Chapter 25 There are many powerful people

Chapter 25 There are many powerful people

In the afternoon, the county official Zheng Man came to Shangyuan with another batch of cattle, farm tools and grain seeds.

"W-what's going on? What did I miss?"

When he saw garrison leader Zhou Changming leading many rural soldiers diligently digging ditches in the fields, Zheng Man's eyes widened in surprise.

Did he remember Zhou Changming's disgust and resistance to Li Tai and his party yesterday? Why did he come so enthusiastically to help after only one day?

Li Tai was not in the mood to answer Zheng Man's questions. When Zheng Man arrived and had no time to receive the supplies, he first pulled the man aside and asked in a deep voice: "How much does Zheng Zhi know about the wealthy households such as Zhao and Shi in the countryside?"

"The Zhao family is a long-standing large family in the township. Most of the villages in the west of the original area are occupied by members of the same clan. The family is the most prosperous and has been the party leader here for generations. The surname of Shi is Hexi Hu, and it has been two generations since he moved here. The Jingzhao branch was the most powerful, having served as prefecture and county magistrates in the early years. The Wuxiang branch was also led by this branch and occupied the post of county captain in the county. "

Zheng Man replied after hearing this, and then said nervously: "Are these two families making things difficult for you?"

"They incited the villagers to provoke, so I taught them a lesson. Because the Zhou garrison chief came to apologize in person, the matter was revealed, and I will no longer pursue it."

Li Tai pointed to Zhou Changming, who was leading the crowd to dig trenches in the distance, and explained briefly.

"So that's it."

Zheng Man also noticed several injured villagers lying in the camp, and guessed that there should be a fight between them. Li Tai's side obviously won.

"There are several big families in this area, but the Zhao family is still in ruins, and their prestige has not left the countryside. It is best for the historians not to make enemies. His family has a strong and evil nature, and his influence spreads across the state and county. In the early years, he dug caves to build statues, and even the state and county officials had nothing to do with him. Li Lang is a talented person from a well-known family, but he is not the same as this local tycoon. Too much entanglement will harm Qingwang. "

Zheng Man comforted Li Tai with a few words, and then said: "Zhou Changming is not a wealthy person in the countryside. In the third year of Datong, the bandits invaded the territory in the east. All the powerful people in the countryside retreated to Luoxi. Only Zhou Changming led the righteous people in the countryside to occupy Baoshangyuan, so he seized Promoted to the garrison commander. Although he is not famous for being rough and arrogant, he is fair in dealing with the countryside and often acts as an arbiter. If there is any trouble in the countryside, Li Lang can deal with him. "

Li Tai nodded after hearing this. After the previous negotiation, he had changed his view of Zhou Changming a lot. When he saw him again, he kept his word and led the village soldiers to help dig ditches. He felt that this man was a rare righteous man in the countryside.

Skipping this topic, Li Tai pointed to Luoshui in the distance and said, "It's the flood season now, and the villagers are about to finish their farming. Why is there still not enough water in Luoshui?"

After the previous rural fight, Li Tai also realized that river water is also one of the basic elements of farming, so he rode his horse to Luoshui to have a look, only to find that the amount of water in Luoshui was not large, and large rocks were exposed in many places. Beach river bed.

Putting aside the basic needs of farming, the large water-spinning spinning wheel required for the farming plan he conceived was also powered by water flow. I originally thought that the manor was close to Luoshui, so it would not be difficult to use water. But looking at the amount of water in the Luoshui River, even if it can level the neighboring areas, the power of the water flow is not enough to drive the spinning wheel.

Zheng Man glanced to the northwest, and then sighed: "The reason why the Luoshui River is not abundant is because the water source of the meander in the upper reaches is blocked by people. There is the Manor of Hussar General Zhao Gui in the west of Luoshen, and in the east of Luodong there is Liang Chun Garden, the founder of the mansion. Industry. Both of them are from Taiyuan, and each has thousands of followers. The locals dare not fight, so they can only tolerate..."

