Another month later, the potatoes were ready to be harvested.
Xue had already made winter clothes for Ying Xiaozheng. After Xue's skillful hands, the wrinkled old clothes were wrapped in thick wool, making them very comfortable to wear.
Zhu Xiang originally wanted to spin wool into yarn, but he was a farmer, not a breeder, and he couldn't figure out how to spin wool yarn after thinking for a long time.
He heard that the caravans west of Qin State sold felt products, and maybe someone knew how to weave wool, but unfortunately he never had the chance to see one. So Zhu Xiang could only give up the idea of weaving wool for the time being and teach Xue to sew the wool into a small grid, just like cotton-padded clothes or down jackets in later generations.
In two months, Ying Xiaozheng's thin and sunken cheeks had slightly plumped up, initially showing that he had inherited the good looks from his parents.
After putting on thick clothes and a fluffy hat, Ying Xiaozheng finally looked like a little Fuwa.
Zhu Xiang looked at the chubby Ying Xiaozheng "rolling around" at the edge of the potato field, anxiously waiting for Lin Xiangru and Lin Zhi to come home to dig potatoes together, and could not help pinching his chin.
"What bad idea are you planning again?" Xun Kuang asked.
Xunzi was away for more than a month and went to Qi State to transport back all the books that were deposited in his friend's house. He missed the days when Lin Xiangru and Zhu Xiang started the craze for potato flower decorations.
When he came back and learned about this, Xun Kuang muttered for a long time, "This is nonsense" and "The King of Zhao is incompetent."
Zhu Xiang always felt that Xunzi complained about him because he did not join in the fun.
"It's not a bad idea. I just want to collect some skins and make a furry coat for Zheng'er." Zhu Xiang said, "It must be very cute to make a fur coat for Zheng'er in the shape of a puppy, a bear, or a tiger."
Xunzi immediately lost interest in asking questions.
"Why hasn't Mr. Lin come yet?" Ying Xiaozheng, who had already circled the potato field twice, pounced towards Zhu Xiang.
Zhu Xiang caught Ying Xiaozheng, picked him up and rubbed his face. After Ying Xiaozheng's cheeks were puffed up, it was easier to rub.
"It's indeed a bit slow. Is there a traffic jam in Handan city?" Zhu Xiang originally wanted to joke about "license plate restrictions", but when he was about to say it, he remembered that people of this era would not understand this joke, so he changed it to traffic jam.
"There won't be another General Lian Po who deliberately drives his car to block Lin Shangqing's way?" Cai Ze joked.
After studying under Xun Kuang and being hit by Xun Kuang for a long time, his personality became much more cheerful.
Just as Zhu Xiang was about to retort "How is that possible", he heard Lin Xiangru's full-throated voice with a few coughs: "Old Lian, are you deliberately looking for trouble today?!"
Zhu Xiang and Cai Ze looked at each other in bewilderment. Could it be that General Lian was deliberately trying to anger Lin Shangqing again
Zhu Xiang held Ying Xiaozheng in his arms and went to meet him. Lin Xiangru, supported by Lin Zhi, kept poking Lian Po with his cane as he walked.
"Mr. Lin, General Lian, what happened?" After Zhu Xiang greeted them, he immediately asked about the gossip.
Lin Xiangru snorted twice and did not answer.
Lian Po said unhappily, "I just came with you to dig potatoes on a whim. Why are you so angry?"
Lin Zhi whispered, "Uncle, you let your car deliberately block our way, but you didn't call for help."
Zhu Xiang was very curious: "Why do you deliberately block the road?"
A young general behind Lian Po blushed and said, "It's all my fault. I asked Lian Shangqing about what happened back then..."
Zhu Xiang was puzzled: "Back then?"
Lian Po patted the young general on the shoulder and said, "He asked me how I got to know Lin Xiangru, so I demonstrated it to him."
Zhu Xiang thought for a long time and finally figured out the cause and effect of the matter.
