Forced to farm for the princess

This place is very big, and the more you go inside, the more empty it becomes. There is only one sheep seller, and there are not many sheep; it seems that everyone is waiting and watching, and they don't know how long it will be open, so the goods they bring are not too many.

It is impossible for Wei Ruojin and Lin Heng to stay here forever. After staying for a few days, they are relieved to see that the rules of the exchange market are pretty good. This is also due to the fact that Kunel killed several people who wanted to grab food. , everyone knows the attitude of King Ranjue towards Dachang, no one will think that his life is long and his family has a lot of property.

Wei Ruojin is thinking about another thing now, which is road construction. It is still a bit far from Pinghe Town to Hushi. When it comes to road construction, cement is a better choice, but it is not suitable for horse racing, and it is easy to wear and tear the horseshoes. The horse is likely to fall when stopped suddenly.

The cement road will be faster. If it is not urgent, the cement road will be more cost-effective.Wei Ruojin told Lin Heng about this plan, Lin Heng thought about it and said, "It's better to build two roads."

Wei Ruojin thought about it, yes, it is better to build two roads, the ordinary road is paved with cement for pedestrians and horses, and another road is built next to it, and they are all compacted for horses to travel quickly.

"Even if the mutual market can't continue at that time, if we want to go to war with Dachang, this road will be straight through." Lin Heng didn't continue to say the rest, Wei Ruojin also understood.

"Then prepare to build the road." Wei Ruojin finished writing the plan, and said in pain, "There is no one, there is a shortage of people in the northwest!"

Lin Heng coughed lightly, "The preferential treatment you proposed at the beginning has been going on all the time, but there are really not many people who are willing to come. It's really not that they can't live on, and they won't come."

"Issue an official document to Taishou Yin and the local officials, let's recruit workers, take care of food and lodging, three hundred yuan a month, and then be escorted by the officials all the way, and the transportation and horse expenses will be fully covered in the northwest." Wei Ruojin sighed, and the road will be repaired by then , but also to repair other things, if you go to explore the iron ore first, it will be really rewarding, I am afraid that when employing people, they will bump into each other.

If it is really not possible, Wei Ruojin can only start construction after the autumn harvest, and let people go back when the spring plowing.

Lin Heng could actually propose to buy some slaves, he thought, Wei Ruojin must know about it, but he never mentioned it, so naturally he never mentioned it.

Just like himself, he has never used slaves, and everything in the mansion uses family generals, soldiers who followed him to the battlefield, and survived and could no longer go to the battlefield.

Wei Ruojin thought about it, but he didn't want slaves. Today's slaves are private property. If he allows slaves to be treated the same as other civilians, some things may be beyond his ability.

It would be better not to use slaves from the beginning, and if it works from top to bottom, maybe there will be no slaves in the future.

The conditions offered by recruiting workers in Northwest China are indeed very attractive. Even if the autumn harvest is approaching, many people will contribute their labor to build roads, and women, the elderly, and children can do things in the fields if they are busy for a while.

The people he could recruit when he started building roads were beyond Wei Ruojin's expectations. He still underestimated people's enthusiasm for making money.

Wei Ruojin also plans to sell the cement elsewhere, but looking at it like this, I'm afraid I don't have enough for myself, so I have to continue to produce, but I'm afraid the masks are not enough.

It depends on how much cotton can be harvested this time, Wei Ruojin scratched her head, whether or not to set up a designated purchasing station in the Yamen.This matter still needs to be discussed with Lin Heng, he will be too busy, and the purchase price has not yet been set.

Wei Ruojin got up and went to Lin Heng's study, just as Qin Chong was there.He stopped Qin Chong and saluted, and said: "I just came to discuss some things with the prince, don't worry, you can talk slowly."

"Where is the son, Qin is just here to say goodbye to the prince." Qin Chong said.

"Farewell? Are you leaving?" Wei Ruojin looked at Lin Heng, "Why didn't I know Mr. Qin was leaving?"

"No, I just asked for leave. In the past two years, my son has spent a lot of time to take care of my body. I have recovered a lot, so I want to go to the south of the Yangtze River and pay a visit to the elders. I am afraid that there will not be many days to see each other in my lifetime. "Qin Chong smiled slightly.

"So that's how it is." Wei Ruojin thought that Qin Chong was going to leave the palace. Qin Chong's help for more than a year has indeed saved him a lot of work, and he can also help Lin Heng. If he really wants to leave the palace, it will be true. The loss of the palace.

"Well, you can take whatever you want to bring." Lin Heng nodded, Qin Chong rarely asked him for anything.

"Thank you, lord, thank you, son." Qin Chong also thanked the Northwest Palace. Before the son came, the prince gave him a place to live, and now it relieves his old illness.

"Ajin, why do you suddenly want to discuss things with me? Didn't you always make decisions directly before?" Lin Heng was a little interested, but it shouldn't be something important, otherwise he would have become anxious.

"It's as if I haven't discussed it with you before. Okay, I'm just here to ask you, how about setting up a designated site to buy agricultural products in the yamen? What price is right?" Wei Ruojin asked.

