With Salhu County as the center, many villages have been formed within more than ten miles around. There are about twenty villages, each of which is not large, but more than 100 households.

According to Lian Zining's setting, ten new guards and forty thousand households escorted 300,000 untouchables to the north, and then each set up in a position that had already been demarcated, set up barracks, and established a city, with this as the center, the people reclaimed the land and established villages. As a result, the pattern of a county governance was formed.

A county, a county order, a thousand households, a thousand households with 1,700 soldiers, 7,500 people, no more, no less, Lian Zining's planning is as precise as the later era of planned economy, where every pound of rice is allocated.

After the 18th guard arrived at Salhu, he left only one thousand households and 7,500 people, and the remaining three thousand households went to the place where they had designated the plan.

The 7,500 people of a county are naturally not comparable to the hundreds of thousands of people in a county in later generations, but they are not less, you know, when the Chu and Han dynasties ended and Liu Bang's Han Empire was just established, there were only four or five thousand people in a county in the prosperous Central Plains. Seven thousand five hundred, which is not less in the remote Northland Frontier.

When the city was still being built, under the auspices of Ling Zhou Qi of Salhu County, the measurement of arable land within 20 miles around it had already come out.

The northeast is indeed rich, the plains are vast, such a small county, and there are many forest restrictions around, and the arable land has reached more than 1.2 million acres.

Then, after the construction of the city was completed, he immediately presided over the division of land and land reclamation. Of course, it is not possible to cultivate all of these lands. According to the rules set by Wu Yijun. Ding men are 80 acres each, and Ding women are 40 acres each. Each ploughing cow is 50 acres, and these more than 7,500 people have a total of only 400,000 acres of land.

The county government made a plan to divide the land into 23 plots, which were defined by irrigation canal boundary markers, etc., and then divided the untouchables into 23 villages, each of which lived separately and reclaimed the surrounding land.

And the reason for this division is because of the garrison of a thousand households.

Due to the special weather and hydrological conditions of the Northeast. So that there is only one season of grain a year, so the farming time is very long, so there is a cat in the Northeast Dongyi, this cat, but it is four or five months gone. It is the people of the Northeast who are in a very idle state for half a year in a year, and if this time is used well, it is promising! Therefore, Lian Zining specially issued an order to command the new guards. After arriving at the various counties, they began to select the young and strong among the untouchables and form a reserve of thousands of households.

The size of the 1,000 households. It's all different, although it's called a thousand households, but it can't be just a thousand people. For example, Salhu guards the land and reserves a thousand households. And he included all the young and strong among these people, and there were twenty-three hundred households. More than 2,400 people.

The regular officers of the Wu Yi Army of the Eighteenth Guard served as the officers of this thousand households, and at the same time, some of these untouchables were elected to fill the position. to manage. These reserve soldiers, collectively known as the militia, are still civilians, but they are also soldiers. When the farm is busy, there is a drill every three days, and each drill is two hours, and when the farm is slack, it is a daily drill, and the amount of training is also very large, but it is just a little worse than the regular army of Wu Yijun.

In this way, it is equivalent to forming a considerable reserve army in the people, and it is organized and well-trained, and once the war is tense, they can be quickly gathered, slightly rectified, and given weapons, and it is a strong division!

When the Ming Dynasty was first established, Zhu Hongwu allocated land to the guards and let them change from soldiers to people, so that decades later, the guard system was already erosive, and the soldiers were in a worse situation than pigs and dogs, which was extremely miserable. And Lian Zining turned the people into soldiers, which happened to be the opposite.

These 23 100 households are 23 villages, one village is a 100 households, and the village in it is also the militia and 100 households of the 100 households. This changed the position of Muramasa from a very small, non-permanent position that was not registered in the government to a fixed position that was appointed and dismissed by the government. As a result, there is another layer in the officer system of Wu Yijun, and the power pyramid of Wu Yijun covers the units at the village level, and the control over the grassroots level has been greatly strengthened.

In this era, the greater the ability to control, the greater the ability to mobilize in times of crisis, the greater the potential that can be exploited in the whole group.

It is thirteen miles southeast of the county seat, Pengjiawan.

It is an ordinary village, almost on the edge of Salhu County, and further east is an endless dense forest, from which a small river winds its way through the forest, and here it makes a big bend to form a considerable bay, and then flows southward, hence the name of this place.

The river bay is in the shape of a crescent, the upper tip of the crescent is in the northeast direction, more than 100 households in Pengjiawan, more than 300 people, basically live in the crescent-shaped protruding into the water.

It was late at night, and the village had fallen into silence, and most of the people had slept peacefully.

They go to sleep with a beautiful vision and hope for the future.

