Chapter 262: Prohibition on Eating Rat
Ganquan Mountain, the site of the ruins of Ganquan Palace.

Over the past three hundred years, although the huge palace complex here was damaged and collapsed, the platforms and walls still remain.

It has long lost its maintenance and care, and the ruins worth excavating have already been handled countless times by villagers and foreigners.

At the highest point of the Black Bear Station Ruins, he held the hot spring card in his hand and thought with a frown.

Based on his understanding of the cards, after using the hot spring card, the hot spring summoned did not appear out of thin air. The water must come from deep underground.

It was due to countless coincidences that a deep underground water vein broke through one obstacle after another and emerged naturally.

Since the pool was cleansed, the chrysanthemum water has dried up; what was cleansed and taken away was a small river where a bamboo raft could be paddled.

Summon it again, and if the river drop and width are reasonable, the boat can be sailed anyway.

The original idea was to use it in the Lantian Valley to connect the tributaries of the Bashui River with the Danshui River, strengthen water transport and shorten land transportation distance.

However, there are various instabilities in Jingzhou. Taking in too many materials will cause most of the people in Jingzhou to "awaken" prematurely.

After all, Liu Qi's family interests are not highly tied to the interests of the people of Jingzhou; just because Liu Qi cooperates with him does not mean that the people of Jingzhou will cooperate with him.

After thinking it over, Black Bear looked at the Qin Straight Road that meandered northward, and then looked at the direction of the surrounding ridges, and really wanted to use it here.

But he also felt that it was a bit of a waste, as he had no shortage of the magical reputation of 'Sweet Springs Gushing from the Mountain'; if he were to set out on an expedition to the Western Regions in the future, this card would be the basis for his legion's rapid advancement.

After the patrol, the black bear returned to the temporary camp.

There is only a simple wooden fence outside here, and the main members of the Grand Sima Shogunate have gathered here.

When Black Bear returned, Xu Lin, whom he appointed as the Iron Smelting Captain, was waiting for him on the roadside with a roll of cowhide map.

The famous iron ore has rich veins and it is not easy to mine it all.

Work has been done to resume iron mining and smelting, and blacksmiths who can forge iron have begun to collect ready-made iron materials and start forging farm tools.

Since the end of the Qin Dynasty and the beginning of the Han Dynasty, there have been four famous iron smelting bases in Guanzhong, one in the east of Yong County, one in Qi County, both in the northwest of Guanzhong; the third is in the north of Xiayang, near Longmen; and the fourth is in Zheng County.

Tongguan has a shipbuilding base, and the salt production is relatively rich and not limited to Hedong.

In the circular military tent, Black Bear flipped open the cowhide map and asked, "Have you decided to focus on mining Xiayang?"

"Yes, Hedong Pi's also has an iron mine, and the two mines face each other across the dragon gate."

Xu Lin explained: "Your Majesty has vigorously promoted shipbuilding. In the future, we will be able to obtain charcoal from Taiyuan and Hedong, which will be convenient for river transportation and will be conducive to transportation. Since Xiayang iron ore is insufficient, we will focus on mining the Pi's mine."

After a pause, Xu Lin said, "What I am concerned about is whether iron smelting and iron forging should be combined."

"Merge them into one place. In the future, most miners will be captives. When you plan and build the camp, separate areas for miners."

Black Bear knew what he was worried about. Blacksmiths are all very strong, and this job is very hard and has a certain monopoly.

If the Iron Smelting Base rebels, a large amount of steel equipment can be quickly obtained from the Iron Forging Base, which will increase the cost of suppressing the rebellion.

Xu Lin is not suitable for commanding troops in battle, and being the captain of the personal guard is not a long-term solution.

After he trained the infantry in Guanzhong, Hei Xiong transferred him to be in charge of the iron industry.

Although these people are somewhat lacking in talent, they can still gather a group of people.

"I only want steel production. You need to motivate the craftsmen. I will reward those who can improve the process and increase production and quality."

"When the spring ploughing is over, I will select capable personnel from various 100-household units to go to Xiayang to support you. You will be able to do everything. You must show results quickly. If you can't do it, I will replace you in advance."

"Don't worry, Your Majesty. By early April at the latest, we will be able to produce 10,000 kilograms of crude iron per day."

"Well, I will come to Xiayang to see you in mid-April. When you leave, go to the West Camp of Mount Li and bring the captives and surrendered soldiers such as Lu Chang and Yan Xing to Xiayang."

