Princess Pingyang said: "Naturally, we have to do it, but there is still a problem that has not been solved." ”

Xue Lang understood: "Salt! ”

"Yes, it's salt!"

The purpose of building a farm is to train a group of elite soldiers, and the increase in training means that the loss of physical strength increases, in addition to supplementing nutrition, how to replenish the salt loss caused by the loss of physical strength in the human body is also a big problem.

Princess Pingyang said: "My Wei Zeguan belongs to Hebei Province, and Hebei Province has a large salt pond in Youzhou, and it is convenient to transport it over, but I don't know if the output of Youzhou salt pond can be supplied." This is one of them! ”

At this time, salt production, whether sea salt, well salt or rock salt, is mostly made by boiling and frying. The output has been limited by fuel and manpower, and has not been high.

The preparation method of salt, whether sea salt or pool salt, was mostly used in the Northern Song Dynasty. The drying method of sea salt did not gradually appear until after the Northern Song Dynasty, but the sea salt that was dried at the beginning was not filtered because of technical and other reasons, and the taste was not good. It was not until the end of the Qing Dynasty that someone invented the method of drying salt in the ditch beach, which ended the history of the sea salt frying method.

Pingyang Gong continued: "Second, Liu Heimin made a rebellion and occupied Jizhou, Beizhou and other places, some time ago, when the governor of Youzhou Shi came, I asked that Changshi said that under the influence of Liu thief, Youzhou salt pond is inconvenient to transport salt in large quantities, and it is necessary to wait for King Qin to pacify Liu Thief before resuming a large amount of salt. ”

According to historical records, Li Shimin's conquest of Liu Heimin was not long, and after the Battle of Lishui, Liu Heimin was greatly defeated and fled to the Turks. Calculate the time, the day of victory is not far away.

So, Xue Lang said: "Your Highness, according to your subordinates, after the battle of Lishui, the victory and defeat between King Qin and Liu Heimin have been divided, and the decisive period is not far away, and the news of King Qin's great victory will be sent in a few days." ”

Princess Pingyang is a decisive person, she also knows the ability of her younger brother to be brought up by herself, so she groaned a little and said, "Xue Lang listens to orders!" ”

Xue Lang hurriedly said: "The subordinates are here." ”

Princess Pingyang said solemnly: "From now on, this general will allow you to take the position of leading the army and be responsible for the establishment of the garrison farm. ”

"Whoa!"

Xue Lang took the order. Her Royal Highness the Princess immediately wrote a handwritten letter and stamped it with the general's seal, so that the order could be passed down.

So, after a few days of leisure, Xue Lang's life became busy again. Fortunately, the sweet potato field only needs to go around the field often and pay attention to the growth status; On the other side of the workshop, the interlacing is like a mountain, and Xue Lang has completely become the role of playing soy sauce, but whether to go or not, that is, when the masters have questions or make finished products for him to inspect, they can run once.

In the afternoon, the lieutenant of the battalion came to see him. Although the captain officer of the battalion is a captain, his rank is not high, and he can't catch up with the level of other government barracks, and he is only an eight-rank officer. The lieutenant was a man in his early forties, short and stout, with a big head and fat ears, and he looked like a man.

"Xiaguanzhuang Dahai has seen Master Xue."

Respectfully salute.

Xue Lang couldn't help twitching the corners of his mouth, it wasn't that there was a problem with the etiquette of the person who came, but that he had been allergic to the word sea recently-

On the harm of making jokes!

Xue Lang returned the salute: "Captain Zhuang is exempt, no need to be polite, please sit." ”

Zhuang Dahai said: "Thank you Xue Zhubo, in front of Xue Zhubo, you don't dare to call the captain, just shout the sea." ”

Xue Lang felt a little toothache and insisted: "I should call Captain Zhuang." Sit down, let's talk about something. ”

Only then did Zhuang Dahai kneel down under Xue Lang and sit down, maintaining a respectful attitude of listening.

Everyone has their own way of living, and Xue Lang doesn't want to talk about him, lest he be even more uncomfortable. So, Xue Lang asked, "Does Captain Zhuang know what he wants to do to help me?" ”

Zhuang Dahai said simply: "Back to Xue Zhubo, the lower officials don't know, they only know that they have to obey Xue Zhubo's orders, what does Xue Zhubo command, you can show it, and the lower officials must work hard." ”

Xue Lang felt that he should let him know a rough idea, so he said: "Your Highness wants to prepare for the construction of a farm dedicated to the garrison food, and I have done a good job of planning, and the specific preparation work will be assisted by your battalion." By the way, how many people are in your battalion? ”

Zhuang Dahai said cautiously: "Back to Master Xue, the battalion of the lower officials, although it is a battalion, there are only fifty people. Is it enough for Lord Xue to call? ”

No wonder although the officer is a captain, his grade is so low, it turns out that it is only equivalent to the team. Xue Lang nodded: "There are fifty people, and they are also responsible for the food of the sergeants on weekdays...... Will the 10 men be drawn out of the camp and affect the operation of the battalion? ”

"Huh?"

Zhuang Dahai didn't understand. Xue Lang suddenly said another way: "I don't need too many people here in the early stage, ten people are transferred from the gang's camp, and there are forty left, will it affect the man's camp's cooking for everyone?" ”

At this time, Zhuang Dahai understood: "It doesn't affect it, it doesn't affect it, everyone is used to it, and if you are diligent with your hands and feet, you can also get out, so it won't affect cooking." ”

"That's fine. In this way, go and find me a few stonemasons first, you don't need much good craftsmanship, as long as you can make a big stone trough, the main thing is to do the work quickly. ”

"Whoa."

This Zhuang Dahai obviously has no cultural level, so Xue Lang didn't say much, and directly ordered him to work.

Zhuang Dahai went out to recruit stonemasons. After Xue Lang drew the style of the stone trough at home, he took people out and chose the address where the farm was built.

At this time, Weizeguan is still vast and sparsely populated, there are still large areas of wasteland, and there are many reed beaches, so there are many places to choose from, and the key is whether it is suitable or not.

Xue Lang ran outside for three days, leaving early and returning late, and finally chose a suitable place, half an hour away from the barracks, in the middle of the two villages, there was a small reed, next to a large area of farmland, and a small river not far away.

The land on the farm is mainly for growing vegetables and needs a lot of water for irrigation, and this place is just right. Reeds can be renovated, not only can raise fish, but also raise some ducks, geese, there is a river next to it, it is convenient to bring water in or drain out.

After measuring it, there are about 50 acres of farmland nearby, as well as a large area of wasteland. These wastelands can be used to build houses or continue to be cultivated into farmland. Xue Lang's plan is to plant the fifty acres first, and the rest of the wasteland will be enclosed to see if it needs to be slowly reclaimed.

After choosing the site, Xue Lang has already begun to make a planning map, and the stonemasons have also begun to dig a stone trough according to Xue Lang's drawing, just waiting for the sage's edict to start construction.

One day, Xue Lang was on the side of the reeds, explaining to Zhuang Dahai how to rebuild the reeds, and Princess Pingyang's personal soldiers flew over, saying that Her Royal Highness the princess had summoned him.

Xue Lang had to throw down Zhuang Dahai first, rushed back to Tingfeng Courtyard to change into clean clothes, wiped his hands and face, and rushed over. After the briefing, I entered the main hall, and there was not only Princess Pingyang in the hall, but also Lady Liu and Ma Sanbao.

In addition, there is also a handsome young man sitting on the head of Lady Liu and Ma Sanbao, whose eyebrows are almost exactly the same as Princess Pingyang, handsome and extraordinary.