Three Kingdoms: A Million Soldiers Grown from the Fields

Chapter 85 Zhang Zixu, the Top Philanthropist of Changshan (4k+ chapter for my birthday)

Immersed in the fabric, Tong Bo spoke without thinking.

"Just now, I could feel obvious resistance when I touched it, but the marks weren't deep. This alone shows that this iron is of superior quality and is most suitable for forging weapons!"

"It's a pity I didn't bring my hoe and file. If I had, I could have judged the quality of the material just by looking at the size of the sparks."

"Good material!" Tong Xing exclaimed after examining the material, his voice filled with excitement. For a good blacksmith, nothing is more gratifying than finding a good piece of material.

And there's a whole bunch of similar material around here!
He stood up, walked to Zhang Xian who was resting, and cupped his hands in greeting: "Master is truly talented! This method should be the steel-making method used by the Iron Official under the Grand Minister of Agriculture. Although we have heard of it, this is the first time we have seen it."

"With this material, my brother and I will surely be able to forge the most ferocious weapon in Changshan for the Master!"

"Then I'll leave it to you two."

Zhang Xian returned the greeting with a smile. It seemed that Tong Xing was even more devoted to craftsmanship than his brother. He had been here for two days, and in this minute he had said more than he had said in all the other parts of the previous two days combined.

Tong Xing cupped his hands in greeting and said, "Then I'll take my leave." With that, he eagerly carried the materials toward the blacksmith's shop.

Seeing his younger brother leave, Tong Bo got up, took a few more molds, and bowed to take his leave.

He the blacksmith, standing to the side, was a little at a loss. No, teach me some more practical skills!
He scratched his head, and Zhang Xian, seeing this, laughed and scolded, "What are you standing there for? Go and see their blacksmithing skills!"

"Oh oh oh."

He the blacksmith realized what was happening and went back to the blacksmith shop.

Only Zhang Xianhan remained in the courtyard.

"Have you written it all down?" Zhang Xian asked Han Ji, who was holding a pen and paper beside him.

The latter nodded: "I've recorded all the processes, the different temperature and color changes in the furnace, and the changes in the molten iron."

"That's good. This will serve as a teaching material for expanding iron production in the future."

"Unfortunately, despite having such a powerful tool, the output of charcoal is still low due to fuel constraints. We need to build a few more kilns!"

"It's already being arranged. I had this idea last month. Not only charcoal, but Taoyuan can also be used for pottery and brick making!"

"Pottery making?"

Zhang Xian's eyes lit up as he asked, "Gongzhi, you said that if the Li family is gone, how will their assets be distributed?"

Han Ji put away the paper and pen and walked with Zhang Xian outside the courtyard.

"Under normal circumstances, these properties would mostly be inherited by the successor, but the Li family committed numerous evils and was wiped out, so most of his properties belonged to the government."

"There's room for maneuver?" Zhang Xian was delighted; he loved hearing that.

"Of course there are. The government office doesn't have much use for these things; they will eventually fall into the hands of powerful clans. If my lord wants to gain some benefits, then he will need to personally visit the Duke."

“Go, go tomorrow. It’s been a month already, it’s time to send something to the Guo family.”

Zhang Xian nodded. Of the huge Li family, he only managed to get tens of millions of dollars. The remaining hundreds of millions of dollars in wealth were either burned down or consisted of real estate such as house deeds and land deeds.

He wasn't interested in anything else, but he was very interested in the Li family's shops and farmland in Zhending County.

By acquiring those farmlands, Taoyuan could expand several times over, reaching all the way to Lijiawubao.

The second embankment in Taoyuan is also under construction. Although the land there is not suitable for growing crops, it is rich in clay. Acquiring the land there will be beneficial for future development.

Whether it's making bricks or anything else, clay resources are of paramount importance.

Having made up his mind, he nodded: "Prepare some gifts, and I will go to Zhen Ding Prefecture tomorrow."

"promise."

Han Ji cupped his hands in greeting.

The two parted ways at the crossing.

One person went to the thatched cottage, while the other returned to the courtyard and picked up the textbooks.

A martial arts arena.

The drills ended half an hour earlier than scheduled, and the people of Peach Blossom Spring were washing up and chatting.

Taoyuan started out as a medical center and paid great attention to hygiene management. Villagers would take a bath every ten days or so, and even if they didn't bathe, they would wipe themselves with a cloth to keep clean.

The residents of Taoyuan, who train intensely and sweat profusely every day, are a major focus of health attention.

Bathing every day is a must. In the summer, they wash in the stream, and in the winter, someone will boil water for them. Although the consumption of firewood is huge, he still has to grit his teeth and provide it in order to prevent the soldiers he has raised with countless chickens, ducks and pigs from getting sick because of a hygiene problem.

煤！
We must get coal. Even if we can't get coking coal, we can still solve the fuel problem by making honeycomb briquettes from low-quality coal!
Just after the Peach Blossom Spring soldiers finished washing up, around 8:30 PM, a few whistles sounded, and the soldiers looked at each other and headed to the training ground to assemble.

