Yuan Xi directed his soldiers to harness donkeys to the stone mill. With the crack of the whip, the donkeys began to move, pulling the millstone in a circle.
Others were already throwing the unhusked wheat kernels into the millstone's opening. The wheat had only been drying for half a day and wasn't fully dried, but the people couldn't wait any longer.
How long had it been since they last ate wheat cakes?
Yuan Xi knew that grinding the unhusked wheat whole would result in a coarse texture, far from the refined flour of later generations.
But this was the best thing the people could eat right now.
Going without a full meal for too long could truly drive a person mad, just like the Yellow Turban Rebellion a few years ago.
In reality, the common people were easily satisfied. Who would want to rebel as long as they had food to eat and could survive?
Therefore, Yuan Xi did not stop their almost frantic squandering of the wheat; on the contrary, he was happy to see it.
If they didn't vent, people might really go crazy.
To hell with storing grain for a rainy day! Who knew if they would even live to see next spring?
He raised his hand and shouted, "Eat your fill today!"
This sentence immediately ignited the thousands of soldiers and civilians present, and they roared together, "Eat our fill today!"
"Eat our fill!"
Suddenly, someone shouted, "Lord Yuan is virtuous!"
The crowd paused, then followed suit, shouting.
"Lord Yuan is virtuous!"
"Virtuous!"
The immense shouts spread out, brushed over the wheat fields, crossed the great river, and echoed through the mountains, lingering for a long time.
Zhao Yun was leading dozens of his men on patrol along the riverbank, guarding against enemy surprise attacks.
The news of Liu Bao's death and the destruction of the Xiongnu tribe a few days ago would have already reached Bing Province. The Southern Xiongnu might seek revenge.
After all, the world was in chaos, and the Protector of the Xiongnu in Bing Province was a mere figurehead. The various warlords were fighting their own battles, and the foreign tribes on the border were watching with predatory eyes.
The shouts reached them. Zhao Yun's men smiled and said, "This new lord we've joined is quite interesting."
Zhao Yun nodded. He had joined Yuan Xi for several days and had some understanding of the situation in Beixin City.
When it came to winning hearts, Yuan Xi treated his subordinates and soldiers well, providing them with complete armor and sufficient rations.
But he also cared for the common people in the city, whom other lords considered insignificant, providing them with a minimum amount of food every day.
Although it was just rice bran and wild vegetables, it was much better than starving to death.
Moreover, Zhao Yun was surprised that the thousands of acres of wheat fields outside the city did not belong to any landlords or farmers but were directly managed by Beixin City.
The common people in the city were assigned to take turns doing farm work, receiving extra grain and rewards for a day's labor.
Zhao Yun couldn't understand how this could gain the support of the gentry, or how the people would be motivated to farm.
He knew that official positions and land were the most effective means for various forces to win over powerful gentry families. Without land or positions, why would the aristocratic clans risk their lives?
He had asked Yuan Xi about this the other day, and Yuan Xi had replied, "Nothing in this world is perfect."
"What you're talking about is what my father is doing, so the gentry of Ji Province have all submitted and attached themselves to him."
"But I can't do that."
"Firstly, I don't have that much land to give them. Secondly, those gentry will never be satisfied and will eventually start fighting among themselves."
"That's why I came to You Province, where there are few gentry, to recruit commoners and see if another path can be taken."
Yuan Xi's current choice was very similar to Cao Cao's, but with some differences.
Yuan Xi didn't think his method was the most suitable, and it might not even be much better than Cao Cao's military agricultural colonies.
But in this place of war and danger, where people could starve to death at any time, it was the most feasible expedient he could think of.
Zhao Yun raised his head and looked at the sky. He had been hesitant for the past few years, feeling that every step he took was wrong.
Gongsun Zan, whom he had joined, was cruel, bloodthirsty, and did not care for the common people.
In Zhao Yun's heart, the suitable lord was first Liu Yu, and then Liu Bei. But Liu Yu was too benevolent, which led to his defeat and death. In this chaotic world, he was obviously not a qualified lord.
And Liu Bei made Zhao Yun very hesitant. Although Liu Bei was very kind to him, he was obviously closer to Guan Yu and Zhang Fei, which made Zhao Yun feel somewhat out of place among the three of them.
Moreover, Zhao Yun still didn't know what Liu Bei wanted to do.