After Black Bear finished speaking, he took out official documents that had already been written. One was an order to mobilize the prisoners, and the other was an order to the hundred households along the way to send troops to escort them.

The hardest job in Guanzhong now is iron mining in Xiayang, and prisoners are given priority to do this kind of work.

As for the logging work vacated by Yan Xing and Lu Chang, it will be transferred from the nearby hundred-household units.

There is no need to cut down trees too quickly. Only by cutting down trees and planting trees at the same time can the forest be sustained for a long time.

After watching Xu Lin leave, Black Bear opened the wooden box he carried with him, found the technical category, took out the note inside and read it through. He found "coal coking", picked up a pen and wrote the six words "mid-April Xia Yang" on it.

Coal coking is similar to the technique of charcoal burning, and also like brick burning, which is taught in the nine-year compulsory education.

As soon as Xu Lin left, the chief clerk Yang Fu came over with a tray of official documents: "Your Majesty, the spring ploughing season is approaching, and many students at Chang'an University have asked to resign. Wang Zhongxuan has sent a letter to ask about this."

Black Bear saw that the first document on the wooden tray was in Wang Can's handwriting. He picked it up and read it, and couldn't help frowning.

Wang Can wanted to conduct an examination. Those young students who passed the examination would stay, have their food standards improved, and be given fifty coins per month. Those who failed the examination would be dismissed all at once, and after the busy farming season was over, they would be allowed to come back to attend lectures, but their free meals would be stopped unless they performed half a day of voluntary labor every day.

"What he said makes sense, but this is my rice and my money."

Black Bear took out Wang Can's bamboo slips, which were only five pieces woven together, and threw them into the charcoal brazier beside him.

Yang Fu looked at the burning flames with a look of pity on his face.

If this thing was thrown to the poor teenagers in Chang'an University, Wang Can would probably be beaten unconscious.

Black Bear flipped through other official documents and immediately gave his suggestions on how to deal with the blank spaces in the original documents.

Yang Fu knelt upright beside them, observing with squinting eyes; the shortest official document was only two bamboo slips, one of which contained the official position and identity of the other party, and the other contained the content. Some official documents were so simple that Yang Fu found them a little ridiculous, such as a centurion who caught a few rabbits while hunting and asked what to do with black bears.

Some centurions found some nice stones and wanted to send them to Black Bear. However, it was forbidden to travel between counties without reason, so they wanted a pass.

Without transfer orders from the county level, the only people who could communicate normally were the postal couriers and officials on official business.

In addition to these trivial matters, some centurions who lack cultural knowledge and are eager to show off will actively match the marriages of men and women under their jurisdiction, and report to Black Bear every time a couple gets married; sometimes when cattle and horses give birth to calves, they will also report the good news to Black Bear.

For this kind of thing, Black Bear would also reply with a few words, such as "good thing" or "known".

There is nothing to be annoyed about. The only thing that annoys me is that it is inconvenient to read the bamboo slips. However, it will be next year or the year after next before paper is widely used in Guanzhong.

The shogunate's organization became more and more complete, and all official documents handled daily had to be implemented.

With so many people watching, they naturally knew how the grassroots residents interacted and chatted with the black bears.

These centurions can write official documents for a rabbit. If they hear some rumors, do you think they will be written in the official documents?
It took Black Bear more than two hours to finish processing the documents accumulated today.

He just held up three official documents and shook them: "Yishan, take a look."

"Yes."

Yang Fu took over and observed that all three documents were about mice. One centurion hoped to organize children to dig out bird nests, mice and rabbit holes; among the other two centurions, one asked whether the people below should be prohibited from eating mice, and another asked how mice should be eaten to make them taste better.

Yang Fu didn't find it strange. It was normal for mice to steal food and for people to catch mice and eat their meat.

If you collect enough rat skins and sew them together, you can also make a warm leather jacket.

"Since the establishment of the shogunate, we have successively issued the "Land Management Order" and the "Encouragement of Agriculture and Sericulture". Now I am going to issue the third order, called the "Rat Prohibition Order."

While Black Bear was talking, Yang Fu stood up and took out a piece of blue silk. Black Bear spread it out and wrote with a goose feather: Rats are filthy, they should be killed and buried, not skinned and eaten. Throwing rats into a well is the same as poisoning.

Now that the weather is getting warmer, the range of activities of the migrating population has greatly expanded, and the frequency of encounters with wild mice has increased significantly.

The phenomenon of catching mice and eating them is becoming more and more common.