The land around the village has been reclaimed, and a few days ago, the big men in the county town also transported grain seeds, and some of the people who paid credit with the government returned the cattle to the cultivators, and the farm tools were all supplied. Although these things are converted into grain and have to wait for the autumn harvest to be returned, it is better than nothing now, right?

After these days of hard work, they have already planted the grain, because of the things they have seen and heard along the way, they have a good idea of how high the yield of corn is, so their hearts are also very high. Although they have little knowledge, they are not stupid, and some of them have even calculated in private, with so many fields, and the yield of corn is also high, if you are good at living this year, even if you have to collect seventy percent of your tax rent, and then pay back the cattle rent, grain seeds, and grain supplied before the autumn harvest by the government, you can save a lot of yourself.

Life will get better and better in the future.

They are already full of hope for their future lives.

The first one in the east of the village. It is the village of Pengjiawan, plus the garrison militia, the residence of thousands of households, Pengjiawan, and the residence of Pengshanhu.

It's a small yard, a small yard. The three rooms were all very simple adobe houses. But shelter from the wind and rain is enough. On the west side of the yard was a cattle pen, in which a large yellow ox was lazily poking, flicking its tail boredly, and occasionally bowing its head to nibble on the food in the trough. The house on the east side did not even have a door, and there were many agricultural tools such as ploughshares, hoes, and shovels. Under the eaves, there were many yellow corn cobs, and some small beasts that were drying with disembowelments, hares, roe deer, roe deer, etc., all worn with straw ropes. There is also a bunch of fatty fish that have become dried fish next to it, although it has been dried, but you can still see the original fat.

Obviously, this family is much richer than the others.

From the outside, the inside of the house is pitch black, and it seems that the owner is already asleep, but if you listen closely, you can hear the very thin and low voices coming from the house.

The inside of the house was very simple, and a stove was set up outside, and the stove was filled with dry wood and firewood between the stove and the wall. Other than that, it was a simple wooden shelf for washing the face, on which a half-broken iron basin rested, and nothing else.

In the back room, a strong aroma wafted away.

There is a large earthen kang in the back room, which occupies more than half of the place. At this moment, a small table was placed on the clay kang, and an iron shelf was placed on it, but a small wild boar about a foot and a half long was inserted on it. It's already picked up, and it's oily. It was sprinkled with spices, and there was a lot of citronella stuffed in the stomach. The smell is full of aroma, and at a glance it is an appetite.

There is also a pot on one side, but it is full of a large pot of fish soup, the snow-white fish soup is floating with oil flowers, and there are large pieces of white and tender fish meat inside, with tender green vegetable sprouts that are about to come out of the water, which is really good-looking and tight.

Two men sat opposite each other, one in his thirties, with a burnt yellow face, was Peng Shanhu. One is tall and strong, similar to a cow, with a full beard and a very powerful appearance, but it is one of Peng Shanhu's henchmen, Fang Laosan.

Fang Laosan held a knife in his hand, and he slice a few pieces of meat from the wild boar and put them in the coarse porcelain bowl in front of Peng Shanhu, and then slice a piece of fat hind leg meat for himself, put it in his mouth and chewed it. The mouth was full of oily fragrance, a burst of indescribable fat and tender deliciousness, and the juice of Fang Laosan splashed everywhere. He picked up a large bowl on one side, but inside was a bowl of cloudy wine, and there were many lees at the bottom of the bowl.

He picked up the bowl and smiled at Peng Shanhu: "Big brother, I know that you don't drink, so you're welcome." ”

Peng Shanhu put a piece of meat in his mouth and chewed it slowly, waving his hand: "You drink, this thing is for you." ”

Fang Laosan took a big sip, this farmhouse wine was extremely strong, and he sighed: "What a thing!" The eldest brother is a powerful man. ”

Peng Shanhu smiled silently, his face flickered and darkened under the flickering light, and it was a little gloomy.

The two of them ate for a while, and the two hind legs of the pig were finished, Fang Laosan looked at the door and spat out: "Why hasn't Xiucai come yet?" Don't take big brother in your eyes? ”

Although there is a lamp in this room, it is covered with a thick curtain, and the light and shadow inside cannot be seen from the outside, and it can also be seen that Peng Shanhu is cautious.

Peng Shanhu glared at Fang Laosan: "Shut up." ”

Then a low laugh came from the door: "The third brother is talking bad about the younger brother again?" ”

Saying that, a young man walked in, this young man is in his twenties, medium stature, very thin, and his appearance is also delicate and elegant with a spleen and stomach, but he is also like a scholar. He was wearing a shabby single coat with a few patches on it, but he did not hide his chic posture, and he was still carrying a basket in his hand, put the basket by the door, and said with a smile: "Big brother, third brother." ”

Peng Shanhu smiled: "Yo, Xiucai is here?" Sit down. ”

"Huh." The young man, known as Xiucai, answered, moved a stool and sat down, filled himself with a bowl of fish soup, and took a big sip.

