Spring is here, the snow has melted, and the ground has begun to freeze.

The gurgling water flows down from the mountains in Xizhou and merges into the Tao River.

Wang Daxu wore a warm folded axe, mink sleeves, and a scarf. He held the favorite heavy ax of the Imperial Army of the Song Dynasty in his hand, carried a bow and arrow on his back, and walked on the land that belonged to him.

Along this ancient river, there are a total of four hundred acres of land that belongs to him.

One hundred acres of it were cultivated by Qiang people last year.

The remaining 300 acres were due to his capture, or to be precise, of taking over Nido Baozhong, the general of the Western Bandits, and rewarded him to the commander after he achieved military exploits.

Except for these three hundred acres of land.

He also recommended him to the commander and the newly arrived magistrate of Xizhou.

Therefore, Wang Daxu now has an official status as a third-class official.

He went from a low-ranking young general to a top-ranking military minister!

There was even a "Xizhou Didao Zuo Inspection" dispatched.

Under his command, there are more than two hundred Han and Tibetan archers at his disposal. Now when others see him, they all have to call him "Wang Inspector".

If he were a herdsman from the Qiang tribe who didn't know the system of the Song Dynasty, he would even lie down on the ground and compliment him: "Wang Taiwei."

Of course, his boss, the former commander of the Tianwu Army, Xiang Zongji, was also promoted.

The military minister rank has been promoted from the right servant of the ninth rank to four levels in a row, and has climbed to the top of the junior envoy - the Dongtou enshrinement officer.

Above the envoys, there are the chief and deputy envoys of various departments, commonly known as the ambassadorial rank.

Moreover, he is still Wang Daxu’s immediate boss, and is newly assigned as: Quanxizhou Didaodu Inspection Envoy!

The main task is to command the Han and Tibetan archers inside and outside Didao in Xizhou, protect the safety of Didao, and protect pilgrims of all ethnic groups going to Zisheng Temple on Mobang Mountain.

And provide some paid services to these pilgrims.

Such as accommodation, food, drinking water, etc.

Wang Daxu walked on the land that had been cultivated and planted with kapok seeds.

His mood was extremely happy.

He seemed to have seen that this summer, the place was full of kapok and blooming.

I also saw the harvest scene in autumn!

Unfortunately, the kapok seeds given to him by Xiang Zongji were only enough to plant a hundred acres.

There are three hundred acres of land left, which will be cultivated this year. We can only plant some beans and millet first.

The soil in Xizhou is poor and the yield is not expected to be much high.

But, just think about it, these four hundred acres of land belong to him.

And it can be passed on to future generations. Wang Daxu was so happy that he couldn't close his mouth.

After looking at the most precious kapok field, Wang Daxu called the village head over.

"Guo Zhuangtou..."

"It's very hard for you to take care of these kapok fields!"

"When the cotton is harvested, I will not treat you badly!"

Zhuangtou was a middle-aged man in his thirties. He was a man who had grown kapok and was found by Wang Daxu through his connections with Zongji.

In order to hire him, Wang Daxu spent a lot of money.

A month's wages are three copper coins, and food and accommodation are also included.

Even in Bianjing City, this price is high.

In a place like Xizhou, the price is sky-high.

Here in Xizhou, if a Qiang people are willing to provide food, accommodation and five hundred iron coins, those Qiang people will be happy.

In exchange for copper coins, it might not even cost a hundred cents.

But there is no way!

There is a shortage of people who can take care of kapok in the entire Xihe Road!

It would be great if you can hire someone!

Moreover, the farm head hired was indeed dedicated.

Since the kapok was sown, he has led the Qiang people to do all the watering, fertilizing and composting.

Wang Daxu saw this and knew that his money was not in vain.

"Don't worry, Boss, I will take care of these kapok fields carefully..." Guo Zhuangtou said with a smile: "Even for other fields, Boss, you have to pay more attention to them!"

"We must hurry up and clear the land, don't miss the farming work..."

"Yeah!" Wang Daxu nodded: "I understand!"

He is in Bianjing, but he has been tending vegetables in the vegetable fields with his parents since he was a child, so he has certain agricultural knowledge.

Therefore, he also planned dozens of acres of vegetable land.

When the time comes, you can grow some seasonal vegetables and sell them for some money.

In other areas, beans, millet and other crops that do not require much soil are grown.

Next year, in reverse order, plant beans in the ground planted with kapok this year, plant kapok in the ground planted with beans, and plant vegetables in the ground planted with millet...

Repeating this cycle, plus composting and fertilizing, can maximize soil fertility.

Then he took Guo Zhuangtou to the wasteland being reclaimed.

A dozen Qiang people were cultivating the land with tools such as iron hoes and shovels bought by Wang Daxu.

Seeing Wang Dashu coming, these Qiang people quickly stopped what they were doing and knelt down to kowtow to him.

Wang Daxu waved his hand hurriedly and said in half-baked Qiang dialect: "I, the Song Dynasty, are not happy to kneel down and worship... You all should get up... work hard, I will not treat you badly!"

As a native of Bianjing, Wang Daxu has been familiar with the rules of Bianjing since he was a child - you must be paid for work!

What's more, these Qiang people are really hard-working, and their wages are very low!

In addition to food and accommodation, five hundred iron coins per month!

Moreover, they don't pick at all.

As long as you have something to eat, that’s fine!

Beans, bran, highland barley, wheat...

Eat whatever is available.

I almost ate it during the off-season, so I had no complaints at all.

If you can give them a meal of highland barley rice and a bowl of wild vegetable soup with salt during the busy farming season, they will be very satisfied. If you take them hunting in the mountains and share the hunted wild animals with them, then you will be grateful.

.

It's not like people from Bianjing. If they ask someone to do work and don't entertain them with good food and wine, they will lose face on the spot!

The Qiang people all cheered when they heard what the Song master said.

In their eyes, Wang Daxu is an honest man and treats them well.

Not only do we not deduct wages, but we also pay them on time.

It also keeps them full!

This is a beautiful thing that they could not even think of in the tribe in the past!

Wang Daxue listened to the cheers of the Qiang people and couldn't help but reach out and touch his beard.

But my mind couldn't help but drift back to Bianjing City.

"I don't know if my brother, Daqiang, went to Dengzhou to pan for gold. Can he find gold?"

"I don't even know how my mother and wife are doing at home..."

"Da Lang, San Lang and Si Niang, are they safe?"

As he thought about this, his homesickness became more intense.

At this time, on the road in the distance, a light horse came galloping towards me.

"Inspection!" It was a Tibetan patrol officer under Wang Daxu. He came to Wang Daxu, dismounted from his horse, and bowed: "Xiang Qian's military order ordered our troops to escort the Tibetan pilgrims to Zisheng Temple!"

Wang Daxu took the general's order, opened it, and immediately said: "Immediately order all the troops and follow me out to clear the way!"

Xizhou is surrounded by Lanzhou, Hezhou and Taozhou.

However, the roads are not completely safe.

On this road, there will always be some restless tribes, bribed by Western thieves, or people who are too poor to stand it and want to get rich.

Last winter, the son of a Tibetan leader was intercepted and killed on the pilgrimage.
To be continued...