Chapter 12 Xia Houyuan

Three months passed in a flash.

It's almost autumn.

At the end of each dynasty, natural and man-made disasters alternated, causing the people to suffer miserably. The imperial court was already extremely decadent, and the people were extremely poor. Coupled with natural disasters, more people could not survive, so more people rose up, forming a vicious cycle. So the dynasty collapsed and could not hold on.

Since the beginning of summer, there has not been a drop of rain for two months. The fields are dry and the people are panic-stricken. This matter gave Cao Mengde a headache.

Even though Cao Mengde had ninety-nine political abilities, and even Chen Gong was a first-rate counselor, he was helpless in the face of natural disasters.

That day, Cao Mengde called his attendants and asked, "What has Mr. Zhao been doing these days?"

During this period, Cao Mengde was busy trying to appease people's hearts. Although Zhongmou was just his temporary residence, Cao Mengde could completely turn a blind eye, but that was not the case. He should do what he can do here, after all, he has a big heart. There was no time to hang out at Zhao Yu's house.

He said to the left and right: "I just heard the clanging sound in Mr. Zhao's courtyard, and I don't know what he is doing."

When Cao Mengde heard this, his mind couldn't help but turn around a few times, and he planned to visit Zhao Yu's house.

Just as Chen Gong came to see him.

"Ming Gong, the land outside the city is cracked, and the grains are about to be harvested but are dried to death. The people are howling, and the heaven and the earth are not responding. What can I do?" As the head of Zhongmu County, Chen Gong tried his best to maintain the city. . Although he was still in the midst of the war and could not look too far, he did not give up around the city.

Cao Mengde sighed: "Do you have any clues about diverting water from the river?"

"Water from afar cannot quench the thirst of the nearer." Chen Gong shook his head: "What's more, it is not easy to draw water from a big river. If we want to achieve water conservancy, it will take several years. For the current plan, we still have to find a way to get water from Jizhou. , Xuzhou purchased grain to temporarily appease the people. Otherwise, the people will not be able to harvest, I am afraid..."

Cao Mengde lamented: "People's livelihood is so difficult!"

Then he said: "You and I send a message to Wei Zhen, asking him to bring food back quickly and continue to buy. The more the better."

"Yes, Ming Gong."

"In addition..." Cao Mengde thought for a while: "There is a shortage of water sources. We need to call on the people to dig more wells to avoid insufficient drinking water."

"Here."

"Thank you, Gongtai."

Chen Gong smiled and said: "This public platform is a blessing."

After saying that, he was about to deal with the matter, but Cao Mengde stopped him and said to the county official who was accompanying him: "You have heard what Gongtai and I said. Go ahead and do something. Gongtai and I have some important matters." Things to do.”

"Here."

After the county officials left, Cao Meng pulled Chen Gong and said, "Let's go to Mr. Zhao and ask him if he has any ideas."

When the two of them arrived outside Zhao Yu's courtyard, they heard jingles in the courtyard and wondered what Zhao Yu was going to do.

The two looked at each other, and Cao Mengde quietly opened the courtyard door and walked in. He saw Zhao Yu wearing a short coat, rolling up his sleeves, holding a tool in his hand, and tapping on a huge wheel-like thing. beat.

When Zhao Yu saw the two people coming in, he put down his tools and said, "Don't knock on any door?"

Cao Mengde chuckled: "I am Cao Mengde."

"I knew it was you."

Zhao Yu laughed and said hello to Chen Gong: "Brother Gongtai is here too."

"You guys came just in time." Zhao Yu added, "I've almost finished this thing, and I'm planning to invite Brother Meng De to come and take a look."

Cao Mengde and Chen Gong raised their heads and looked at the wheel-shaped object that was two to three feet high with doubts on their faces.

Cao Mengde asked: "What is this?"

Zhao Yu asked the two of them to sit down at a stone table, and then said slowly: "It is said that the decline of the Han Dynasty was due to the eunuchs. Naturally, eunuchs were involved. But among the eunuchs, it is not without powerful characters."