Fang Laosan was bumped into when he said bad things behind his back, and his old face was somewhat hot, and he snorted: "Why did you only come now?" ”

Xiucai said with a smile: "The farm work is heavy, I have divided eighty acres of land, and I don't have cattle to use." I was really tired to cultivate these lands by myself. After working for so many days, I finally finished it today. After noon, I went out to the east and picked some mushrooms and wild vegetables in the forest. I can also add some food to myself. Isn't this just coming back? ”

He smiled at Peng Shanhu: "I'll leave half for you when I leave later." Or the eldest brother, you have the foresight, ask the government to give a cow on credit, although you have to settle the account and repay the money after the autumn, but it is much easier, and the reclamation is good, and the harvest is afraid that it can be much better. ”

This person is one of Peng Shanhu's henchmen, nicknamed Xiucai, whose real name is Wang Xiucai. It turned out that it was not the inner circle, but Xiao Qi and they were all assigned to other counties. Although they have been contacted, it is inconvenient to come and go, and there is only one powerful Fang Laosan here, who is inevitably thin, so as to lift him up. This Xiucai once secretly read books with people, can read, is also clever, and has eyes, will come to trouble. quickly gained Peng Shanhu's trust, and now he seems to be the core person.

Fang Laosan snorted coldly disdainfully, squinted at him, and said, "Yo." I don't see it, look at you like this, do you plan to live here permanently? Do you really think of yourself as a farmer who is digging in the field? ”

Xiucai spread his hands: "Aren't we just croppers?" There is no wind and waves now. Don't you have to do your part? First, so as not to be suspicious of the government, and second, it is impossible to starve yourself to death. ”

"Poor sour without a profit." Perhaps there is a natural sense of antagonism between the rough and the reader. Looking down on each other is that the third party is very unpleasant when he looks at Wang Xiucai. Especially when I think that I am fighting with my eldest brother to live and die, I have today, and this Xiaoxiucai has only gained the trust of my eldest brother after just a few ideas, and my heart is unbalanced. He sneered: "We are people who follow our eldest brother to do great things, so it is difficult to be buried here for the rest of our lives." ”

Xiucai picked up a cornmeal steamed bun and took a bite of it, tore a piece of the roasted brown meat skin, put it in his mouth and chewed it fragrantly, and said inarticulately: "The third brother, you can't starve to death, right?" Besides, when the government divided the land, it was said that they would send people to inspect it regularly, and if the land could not be planted, additional taxes would be levied. When the autumn comes, your land is still barren, what do you pay your taxes? If you can't pay the taxes and let the government arrest you, if there is any accident, wouldn't it delay the big brother's big event? Now you can follow the eldest brother to eat and drink, and when the time comes, you will be brought to the front of the county government and put in a big flail, is it possible to let the eldest brother bring you food? ”

This Xiucai has a very good temper, and he is not angry when Fang Laosan says that about him, but there is a hidden wit in those words, and every sentence is heart-wrenching, Peng Shanhu listened to it on the side, and his face was gloomy.

Fang Laosan's angry face turned purple, and he scolded with trembling fingers: "You little rabbit cub, what are you?" Dare to criticize Lao Tzu every word? ”

Xiucai smiled: "Third brother, in front of you, I am indeed nothing. But the eldest brother said at the beginning, what we need now is to hide, Xu Tu big thing, you are doing this, it doesn't look like a big Xu Tu thing. ”

"You!" Before Fang Laosan could say more, Peng Shanhu was already gloomy and shouted in a low voice: "Third child, shut up!" Do you still have me as a big brother in your eyes? ”

Fang Laosan was stunned, and sat with his head hanging indignantly and stopped talking.

Peng Shanhu glanced at the two of them and said: "The third brother, Xiucai is right, our old brothers, such a stroke, are all separated, our Salhu County is the most powerful under my hands, just the two of you, and the other dozen or so old brothers are in other counties." Although it has now been connected to the head, the government is keeping a close eye on it, and it can't move around at will, so as not to leak the news. And now there are too few people under our hands, one Salhu County, that is, 1,800 people. Originally, there were more, but after coming here, the government stabilized the people's hearts and divided the land, and many people who originally believed in religion now don't believe in it anymore. Now, we have to be honest, secretly develop manpower, get ready, understand? ”

This was Fang Laosan, who glanced at him and said stupidly: "Understood, big brother." ”

"Hmm." Peng Shanhu nodded, but he didn't say something, looking at the posture of the government, he was so honest and won the hearts of the people, I am afraid that it will be difficult to develop the congregation, but this kind of words are discouraged, but they can't be said to their subordinates, so as not to demoralize.