Basic literacy!

Let's start with the military!

The Taoyuan people are now highly obedient, especially after they followed Zhang Xian to fight against Lijiazhuang. A trend of admiring the strong has gradually spread among the Taoyuan people.

Clad in iron armor as if it were nothing, Zhang Xian single-handedly held off hundreds of county soldiers, and his greatness had already been elevated in their hearts.

Once assembled, the four 100-person formations stood in neat rows on the training ground.

Torches were erected around the area to illuminate the surroundings.

Zhang Xian, dressed as a Confucian scholar, paced back and forth among the formations, holding a textbook in his hand.

"I imagine you generals are puzzled by this summons at night, but your swift response has greatly pleased me."

"As the saying goes, a soldier without ambition is no good soldier. You all know how high my requirements for you are."

The eyes of the Peach Blossom Spring people followed Zhang Xian's movements, their eyes filled with reverence. When they thought about how precious their daily food and drink were, they nodded in agreement.

Zhang Xian stamped his foot and pointed the book in his hand at a member of the Peach Blossom Spring who was looking at him.

"You're asking how to become a soldier who can become a general?"

"Good question, brother." Zhang Xian smiled with satisfaction.

The person he pointed at opened his mouth, but I didn't ask, I really didn't ask!
"Read!" Zhang Xian shouted.

"If you want to become a general, you must be able to understand military orders! And the only way to understand military orders is through reading!"

"Therefore, from now on, I will personally instruct you all from the hour of Xu (7-9 PM) to the beginning of Hai (9-11 PM) every day!"

"Now, each team, sit down where you are!"

With a whoosh, the group from Taoyuan reacted faster than their minds could process it and sat down in unison.

The surrounding light became much brighter.

But Zhang Xian still frowned; the light in the open-air classroom was too weak, making it impossible to see anything clearly.

Okay, I'll focus on reading for the next few days.

"I'll say a line, and you all repeat it after me!"

"promise!"

Zhang Xian cleared his throat and began his second experience as a teacher.

"Battle has no fixed form, just as water has no fixed shape."

Warfare has no fixed form, just as water has no fixed shape.

"Show them gentleness, meet them with firmness."

Show them gentleness, meet them with firmness.

"When Yin and Yang are in balance, victory or defeat will emerge."

The interplay of Yin and Yang determines victory or defeat.

Under the stars and moon, a man in a long robe walked among his generals with his hands behind his back.

Her voice was clear and melodious, and her demeanor was leisurely.

Those sitting around the table all stood tall and straight, following the leader as he recited each and every word.

I read the hundred-word passage aloud seven times.

After reciting the text, Zhang Xian began to explain it word by word.

What do these words mean?

With the support of knowledge and skills, as long as the intelligence of the Peach Blossom Spring group is not zero, they can all receive a quarter of the enhancement effect.

No matter how much or how little, learning something is better than nothing. First, familiarize yourself with this military strategy text. After Taoyuan has renovated a large hall that can accommodate hundreds of people, then you can learn to write it.

An hour passed quickly.

This concludes tonight's military lecture.

The group from Taoyuan dispersed, and Zhang Xian returned to his room to rest.

The next morning, the usual tasks were carried out. The steelmaking furnace, which had consumed nearly 20,000 catties of charcoal the day before, was temporarily shut down. A thousand catties of good iron would be enough for a while, and the second furnace would be started after the kiln produced a little more charcoal.

After lunch, Zhang Xian, without taking a break, summoned his warhorse and set off lightly towards Zhen Ding County.

The falcon hung high in the sky, its cries echoing. This guy hadn't been around much lately; I wondered where he'd been. But as soon as he went out, this silly bird appeared.

Several times, the hawk tried to land on Zhang Xian's shoulder, but he swatted it away.

Just kidding, if you weren't wearing a leather vest and this clumsy bird's claws swiped at you, you'd have several wounds.

Zhang Xian, riding alone, was extremely fast. It would take an ordinary person at least an hour to travel to Zhengding, but he only took more than twenty minutes.

Although the Liangzhou warhorses' abilities accounted for half the credit, the other half was due to the riders' skill and the added weight they carried.

With a weight reduction of 99 jin, the rider would only weigh about 60 jin on the horse's back, which would be practically an empty load for a warhorse.

The horse had had a good run for over twenty minutes, snoring and shaking its head and lifting its hooves.

At the city gate tower, Zhang Xian dismounted and lined up to enter the city.

Upon seeing him, the city guard hurriedly greeted him, "Master Zhang, please come in quickly. Your long queue is really making us feel uncomfortable."

The people queuing up with him realized what was going on when they heard the name "Master Zhang".

Peach Blossom Spring is revealed!

He was the most virtuous man in Changshan, and we were spared the suffering of smallpox because of him.

So they all stepped aside.

"Mr. Zixu, please."

"I wouldn't dare delay your business, sir."

