Northern Prefecture Rivers and Mountains

Chapter 70 Lushui Pond

Soon, the Cao family sent seeds, oxen, and various iron farm tools.

The oxen and farm tools are borrowed temporarily and must be returned after use.

A total of 4,000 kilograms of rice seeds and 2,700 kilograms of millet seeds were returned after the autumn harvest with 60% interest, which means a total of 17,000 kilograms of grain was returned to them.

This was a reduction given for Liu Daogui's sake.

According to the custom of that era, the interest rate was usually more than double, and it was not certain that the loan could be obtained.

In the third year of Emperor Jingdi's reign in the Han Dynasty, a woman named Yan was willing to lend money to the imperial court at ten times the interest rate to support the court in suppressing the rebellion of the Seven Kingdoms...

Too many lice won't bite, too many debts won't worry. When Liu Daogui first had to bear the huge debt of the Huan family, he was terrified and felt like he had a thorn in his back. But after getting used to it, he didn't care anymore.

Liu Daogui doesn't even blink an eye at this little bit of interest from the Cao family.

With a knife in your hand, you will not panic.

"This is Lushuibi!" Liu Zun looked at the vast fields with his eyes shining.

There is a fertile land where the rivers intersect, and the river water overflows the land, making it sparkle.

Liu Zun rode his horse happily in the fields, startling egrets in the distance.

It can be seen that people often rest and maintain the fields. The canals are not blocked, and the fields maintain their basic outlines. There are not many wild trees. With a little maintenance, they will become fertile fields.

Where there are trees, there will be birds, insects and ants, which will affect the growth of crops.

If it weren't for the harassment from the Taishan bandits, the Cao family probably wouldn't be willing to give up such a piece of land.

"This is the military farming order I wrote overnight." Gao Xun handed over a bamboo slip.

"Six officials and four civilians, the military government provides seeds and farm tools..." Liu Daogui unfolded and read out softly.

When I was in the military office before, I browsed through various old documents and decrees, and had a certain understanding of military farming.

During the Wei and Jin dynasties, the government owned 60% of the land and the people owned 40%. If private cattle were used, the government and the people each owned 50%.

However, in the late Cao Wei period, military farming gradually changed.

From six officials and four civilians, it became eight officials and two civilians...

When Cao Pi replaced the Han Dynasty, not only did they have to hand over grain, but they also had to increase corvee labor. Coupled with the corruption of officials, the burden on the farmers became increasingly heavy, and they became slaves of the government.

The key is that their descendants still cannot stand up and are slaves to the fields for generations...

The only good thing Sima Yan did was to abolish the military farming system.

But it didn't last for more than a few decades before the Sino-Korean War collapsed and the Hu people became more brutal.

Murong Wei, the founder of the Murong family, issued an order in Liaodong: If cattle are given to poor families and they farm in the garden, the public will take eight percent and keep two-tenths privately. If there are cattle but no land, they can also farm in the garden. The public will take seven percent and keep three-tenths privately.

After Shi Le pacified You and Ji, he began to inspect the population of the prefectures and counties. Each household was required to hand over two pieces of grain and two hu of rent, which was equivalent to 75% of the grain they had to hand over.

When it comes to Shi Hu, he "loves the people like his own children", taking whatever he wants and killing whatever he wants...

In contrast, during the reign of Emperor Cheng of Jin, Wang Dao was in power and implemented the "Xiankang Tuduan", setting up overseas counties and prefectures, and the initial tax in Jiangzuo was three liters per mu.

The people were greatly delighted, and the people's hearts in Jiangzuo were quickly stabilized, and the Jin Dynasty was stabilized.

In the south, paddy fields produce more than 100 jin of grain per mu, which is close to one hu. One hu is equal to ten dou, which is equal to ten liters. Some counties in Jiangdong can even have two harvests a year.

This is also the reason why the people in the north moved south with their families because they could not survive there.

The key to the Jin Dynasty's survival was light taxes and levies.

However, as the situation stabilized, the number of aristocratic families increased and they became stronger and stronger, and Wang Dao's Xiankang Tuduan and Huan Wen's Gengxu Tuduan gradually became meaningless.

Taxes increased year by year. After Sima Yao ascended the throne, in order to win over the aristocratic families, he changed the land tax from being levied on a per-acre basis to being levied on a per-household basis. Each household was required to pay three hu per year, which was already higher than the Jie Zhao tax during Shi Le's time...