The two of them heard this inexplicably.

Zhao Yu smiled and said: "Cai Lun made paper in the past, and scholars benefited from it. The prototype of my waterwheel also comes from the eunuch."

"Oh? Waterwheel?"

"Yes." Zhao Yu said with a smile: "When Emperor Ling was in power, Bi Lan, a regular servant, made an overturned car to please Emperor Ling. I guess Meng De may know about this."

After hearing this, Cao Mengde thought about it carefully and realized that it was true. He nodded and said: "It is true." Then he said: "Could it be that your water tanker just overturned?"

Zhao Yu nodded with a smile while stroking his palms.

Zhao Yu knew that the earliest record of a waterwheel was the overturned wheel built by Bi Lan that he just mentioned. It was only used to please the emperor, but never to the people's livelihood. According to records, Majun later improved the waterwheel and used it for irrigation, which was the original waterwheel.

However, Ma Jun had not yet made his debut at this time, so this waterwheel had not yet been officially used in agriculture.

Moreover, Majun’s improved waterwheel required manpower to pedal. But the waterwheel that Zhao Yu is building now is something hundreds or thousands of years in the future. It can be driven by water power or oxen and horses, which frees up manpower and greatly increases efficiency.

"My waterwheel can be driven by water or animal power. Different methods are chosen according to different terrains." Zhao Yu explained carefully: "In order to facilitate the production of the waterwheel in front of me, I made it smaller. Water The cart can be six to seven feet long, and one water cart can irrigate hundreds of acres of land."

"Good stuff, good stuff!" Cao Mengde shouted, almost jumping with joy.

However, Zhao Yu poured cold water on him: "Don't be in a hurry to be happy."

Zhao Yu said: "Waterwheels must rely on water conservancy facilities to be effective. However, now that the drought has become a reality, water conservancy projects need to be built not just for a while. My waterwheel has no use. The most important thing at the moment is to build it elsewhere. Let’s buy food and tide over the difficulties. Brother Meng De, you buy food and implement the work-for-relief method. While you can relieve the people’s poverty, you can also start water conservancy. How much can be repaired. Although Zhongmou is only a temporary place to stay, but If the people can think of you well, it will be beneficial in the future. As for this waterwheel, when you become the governor of Dongjun next year, you can use the manpower and material resources of the county at will, and then start the water conservancy project, then you will not be afraid of any drought. "

Cao Mengde nodded repeatedly when he heard this: "Mr. Zhao is right."

Zhao Yu said: "I will sort out the method of making this waterwheel and give it to you tomorrow."

"You can do it at any time." Cao Mengde said, "No rush, no rush."

"You say you're not in a hurry, but you must be anxious in your heart." Zhao Yu was not polite at all.

Cao Mengde laughed.

Next to him, Chen Gong was quite envious.

Like Zhao Yu, who can joke freely with Cao Mengde and have a relationship that is both a teacher and a friend is indeed enviable. But he couldn't do it here with Chen Gong. The distinction between monarch and ministers is an inherent thought. In this era, few people can overcome this hurdle.

The three of them were talking when someone came from outside to report: "Mr. Cao, there is a General Xia Houyuan who wants to see Gong Cao."

When Cao Cao heard this, he stood up immediately, with a look of surprise on his face, and shouted: "Bring people here quickly."

While saying to Zhao Yu and Chen Gong: "The wonderful talent has arrived!"

Then he explained: "Miaocai is my younger brother, his name is Xia Houyuan."

Of course, Zhao Yu knew the name of Xiahou Yuan. This famous Xiahou Yuan was famous for his rapid march and his ability to attack thousands of miles.

As for the clan brothers, speaking of Cao Mengde, he was still a member of the Xiahou clan. Because Cao Teng was a eunuch and had no heirs, Cao Mengde's father, Cao Song, adopted the Xiahou family into the Cao family. The Xiahou family and the Cao family have been related by marriage for generations and are connected by blood.

Cao Mengde said: "I ordered Yuan Rang and Miaocai to go to Yangzhou to recruit troops. They were supposed to come back at the end of the year. I don't know how they came back at this time. I was just going to ask him."

