Chapter Fifteen Being the Head of the Household is Not Easy

  Han Chaoer sat on the bench, his back drenched with cold sweat. When he heard that the clerk from the Pacification Commission was already on his way, he couldn't believe his ears. Yang Bo had taken down Hu Dahu just on his first day in office, and Han Chaoer thought it was just an accident triggered by Hu's hot temper. But today's events made him realize that Yang Bo had been planning this all along. The two battalion commanders of Majiatun had fallen in less than five days, and although he himself was a battalion commander, the other one would definitely be replaced by someone loyal to Yang Bo. Under each battalion commander, there were originally ten smaller flags, but Majiatun only had six. Those smaller flags would also be taken over by people loyal to Yang Bo... Thinking of this, Han Chaoer couldn't help but feel satisfied with his decision to pledge allegiance to Yang Bo without hesitation earlier...

  "Maojiatun is really going to change... But, why are adults so anxious?" Han Xiaoer felt uneasy in his heart. He had also vaguely heard that there was someone behind Yang Bo, and he even heard rumors that Yang Bo's rabbit husband was a scholar! However, the Yao family clan was powerful and complex, and even the Wei commander-in-chief could speak up for them. What Yang Daren did was not very wise...

  "It's better to find an opportunity to analyze the pros and cons with the adults." Han Xiaoer made up her mind secretly.

  Another little flag was also scared to death, it turned out that his father was old, so he let him replace him running back and forth, but Yang Bo seemed to have no idea that there was another person like him, not even looking at him straight.

  "Since there's no problem, let's get started." Yang Bo waved his hand.

  When Hei Han brought those logging soldiers, many people had already gathered on the beach waiting for them. Everyone was whispering to each other, discussing and speculating.

  It's said that the newly arrived Bai Hu will be introducing a new method of salt production, many people are skeptical about this, and there are also many who have never seen Bi Fangji before, each one is terrified.

  Not long after, a command was given from above and everyone dispersed to start digging the pond.

  The outline of the salt pan has been drawn with white lime, a pool is roughly smaller than an acre of land, and the depth is about two feet or less. The brine pool is even shallower. After digging the pool, some stone blocks and tile pieces are laid at the bottom as the salt pan, and the pool is considered complete.

  "Is salt produced like this?" The soldiers quietly asked each other, watching as the mountain dwellers used hollow bamboo poles to channel seawater into these salt pans.

  "How many ri will it take to get out of the salt?" Yang Bo was also worried

  According to Xu Guangqi's memorial, the seawater is relatively dilute and only needs to be mixed with a sufficient amount of brine water. After two or three days, it will become salt if there is no rain during these two days." Bi Fangji nodded very affirmatively, covering his eyes to take another look at the scorching sunlight in the sky.

  "That's good, otherwise I would have lost face as the head of this hundred households." Yang Bo put down his heart and waited for the seawater to fill up, then poured in the previously cooked brine, leaving only waiting left to do.

  Yang Bo beckoned and called out to Han Xiaoer: "Xiaoer, what is the fixed quota for salt collection in Ma Jia Tun?"

  Han Xiao'er was quite familiar with these, and replied in a low voice: "In response to the master's words, Ma Jia Tun needs to pay 5,600 catties of salt every month. Except for the fixed amount, the extra salt that is boiled and exchanged for money is the income of the military households."

  Yang Bo calculated in his heart, 5,600 catties is approximately 46 piculs, which doesn't seem like a lot. After handing over this quota, how much salt can be dried out? This is the major issue that affects the military household's income.

  "Big, big adults" Han Yuer saw Yang Bo's face as usual, and said hesitantly: "The soldiers below have some complaints, mainly worrying that they won't be able to complete the quota..."

  Yang Bo hummed in his heart, if he followed his usual temper, he would directly drag out the leaders and beat them up, which was more direct and effective than talking reason, and free them from their heavy labor. Why didn't anyone appreciate his kindness? Since overthrowing General Yao's flag, he had become a local emperor in Ma Family Village, with a high gold content!

  Yang Bo suppressed the temptation in his heart and shouted: "Dog!"

  Zhang Doggy hurriedly ran up

  "These next few days, you and General Han will have to work hard, run around a lot, and explain the benefits of salt production to those military households." Yang Bo instructed after a moment's thought.

  "What benefits?" Zhang Dogzi was also confused

  "Never mind, just say sitting at home waiting for the salt to be collected... The rest you think about it yourself." Yang Bo thought that Dog Er was the best person to do this kind of thing.

  "What's going on? These ponds probably need some cover-ups." Bi Fangji arrived just now, directing the situation. Fortunately, he spoke fluent Ming official language, at least making those military households slightly more at ease.

  "I made the people of Yishan Village work hard to use oilcloth and branches to make a rain canopy" Yang Bo nodded, if the salt drying field got rained on, it would be completely ruined, this was indeed something that couldn't be prevented.

  On the beach, some soldiers were busy dismantling those large salt stoves made of mud, while others were clearing away household items, and the empty space would also be part of the salt drying pool in the future.

  "Why, Father, didn't Xu Guangqi's memorial to the throne back then receive attention from the imperial court?" Yang Bo was somewhat perplexed. Since Xu Guangqi had personally conducted experiments and places like Fujian, Guangdong, Guangxi, and even Hainan with relatively low salt content could produce salt through solar evaporation, why didn't the imperial court adopt this new technology that would save a large amount of manpower and resources?

  "Alas, there are things that one cannot know." Bi Fangji sighed: "Although Xu Guangqi's method of drying salt is good, he and the current Prime Minister Zhou Yueren have different political views and are at odds with each other. It is natural for him to be excluded. Xu Guangqi had also asked to retire twice because of this. On the other hand, not long after he presented his memorial, he passed away, and the five memorials on the tuntian system were left without a sequel..."

  Yang Bo felt a sense of melancholy, Xu Guangqi was one of the few open-minded and pragmatic technical officials in the Ming Dynasty, unfortunately, he didn't live in a good era. During this time, Yang Bo had been reading his books, and he had great respect for Xu Guangqi in his heart.

  On the beach, there was a sack of sea salt that had been filled to capacity. Two soldiers were preparing to tie up the mouth of the sack and transport it into the warehouse when they saw Yang Bo walking over. The two soldiers hastily knelt down on one side.

  Yang Bo reached out and helped Jun Hu up, although he had said there was no need to kneel, unfortunately it didn't have much effect.

  The new trial hundred households got rid of Hu Datou, and the flag of Yao Zong was overthrown. The village of Maojia is not big, these things have been circulating for a long time. Seeing Yang Bo who is even more ferocious than Hu Datou, how can these military households not be afraid? There are also rumors in the streets that Yang Bo is very close to that red barbarian, it can be seen that the trial hundred households has a strong evil spirit on his body, which can suppress the yin energy emitted by the red barbarian.

  Yang Bo picked up a handful of sea salt, held it in his hand and examined it carefully. The grains of sea salt were very large. He threw one into his mouth, but quickly spat it out again - there was too much sand.

  Just then, a voice called out: "Sir, sir..."

  Yang Bo heard this and raised his head. Far away, a small flag-like military household was moving towards him, with someone still shouting in the distance.

  "What's wrong?" Yang Bo was somewhat displeased. The sky hadn't fallen, so what was the big deal? It made those military households all crane their necks to take a look.

  "It's started over there......" Little Flag reported, panting heavily

  "Who? Who started it, you'd better say clearly!" Yang Bo also had no temper when he encountered such a muddled guy.

  "A few mountain-dwelling households' militiamen and seafood cooks got into a fight, hurry up and take a look..."