Zhao Yun listened to the cheers coming from his ears, wondering if he had made the right choice this time.
Just then, Sun Li rode over and called out, "General Zhao, the young master has invited you to eat!"
The pot lid was lifted, and the steaming wheat kernels and wild vegetables were scooped into wooden bowls.
The unhusked wheat kernels were not very sweet; on the contrary, they had a slightly astringent taste that made your mouth feel rough, and you had to chew them many times before you could swallow them.
However, the moment the wheat rice entered their mouths, happy smiles bloomed on people's faces like flowers.
Many people couldn't help but cry loudly, their tears falling into the bowls, adding a richer flavor to the wheat rice.
For a whole year, they had endured hunger and defended the city with their lives, finally surviving and eating the grain they had grown themselves!
Yuan Xi silently felt the joy of the people present, deeply feeling that the farmers were really not easy.
From sowing the seeds to harvesting, it took at least half a year. During this period, locust plagues, natural disasters, wars, and diseases could turn all these efforts into nothing in an instant.
However, in such adversity and chaos, his ancestors had worked hard to pass on life and an indomitable spirit from generation to generation, leaving behind the spark and hope for future generations.
Yuan Xi hoped that the joy of this Beixin City could be shared by more people in the near future.
Zhao Yun looked at this scene, thinking that this was what Yuan Xi wanted him to see, wasn't it?
What is the Han Dynasty?
He seemed to have realized something.
The wheat outside Beixin City took five full days to harvest.
After deducting what was eaten and lost, Yuan Xi weighed what was brought back to the city and discovered that he had harvested a full ten thousand shi of grain!
If they ate sparingly, mixed with coarse grains and wild vegetables, it would be enough for the ten thousand people of Beixin City to get through this winter!
This was exchanged for two bloody battles outside the city. If they had lost in the battles with the Xiongnu and Gongsun Zan's army, the grain would have been destroyed and plundered by the enemy.
Watching the last bag of grain enter the warehouse, Yuan Xi finally felt relieved. This was the biggest harvest of the year, and he had finally taken it into his possession. Compared to the treasures and fine clothes plundered from the Xiongnu, the grain made him feel more satisfied.
However, there was also something that made him depressed.
Yuan Xi slapped Sun Li's head hard and scolded, "You brat, you've already found a wife!"
"I'm not even married yet, and you've beaten me to it!"
Sun Li touched his head and grinned. "My old mother always said she was worried that something would happen to me in the war, so I left her with a big fat son early. I can be considered to have fulfilled my filial duty to her!"
"Lord Yuan, you are generous. Don't you often say that you will definitely bring a stunning lady back to Ye City this time?"
Wu Zhao, who was nearby, became curious. What stunning lady?
Yuan Xi waved his hand when he heard this. "You little brat, what do you know about stunning? That woman wasn't forced by you, was she? Is she old enough?"
Sun Li cried out in grievance, "How is that possible!"
"That girl was rescued by us from the hands of the Xiongnu. I met her by the river, and she took the initiative to show her favor to me. She's a few months older than me!"
"Sister Wu Zhao was there at the time. She can prove it!"
Wu Zhao nodded helplessly when she heard this, thinking that he was pulling her out to take the blame at this time. Wasn't he saying that ugly people do strange things?
Yuan Xi sighed when he heard this. "You brat is really slick. Go find Mr. Dong and get a note, and go get three shi of rice, two bolts of silk, and five catties of meat. Consider it my wedding gift to you."
"Get out of here!"
Sun Li was overjoyed and thanked Yuan Xi repeatedly before running away in a puff of smoke.
Yuan Xi was a little unbalanced. His little brother was married, but he was still a bachelor!
He had been thinking about how to survive every day for three years since he transmigrated. As a dignified son of a noble family, he had never touched a woman. This was because women in this world married very early, and most of the maids were very young. How could Yuan Xi bring himself to do it?
Did he really want to find a widow?
Wu Zhao said softly, "Is the young master getting married?"
When Yuan Xi thought of Zhen Ji, he began to talk excitedly, "My unmarried wife is rumored to be very beautiful..."
Wu Zhao looked at Yuan Xi's happy appearance and felt unusually complicated for some reason.
Yuan Xi's good mood did not last long.
Because several bad news arrived one after another.