99 Chapter 99
◎Current Situation◎
Cheng Mu had observed this problem long ago. It was a common problem in ancient times that the road was difficult to travel.
When she needed to, she studied grain seeds; when she had free time, she even studied grass seeds.
When she was in Mongolia, she collected a kind of grass seed. After testing, she found that it was very cold-resistant and heat-resistant, with a well-developed root system that could consolidate soil and protect slopes. It was also resistant to trampling and could recover quickly after being stepped on. It was not picky about soil and did not consume much fertilizer. Livestock also loved to eat it, so it was perfect to plant it in a horse farm.
"Is there such a good thing?" Xu Fang was delighted.
The grass on the plain withers and grows again every year. It cannot be burned by wildfires, but grows again with the spring breeze. In this dynasty, everything is natural and nourished by nature. The only thing people need to do is to grow crops. Who would bother to select and grow grass seeds?
For those who need it, there is really nowhere to turn.
Mr. Yuan praised, "Mrs. Cheng is a thoughtful person."
Xu Fang wanted the seeds and asked Cheng Mu to give them to him.
"Whatever Madam Cheng wants, I can give it to her." He thought of the horses those people rode, "Those horses can also be exchanged."
"It's not worth it. You don't need to give it up, Mr. Xu. I just picked up some grass seeds. If you don't want them, I have nowhere to sell them to, so I might as well give them to you."
"How can this be so embarrassing? I can't take Madam Cheng's things for free, or else—"
"How about this," Cheng Mu interrupted him. They couldn't afford to raise horses, and the horses would be too conspicuous. Mu Yun's people needed to practice, and this place was not far from Zhaojia Village. Cheng Mu said that they could be allowed to release horses for the stable and practice riding skills.
"Just come once every three to five days."
"That's not difficult, I can come every day!"
When Cheng Mu handed the seeds she brought to Master Qin and Master Yuan, she also moved a bag of grass seeds out of the space and handed it to Xu Fang.
"This time, I came here and prepared it for Master Xu a long time ago."
Xu Fang was deeply moved. Madam Cheng brought this to him specially! Before he even said anything!
Mr. Yuan took a few packets of seeds and looked at them over and over again. The names of the seeds were written on the paper packets. They were all rare things. The wrinkles on his face had never been so relaxed.
"Please teach my dear Madam Tutor how to plant and harvest these?"
Cheng Mu took out a booklet and said, "This is something I drew during my free time. You two can study it together."
Cheng Mi's booklet records in detail the various states and planting methods of each crop. For example, the seeds of taro are sprouted tuberous rhizomes. How to cut it open, how to retain the sprouts, how to prepare the soil, how to sow seeds, spacing, etc. are all clearly written. There are diagrams for each stage, so those who can't read can just look at the pictures. Even if you have never seen this thing before, you will know how to plant it once you get it.
"This, this is really..." Master Qin was shocked and sighed repeatedly, "Great! Great!"
The reason why Cheng Mu made this booklet was because of the last incident with the Lin family caravan. If she had compiled the booklet before, they wouldn't have had to stay for so many days.
Just like now, I gave the seeds and manual to these two people. With their familiarity with farming, they could go back and plant and harvest directly. "But I only have this one manual, so you two can't take it with you."
"That's not difficult. Leave it to me." Master Qin was very familiar with this job. Most of the books that scholars wrote were copied by themselves.
Xu Fang diligently prepared paper and pen, and Master Qin copied the books day and night. When he set out for Zhaojia Village at noon the next day, he had already copied three books.
They stayed in Zhaojia Village for two days and also went to Songzhuang. They learned about all the crops and even dug up the grass by the roadside - the same grass that Cheng Mu gave to Mr. Xu - and took a look at it.
At noon the next day, Huang Nian'an arrived.
"Sir Huang, our trip was well worth it." Master Yuan was so moved that tears streamed down his face. "Madam Cheng has taught us everything she knows, and we have benefited greatly. Madam Cheng is very generous and is willing to share all the good seeds..."
If they didn't have enough on hand, they would go to the villagers to exchange it, because it was not easy for them to come here, and they had to ask the escort agency to transport the goods, so they would try to bring as much as possible on each trip.
Cheng Mu and Huang Nian'an hadn't seen each other for several months. Huang Nian'an looked a little paler and more haggard than before. The overall feeling was... a little pale and a little haggard.
"How is Mr. Huang?"
"I'm fine. I've been up all night lately."
Huang Nian'an specially finished the work at hand and rushed over. He said that he came to pick up Master Yuan and others, but in fact he had something to give to Cheng Mu.
Xu Xiuying has been helping to prepare banquets these past two days, yesterday in Songzhuang and today in Zhaojia Village.
At the banquet, Master Yuan talked about his relationship with Huang Nian'an. They were from the same hometown. Huang Nian'an's family was engaged in farming and raising mulberry trees. His father was a rich farmer and his mother was good at spinning and weaving. Huang Nian'an passed the imperial examination and became an official. He was quite famous in the local area. Master Yuan's nephew had attended private school with Huang Nian'an and they had some friendship when they were young. Master Yuan even treated him to meals.
Speaking of Huang Nian'an's mother, Mr. Yuan also mentioned Cheng Mu, who was good at breeding. He did not have any prejudice against men and women, but only praised Huang Nian'an for his keen eye for talent.
In private, Cheng Mu also said to Huang Nian'an, "Master Qin and Master Yuan do not have the arrogance and prejudice of men of this era."
"A prejudiced person would not insist on coming here after hearing that the good seeds came from a woman's hands." Huang Nian'an gestured to Cheng Xi to walk away with him, and walked to the big tree not far away.
Night had fallen, with only the lights in two houses on, the shadows of the trees were dark, and a few stars were scattered in the distant sky.
