Chapter 49 Luoshui River Tyrant

Chapter 49 Luoshui River Tyrant

The group first went north along the Luoshui River, and their first target was Chengcheng County, located in the upper reaches of the Luoshui River.

Luoshui is one of the most important rivers north of the Wei River in the Guanzhong Plain. The area it flows through is also rich in fertile land and has developed agriculture. The acres of fields seen along the way stretch like patches of green brocade.

The only thing in the fields that somewhat disrupts the peaceful atmosphere of farming and mulberry farming is the military buildings such as forts and forts that appear every once in a while, constantly reminding people that this world is not a peaceful age where they can sit back and relax and live and work in peace and contentment.

The rewards for losing in Daxingtai have basically been distributed, and the recruitment and recruitment of rural soldiers in the countryside are also gradually being implemented. Therefore, during the journey, groups of rural soldiers could be seen in the fields from time to time, either rushing to the garrison point or gathering for training.

Now that it is the turn of summer and autumn, the recruitment of a large number of strong men will naturally hinder farming.

But there is nothing that can be done about it. A big defeat at Mangshan almost crippled the Sixth Army that Yuwentai had accumulated for several years. The military strength is unprecedentedly weak, and may not even be as good as it was at the beginning of the founding of the Western Wei Dynasty and before the Battle of Xiaoguan. a period of time.

After all, before the Battle of Xiaoguan, Yuwentai and the Zhubei Town warriors still had a large number of elite troops. And these Xianbei veterans suffered even greater losses in the Battle of Mangshan.

That's why Yuwen Taicai urgently wanted to restore his military strength and integrate the rural armed organizations as soon as possible. In this situation where the army must be put first, it is difficult to take care of all aspects of farming.

Previously, Zhou Changming was awarded the title of Commander-in-Chief of Wuxiang County. Li Tai also learned from his conversation that the Western Wei Dynasty's military strategy this year was mainly aimed at the already existing rural soldiers and regiments and powerful tribes, and did not regard equalizing land as a conscript. The goal.

Later generations talked about the demise of the military system in the Tang Dynasty, and most discussed it in connection with the collapse of the equal land system.

However, when the Fubing system was initially created, it had nothing to do with the land equalization system, and there was no provision for conferring land for military merit. The Fu soldiers were professional and semi-professional soldiers who were fully or partially off-the-job.

It was not until the Sui Dynasty that the soldiers of the government were incorporated into the land. During the early Tang Dynasty, most of the government soldiers were small and medium-sized military meritorious landowners. This was also the period when the government military system reached its peak and its combat effectiveness was the most powerful.

When the group reached the northern boundary of Wuxiang County and the junction with Chengcheng, the Luoshui River became narrower, but the water flow became even rarer.

A weir was built to block the river. The water level difference inside and outside the weir was obvious. The artificially raised water rushed down along the gap of the weir and impacted the wooden wheel set up beside the river.

Those wooden wheels connect houses of different sizes. These houses are Shuidi houses. The hammers installed inside can be used to grind rice and flour, and can also be used for grinding and processing other materials, such as crushing ores, clay, processing pulp, etc.

Seeing the rows of water-operated houses on the river bank, Li Tai almost drooled with envy.

In ancient times, water conservancy resources could be said to be an indispensable key element for large-scale industrial operations. Whether or not hydraulic power is used is a qualitative difference!

While riding his horse, He Basheng looked along Li Tai's line of sight. When he saw the Shuidi industry, he sighed with emotion: "Zhao Gui and others entered the customs early, and the beauty industry took over first, which is indeed enviable. Qian. It’s rare to find a good neighbor. Liang Qianqian is a rare gentleman among veterans.”

The west bank of the Luoshui River Basin intercepted by the weir is Zhao Gui's manor. In addition to the many water-operated houses erected along the river, a large area of ​​land from the river bank to the west belongs to Zhao Gui's manor, at least hundreds of hectares in area.

The canals dug in the manor are like spider webs, water pumps and other irrigation tools are scattered at random, fertile fields stretch, and there are many large houses. At first glance, it makes people envious.

On the east bank of Luoshui River is the garden owned by Liang Chun, the founder of the mansion. It is located between two plateaus. The area of ​​the manor is much smaller than that of Zhao Gui's manor, only about forty to fifty hectares. Moreover, there are not many hydraulic facilities along the river. There is only a small water-operated house on the channel where the Luoshui River flows into the manor.

Compared with other gardens, this manor is certainly not bad, at least it is much more elegant than Li Tai's own Shangyuan Manor. But compared with the Zhaogui Manor on the other side, it looks even more shabby.

The two manors that are also close to Luoshui have such different industrial constructions. Li Tai asked curiously: "Is it because of the domineering intimidation of Zhao Gui's slaves that the Liang Kaifu family did not dare to lead Luoshui to work?"

"Zhao Gui is indeed a bit greedy, but it also has something to do with Liang Chun's temperament..."

He Basheng smiled and explained that compared to other Beizhen warriors, Liang Chun could be said to be humble and uncontroversial, and very considerate of his subordinates, so He Basheng evaluated him as a gentleman among veterans.

After listening to this, Li Tai became thoughtful and kept these things in mind. In the future, if he wants to get involved in the Western Wei Dynasty, he will inevitably have to deal with these Beizhen warriors. It would not be a bad thing to know more about these people.

After detouring past Liang Chun Manor, the group entered Chengcheng County. After walking along the Luoshui River for a few hours, and crossing the river at a ferry, we arrived at our first destination.

