Montenegro knows some of the current things from the history books of later generations, this year Nanyang will be surrendered to Qin, and next year South Korea will all be surrendered to Qin. also knew that in addition to the military merits, Qin Guo had other ways to enter the knighthood, so he had an idea in his heart, and said: "Big brother, second brother, you see that the roof of our house is all blackened by smoke. I have an idea, as long as we renovate our stove a little, not only can my grandmother avoid the pain of smoking, but also save firewood and cooking time. ”

When the two brothers heard this, their hearts were full of doubts, and they asked, "How to transform?" Every family is like us, is there any other way? ”

Montenegro took his two brothers to the kitchen and explained to his brother the most common earthen stove in the countryside in later generations, just saying that he had realized it. At this time, the stove was very simple, with stones and earth in a circle on the ground, and a copper basin hanging from it. The pot of this era is called a kettle, which is similar to a basin made of copper in later generations. In this era, there are only two kinds of cooking in a kettle, or roasting on the fire, and most poor families put vegetables and rice water in a pot to stew together, which is called vegetable porridge, and when it is made dry, it is called vegetable rice. In fact, the construction principle of the earthen stove is not complicated, and the two brothers understood it as soon as they heard it.

"Everything else is simple, it's a waste of time to build chimney adobes, and there are three iron pots, which cost at least four hundred dollars to make!" Big Brother Light said worriedly.

"This problem shouldn't be big, my master has aged a lot since this year, and I have saved three or four hundred dollars by myself, and I can use it first at my grandma's place." The second brother said.

Now that the money problem was solved, the three brothers decided to start building a new stove tomorrow.

The next day, when there was no farm work in the field, the three brothers were busy separately, and the villagers were very poor, and there was a tradition of helping each other in their work. The eldest brother called his neighbor Wen Hefeng to help him beat the mud into bricks and put them in the soil pit to burn them into hard clods. The second brother Ming found a wooden board to form a rectangle in the kitchen, and picked red clay and river sand to ram the rectangular stove. Montenegro took the three brothers who had talked to his mother last night and persuaded her to take out the three hundred iron money to go to the blacksmith's house in the west. There is a blacksmith shop in the courtyard of the blacksmith Zhuang's house, and when he has a lot of work, he will take a few apprentices to make iron at home, and today he is sitting at home, which shows that the business is not good.

The blacksmith is in his forties this year, full of lumpy muscles, his face is blackened by the fire, blacker than Montenegro, and when he saw Montenegro coming, he jokingly said: "Montenegro, you kid is so dark, just come and be my apprentice, don't look at you so thin, you can't pick up the hammer, as long as you work with me for a year, I promise to raise you as strong as me." ”

"Uncle Zhuang, I'm not the material for striking iron, I came to you today, because my family built a new stove and wanted you to help me make three iron pots." After speaking, Montenegro described the size and shape of the three pots in detail.

Tie Zhuang quickly understood and said: "This kind of iron pot is simple, but the price of three pots is at least 400 iron, what kind of new test stove is you building at home, and you need to use such a strange pot?" ”

Montenegro replied: "I can't say this sentence clearly, anyway, it is a firewood saving and easy to use." It's good if you give me the pot as soon as possible, I promise that there will be more people looking for you to make this kind of pot in the future, so you just wait to get rich! ”

"When your house is ready, I'll go and see it, and if it's useful, help my house build one!" Blacksmith Zhuang said.

"No problem, I can only give you three hundred yuan for these three pots, and when the new stove is ready, I can give you the old copper pot!" Montenegro said, handing a string of old money to the blacksmith Zhuang.

"No problem, all the folks!" Blacksmith Zhuang agreed, a smile on his face.

Two days later, the stove of the Black Mountain family was completed, which was similar to the firewood stove in the countryside in later generations. It is nine feet long and three feet wide and three feet high, with a stove in the middle, and the stove has two layers, the upper layer is filled with firewood, and the lower layer is the vent and the ash opening, and there are three large, medium and small iron pots on the stove, and the end of the stove is made of adobe bricks to form a high chimney, which leads to the roof. The eldest brother brought water and filled the three pots, and the second brother brought firewood into the stove to make a fire. Many neighbors heard that there was a new trial stove and were amazed. The fire of the new stove is concentrated, and only more than half of the firewood is saved, and the time is faster, only a quarter of an hour later, the water in the three pots is all boiled, and there is no smoke in the kitchen. "In the future, a big pot will cook rice, cook vegetables in a small pot, and boil water, which can save a lot of things!" The neighbors sighed! Ask the eldest brother to help make one for his own family. The eldest brother agreed one by one.