"Is there anything wrong?" Gao Xun couldn't help asking when he saw Liu Daogui pondering for a long time.

"Why not give it a try?" Liu Daogui vaguely felt that the effect would not be very good.

This military order was completely plagiarized from Cao Wei's military farming order. Since he could copy it, the Cao family must have tried it before. Cao Cao was also from the Cao family of Qiao County, and they had the same ancestor. If it had worked, the Cao family would have been in high spirits long ago.

"I'll do it now." Gao Xun rode his horse back to the city excitedly.

Liu Daogui, Liu Zun, Liu Guangzhi and a dozen others inspected the surrounding terrain.

Lushuibi is a flat land with almost no strategic location to defend except for the river and pond. If the enemy comes from the north, no matter how much grain is grown, it will only be a waste of resources.

This is why the Cao family owns such a large piece of land but dares not cultivate it.

Liu Daogui led everyone to continue heading north. The mountains in the north, such as Mount Niu and Mount Meng, were shaped like a giant turtle lying on the land of Qi and Lu, overlooking everything from above.

Liu Guangzhi said: "To defend Lushuibi, we can only build forts along the river."

"With four or five hundred hectares of farmland, how many docks do you plan to build?" Liu Daogui asked back.

Lushui Pond is not only flat, but also shaped like the bottom of a pot, so the enemy troops from all directions can come and go as they please.

It is not easy to build a dock. Stone, wood and manpower are not small amounts, and it cannot be built in a short period of time.

The Xiao family was a powerful family in Lanling County, and despite their great wealth, they only had one fortress.

Liu Guangzhi said, "If we don't build a fort, won't the food be grown for the bandits in the mountains?"

Mount Niu is lush and green. It is said that Confucius' mother prayed at Mount Niu and got Confucius. Now, this mountain where the Chinese sages were born is full of thieves.

Liu Daogui looked at the huge mountain shadow and couldn't help but have an idea. "Instead of waiting for them to come down the mountain, why don't we attack them first, occupy the pass, and block the enemy's way south? Soon we can put an end to them once and for all, right?"

Those who are good at fighting are good at others but not at others.

The best defense is offense.

Lushuibi is impossible to defend. If it could be defended, the Cao family would not hand it over to others.

Since we are irreconcilable with the Taishan bandits, we should strike first and eliminate these two threats.

The enemy has cavalry. When they rush down the mountain, they are elusive and can launch a surprise attack at any time. Our side is naturally at a disadvantage. If we defend for too long, we will lose. Over time, we will inevitably suffer losses.

But if we attack them at their doorstep, the enemy cavalry will be useless.

"This..." Liu Guang was stunned, then laughed, "Not bad, not bad. We came here to suppress bandits. Building a fort to defend ourselves means we are afraid of the bandits like a tiger, right?"

"The people of Xicheng have suffered greatly. If we can join forces with the Cao family and send troops together, the Taishan bandits will be easily captured!" Liu Daogui has full confidence in the Northern Palace Army under his command.

To be honest, the battle at Chishan Village did not fully demonstrate their strength.

If we can wipe out the two gangs of Sun Fonu and Bai Longzi, it will have the effect of making a warning to the enemy, and other bandits will have to think twice before heading south.

The Cao family will also be much more honest.

In addition, the soldiers were willing to follow Liu Daogui north in order to make a fortune, but so far, they have not gained anything. Chishan Village was originally a refugee village, and the soldiers themselves were so poor that they could not make much money.

The bandits on Mount Nichu have horses, and they are war horses.

Just this one thing is enough, and those bandits definitely have more than just this...

Liu Guangzhi agreed, "If we don't get rid of those two gangs of thieves, our crops will be in vain."

"Have you figured out the way up the mountain?"

Knowing yourself and your enemy will ensure victory in a hundred battles. Liu Daogui believes in the fighting power of his soldiers, but he cannot be impulsive or reckless.

"I came here in a hurry last time, but the Cao family has been here for decades, so they must know."

Ultimately, we still need the support of the Cao family.

"Let's go back and discuss this with Cao Tengyun and Cao Ji."

Once Liu Daogui makes a decision, he executes it immediately without any delay.

(End of this chapter)