"This manor was granted the title of Grand Master in the seventh year, and after that, three hundred tribes were assigned to work here..."

He Basheng rode his horse into the manor and introduced Li Tai with a smile.

Li Tai was also carefully looking at the environment of this manor. The manor was also located on the west bank of Luoshui River, covering an area of ​​70 to 80 hectares. There was also a river on the west bank, about ten meters wide, which was Baishui, a tributary of Luoshui River.

The entire manor is half river alluvial plain and half undulating hills. Not only are the flat fields full of crops, but some terraces are also opened on the hillsides, where some cold-resistant crops and mulberry trees are planted. It can be seen that the managers of the manor here are also diligent in farming, and are not willing to let the land of the manor go to waste.

"The day before yesterday, I learned that my lord was coming, so my servant had been waiting eagerly, sending his son to the ferry to meet him..."

The group of people came to the gate of the manor. There was already a group of strong men waiting here. A middle-aged man in his forties stepped forward, raised his hand to hold the horse's bridle and helped He Basheng off the horse.

"This person's name is Zhu Ziyong. He is an old servant who followed me back from the south of the Yangtze River. He is good at medicine and stone and is also a good doctor."

He Basheng first explained to Li Tai with a smile, and then motioned to his entourage to hold a wooden box and hand it to the steward Zhu Ziyong and said: "Your second son is still in the court, and the bride's interest has not yet been returned. Zhu doesn't want it." I blame me for being mean, so I give you some small things. I hope you will be healthy for many years."

Zhu Ziyong was even more moved after hearing this, and quickly called his daughter-in-law, who was holding the child, to come in to see the gift. He Basheng personally took the gift out of the box. It was a golden little Buddha statue that conquered demons, and placed it on the bed where he had already fallen asleep soundly. In the arms of the doll.

A group of people walked into the manor, and the evening breeze blew, mixed with the smell of some medicinal materials. Many medicinal materials were dried in the fences of each house in the manor, and clusters of vigorously growing perilla and other plants were planted in the shadows along the walls. medicinal materials.

In front of the big house in the center of the manor, several large stoves have already been set up. The bonfires are burning, either cooking rice or roasting lamb. The rich food poured into the nostrils, making everyone who had been traveling all day couldn't help but move their index fingers.

Li Tai and others followed He Basheng into the hall and sat down. Not long after, maids started serving wine and food one after another. Although the dishes were not exquisite, they were of sufficient portion. A large pottery bowl of cooked mutton, a pot of fragrant fish bream, dried mountain poultry meat, and a large box of vegetables.

He Basheng looked at the several dishes on the dining table and hesitated for a while before waving his hands and saying: "Take the mutton and fish bream to another table and serve me a bowl of corn rice. We will only eat tonight, no alcohol!" "

When Zhu Ziyong, who was accompanying him at the side table, heard this, he was half surprised and half surprised and said: "I have always advised my lord to avoid eating, but my lord has always refused to listen. How come today..."

"Some people laugh at my shallow taste and promise me that they will serve delicious food diligently. I'm waiting for it!"

After He Basheng heard this, he laughed and nodded at Li Tai with his eyes.

When Li Tai saw this, he stood up with a smile, walked to He Basheng's dining table, took out a small bamboo tube from his waist, pulled out the stopper, poured out the white crystal particles, twisted them with his fingers and sprinkled them into the In the box, he mixed it with chopsticks, pushed it in front of He Basheng and said with a smile: "Uncle, please try it. Is this box of glutinous rice more delicious than usual?"

He Basheng was not worried that Li Tai would poison him. After seeing this, he picked up his chopsticks and picked up some chopped vegetable leaves and put them into his mouth. After chewing for a while, his eyebrows suddenly rose. He swallowed the vegetables in a few mouthfuls and pointed at Li Tai. The bamboo tube that had not been put away was surprised and asked: "What is this? How can it make food so delicious?"

"I call it monosodium glutamate, which is precipitated from the fermented soybeans. The older the fermented fermented beans are, the more delicious it will be. It is precisely because of this substance."

Li Tai sat back at his dining table and explained with a smile.

Of course the thing in the bamboo tube is not MSG, at least it is not the MSG that will be industrially purified in later generations. Sauce products such as tempeh will dry out after being stored for a long time, and some salt crystal particles will be resolved. The main component of these particles is naturally salt, but in addition there is another substance, which is sodium glutamate.

Monosodium glutamate is the main component of MSG and the main reason why MSG improves its freshness.

This small bamboo tube does not seem to have many crystal grains, but it was collected after scraping dozens of old clay pots for storing tempeh. The freshness-enhancing ingredients inside are naturally not as good as the industrially purified MSG of later generations, but the taste is also improved. It's already quite significant.

With this local MSG to enhance the flavor of the meal, He Basheng also had a huge appetite. He no longer minded the lack of wine and meat, so he ate two full bowls of corn rice from that box of glutinous rice, patting his belly with a satisfied look on his face.

After dinner, the sky had completely darkened. He Basheng explained to Zhu Ziyong again: "Li Lang is my close junior, and he himself is quite wise in raising a family and running a business. In order to maintain the business here, your father, son and relatives have been allowed to live all year round. Now that we are separated, we can take him to the village and take care of the affairs of the village. Ziyong can travel with me in the future and no longer have to live in the countryside. "

After Zhu Ziyong heard this, he nodded quickly and said: "Please rest assured, my lord, I will definitely cooperate with Li Lang and deliver the details of the village affairs as soon as possible!"