Chapter 11: My Heart is Like Your Heart (Part 2) Second Watch

  It's springtime now, and everything is coming back to life.

  In the fields, there is still a desolate color, but in the desolation, a touch of tender green has emerged, adding a few points of vitality. Some fields still retain the imprint of winter snow, but farmers have already begun to busy themselves between the ridges.

  Zheng Yanqing knew that it was not yet time for farming.

  After the spring thunder, the earth's energy is vigorous, and it's a good time to cultivate. However, Zheng Yance saw some farmers walking in the fields, seemingly measuring something. They would stop occasionally, grab a handful of soil, and sniff it at their noses.

  "Grandpa, what are they doing?"

  Zheng Shi'an glanced out of the car and said softly, "This is where we part ways."

  "Divided fields?"

  Zheng Shian explained: "Every year before farming, everyone has to divide the fields. According to the density of the land's energy, they also arrange the planting after Jingzhe. Land with poor energy is not suitable for farming and must be left idle for rest. Only when the land's energy is accumulated next year will it be planted. Every year is like this, always leaving a portion of the field to rest."

  "Oh!"

  Zheng Yanqing nodded slightly upon hearing this.

  In my previous life, I was engaged in agriculture and had some understanding of agriculture and forestry.

  However, people at that time did not have the concept of preserving land like ancient people. The "land energy" mentioned by Zheng Shian can be explained in modern terms as the fertility of the land. Fertilizing poor soil and cultivating fertile soil has been practiced since ancient times. However, in later generations, under the guidance of so-called scientific farming concepts, people wanted to harvest a piece of land every month, who would still take care of the land?

  I remember once, Zheng Yanqing went to the countryside for inspection, an old farmer said a very philosophical sentence.

  "Spring plowing, summer growth, autumn harvest, and winter storage, this is the principle set by heaven. Now it's all turned upside down, with multiple crops per year, and frantic use of fertilizers to accelerate growth. On the surface, it looks like a bumper harvest, but in reality, the land is becoming increasingly barren and impoverished. Our ancestors preserved this good land for us over thousands of years, but if we continue like this, I'm afraid it won't last a few more years."

  Scientific farming?

  As Zheng Yankuang watched the peasants probing the soil gas in the fields, a strange idea suddenly occurred to him.

  Nor does it know who is unscientific!

  Yan Qing shook his head and sat back in the car, closing his eyes to rest.

  Because of staying up late for New Year's Eve last night, neither Zheng Shian nor Zheng Yanqing slept well.

  As the carriage jolted, drowsiness surged up, and Zheng Yance didn't know when he fell asleep... When he woke up, it was already a bright moonlit night. A commotion outside the carriage piqued Yance's curiosity, so he got out of the carriage to see that everyone had set up camp. More than ten large carriages formed a circle, creating an encampment. Several bonfires blazed, and people sat in twos and threes around the fires, either singing loudly or shouting and laughing, making quite a lively scene.

  Zheng Shi'an sat beside a bonfire, quietly talking to a warrior.

  The warrior's name was Zheng Weishan, and he wasn't actually a member of the Zheng Dashi clan. He came from the second house of the Xingyang Zheng family's seven houses, and was a lower-ranking member, not particularly high in status. Although he was already over thirty, according to his generation, he was one generation younger than Zheng Renji. From a young age, he had practiced martial arts and reached the level of "transforming spirit and changing tendons". He was recruited by Zheng Dashi and served at An Yuantang.

  Zheng's name is "for goodness", but he is a ruthless and cruel character.

  Many things, Zheng Dashan didn't want to show his face openly, almost all of them were done by Zheng Weishan behind the scenes, and each time they were done beautifully. Therefore, Zheng Dashan also trusted Zheng Weishan very much. This time, when Zheng Renji went to Luoyang for office, Zheng Dashan sent out Zheng Shi'an and Zheng Weishan, which can be considered as highly valued. After all, Luoyang is not like Xiangzhou, it's also a place where Guanzhong nobles gather. If there was no suitable person to assist him, Zheng Renji might have found it difficult to stand firm in Luoyang.

  Zheng Shi'an assisted the Zheng family for five generations, with a loyal and dedicated heart, and was skilled in handling all kinds of situations.

  Zheng Woshan's martial arts skills are not ordinary, he is ruthless and cunning, and also calm and composed. With both literary and military talents, he can provide sufficient help to Zheng Renji.

  Moreover, Zheng Renji also recruited a batch of staff in Chang'an, and it should be no problem to establish himself.

  Zheng Yanqing walked over and sat down silently beside Zheng Shian.

  "Are you awake?"

  "Ah!"

  Zheng Yanqing asked in a low voice: "Grandfather, what is this place?"