When Li Tai heard this, he couldn't help but feel a little dumbfounded. He thought that by leaving the city and farming in the countryside, he could avoid personnel disputes in the Western Wei Dynasty, but he didn't expect that living in seclusion in the countryside would also lead to suppression and sanctions.

He thought that by building a large water-spun spinning wheel, he could weave and print money at full power. It seems that he took it for granted.

The large water-spinning spinning wheel was invented in the Southern Song Dynasty. The water resources in Guanzhong were naturally no better than those in the water towns south of the Yangtze River, and the occupation and monopoly of limited resources had always been the privilege of the powerful and powerful. The villagers resisted and rejected him, and they all started with the water source. It can be seen that the preciousness of water resources has been deeply rooted in the hearts of Guanzhong.

It seems that even if you want to be a big landowner in Guanzhong with peace of mind, you must have the protection of power from the top!

Needless to say, Zhao Gui, Liang Chun is also a general who leads the army among Beizhen warriors, and is obviously not someone that Li Tai can afford to offend now.

Regardless of their future power, for now, if these two people dare to directly build a dam to block the water, the villagers can only pinch their noses and endure. Before Litai Manor was reclaimed, the big villagers incited the villagers to deny them access to water. Which one is strong and which one is weak is also clear at a glance.

Large-scale water utilization seems to be a no-brainer for now.

In order to avoid accidentally provoking someone he couldn't afford, Li Tai asked if there were any other manors owned by powerful generals nearby, only to learn that almost the entire Wuxiang County was divided up by powerful nobles.

Across a mound to the north is the manor of Yu Jin. Yuandong is the territory of Duguxin's family. If Poyantou Paulu had taken a bigger step yesterday, the boundary stone might have fallen into Duguxin's family.

After learning this, Li Tai couldn't help but sigh that Guanzhong is really shallow and there are so many idiots. Especially near Huazhou City, nobles and dignitaries gathered together to enclose the land. If it weren't for Yu Wentai's care for Gao Zhongmi, it would have been difficult for them to gain a foothold in Zuojin Township.

But no matter what, take care of what you have come, and never give up on Lu's dream just because others are tyrannical.

Li Tai calmed down and looked at the production materials sent by Zheng Man. When he saw five cattle, his eyes suddenly lit up, thinking that the power of cattle drives the spinning wheel.

Although not as low-cost as hydraulic power, it is far more efficient than hand pedals. It is nothing more than adding a few wheel and axle structures to change the direction of force. Even if you only have a junior high school level of mechanical knowledge, you can complete such a transformation.

"Excuse me, Zheng Zheng, is there any other cattle power that can be rented in the county?"

Hearing Li Tai's question, Zheng Man then said: "There is a surplus of cattle for farming in the county. The number of households receiving land in He County is only a few thousand, and even fewer are willing to rent cattle for farming. Especially when farming is not busy, they all To collect rent, we need to recruit high-ranking households in the county. The tax on cattle is very expensive. The five cattle I brought are enough for Li Lang Manor to farm this season. Adding more is just a burden."

Wuxiang County should have been regarded as the core area under the rule of the Western Wei Dynasty, but the average land per household was only over a thousand households, which shows the seriousness of the population in Guanzhong.

Li Tai had no time to worry about the people's livelihood and finances in the Western Wei Dynasty. After hearing this, he asked: "How much of this batch of loaned animal power materials will need to be returned after autumn?"

After Zheng Man heard this, he took out a calculation book, and after doing the calculations, he said to Li Tai with some embarrassment: "Everything rented out will need to return 1,700 shi of millet and grain in the autumn. We need to add another 300 shi and transport 2,000 shi in total to pay off the debt."

"so much?"

