81. Chapter 81
"none"
After Kangxi calmed down and had time to think.
Qi You talked about setting up a school in the letter. The school in Beidi was the same as that in Shunyi, and was also called the Jueluo Brothers School.
The school in Shunyi is doing very well. Fuquan even wrote a memorial two days ago to report that some students had improved Lin Daniu's fertilizer recipe and made a better formula.
The crops in the field that used the new improved fertilizer had a yield of nearly 50 kilograms more than the rice planted next to it using the same seeds.
Fifty kilograms may seem like a small amount, but Changchun Garden also grows imperial rice. Kangxi knows very well that it would be difficult to increase the yield by even ten kilograms, let alone fifty kilograms.
Just for this reason, Kangxi felt that this school was the right one.
Food had always been a major concern for Kangxi. Recalling Qi You's previous letter urging him to promote the widespread cultivation of sweet potatoes and yams, he summoned Liang Jiugong and asked, "How are the yams and sweet potato harvests in Zhuangzi?"
Liang Jiugong answered the yield, "The sweet potatoes are doing very well, but the potatoes are not so good. I heard that the Crown Prince and the eldest prince all love potatoes, especially the Fourteenth Prince. The Emperor gave some potatoes to Master De, and the Fourteenth Prince couldn't stop thinking about them. Master De was afraid he'd get indigestion from eating too much, so she stopped him from eating more. The Fourteenth Prince didn't enjoy his food very much and said he'd plant some himself next year."
The Fourteenth Prince was the first to pick his food. Kangxi was taken aback for a moment. After a moment, he said, "Have the Imperial Kitchen prepare two servings. Just steam them until cooked through. No need to add any other seasonings."
Liang Jiugong was about to leave when Kangxi ordered, "Go and call the crown prince. Well, school is almost over soon. Call the eldest, the third, the fourth, the fifth... and the eighth as well... Never mind, call all the older ones at once."
After a while, from the Crown Prince to the Fourteenth Prince, all of Kangxi's sons, except Qi You, gathered in the East Warm Pavilion.
The room was originally quite spacious, but with so many people, it became lively but seemed a bit crowded.
Kangxi glanced at his sons in front of him, feeling quite pleased with himself. Having many sons means more blessings, and no one would dislike having many sons.
In addition to setting up a household after they grow up, giving them houses, farms and money, there will also be a time for them to get married.
Kangxi secretly blamed the older ones for being debt collectors, and thought that the younger ones were better. With a kind look, he lingered on the Thirteenth and Fourteenth Princes and asked, "Have you finished your studies?"
The Thirteenth and Fourteenth Princes both flinched. They dreaded Kangxi checking their lessons. It wasn't that they weren't good students, but rather that Kangxi was too strict.
They were young and had never gone to school with Qi You. In addition, he was away from home all year round and had only met them twice. They didn't know the specific circumstances of the study room back then.
However, although Qi You is no longer here, his influence can be seen everywhere.
For example, Kangxi's standards for checking homework were all based on Qiyou's. Even if they tried their best, they could not compare with him and it was difficult for them to get a single word of praise from Kangxi.
When the Crown Prince and the older princes heard Kangxi asking about their studies, they couldn't help but look at Thirteen and Fourteen with sympathy.
Fortunately, they had all grown up. Although they still had to study when they had free time, they were mostly busy carrying out imperial errands, so Kangxi no longer asked about their studies.
Thirteen hesitated for a moment, then replied with reservation, "My dear Khan, I'm studying hard in school."
The Fourteenth Prince quickly replied, "Khan Ama, I am just like the Thirteenth Prince. We both listen to the teacher's words and even received praise from the teacher for my endorsement."
Seeing how nervous the two were, Kangxi didn't ask any more questions. Instead, he turned to the prince and asked, "Do you like eating potatoes?"
The prince was stunned for a moment, his mind subconsciously working rapidly, thinking about the meaning of Kangxi's question.
After pondering for a while, the prince replied cautiously, "Although potatoes are soft and delicious, my father-in-law always taught us to be moderate in everything and never indulge in greed. I didn't eat much."
Seeing the Crown Prince's flawless answer, Kangxi hummed a sigh of disappointment, but his expression remained calm. He then asked Fourteenth Prince with a friendly expression, "I heard that you went to bother your mother. Are potatoes really that delicious?"
The Fourteenth Princess had always been favored and had nothing to hide from Kangxi. She immediately replied, "It's delicious. Whether it's steamed, baked, boiled or stir-fried, I like it."
Kangxi's dissatisfaction with the prince's reply dissipated a little. He couldn't help but glared at the fourteenth and said, "Even if you like to eat, you can't overdo it. Too much..."
