Back Off, Let Me Come

Shen Tang noticed his movements and chuckled.

She said: "I'm rude. I didn't know Wen Zhu would be back today. If I had known you would come, I wouldn't have come to the workshop."

Xu Jie: "...No, it's Jie who is disturbing Mr. Shen..."

No matter how many times he heard it, Xu Jie still felt that Shen Jun's words were very strange. Isn't this what his lord Wu Xian could say? But when he thought of the "deep love" between the protagonist Wu Xian and Shen Jun Shen Tang, Xu Jie could only force himself to ignore the uncontrollable complaints.

And quickly changed the topic.

"What did Mr. Shen do just now?"

"Ah? Didn't you see the annotation? I'm beating the bamboo... It's not easy to soften this thing. Fortunately, I used young bamboo instead of mature bamboo, otherwise it would be even harder..." Shen Tang couldn't help but Complaining, three hundred and sixty lines, it is not easy.

The bamboo that has been soaked and degreened in lime water is beaten over and over again. Depending on the heat, it needs to be carefully washed. These are only the first few steps, and even the pulping process has not been completed. After finishing the work, I have to soak again and again, wash again, wash again, soak again... Oh, why is it so difficult to start a side job?

The difficulty is equivalent to making bread by growing wheat, knitting sweater by growing cotton and raising sheep...

Xu Jie: "..."

He naturally knew that Mr. Shen was beating the bamboo.

But he was curious as to why Shen Jun was doing this.

Shen Tang did not hide anything and said cheerfully: "Of course it is for making paper. Not only bamboo, I also prepared different woods, reeds and even wheat straw... I want to see which material makes paper more suitable for painting... "

There was papermaking in this era.

However, due to some objective reasons, this technology has not received much attention. In other words, the cost is too high and the quality is too low, making it difficult to preserve. The mainstream still uses bamboo slips to record documents. Xu Jie was not surprised that Shen Tang wanted to make paper.

In fact, the Xu family also has a paper mill under its name.

Specialize in high-end routes.

The output is low and the efficiency is barely good.

Listening to Shen Tang soaking in the workshop, working hard like a laborer, just to make paper that can be used for drawing, he smiled and said: "Shen Jun wants paper, why bother so much? Jie's family has a papermaking workshop, if Shen Jun needs it , you can even out some."

Shen Tang said: "I need too much weight. After thinking about it, I decided to be a self-reliant 'craftsman'."

Xu Jie was extremely disapproving when he heard this.

As the lord of a land, how could Lord Shen do such menial work?

Lord Shen is acting recklessly, Qi Yuanliang and the others are also acting recklessly?

Xu Jie said very proudly: "How much does Mr. Shen want?"

He is very confident in his family's financial strength.

Shen Tang calculated silently in his mind. Based on the calculation of 50 copies per album, her minimum circulation of 10,000 copies would be 500,000 copies? Xu Jie was a little dumbfounded when he heard this number. At first he thought he heard it wrong, so he asked again.

"How many?"

"Fifty thousand! That's half a year!"

She wants to release two books a year! One million in total!

Shen Tang looked at him expectantly: "Do you have annotations?"

Xu Jie said simply: "No!"

If a paper mill has such a high output, will it still be "negligible"? However, Shen Jun wanted to use bamboo, reeds, and wheat straw as raw materials, which was quite novel. The growth cycle of bamboo is very short, and reeds and wheat straw are worthless things.

If it works, even if the quality of the paper is very low and paper scraps are scattered around, it is still paper, and it is a sure-profit business.

But this must be based on a foundation that can be created.

As for paper that can be used for drawing...

Haha, Xu Jie has no hope at all.

Shen Tang dispersed the stench outside the workshop, took off his "work clothes" to prevent his clothes from getting dirty, and put on decent and neat outer clothes. Follow Xu Jie to the government office, not forgetting business on the way, treating him completely as one of his own.

"Wen Zhu, is there any news about the high-quality wheat seeds that I troubled you to find earlier?" This is something Shen Tang has been thinking about these past few days, and he was so worried that he couldn't sleep well.

Although this year's corn harvest can be considered a bumper harvest, the common people will not go hungry next year, and the government granaries finally have grain stored in them. However, once the common people encounter a headache or fever, it is easy for the common people to "return to poverty due to illness" and sell precious grains in order to cure their illnesses.

if--

It would be nice if there were more food.

When Shen Tang was working on her side job, she still pinched her fingers, wondering when Xu Jie would come over, and Xu Jie lived up to her expectations. He smiled easily and said: "Fortunately, I have lived up to Shen Jun's trust and barely received a batch of good quality wheat seeds. However, the solution is unclear. The wheat grains are not easy to shell, and the taste is not good when eaten. Spring sprouting requires a lot of water……"

Watering is very difficult.

It is not suitable for planting from any angle.