"Mr. Zixu is so kind!"

"."

Seeing that everyone made way for him, Zhang Xian couldn't refuse, so he could only bow and look around.

"You all have such kind intentions, so I, Zhang, would be impolite to refuse."

A good-natured laugh rang out in front of the city gate tower.

After entering the city, Zhang Xian rode his horse towards the Guo residence.

Now, he enters the Guo residence as if it were his own home. The gatekeeper doesn't even bother to stop him; as soon as he sees his figure in the distance, he opens the main gate early.

He dismounted, and a familiar servant stepped forward to take the reins.

Is my elder brother at home?

Zhang Xian took something off his horse and asked.

A servant replied, "Sir, after lunch, the master went to his study to read."

"it is good."

Zhang Xian nodded and handed the things in his hand to Guo Fu, who was coming towards him.

“Some salted ducks and two legs of beef. He twisted his neck while plowing the fields and couldn’t be saved. I brought them to my brothers so they could have something fresh to eat.”

“Zixu always brings extra fresh food when he comes to the manor every month. No wonder the young master often talks about you.” Guo Fu said with a smile. Although he was the steward of the Guo family, he was also a member of the Guo family.

Zhang Xian smiled. What else could Guo Tang, that clever little devil, nag him about? He just kept asking him to take him out to play.

"Is Brother Ziren in the study?" he asked.

Guo Fu nodded: "Yes, the patriarch has been having a poor appetite lately. Zixu might as well take a look when he comes."

"It's normal to have a poor appetite when it gets hot in autumn, so there's no need to worry too much."

As he spoke, he picked up a jar and headed towards the back of the house.

Crossing the porch, one sees few men in the inner quarters, mostly maids coming and going. They seem unfazed by Zhang Xian's presence, bowing respectfully before going about their business.

Artificial hills adorn the outside of the corridor, with trickling water cascading from the top of the stones to the bottom, creating a melodious tinkling sound.

Beyond the artificial hill are several fruit trees, which are growing vigorously under this courtyard.

"Uncle Zixu!"

A melodious sound rang out beside his ear. Zhang Xian turned his head and saw Guo Tang swinging on a swing with Guo Tang.

"Uncle Zixu!!"

Upon hearing his sister's voice, Guo Tang, who was on the swing, realized who had come. He jumped off the swing in a hurry and rushed towards Zhang Xian.

"Alright, alright, you little rascal."

Seeing the little brat charging forward like a pig, Zhang Xian hurriedly tried to defend himself, pressing down on the brat's head with the hand holding the jar, while reaching down to its neck with the other hand.

At an age when people hate him and even dogs hate him, if he gets on his nerves, he can forget about getting anything done that afternoon.

Guo Tang watched with amusement, brushing a strand of hair behind her ear with her fingers.

Zhang Xian pulled a short whistle from under his neck and immediately blew it.

A sharp whistle rang out briefly at the covered bridge, followed by the sound of several fans being flapped.

"Uncle has other matters to attend to. Come here, little monkey, I have a task for you. Have you seen that stupid bird?"

Zhang Xian took Guo Tang's hand and walked down the covered bridge to Guo Tang's place.

Pointing to the falcon perched on the artificial hill, he patted Guo Tang's head.

"Get some meat strips and feed your uncle."

Guo Tang stared intently at the majestic eagle on the artificial hill, nodding his head repeatedly.

"Okay, Uncle, it doesn't bite, does it?"

"I won't bite, I won't bite."

Zhang Xian smiled and then looked up at the falcon.

"You stupid bird, stay put! If you dare to run away, I'll pluck all your feathers!"

'Good boy, good boy, it's all up to you to keep this kid in check. Be good!'

Zhang Xian had trained his falcon very well, and it had played with Li Zhen and Huang Xu quite a bit in Taoyuan, so he wasn't worried that it would hurt anyone.

The eagle stood on the artificial hill, preening its feathers by pecking at the feathers under its wings.

Turning around, he saw Guo Tang looking at him with a somewhat melancholy expression, and he chuckled awkwardly, "Tang'er, are you well?"

"Is everything alright? How has Uncle been lately?"

Guo Tang bowed quietly, her eyes sparkling as she looked at Zhang Xian.

"Ha, good. Tang'er knows my place. There aren't many trivial matters for me to handle. I spend my days walking birds and riding horses. Look, Uncle has just acquired a new, intelligent falcon."

"I'm just glad my uncle is well. That's all for this trip."

"Oh, I had forgotten if you hadn't mentioned it. I have something to discuss with my brother, so I won't keep you company any longer."

Zhang Xian seemed to suddenly remember that he was there on business, so he quickly said...

After saying that, he turned and headed towards the study.

"Sigh," Guo Tang sighed softly as he watched Zhang Xian's departing figure.

"Sister! Come and feed the birds with me!"

In the distance, Guo Tang, who had brought over the meat strips, waved enthusiastically to his sister.

The girl smiled slightly: "You're here."

(End of this chapter)