Chapter 189: Food Stamps Appear
"Each county in Yangzhou will temporarily recruit 2,000 militiamen to maintain security."

"All other main armies and county troops will join the battle!"

"Today is November 15th."

"Then let's set the gathering time as November 25th."

"The soldiers of Guangling County will not move for the time being."

Jin Mao gave an order: "I will personally go to Guangling County to deal with the affairs, and then make other arrangements."

The next day.

Wu Jun Cheng Yu Fan came to report.

Jin Mao was very happy to see his good friend whom he hadn't seen for a long time, and he started a banquet at noon.

This was considered the last banquet before the expedition, and almost everyone who was still in Jianye County came to attend.

Yu Fan was so moved that tears streamed down his face. His lord had not forgotten him.

Since there was only meat and no wine, the banquet ended early.

Meeting hall.

Jin Mao, Yu Fan, Zhou Yu, Xi Zhicai, Xun You, He Qi, Dong Xi, Gong Lei, He Wei and others were on the left and right.

Shengxian Wang Lang has been captured, and all the nobles and powerful people in Wujun who participated in the rebellion have been killed. This place will become the rear base.

It is worth mentioning that both Lu Kang and Gu Yong not only turned a blind eye to the short-sighted members of the family, but also wrote letters to Jin Mao.

He apologized to Jinmao, saying that those people brought it upon themselves, but hoped that Jinmao would not pursue other innocent members of the tribe.

In response to this, Jinmao issued a special announcement to inform the entire Yangzhou.

"From now on, I will govern according to the law, reduce sentencing, and will not easily exterminate an entire clan unless they are extremely evil."

At that time, when the surviving aristocratic families in Yangzhou saw this manifesto, they couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief.

Of course, Jinmao was not so tolerant of the nobles and powerful people outside his jurisdiction. Just like before, he wanted to uproot them and completely eliminate them.

Back to the topic.

The main content of the meeting convened by Jinmao this time was to adjust the duties of each county.

All participants are core members of the Jinmao team. Others who are not present can be informed of the meeting content and decisions through official documents.

First, Yu Fan took the lead in giving a detailed account of the experience summary and achievements of Wujun and Qu'a County.

Qu'a County produces nearly 1,000 tons of iron every year. Due to the large number of people engaged in iron smelting, the grain output is insufficient, with less than 5,000 shi deposited into the warehouse each year, and support from other counties is needed.

"These are all minor issues." Jin Mao said, "Zhong Xiang has done a great job. In the future, we will not only open up the public warehouse, but also mobilize grain and grass from several nearby counties."

"Iron production is the top priority and should be ranked before all other tasks!"

"We must not be careless at all." Jin Mao changed the subject: "However, there is still room for improvement."

"Every blacksmith and apprentice must receive a higher salary. Whether it is grain from the public warehouse in Qu'a County or grain from other counties, they can all be freely traded and purchased by the people."

This is Jinmao's attempt at a commercial prototype. Qu'a County has already begun to take on an industrial scale and the scope of workshop operations can be expanded in the future.

The task of making agricultural tools in various counties was centralized, and the assembly line operation model passed down from the Qin Dynasty was used to improve efficiency and quality.

In the long run, industry will be able to develop, and business will no longer be limited to the traveling trade model of the powerful and wealthy, but will go further into the traditional distribution model.

Jinmao did not mention these things.

As the saying goes, eat one bite at a time and walk one step at a time.

Increase production first, then improve quality!
Facing Jin Mao's statement, Yu Fan instinctively frowned and asked, "What should we do if someone maliciously raises the price of grain?"

"Cut them down." Jin Mao said calmly, "Exterminate the three tribes."

Everyone gasped, this was the lord they were familiar with!
Since everyone was not very familiar with economics, Jinmao used his limited knowledge and experience to give a simple lesson to everyone present.

"Qu'a County will conduct a pilot trial first, and the rest of the counties will remain unchanged."

“Whether this model is suitable or not can be tested through practice.”

"We can provide two salary models for all workshop personnel, from officials to coolies. One is to directly distribute food, and the other is to issue food coupons."

"Direct distribution of grain will still be carried out according to the previous system. Those who take grain coupons can get an extra half of the amount. Let's try it for a year."

Jin Mao gave an example: "A senior blacksmith's monthly salary is 30 hu of rice. If he uses food coupons, he can get 31 and a half hu of food!"

"You can get the same amount of food as the amount written on the food coupon!"

As soon as these words were spoken, the crowd below was in an uproar.

The uneducated or shallowly educated generals were filled with panic, feeling that the world was about to change drastically and it was too scary.

The four counselors who were all good at mathematics did not react so strongly. They all frowned and pondered the deeper meaning of it.

