Chapter 335 Remembering the bitterness and remembering the sweetness

Chapter 335 Remembering the bitterness and remembering the sweetness

Chapter 335 Remembering the bitterness and remembering the sweetness
Eating red bean porridge is a custom during the winter solstice and the twelfth lunar month.

People at that time regarded red as the yang color. Eating it could stimulate the yang energy, avoid severe cold and ward off disease and epidemics.

Starting from the afternoon, steaming bean porridge began to be cooked in the base of the First Battalion in the western suburbs of Chen County.

The county even borrowed some tripods, cauldrons and pots, but most of them were earthenware jars, which were neatly arranged on the ground, like a military formation, and were quite spectacular.

By evening, seventy or eighty battalion commanders and team leaders from near and far came, and they all salivated at the aroma of the bean porridge.

Even after half a year, they still didn't have enough to eat.

The newly borrowed grain from Guangling was not for them to eat.

The grain from Shouchun that was intercepted earlier has been basically eaten up, and now we have to rely on the miscellaneous grains harvested before the snow.

There is no doubt that military farming is a bad policy, but whenever social order collapses, everyone discovers the benefits of this agricultural production method.

The military farming households will be transformed into civilian households in the future, but definitely not now.

Therefore, the government opened its granaries and released grain for the first time, without restricting their food and drink. This temptation was not something that everyone could resist.

The farmers who were busy repairing houses and clearing ditches for the whole afternoon were a little absent-minded, and were looking forward to the sun setting so that they could start eating.

But time passed too slowly until Chen Hou appeared. This was an obvious signal that it was time to eat...

"Greetings, my lord." The battalion commanders and team leaders rushed to the front and bowed to the ground together.

"Greetings, my lord." People from far and near also prostrated themselves on the ground and shouted loudly.

"Everyone, get up." Shao Xun held his hands up, and then felt that anything he said at this time was too pale, so he could only say two words: "Let's eat!"

Everyone couldn't help but cheer.

After a while, they lined up in a mess, holding wooden bowls, and received red bean porridge one by one.

The whole process was a bit like a disaster relief scene, and in fact it was similar, because the whole family could save dinner today. When they heard that there would be another meal tomorrow morning, the cheers became even louder.

"Thank you, sir."

"Without you, my whole family would have died."

"Taibai really came to save the world."

Shao Xun listened with a smile, and was even more delighted when he saw a woman with a bulging belly.

When people are so hungry that their legs are shaking and they are completely hopeless about the future, it is difficult for them to have the desire to pass on their family line. Many women are pregnant, which shows that after nearly seven months of living and working, although the refugees are still hungry, their health has improved greatly and they have rekindled hope for the future.

Hope is the most precious thing.

At this moment, Shao Xun was extremely satisfied.

I have at least changed the fate of many people.

He picked up a child.

The child was about four or five years old. His face was dirty, his fingernails were covered in black mud, and his linen clothes were tattered. He was a little scared when he saw Shao Xun and wanted to struggle but didn't dare.

His parents stood by, shrinking, with worry and perhaps some surprise in their eyes.

"What's your name?" Shao Xun asked.

"turnip."

"That's a good name." Shao Xun laughed and asked, "What do you think of Chen County?"

"it is good."

"Where's the best place?"

“No one eats children.”

"Hmm..." Shao Xun put him down and said, "That's because everyone has food to eat, so they don't eat children. Someone may come to steal food in the future, and it's hard to say what will happen then. Grow up quickly, and we can work together to drive away those who steal food in the future."

The child seemed to understand what he said, but not quite.

Shao Xun asked someone to bring a Hu pancake, stuffed it into the child's hand, and said, "Take it and eat it."

This is the standard military Hu pancake, each one uses one and a half liters of flour and is very solid.

The soldiers of the Silver Spear Army eat two meals a day, two meals a day when not training in the camp, and three meals a day when training or going on an expedition.

The Hu Bing eaten by the Yamen Army and the Yicong Army only had one liter of flour per piece.

As for the Zhongwu Army and the Tuntian Army, they are slightly smaller and mixed with a lot of other things. They have two meals a day regardless of whether they go to the battlefield or train or not.

"Thank you, Lord Chen." The couple thanked him repeatedly.

"Thank you, Madam." The two turned to bow to a woman wearing a veiled hat behind Shao Xun.

Wang Jingfeng was startled, like a cat with its fur standing on end. He was about to say something, but when he met Shao Xun's mischievous gaze, he choked again.

Wang Xuan looked calm and composed.

Yuzhou Governor Lu Zhi and Chenjun Prefect Cui Gong seemed to have heard nothing.

However, the unhappy expression on Lu Zhi's face still betrayed his inner thoughts.

If he could barely tolerate the arrival of Yang Jiongzhi and Yang Jian, Lu Zhi was very unhappy when Wang Yan, who was so shameless as to send his son and daughter to visit Marquis Chen.

After Shao Xun led everyone to the camp surrounded by wooden fences, he sat directly on a Hu bed in the middle.

Lu Zhi and Cui Gong sat on the left and right respectively.

Wang Xuan and his sister sat a little further away.

Yuan Chong and other county officials sat farther away.

"Zhang Heipi, I heard that your wife's pickled mustard greens are sour, crispy and delicious. Have you pickled them this winter?" Shao Xun asked, looking at a person in the field.

