Chapter 64 agricultural book

After Ma Yinchu resigned from the post of president of Peking University, he made up his mind to write a part of agricultural books no less than the historical "Qimin Yaoshu" and "Nongzheng Quanshu".He wrote in his diary: "The great river flows eastward and never turns back! The past is like a cloud of smoke, and I strive to write a new book." In 1962, Ma Yinchu also took the opportunity of a rural inspection in Zhejiang to conduct special investigations and research on agricultural issues, and brought back A lot of first-hand materials. According to insiders, Ma Yinchu wrote this "Nongshu" really something special.He writes articles differently from ordinary people. He does not write on the manuscript paper with a pen, but writes on sheets of white rice paper with an ink pen. Every time he finishes writing a chapter, Ma Yinchu spreads the rice paper on the floor and waits for it to dry. He carefully glued the rice paper together in order, rolled it into a roll, marked the contents, and put it in a rattan box.When tired of writing, Ma Yinchu would take a walk along the concrete path in the courtyard.

Before you know it, the rattan box is full.From the beginning of writing in 1963 to the completion of the first draft in 1965, Ma Yinchu wrote more than 1 million words in three years.After finishing writing, he made another revision from beginning to end, using blue pen for general situations, and red pen for particularly important changes.In order to prevent the manuscripts from getting damp and being eaten by moths, Ma Yinchu specially asked his family members to put the rattan boxes where the manuscripts were placed in a dry and ventilated place.After finishing the "Book of Agriculture", Ma Yinchu was 83 years old, and his physical condition was not as good as before.

Once, his former secretary Chen Yulong went to see him.As soon as he entered the room, he saw that the floor was covered with manuscript paper, and Ma Yinchu was reading his "Nong Shu".Seeing Chen Yulong come in, he said: "They won't publish it for me, I will read it myself!" There was a kind of anger in his words. The relatives and friends who came to visit Ma Yinchu politely persuaded him: "Mr. Ma, why are you still writing those things that cause disasters? You are so old, take good care of your spirit!" Ma Yinchu replied: "Because I am old, I It is even more necessary to record the truth that I have fully realized in time, and warn the world, otherwise it will rot in the stomach and be taken to the coffin, that is a real pity!"

Year after year, month after month, day after day, how many days and nights passed quietly like this.The "long volumes" of Ma Yinchu's "Nongshu" have been bundled into piles, and the bookcases are filled with large and small scrolls.It is said that the first draft of this "Nong Shu" was as large as one million characters (one said 1.5 million).By the end of 1965, the 83-year-old Ma Yinchu had revised the "Nongshu" from beginning to end.Ma Yinchu, who is known for his rigorous academic research, is still meticulous when revising manuscripts; he usually uses blue pens for revisions, and red pens for particularly important changes.

One day after the Spring Festival in 1966, Ma Yinchu called the whole family together and said: "Please take time to help me copy the original manuscript of "Nongshu". Although this book cannot be published now, it does not mean that it will never be published. It is my Ten years of hard work!" However, at this time the "Cultural Revolution" broke out.Although due to the special protection, Ma Zhai was free from the disaster of ransacking the house.However, the "fate" of the great "revolution" culture happened within the family.A few young and ignorant children in Ma Yinchu's family were afraid that the raiders would search out Ma Yinchu's manuscripts to criticize Ma Yinchu, so under the control of half timidity and half blind obedience, they collected Ma Yinchu's correspondence letters, The cultural relics, calligraphy and paintings, together with the manuscript of the "Nongshu" and other economic materials, were all burned as "four olds" and completely destroyed.Some people think that the family members burned the manuscript according to Ma Yinchu's opinion.

When Ma Yinchu wrote the "Nong Shu", he often wrote it down and put it away without discussing it with his family in detail, so that no one knew the detailed content of the "Nong Shu", which left an eternal regret to the world.