Hanhou

As the captain of the Ministry, Wei Yue must return to the barracks that day.Before leaving, Wei Yue handed a bamboo slip to Zhao Jia, and said that there will be no military affairs tomorrow, and he will come to the livestock farm again.

Zhao Jia stood in front of the fence, watched the group go away, turned and returned to the wooden house, looked through the bamboo slips by the firelight, and found that there were more than a dozen Qiang and Di tribes recorded on it, all under the Xubu clan.

Thinking about Wei Yue's intention of leaving the bamboo slips behind, Zhao Jia stared at the firelight, lost in thought for a long time.It wasn't until the door of the wooden house was opened that Wei Qing and Ah Zhi walked into the house with a lamb in their arms, and then they woke up from their contemplation.

Zhao Jia couldn't help being surprised when he saw the child pick up the animal skin and carefully wrap the lamb up, and unexpectedly found that both were yellow sheep cubs.

"Lang Jun."

Seeing Zhao Jia looking over, Wei Qing and Ah Zhi put the lamb on the ground.

The two little guys have just landed not long ago, and they are already able to run and jump, and they are very healthy.

However, the ewes were missing, and the flock did not have the habit of adopting cubs. It was already a miracle that they followed all the way to the farm and did not fall on the way.The lamb was too small to enter the sheepfold. If it hadn't been discovered by Wei Qing and lost the protection of the ewe, it would have been left alone outside the fence, or it would have been frozen to death if it hadn't been hunted by wild animals.

Hearing Wei Qing's account of how he found the lamb, Zhao Jia sighed and motioned him to bring the lamb over.

"Lang Jun, can you raise him?" Wei Qing and Ah Zhi sat beside Zhao Jia, their expressions full of anticipation.

"Yes." Zhao Jia nodded, brushed his fingers over the top of the lamb's head, and said with a smile, "Tomorrow, I will look for Mrs. Sun and find two ewes with cubs from the new pen."

"Xie Langjun!" Wei Qing and Ah Zhi looked at each other with excitement.

Zhao Jia smiled and patted the heads of the two, and before he could withdraw his hand, he heard the conversation between the two children, his expression froze on the spot.

"Do yellow sheep grow fast?"

"It shouldn't be slow."

"Feed more fodder."

"Feed strong."

"It will be eaten soon."

The more Wei Qing and Ah Zhi talked, the more excited they became, and their four big eyes stared at the lamb, shining in unison.

Zhao Jia felt helpless when he heard the last word.

The night was getting darker, and the fire in the hearth danced.

Surrounded by warmth, Wei Qing and Ah Zhi yawned one after another. Seeing Zhao Jia sitting by the hearth, the two of them rubbed their eyes, trying to cheer up, but they couldn't stop the sleepiness, their heads began to nod one after another.

"Go to sleep." Zhao Jia patted the two children, pointing to the animal skin quilt placed in the corner.

There are too few wild ducks in the livestock farm, and it is impossible to make a single eiderdown quilt by pulling them all.

Fortunately, the weather is starting to get warmer, and the indoor stove is lit, so there is no need to press four or five animal skins together like half a month ago.It is really warm to do so, but it is too heavy on the body, and it is difficult to even turn over.

Wei Qing and Ah Zhi half-closed their eyes, got up and walked towards the wall, miraculously bypassing all obstacles.

Ah Zhi hugged the two lambs, Wei Qing spread out the animal skin, flattened the four corners, covered it with two more layers, and patted it with his hands.

"here."

The two children put the lamb into the bed, then yawned and got in, and after a while they started snoring.

Zhao Jia thought it was interesting, got up and walked to the two, bent down to help the two children tuck the corners of the quilt.Hearing the sound, he turned around and saw A Gu and the others, with their fingers on their lips, and gave a soft "shh".

A few children took off their shoes and socks, walked over lightly, spread out the animal skins, leaned against Wei Qing and Ah Zhi, yawned and fell asleep.

"Lang Jun should also rest early."

Hu Bo was holding a torch, a strong bow on his back, and a dagger hanging from his waist, obviously preparing to watch the night.

Zhao Jia nodded, and after Hu Bo left, he carefully checked the doors and windows to make sure that there was a gap left, then turned and walked into the compartment, folded his clothes and fell on the couch.

Wrapped in the animal skin mattress, Zhao Jia did not feel sleepy for a long time, thinking about the next spring plowing, but became more and more energetic.After opening my eyes for a long time, I really couldn't fall asleep, so I simply got up to get the wooden tablet, and wrote down the main points that I just thought of.

There were so many things to record that Zhao Jia couldn't stop writing.

I don't know how long it took before the fire burned out, and a ray of light came through the window. Zhao Jia turned his numb wrist and looked along the light. He found that the sky was already bright, and he had sat up all night a few days ago.