"Your Excellency knows this?" Zhang Heipi asked in surprise.

"Just tell me if there is one or not?"

"Yes." Zhang Heipi kicked his son beside him and said, "Why don't you go back and get it?"

The son responded stupidly and turned away.

"Wait." Shao Xun stopped, stood up and walked to Zhang Heipi's son, pulled out the knife from his waist, and saw that it was rusty and had many cracks.

"Don't accuse me of eating your food for free." Shao Xun smiled and took off his sword, handed it to Zhang Heipi's son, and said, "I'll exchange the sword for a jar of pickled mustard greens from your house, how about that?"

"Okay, great..." Zhang Heipi's son responded stupidly, and then ran away, as if he was afraid that Shao Xun would regret it. Everyone laughed.

"Liu Guan." Shao Xun called another person over and said, "When Shi Chao besieged Yangxia, General Lu selected strong men to go north to rescue. I heard that you were the first to volunteer, and you also captured a bandit scout in the wild. Is this true?"

"Yes." Liu Guan stood there with his head held high and chest puffed out, and replied calmly.

"What did you do before?"

"Serving in the army in Xuchang."

"Whose account?"

"I followed several warlords, but they all died."

"If you capture him alive, will you get any reward?"

"I received a bag of grain."

"How is that enough?" Shao Xun clapped his hands.

Tang Jian unwrapped the package like a magic trick and took out two pieces of silk.

Shao Xun took the silk and handed it to Liu Guan, saying, "This is my reward for you. Do your best in the future."

"Yes, sir." Liu Guan took the silk, looking a little excited.

It is normal here to not receive rewards despite merits, so it is a pleasant surprise to receive extra rewards.

After Liu Guan left, Shao Xun named seven or eight more people, found some excuses, rewarded them with some money and property, and encouraged them again.

Of course, these people are indeed eligible to receive the reward.

For example, some people have great prestige in the team or camp, are well organized, and do an excellent job.

For example, someone who is good at farming can grow beans with the farmers in his team, and the yield is higher than others.

For example, some people would treat livestock and save many precious livestock.

and many more.

Shao Xun did his homework in advance and wrote down the names and deeds of these people to ensure that this meeting would be targeted.

The effect was very good. The atmosphere in the venue gradually became heated up and everyone's eyes were on him.

He became the backbone of these people.

When these people think about the future, they will subconsciously regard Shao Xun as their greatest expectation.

These people are relatively obedient when working or fighting.

These people are not so easily fooled when faced with rumors and incitement.

That's the benefit.

The stability of the basic foundation depends on these details.

Of course, some people can gain loyalty without doing these things, but they are the children of aristocratic families. Their ancestors have actually paid the bill, and their descendants are just enjoying the remaining benefits.

As the first generation who started from scratch, Shao Xun had to do these things.

In this regard, he was quite successful.

After the red bean porridge was distributed one by one, everyone started to eat it with great relish.

Tang Jian was cutting pickled mustard greens on the side.

Shao Xun picked up a few pieces and found them to be really delicious.

Lu Zhi, Cui Gong, Yuan Chong and others ate very quickly. From their expressions, it was hard to tell whether they were happy or disappointed.

Wang Jingfeng had finished half a bowl and was about to put it down, but after being glanced at by Shao Xun, his heart skipped a beat and he gritted his teeth and finished the remaining half bowl.

After eating, I felt a little annoyed again.

Why are you afraid of this man? He is not your husband.

After Shao Xun finished a bowl of food, he put down his bowl and chopsticks, asked everyone to continue eating, and said casually: "Next year's spring planting, everyone should be more careful. This year, Lu Shijun has exchanged some land. After you go back, redistribute it, and each household will cultivate 30 acres. After a few years, as long as I am still here, all the households that have cultivated the land will be transferred to civilian households, and all these lands will be considered as your family property that can be passed down to your descendants. Life will get better, but there is one thing——"

Everyone looked over subconsciously.

Shao Xun cleared his throat and said, "If there are thieves coming to rob, you must work together and fight bravely to beat the thieves back. Otherwise, unspeakable things may happen again."

When everyone heard this, they, led by a few people, said in unison: "We will obey your orders."

"You are all my subjects, so the benefits will naturally come to you." Shao Xun laughed.

Recall the past and cherish the present, and make these people grateful.

Paint a big picture to motivate them.

Give them another shot of prevention to motivate them to protect their property and families.

Finally, the identities of everyone were made clear, making them feel that they were in the same group as Lord Chen and had a sense of belonging.

The whole set of results is great.

Moreover, this is only the first year. In the second, third and even longer years, Shao Xun will persevere and continue to consolidate his achievements.

A moment later, he quietly left the camp, leading his horse, and patrolled along the Suiyang Canal.

Occasionally I would stop, take out a map, carefully check it, think silently, and write down the places that needed to be modified.

He had plans for wheat fields, hemp fields, mulberry fields, vegetable plots, orchards, etc.

He even decided on the location for the small pier.

After experiencing a whole year of water transport this year, he became more and more eager for a stable base of money and grain.

He used to support his army with women, but all his wealth was gone after he spent it all.

Now we rely on Yuzhou to support the army, but the prerequisite is to restore Yuzhou’s production.

After two years of devastating disasters, the population of the entire Yuzhou province dropped sharply and all industries were in decline.

Starting from next year, we can probably recover bit by bit.

(End of this chapter)