The words froze on his lips. He had previously disliked the prince's reply, which led to this situation because of his usual teachings.
Kangxi was annoyed for a while, then changed the subject and said, "I'll let you eat as much as you want later. Once you get tired of it, you won't want to eat it anymore."
Fourteen immediately cheered and thanked him repeatedly: "Thank you, Khan Ama!"
Kangxi was amused by Fourteen. He glanced at the older ones and said, "Seventh Brother said that potatoes are just like rice and flour and can be eaten as a meal. Since you want to grow them, why not plant some next year?"
Several people agreed. Kangxi pondered for a moment and said, "Seventh Brother said that potatoes should be planted in different places frequently, including sweet potatoes. He suggested trying to plant them in Yunnan and Guizhou. Do you have any ideas?"
The eldest prince, who had been silent for a long time, said, "Seventh brother has always been experienced, so his advice should not be wrong. Since it can be eaten as a meal, if there is a good harvest of potatoes and sweet potatoes when the wheat and rice harvests are poor, we can also use them to fill our stomachs."
The Crown Prince glanced at the eldest prince and said, "Khan Ama, if we allow the people to grow potatoes and sweet potatoes, should we collect their taxes as usual?"
The Third Prince echoed the Crown Prince, saying, "Your Highness is very considerate. Taxes must not be reduced. Since we are growing potatoes and sweet potatoes, we must collect taxes as before."
The Fourth Prince pondered for a moment, thought about it, and said nothing.
The Fifth Prince never liked to talk much, he just sat there without saying a word.
The Ninth Prince, the Tenth Prince, and the Twelfth Prince all thought the same. Then the Eighth Prince stepped forward and said, "Then how should taxes be collected? After all, the crops are different, and collecting them according to the old summer and autumn taxes isn't very appropriate."
The eldest prince suddenly became anxious and said, "We only planted a little bit, and we didn't let them use all the land to plant. How can we keep thinking about taxes all day long? Taxes must be collected, but if the people can have enough food and more energy to plant the land, won't we collect more taxes?"
The prince's expression changed, and he lowered his eyes to hide the anger in them.
Over the years, the eldest prince and he had become increasingly at odds. Whenever he said one thing, the eldest prince would say another. But Kangxi turned a blind eye and always tried to smooth things over.
Thinking of this, the prince moved slightly in his chair, feeling a little restless.
Kangxi looked calm, as if he was thinking about their answers, but he couldn't help but think of Qi You.
Qi You used to say that you should listen to different voices.
But you can't just talk nonsense, answer irrelevant questions, and oppose just for the sake of opposing. You must have reasons and evidence.
Whether you agree to farm or not, there should be specific measures.
For example, the letter Qi You wrote back to Kangxi recorded in detail the yield of various crops, the acreage of farmland throughout the Qing Dynasty, and the grain taxes that could be collected.
If only in Yunnan alone, 1% of the arable land was used to plant sweet potatoes and potatoes, the harvest would be much greater and the imperial court would collect less taxes.
The actual loss of taxes from one percent of the land is not worth mentioning.
Farming depends on the weather for food, and various disasters such as droughts, floods, and insect plagues are everywhere. There are always places in the world where there are poor harvests. Kangxi has no idea how many times he has exempted the people from taxes.
It is not enough to rely on tax exemption. Sometimes the court needs to open its granaries to provide relief. It would be better to let them try to grow new crops and solve the problem of food and clothing.
After calculating the accounts, it turned out that the burden on the court was reduced.
The people before him were not stupid. They were top-notch in their studies and their ideas made sense. However, Kangxi still felt a little uncomfortable.
Brothers united are stronger than iron. They only thought about how to refute each other, but no one came up with any specific measures.
Kangxi suddenly felt bored and had no mood to discuss the matter any further. He simply said, "Let's stop here first. Liang Jiugong, serve the meal."
All the brothers knew that Kangxi was unhappy, and even the most lively Fourteenth Brother didn't dare to say a word.
The father and son followed the rules and had a tasteless meal without talking while eating or sleeping.
After the meal, everyone took their leave. Kangxi walked under the eaves with his hands behind his back to digest his food.
On an autumn night in Beijing, the wind blew, bringing gusts of cool air. The crescent moon in the sky cast a cool, clear moonlight.
Kangxi stood there, gazing intently.
It's autumn in the north, and frost should have already appeared. We even have to wear cotton jackets.
Kangxi pictured his sons, dressed in embroidered silk robes, sitting around in the East Warm Pavilion. Then, thinking of the desolate north, Qi You, always dressed in shabby clothes and toiling away, a trace of guilt rarely crossed his mind.
