Chapter 61: Triumph

  From Zhongping three years autumn, Li Zhong came to this era, always busy, for the grassland foundation, as if forever can not stop footsteps.

  Unexpectedly, I now have a few months of leisure time.

  From the false alarm at the beginning of the year to the spring broadcast in March, and now another four months have passed. It's almost August. In these more than four months, Li Zhēn's power has developed extremely rapidly.

  Firstly, the number of soldiers under his command had just exceeded 10,000 and those wearing armor reached as high as 80%, which was a staggering 8,000 people!

  This power in hand, Li Zhong's confidence is growing stronger and stronger.

  Therefore, it was only natural that the two counties near Lingzhou - Lian County to the west of Lingzhou, across the river, and Fuping to the south of Lingzhou, were both taken under Li Zhen's control!

  Adding the Bai Shui River, the territory controlled by Li Zhong reached an area of nearly 300 miles in circumference!

  Within a radius of 300 miles, the population exceeded 25,000 households. Adding to that the Jie prisoners who served Li Jing for free, the total number has already slightly exceeded 100,000 people!

  It's no easy task to support 100,000 people.

  Fortunately, Lingzhou and Fuping counties had just harvested their spring wheat, so Li Zhong got a large batch of grain. Dividing it among the people of Lian County was not too difficult.

  At the same time, this year's winter wheat will also start to be sown within a month at most in the three counties under Li Zhong's rule. This sowing is mainly for barley.

  Last winter, 60,000 mu of wheat and barley were planted. Except for the 10,000 mu that fell into the hands of the powerful families in Lingzhou, the remaining 50,000 mu are all being harvested now.

  The 50,000 mu of wheat harvested as seeds can fully meet the needs of three counties, and there is still a considerable surplus. It can be expected that after this winter, by next summer, within the area under Li Zhong's rule, not a single person will go hungry!

  Of course, due to the special requirements for ginseng growth, in order to maintain soil fertility and make ginseng always have a bumper harvest, Li Zhong also issued a special decree.

  Within his dominion, Samma's sowing must be done alternately in spring and autumn.

  If a piece of land has been spring-sown this year, it is not allowed to be sown again in the winter of this year and the spring of next year. It must wait until the winter of next year to plant winter wheat.

  Rice requires too much land and water resources, if continuous planting, the land's fertility will decline rapidly, until it becomes barren and almost nothing can be planted.

  Therefore, corresponding measures should also be taken to improve soil fertility and water conservancy construction.

  Fertilization is simple, human and animal waste, or ash from plants and trees can be used. As for water conservation, it's a major project that requires a huge investment of manpower and resources.

  Of course, Li Zhong has never relaxed in this regard. After incorporating Lian County and Fuping into his control, Li Zhong was doing work in this area.

  Fortunately, the land of the three counties is fertile and adjacent to a large river. Otherwise, crops like wheat that require high soil fertility would not be able to be planted for long periods of time.

  Agriculture flourished, on an equal footing with it, and even more importantly for Li Jing, the livestock industry also developed vigorously.

  The Bai Shui River, which was once a hundred miles around, is now covered with lush greenery. The dense and luxuriant grassland, set against this vast prairie, is as picturesque as a poem.

  Cattle, sheep and horses, all kinds of warhorses, are growing and multiplying freely on this fertile land.

  The wind blows the grass low and reveals cows and sheep, that kind of vigorous vitality makes people feel carefree and joyful.

  The livestock raised in the Baishui River pasture, such as cattle and sheep, were partly used for civilian purposes. After Li Zhong took control of the three counties, each household was allocated one head of cattle and three sheep.

  Just this time, Li Zhuang consumed tens of thousands of yaks and over a million sheep.

  Of course, this is not without a price. Li Zhong was well aware of the inferiority of human nature. As the saying goes, "a favor for a grain of rice, a grudge for a grain of rice", being too good to people is not an easy thing, and it will make people uneasy instead. On the contrary, if there are conditions, people will feel more reasonable.

  This ox and three sheep must be returned to Li Zhēng in the form of taxes after the harvest.

  Apart from this part, cattle and sheep are mainly used to provide raw materials for the forging center.

  Defeated another Xiongnu tribe, harvested tens of millions of heads of cattle and sheep horses, for Li Zhong, the harvest was indeed too rich.

  Not only can it easily satisfy the needs of the people, but also meet the current demand for leather in the central region, and even get tens of thousands of slaves who contribute labor without compensation, which is a win-win situation.

  Like the red jade bird and the thorny-skinned pig.

  These two special warhorses synthesized through the system, due to their deliciousness and nutritional value, are widely favored by the upper-class people in Beidi County. Every time Zhou Lin's Shenzhou Business opens up a new market, these two specialties serve as the vanguard, always with great success!

  These two more important poultry and livestock, under Li Zhēng's attention, with the help of the growth accelerator's wonderful function, their population developed extremely rapidly.

  Currently, the number of Red Birds has exceeded 20,000, with over 10,000 eggs laid every day. The development and growth of the Thorny Pigs is a bit slower, with just over 3,000 heads.

  At this stage of development in the Red Jade Bird population, with the help of the biological growth accelerator's incredible effects, a batch of chicks can be hatched every seven days. At this rate, by the end of this year, almost the entire White Water River will be occupied by the Red Jade Birds!

  Li Zhong has already begun opening up the red jade bird breeding to the gentry and some common people in three counties.