"This... If we follow the previous example, it will definitely not work. In the past two years, there has been a lot of food, and the price has not been able to increase. These need to be carefully calculated."

Wei Ruojin thought about getting a team like the Household Department, one of the six departments, but none of these aristocratic families could use it, and the only one that could be used was the copy of the Chen family.The rest of An'an didn't dare to do anything, and didn't even dare to ask them for this kind of money.

"Now that Mr. Qin is going to the south of the Yangtze River again, there are even fewer people we can use." Wei Ruojin sighed, something flashed through his mind, and he looked at Lin Heng and said, "Did we forget something?"

Lin Heng looked up at him, "What's the matter?"

"Last time we talked about taxation, you said to go to Jiangnan to find Mr. Du Mingdu."

Lin Heng slapped his head, "I really forgot, then what do you mean..."

"I will also go to Jiangnan to invite Mr. Du. People like Mr. Du have to do what they like. They have to bring more paper and sugar; No, you can’t get through without vulgar things, well, I’m leaving.”

Lin Heng watched in a daze as Wei Ruojin finished speaking on his own, and then went out of the study door to ask Butler Shang to prepare the things he needed; he didn't go with Qin Chong, and it would take some time to prepare these things, Qin Chong left that day.

When they finally left, Wei Ruojin still walked with Lin Heng, there was no sign of the Northwest Palace on the carriage, and they just went to Jiangnan.

Half of the road was dry, half of it was water. The dry road was fine, but when he got on the boat, Lin Heng felt a little seasick, and Wei Ruojin held him down for two days before he got better.

All the food on the boat was fish, Wei Ruojin felt for the first time that it was a correct decision for her to bring so many seasonings, and occasionally buy some local side dishes when the boat stopped, which would be enough to eat a few times, so it was a change. Change the taste.

But Wei Ruojin couldn't take it after sitting on this boat for a long time, and when he finally set foot on the land of Jiangnan, he felt a sense of peace of mind, and even Lin Heng's face had the feeling of a life after a catastrophe.

After resting in the station for a few days, and almost finding out where Mr. Du was, Fan Weicai drove Lin Heng and Wei Ruojin there.

"Grandpa Du lives outside the city, and there is only one old slave by his side. The princes have invited him several times, but they haven't invited him. We may have made this trip in vain."

Looking at the completely different scenery in the northwest, Wei Ruojin said, "Then consider it as a visit. If you don't invite Mr. Du, it would be a good harvest to invite some of the students he taught."

Lin Heng laughed, "You can think about it, aren't you in a hurry?"

"It's useless to be anxious. We can't find suitable people to do these things. Hey, I really want to drive out all the aristocratic families in the northwest." Wei Ruojin sighed, it was really annoying.

"Don't worry, they are about to bow their heads. With sweet potatoes and corn, many farmers have opened their own fields. Anyway, these two kinds of grains do not choose land, which will lead to fewer and fewer people who are willing to rent land. If at the beginning If they unite, maybe there is still a chance, now..." Lin Heng chuckled a few words.

"But the good fields are still occupied by them." It's not that Wei Ruojin didn't know what Lin Heng said.

"Okay, that's all the food we grow, let's not worry. Now the common people don't live by renting the fields of the aristocratic family, but you made a mistake to take the bottom out of the aristocratic family's wages."

Wei Ruojin couldn't help laughing when he saw Lin Heng's expression of resentment. He still remembered the face of the aristocratic family when he first arrived in the northwest. These aristocratic families still dreamed of trying to control him.

The carriage stopped by the side of the road. To show their sincerity, they did not bring anyone else with them when they visited. Lin Heng carried the paper, and Wei Ruojin went to Mr. Du Ming's place with rock sugar and seasonings.

After walking for a long time, Wei Ruojin was out of breath, but Lin Heng was able to lift the heavy objects with ease, and the physical strength of the two was not at the same level at all.

The place where Du Ming lived was just a little far away from the outskirts of the city, and there were few people. When he saw a hut, Wei Ruojin breathed a sigh of relief and finally arrived.

"Junior Wei Ruojin begs to see Mr. Du." Wei Ruojin put down his things, calmed down and straightened his clothes before saying loudly.

The thatched hut was quiet. The fence in front of the hut was made of something, and there were still a few chickens. There was no one raising chickens in the northwest, and Mr. Du even raised chickens.

You must know that the animals at this time are very ferocious. Now the Northwest only raises rabbits and dozens of sheep, not even a pig.When he mentions pigs, he thinks of braised pig ears, braised pork, lean meatballs...

Wei Ruojin swallowed accidentally, Lin Heng heard the voice, and followed his eyes to look over, how many little pheasants?

"If you want to eat, I'll grab it for you after you meet Mr. Du."

"it is good!"

Promised a little fast.

Wei Ruojin coughed unnaturally, turned around and continued to shout towards the hut: "Junior Wei Ruojin begs to see Mr. Du."

There was still no sound in the room. Wei Ruojin moved. There was a stone table in front of the room. The teapot and cups were left on the table. After touching it, there was still a little warmth, but there was no smell of fireworks in the room. .