Lian Po mentioned to his juniors (?) the incident of carrying a thorn stick to ask for forgiveness, and then on a whim he repeated his act of deliberately blocking Lin Xiangru's chariot.
General Lian, how is your head
Lian Po also realized that he was a bit irritating, so he obediently apologized to Lin Xiangru and pushed Zhu Xiang forward to help him mediate.
Zhu Xiang lifted up Ying Xiaozheng and asked him to punch Lian Po twice, saying that he was venting Lin Xiangru's anger.
Lin Xiangru was finally amused. He gave Lian Po a sidelong glance and once again forgave Lian Po for his brain twitch.
"Can we dig potatoes now?" Ying Xiaozheng asked.
Lin Xiangru's expression softened: "Okay, ahem."
Zhu Xiang put Ying Xiaozheng on the ground, carried Lin Xiangru on his back and said, "Mr. Lin, your cold is not healed yet?"
Lin Xiangru said calmly, "I'm old, it's like this when winter comes, I'm used to it, don't worry about it. Didn't you say we were going to dig potatoes? Zheng'er was so anxious that he was walking in circles."
Ying Xiaozheng stopped spinning: "No!"
Lin Xiangru smiled and said, "Let's go and see the potato harvest."
"Okay!" Ying Xiaozheng immediately ran to get a small shovel.
Zhu Xiang looked at the young general standing awkwardly beside him and asked, "Who is this general?"
"Ah? His name is Li Mu, and he's a good junior." Lian Po finally remembered to introduce him. "He will go to Yanmen County to guard the border in the spring of next year. When he heard me talking about potatoes, he wanted to see if potatoes can be grown in the north to replace some of the military rations."
The Yanmen County that Lian Po mentioned was the important town at the foot of the Great Wall of Zhao State to defend against the Huns. It was also the most difficult northern frontier of the Zhao State.
"Li Mu?" Zhu Xiang hid his excitement and pretended to be calm. "General Li, potatoes are not very cold-resistant. They will stop growing when the temperature reaches freezing. If General Li wants to grow potatoes on the border, choosing some poor soil in addition to the good farmland and planting them in spring and summer may be the best result."
Li Mu did not have the arrogance of the young scholars that Zhu Xiang had seen before, and said calmly: "Okay, I..."
Before he could finish his words, Lian Po patted him on the shoulder and interrupted him, "First dig out that potato and taste it."
"Yes." Zhu Xiang smiled, "Zheng'er has already started digging, let's go too."
Ying Xiaozheng has rapidly turned into a mud monkey.
Xue frowned as she watched Ying Xiaozheng ruin his new clothes. She turned around and left, thinking that out of sight, out of mind.
Having been spoiled at his uncle and aunt's house for more than two months, Ying Xiaozheng had completely lost the cautiousness he had when he first arrived. He ignored his aunt's dangerous expression and continued to dig the soil with his butt sticking out.
"Oh, my Zheng'er, you will damage the potatoes if you dig like this." Zhu Xiang helped Lin Xiangru to sit under the shed with Xun Kuang, and then stopped Ying Xiaozheng from digging potatoes violently.
Under Zhu Xiang's guidance, the young people all picked up shovels and dug potatoes. Even Li Mu, who had just arrived, started digging with a confused look on his face.
Lian Po crossed his legs, touched the handle of the chair and said, "I knew that Li Mu and Zhu Xiang would get along well. What kind of seat is this? It's interesting."
Xun Kuang said, "It was just a sudden idea of those Mohists."
Lin Xiangru took a sip of hot water from the table next to him and felt much better. "This is called a Hu table and a Hu chair. Zhu Xiang was cautious and didn't want people to know that it was a new thing he came up with, so he used the name of a Hu person."
Lian Po asked curiously, "It's quite comfortable to sit on. But Xun Qing, don't you hate things that are not in accordance with etiquette? Is this seat considered inappropriate?"
Xun Kuang said: "Ritual is not a static thing."
Lin Xiangru continued to drink water.