After writing was completed, Black Bear took out the "Seal of the Grand Sima of Han" and stamped it. Yang Fu took it and went to find the Chief Clerk Cui Zhouping, and then to the Clerk Zhang Chang. Clerk Zhang Chang drafted and copied several copies of the order. After Cui Zhouping, Yang Fu and Zhang Chang each used their seals, these copied orders would be sent to various counties and the Sanfu Duwei Mansion, and then they would be announced downwards.

Theoretically speaking, Anding County and Tianshui County are currently within the scope of the announcement; due to travel cost considerations, after Tianshui County receives the announcement, it will spread to Longxi County, and Longxi County will then spread to Wudu and Jincheng County, and so on, until it reaches the theoretical four Hexi counties.

In order to enhance the influence of the shogunate over the four counties of Hexi, after layers of recommendation, conscription orders have been sent to some famous people in the four counties of Hexi.

These conscription orders were also spread westward layer by layer. After the local counties were notified, if the other party was willing to respond to the conscription, they would organize buses to send the party to Guanzhong to take up the post.

At this critical juncture, the dead Huns have not yet completely rotted, and Black Bear's conscription order is still very deterrent.

After Fu Gan of Xicao took office, the work of conscription became his responsibility.

To recruit is to recruit, to appoint is to appoint, and Black Bear will give his opinion only when appointing.

However, up to now, the Tosho of the shogunate is still vacant.

Chang'an, university town.

The two sisters Cai Zhaoji were wielding hoes and loosening the soil in the small flower bed.

While resting under the wooden shed, Cai Mu came quickly with a scroll of silk book: "Zhao Ji, Chen Jun has replied."

Cai Zhaoji and her sister stood up. Cai Zhenji opened a wooden bowl and poured tea for Cai Mu, while Cai Zhaoji picked up the letter from Chen Jun, which was a letter from Yuan Huan.

Cai Mu smiled, and before Cai Zhaoji even looked at it, she knew that her cousin Yuan Huan had given a positive response.

After reading it, I found that Yuan Huan agreed to come to Guanzhong.

Cai Zhaoji frowned and said, "Uncle, will Cao Mengde let people go so easily?"

“They should be allowed to go.”

Cai Mu hesitated, and when he saw Cai Zhaoji looking at him, he explained, "Chief Clerk Chen Zhen has already set off. Before he returns, the Grand Marshal will not be able to mobilize troops. This is Cao Mengde's chance to capture Liyang. To prevent any accidents... If you agree to this, we can conduct an in-depth investigation."

Normally speaking, when Chen Zhen went to the imperial court to thank the emperor and offer him gifts, the probability of Black Bear sending troops during this period was very low.

But what if?
Agree to let Yuan Huan come to Guanzhong and bring more entourage with him. If the situation is not right, these entourage can retreat quickly and provide early warning to Cao Cao.

Seeing Cai Mu's explanation, Cai Zhaoji just smiled and said, "After all, my uncle doesn't understand Cao Mengde, nor does he understand my cousin. My cousin came to Guanzhong for Zhenji's marriage. Even if Cao Mengde had ten guts, he wouldn't dare to hinder or block us at this moment!"

If he dares to obstruct, it will give Black Bear a reason to send troops!
It was with great difficulty that Guanzhong was temporarily stabilized and superficial peace was maintained by using the titles of Grand Marshal and Marquis of Liang. How could Cao Cao dare to destroy it easily?
Cai Mu was speechless for a moment, but after thinking about it, he felt that what Cai Zhaoji said made more sense.

He thought for a moment and said, "So, the battle of Liyang could break out at any time?"

"Yes, now it depends on Yuan Shang's courage."

Cai Zhaoji took a sip of tea and said, "According to what I heard, the Marquis of Liang and Hebei have an agreement, and the content of the agreement is the Shangshu Xingtai. Hebei failed to invite the Shangshu Xingtai for the Marquis of Liang, so the Marquis of Liang will not make any effort for the gains and losses of Liyang. In my opinion, the envoy from Hebei will arrive soon."

Cai Mu frowned: "Zhao Ji, are you talking about the Shang Shu Xing Tai? If so, will it endanger Yuan Yao Qing's safety?"

"No, Cao Mengde is not the only one in power now, so he won't do anything extreme."

Cai Zhaoji said this while serving herself a sip of tea. Seeing her sister sitting there in silence and being withdrawn, she couldn't help but feel sad and worried.

(End of this chapter)