Traveling through time as a peasant girl to turn things around

At court, the emperor mentioned the mining project. The older ministers offered a variety of opinions. Duke Huo stepped forward and said, "Mining is dangerous, but someone has to do it. We can encourage everyone to sign up and provide three meals a day." Duke Lu said, "Those in the court facing exile should all be employed as miners, while the men should be employed in mining and the women should be employed in cultivating wasteland. They shouldn't eat the food for free." This was a proposal made by the dukes and presented to the court for their approval. Chai Zhen, who had been attending court for the past few days, felt deeply sorry for the emperor. Even at a young age, he was already concerned about national affairs and proactively offered a plan. He stepped forward and said, "Recruit people from all over the country to mine." The younger officials considered what the elders said and felt it made sense. It was a good idea, at least. Several younger officials also stepped forward and said that the proposals of Duke Ding, Duke Huo, and Duke Lu were all credible and supported them. Finally, a show of hands passed, with over 80% in favor. With only a few dissenters, the proposal was passed. The emperor declared, "The decision will be made tomorrow." The court was adjourned. The Minister of Works and several dukes arrived in the imperial study, where a young eunuch arrived to announce the decision.

Chai Zhen, Duke Ding, Duke Huo, Duke Lu, Zuo Feng, the Left Vice Minister of War, Lu Wei, Vice Minister of Works, and General Ma discussed the specific details of the mining operation in the Imperial Study. It was eventually decided that Vice Minister Zuo Feng would lead 5,000 soldiers from the suburban camp outside the city, along with exiled criminals, to mine. The Ministry of Personnel issued an official order directing all prisoners from various government offices to be sent to Tai'an Prefecture for mining.

Zuo Feng returned home and told his wife Li Hong about this. Li Hong said, "I'm afraid the master won't be back soon, so call back the sons and daughters." Zuo Feng: "Yes. I don't know when I can return, and the mission is very important." The Zuo family prepared a family reunion and farewell.

Chai Zhen knows about this. He asked Ye Heng and his family to come back and discuss it. He asked the in-laws to bring something. Guo Guo: It's not too far. He can come back if he wants. Ye Heng: His mission is important. If he leaves, someone has to take his place. Guo Guo: Which general will be sent to lead the troops in the suburban camp this time? Ye Heng: I'm familiar with him. We'll see what happens. It's okay. If not, ask Lord Zuo to bring a few secret guards for protection. Guo Guo: That's fine. I remember giving him a few. Chai Zhen, let's go to the Zuo Mansion tonight to see him off.

Guoguo went to her uncle's house. Zuo Xiaoqian already knew about it and was preparing to go back to her parents' home with Li Dong. Guoguo took out a crossbow and gave it to Li Dong to take to Master Zuo, just in case. Zuo Xiaoqian was deeply touched. "Thank you, Guoguo." "Auntie, we're family." I'm going back, you guys should go too. Li Dong saw Guoguo out.

Li Dong returned home, took his wife and son, and took a carriage to see his relatives off.

Ye Heng considered that it would be inconvenient to smelt iron after the iron ore was mined, and it would be inconvenient to pull stones, so he thought of smelting iron nearby. He discussed it with Guoguo. The two sat in the space drinking tea, and their son was playing on the ground. Guoguo: Brother Ye, in the northwest direction of my hometown, not far away, almost to Shanxi Prefecture, there is a coal mine, which is something that can be burned with high heat and is not easy to extinguish. The cost is not high and every household of the common people can use it. Moreover, coal is most needed for iron smelting. Coal is burned into coke, which can be used to make steel. The steel edge can be used on the blade, and the knife will become hard and sharp, making it a top-grade weapon. Ye Heng said happily: "This coal is a good thing." Guoguo hummed, "In winter, you can make a fire in the house - a charcoal fire, which will not go out all night. The house can keep warm for a long time. It greatly reduces the use of firewood and replaces firewood."