Xun Kuang debated with the carpenter who made the tables and chairs, and finally accepted the tables and chairs. He was very curious about what Xun Kuang debated with the carpenter. He was even more curious about who the carpenter was that he could debate with Xun Kuang.
However, no matter who the carpenter was, he probably could not recommend him to King Zhao.
Lian Po continued to touch the chair curiously, and cursed Zhu Xiang for being so unfair for not giving him such a good thing.
He was a military commander and often wore long boots, so it was not easy for him to sit on the ground. He also had an old injury on his leg, and it hurt a lot when he knelt for a long time. This thing was just right for him.
Zhu Xiang is not kind!
Lin Xiangru said slowly: "It was I who stopped him from saying it."
Lian Po was puzzled: "Why?"
Lin Xiangru said, "I don't like you."
Lian Po: “…”
Xun Kuang's face was full of disgust, and he moved his butt a little away, indicating that he didn't want to pay attention to these two old men who always quarreled for no reason when they got together.
Zhu Xiang didn't grow many potatoes, only about thirty plants. The young people had already dug them all up.
Potatoes are tubers, but Zhu Xiang and others always say "grass roots" for easier understanding, without having to explain why the roots buried in the ground are not roots but stems.
"What a good harvest," Lin Zhi said happily, "We can harvest so much in just two months. These potatoes are so productive!"
Zhu Xiang poured cold water on Lin Zhi's proposal: "Potatoes consume a lot of soil energy, and it is difficult to grow them. They are prone to disease and degeneration. They can only be used as a staple food supplement and to relieve famine."
Lin Zhi immediately said, "Yes, yes, you've been nagging me so many times that my ears are numb."
Cai Ze said: "You know he is a nagging person, so you shouldn't give him the opportunity to be nagging again."
Lin Zhi once again perfunctorily replied, "Yes, yes, yes."
Li Mu watched this scene curiously.
A common farmer, an extremely ugly scholar, and the son of a high-ranking official could actually joke with each other happily.
"Today I will make you a potato feast." Zhu Xiang glanced at the system and found that he had obtained the detailed information of the potato varieties. He said happily, "Which dish do you like? I will write the recipe for you."
"Then I'd better obey your command respectfully." Lin Zhi said with a smile.
Li Mu felt a little embarrassed.
Lin Zhi said, "When you come to Zhu Xiang's place, don't be polite to him. It's right to eat as much as you can."
"You are a gangster." Zhu Xiang scolded, "Don't teach General Li a bad lesson."
Lin Zhi said seriously: "I'm not teaching him bad things, I'm just telling him not to be so nervous."
Cai Ze said: "When you say that, General Li becomes even more nervous."
Lin Zhi looked at Li Mu and saw that Li Mu's face was indeed a little red. He couldn't help but laugh and said, "How can a leader of troops be so shameless?"
Zhu Xiang tried to smooth things over: "Okay, go wash the mud off your hands and wait for the feast."
"Okay. Hey, Zheng'er, what are you doing?" Lin Zhi asked curiously.
Ying Xiaozheng said: "Pick the best-looking potato and keep it as a birthday gift."
Li Mu was pulled by Lin Zhi, a very outgoing man, to join in playing house with the children, and his expression looked even more confused and honest.
Zhu Xiang first weighed the harvested potatoes, reported the good news to Lin Xiangru, Lian Po and Xun Kuang, and then went to the kitchen.
In the name of preserving seeds, Zhu Xiang would not distribute the potatoes to others. He only cooked this meal and let everyone taste them.
The cooking method of potatoes is very simple. Using the cooking methods of this era, various potato dishes such as stewed meat with potatoes, potato stewed rice, egg potato pancakes, etc. are all delicious enough.
Zhu Xiang also stuffed potatoes with cumin powder and other spices into the chicken's stomach to make fillings for the roast chicken.
Lian Po ate two chickens by himself, and Li Mu accidentally ate a whole chicken. The two showed that they had the appetite that a brave general should have.
