Chapter 211: An Enthusiast of Agriculture and a Traveler

Xu Xiake had come to Jiangxi this time also to fulfill a dying command of his mother.

During the Yongle reign, Zhang Zonglian was demoted to Vice Prefect of Changzhou. Because he was upright, honest, and protected the common people, when he fell ill and died in office, thousands of local folk in plain white mourned his funeral and raised funds to build the "Marquis Zhang Shrine" for him.

Two hundred years have passed, yet the incense fires have never ceased — his kindness is still remembered.

For Xu Xiake's mother's seventy-eighth birthday, a celebration had originally been planned, but she donated everything toward rebuilding the collapsed Marquis Zhang Shrine. Once the repairs were complete, his mother also enjoined Xu Xiake to seek out Zhang Zonglian's descendants in the future and to enshrine Zhang Zonglian's portrait, personal effects, and calligraphy.

Historically, he went directly to his own clansman — the Prefect of Ji'an, Xu Fusheng — for help, and very quickly obtained word of Zhang Zonglian's descendants.

But as things stood now, Xu Fusheng was long dead — and it was Zhao Han who had personally stabbed him to death when he took the city by trickery!

Xu Xiake had taken a turn around Qingyuan Temple and felt that Zhao Han was no wicked rebel. As for the great vengeance of Xu Fusheng, he could hardly be bothered to pursue it; he and Xu Fusheng had not been particularly close anyway.

"Xu Hongzu of Jiangyin, seeking an audience with Mr. Zhao." Xu Xiake arrived at the Regional Commander's residence and requested a meeting without the slightest psychological burden.

Suddenly, another scholar arrived, bringing two household servants: "Chen Xisong of De'an, come specially to present the Book of Agriculture, which contains diagrams and instructions for the water-powered great spinning wheel!"

The guard quickly said, "Mr. Chen, please enter." Then he said to Xu Xiake, "Mr. Xu, please wait a moment. I must go in and announce you first."

Zhao Han had given prior instructions: anyone presenting the water-powered great spinning wheel could be led directly into the Regional Commander's residence.

Chen Xisong was brought into the reception hall. Before long, he saw a young man walk in.

Or rather, he looked more like a youth.

Zhao Han cupped his hands and smiled. "I am Zhao Yan. A pleasure to meet you!"

"Mr... Mr. Zhao?" Chen Xisong was quite astonished and hurriedly bowed. "I pay my respects to Mr. Zhao."

"Please, sit," Zhao Han said with a smile. "You have come from De'an, sir?"

Chen Xisong replied, "Indeed. This junior is of the Yimen Chen clan, which has been settled in De'an since the Tang dynasty."

Zhao Han truly had no idea what the Yimen Chen clan was. He merely offered polite praise: "So you are a scion of a renowned and eminent lineage. I have been remiss in welcoming you."

During the Northern Song, the Yimen Chen clan grew so powerful that the court grew wary of them. Wen Yanbo, Bao Zheng, and others all recommended forcibly dividing the family.

How was it divided in the end?

The court dispatched special officials to supervise. The Yimen Chen clan's properties, spread across several provinces, were first divided into 291 shares, and the Chen clansmen were likewise scattered into 291 branches. Then, the Chen clan's properties within Jiangxi were further divided into 47 shares.

The division of the Yimen Chen clan produced a total of 338 separate families!

A pity Zhao Han had never heard any of this. After only a few pleasantries, he asked directly, "Do you know how to build the water-powered great spinning wheel, sir?"

Chen Xisong had his servant open a chest and brought out a thick stack of old texts. "This is the Book of Agriculture. It records the water-powered great spinning wheel, and with both text and illustrations, one can grasp its principles at a glance."

Wang Zhen's Book of Agriculture is a work of the Yuan dynasty, finalized in Yongfeng County, right next door to Yanshan. It comprises 5 collections of general principles of agriculture and sericulture, 11 collections of grain registers, and 20 volumes of agricultural implement illustrations. Several centuries later, the original can no longer be found; only partial contents were located in the Complete Library of the Four Treasuries, reorganized and adapted into 22 volumes.

Xu Guangqi's Complete Treatise on Agricultural Administration drew heavily on Wang Zhen's Book of Agriculture for much of its content, with some parts even copied verbatim.

At this very moment, the Complete Treatise on Agricultural Administration existed only as a posthumous manuscript and had yet to be collated and revised by Chen Zilong.