  Of course, this is not unconditional, especially for the powerful and wealthy households.

  Li Zhong's purpose was very clear, that is, to take this as an opportunity to disarm the family soldiers of the powerful and wealthy households!

  To obtain the Red Jade Bird chicks, one must first disarm their household troops; otherwise, it's impossible. Moreover, powerful families who refuse to disarm their household troops not only won't get the chance to raise the Red Jade Birds but will also have their opportunities to plant and harvest wheat and barley cut off!

  But it's not easy to achieve this.

  In this world, although the three counties under Li Zhēng's jurisdiction are very peaceful and harmonious, who knows how long this situation will last? Relying on no one is better than relying on oneself, the power in one's own hands is the key.

  So, the vast majority of the powerful and wealthy would rather be deprived by Li Zhong of the opportunity to plant wheat and barley than to disarm their family soldiers.

  This made Li Zhong helpless at the same time, and also coldly laughed in his heart.

  He is not in a hurry, there will be plenty of opportunities to deal with these powerful and wealthy families later. Once those tough and powerful families see that the collaborators have gained enviable benefits from it, when Li Zhong becomes so strong that they feel unable to resist him, they will naturally come to ask for Li Zhong's help.

  System production must be a fine product. Li Zhong has absolute confidence in Hong Yu Niao and Ci Pi Zhu!

  Divine Land Pasture, dusk.

  On the top of the small hill where Li Zhong usually practiced martial arts, Xun Yu and Li Zhong stood shoulder to shoulder, quietly watching the sunset in the distance. The bright red clouds reflected the mountains and rivers, a magnificent sight that intoxicated the soul.

  "Months have passed, Mr. Gongda, what are your thoughts now?"

  A few months ago, Li Jing also asked Xun Yu this question.

  Xun Yu's tall and straight body was like a pine, his hands behind his back, his wide sleeves fluttering slightly in the wind. The jade hairpin on top of his head, adorned with a hair knot, shone dazzlingly in the evening glow.

  Upon hearing this, he slightly turned his face, glanced at Li Zhēng, and then shifted his gaze to the sunset on the horizon.

  After a while, he said: "The other day, Xun Mou went to the mining area and took a look. The mining efficiency of each mining area in this Helan Mountain branch has already been raised to the limit."

  He said, pausing for a moment, "The number of Food Beasts has already reached the point where it should be curbed. Unless new mines are opened, there will be enough."

  "Uh..."

  Xun Yu's answer was not to the point, and Li Jing couldn't help but feel a sense of frustration. His face revealed his emotions, but he nodded slightly and said: "The reproduction speed of the mineral beasts is very fast, as long as there are enough minerals, they can reproduce indefinitely. However, Mr. Gong Da may not know that under the premise of no minerals, this special war ride will automatically eliminate the old and weak. So it's not necessary for human intervention, without minerals, they will automatically reduce their population."

  "So it was."

  Xun You chuckled and said: "I, Xun, have been in the Divine State's grasslands for quite some time now, but often I feel a sense of isolation and ignorance."

  Between words, there is some self-mockery.

  "Don't say it's you, it's me, and sometimes it's not?" Li Zhēng couldn't help but laugh.

  As the master of the system, Li Zhēn's understanding of the system still remains at the initial stage. Every time a new function option or a new war ride appears, the system does not provide detailed explanations, and he needs to understand it himself, even in the process of using finished products, can only understand previously unknown information.

  "Mr. Gongda," Li Zhēng asked again, "You haven't answered Li Mou's question yet."

  Xun Yu heard this and his expression didn't change at all, saying: "What problem?"

  "You!"

  Li Jing's eyebrows shot up, and he stared at him, saying: "I'm asking you, when are you willing to do something for me?"

  "Hasn't this always been doing things for you?"

  "Alright, alright, we'll talk about it later. But let me tell you, it's better to make a decision early on! My current influence is not small, and once I gain fame, talented people will flock to me. Don't say I didn't give you the opportunity!" - Li Zheng

  Xun Yu was speechless.

  How can this person be so stubborn? Are all the talented people from the Xun family like this? Li Zhēn shook his head and slowly headed down the mountain.

  Just a few steps away, he suddenly stiffened all over, one foot on the ground and the other foot in mid-air, and his whole body froze!

  "My lord!"

  "What?!"

  Li Zhong's mind echoed with this title, and after a long time, he turned back, his face tight, took a few steps forward, grabbed Xun Yu's sleeve, and said loudly: "Say it again!"

  Xun Yu's face showed a solemnity that Li Zhen had never seen before. He broke free from Li Zhen's grasp, took a few steps back, swung his sleeve and bowed deeply: "Your Excellency is above, please allow Xun Yu to pay his respects!"

  Under the sunset, Li Jing stretched out his hand and stood there stiffly, Xun Yu bent down with his hands clasped together, motionless.

  After a long time, a loud and eerie laughter like a ghostly howl came from the hillside, startling everyone in the meadow.

  "Hahaha... Wow..."

  Li Zhong let out a loud roar, his face filled with excitement and agitation, almost beyond words. He hastily helped up Xun Yu, who was already feeling waist and back pain, and laughed loudly: "Good good good! Li certain person has finally waited for this day! Xun Gongda, your choice is absolutely correct, look at that, old man Li Zhong will definitely dominate the world, you Xun Gongda are the number one prime minister of all time!"

  Xun Yu looked at Li Zong who was excited and his mouth curled up slightly.