The people in the village became more busy, and the mud and mud, and the brick-burning bricks were very lively. The blacksmith Zhuang was even more busy, recruiting a few apprentices to play the iron pot day and night.

After a month, most of the people in the village had built a new stove, especially the housewives, and the new stove was enough to make them crazy, and they all praised the benefits of the new stove!

Everyone was busy in full swing, the big gong of the ancestral hall in the village sounded again, and the villagers gathered in the ancestral hall one after another. This time, no one dared to speak much, because there was also an official in a black cloth coat next to Li Zhengdi, and there were more than a dozen armor soldiers dressed in black next to him, all of them holding the sword at their waist with their left hand, holding Changge in their right hand, standing next to them like nails, motionless and very serious. The black official's head was combed neatly, his hair was tied in a strong bun, his face was a little dark, and his figure was straight. The villagers and among them were a bunch of thin, tattered Hanako. Seeing that the people were almost here, Li Zhengdi shouted loudly: "This is the new chief of Dahe Township sent by the government, and he has come to our village today to preach the law and some new policies, please pay attention to it." ”

The pavilion chief cleared his throat and said loudly: "Fellow villagers, my name is Zhong and I am from Guanzhong. Now we are all the people of Great Qin, and from today onwards, whoever planted the crops in the field will return to whom! As long as you pay 30% of the land tax for this autumn harvest, his tax will be cancelled. ”

The villagers' expressions were muna, and someone asked carefully: "The government collects 30% of the tax, so how much land rent does the Zhang family collect?" ”

"From today onwards, there will be no more feudal lords to collect rent, only pay 30% of the government's endowment. Go up to the mountain to chop firewood and hunt are all owned by each other, and there is no need to pay the firewood tax and hunting tax anymore! Pavilion Changzhong replied loudly.

When everyone heard this, they couldn't believe it, and Uncle Zhang from the east of the village said, "What are you talking about? Just pay 30% of the government land, and don't have to pay the rest? ”

"In the future, there will be only one owner of all the land in the world, the Great Qin Mansion. The Great Qin government has always been true to its word, collecting 30% of taxes, and the rest of the harsh taxes and miscellaneous taxes are illegal, and all of them are canceled! I know that in the past, you had to pay 30% of the firewood tax when you went up to the mountain to cut firewood, and when you hit the prey, you could only leave your head and internal organs! All of this will be nullified in the future! Pavilion Chief Zhongxin replied categorically.

"Great, long live Great Qin!" Everyone heard this time, and they all cheered and were very happy. In the past, the grain collected in the field had to be delivered to the feudal lord for rent, and various taxes had to be paid, and in the end, less than forty percent of the grain was left. Although there are bumper harvests every year, the common people are still so poor that they can't even afford to buy new clothes, and they can't even afford to drink a little thicker porridge for three meals. Pavilion Changzhong waited for everyone to be quiet, and then read out some of the laws of the Qin State to everyone, mainly some laws that would be broken by accident. For example, if one person commits a crime and does not report it, it is regarded as the same crime; Throwing ashes on the road means throwing garbage on the side of the road, cutting off your nose; Those who fight privately must be punished for three years, that is, those who fight in private must be punished with tattoos on their faces and repair the city wall for three years, and the whole family will be punished as official slaves for privately brewing wine, and those who do not gather to drink alcohol on the prescribed New Year's Festival will be fined a thousand yuan per person; Only in summer, autumn and winter can you go up to the mountains to hunt, and you can only cut dead trees and branches when you go up to the mountains to cut firewood.

Although Montenegro was prepared in his heart, he was still surprised, it turned out that there was a forest protection law and an animal protection law as early as the Qin Dynasty! Although the villagers were horrified by the harshness of the Qin Law, as long as they paid attention, they would not commit crimes, and they all shouted that they were going to the mountains to shoot a wild boar to celebrate!