Therefore, the Wang Zhen's Book of Agriculture before Zhao Han's eyes was the sole surviving agricultural text that addressed both the dry fields of the north and the paddy fields of the Jiangnan region!

"Please look, Mr. Zhao." Chen Xisong took out one of the collections.

It was indeed richly illustrated. Zhao Han grasped the principle at a glance: it consisted of four parts — the rotating spindle, the twisting mechanism, the waterwheel, and the transmission device. Only the details would still need to be worked out by craftsmen.

The water-powered great spinning wheel was, in fact, a water-powered spinning machine, but it could only spin long fibers like ramie and silk. To spin short-fiber cotton, improvements would be necessary.

Zhao Han continued leafing through the other contents. This book alone contained 20 collections on farming implements — the water-powered spinning machine was also classified as a farming implement.

These "farming implements" included simple machines like levers and wheel-and-axles, as well as transmission and variable-speed components such as gears, cranks, rope pulleys, and connecting rods.

Zhao Han casually opened to a section and immediately frowned. "Such an ingenious tool — why do I not see Jiangxi peasants using it?"

Chen Xisong craned his neck to look and explained, "This is the seedling horse. Though convenient, it can crush the seedlings. Moreover, the paddy fields in Jiangxi today are mostly tilled by tenant farmers. A single man cannot tenant more than a few fen of land, so the seedling horse becomes somewhat superfluous."

The seedling horse resembled a small boat with both ends curving upward. A peasant could sit astride it and ride along; when transplanting seedlings, he pressed down the front end and did not need to bend over.

Furthermore, seedlings could be placed inside the boat and taken out as needed, saving both labor and trouble.

Zhao Han decided to turn his own one hundred mu of land into a dedicated experimental field and establish an "Agricultural Promotion Office" to restore, improve, and develop farming implements. At the same time, they would research planting techniques and study the selection and improvement of crops.

For instance, this very seedling horse could be promoted anew by officials.

Zhao Han placed Wang Zhen's Book of Agriculture back into the chest and said amiably, "You, sir, are also versed in agricultural matters?"

Chen Xisong replied, "I know a little. This junior has a country estate and takes delight in the work of sowing and reaping. In my leisure, I plant seedlings with my own hands and recruit craftsmen to make farming implements. A few days ago, upon seeing Mr. Zhao's proclamation, this junior hastened here at once to present the Book of Agriculture."

This man's home county of De'an was not far from the prefectural seat of Nanchang. He had clearly come to make an early investment — a millennium-old great clan was exceedingly adept at reading the winds.

Zhao Han asked, "I intend to establish an Agricultural Promotion Office. Would you be willing to serve as its director?"

"I dared not ask for it, but it is precisely what I wished for," Chen Xisong said, delighted.

Zhao Han gave him a series of instructions, laid out his requirements, and then had someone temporarily settle Chen Xisong in.

With the diagrams from Wang Zhen's Book of Agriculture, the water-powered spinning machine could be built very soon, for he had already found craftsmen who knew how to construct water-powered mills.

Water-powered mills were not uncommon in the Ming dynasty, but they were usually controlled by the powerful and the great clans.

For example, successive Princes of De had monopolized the mills of Jinan. The authorities had built a water gate on the Jinan city moat, using the drop in water level to drive the mills. The Prince of De even seized the entire water gate and forbade the common people from using it to irrigate their farmland.

Zhao Han summoned his secretary Fei Yu and instructed, "Deliver the Book of Agriculture to the printing workshop for woodblock engraving. First print three hundred sets and distribute them to officials at all levels for study. Once printing is complete, preserve the woodblocks — they will be of use later."

Fei Yu took the order and left, setting about the task at once.

For a book that would certainly require repeated printings over the long term, woodblocks were still the better choice — all the more so given the large number of farming implement illustrations.

Only then was Xu Xiake finally led in.

His reaction upon first seeing Zhao Han was much the same — he had not expected the Luling rebel Zhao to be so young. He quickly clasped his fists and said, "I am Xu Hongzu of Jiangyin, a traveler who visits famous mountains and great rivers to record them. By my late mother's dying command, I am charged with seeking the descendants of Zhang Gong Zonglian, an upright official of the Yongle reign, and with finding Lord Zhang's personal effects to enshrine in the Marquis Zhang Shrine in Jiangyin."

Xu Xiake?

He looks nothing like the portrait in the textbook.