"Lang Jun, it's time to get up."

Gongsun Ao's voice came from outside the door, and Zhao Jia responded, standing up a little too hastily, his eyes suddenly went dark.Putting one hand on the table, the dizziness dissipated after counting breaths, pinching the forehead hard, and finally regained energy.

Staying up all night really won't work.

Need to pay more attention in the future.

Wei Qing and Ah Zhi had already got up, and the animal skin bedding was neatly folded and placed on a shelf against the wall.Probably because they didn't want to wake up Zhao Jia, the children deliberately kept their movements light. From getting up to leaving the wooden house, Zhao Jia, who was only one room away, failed to notice.

"Lang Jun, Uncle Xiong said that the cement has solidified. He and Uncle Ji tried it with a short knife and a wooden stick, and it was very firm." Gongsun Ao said while putting the clay pot filled with hot water on the shelf.

Zhao Jia took the time to wash up, and before he had time to eat breakfast, he left the wooden house with Gongsun Ao to inspect the results of the cement.

There was a circle of people in front of the brick wall, and there was a blunt sound after another, presumably they were testing the hardness of the wall.

Seeing Zhao Jia approaching, the crowd automatically gave way to a passage.

"Lang Jun, this thing can be solidified overnight, it is very strong."

Zhao Jia walked closer, took the wooden stick from Zhao Puonu, and smashed it hard against the wall.Once, twice, three times, the wooden stick cracked, and the wall remained motionless.The reason why it is so hard is not only the bonding effect of cement, but also the craftsmen who made the bricks.

"Your Majesty, I have tried everything." Uncle Xiong handed out a short curly blade.

Zhao Jia looked carefully at the dagger, and checked the marks left on the brick wall. Just as he was about to speak, the sound of horseshoes suddenly came.Looking up, besides the Third Young Master Wei, Wei Taishou and Master Wang are also in the team.

"Meet the envoy." Zhao Jia stepped forward to salute.

Wei Shang was in a good mood, got off his horse, threw the whip and reins to the guards, helped Zhao Jia up, and said in his mouth: "I heard that Ah Duo made cement, can you quickly raise the fortress walls?"

Wei Yue originally wanted to report the matter to Wei Shang later, at least until he personally verified the firmness of the brick wall.Unexpectedly, Wei Shang and Wang Zhubo rushed to the barracks, and the two sides happened to meet head-on.

It just so happened that Wei Yue couldn't hide it.

After hearing this, Wei Shang changed his itinerary and came to Zhao's Farm with Wei Yue.

"Indeed." Zhao Jia led Wei Shang to the brick wall, repeated what he said to Wei Yue yesterday, and presented a wooden stick with a thick wrist, asking Wei to try it himself.

After trying the wall with his hands, Wei Shang swung his arms and smashed the wooden stick against the wall, splashing clear sparks, and the blue brick was smashed out of the pit on the spot.

Zhao Jia stared wide-eyed, admiring Wei Taishou's force value.

Wei Shang threw away the wooden stick and signaled Master Wang to try it.

The latter was not polite, picked up a thicker wooden stick, and hit the wall several times in a row. Finally, half of the brick was smashed, but compared with the entire brick wall, the damage was still very small.

"it is good!"

After inspecting the gap, Wei Shang was even more delighted to know that it could be filled immediately with cement.

A large area of ​​grassland was newly allocated to Bianjun County, and the Qiang tribe came to descend one after another. The scale of Hu City was expanding day by day, and it was imperative to build fortresses and military camps.Forced by the external environment, the speed of the project must be accelerated.

The snowmelt period is approaching, and there is no guarantee of when the Xiongnu will go south without wind and snow.There are still barriers in the county, and the Hushi outside the county is unobstructed. When you break through the outer fence, you will see a flat river in front of you. The cavalry can charge at will and come and go freely.

Rammed earth construction was too slow, and the emergence of cement solved a big problem.Gather enough craftsmen and transport raw materials in the county, and several fortresses can be built in no time.

Listening to Zhao Jia explaining the cost of cement and green bricks, not to mention Wei Taishou, even Master Wang wanted to laugh three times.

God help, God help!

Such a brick wall is strong enough, and the construction speed is fast. Compared with building a city with rammed earth, the advantages are too great.Even if it is destroyed, it can be rebuilt in a few days by gathering artisans.

With solidity, the most important thing is speed.

"My lord, this thing can also be used to pave roads."

Zhao Jia also mentioned several uses of cement. Wei Shang nodded with a smile. He personally saw the raw materials for making cement and learned about the detailed production method. He immediately wrote a warrant and handed it over to the county guard.

While waiting for people from the city, Wei Shang and Master Wang walked around the livestock farm again. Zhao Jia was brought by Wei Shang's side, and answered each other's questions with vigor.