"Qin Fa is good, long live Qin Fa!" Someone shouted like this, and the villagers also shouted: "Long live the Qin State, long live the King of Qin!" ”

This is definitely the call of the heart, and it is the Qin State that allows them to see the hope of having enough to eat, and the hope of becoming rich. The originally depressed life seems to have suddenly unloaded the burden of a thousand catties, and suddenly relaxed.

Pavilion Changzhong nodded with satisfaction and said, "Qin Law rewards cultivation and warfare, as long as everyone is a soldier and fights bravely, and works hard at home, life will soon be better!" ”

"This adult, my second son, Zhang Jin, can't come back as a soldier in Xinzheng, South Korea, and we have returned to Daqin, what should our family do in the future?" Zhang Yixing from the village asked anxiously. "Yes! My child is also a soldier in Xinzheng, what should I do? Several other families in the village said in the same situation.

Pavilion Changzhong replied: "The King of Qin has sent the doctor Yao Jia to negotiate with the King of Han in this matter, your children should be able to come back soon, the King of Qin has an order, and the soldiers who return from Korea will be treated the same as the people of the Qin State!" ”

Zhang Yixing and a few others were very happy to hear it, since Nanyang returned to Qin, this matter overwhelmed them!

When everyone was quiet, the weak Black Mountain walked to the front, and Shi Li asked: "Pavilion Master, in addition to farming and fighting, Daqin can be promoted to the knight, is there any other way for ordinary people to enter the knight?" ”

Pavilion Changzhong looked at this young man named Hanako in surprise, and was surprised how this dark and thin child could ask this question. He replied loudly, "This little brother has a good question!" In addition to cultivating and fighting, the people of Daqin promoted their titles to be beheaded on the same battlefield such as catching thieves and committing adultery, and they can also give advice and advice, and the advice and advice are very extensive. If there are tools or methods that can improve productivity and dedicate them to the government, they can also be regarded as meritorious service and can be worshipped. ”

"My eldest brother Guang has recently improved the earthen stove in the kitchen, which can halve the firewood used to cook rice, double the cooking time, and do not suffer from the smoke. Montenegro asked unhurriedly.

As soon as these words came out, the eldest brother Guang was startled, and while scolding his younger brother for being unreasonable, he dared to apologize to Pavilion Changzhong: "My younger brother is still young, don't be surprised if you talk nonsense!" The villagers also looked at Pavilion Changzhong with a look of surprise and confusion, waiting for his answer.

Pavilion Changzhong was not angry, with a smile on his face, he replied seriously: "I have seen the new stove in Lizheng's house, and it is indeed as you said, saving time and effort. Wait a minute, you tell me the manufacturing method and structure in detail, I will help you record it, recommend it to the Dahe Township tour, and report it to the county and county from the tour, maybe your brother is the first public priest in the township. ”

The villagers were all surprised, curious, and envious when they heard this, and looked at Montenegro with complicated expressions. Montenegro said: "After such a report at all levels, and then wait for the approval of the layers, it is estimated that the hair will be gray." ”

"Hahahaha", Pavilion Chief Zhong laughed a few times and said, "The government affairs of Great Qin, from the King of Qin to the Pavilion Chief, are all on the same day, and they never stay overnight. You tell me the production method and efficacy now, and I will report it to the above immediately, and the news will come back in half a month at the latest. ”

"This and this can also be worshipped?" Li Zhengdi asked Pavilion Changzhong with a surprised face.

Zhong replied seriously: "Qin State since the Shang Dynasty changed the law, the number of people who have been knighted is unknown, this new stove seems simple, but it is actually very practical, which saves time and effort, and saves firewood, and will be promoted to the world in the future, a family saves firewood, and the whole country is hundreds of thousands of loads; If a family saves one people's power, the whole country will have one more people's power, and I think this duke can't run away. ”

Everyone congratulated Big Brother Guang! Look at the honest light with admiration. The eldest brother blushed, and even said and gestured, and introduced it to Pavilion Changzhong, who picked up the pen and recorded it on the wooden coffin very seriously.