Not long after, the attendant strode in with a tall man with a face somewhat similar to Cao Mengde.

What follows is an introduction.

The first impression of Xia Houyuan was completely different from his style of rapid marching. On the contrary, he is leisurely and somewhat elegant.

After meeting each other, Cao Mengde asked him: "Why are you back now?"

Xia Houyuan said: "Because I was worried about my brother, I needed to recruit two thousand people, so brother Yuan Rang asked me to return first. Brother Yuan Rang will follow me and recruit another three thousand before returning."

"Okay, okay, it's good to be back." Cao Mengde clapped his hands and laughed: "I was worried about the lack of troops, but you came back just in time."

It is said that in the past three months, Cao Mengde's announcement to recruit troops has basically produced no results. There are very few young people near Zhongmou. In addition, he is currently weak and not attractive enough. Therefore, until now, I have only recruited less than 500 people in total.

Including the original more than a thousand soldiers and horses, it will be over a thousand and five.

What is the use of these soldiers and horses? If it is as Zhao Yu said, in the first year of Yu Fuluo and others, they will plunder Dongjun. The combined army of Yu Fuluo and the Black Mountain bandits will cost at least ten to twenty thousand. Without five thousand people, it is impossible to defeat tens of thousands of thieves, even with a mob.

He was also afraid that the bandits would come early and Xia Houdun would not return. So at this time, Xia Houyuan returned with two thousand troops, which was exactly what he wanted.

Later, Cao Mengde ordered people to dismantle the waterwheel built by Zhao Yu, move it away, and carefully hide it in the warehouse. In the evening, he held a banquet at the county government office, and after they were full of wine and food, they went back to their homes.

In Cao Mengde's study, an oil lamp flickered on and off.

Cao Mengde, Xia Houyuan and Cao Hong sat on their knees opposite each other.

First, he asked Xia Houyuan whether the recruitment of troops was going well, and Cao Mengde felt relieved when he learned that Yangzhou Governor Chen Wen and Danyang Governor Zhou Xin were helping him.

Xia Houyuan said: "Both Governor Chen and Governor Zhou are on good terms with each other. Before leaving, Governor Zhou also said that my elder brother advocated righteousness and he would do his best to help. He only said that he would continue to recruit 10,000 troops for his elder brother."

Cao Mengde sighed happily: "Zhou Xin and I have a long history. I have known Yuan Benchu ​​and Zhou Xin for a long time. I am very relieved that he helped me."

Then he said: "If you can recruit ten thousand soldiers for me, that would be great. Danyang's elite soldiers are famous all over the world."

However, Xia Houyuan had some doubts: "Brother, you need money and food to raise soldiers. I thought five thousand is the limit."

Cao Hong laughed: "I don't know how wonderful it is. Brother is not short of money now."

Cao Mengde also laughed and said: "Brother, I am short of everything now, except five baht."

He said: "You were in Yangzhou and you were in a hurry when you came back. Maybe you haven't heard of glazed mirrors and soap?"

"Glazed mirror? Soap? What is this?" Xia Houyuan had indeed never heard of it.

Cao Mengdecai explained one by one and said with a smile: "Mr. Zhao gave me these two treasures. Zi Lian summoned craftsmen to study them, and they were ready for mass production in half a month. I entrusted them to Wei Zhen, the son of Wei Zi Xu, for sale. Until now, The trade routes have been paved to Guanzhong and Hebei, and they are favored by powerful families and have made tens of millions of dollars in profit."

Xia Houyuan was shocked: "There is such a huge profit!?"

"Of course." Cao Mengde said: "Mr. Zhao gave me these treasures for free. I treat him sincerely. I will never be rude to him in the future."

Xia Houyuan surrendered heartily and said: "You really treat each other sincerely!" In three months, he made tens of millions of dollars in profit. This is not treating each other sincerely. What does it mean to treat each other sincerely?

"With the help of Mr. Zhao, big brother will succeed in his great cause!"