Great Qin Shi Empress

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But thinking of the knowledge she gave them when she met these peasant children last time, Lin Qian couldn't help but feel a little curious.

If they hadn't researched something, this group of farm children would not have easily asked to see Ying Zheng.

Could it be...

Lin Qian's eyes lit up, she turned her head to look, and happened to meet Ying Zheng's gaze.

Ying Zheng also seemed to understand the meaning of Lin Qian's eyes, and after nodding to her, he looked directly outside the palace gate with her.

Li Si was still a little puzzled. He didn't seem to understand why the two of them seemed to let go of all their emotions when they heard the farm boy begging to see him. They were full of expectations for the farm boy outside the door.

But he didn't dare to speak easily at such a time, so he could only wait silently for the farm boy to come in.

Soon, the servant brought the farm boy into the main hall.

It may be because Zhou Li had been in contact with Ying Zheng, Lin Qian and others before, so the peasant children who entered the palace this time were still led by Zhou Li.

After entering the door, Zhou Li led someone to salute Ying Zheng and others.

Then, he couldn't hide his excitement and looked at Lin Qian: "Before I got the guidance of Gu Fenghou, I knew that there is no way to increase the yield of five grains. She even pointed out a bright way of 'hybridization' for me."

"It's just that I don't understand the various methods and principles of hybridization with all the senior brothers, so in the first few years, everyone has been learning the knowledge and principles related to hybridization, and it was not until a few years ago that they finally understood the relevant knowledge. Once you are familiar with it, you can start to hybridize the five grains."

"Because rice and wheat are the best-tasting and most popular varieties among the five grains, and even have relatively high yields, so we directly set the target on rice and wheat."

"After countless studies, we finally figured out what kind of hybridization method rice and wheat should use to really increase yield."

Lin Qian looked at Zhou Li's bright eyes, and couldn't help but ask him: "Now it has been proved that the hybridization method you proposed is feasible, and you have obtained preliminary research results?"

Zhou Li nodded immediately: "That's true. I finally decided to use distant hybridization for wheat and three-line hybridization for rice. Although at the beginning, I didn't have any clue whether to find male sterile rice or suitable distant relatives of wheat. , but luckily the emperor paid off, we found it last year."

As he spoke, he turned his head to look at the other peasant children.

The other party also directly handed the wooden box in his hand to Zhou Li, and then Zhou Li handed over the wooden box to the servant before presenting it to Ying Zheng.

After Ying Zheng got it, he opened it directly——

Slowly, a wooden box of rice and wheat appeared directly in front of his eyes.

He froze for a moment, and then took a closer look, only to find that the rice and wheat in the wooden box were not threshed rice and wheat grains, but several rice ears and wheat ears neatly stacked together.

Ying Zheng eagerly took out an ear of rice from the wooden box, held it in front of his eyes and dangled it a few times.

The grains of rice are full and the number is as numerous as stars, Ying Zheng can hardly count them.

When he hung the rice stalk upside down, the golden rice rustled like a wind chime, which made people feel happy when they saw it.

It's not just rice ears.

Ying Zheng suppressed his surprise, and reached out to take out another ear of wheat.

Like rice, this wheat ear is also full of grains. Although the amount of wheat is not as much as that of rice, it has almost doubled the amount of wheat produced before the ear.

What's more, the wheat grains are tightly wrapped in the husk and neatly arranged on the wheat stalks, which has a completely different aesthetic feeling from the rice, and Ying Zheng can't take his eyes off it at all.

Yingzheng was not an emperor who knew nothing about farming. What's more, before Lin Qian exchanged high-yield crops such as potatoes, sweet potatoes, and corn from the plane trader, five grains were the food that everyone on the land of China could not do without.

How could Yingzheng not know what rice and wheat used to look like?

In the past, even when the weather was good, the grains of wheat and rice were shriveled like a stomach that has not eaten enough. Although the color is beautiful, the quantity is so small that people can't help but want to sigh.

But the ears of rice and wheat in front of me...

Ying Zheng looked at Zhou Li: "Is this the latest result of your hybridization?"

Zhou Li suppressed his excitement, but his voice was still trembling: "Return to Your Majesty, it is indeed our latest research result."

"The yield of both rice and wheat has greatly improved compared to the past. The yield of wheat has increased by about two times. Today's yield per mu can reach more than 1000 kilograms, while the yield of rice has increased even faster, reaching an astonishing level. Four times that, and now the yield per mu has reached almost [-] jin."

"Although the output of rice and wheat is still not as good as that of potatoes and sweet potatoes, it is already much higher than that of corn."

Lin Qian looked at Zhou Li excitedly: "Have you found a way to grow seeds?"