*
When Qi You received the letter from Kangxi, he almost broke out in a cold sweat.
As expected, Kangxi was going to send someone to him. Qi You was speechless and thought to himself that he really didn't need Kangxi's care and concern. It was really useless and only caused trouble.
After calculating the date, he estimated that Kangxi should have received his letter. He didn't know what the result would be, and there was no point in being anxious, so he could only wait for news.
The letter sent by Kangxi again was sent by express delivery and reached Qi You about ten days later. The letter scolded Qi You.
Of course, Kangxi did not give Qi You the money and land to set up a mansion in advance. Fortunately, although he scolded him, he did not force him to get married and was generous enough to give him two thousand taels of silver.
Qi You knew Kangxi well, and Kangxi knew him well too. He could not have taken the money for his own enjoyment or to do anything else.
What can he do in such a remote place!
Two thousand taels of silver was not enough, so Qi You started to worry about the issue of open source.
For example, the black fungus he had thought of earlier.
The black fungus that is artificially cultivated today is still purely wild when you look into it. It’s just that the fungus’s growing area is closer to home.
Large-scale cultivation depends on science and technology. Not to mention the improvement of mycelium, greenhouses and temperature control are two major technical challenges.
Qi You was not in a hurry either. Wild animals have their own advantages. At least when he sold them to the Ministry of Internal Affairs, he could ask for a high price with peace of mind.
On the other hand, Qi You planned to let the people figure it out on their own. After all, if they planted the crops well, the money they earned would belong to them, so there was no need to worry about them lacking motivation.
There is no shortage of land here, and building houses is relatively quick. The school was built in the second year and is much more spacious than the one in Shunyi.
It was not so easy to find teachers. They arrived one after another in the third year after the school was built. Qi You was not in a hurry. There were not many students here and they did not speak the same language. It was a good opportunity to let them learn to read and speak the language in the next few years.
There are joys and sorrows.
Fortunately, after fertilizing the sweet potato fields, they yielded a good harvest. The following year, the wheat production was almost on par with that of Shunyi.
This was great news for Qi You. The people had food at home, so they were not worried and were full of energy all day long.
Kangxi was even more pleased and no longer scolded Qi You for sending goods back to Beijing in various ways and taking money out of his pocket.
The worrying thing is that rice still needs further improvement, with the per-mu yield being only 50% of that in Shunyi.
The next year, Qi You changed the land to plant potatoes, but still encountered a poor harvest, with only about 90% of the output of the first year.
Potatoes also have the problem of being difficult to store. By spring, at least 20% of the potatoes stored in cellars will have gone bad.
If the potatoes were only for eating, Qi You wouldn't have to worry, as the harvested potatoes could be eaten early. However, potatoes for planting had to be stored until the ground thawed the following year, so Qi You was powerless and could only store more in advance.
Qi You calculated the spoiled parts and the poor harvest and concluded that it was not cost-effective. He could only reduce the planting area and continue to improve the varieties.
At the same time, Qi You also sent the Langtan Army to the capital to get potato seeds for replacement planting.
The potatoes he got in return were planted, and indeed the harvest was a little better. The two places were too far apart, and the loss on the road was too great. Qi You had no other choice but to rely on breeding methods regardless of cost.
Before he knew it, Qi You had been in the North for nearly eight years.
The past few years have passed in the blink of an eye. Qi You has the style of "hiding in a small building and being at peace with himself, not caring about spring, summer, autumn and winter". He ignores the outside world and plunges into the construction of the north.
It rained overnight, and autumn arrived in a flash. Qi You woke up in the morning and found De Gao placing a thick jacket beside his bed. He put it on and asked, "Has Sabusu arrived yet?"
De Gao smiled and replied, "The general arrived at dawn and said he would personally take you to Xincheng today."
Qi You laughed and said, "But it's a county as big as Shunyi before, it's amazing that he is so excited."
Degao's men kept arranging the bedding and replied, "Even if it's smaller than Shunyi, it's still quite remarkable. To be honest, Seventh Prince, today is the first time Wuchang City has opened for business, and I want to go and see the excitement. When we first arrived here, there were weeds and thorns everywhere. Who could have predicted that in just a few years, an entire city would rise out of nowhere, with schools, shops, and everything in between!"
Building a city is a matter of following the trend.
Half military and half farming people reclaimed wasteland. The rice and potato harvests were average, but the wheat and sweet potato harvests were very good. The court had gradually begun to collect taxes.
The people had surpluses, and spontaneous markets were formed. For example, the Mongolian tribes came to sell meat and milk in exchange for food.
Seeing that the people here were living a better life, the imperial court refused to provide aid. At Qi You's suggestion, a trade route was opened, and customs duties were collected based on the different goods.
