Chapter 18: Shell Wind Chimes and Apple Tree Seeds

  （0018）

  February 12th is coming soon.

  The young people in Fushan didn't have the habit of celebrating birthdays, so naturally the Yang family wouldn't organize one, and even Yang Yinghua herself wasn't aware of it.

  In the morning, Yang Yinghua still followed her brother Yang Cuifeng to collect firewood and didn't return until after noon. Lunch was made by little girl Yang Lingshuai, which included stir-fried vegetables, braised fish pieces, and freshly roasted fish brought back from Hongshitai by Zhang Zhun. Because Zhang Zhun was busy with training, the Yang family specifically left Yang Lingshuai to cook, ensuring that there would be food ready for Zhang Zhun as soon as he returned.

  As a result, Zhang Zhun had lunch when Yang Yinghua had not returned yet. When Yang Yinghua came back with firewood, Zhang Zhun had already finished eating and gone to Hongshitai. At dinner time, Zhang Zhun came back, but Yang Yinghua and others went out to gather firewood again and had not returned. Until the evening training ended and the fishing team dispersed to rest, Zhang Zhun saw Yang Yinghua.

  "Little servant!"

  "Happy Birthday!"

  Zhang Zhun smiled and said.

  Yang Yinghua was slightly stunned, as if she hadn't reacted yet.

  "Today is your birthday! You won't even remember this, will you?"

  Yang Yinghua really didn't remember, and upon hearing this, her face turned slightly red as she said in a low voice: "I...really forgot."

  "Zhang said: 'I have a gift for you! Follow me!'"

  As he spoke, he walked towards his own kennel.

  Yang Yinghua was both nervous and apprehensive, with a hint of shyness, hesitated for a moment, but finally followed.

  Zhang handed the gift over to him.

  Yang Yinghua's eyes lit up instantly.

  Wind chime!

  Seashell wind chime!

  Colorful seashell wind chime!

  Zhang Zhun took the wind chime outside and held it high up.

  The sea breeze blows in, and the shells collide with each other, producing a clear and pleasant sound.

  Yang Yinghua was so excited that she couldn't control herself, and with a mixture of joy and shyness, said: "Yu Lin..."

  "Like it?" Zhang Quan said with a smile.

  Yang Yinghua shyly fiddled with her own braid, not daring to look into his eyes, and softly said: "I like it."

  "Since you like it, hang it on the window then!"

  Yang Yinghua hastily took over the wind chime.

  The thatched hut had no windows, and the cracks had replaced the function of the windows. The broken holes on the roof were skylights, but there was still a eave, so Yang Yinghua hung the wind chimes under it.

  The sea breeze blows constantly, and the shells collide with each other, producing a string of silvery sounds.

  Several little kids playing on the empty land are curiously looking over here with eyes full of envy.

  Many children will pick up shells, and after picking them up, they can play with anything, but no one knows how to string them together into a beautiful and melodious wind chime. However, even if they knew, they probably wouldn't have the mood for it, as they can't even get enough food to eat.

  Yang Yinghua said: "Yulin, I also have something for you."

  Zhang Zhun was full of expectation.

  Yang Yinghua blushed and took out a small bamboo basket from inside the house.

  Inside the bamboo basket was dark red soil, and on top of the soil a small tender sprout emerged, looking like either a bean sprout or a sapling.

  It's too small and really hard to distinguish.

  "What is this?" Zhang Quan asked curiously.

  Yang Ying said quietly: "Apple tree."

  It turned out that this was a seedling she had cultivated from an apple seed she had kept for a long time. It's harder for poor military households to eat an apple than meat, and most of the seeds were picked up. Because of the short time, the tender shoots had just emerged from the mud. Originally, it was going to wait until it grew bigger before giving it to Zhang Zhun. But he sent wind chimes, so Yang Yinghua took out this seedling.

  Zhang Zhun stretched out his hand and took over the bamboo basket, carefully looking at the small sapling.

  Apple tree?

  When will this apple tree bloom and bear fruit after being planted?

  Yang Yinghua said sincerely: "Old people say that if you plant an apple tree with your own hands, you can ensure a lifetime of peace and safety without disaster. Yulin, hurry up and choose a place to plant the apple tree."

  Zhang Zhun looked at the small sprout in the bamboo basket, and he was somewhat skeptical. If this thing could really bring peace, then the whole country would be filled with apple trees. Of course, he wouldn't say such an unpleasant thing out loud. After all, this was also a kind intention from someone else's daughter. So, he seriously looked around and saw that there was a small slope to the west, which was quite suitable for planting trees, and said: "Over there?"

  Yang Yinghua said: "Good."

  Two people came to the earth slope, Zhang Zhun took action, first clearing the surrounding weeds, and even pulling out all the roots. Then, use an iron shovel to dig a hole, then take the mud and saplings together from the bamboo basket, carefully put them into the hole, and fill the gap with mud. Finally, pour some well water, and the whole planting process is done. Of course, it's also necessary to surround the sapling with bamboo strips to prevent someone from accidentally trampling it to death.

  "Alright!"

  Everything is ready, Zhang Zhun said with a clap of his hands.

  Yang Yinghe clasped her palms together, closed her eyes and faced the sapling, muttering something under her breath.

  Zhang Zhun also joined his palms together, with a pious expression on his face, closed his eyes, but in his mouth was secretly muttering: "Saplings saplings grow quickly, next year hang golden gourds, best one branch hangs two..."