It is true that the yield of wheat is much higher than that of millet - Xu Jie also guessed that Shen Tang went there for the yield - but weighing the pros and cons of wheat and millet, Xu Jie thinks that millet is better because it is easier to shell and The taste is soft and waxy. He earnestly advised: "If Mr. Shen cannot solve these problems, he will order the people under his rule to stop growing millet and switch to wheat. I am afraid that the harvest next year will be worrying..."

He also saw Shen Tang's hard work over the past year.

I don’t want to fall short because of this.

This area doesn't get much rain in spring.

Shen Tang said: "As for the issue mentioned in the text, Wuhui and the others have discussed it carefully. We are planning to choose a site to build a small reservoir, divert water from the Miao River, dredge the river, build irrigation and drainage facilities, and prevent troubles such as drought and floods... "

From the moment Shen Tang said "build a small reservoir", Xu Jie's expression was numb and dull. He couldn't understand how Shen Jun did it - he just downplayed that he wanted to do such a big project? Where are people? Where's the money?

This kind of project cannot be completed in one or two years.

How many people are there in Heyin County?

It will take so many people to build reservoirs, dig rivers, and divert water from the Miao River... It will take more than ten years. Who will farm the land in these ten years? Don’t the common people have to eat, drink and have diarrhea? ? ?

Xu Jie reluctantly controlled his expression and asked: "Mr. Shen, this matter is of great importance. It cannot be done in a day and it will cost a lot of money...Have you discussed it with any of your staff?"

Haha, I probably never told Kang Shi.

If you say it, they will object if they don't have any brains.

In this world, working hard to recruit troops and strengthen oneself is the foundation of one's career. Carrying out such a large project that often involves tens of thousands of people is not only thankless, but also weakens one's own strength.

Who knows——

"As I said, we all sat down together and discussed it in a meeting." Shen Tang said that she was not the kind of person who was arbitrary and arbitrary. She fully understood and respected the different opinions of her colleagues.

If you have any opinions, speak up and listen to whoever makes sense.

Obviously, Shen Tang makes more sense.

So Gu Chi and others listened to her.

Xu Jie: "..."

He was completely incomprehensible and shocked.

A rough estimate of the manpower and material resources required for this project is beyond what Heyin County, which has just had a full meal, can bear. He swallowed: "But this expense..."

Shen Tang: "You are talking about this. In fact, I was just about to write a letter to Brother Zhaode. Your two families are so close to each other. The repair of the small reservoir will not only benefit the people of Heyin, but also the people of Tianhai and other places. What better way to do it together? Get this done!”

Xu Jie: "..."

No, this proposal will not be accepted by Tianhai.

My lord and Qin Li are not stupid. If they have such money, why don't they recruit soldiers and horses to carry out water conservancy projects?

It’s not that these projects that benefit the people are not good, they are good, but they are really expensive. No one can guarantee that their influence can survive for a long time. Maybe the water conservancy project will not be completed even if the influence is wiped out. It's totally thankless.

Xu Jie didn't even need to ask his lord.

He knew the final result.

"This, this... I'm afraid it's difficult..."

Shen Tang blinked: "It's difficult?"

Xu Jie said resolutely: "Yes, it's difficult!"

Now the pressure was on Shen Jun. Shen Tang was silent for a long time. Just when Xu Jie thought that people would give up and give up, he heard the following worries, which made Xu Jie confused.

Jun Shen sighed heavily: "Oh - it seems that Brother Zhaode still hid the epidemic from me. He said that Tianhai had little impact and did not damage the foundation, but at the moment he can't even come up with this little money and food. It can be seen that Are you really encountering difficulties...or is it that the harvest in Tianhai this year is very bad? You and I are as close as brothers, so if there is any difficulty, I will definitely help!"

Xu Jie: "???"

Xu Jie asked: "How much money and food is this?"

Shen Tang said a number——

Xu Jie could never have imagined that the amount was completely inconsistent with the two projects of building reservoirs and digging rivers.

"About ten thousand shi of corn."

This is still a budget that is considered comfortable.

Xu Jie asked in surprise: "Ten thousand stones? Not hundreds of thousands of stones?"

Shen Tang: "Why so many?"

The two looked at each other for a moment, then realized that they were talking to each other and had misunderstood each other.

Xu Jie seemed to have thought of something.

Question: "How much labor will it take for Mr. Shen to build these?"

Shen Tang said: "No."

Xu Jie's expression went numb again.

Good guy, he guessed who Shen Tang would ask to build the reservoir. Who else could it be besides the brave warriors headed by Zhao Dayi? Speaking of General Zhao Feng, he is also miserable. Since he came to Heyin County to repay his kindness, he has only fought two serious battles to suppress bandits. He has been doing all the work of building houses, farming, and building roads...

Xu Jie let something slip one time.

When his lord Wu Xian learned about Zhao Feng's work in Heyin, he immediately burst into tears. He clutched Xu Jie's sleeves with a distressed expression and cried out that Zhao Feng had been wronged. He is obviously a brave and capable general who works hard all day long.

Even if it's just to repay a favor, I can't be so aggrieved.