The efficiency and meticulous spirit of the officials of the Qin State made Montenegro sigh! Four days later, the engineer of the county workshop and the county Gongcao came to Montenegro's house under the leadership of Li Zhengdi, inquired in detail about the production process and details of the new stove, drew a sketch, and boiled water at the same time with the new stove and the old stove, repeated three times, and recorded various data, such as: two buckets of water in the new stove and one bucket of the old stove; When the water is boiling, the new stove uses fifteen catties of firewood, which takes less than a moment, and the old stove uses twenty catties of firewood, which takes two moments and so on!

Looking at the backs of the two Qin officials leaving, Li Zhengdi sighed to everyone: "The officials of the Qin State, when they go to the village to do things, they are very serious, they never give money and food for a meal. In the past, the old Korean officials came, especially the topaz dog in the township, who wanted to eat a lot of fish and meat every time he came, and asked to be accompanied by a good girl, whose girl was willing to let them go to waste? Later, it was Wang Bagui who offered his newlywed wife to slap him, which saved me a lot of trouble. Compared with the officials of the two countries, the old Korea is not far away, and the Qin State should unify the world! ”

Another seven or eight days later, Montenegro and Big Brother Guang were working in the fields, draining the water from the rice fields for the upcoming harvest season. Li Zhengdi hurriedly ran over and shouted to the eldest brother Guang: "Guang, come back quickly, the government is here again, saying that you want to pay your respect?" ”

The eldest brother put down the work in his hand and asked in disbelief: "Lord Lizheng, don't you dare to joke, can you really change the lord even if you have an earthen stove?" ”

"Who has nothing to do to come to the field to make you happy? Bow to the lord, and the government will reward you with a hectare of land! Come home, everyone is waiting! Rizheng said.

The three of them rushed home together. The door of the house was already full of many neighbors watching the excitement, and there were two black-clothed officials standing in the middle. Wen Hefeng was hanging a wooden plaque engraved with the word "Gongshi" on the door of Montenegro's house.

Li Zhengdi took the hand of the eldest brother Guang and said to the two officials: "You are the Zhang Guang of our village", and said to the eldest brother Guang, "The two are the lord of our township (the head of the township) and Lord Tian Dian!" ”

"I've seen two adults!" Hikari hurriedly bowed to the two adults, a little overwhelmed!

"The public is polite, but we are the first commoner to worship in Dahe Township!" Xiang Qifu and Tian Dian also arched their hands at the light and said. The husband took out another roll of wooden coffins and read aloud to the villagers: "Zhang Guangxian, a villager of Zhangjia Village, Dahe Township, Tongbai County, Nanyang County, has a meritorious method of making a new stove. August 20, 15th year of the reign of King Qin".

"Thank you, two adults, thank you! Thank you! "Big brother Hikari is a little incoherent, he is so excited! The villagers also congratulated the eldest brother.

Li Zhengdi said to the light: "You are the first lord in our village, you can pick a piece of land in the whole village, where do you want to choose?" ”

Light was a little embarrassed and a little overwhelmed, pointed to the east and then pointed to the west and still couldn't settle down, so he had to say to Lizheng: "It's better to let the three adults decide!" ”

"Since you can't make up your mind, then I'll give you this paddy field in front of your house!" Li Zhengdi said to Big Brother Hikari.

"Such a good paddy field, can you really give me a hectare? Don't have to pay for it? The eldest brother asked in disbelief.

"Worship the earth, it is justified, it is absolutely true!" The townsman replied while letting Li Zheng lead the way, and Tian Dian went to measure the land.

One hectare in the Qin period is equivalent to the current twelve acres. Li Zheng took two officials to mark a good paddy field and made marks and boundaries. Tian Dian solemnly handed over a piece of wood to the eldest brother Guang, with the size and location of the place written on it, and stamped with the fire paint seal of the government, and said to Guang: "This is the title deed of a hectare of land, please take it!" In the future, as long as half of this land is paid, that is, one into five. Whose family planted the crops in the field now? Who still belongs to whom! After the autumn harvest, the land is officially yours. Every spring, the township will send field officials to supervise the cultivation, if you do not cultivate on time or not as required, the land may be repossessed by the government, remember! ”

He took the wooden slip with trembling hands, so excited that he couldn't speak, he never dreamed that he could have such a big paddy field of his own.