Jinmao didn't have any deep meaning. He was just copying the experience of later generations. He didn't know what specific impact it would have.

Therefore, no one dared to mention paper currency, nor did they dare to implement it in a comprehensive manner. They only dared to say that they would try it in one place to see the reaction and results first.

After a while, Zhou Yu took the lead in raising an objection: "My Lord, if someone counterfeits food coupons, how can we prevent them? And how should we punish them?"

indeed!

Forgery is not new at all. Even imperial edicts can be fake, so forging food coupons is not surprising.

Jin Mao first stated the conclusion: "Forging food stamps is an unforgivable crime, and the entire clan will be exterminated!"

"As for the counterfeiting, what are your opinions?"

Zhou Yu was able to raise this issue, so he naturally thought of a solution: "I propose that everyone who receives food coupons be registered."

"It is stipulated that each food coupon can only be collected by a relative."

"That way, even if someone copies it, we can find the person responsible as quickly as possible."

This is one way, but it sounds quite troublesome and not conducive to promotion.

Jin Mao felt that many people would oppose this method, and said, "Not appropriate! If the people resist the food stamps, then my efforts would be in vain, right?"

Everyone thought it made sense. Who would be willing to risk the lives of the three Yi tribes just to get an extra half of the harvest?

Only a few people think that this is completely unnecessary.

He Wei was one of them. He stepped out and said, "My Lord, please relax. The people will definitely welcome this system."

Seeing He Wei, Jin Mao smiled and said, "Xiao Rong, if you have any good ideas, just say them out."

He Wei bowed and saluted, then said: "My lord, you have never experienced hard times, so you don't know what it feels like to be hungry."

"People struggle every day for a bite to eat, so how can they resist a good policy that can provide more food?"

He Wei bowed to everyone and said, "You are all from high-class families and have never experienced hardships, so naturally you don't understand the people's voice."

He Wei bowed to Jin Mao again and said, "My lord is wise and brave. The number of people in Yangzhou who died of starvation is much lower than in other states, but it is not uncommon."

"There are only a few craftsmen, let alone senior craftsmen. The income of ordinary people is not very high, and those who have work can only make a living."

“Those who have no work…”

He Wei didn't say anything else, but his meaning was very clear, especially now that there are so many refugees and Jinmao will not send people to count how many people die every year.

This led Jinmao to mistakenly believe that the population loss in Yangzhou was all due to war.

At this time, what He Wei said made Jinmao realize the seriousness of the problem.

The armies fighting a war suffer non-combat casualties, but don’t the civilians suffer the same?

A stomach upset, a minor illness, or some simple problem could cost them their lives.

When eating is a problem, how can I have the time to think about these things?

"Alas." Jin Mao sighed deeply. It seemed that in the past two years, the higher his position, the less he cared about the people's livelihood. Yes, it had been a long time since he had come into contact with those poorly clothed people. Seeing that the people in the county town lived a comfortable life, he mistakenly thought that all the people in the world were the same.

"Xiao Rong is a great talent!"

Jin Mao sighed and ordered: "From now on, you are not allowed to hide the people's affairs from me. Whether it is good or bad, I want to know!"

"Xiaorong, I'll leave this matter to you. From now on, Qu'a County will be under your jurisdiction. You must give me a true record of the people every year."

"If anyone dares to embarrass you, just tell me." Jin Mao's face was full of murderous intent: "No matter who it is! I will kill him!"

"Even my relatives are no exception!"

Everyone was solemn, and there was something else in the way they looked at He Wei.

This was He Wei's chance to speak directly to Jin Mao.
"Yes!" He Wei was very excited. He knew what he wanted to do in his life.

The food stamp plan was finalized. Jinmao thought that since it was only in Qu'a County, even if there was a problem, it probably wouldn't be that serious.

What follows is the main focus of this meeting.

"I intend to appoint Yu Fan, Yu Zhongxiang, as the governor of Guangling County."

As the first person to seek refuge, Jin Mao had a special feeling for the family. Xi Zhicai had become the son-in-law of the Jin family, and Yu Fan was diligent and hardworking, so he should have a good result.

Yu Fan was very excited to become the first governor under Jin Mao. He stepped out of the line and bowed, saying, "Yu Fan will not decline even if he dies!"

"Zhongxiang, don't be happy too soon."

Jin Mao smiled and said, "You are not going to Guangling County to have fun, but I have an important mission for you."

Yu Fan stood up and said, "No matter how many hardships I have to endure, I am willing to cut through the thorns for the Lord."

Although I am very satisfied with Yu Fan's attitude, things still need to be made clear.

"This time, Zhang Chao of Guangling County is just a clown. I am mainly worried about the defense of the Huaihe River area in the future."