"I called you here because of this." Peng Shanhu paused, and a flush of excitement flashed on his burnt yellow face: "Something is wrong!" ”

"Big deal? What's the big deal? Wang Xiucai and Fang Laosan asked in unison.

"The territory of the general of Liaobei, Xu Hongru of the northern vein, led people to rebel!" Peng Shanhu lowered his voice and said.

When Fang Laosan and Xiucai heard this, their respective reactions reflected the personalities of the two, Fang Laosan was so excited that he almost jumped up, and said quickly: "Big brother, let's go to them!" ”

Xiucai said, "Big brother, what should we do now?" ”

Peng Shanhu glared at Fang Laosan fiercely, took out a letter from under the quilt and shook it: "This is a letter sent by Xu Hongru to send someone, he sent fifty people to do this errand, and in the end, only one person died, but he also delivered the letter safely." ”

When he said this, he was also quite impressive, and it was obvious that Xu Hongru also attached great importance to him, the leader of the Southern Pulse.

"The letter was written half a month ago, and when the Jurchens attacked, the Holy Sect was already on fire, and it was out of control, and now I am afraid that it will be even more powerful and prosperous." Peng Shanhu smiled slightly: "This Xu Hongru invited me over and promised me the position of the incense master, and there can be 50,000 sect members under him." ”

"Incense master? 50,000 congregants? Fang Laosan swallowed his saliva suddenly, and just wanted to speak, remembering the lesson just now, he quickly shut up.

"Nothing! I'm not going to go. Peng Shanhu smiled faintly, and there was a sense of arrogance between his eyebrows: "Although I, Peng Shanhu, am down, but I am also the sect master of the Southern Sect of the Holy Sect, and the ancestor is Peng Yingyu Peng's old ancestor. ”

Fang Laosan was a little disappointed in his heart, but Xiucai cautiously asked, "What do you mean, big brother?" ”

"Let's do it ourselves!" Peng Shanhu waved his hand heavily: "This time Xu Hongru rebelled, it is not not an opportunity for us, when he rebels, the general of Liaobei is defeated, these Wuyi troops will definitely send troops to suppress it, and when the time comes, the inner government will be empty, let's gather our brothers, take advantage of the chaos, and do them from the rear with a ruthless vote. ”

"Big brother has a point." Xiucai hurriedly agreed: "Then big brother, the problem is, I see that many people are living in peace and happiness now, if they don't want to do it with us, then what should I do?" ”

"Don't want to do anything with us?" Peng Shanhu smiled, with a grim expression on his face: "At that time, I can't help them!" ”

He waved his hand: "You don't care about these things, just go back and listen to the order." ”

He pointed to the wine jar on the side: "Have a good time today." ”

"Gotcha." Xiucai smiled, poured himself a sip of wine, and after a while, he stood up and said, "Go out and relieve yourself." ”

With that, he opened the door and walked out.

But after a while, Xiucai hadn't come back yet, and Fang Laosan muttered, "Where did this little rabbit go?" ”

Peng Shanhu's face changed suddenly, and he shouted: "It's not good, this kid has a problem." ”

Before the words fell, there was a dense and tight footsteps outside, listening to the footsteps, I am afraid that there must be thirty or forty people, and there are all around, and then, outside is the fire, and then the door is kicked open, but no one comes in, but two torches are thrown in, sparks splash in all directions, and the house is bright.

Then, a cold voice came from outside: "Listen to the people inside, get out of here and be honest, otherwise, set fire to your house, and let you go directly to see Lord Yama!" ”

Fang Laosan was already drunk, but at this moment he suddenly broke out in a cold sweat, he jumped up and scolded: "There are dog officers and soldiers, Xiucai sold us on that dog day?" ”

He took out a thick-backed steel knife from under the quilt and waved it: "Big brother, I'll escort you out!" ”

Although he is reckless and a little arrogant, his loyalty to Peng Shanhu is not to be said. It's just that at this moment, Peng Shanhu already said with a gloomy face: "Look, can we still escape?" ”

He flicked two copper coins from the table, and the copper coins flew out at a very high speed, cutting the corners of the window curtains, and the curtains fell with a bang, and there were many holes in the windows, and the scene outside could be seen clearly.

When Fang Laosan saw it, his face turned dark at the moment, and his heart was cold. (To be continued.) )