"Will Your Excellency no longer supervise agricultural affairs?"
"I am now supervising the production of military equipment." Huang Nian'an walked slowly with his hands behind his back.
Cheng Mu also guessed, "Mu Yun's matter - thanks to the adults for coming forward."
"Mu Yun..." Huang Nian'an looked at the dense and inseparable night in the distance, pondered for a long time, and suddenly laughed, "This kid has a stubborn character."
He said, "He certainly didn't tell you that he pestered me for three whole days to save you. The heavy cavalry was his idea. He trained and fought through it all with great perseverance. He was good at arranging troops, marching and fighting. It's a pity for him to leave the Yanbei Army."
Cheng Mu asked, "Does your Excellency know what happened?"
"You don't know either?" Huang Nian'an was a little surprised. "He didn't tell me, and neither did you. Do you know why he gave up his position as a lieutenant?"
"He...is not bloodthirsty."
"He is not someone that the royal power can use." Huang Nian'an was silent.
He could not turn back on this path. Madam Cheng taught Mu Yun well, and he always stayed by her side, perhaps because they were from the same kind of people.
There were unknown insects chirping and rustling in the grass, and a gust of wind blew by, bringing the chill of autumn.
"Keep this." Huang Nian'an handed over something.
"What?" Cheng Mu fumbled with the palm-sized cloth to tear open the wrapping, and it felt warm, cool and smooth to the touch.
"Wooden warehouse?" Cheng Mu's hands trembled.
"Xiu Mu Cang." Huang Nian'an said, "In that era, upper-class women used it for self-defense. It was not as powerful as the Shen Ji Huo Mu Cang and could only be used at close range, like the distance between the two of us." Huang Nian'an said, "There will never be another Amuta."
He still remembered that incident. Cheng Mu asked shyly, "Did you make this especially for me?"
"There's only one like it in the world." Huang Nian'an didn't answer directly. "You come from a peaceful era, and people back then probably didn't have the opportunity to touch a wooden cannon. I'll teach you how to use it."
Huang Nian'an took the thing from her hand and said, "The barrel is too small, it's difficult to carve rifling, so it's a smoothbore, like this..."
Huang Nian'an was very skilled in the operation. "Because its effective range is short, you must only use it when you have no other choice. Aim here, here..."
He gestured on his face, "Can you see it?"
Cheng Mu came to her senses and asked, "Sir, is there bound to be a war between us and the Mongols?" Perhaps war was not far off. Cheng Mu's thoughts were pessimistic, but not without reason. Huang Nian'an had been assigned to supervise the manufacture of military equipment, and the market control of agricultural tools was becoming increasingly strict, indicating that the court had been investing manpower and material resources in the manufacture of cannons.
If there is a war, what will happen to the people at the border? What will they do?
"The current situation doesn't allow for optimism." Huang Nian'an sighed. "The Qing Dynasty has risen. News has come from Shanhaiguan that their military power has shifted from a democratic system to a centralized one. They are conquering the various tribes with unstoppable force, and the Mongolian grasslands are quickly unified, just like in that life."
He comforted Cheng Mu, "The Yan Dynasty is in constant turmoil and needs to recover its national strength. It will not initiate a war. The Mongols have not yet been unified, and our country has firearms as a deterrent. There is no need to worry for the time being."
"Sister-in-law!"
Mu Yun called from a distance, and Xu Xiuying took her coat.
Huang Nian'an handed the wooden basket back to her and said, "It's cold outside, let's go back."
Cheng Mu stuffed the wooden container into her sleeve and walked for a while before she couldn't help saying, "I have a lot of good wheat seeds hidden in the warehouse in Puyang City. My Lord has contacted the counties and towns that have been hit by the famine, so you can come and transport them."
Huang Nian'an tilted his head and said, "Don't feel burdened."
"It's not a return of favor. Has your Excellency forgotten the Little Ice Age?"
Huang Nian settled down, suddenly realized, and faced her, bowing, "Thank you."
The next day, after seeing Huang Nian'an and the others off, Cheng Mi and Mu Yun also set out for Puyang City.
"Mu Yun, the first thing we will do after arriving in Puyang City is to rent a new warehouse. I need to store wheat seeds."
Cheng Mu arrived in Puyang City four days late. During these days, those who arrived earlier did a lot of work, such as cleaning the house and yard, repairing things, washing and drying things. Xiaoqi also asked Nanny Zhu to take her to see Master Zhuang.
"Mom, why did you come just now? I thought you were not coming."
"You guys did very well while I was away." Cheng Mu was very satisfied. She patted Xiao Qi's head and asked, "How dare you go visit Master Zhuang on your own?"
"If mother can't come, we have to go back to Zhaojia Village. Everyone saw us on the way back. It's not good to leave like this."
"How is your health, Master?"
"Not very well. I just caught a cold and didn't let me get close."
"Mom knows. I'll go visit the patient in the next two days."
The room that was previously used as a greenhouse is now tidying up for Guier and Nanny Zhu.
The room was quite bare, but the kang (kang) was padded with mattresses and straw mats, making it very soft. Cheng Mu asked why the kang wasn't heated, and Gui'er said, "You guys aren't coming, so you think we'll be leaving in a couple of days. It would be a waste to heat it."
"If there's any change, I'll let you know. It's cold, and you're still in confinement. Even if you only stay for two days, you'll get a fever."
Nanny Zhu said that she, her two children, and the other two were crammed together and very warm. The escorts had already bought some charcoal, so it would burn quickly.
"Burn it now." Cheng Mu asked Xiaoliu and Xiaoqi to find their father and light up the kang.
"Madam Cheng," Gui'er said, "I've calculated that it's time for me to leave the confinement period."
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