Chapter 8 The Curved Plow (Catching Insects) What men can do, women can do too! ...

"Everyone has seen these blueprints, right?"

Django held the completed blueprints high. Each step of the process was clearly illustrated, and even someone unfamiliar with carpentry could figure it out after a few days of study.

"Sir, what is this?" The village head of Da Li Village got up and leaned closer to take a look, but his old eyes couldn't see clearly.

Jiang Ge didn't intend to keep him in suspense and slowly explained the use of the curved plow: "This thing is called the curved plow. It is a family heirloom. It is convenient and easy to use for plowing. Even an old man can plow five acres of land in a day using it."

The moment he finished speaking, he snatched the blueprints of the curved plow, his hand trembling as he held them.

"Magistrate Jiang, is what you said true?"

"This thing really saves effort? Can it plow five acres of land a day?"

"My God, this is amazing."

......

The second hall erupted in chaos as people passed around the blueprints for the curved plow. Everyone there was an experienced farmer, and they immediately recognized how convenient and practical the curved plow truly was. They were so excited they were almost fainting. It's no wonder they were so excited; a young adult could only plow about two acres a day, and bronze tools, lacking the hardness of iron, presented numerous inconveniences when tilling the land.

Animals can plow the fields more efficiently, but cattle are expensive. How long would it take for ordinary people to save up enough to buy a cow?

“It’s true. I’ve called you all here today to discuss this matter. With the curved plow, everyone can reclaim more wasteland. Whoever reclaims the wasteland owns it. With land comes a harvest. If the harvest is good, we can pay the taxes. Wouldn’t that be a win-win situation for both the people and the government?” Jiang Ge gestured for the agitated village heads to quiet down.

Just as he gave the signal.

The noisy second hall instantly quieted down. They had initially underestimated the young new magistrate because he was too handsome and looked too young. Who knew that he was so shrewd despite his young age? If this plow was really that convenient, they would believe the new magistrate if he said the sun rose in the west!

"After you return to your villages, please find some skilled carpenters, regardless of gender. I will be teaching them in the county government office tomorrow. Now, please feel free to ask any questions you may have." Although she is the one who will teach, there are so many people that a large group is not as efficient as a small group. It is still necessary to find carpenters who can learn quickly and teach others.

"Sir, is this curved plow made entirely of wood?" The village head of Da Li Village suppressed his excitement and calmly asked the most crucial question.

Besides wood, another crucial component of the curved plow is the plowshare, made of iron, which is essential for tilling the frozen soil.

"Actually, apart from wood, the plowshare of the curved plow is made of iron."

iron!

Iron was expensive, and the people in these villages were barely making ends meet, so they had no spare money to forge iron.

No wonder they had never heard of this before.

Upon hearing this, the almost boiling second hall instantly fell silent. The village heads looked at each other, wanting the curved plow, but they also knew the situation of their own village.

“Magistrate Jiang, let me tell you the truth: if this curved plow required iron, I’m afraid the villagers of Da Li Village would rather put in more effort than make it.” The village head of Da Li Village clearly knew his villagers very well.

Even if the curved plow makes land reclamation convenient, they still need to have money.

Django already had a solution to this problem. After all, she was a county magistrate. Even a broken ship has three thousand nails, let alone a county magistrate.

She planned to break the iron chains used to transport prisoners in the county government warehouse, since they were useless there anyway, and she could keep two for emergencies.

She'll pay it back when she earns money.

"Don't worry, everyone. This plowshare was funded by the county government. You can bring the villagers to the county government to learn about it tomorrow."

After notifying the villagers, they also needed to notify the people living in the county town.

No wonder there don't seem to be many people in Songyang County. It turns out that there are only about two hundred households left living in the town.

People in the county town are more efficient at issuing notices than those in the villages; they only need to write a notice, stamp it with the government seal, and post it on the notice wall.

Django unfolded the paper in his hand and waited for the ink to dry.

"Erwang, get the iron chain from the warehouse and come with me to the county town."

Erwang was the strongest of the four constables. Although he was missing an arm, he was tall and imposing. He walked over carrying several iron chains and had a cold face, which made him look somewhat intimidating.

Because of the missing arm, Xu Da and the others have been worried about losing their jobs ever since Hei Fu came, with Er Wang being the most anxious and worried.

If you asked her, Xu Da and the others' worries were completely unnecessary. The other three constables were ineffective in intimidating the people, only Erwang was somewhat capable.

"Sir, what are you doing with this chain? Has something happened in the county?" Erwang asked, puzzled.

"It's nothing, we just need to send this iron chain to the blacksmith to make it into a new farm tool and lend it to the people to use for land reclamation."

Erwang immediately became anxious upon hearing this: "My lord, you mustn't! This iron chain belongs to the imperial court. How can it be easily damaged and lent to the common people?"

Jiang Ge continued walking and waved slightly at Erwang: "What is borrowed must be returned. This magistrate will repay it when the harvest season comes this year."

When the harvest comes, there will surely be tax grain, and then we can just forge a few more iron chains.

People always need to learn to be flexible.

Seeing the new magistrate's firm attitude, Erwang didn't know what to say and could only comply.

The notice board is located right in front of the county government office, which is considered one of the busiest places in the county town.

"Erwang, can you read?" Jiang Ge handed the notice to Erwang, not forgetting to ask him.

"I can recognize a few simple ones."

When the notice was posted on the notice wall, people gathered around.

