Chapter 589 Drought (1)
As soon as the sun came out, the ground seemed to be on fire, and some gray gas, which seemed like clouds but not objects or objects, floated low in the air, making people feel depressed and panicked.
Seeing the sweat on Yuxi's forehead, Xu Wu said, "Princess, I'll send someone to get some ice from the ice cellar." The ice cellar in the palace is still very big, enough for the entire palace and the Han family to use for a summer.
Yuxi shook her head and said, "I don't know when the heat will dissipate, I have to save the use of ice." Even if we move to Qingzhuyuan, ice cubes should be placed in the house during the day, otherwise the child can't stand the heat, and will die. Crying all the time.
Tan Tuo walked in with beads of sweat on his head, and said, "Princess, this is a booklet from Linzhou City." In Yanzhou and Linzhou, unless the weather is favorable, there will be difficulties in drinking water at other times. However, because of previous preparations, the water cellars built in the two places were full of water, and there has been no news of people dying of thirst for the time being.
Xu Wu brought a bowl of chilled mung bean soup to Tan Tuo from outside. Tan Tuo was not pretentious, he drank it up after taking a few sips, and felt much refreshed after drinking it.
The magistrate of Linzhou wrote in the notebook that several people found a puddle in the wild and brought it back to drink for the livestock at home. As a result, all the livestock died. After reading it, Yuxi's face was a little dignified, and she handed the booklet to Tan Tuo.
Tan Tuo looked at it, and was also a little worried: "Nowadays, water is stored in many places, and the people don't need to drink the water in these puddles for the time being. But if the drought continues like this, they will definitely not be able to resist drinking the water. "It's fine if a few livestock die. I'm afraid that the people will drink the water and lose their lives. Such a big hidden danger must be treated with caution.
Yu Xi thought for a while and called Xu Wu to come in, and said, "Go ask Dr. He to come over, I have something to ask him." It's best to ask the doctor for this kind of matter.
Dr. He came over and heard what Yuxi said: "The mountain spring water is very clean and can be drunk directly. Like the water in a puddle, it contains too many unclean things. People who drink light ones will have abdominal pain, and heavy ones will be thrown away directly. Life."
Yuxi asked: "Then how to solve this problem?" Now in the dry season, no one is willing to give up even the water in the puddle. If people don't drink, they can also be given to livestock. If it doesn't rain again in a few days, I'm afraid people will have to drink the water in the puddle directly.
Dr. He also knew that the current situation was special, so he didn't say not to drink such stupid words. After pondering for a while, he said: "After taking the water back, let it sit for half a day, then use a cloth for two or three times, and then boil it before drinking. It's much smaller."
Yuxi said: "Is there any other better way?" It's too troublesome to do so. If someone sees water when he is dying of thirst, how can he wait so long, he must drink it first.
Dr. He shook his head and said: "Yes, that is to put alum stones in the water, so that you can drink it directly after the water is clean. But this method does not have the first insurance." Alum stones are not cheap, and the amount used a lot of. It is definitely impossible to save in the homes of ordinary people.
Yuxi knew that there would be no better way, so she sighed and said, "I see, you go down!"
Tan Tuo waited for Dr. He to go out and said: "This matter must be let the people know as soon as possible." Otherwise, many people will die.
Yu Xi nodded and said, "You can do this!"
That night, Yunqing came back from Tongguan. Seeing Yun Qing's not-so-good-looking face, Yu Xi knew that the situation at the racecourse must be not good.
Yun Qing said: "over the racecourse, more than 20 horses have died." The weather was so hot that many horses couldn't bear it and fell ill. Fortunately, it was discovered early and the sick horses were separated, otherwise the loss would be even greater.
There are more than 600 horses left in Tong County, all of which are breeding mares and foals. Most of the adult horses were sent to Yucheng, and the rest were distributed to various military camps.
These horses are Yunqing's heart and soul,
Now that the horse is facing the crisis of extinction, he is very distressed.
Before Yuxi could speak, Yunqing said worriedly: "Yuxi, the remaining horses may also be very dangerous. The grass on the grassland is all withered and yellow. I think the military camp has abundant reserves, so I plan to divide some of these horses to the armies." Knowing that there will be a drought, the barracks have stored a large amount of food, beans and other food. It is not a problem to raise twenty or thirty extra horses in each barracks.
Yuxi smiled and said, "This idea is very good."
Yun Qing was a little hesitant because he was afraid that the people below would be embarrassed, but when he heard Yu Xi agreed, he said: "I was worried that it would increase their burden!" Twenty or thirty horses consume a lot of food every day!
Hearing this, Yu Xi said: "You think about your subordinates because you sympathize with them. However, it is not a big deal to have so much food stored in the army to raise twenty or thirty horses. There is nothing to be embarrassed about." Don't say it's just For such a trivial matter, even if it is an excessive request, the generals below can only obey. It's just that Yuxi knows Yunqing's temperament and likes to convince people with reasoning, so she didn't say these words.
Yun Qing thought for a while and said: "The mares and the foals born this year will stay on the racecourse, and the other stallions and older foals will be sent to the barracks." In this way, there are only three horses left on the racecourse. There are more than a hundred horses. There is still some fodder in the horse farm, which should be able to withstand the entire drought.