Xu Jie very much doubted whether his lord was just imagining that Zhao Feng and Qian Yubu were living a miserable life, waking up earlier than chickens, going to bed later than dogs, working more than donkeys, and eating worse than pigs.

Otherwise, how could one cry so virtuously?

[Then - the lord will recall General Zhao? 】

Wu Xian wiped away tears: [Recalling me at this time may damage the friendship between the two families. Alas, Brother Shen, how come he doesn’t know how to cherish such a brave general like Dayi! Building houses, farming, building roads...how dare he, I can't bear to treat Dayi so badly, wuwuwu...]

Wu Xian burst into tears.

Xu Jie inexplicably felt that this scene looked familiar, like an old mother who felt sorry for her daughter after she got married and was mistreated by the scumbag of her husband's family.

[I didn’t hear that General Zhao was aggrieved... And it’s not just General Zhao. The tenth-level left concubine under Shen Jun, Uncle Gong, was also doing the same job. My lord is overly worried. 】

[I understand the temperament of Dayi. He is the most loyal and loyal, and Brother Shen is his benefactor. In order to repay his kindness, he will endure no matter how much hardship he suffers... Oh my, my righteousness. 】

Xu Jie: […]

It happened that Mrs. Mi Zi came to deliver something at this time, and my lord changed his face, wiping his tears as if nothing happened.

Xu Jie: […]

Before leaving, Wu Xian specifically asked Xu Jie to listen to Zhao Feng's story. If Zhao Feng really felt that he had been treated harshly and wronged, he would immediately send Qian Bubu to replace Zhao Feng.

Xu Jie murmured inwardly.

If his lord were to know that Zhao Feng was once again sent to build reservoirs and dig rivers, he would probably cry again.

As expected, Shen Jun said: "There are a few half-steps here, so don't worry about the manpower. A powerful and brave warrior can split mountains and open seas. Isn't that faster than ordinary people digging with hoes? I calculated, at most half a year can Okay. The autumn harvest is over, and they are free. They can just take over these tasks, and they may be able to use the running water of the Miao River next year. The yield of wheat is higher than that of millet, and the cycle is shorter. If the land fertility can keep up, one year I can plant it twice..."

Shen Jun's expression showed a bit of longing for the future.

It seems like I’m really eating two types of wheat a year.

Xu Jie had auditory hallucinations.

It was as if I heard the lord's whine.

Even though Xu Jie was not very close to Zhao Feng, they occasionally had conflicts due to factional stances, and he couldn't help but feel subtle sympathy for the poor general. Tragic, really miserable! A courageous warrior must be considered a coward for this!

Out of a little bit of collegiality, Xu Jie couldn't help but tactfully say a few words for Zhao Feng.

You can't just catch a sheep to collect wool.

He said: "...Although General Zhao and Captain Gongshu are both brave men with martial arts skills, they are still flesh and blood. The Dan Mansion's martial energy capacity is limited, and it consumes quickly and recovers slowly. Even if there are thousands of people in the tent, Follow along, but..."

The project is also in a hurry.

Shen Tang said this was not a problem.

"Don't worry Wenzhu, Yuanliang and the other literary scholars will also help." She has no shortage of literary scholars!

Xu Jie: "..."

Xu Jie: "???"

Xu Jie: "!!!"

The carriage wandered to a stop in front of the government office.

Xu Jie still had a blank expression.

When he came to his senses, he was already in the official meeting hall.

He took a deep breath.

Xu Jie's visit to Fugu City this time was not just for sending wheat seeds to Shen Tang, but also for another matter - this matter he also heard about when he was doing business outside, and the source of the information was reliable. He had already sent a letter to Tianhai and stopped by to remind Shen Tang.

Shen Tang saw his serious expression and asked, "What's the matter?"

"Have you ever heard the lyrics of a song, Mr. Shen - a hypocritical woman makes trouble for Beichen, twenty roads of smoke and dust rush into the Purple Palace?"

Shen Tang nodded: "I've heard of it."

Xu Jie: "The people in other areas are having a hard time, and there are more and more rebellions. The royal court headed by Zheng Qiao just suppresses and drives them away. The generals who lead the troops to counter the rebellion have an easier time, driving out those people who rebel because of their livelihood. The two states of Qian and Yan also intend to drive away Kunzhou on the side of the King of Pig... With the temperament of the people of the King of Pig, I am afraid they will not hold back..."

Shen Tang's expression gradually became serious.

She asked: "How many people?"

Xu Jie said: "A rough estimate of more than 200,000!"

Shen Tang gradually tightened his fists.

The destructive power of two hundred thousand people without food in their path is more terrifying than two hundred thousand locusts. However, these common people are also innocent. The locusts can kill them without mercy, but they cost more than 200,000 human lives!

bump!

Shen Tang smashed the table with one palm.

"How dare they!"

()

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Tomorrow the manuscript fee list will come out. If it is more than expected, we will celebrate even more.