  Suddenly, a figure emerged from beside him, and it was Haozi.

  The mouse poked its head out and saw two people, realized something was wrong, and quickly withdrew.

  Yang Yinghua felt embarrassed and hastily turned around and left.

  The hedgehog's head came out again and then retreated back in.

  Zhang Zhun said to Haozi: "Alright, I've seen you, come over here."

  Hao Zi thought he had done something very wrong and ruined the good thing between the two, so he quickly explained: "I really have something to do."

  Zhang Zhun said with a seemingly smiling yet not quite smiling expression: "I believe you really have something going on."

  He said with a serious expression: "I really have something going on."

  Zhang nodded and said calmly: "Speak."

  Haozi walked over, lowering his voice and speaking mysteriously: "I heard that someone is planning to start a riot."

  Zhang's eyes lit up slightly and then returned to normal.

  As for the news of someone trying to rebel, Zhang Zhun was not surprised at all.

  The military households in Fushan Village were miserable to such an extent that he didn't believe no one tried to rise up and resist. The more the spring was compressed, the stronger the force of the rebound would be. The Shaanxi uprising army had already given people all over the world a model to follow, and the big and small uprisings in various places were also emerging one after another. Shandong was even more frequent with uprisings, and last year Jinxiang had just experienced the Xianghua Teaching Uprising. I believe that the military households in Fushan Village should be quite familiar with words like uprising, rebellion, riot, and treason.

  The key to the problem is that everyone is waiting for others to take the lead. They don't want to take risks themselves, but they also want to follow and benefit from it. This is the psychology of following the crowd in the vast majority of people. Following Yang Kai to make trouble is no problem. But if you want to take up arms and kill all the qianhu, baihu, zongqi, xiaogui, even the pihui, zhixian, zhizhou, zhifu, xunfu, shoubei, zongbing and so on, some people still don't have the guts.

  However, as long as someone makes a fuss first and achieves some victory, many people will follow. At that time, confiscating property and exterminating families, killing people and destroying households are also not a problem. The original Shaanxi civil unrest also developed in this way. It's like a snowball, as long as someone takes the first step, it will get bigger and bigger afterwards.

  It all boils down to who dares to take the lead. The pioneer will reap the greatest rewards, but also face the greatest risks. The imperial court's main target for crackdown is also this pioneer. If it fails, he will be the first to be crushed. Therefore, without a bit of courage and strength, no one would dare to be this pioneer.

  Later studies have shown that Chen Sheng, Wu Guang, Zhang Jue, Zhai Jiao, Wang Xianzhi, Liu Futong, Xu Shouhui, Gao Yingxiang, Hong Xiuquan and the Boxers all ended up badly, while those who followed behind to fill in the gaps often gained the most benefits.

  Nowadays, Yangjia Village has naturally entrusted the task of being the "outstanding bird" to Zhang Zhun after he showed his extraordinary abilities. Zhang Zhun is very clear about his current strength and will not take on this role for the time being.

  "Is the news accurate?" Zhang asked slowly.

  "Exactly. I also heard that the host's name is Zhan Yingwei." said Haozi mysteriously.

  Zhang nodded and asked slowly: "What's going on?"

  Hao Zi said: "People from Zhangjia Village."

  Zhang nodded silently and expressionlessly.

  He believed that 80 to 90 percent of the information provided by Haozi was true. This guy, when it comes to fighting on the battlefield, is definitely not capable, even before the enemy arrives, he's already trembling with fear. However, if you let him do some shady and sneaky things, like stealing chickens or gathering intelligence, he can complete 100% of his tasks at 120%. In a certain sense, this guy is also a rare talent.

  As expected, Haozi added: "It was one of Wang Shixin's personal servants who accidentally revealed it after drinking. He said that although Xuan Yingwei looks like a great man, he won't be able to jump around for a few more days. At that time, his whole family will lose their heads together."

  The army led by Fushan has a total of 25 garrisons. Among them, nine are located within the territory of Jimo County, with more than 30,000 mu of farmland, which are Zhaojia Garrison, Gejia Garrison, Lijia Garrison, Maohou Garrison, Houbei Garrison, Renjia Garrison, Hounan Garrison, Zhanjia Garrison and Fushansuo Garrison. The other sixteen garrisons are located in the territory of Pingdu Prefecture, with 6,000 mu of farmland. Because Pingdu Prefecture is really too far away, and there are many bandits around, the land on that side has basically been abandoned.

  In terms of the amount of land, it's actually not a small number, adding up to over 36,000 mu. On average, each military household would have about 30 mu. Unfortunately, they were all occupied by officials from various levels of the Ao Mountain Guard and Fushan Guards, as well as officials from Jimo County, Laizhou Prefecture, Shandong Provincial Administration Commissioner's Office, Provincial Military Commander's Office, and Provincial Judicial Commissioner's Office. Even the officials from the Military Supply Circuit got a share. Ordinary military households, naturally, didn't have even a single mu of land.

  It's like the Yang Kaidi family, during the Hongwu period, there were 33 mu of land; by the Zhengde period, it was less than three mu; by the Jiajing period, even the last three mu could not be kept. As for Zhang Zhun's own family, the loss of land was earlier than that of the Yang family, and during the Zhengde period, everything was gone. For more than a hundred years afterwards, they relied on meager rations to get by, and it is true that several generations had never eaten their fill.

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