In Yunqing's imagination, the drought will end by early September at most. If the grain stored in the racecourse only supplies more than 300 horses, it can be eaten until the end of September.
Yuxi shook her head and said, "It's too early to say that." No one knows when the drought will end.
Yun Qing was silent for a while and said: "Yuxi, many people in Henan have already started to eat tree bark and grass roots." So many people will die during a drought, and 99% of them will die of starvation, not thirst. However, the people in the northwest basically have food in their hands, and they all know that the government's grain depot is full of food, so they don't panic.
Yuxi's expression was concentrated, and she said: "It's only been a drought for more than a month, why do ordinary people start eating turf and tree roots?"
Yun Qing let out a long breath and said: "Henan has too much taxation, and it would be nice for many people to save enough food to survive the winter. In the beginning of spring, most of them eat wild vegetables for a living. Now it has been drought for more than a month, and they have already I can't take it anymore."
Yuxi frowned and said, "Now is the time to harvest millet and wheat, so it can't be so difficult, right?" Last year's fields in the northwest were planted with yams, not winter wheat.
Yun Qing shook his head and said: "The production of millet and wheat has been seriously reduced, and it is estimated to be only 20% of the previous year's production. This amount of grain is not even enough for taxation. What is even more hateful is that those government servants are more vicious than bandits. They arrest their wives when they don't have enough food. Girl to arrive."
Yuxi was silent for a while and said: "There is nothing we can do about this matter." If you want to send troops, you must not send them now.
It's just that Yunqing has no ambitions, it's not that he doesn't understand politics. The people in Henan are pitiful, but if there is no preparation in advance by their husband and wife in the Northwest, the people will definitely have a hard time.
Yuxi changed the subject and said: "The one million shi of grain I asked Wu Kuo to buy before has reached the border of Hubei. He Rui, I plan to sell this batch of grain to He Zhizhang."
Yun Qing said: "Are you worried that this batch of grain won't reach the northwest? So you want to sell him to He Zhizhang?"
Yuxi nodded and said: "Hubei has also been severely affected by the disaster this time. I believe that if I sell this batch of grain to He Zhizhang, he will pay a good price." It is tantamount to an idiot to want a million shi of grain to pass through Hubei safely. So Meng, even if he didn't encounter bandits and robbers, even He Zhizhang would not let them go. Rather than being robbed, it is better to make a fortune.
Yun Qing asked, "How much do you plan to sell for one shi?" In the past, one tael of silver could buy three shi of rice, but this time one tael of silver can only buy two shi of rice, and the price has increased by 50%. This is the best price Wu Kuo got from a grain merchant.
Yuxi said: "Two liang of silver is one stone."
Yun Qing was dumbfounded when he heard that, and said, "Isn't this too high?" As soon as it changed hands, the price tripled.
Yuxi smiled and said: "If he dares to make a decision on this batch of food, we will send troops. I think He Zhizhang will obediently give the money." Northwest soldiers are strong and horses are strong, and He Zhizhang will not dare to gamble of.
Yun Qing nodded and said: "Anyway, their money won't be used on the common people, so it's good to let him shed some blood." He Zhizhang is not a good person, so let's kill it!
Seeing that Yunqing was not in a good mood, Yuxi said, "Don't be so sad. Although it has been drought for more than a month, our millet harvest is still good, only a little more than 30% less than last year." Yuxi said the 30% reduction in production More points are those valleys near water sources.
Because of fear of drought, after harvesting the potatoes in March, Yuxi asked all the land near the water source to plant millet. Millet is relatively drought-tolerant, and with the presence of water-absorbing dragons, there is still room for recovery in the event of drought.
Henan and other places only harvested 20-30% of the grain in previous years, but they harvested more than 60%. After such a comparison, Yunqing looked slightly relieved: "The production has only been reduced by more than 30%, which is better than expected."
Yuxi said: "This is all thanks to my cousin, thanks to the water-absorbing dragon he made. Otherwise, the harvest must not be so high."
Yun Qing said: "Then transfer my cousin to pickaxe city to work!" After so long, the experience is enough. Of course, Yun Qing knew in his heart that Yu Xi transferred Jiang Hongfu because he didn't trust him.
Yuxi nodded and said: "After this incident is over, he will be transferred to pick up the city." Such talents must be reused.
After talking about the business for a long time, Yun Qing asked about the family situation: "Ah Hao and his four brothers, are they okay?" The weather was so hot that he almost suffered from heatstroke, let alone the children.
Yu Xi said: "The weather is too hot, I don't eat as much as before, and it hasn't lasted for a while."
Yun Qing said: "Then I'll go and see them." I haven't seen a few of the children in ten days, so I miss them.
Yu Xi said: "I'll go with you." It's too hot in the study room, not as cool as the Green Bamboo Courtyard. Yuxi has figured out when the two children eat, so she will go back to the backyard every morning and afternoon. Tired is a bit tired, but as long as she treats the child well, she has no complaints or regrets. (to be continued)