During the period, Wei Taishou mentioned Liu Rong's coming to the livestock farm, Zhao Jia did not hide it, and explained the matter in detail.Wei Shang's reaction was exactly the same as Wei Yue's, he patted Zhao Jia's shoulder and said with a smile, "Good job, Ah Duo."

A group of people came to the old circle and saw the wild boar tied up with ropes. Zhao Jia grinned, and Wei Yue paused, with a slightly tense expression.

Wei Shang looked at Zhao Jia, then at Wei Yue, his curiosity was beyond words.

"My lord, Jia intends to raise wild pigs."

"This stuff is pickled and hard to keep, and it doesn't taste good." Wei Shang frowned.

"The ingredients can be adjusted. As for the taste of the meat, it can be solved with one knife." Zhao Jia turned around and called Zhao Ponu, and gave some instructions in a low voice.

Zhao Ponu quickly ran to the warehouse, and brought a rattan basket, which contained the stems sent by the Orion, all of which were found in the forest where wild boars were caught.

"Is this a squatting owl?" Wei Taishou was well-informed and recognized the thing in the bag at a glance.

"Exactly." Zhao Jia pointed to the rattan basket and said, "Jia ordered people to search for it in the forest. There are not many of this thing, but it grows luxuriantly. It is the most favorite of wild pigs and can be eaten by humans. Jia intends to move it to the field. , try to plant."

"Good!" Wei Shang smiled and said, "This thing grows in Nandi counties and counties, and it is also found in the clouds. If it can be planted, it can feed people's hunger. It is really a great good."

For Wei Shang, no matter where these big taro come from, as long as it can fill the stomachs of the people, it is a good thing.It's good to be able to grow it, but it doesn't matter if it can't be planted. It grows in the mountains and fields, and the border people will dig it.

Thinking that this is the food that can save people's lives, the prefect Wei became more and more displeased with the wild boars fighting for food, and even came up with the idea of ​​broadcasting advertisements calling on the border residents to hunt and kill wild boars.

Prefect Wei thought so, and actually did so.

In the next few years, the wild boars in Yunzhong County were almost wiped out, and those who survived also ran to Lin County, never daring to appear under Wei Taishou's nose.

Many hunters knew that Zhao Jia exchanged millet for young wild boars, and if they caught young wild boars, they would send them to the livestock farm.

Relying on the planted taro and large tracts of pasture and wild fruits, Zhao Jia's pig raising business has flourished.

The feeding habits of wild boars are very mixed. When encountering taro and pasture, they can't keep up with it, and they can eat insects and house mice.

Seeing a half-grown wild boar escape from the pigpen, chasing the mice in the barn, and even wanting to have a fight with the marmot outside the farm, what can Zhao Jia say?I could only wave to the craftsman who was good at knife skills, saying that these piglets were about the same size and could be knifed.

After receiving Wei Shang's warrant, the craftsmen in the city came very quickly, and the accompanying clerks wrote down carefully the raw materials needed to make cement, the process of building the cellar, and the specific firing process.

For Zhao Jia, it is not a small difficulty to obtain plaster, even if he has money, he may not be able to buy it.

Wei Shang is not the case.

Yunzhong County is not enough, you can change it from other counties and cities.There are no nearby counties either, so go directly to Chang'an, explain the purpose, and soon a cart will arrive in Yunzhong County, sending a large amount of gypsum.

In addition to cement, the craftsmen who fired the blue bricks were also carefully questioned.If the two were willing, they could have taken the opportunity to enter the county town and become artisans registered in the official temple.Unexpectedly, they explained in detail the method of making green bricks, without any secrets, but they had no intention of entering the city.

After Wei Shang returned to the city, Zhao Jia was really curious and asked, and the two of them revealed the truth. It turned out that their ancestors were servants and concubines of the Qin State.

At the end of the Qin Dynasty, the world was in chaos, and the eldest father of the two died in the chaos. His father joined the Han army and made weapons under the command of the King of Han.Although he was classified as a craftsman after national independence, after all, he got rid of his status as a slave, and he has a craft that can support the whole family.

"Can you make weapons?"

The two craftsmen looked at each other, and the elder said, "I will tell you my lord, my late father was able to make crossbows and strong bows, and we are not like each other, so we only learned a little bit."

While speaking, the craftsman untied the leather pocket that never left his body, poured out a pile of wooden tools and parts that Zhao Jia could not distinguish between, made a hand crossbow the size of a palm, and handed it to Zhao Jia.

Although the hand crossbow was small, it was not weak in strength. A wooden arrow fired flatly could fly five meters away. It was definitely a sharp weapon in close combat.

More importantly, this is a repeating crossbow!

Holding up the hand crossbow, looking at the gray-haired craftsman, a thought suddenly popped into Zhao Jia's mind: Is this the so-called master among the people?