Zhao Han smiled. "Mr. Xu wishes me to help find this person?"

Xu Xiake replied, "I know only that Lord Zhang's native place is Jishui. I beg Mr. Zhao's assistance."

"Very well. Write down this man's name and official rank," Zhao Han said, then changed the subject, rather curious. "Where does Mr. Xu plan to travel?"

Xu Xiake replied, "First within Jiangxi, then to southern Huguang, and then to Guangxi and Guizhou."

Zhao Han could only express admiration. With soldiers rampaging everywhere and the land swarming with bandits, it was sheer luck that Xu Xiake had not been killed by villains.

This gentleman once slept in mountain caves for eight days straight, gathering wild fruit and greens to eat raw along the way. He was also robbed by bandits, and in a strange place sought out an old friend, who mortgaged property just to raise silver for him.

In the end both his legs were ruined — no one knows whether from illness or snake and insect bites. His household servant seized the chance to make off with his money and goods. Fortunately the local chieftain helped him, sending men to escort him home, but within a year of returning he died of illness.

Zhao Han summoned a guard, took out a legging, and said, "Wrap this around your leg. Climbing mountains and marching will not ache, and it also guards against snake and insect bites. Every soldier in my army uses these leggings in battle."

"Many thanks for your kindness," Xu Xiake said, pointing to his own legs. "I have always worn leggings when climbing mountains. They are indeed very useful."

Once, Xu Xiake lost his way touring the eunuch faction Mountain, sheer cliffs on all sides. He and his servant untied their leggings and used them as rope to escape the danger.

Zhao Han cautioned him: "The borderlands between southern Huguang and Jiangxi are thick with bandits. You must be very careful."

"I will bear it in mind." Xu Xiake thought this rebel was not bad at all — a very kind-hearted rebel.

Zhao Han suddenly smiled and said, "Mr. Xu, as you travel the great mountains and famous rivers, you might record more of the local mineral deposits. Copper, iron, gold, silver, tin, and also saltpeter, sulfur, coal, and the like — all can strengthen the state and enrich the people. That would be a deed to benefit posterity."

Xu Xiake thought it over carefully. "That is feasible as well."

Zhao Han felt he ought to offer some support. He had someone bring five taels of silver. "My funds are not abundant. Please take this and use it, Mr. Xu."

A rebel who held several prefectures, actually saying his funds were not abundant.

Seeing that Zhao Han did not seem to be feigning, Xu Xiake was instantly filled with deep respect. "Many thanks!"

The two went on to chat about all manner of things they had seen and heard. Xu Xiake had made fifteen long journeys, his footprints covering every part of the country, and much of the local customs and conditions he described was extremely useful to Zhao Han.

They talked for a full two-hour period. Xu Xiake then left the Regional Commander's residence.

The household servant who in the future would make off with all his master's money and goods asked, "Master, this rebel Zhao at least does not harm people."

Xu Xiake sighed. "Ah, far more than just not harming people. In all my years traveling the length and breadth of this land, what I have seen and heard — only the territory under Zhao's rule is the most stable. Given time, Zhao will surely win the realm. Of that there can be no mistake."

The servant said in astonishment, "Master, why do you say such a thing? Is the Great Ming realm doomed?"

"Naturally you would not know. Go see more of the north and you will understand." Xu Xiake could not be bothered to explain. The servant who had accompanied him on his earlier journeys had died of illness; this one was newly chosen.

Originally two had been selected. The other servant had run off halfway, unwilling to follow Xu Xiake to his death.

Back at the inn, Xu Xiake at once wrote in his diary, praising Zhao Han with the highest regard.

Of course, he touched only on character and virtuous governance. He dared not write in his text that the rebel was certain to seize the realm.

Zhang Zonglian's descendants were soon found. They were living tolerably well — though a great deal of their land had been redistributed, they had at least kept their shop business.

The Zhang family quietly spoke ill of Zhao Han. Xu Xiake found it awkward to say much, but he thought of the situation with his own family.

Ah, let sons and grandsons look after their own fortunes. Why worry now about whether the land will be divided in the future?

On Zhao Han's side, he was busy building roads, printing agricultural manuals, constructing great waterwheels, developing the peasant associations, and researching and developing farm tools and farming techniques. Officials at every level were operating at full speed.

Meanwhile, the Great Ming court was debating how to deal with the Luling rebel Zhao.

Zhu Xieyuan was certain to be thrown in prison…

(End of chapter)