South Africa gradually began to cool down in July, and the few trees on the banks of the Berg River also fell large areas of yellow leaves in the cold wind of early winter. In the endless fields under the south wall of the river Fort, hundreds of Xhosa people were working in the fields surrounded by barbed wire.

This is a vegetable field of about 500 acres, planting a large number of wintering vegetables such as cabbage, radish, lettuce, green onions, onions, etc. Xhosa slaves carried wooden barrels filled with river water and then watered the vegetables. These vegetable fields were all public fields, that is, the output was owned by the local government of Hezhongbao to supply the supply of ships on the east bank that might be docked.

In addition to these vegetable fields, in the east of Hezhongbao, nearly 4,000 acres of farmland had been harvested long ago, and neatly arranged sorghum stalks and wheat straws were piled neatly in the field. Most of these farmlands were reclaimed in the first year, and the yield was not very high. Among them, the average yield of wheat was only more than 100 kilograms per mu, and the yield of sorghum was only more than 200 kilograms per mu. The 4,000 acres of farmland harvested about 900,000 kilograms of sorghum and 80,000 kilograms of wheat were harvested. These grains, coupled with the increasingly large livestock population today, are enough for more than 1,000 soldiers and civilians in Hezhongbao to eat for one or two years.

Most of the fields here are allocated to new Far East immigrants, and a small part are commons. According to the initial oral agreement between the Hezhongbao local government and them, the harvest in the first year was 46% of the share, that is, the government took away 60% of the harvest and the new immigrants took away 40%.

Today is July 5, and it is also the day for the public grain collection set by Hezhong Fort. Early in the morning, the fully armed militiamen pulled up barbed wire on the drying ground in the southeast corner of the city wall, circled out a clearing, and expelled all the black people wandering around to do odd jobs. At exactly 8 o'clock in the morning, two leading figures from Hezhong Fort walked into the drying ground surrounded by a group of soldiers.

The weather is not very good today. The sun is always covered by dark clouds. The temperature is only about two or three degrees, and there is a large cold wind outside, so it gives people a feeling of cold. Mo Ming looked around and saw many ordinary people preparing to pay public grains outside the barbed wire. These people were wearing various leather jackets and leather jackets, and covered with grain bags under their feet. Some familiar people were still chatting with each other, with a cheerful look between their eyebrows and eyes.

This scene made Mo Ming feel a little moved. But half a year ago, when these people first came to Hezhongbao, they still looked unkempt and tragic. Mo Ming remembered it very clearly. At that time, there was a boy who was as thin as those African refugee children in old time and space movies, without any wisps on his body, and he looked like he could die at any time. It can be seen how miserable these people were in the Ming Dynasty. Now less than a year has passed, and these refugees who were weak when they first arrived have all turned red. Obviously, after this period of recuperation, especially the large intake of carnivorous protein, their physical condition is now quite good.

If these people were not from the East Coast people, they would probably have to starve to death or be killed in the Ming Dynasty. But now everything is different, and theirs has been reborn. Looking at the lively faces in front of them, Mo Ming couldn't help but feel a little proud. It was me who let these people survive! It was me who asked the troops to lead the locals to rob the food and cattle and sheep of the natives. Only then could they all eat them all.

As for those natives who died directly under the sword and gun of the "grain collection team" of the East Coast people, or indirectly because the East Coast people robbed the food, they were selected by Mo Ming.

"Entertainment Father, the time is almost over..." A young man of fifteen or sixteen walked to Mo Ming and respectfully reminded him. The boy was named Mo Dazhong, who looked like an African refugee mentioned above. At that time, he had only breathed a sigh of relief. If it weren't for the war with the British on the east bank and the Portuguese ship could only dock in advance to the Hezhong Fort instead of continuing to move towards the Eastern Port, he would probably not be able to survive to the east coast. The final outcome was probably the Portuguese sailors on the boat threw them into the sea and buried in the belly of a fish.

Finally, his ancestors accumulated virtue, and later Mo Ming, who was passively compassionate, accepted it as his adopted son and changed it to Mo Dazhong. He usually followed him to study and practice calligraphy, and also did some miscellaneous work. The young man could observe his words and expressions, and his mind was smart, because he was very appreciated.

"Well, that, Lao Liu, can you start?" Mo Ming turned to ask for Liu Ang's opinion.

"It should have started long ago!" Liu Ang spit out a pinch of tobacco chewing in his mouth and said relaxedly.

"Bo!" Mo Dazhong rang a gong in his hand and shouted vigorously: "We have started to pay the public grain! We come one by one in the village, so we must not run around. Those who violate the order will be beaten twenty military sticks."

The crowd outside the wire flew up and soon calmed down under the scolding of the officers. The two soldiers at the gap in the wire flew opened a low wooden door, counted the heads and put twenty people in and a ox cart, and then closed the low door again. The people outside the door could only continue to wait.

