At the twists and turns of the Yellow River, there is a ferry called Jiuliangjin. A few decades ago, there was a brief opening here to trade with the Tibetan tribe on the other side of the Yellow River. Later, forbidden places were set up along the border, and people moved indoors, and this ferry port was abandoned.

The first reclamation site selected by Du Zhongxiao was near the ferry. The terrain here is flat, the Yellow River is deep silt, and the soil is fertile, which is a good place to reclaim farmland. Crossing the Yellow River, coal is widely distributed in the mountains opposite, and there are many open-pit coal mines that can be used as fuel.

Cheng Wenli and Du Zhongxiao stood on the bank of the Yellow River, looking at the gently flowing Yellow River, and exclaimed: "The big river runs by the mountains here, and it is really a godsend to leave such a large piece of flat land on the east bank." This stretch of river beach is no less than a thousand hectares, and if it is reclaimed, the volcanic army will have no food and grass from now on. ”

The great rivers are in the northern hemisphere, and most of them swing westward, constantly cutting the west bank. Therefore, the large rivers that flow in the north-south direction will mostly wash out the flat land on the east bank of the river, and the flat land that flows in the east-west direction will mostly be on the south bank. The loess in this area is deep, the Yellow River comes out of the mountains, the topography and soil layer coincide under the coincident, first turn to the west, meet the stone mountain, and then turn to the south, rush out of this large river beach, it is indeed rare.

Du Zhongxiao looked around and said to Cheng Wenli: "I have roughly checked here, from the military city in the south to Dongjiazhai in the north, all of them can be reclaimed to accommodate nearly 10,000 households. It's just that now it's all barren grass, and it's not easy to reclaim. A few days ago, I had ordered someone to buy steel from the Bulgarian army and make iron tools, and it should be a few days coming. With iron tools, opening the ground can be done with half the effort. ”

Cheng Wenli hesitated: "This place is close to the border pass, there are many people, and I am afraid of making iron tools——"

Du Zhongxiao shook his head: "What are you afraid of, there are many soldiers in these four near-quarters, which one doesn't have a steel knife on his body?" With a little farm implement, there is no need to look ahead. Besides, the Khitan has always produced good iron, and it doesn't depend on us. ”

Both the Song and Khitan banned the export of iron weapons, more for the purpose of restricting the manufacture of weapons from the other side, and both countries were self-sufficient. The real lack of iron is the party, they used to be able to buy iron from the Khitan, the two countries are at odds, they have no source of iron.

The two walked along the riverbank with their retinue to check the terrain. The east bank of the Yellow River in this area is mostly river flats with a large number of swamps, and the opposite bank is close to the foot of the mountain. The reason why the ferry port is located in Jiuliangjin is because there is a flat land on the opposite side, and the water flow is gentle, so it is just right for the ferry to come and go.

Shisanlang and Chen Qin brought soldiers and propped up the ferry back and forth on the river, constantly testing the water potential. The boatman was requisitioned from Dongjiazhai and ran a boat in the Yellow River all his life, so he was familiar with the nearby water conditions.

Standing under the big willow tree by the river, watching the ferry slowly approach, Du Zhongxiao said to the old boatman: "Uncle, is it okay for the ferry to be set up here?" ”

The old boatman said: "Back to the official, this is the ancient ferry, which is naturally suitable." It's just that I haven't used it for decades, and I'm afraid that there will be accidents when the waterway changes, so I have to investigate again. According to Xiao Lao'er, the ferry port here is still located at the original site, and some changes will be made on the other side. ”

Du Zhongxiao nodded, there is a lot of sediment in the Yellow River, and the underwater situation will be different for decades, so it is not surprising that it will change. Due to the establishment of forbidden places along the border and the prohibition of logging, there is not much sediment in the Yellow River in this area, it is not turbid, and the water situation does not change drastically.

Shisanlang helped the boatman to the shore, went to the willow tree, and saluted Du Zhongxiao and Cheng Wenli.

Du Zhongxiao looked at the Yellow River in front of him and asked, "The Yellow River in this area is wide, and the current is not urgent, so I don't know if I can sail." ”

The old boatman shook his head: "According to Xiao's knowledge, from Dongjiazhai to Fuzhou, there is no obstacle to sailing. In other river sections, there are many dangerous shoals and the current is fast, so it is not easy to sail. On the other hand, there are wooden rafts that are stolen and sometimes go down the river. ”

"It's a pity." Du Zhongxiao shook his head. At present, the most convenient transportation is still water transportation, and the river cannot be navigated, and it is inconvenient for materials to enter and exit.

Thirteen Lang stepped forward and said to Du Zhongxiao: "Official, this area is full of puddles, and there are a lot of big fish in it. If you open your net to catch fish, you don't have to worry about having no meat to eat. This place has been forbidden to cultivate for many years, and there are many roe deer and rabbits in the grassland, which is really a good place. ”

Du Zhongxiao said with a smile: "You just have to concentrate on your work, don't you have enough to eat!" ”

After speaking, he and Cheng Wenli turned to the horse and went downstream.

Wild meat and fresh fish are good things in places where there are abundant goods, but now they are poor, which is another matter. Most of the people who work here, whether they are military or civilian, are a little undernourished, in other words, they lack oil and water in their stomachs, and those wild animals are not very attractive to them. Their favorite food is heavy oil and salt, and a large bowl of noodles with oil flowers is much better than game in their eyes.

Clearing land in this area is the most important thing for the Volcano Army this year, and Du Zhongxiao has invested a lot of stored grain, especially the soybeans that have been saved for horse feed, and almost all of them have been transferred. Not far away, an oil mill and a tofu mill are being built, which is a good thing to fill your stomach.