After all, no matter what the hybridization method is, saving seeds is a big problem.

Zhou Li was not surprised that Lin Qian would ask this question, but after she asked this question, he subconsciously exchanged glances with his brothers.

Then, he said: "This is also the reason why we couldn't wait to come to see His Majesty just after we got the results of our research. After we got the results of our research, we found that there are very big problems with the rice and wheat seeds."

"After rice hybridization, although it can be planted directly and even obtain a very high yield per mu, it cannot be kept after it is planted; wheat is not as overbearing as rice, and it seems that it can be kept after planting, but we carefully observe However, after the seeds grown from this hybrid seed are planted in the ground, the yield seems to have decreased a lot."

"but……"

Zhou Li scratched his head and said embarrassingly, "We're not sure whether we didn't take care of the wheat seeds as carefully as before after planting them, or there was something wrong with the seeds themselves."

Lin Qian told him with certainty: "It's about the seeds."

Zhou Li paused, and subconsciously wanted to ask why.

But when his eyes touched Ying Zheng next to him, he didn't ask any more questions, but said: "Since Marquis Gu Feng said so, it must be so."

Ying Zheng's mood was not as excited as before: "Did you enter the palace to ask Marquis Gu Feng why? Or do you have other matters that need to be arranged by the widow?"

Zhou Li hurriedly said: "Although the hybrid seeds have a large yield, they cannot be kept by themselves, and the cultivation of hybrid seeds cannot be handed over to the common people, so it is necessary for the court or a certain big force to contribute money and efforts to cultivate the seeds every year before selling them. to the people."

After finishing speaking, he raised his head and looked nervously at Ying Zheng, "Although we have some abilities and can get a lot of court salary every month, compared to the hybrid seeds that the people of the whole country need..."

In short, they have no money or land to grow hybrid seeds.

Ying Zheng suddenly said, "So that's the problem."

But this is indeed a very real problem. If you want to supply the needs of farmers in a whole country for seeds, the children of farmers really don't have so much manpower, material and financial resources.

He smiled and said: "This is not a problem. Since you are named under the name of Zhi Su Nei Shi, you should go directly to Zhi Su Nei Shi to explain the reason, and you will be responsible for this matter in the future."

Zhou Li was stunned, and after hesitating, he dared to speak: "Your Majesty, the cultivation of hybrid rice and hybrid wheat is actually not difficult after knowing the principle, finding a suitable hybrid method and related hybrid plants. "

Ying Zheng frowned: "What do you mean?"

Zhou Li plucked up the courage to refuse and said: "I hope that this matter can be handed over to other people to take over. We hope that we can continue to study the hybridization methods of rice, wheat and other crops. If possible, we hope to combine sorghum with five grains. The hybridization methods of the other three valleys in the field are also studied together.”

After a pause, "The yield of corn is actually not high, and sweet potatoes and potatoes also have very big defects..."

Ying Zheng looked at Zhou Li, and then turned his attention to the other farm children: "Are you sure? If you are in charge of this matter, hybrid rice and hybrid wheat will be your achievements and qualifications, and you may not be able to be promoted in the future. Taicang Cheng It may not be completely impossible for the Taicang Order or even one of the Nine Ministers to govern Su Neishi."

These words are really attractive to a group of peasant children who have been rooted in the folk all year round and have not had much enjoyment, let alone the opportunity to be an official.

but……

After dozens or hundreds of years of elimination, the peasant children who are still willing to join the peasant family and have never left their ideological realm have long been on the same level as ordinary people.

After Zhou Li and his brothers looked at each other, they nodded without any hesitation.

Zhou Li replied on behalf of all the brothers and sisters: "We have never been an official before, and we are not suitable to be an official. In addition, we would like to see more results from our own research to help the people live a better life, so... ..."

He bowed his hands and said, "I hope His Majesty will send another person to take over this matter. We will unreservedly tell each other all the knowledge about breeding hybrid rice and hybrid wheat."

Even Ying Zheng couldn't help feeling a little respect for Zhou Li after hearing what he said.

After a while, Ying Zheng smiled and said, "Since you insist, I will not force you."

but……

"Obviously, the seeds cultivated by the imperial court cannot be given to the people for nothing, and a certain fee will be charged at that time. Although it is not high, but..." He looked at Zhou Li and others, "calculated based on the share of the Mohist research results, these Hybrid seeds will also take a portion of all profits to you."

Zhou Li originally wanted to refuse, but after hearing that the Mohist family also took this part of the fee, he hesitated for a moment, and finally chose to acquiesce.