"What's your name?" a man with a clerk looked like dipped in ink with a quill and asked.

"I... my name is Zhang Daniu." Zhang Daniu looked at the red-haired "scholar master" in front of him, feeling a little scared.

"What are your food?" The clerk looked at the ox cart behind and asked. Since the amount of public grain to be collected this time is large, and it will cost hundreds of kilograms to be distributed to everyone's head. Therefore, many people simply gathered a ox cart together to pull it over, which saved a lot of trouble.

"I'll move it down now." After Zhang Daniu said that, he turned around and walked quickly to the ox cart, moved his own bags of grain one by one, and then placed them in the designated place. He walked back and forth nine times, and moved a total of nine bags of grain.

Several staff members were responsible for random inspections of his grain and putting it on a simple scale, weighing it, then nodding to the document and saying, "There are all qualified sorghum grains, each bag of 50 kilograms, a total of 450 kilograms."

The clerk nodded, said nothing, and wrote a few strokes on a piece of paper, then pulled it off and handed it to Zhang Daniu, saying, "Zhang Daniu, this is your receipt for paying the public grain. Keep it away, don't lose it."

Zhang Daniu took it carefully and then solemnly stuffed the receipt into the inner layer of his leather jacket. Leather jackets and leather jackets are not uncommon in Hezhongbao now. As long as you take out some food, those bitter black men will immediately exchange cowhide and sheepskin for you. Therefore, almost all of these immigrants from the Ming Dynasty mixed a leather jacket, and some of them were also stuffed some reed trousers between the two layers of leather, and then sewed them into a leather jacket, which was quite good in warm protection.

This kind of clothing that is already luxurious was almost unimaginable in the Ming Dynasty. In the Ming Dynasty, even if some small lands with funds mainly wanted to buy such a piece of clothing made of cowhide or sheepskin, it would be very difficult. After comparing these two things, the centripetal force of these immigrants on the government became stronger.

"By the way." The clerk suddenly called Zhang Daniu, who turned around and wanted to leave, and then said: "You paid 450 kilograms of grain, and there should be 300 kilograms at home, which is definitely not enough for you to eat next year's grain harvest season. It's about to be the slack season of winter. You can join the government-organized labor team, clear rivers, ponds, dig ditches, and plant trees; you can also go to the sheep pen to help shear wool, squeeze cows, and tannate animal skins; or simply help build city walls and forts, where you recruit workers all year round. As long as you have the strength to go to these places, not only can you eat big fish and meat, but you can also get some wages and bring home food, so that the food is enough."

"Thank you, sir. I know!" Zhang Daniu said gratefully.

The clerk waved his hand and signaled Zhang Daniu to move out of the way, and the people behind him would continue to pay the public grain.

Zhang Daniu gave up to the side voluntarily, and Zhang Defa, Mr. Zhang, walked up calmly. The harvest in his field was similar to that of Zhang Daniu, so he had to pay nine bags of food.

"Why are you doing it hard here?" Suddenly, a scolding came from behind. Zhang Daniu turned around and saw Sun Shengjun in blue military uniform. This guy didn't know what luck he had, but he actually transformed from a "shameful" origin like a thief, into a corporal in the local security forces - a serious "official officer".

It seems that he was transferred to maintain order today. He was carrying a rifle on his back and a saber hanging around his waist. The eye-catching white armed belt, shiny cowhide military boots, and dazzling brass five-pointed star made Zhang Daniu feel upset. Oh, isn’t it just an official army? What’s so cool? When I recruit soldiers one day, I will also get this leather back and wear it. But to be honest, this military uniform is really energetic. Moreover, these soldiers are treated really well. Not only can they eat meat, but they can also eat canned fruits. If you are lucky, you can taste some wine.

Zhang Daniu once tasted the canned fruit that a soldier who was familiar with him gave him. He heard that this kind of fruit in a can called "glass" was produced in Jishu Village, Ping'an Town, local to the east coast. It was the soldier's former hometown. After Zhang Daniu tasted it once, he could never forget the sweet taste of canned fruits.

If I can't choose a soldier next time, I'm not a human being! Zhang Daniu gritted his teeth in secret, and began to think about whether he should go to the construction site less this winter and practice more martial arts field to practice queues and military skills. He is tall and strong. Didn't the general last time say that he is a good seedling of grenadiers? That's right. I practice well for a winter. After the spring sowing, the government will probably recruit militias to carry out a "grain collection" operation from the indigenous people. I will perform well at that time, but I am still afraid that I won't be able to get the skin of an official army? Hehe, Zhang Daniu will also make a contribution and be promoted to a small officer. This day will be shaken. (To be continued, please search for astronomy, novels are better, updated and faster!
Chapter completed!