Because of Lin Zhi's outgoing manner, Zhu Xiang brought out some rice wine to go with the meal. After eating and drinking, Li Mu talked a lot.
During the Wei and Jin Dynasties, aristocratic families were popular. Local tyrants tried to find ancestors who were more than a thousand years old, and looked for people with the same surname to form a family alliance, making each other's ancestors relatives to show how powerful their families were.
This is how the Longxi Li family and the Zhaojun Li family became one family (Longxi was in Qin, and Zhaojun was the present-day Handan of Zhao State).
There is no record of Li Mu's origin in history books, only Li's family compiled one in their own family tree.
In the Li family genealogy, not to mention Laozi Li Er, the most recent lineage is that Li Mu's father Li Ji was the Taifu of the Qin State, Li Ji's father Li Tan was the Imperial Censor of the Qin State, and Li Tan's sixth-generation ancestor was Li Dui, a powerful official of the Zhao State.
Zhu Xiang learned about the Li family genealogy when he was on a business trip with a colleague. His colleague talked about aristocratic families and brought up this family tree as a joke.
Li Dui was a powerful official during the reign of King Huiwen of Zhao, who was the biological father of the current King Zhao. King Huiwen of Zhao lived to be over 40 years old, and Li Dui was dismissed from his position as prime minister only 30 years ago. The age difference between Li Dui and Li Mu was less than 100 years, so how could Li Mu be the eighth-generation grandson of Li Dui
Furthermore, the position of "Grand Censor" was established after Emperor Qin Shihuang established the Qin Dynasty. Could it be that Li Mu's grandfather was from the Qin Dynasty
Li Mu also had an uncle who was the ancestor of the Longxi Li family and was named "Duke of Nanzheng". However, the Qin State did not have the title of "Duke" at all.
Such a careless family tree can become ironclad evidence of the glory of an aristocratic family. No wonder “emperors come and go, but the aristocratic family remains.”
Now that he had met the person involved, Zhu Xiang of course gossiped a little.
Li Mu was shocked by the rumors that his eighth-generation ancestor was Li Dui, the prime minister of the previous dynasty, and that his grandfather and father were officials in the Qin State.
Lian Po and Lin Xiangru, who served in the same dynasty as Li Dui, were even more shocked.
"Where did this bizarre rumor come from? Li Mu's family has been guarding Yanmen County for generations, and he has always been a general of Zhao." Lian Po laughed so hard that his saliva sprayed on Zhu Xiang's face.
Zhu Xiang wiped his face and said, "Of course it's just nonsense from folk merchants. I'm just asking casually."
According to the Records of the Grand Historian, when Li Mu was stationed in Yanmen County, he had already established his own government and was in charge of the taxation and appointment of officials in Yanmen County, which was a typical style of a general in the feudal era. Li Mu must have had a long-standing foundation in Yanmen County. After the Battle of Changping, Li Mu became the prime minister of Zhao State, which also proved that his origin had nothing to do with Qin State.
Zhu Xiang was in a gloomy mood. He actually hoped that the genealogy of the Longxi Li family and the Zhaojun Li family was not nonsense, although this genealogy was indeed nonsense.
If Li Mu's grandfather and father were really important officials of the Qin State, Li Mu would have had the possibility to join the Qin State and would not have been killed by the Qin State's alienation plot.
Zhu Xiang looked at the Qin Shi Huang cub who would be hostile to Li Mu in the future.
The mud monkey Qin Shi Huang cub has been washed clean by the snow, changed his clothes, and is now fighting with the potato pancake.
It was a magical scene to see the First Emperor and Zhao general Li Mu sitting at the same table eating potatoes.
Zhu Xiang collected his thoughts, changed the joke, and asked about the affairs of Yanmen County.
Although Li Mu had not yet taken charge of Yanmen County, he was already very familiar with it. Speaking of Yanmen County and the Xiongnu, he finally opened up and talked about the war in the north.