  "Up ahead is Mount Sunyang." Zheng Weishan said in a deep voice. Don't look down on Zheng Yanqing just because he's only Zheng Shi'an's grandson, for Zheng Shi'an holds a position in the Zheng family that makes everyone dare not underestimate Zheng Yanqing. Moreover, Zheng Weishan also knew that Zheng Dasheng placed great importance on Zheng Yanqing. This time, letting Zheng Yanqing go to Luoyang was precisely to accompany Zheng Hongyi. In other words, when Zheng Hongyi takes over An Yuantang in the future, Zheng Yanqing's position will be at least no worse than Zheng Shi'an's current one - it's not a mistake that can be afforded.

  Compared with his fellow clansmen in Zheng Jing Tang and An Yuan Tang, Zheng Wei Shan can be said to have experienced hardships.

  The second house fell early, relying on the relief of Jing Tang and An Yuan Tang to survive. He was also a born son, with a low status and identity, often looked down upon by his clansmen. It wasn't until he joined An Yuan Tang that he gained recognition within the clan.

  Zheng Woshan said, "Earlier we missed the night watch at Chenggao, so we had to camp here. After passing by Shouyang Mountain, it's Yan Shi. I was just discussing with the old steward whether to rest for a day in Yan Shi before heading to Luoyang."

  Zheng Yanqing couldn't help but look at Zheng Shian as soon as he heard it.

  Zheng Shi'an thought for a moment, then said to Zheng Wei-shan: "When the eldest young master sent word, he mentioned that he had a good friend living in Yan Shi, named Xu Ge. Originally from Li Huo, his family was extremely wealthy. This person was fond of doing good deeds and was very generous by nature. The eldest young master asked me to visit him when passing through Yan Shi, and also to bring someone along to Luoyang... Let's do it this way: after dawn, we'll head to Yan Shi and stay for half a day. We won't need to take the carriages into the city; Wei-shan, you make a list of what we need, and when the time comes, we'll send someone to buy them. Tell everyone that Yan Shi is not far from Luoyang, so they mustn't cause any trouble."

  Zheng nodded, "Then let's do as the old steward said."

  What's wrong with Xu Ge?

  Zheng Yanqing felt a sense of familiarity when he heard this name. It seemed that he had seen the name before, but couldn't recall where it came from.

  "Grandfather, is this Xu Ge also from a prominent family?"

  "Oh, that's not it," Zheng Shi'an said: "He's a wealthy merchant and has some business dealings with us. He operates timber, but also does fur and some illicit business on the side. His relationship with the Grand Prince is also very close."

  Illegal business?

  In these days, there were many forbidden businesses, and the most important ones were salt and iron.

  Zheng's family had an iron workshop, and they did business with Xu Gei, so it was clear. But Zheng Yanqing still couldn't remember who Xu Gei was. Zheng Shian didn't say anything, and he didn't dare ask either. He picked up a piece of steamed cake and slowly chewed on it.

  Just then, the sound of horseshoes came from afar.

  Zheng Woshan immediately stood up and seized a one-meter-long horizontal knife.

  The warrior guarding the chariot shouted loudly: "Who is in front? Report your name and surname, otherwise don't blame me for being rude."

  "Don't shoot! Don't shoot!"

  In the darkness, a clear and elegant voice came through, "We are just passing by, we'd like to ask for a favor."

  Dozens of people emerged from the darkness.

  The first was a sturdy and robust man. However, he looked very strange, with blue eyes and curly whiskers, high cheekbones, and a pale complexion.

  He rode a black horse with a cross-shaped sword at his waist.

  He stopped about forty or fifty paces away from the cavalry, dismounted and handed his sword to a servant beside him.

  "Below is Zhang Zhongjian, a Yangzhou merchant who passed through this place on business. If there was any disturbance, please forgive."

  Zheng Shi'an was taken aback and got up to stand beside Zheng Wei Shan, "What is Yangzhou's richest man Zhang Ji Ling to you?"

  "Ah, is that Father?"

  Zhang Zhongjian was also taken aback, his expression even more respectful, and he bowed to answer: "Zhongjian is the third son of my family, may I ask which elder is above?"

  "Oh, so you're Zhang Jiling's youngest son! I heard you left home early on, what brings you here?"

  "The young man was on his way home last year. The year before, the Vietnamese ambassador had ordered a batch of silk from my father's side, and since no one was at home, he instructed the young man to escort the goods to Chang'an."

  "So it was!"

  Zheng Shi'an turned his head and said to Zheng Wei-shan: "Let them camp by themselves. If they need anything, just give it to them."

  Then he said to Zhang Zhongjian, "We are from Anyuantang in Xingzhou. My name is Zheng Shian, and I have had dealings with your respected father. You can camp on your own now. If you need anything, just come and take it. I won't bother with formalities anymore."

  There is a way: you must not have a mind to harm people, but you cannot be without a mind to defend against people.

  Even if Zheng Shian knew the other party's background, he still had to be careful.

  Reporting his own name was to intimidate the other party; if there were really difficulties, helping out would be no big deal. But as for merging together, he wouldn't agree. Firstly, it's hard to distinguish between true and false, secondly, Zhang Jiling is just a businessman, no need to be too close.

  But even so, Zhang Zhongjian was still extremely grateful.