the past and present, courageous wisdom and courage, and the determination and determination to defy hardship and practice the right path!
"It's really amazing. The person who can write this poem must not be an ordinary person. I don't know..."
Yang Shiqi admired this person very much.
Zhu Yunwen waved his hand and said: "You don't need to know who this person is. You just need to remember one thing. The prosperous age has not yet succeeded. You still need to work hard. You must have the determination and will to chase down the poor bandits and build the foundation for the national destiny." !”
"I am determined to live up to the emperor's trust!"
Yang Shiqi and Xia Yuanji said at the same time, with solemn expressions on their faces, as if they had made a promise.
No matter Xiang Bawang, Liu Xiaoren, Yu Jimei, or Lu Zhichou, everything has passed, and the historical wind and sand have covered up the glory and suffering of the past. Now the Ming Dynasty stands on the sand of history. What kind of city can be built and how many years it lasts depends on itself and the people of the Ming Dynasty!
This is the Jianwen era, our own era!
On the way forward, there will inevitably be countless objections, but so what? You must stand on the side of history, not on the side of the officials!
Let's go to Shandong, go to Peking, and prepare to move the capital!
A woman's kindness, hesitation, and hesitation are not the qualities of an emperor.
Zhu Yunwen and others continued to move forward, staying in Suzhou for three days, and then continued northward, arriving in Xuzhou on September 20.
Outside the city of Xuzhou, Zhu Yunwen ordered Xia Yuanji and Yang Shiqi to go into the city to investigate the public sentiment, while he took Ma Enhui and Xian Fei to Yunlong Mountain in the south of the city, accompanied by Tang Buping.
Yunlong Mountain is not high, more than 40 feet, almost 140 meters long, and is six miles long. It is not a big mountain, but the mountain is divided into nine sections, winding and undulating, like a dragon, raising its head toward the northeast, dragging Ending in the southwest, the scenery is very unique.
Zhu Yunwen, Ma Enhui, and Concubine Xian were walking and sightseeing. There were cliff carvings from the Tang and Song Dynasties here. After climbing the mountain, they saw three pavilions in the distance. Zhu Yunwen smiled and said: "When you come to Yunlong Mountain, you can't miss the Crane Fang Pavilion. .”
Ma Enhui was also considered a well-read person. He smiled between his eyebrows and said: "There are two cranes in the mountains. They are very tame and good at flying. Once they look at the gaps in the west mountain, they will let them go. Wherever they go, they may stand in the fields or soar in the mountains. Yunbiao; at dusk, he would go to the east mountain and return. Therefore, it is called Fanghe Pavilion."
The wise concubine praised: "It's really remarkable that the queen can memorize Su Dongpo's "The Crane Fang Pavilion"."
Zhu Yunwen looked at the eaves of the Xieshan Mountain and the simple and elegant crane-flying pavilion, and said: "I appreciate the phrase 'Between wind, rain, darkness, and pitch, everything changes.' In this world, the only change is constant. Su Dongpo can be open-minded and optimistic, and I am afraid he also knows it. There are many changes in the world. When you can't resist it, you can wear bamboo sticks and mango shoes, and you won't be afraid of anyone."
Ma Enhui chuckled and turned her eyebrows: "Change is the only thing that remains unchanged. After all, I have said that there are thousands of things in the world, but I only hope that the emperor will not change his original intention."
"Haha, you came here with your original intention, how can you throw it away?"
Zhu Yunwen said boldly.
There are no more cranes in the Crane-releasing Pavilion, but there are Crane-Zhao Pavilion and Crane-Drinking Spring not far away. The Crane-Zhao Pavilion has a wide view, and it is comfortable to watch the mountains and rivers.
After the four of them rested, they got up and headed to Xinghua Zen Temple.
Xinghua Zen Temple in Yunlong Mountain can be said to be a famous Buddhist place north of the Huaihe River. Although it is not as good as Tianjie Temple in Nanjing, it is still very popular.
Although Xinghua Zen Temple was built in the Hongwu Dynasty, the large stone Buddha of Amitabha enshrined in Xinghua Zen Temple was not excavated by Zhu Yuanzhang, but originated during the Zhengping period of the Northern Wei Dynasty, nearly a thousand years before the Jianwen Dynasty.
The big stone Buddha was carved out of the mountain rocks and was three feet to six feet high. It was an open-air Buddha head (at this time, the big stone Buddha did not have arms and chest, which were added by people in the Qing Dynasty).
It is estimated that Lao Zhu did not want the Buddha's head to be exposed to wind and rain, and wanted to do some cultural relic protection work. In addition, Buddhists asked for instructions, so he ordered people to build a hall covered with a large stone Buddha. There are only three layers of bricks under the eaves of the back wall of the hall. Therefore, it is called the three-brick hall covering the three-foot-long Buddha, which is a wonder in the Zen forest.
Looking at such a spectacular Buddha statue, Ma Enhui and Concubine Xian couldn't help but be a little shocked, but Zhu Yunwen felt very ordinary. Thinking about the height of the Leshan Giant Buddha at 21 feet, and comparing it to the more than 30 feet in front of him, it is difficult to say that it is big.
The powerful bell rang, echoing between heaven and earth.
A monk wearing brown Zen clothes and white cassocks hurriedly walked past Zhu Yunwen. He seemed to have noticed something, and turned around to look. When Zhu Yunwen's face came into view, he suddenly turned pale. The herbal bag in his hand fell to the ground, his mouth trembled, and he immediately knelt down...
PS:
It ends in September, and the wedding is in October!
Haha, Jingxue is getting married on October 3rd. I have been preparing for the wedding during this period. There are so many things going on that I really can’t update anything.
Because there is a delay in going back and forth from Hangzhou to Shandong, plus getting married, I can’t guarantee too much during the National Day, so I will try to update twice. When I come back from the National Day, I will make up for the missed updates, and then I will blast out updates in a month or two to give back to everyone for their long-term support.
Jingxue wishes everyone a happy National Day, thank you all for being here.