Ye Heng: I'll go see the Emperor tomorrow to dig for coal. Antai Prefecture is far from Pingjin Prefecture, but it's directly north and south of Taohua Village. If there were a road, it would be very close. Guo Guo: Then build a road from Antai to the coal mine. Then build a road from the coal mine to Taohua Village. I'll arrange for the construction of this road. Ye Heng: Okay, rest tonight and we'll talk tomorrow. Guo Guo: Okay, I'm going to give my son a bath. The little guy sticks his butt out and runs out, quickly stripping off his clothes and jumping into the spiritual spring water. The spring water gurgles out. Guo Guo says nothing, watering the ground. Sprinkling rain, purifying the space.

Ye Heng picked baskets of fresh, green vegetables. He picked up a tomato, wiped it with his hands, and ate it. Guo Guo: It tastes better with sugar. Ye Heng: It tastes better this way, too.

The little boy was as happy as a fish in water. Guoguo saw that it was almost time, so she took her son out, dressed him, and said, "It's time for Huangbao to go to bed, otherwise he won't grow taller." The frightened Huangbao listened to his mother and lay down on the bed to sleep.

Guoguo took out a large tub, heated with spiritual spring water, and bathed, feeling completely refreshed. Yeheng also bathed in the same water. His skin was white and smooth, tender and elastic. It had been a long time since they had been intimate. Their son, who had bathed until he was rosy, was asleep, so they cuddled together, resting from their exercise. Except for the clouds of Wushan, there is no such thing as a true love for a lifetime!

Two days later, at the Ten-Li Pavilion outside the capital, all the court officials came to bid farewell and see Minister Zuo off. The commander of the barracks was General Shi Wen. Ye Heng stepped forward and instructed him, "Protect Lord Zuo and be careful. If you need anything, send a message to the palace." "Shi Wen thanks you, Your Highness." Ye Heng said, "Let's go!" Shi Wen replied, "Yes, Your Highness." Shi Wen raised his arm and shouted, "Let's go." The army led the way, with Minister Zuo sitting in the rear. He was accompanied by three secret guards, secretly following. He carried a crossbow with him, given by his son-in-law for self-defense. Inside the sedan was a large bundle containing clothes, shoes, hats, winter clothes, and other essentials given by his wife. There were also several boxes.

Ye Heng rode back home. He changed carriages and took Guoguo and his son back to Xiaowangzhuang. It was time for the autumn harvest.

At midnight, Yeheng and Guoguo were harvesting the crops in a large machine. Yeheng called his secret guards to fill the bags at the edge of the field. Guoguo was harvesting in front, while Yeheng drove behind to sow the wheat. This kind of machine was only suitable for large plots of land.

Guoguo and the others worked for two nights before they finished harvesting the grain. Some was left in the farmhouse warehouse, and the rest was stored in the space. There was also corn and soybeans. There was sandy land by the sea. Of the hundred acres, fifty were planted with peanuts. The watermelons had already been taken off the shelves. They only grew one crop a year.

Ye Heng sent soldiers to harvest, keeping Guoguo busy. Steward Wang Youzhi led the farmhands to harvest the crops. Guoguo thought grinding flour was difficult. Only Taohua Village had machines for grinding flour. He asked Li Dong to make a flour mill. Li Dong had been making it, and now it was very fast. He finished two in a few days: one at the top of the mountain and one at Xiaowangzhuang. He would grind flour in empty houses with their doors unlocked. Anyone who was short of flour could go and grind it, greatly facilitating farmers' lives and freeing up labor.

Guoguo planned to promote the flour mill and let Li Dong do the takeout business! Later, with a stable income, Li Dong expanded the factory again and again, hiring carpenters. Guoguo also purchased a large quantity of fine-mesh gauze for the flour-producing area of ​​the flour mill. This made Li Dong's flour mill famous. Li Guang then experimented with making flour baskets for home use, which also sold for a good sum. He became rich! After all, it was a craft.