Ying Xiaozheng finished the last bite of potato pancake, tilted his head back, and listened attentively to what Li Mu said about the Huns.
In his small and not very smart head, he barely remembered that the Huns would be a great threat in the future, so he was very interested in what Li Mu said about the Huns.
When Zhu Xiang saw this scene, he picked up Ying Xiaozheng with evil humor and stuffed him into Li Mu's arms.
Li Mu: “Hmm?”
Zhu Xiang said, "My son Zhenger hates the Xiongnu very much. He will wave his fist when he hears the word Xiongnu. General Li, talk to Zhenger more about the Xiongnu. Zhenger will fight the Xiongnu in the future."
Ying Xiaozheng nodded: "Okay, I'll go fight the Huns!"
Li Mu, who was good-tempered, said, "Okay, I'll teach him."
Lian Po picked his teeth and said, "Ah? Do you want to become my disciple? Do you want to have another meal? These potatoes are delicious. Give me the seeds next year and I will have someone plant some."
Li Mu said shyly: "I am not qualified to be a teacher yet."
Lin Zhi started to make a noise: "The wise are the teachers. You are the only one among us who is the best at fighting the Xiongnu. If Zheng'er wants to fight the Xiongnu, he can only worship you as his teacher. Zheng'er, hurry up, hold his arm tightly and call him teacher!"
Ying Xiaozheng looked at Zhu Xiang, and after seeing his uncle nod, he really hugged Li Mu's arm and obediently called Li Mu "Teacher".
Although Li Mu knew he was joking, he was still embarrassed: "I'll teach you, I'll teach you, no need to call me teacher..."
Lin Zhi looked at Li Mu's shy appearance and laughed so hard that he couldn't straighten his back.
Cai Ze shook his head. He thought that the outgoing Mr. Lin would have a new friend. Mr. Lin would definitely not let go of this little General Li who was easy to tease.
This is true.
Afterwards, Li Mu was dragged by Lin Zhi and became a frequent visitor to Zhu Xiang's home.
Li Mu lived in Yanmen County all year round and just came back to study not long ago. He also took over his family's connections in Handan and prepared to inherit Yanmen County. For generals, their garrison was equivalent to their fiefdom.
He was not particular about family background, was very pragmatic, and was willing to get along with talented commoners. Thus, he became the second scholar from a noble family that Zhu Xiang made friends with after Lin Zhi.
Li Mu was not only well-read in military books, but also had a good understanding of people's livelihood, taxation, etc., and had the ability to govern a place.
Through his interactions with Li Mu, Zhu Xiang understood why Li Mu could be easily defeated by a counter-espionage plan.
With Li Mu's talent, he could have made Yanmen County flourish and prosperous, with unity inside and outside. It was understandable that the important officials in the court and the last king of Zhao, who was incompetent at that time, were very afraid of him.
Li Mu's family was in Yanmen County. When Zhu Xiang learned that Li Mu would spend the New Year alone this year, he invited Li Mu to spend the New Year at his home.
He has Xunzi and Cai Ze at home, so he doesn't mind having an extra serving of bowls and chopsticks.
"Teacher, please stay for the New Year." Ying Xiaozheng also grabbed Li Mu's sleeve.
After entering the dream room again, Ying Xiaozheng already knew that Li Mu was a great talent. Although his little head was not very smart after leaving the dream room, the idea of "catching Li Mu" remained in his mind, so Ying Xiaozheng used a very direct way to grab Li Mu's sleeves to catch him.
"Okay." Li Mu thought about it and agreed. He just wanted to learn more about farming from Zhu Xiang.
The most important thing for garrisoning troops is food. The food and salaries of the garrison troops in Yanmen County were all raised by themselves, so the generals who led the troops were in charge of local taxes and officials.
The land in Yanmen County was relatively poor, the temperature was relatively low, and the results of military farming were not ideal. The army had to secretly trade livestock with herdsmen to supplement its rations. Li Mu hoped that Zhu Xiang's knowledge could help increase the production of military farming in Yanmen County.