Goods that are essential for people's daily life are exempt from tax to ensure that people can afford their daily necessities.
At first, some officials boldly set up checkpoints and collected money at random.
Qi You personally went there several times and raided several houses without mercy, making Kangxi's pockets full of money.
From then on, no official on this road dared to provoke the elusive Qi You. He dared to say that the area from Zhangjiakou to his place was the most honest place in the Qing Dynasty.
The imperial court needed to build a city in order to establish a government office. Under Qi You's planning, Wuchang City was finally completed after nearly a year and a half of hard work by the soldiers.
Qi You dressed, washed, and went out. After having breakfast with Sabusu who was waiting for him, he rode to the new city.
From a distance, Qi You saw a crowd of people at the gate of the new city.
In fact, it wasn't too lively. The population here was always small. Qi You estimated that most of the people in the city had come to join in the fun.
Sabsu, a man of great magical powers, invited a troupe of opera performers from somewhere. The performers on the stage sang in a humming voice, and the people watching below, whether they understood or not, listened with great interest because it was so rare.
Sabusu grinned so hard that he couldn't open his mouth. He leaned over and asked proudly, "Seventh Prince, are you enjoying the fun? Hey, hey, I arranged this a long time ago. I paid for it myself. They're all very famous, all renowned actors!"
Qi You's eyes swept over the people on the stage wearing colorful costumes. As long as they were happy, he smiled and nodded.
There were many people at the door, so the two men got off their horses and walked towards the city together.
Chang De and Chang Chun hurried out to greet them. Chang Chun was the county magistrate of Wuchang City. It was the first time he put on his brand new official robe. He felt a little uncomfortable and tugged at it before stepping forward to greet them.
After Zhang Song and Chang Chun got married, the relationship between the young couple was quite harmonious, and they now have a daughter.
Chang Chun got a promotion, and Zhang Song was busy teaching at school. Although both of them were busy, they both achieved success in their careers.
Qi You greeted them with a smile and walked forward together.
The county town has only one wide main street with some shops on both sides, including pharmacies and food stores, but the most common ones are dried fruit and grocery stores.
In front of every shop, there are merchants from other places, picking out the local famous dried goods such as black fungus, bargaining for goods and prices, and busy doing business.
The production of wood ear mushrooms was always low, so Qi You went for the high-end boutique route, intending to make money from the wealthy. Other products such as dried fruits, furs, and redtail fish were also in high demand.
The school has two grocery stores, and all the money earned goes into the school’s account to cover the school’s expenses.
The street wasn't long, barely half a foot, and one could walk from end to end, reaching the county government office on the central axis. Behind the main road were a few scattered houses.
Qi You didn't lose heart. He believed that one day this place would truly become prosperous.
After sitting in the county office for a while, drinking a cup of tea, and asking about things in the Changchun government office, Qi You got up and left. He did not ask Sabusu and the others to accompany him, and went to the school alone.
Like Shunyi, the handymen in the school were all soldiers who were injured and could no longer go to the battlefield.
The gatekeeper was sharp-eyed and saw Qi You coming. He quickly came out to greet him, with the sleeve of his right arm hanging down, swaying with his movements.
Qi You came here often and was familiar with them. He smiled and nodded in return, then walked into the school.
The leaves of the maple trees on both sides of the road have gradually turned yellow. When the wind blows, the trees rustle and some fallen leaves fall and dance before your eyes.
From some school came the childish sounds of boys reading and the clear voices of little girls talking.
Qi You stood there listening quietly, reached out and caught the five-star-shaped red leaf, a smile appeared in the corner of his eyes, with a hint of melancholy.
The time I spent studying at Shangshufang seems like it was just yesterday, yet years have passed.
Kangxi received a letter, saying that he had to return to Beijing.
I don’t know if I can come back in this life.
Qi You carefully wiped the blood-red leaves clean, took out his purse, and put it together with the old bamboo whistle.
The author has something to say:
I saw the little angel’s message. You are right about the issue of women farming. Thank you for your correction. I was thinking of the whole thing at that time and wrote one less sentence.
The Bannermen were a small minority, and the main issue was with the Han Chinese, as many of them bound their feet. This wasn't just the ladies of high society who bound their feet; ordinary people, including Hakka women, also bound their feet, as they were unable to perform the heavy labor in the fields.
Thank you to the little angels who voted for me or provided nutrient solution between 2022-11-20 22:57:51 and 2022-11-21 23:23:52~
Thanks to the little angel who irrigated the nutrient solution: 20 bottles of Lanyue;
Thank you very much for your support. I will continue to work hard!
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