After walking a few miles along the river, we arrived at the base camp, and the people gathered were divided into several places to build various facilities.

was directing the clansmen to repair the incense cloth of Da Mu, and saw Du Zhongxiao from a distance, and hurriedly came up to salute.

Du Zhongxiao turned over and dismounted, and said to Xiangpu: "You have been here for a few days, but are you still used to it?" ”

Xiangbu nodded again and again: "Get used to it, get used to it!" The food and accommodation here are much better than before. The people who came with me were all grateful, and they would not repay the kindness of the officials. ”

Sitting down on the chair on the side, Du Zhongxiao said: "A few days ago, you brought your clan back and offered more than 50 horses. I will count when I speak, and all those who are in the middle will be counted as twenty cents per horse, and those who are not in the middle will be converted one by one. However, now that the yamen is short of money, they can't give you cash, and if you go to the military city in a few days and receive tea and salt from the military treasury, you will definitely not be disadvantaged. ”

Xiangbu thanked him again and again. For the mountain people, tea and salt are important materials, but now they are out of the mountains, and they are different from before.

Turning around and looking behind him, Du Zhongxiao pointed to a continuous low hill and said: "That area is high and open, the water and grass are abundant, and the yamen has been designated as a pasture." You select a few strong, intelligent and clever people from the clan, go to Chen Qin, and arrange grazing in the future. The rest of the households were assigned to the camp and divided into villages and households, and each cultivated the field. The valley is low-lying and irrigated by rivers to grow wheat in the fall. I have sent people to Jinju to buy good wheat seeds, and when the land is cleared, I will plant them. ”

Xiangbu smiled all over his face: "We mountain people, we haven't seen what wheat looks like, we only know that the pasta is delicious." If we can also grow wheat here, we will have noodles to eat every day in the future, wouldn't it be a fairy-like day! ”

The terrain of Hedong Road is too high and the winter is too cold, and most areas in the north cannot grow wheat, especially winter wheat, and only a few areas can be planted. The flat land of the Volcano Army is low in the mountains, and it is a rare area where wheat can be grown. The yield of wheat may not be higher than that of millet, but because it is an overwintering crop, it can be planted with a season of miscellaneous grains in summer, which is very precious. Of course, the taste of flour is stronger than that of multigrains, and it is more attractive to people. Du Zhongxiao was in a hurry to reclaim the wasteland, also because white noodles were very precious in this area and were high-grade food.

Look at the sun that has set in the west, and the overseer of the work is beating the gong and telling the work to be finished and eaten. Although they do heavy work, because of the limited conditions, the people here still eat two meals a day. Breakfast was eaten early, work was done in time, and dinner was also eaten early, just as the sun was going down after eating. Sunrise and sunset are the rhythm of work and rest that has lasted for thousands of years, and this place is no exception.

To fill the stomachs of so many people, the pasta Du Zhongxiao can't be managed, only millet and millet. The chiefs and technicians ate millet, while the general staff ate millet, and although the conditions were simple, the ranks were clearly distinguished.

Xiangbu took out the large porcelain bowl that he had hidden, took a small wooden spoon, and lined up behind several officials to cook. As the chief, he was treated like the officials who supervised the work here, eating soft and glutinous yellow rice, a large spoonful of broth, and three radish strips. The food was simple, but compared to his previous life, I don't know how much better. It didn't take long for his complexion to turn rosy.

When he arrived, the servant who was cooking saw that it was a fragrant cloth and said with a smile: "You barbarian is the most able to eat, give you more." ”

Xiangbu thanked him again and again, and couldn't help but swallow as he looked at his large porcelain bowl filled with yellow rice. After serving the rice, another servant scooped a large bowl of broth, mixed with vegetables, and poured it over the rice in the large bowl of fragrant cloth.

Finally, he received his three salted radish sticks, and the fragrant cloth returned to the tent of his residence, sat on a large tree that had fallen to the ground, and sniffed it vigorously, "It is so fragrant!" So he devoured it and ate it.

There is no shortage of cattle and sheep in this area, the price is not expensive, and nearly 1,000 people gathered here have to kill a few sheep every day. The mutton was supplied to the officials, and the surplus was sold in the nearby hotel, and the mutton bones and various kinds of water were used to make soup, which was added to the mutton fat collected from the income. In the broth of these people, there is actually no meat, and various vegetables are put in it. I didn't pay attention to it, and the cook got something and went back. There are still a few pieces of lamb liver and minced lamb in the broth, and ordinary workers don't have a piece of meat.

Don't underestimate this bowl of broth, with it, a lot of food is saved. People who do heavy physical work will have a much larger amount of food when there is less oil in their meals. With those oil stars in the broth, there is strength to work.

Du Zhongxiao sat under the tree, looking at the hot scene around him, as if he had returned to the scene when he first became an official and built a camp in Yongcheng. Two years later, I hope that this place will also prosper and flourish like the Yongcheng camp.

It's a pity that this is not the Central Plains, there is a lack of property, and Du Zhongxiao is very short of money. Yongcheng is near the Bianhe River, just do some business to make money, here is remote and desolate, there is really no means to make money, everything must be carefully calculated. The current start-up capital is the savings of Du Zhongxiao's military treasury, and it must be harvested as soon as possible to fill this hole. The Volcano Army has small advantages, there is no general judgment, there is only one Cheng Wenli, and everything is Du Zhongxiao's final say, and there are fewer constraints.