"It seems that no one is here, shall we wait here?"

"Well, it's quite troublesome to carry these things back." Lin Heng also walked over and sat down, and poured Wei Ruojin a glass of water.

"Gollum..."

Wei Ruojin rubbed her stomach and looked at Lin Heng, "I didn't bring anything to eat when I came here just now, I didn't expect to wait so long."

"You wait, I'll look around to see if there's anything to eat." Lin Heng drank the water in the glass in one gulp, and left in a flash.

Lin Heng walked a little farther, this time he was not in a hurry to shoot the rabbit, he saw the pheasant after walking a little farther, smiled slightly, lifted the pheasant and it fell down.

After thinking about the appetite of the two of them, Lin Heng hit another one, which should be enough.Before returning to the hut, Wei Ruojin looked at the two chickens in his hand and laughed.

"There is no pot here, so we can only peel the skin."

"Okay." Without further ado, Lin Heng found a corner and squatted down to cleanly dispose of the two chickens. Wei Ruojin went to pick up firewood, but he didn't need to pick it up. The people following in the dark had already picked it up for him.

After skewering the chicken, Wei Ruojin started grilling, and felt even hungrier when the aroma wafted out.

"It smells so fragrant, who are you?" A vigorous old man with gray hair suddenly appeared.

Wei Ruojin and Lin Heng looked at each other, and said: "Old man, I'm really hungry to borrow your precious land."

"How did you bake it? Why is it so fragrant? I haven't smelled this smell before?" the old man said.

"It's almost ripe, just come and taste it together." Wei Ruojin said with a smile.

"Okay, I'm going to get the bowls and chopsticks." Du Ming was very satisfied. He pushed open the door of the hut and went in. After a while, he came out with a few bowls and chopsticks. "I haven't eaten meat for a long time."

"Then you have to give it a try. I...my husband's craftsmanship dares to be second, but no one dares to be the first." Lin Heng glanced at Wei Ruojin and said.

This sentence made Du Ming look at them several times, and said with a smile, "My beloved? Haha, you're not bad."

Wei Ruojin cut the grilled chicken into pieces, "It would be great if there is a staple food, but unfortunately we came in a hurry and didn't bring anything."

"Eat first, I'll invite you to eat later." Du Ming looked that he was not young, but he was not slow at picking up the meat, and spit out a pile of bones in no time.

Lin Heng was afraid that Wei Ruojin would not be as fast as him, so he clipped two chicken legs for him; but Wei Ruojin clipped another one back for him. Du Ming saw the movements of the two of them and didn't say anything.

"Prince, son? Why are you two here..." Qin Chong walked over, followed by a young man carrying a load, presumably for shopping.

He was surprised to see the two of them, but when he saw Du Ming, the surprise on Chun Chong's face disappeared. His teacher was Du Ming, and he was eating well at the moment, so he didn't have time to talk to him.

"Mr. Qin... the elder who came to pay a visit is Mr. Du?" Wei Ruojin's eyes turned from Qin Chong to Lin Heng. Qin Chong is from the palace, so you don't even know his identity?

"Yes, it's my fault that I didn't tell the lord. It's not an important matter." Qin Chong smiled, "Did the lord and the young master come to invite the teacher out of the mountain?"

Du Ming wiped his mouth and said, "I'm not going anywhere, just stay here." Just as Qin Chong wanted to speak, Du Ming continued: "Don't say anything, even if you are my student, don't persuade me, the old man said no Go or not."

Qin Chong coughed, "I didn't want to persuade the teacher to go either. Isn't this a visitor? He is the master of the students. Why don't you bring something to entertain him?" After speaking, he pointed to the young man who was carrying the burden. Put the things down, take out the snacks and put them on the table.

"It just so happens that it's time for dinner. Young master and prince should also stay and eat together. After dinner, I will send the two of you back to the city." Qin Chong said with a smile.

"The boy who eats and crawls!" Du Ming muttered in a low voice, and then cast a dissatisfied glance at Lin Heng and Wei Ruojin. These two boys are even more dishonest. Up to now, they have not said a word, and let his students Having said that, it made him want to refuse but he couldn't.

After dinner, Wei Ruojin and Lin Heng offered to leave. They were not in a hurry at all. With Qin Chong's relationship, it would be a matter of time before they invited Mr. Du.Unexpectedly, the old man still likes strong flavors. He sprinkled chili powder on a roast chicken, which was not very spicy, but the old man ate half of it.

The next day, Wei Ruojin bought some things and stepped into Mr. Du Ming's room with Lin Heng again; as soon as the two arrived, Du Ming entered the room. Yesterday, he didn't see the old servant saluting with Qin Chong. The two of them turned sideways, unaffected.

"Yesterday was a bit late. It's not a coincidence that we came here. Let Mr. Du try something early today." Wei Ruojin took out the vegetables he bought.

"My servant will help you." Qin Chong quickly took the food from Wei Ruojin's hand and brought it to the kitchen.Lin Heng entered the house, Wei Ruojin smiled and followed into the kitchen.