"Would you like to come to Yanmen County?" Li Mu invited. "Yanmen County does not have as many rules as Handan. If you come to Yanmen County, I can appoint you to an official position!"
You know what, Zhu Xiang was actually a little moved.
In this era, it is safer to hold an official position. Yanmen County is located in a remote area and is freer than in Handan.
However… Zhu Xiang glanced at Ying Xiaozheng who was holding Li Mu's sleeve, sighed, and rejected Li Mu's kindness on the grounds that he was reluctant to leave home: "General Li, when you arrive in Yanmen County, can you help me keep an eye out for the Xiongnu's unique food or wool textile craftsmen?"
Li Mu said: "We are already friends, you can just call me by my name. If you need anything, write to me and I will keep an eye out for you."
Zhu Xiang cupped his hands: "Then I won't be polite."
Ying Xiaozheng tugged at Li Mu's sleeve: "Teacher, are you leaving? Can you not leave?"
Li Mu was very gentle to the child who kept calling him "teacher". He patted Ying Xiaozheng's hat and said, "I have to go fight the Xiongnu and cannot stay here. But I will leave next spring and will not leave now."
Ying Xiaozheng tilted his head and thought about it. Attacking the Huns is not attacking the Qin State, so it doesn't matter
He said, "Then come back quickly after defeating the Huns."
Li Mu smiled and said, "Okay. I'll bring you a pony when I come back. Don't you want to learn how to ride a horse?"
Ying Xiaozheng said happily: "Thank you, teacher!"
Zhu Xiang felt a little jealous when he saw Ying Xiaozheng circling around Li Mu.
Lin Zhi made a joke and asked Zheng'er to call him "teacher", but he didn't expect Li Mu to have such a good temper and actually treated Zheng'er like a disciple.
He never expected that Zheng'er would fall in love with Li Mu at first sight. After meeting Li Mu, he became closer to him than to his uncle, tugging at his sleeve every day and being very clingy.
Thinking of the future hostility between the two, Zhu Xiang couldn't help but feel a headache.
He could only hope that with this relationship, Zheng'er would treat Li Mu's descendants well and make use of them after his death.
He vaguely remembered that Li Mu's grandson, whose name he forgot, was also very capable and had been sought for advice by Han Xin.
In the blink of an eye, the last day of King Nan of Zhou's fifty-third year, 262 BC, had arrived.
Zhu Xiang decorated the house with lights and celebrated the most lively New Year since his parents passed away.
In the evening, Zhu Xiang built a bonfire in the yard and roasted a whole lamb.
Cai Ze and Li Mu were responsible for hanging up the lanterns that had been made in advance; Xue took Ying Xiaozheng to post the couplets; and Xunzi was responsible for writing the couplets.
At that time, there was no tradition of writing couplets. After Zhu Xiang proposed it, Xunzi was very interested in this interesting "New Year game" and took the initiative to take charge of writing couplets.
There are no firecrackers, no fireworks, only the fragrant roasted whole lamb and red lanterns and couplets, and this year is full of the festive atmosphere.
When Ying Xiaozheng received the New Year's money from his uncle and aunt, he smiled so well that his eyes curved into crescents.
"Is this the birthday gift you gave him?" Xun Kuang asked, "I remember his birthday is the second day of the first lunar month?"
"No, this is New Year's money, which means to ward off evil spirits." Zhu Xiang said.
"Is there such a saying?" Xun Kuang thought for a moment, and took out a few coins and put them into the red bag around Ying Xiaozheng's neck, "Here, New Year's money."
Cai Ze also put a few coins into the red bag, but Li Mu took out a small dagger from his sleeve.
"This is more suitable for exorcising evil spirits." Li Mu said, "It has seen blood, so the evil spirits will definitely be afraid of it."
Zhu Xiang was full of questions. Li Mu, are you reliable to exorcise the dagger that killed a child? !
(End of this chapter)