"The navy of Jingzhou is strong. I intend to recruit Huang Gai, Guan Yu, Zhang Fei, Zhou Tai, and Jiang Qin."

"As long as the Jingzhou navy is defeated, this trip to Jingzhou will be a smooth journey!"

You can attack when you advance or defend when you retreat. As long as you have the initiative in your hands, you will be invincible.

Therefore, Jinmao does not mind investing all its high-end combat power to win the battle in one go.

"As a result, Guangling County's defense becomes empty."

Jin Mao said earnestly: "In the past, Qu'a County was my core, but now Guangling County is it!"

"Nothing can be lost here!"

There are two counties in Guangling County that produce iron, and if they run at full capacity the annual output can reach 3,000 tons!
By then, many things can be carried out and industrial plans can be put on the agenda, instead of being like Qu'a County, which can only produce agricultural tools.

There was no way around it. Just like the people were not getting enough to eat, iron farm tools were a rare commodity.

In the past, the better pavilions might have four or five pieces each, but the inferior ones would have none at all!

The way people farm can really be described as digging the ground, that is, they dig with their hands, chisel with wooden sticks, and forcibly plant the land.

The situation has improved a lot now. At least every village in Yangzhou can have iron farm tools. In places with fertile land, even young and strong people can own one.

This is also the secret to Yangzhou's high yields in recent years.

There were various reasons why farming efficiency was low in ancient times. As long as the cultivation was meticulous and fertilizers were used properly, the yield per mu could be doubled, not to mention reaching the level of later generations.

For example, if the rice with the highest yield is planted very well, you can harvest 300 kilograms. If it is not planted well, the yield depends on luck, and the average yield per mu is only about 150 kilograms.

Here in Yangzhou, after Jinmao's transformation and strengthening, the average yield of early rice per mu is now 180 jin (3 shi), and the average yield of late rice per mu is 300 jin (5 shi).

Of course, the land needs to be left fallow for one year between two years of planting, which is much better than going out!

If the situation is ideal, Jinmao estimates that the per-acre yield of early and late rice will double or even more.

But that is difficult. The loss of fertility in the soil is a huge problem. Human fertilizer is definitely not enough, and the animal husbandry industry needs to develop to a certain level.

But how can we raise livestock if people can’t even get enough to eat?
This is another arduous and long task.

Focus on the present.

Guangling County had heavy iron production and defense tasks, and Yu Fan was well aware of this and did not take it lightly.

"My lord, I only need a brave general to lead two thousand elite soldiers to defend Guangling County."

Yu Fan thought that this formation was definitely enough to deal with some petty thieves.

This is true, but future enemies will no longer be petty thieves.

"Zhong Xiang, the world is in chaos right now, and we have to guard against more than just bandits."

Jin Mao said earnestly: "The Guangling County Governor Zhang Chao whom I want to deal with this time is just a toothless tiger."

"What you will face in the future are real tigers and vicious dogs!"

"They are disloyal, vicious and cruel. They are just like the governors and provincial governors in the surrounding counties!"

Yu Fan was extremely shocked: "Has the situation gotten so bad?"

Jin Mao nodded and said, "It's even better than that."

"Dong Zhuo's government was in chaos, and various princes raised their armies to attack him. Not long ago, Changsha County Governor Sun Jian invited me."

Jin Mao sighed: "Actually, I am one of them."

Yu Fan rarely said, "Even if the lord is one of the princes, he is the most merciful one!"

"Yu Zhongxiang is right!" Xi Zhicai was the first to agree: "My lord is benevolent and righteous, and is the most merciful lord in the world!"

"My lord, please be merciful!" everyone bowed together.

"Haha!" Jin Mao laughed and said happily: "With your support, there is no need to worry about the success of our great cause!"

"in this way!"

"Yu Zhongxiang, listen to my orders!"

"I'm here!" Yu Fan bowed.

"I order you to be the governor of Guangling County, and send you an additional battalion of main forces and 3,000 elite soldiers. As for the selection of the chief general."

"My lord, I will finally go there!"

"The general will go where he wishes!"

The generals were unwilling to be outdone and all scrambled for this task.

At this moment, a loud roar came from behind, which scared Jin Mao.

Dian Wei: "I am willing to go!"

Jin Mao turned around, jumped up, and slapped Dian Wei on the head.

"Why are you joining in the fun?"

"Do you know how to march and fight, and deploy troops?"

"Do you know how to communicate with the soldiers?"

Jin Mao said angrily: "You are so big now, protect me well! Follow my example!"

“This is a position that many people dream of!”

"You are such a fool and you want to lead the troops!"

Dian Wei just smiled foolishly and nodded continuously.

(End of this chapter)