"What's this?"

"What does this say? I heard that a new magistrate has come to our county. I wonder how old he is? Is he powerful?"

"You don't know? I've heard that the new magistrate is only 28 years old, a mere child with no experience or knowledge. How can she possibly govern such a large county? I don't know what the imperial court is thinking! Sigh!"

"How dare you say that? You're asking for it!"

......

They spoke softer and softer, as if afraid of being overheard. If Jiang Ge hadn't stayed by their side, they probably wouldn't have dared to speak anymore.

The people of Songyang County were well aware of the imperial court's attitude. It was all because of the locust plague. The locusts were out of control and coming in a fierce manner, and they might come again in the future. The imperial court could only leave Songyang County to its own devices.

Besides the curved plow, there was also a red notice announcing Django's appointment.

Whenever a new official takes office, a red notice is posted on the notice wall to announce to the people that a new county magistrate has been appointed.

"It is now the spring plowing season, and the people are inevitably working hard to cultivate the land. The county magistrate has specially brought out a curved plow, which can plow at least five acres of land a day, making it easy and labor-saving. Tomorrow, Magistrate Jiang will teach the plow for free at the county office, regardless of gender, and all reclaimed land will belong to the people."

Erwang was probably flustered because he hadn't spoken for a long time. He changed the formal language on the notice to something that the people could understand.

"Erwang, the new county magistrate is personally giving free lessons? Is it true?!"

"What is this curved plow? I've been farming for most of my life and I've never heard of it."

"You idiot, how would you know about good stuff? You can't afford it anyway."

......

These words were quite honest, and the people immediately stopped questioning them. They had finally found a new county magistrate who was willing to help, and regardless of whether he was a good person or not, it was free teaching anyway.

Why not go?

"No gender restrictions? So women can learn with us too? That's against the rules!" The speaker was an old man with a serious expression; one might mistake him for someone who organized this free course.

"Yes, both men and women are welcome." Jiang Ge walked out slowly, her blue official robe making her identity easily recognizable.

The people knelt down and paid their respects.

Before the people could kneel down, Jiang Ge stopped them.

"Such a grand gesture is unnecessary."

Seeing that the new magistrate was considerate of the people, everyone was relieved.

“Magistrate Jiang, please forgive my bluntness, but boys and girls should not sit together after the age of six or live together after the age of seven. How can you allow girls to learn how to make these new farm tools?” It was the old man who spoke again. He was also the only one in the group who did not kneel.

Only scholars who have passed the imperial examinations are allowed to meet the county magistrate without kneeling.

Jiang Ge was new to the area and didn't know this man's background. Just as he was about to retort, he heard Er Wang speak up:

"How dare you! The magistrate has given the order; how dare you, an old scholar, question it?"

No wonder, he was originally an old scholar.

Old Scholar Wu cupped his hands, flicked his sleeves, and angrily expressed his attitude.

Jiang Ge wasn't going to tolerate him and shouted sternly:

"Both men and women are residents of Songyang County. Since they are residents of Songyang County, why distinguish between men and women? Besides, women can do the same things that men can do."

Jiang Ge's gaze swept across the crowd like a sharp sword. Old Scholar Wu was so intimidated by this aura that he took a half step back, but he stubbornly refused to show weakness. At this moment, a clear voice suddenly came from the crowd: "What you say makes sense, sir!" A woman with a headscarf squeezed to the front, her coarse cloth skirt still stained with black ash from the kitchen.

“The year before last, my husband was conscripted to repair the river embankment, and my twenty mu of wheat fields relied entirely on me and my twelve-year-old daughter. If we had had this plow earlier, my daughter wouldn't have fallen ill from exhaustion.” The woman’s eyes reddened as she spoke, her rough fingers twisting the hem of her clothes. “Every autumn harvest, I’ve been the one carrying my child while plowing the fields…”

Sighs rose and fell from all around, and several women carrying children nodded unconsciously. Just as Old Scholar Wu was about to retort, Jiang Ge strode to the notice board.

"If spring planting is delayed, the autumn harvest will be 30% less. I ask you, will you adhere to empty formalities and wait to die, or will you ensure that your families are well-fed and clothed?"

"Sir!" A shout suddenly came from the direction of the blacksmith's shop. Li the blacksmith, his face covered in charcoal ash, squeezed in, holding a freshly forged plowshare in his hand. "Do you think the dimensions are correct?" The blade had already been beveled.

Earlier, Django had given the blueprints to Li the blacksmith, but without the iron, leaving him to study them on his own. Unexpectedly, it actually turned out well.

Jiang Ge's eyes lit up, and he took the plowshare and examined it carefully: "Master Li has excellent skills!"

If this plow were actually made, even a woman could use it without any effort!

Someone in the crowd shouted, "Old Wu, don't be so old-fashioned. Didn't your mother carry you around to work in the fields back then?"

Amidst the laughter, Old Scholar Wu blushed. Jiang Ge seized the opportunity to hold up the blueprints: "Tomorrow at Chenshi (7-9 AM), ten sets of timber will be prepared in the backyard of the county government. The first twenty people to learn will receive half a jin of millet!" Before he finished speaking, the crowd surged like a tide, and several quick-witted men ran home—they were calling their wives and daughters to come and collect their grain.

A note from the author:

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I'm so sleepy, there are still 8,000 words left... I'll try my best. (Note: The "[1]" in the previous text is from Baidu.)