Although Li Tai knew that officials were better than bandits, he was shocked when he heard this figure. Five cattle, various farm tools, and various grain seeds worth less than a hundred shi, which were only borrowed on credit for a few months, turned out to be so much. It costs two thousand shi of food rental fee!

No wonder the government forcibly allocates sub-rents for such important production animals as cattle. How can ordinary families afford it?

Although he knew it was impossible, Li Tai still held on to the illusion that things would be safe and asked again: "Can these rental fees be converted into money?"

Zheng Man sighed with a complicated expression and avoided talking about it. He just said: "This season's rent collection is indeed a little heavier than in previous years. It's just because of the defeat of Mangshan and the huge consumption of materials. After the autumn, Daxingtai will have to gather people again. Dayue, Wuxiang is in this city, and after the autumn, the army needs to lose 30,000 shi of food. From the palm of the government office to the next, everyone is worried about this..."

"If one household can transfer two thousand stones, it will not be difficult to make up the number!"

Li Tai said in a muffled voice that it was quite late for him to enter the countryside, and he was still in doubt whether he could harvest two thousand dan of grain this year.

"So I advise Li Lang to save his animal power and use it as much as possible. There is really no need to rent more property."

Zheng Man also said with some embarrassment that the households in the countryside were reluctant to rent cattle, and Xungui Manor had sufficient livestock power, so Li Tai's demand here could definitely be regarded as a big customer.

Zheng Man returned home last night and was highly praised by the county magistrate. He was ordered to serve this big business from plowing to harvesting, especially after autumn, he must harvest enough to return the lost crops as soon as possible.

Li Tai stood in the field, and for a moment he felt maliciousness coming from all directions. In such a short period of time after entering the countryside, the villagers resisted and ostracized me, the nobles encircled the land and dominated the river, and the government increased the rent and extorted me. It was not going well at all.

After a moment of silence, he spoke again: "Even if we get this defeat, the annual income of the government should be far less than that of the Daxingtai Governor, right?"

Zheng Man let out a long sigh: "To be honest, the daily maintenance of the county office has costs. The rent and transfer of equal land is a constant amount. Large households cannot go out and enter the official warehouse. Even if public land and various miscellaneous harvests are added, it will be compared with the governor's order." We still owe nearly 10,000 stones. The county magistrate and all the princes are planning to ask the big households for help. If the big households don't pay, I'm afraid they will be punished and resigned."

"If I say that I can help the county equalize this number, how can the county general benefit me?"

Seeing Zheng Man's gloomy look, Li Tai also felt that it was not easy to be an official in the Western Wei Dynasty. It was frustrating to have to look at the faces of the powerful people under his rule.

Zheng Man's eyes widened immediately after hearing this. He stepped forward and grabbed Li Tai's wrist and said with a trembling voice, "Is Li Lang serious about what he said?"

Li Tai was worried about the return of two thousand shi and was not sure. He said that he would make up for the food gap of nearly 10,000 shi, which was just bragging. But he has the air of not being afraid of being bitten when there are too many lice. He has to owe money anyway, so it is better to owe more money, and it is better to owe money until his creditors treat him with respect.

"There are enough animals in the county, and there should be enough soldiers and manpower. There is not enough work, and the power cannot be exhausted, so the harvest in the government office is poor. You might as well rent these to me, and I will return and make up the amount."

It had been a while since he came to this world, and Li Tai also realized that using public weapons for private purposes was not a serious taboo in the Western Wei Dynasty.

In order to achieve performance targets, even county magistrates have to go to the countryside to beg for big business. Packing and renting out the county government's surplus human and animal power can not only maintain dignity but also achieve goals, so why not do it?

"It's not that I can't trust Li Lang, but the matter is very important..."

"I understand that I won't let Zheng Zhi take the risk on you. I have my own strategy to convince the county magistrate!"

As Li Tai spoke, his eyes fell on the farm tools sent by Zheng Man, such as long-coil plows, short-column pears, etc. Then the next step is to summon Quyuanli!