Lin Qian laughed: "You do research in wind and rain, and all research is beneficial to the country and the people. The court should give you some rewards. After you get these shares, you can also improve your life. "

Zhou Li paused, and his brows and eyes instantly soothed.

After telling Ying Zheng the good news, the group of farm children headed by Zhou Li quickly withdrew and left Xianyang Palace.

Ying Zheng collected the ears of rice and wheat and looked up at Li Si.

Now that the peasants have left, they should discuss how to deal with the crisis caused by the people of Jiujiang County.

Li Si took a careful look at Ying Zheng's expression and found that he had calmed down.

Or rather, he was in a pretty good mood.

After hesitating, Li Si said, "More than half of the millions of people in Jiujiang County have been affected by this disaster. If the imperial court lets them fend for themselves, I'm afraid it's not appropriate..."

Ying Zheng frowned: "Since you entered the palace, you should already have a plan for disaster relief in your heart?"

Li Si breathed a sigh of relief.

To be able to ask such a question means that His Majesty already has the idea of ​​disaster relief.

He thought for a while, and said: "The treasury has accumulated a lot of money and food in recent years. I feel that whether it is directly transporting food to the affected people in Jiujiang County, or directly sending money to the surrounding cities of Jiujiang County to buy food Going to disaster relief is a good way.”

"However, since the grain in the national treasury and granaries in various places has been made into vermicelli that is easier to preserve, but also more expensive, I suggest..." Li Si said seriously, "directly transfer part of the money from the national treasury to Jiujiang County. The surrounding counties bought food and sent it to Jiujiang County for disaster relief."

Compared with the traditional Chinese grains, these high-yield grains do not last long.

Corn is fine, but potatoes and sweet potatoes will rot and germinate as the weather gets warmer after being stored for at most half a year, and can no longer be used as food. Therefore, when the imperial court collected taxes, it specifically mentioned that potatoes and sweet potatoes should be made into vermicelli and served as noodles. After drying, it can be handed over to the court.

Because the residue from making vermicelli can be left by yourself, the common people have no problem with it.

The grains that Li Si mentioned were transported from the treasury granary were corn, potato flour, sweet potato flour and other vermicelli.

But for vermicelli...

The market price is more than twice as expensive as pure raw materials.

Because only the starch in potatoes and sweet potatoes is needed to make vermicelli, and the potato and sweet potato residue after filtering out the starch is actually the bulk of the weight of potatoes and sweet potatoes.

Ying Zheng nodded and had no objection to this: "You go and count the number of people affected by the disaster and the specific disaster situation, and then tell the widow the specific amount of relief."

Li Si was finally completely relieved.

Seeing that Ying Zheng had regained his composure, Lin Qian never interrupted.

But when she found out that Li Si planned to leave directly after discussing the specific disaster relief methods, she couldn't help but ask, "Are you sure that all you need is disaster relief?"

Ying Zheng and Li Si turned to look at Lin Qian with puzzled eyes.

Lin Qian paused and reminded: "Potatoes cannot be planted on the same field, not to mention that the diseases infected by potatoes in Jiujiang County this year are contagious."

Before Li Si could react, Ying Zheng already understood Lin Qian's implication, and frowned instantly: "You mean, those lands in Jiujiang County that used to grow diseased potatoes will not be able to grow potatoes in the second half of this year." ?”

"Not only in the second half of this year, but next year it is best not to grow potatoes, and other solanaceous plants such as eggplants and tomatoes." Lin Qian took a deep breath, "This kind of infectious bacteria is very likely, it can be survive in the soil for a long time."

Li Si was stunned, and after realizing the trouble behind this, he immediately looked at Ying Zheng.

Ying Zheng's complexion was indeed extremely ugly.

It never occurred to him that a wrong operation by the people of Jiujiang County would have such long-lasting sequelae.

Can't grow potatoes for more than a year?

Seeing that the two of them were facing a formidable enemy, Lin Qian couldn't help but reminded: "Although potatoes cannot be grown, there is no problem in planting corn, sweet potatoes and even five grains. Besides, there is so much land in Jiujiang County that cannot grow potatoes. It is not necessarily an opportunity for the country."

Ying Zheng looked at Lin Qian: "What do you mean?"

Lin Qian explained: "Jiujiang County belongs to the lower reaches of the Yangtze River. Rice and wheat are harvested twice a year or even three times a year. This disaster can no longer continue to grow potatoes. Maybe we can try to promote hybrid rice and hybrid wheat in Jiujiang County. "

After a pause, she laughed, "Even if it's only a part, the hybrid rice and hybrid wheat bred are enough for people in most parts of the country to grow."

Yingzheng was a little unhappy: "There are still a lot of land in Qin's books that have not been distributed to the people."

The implication is that there is no need to go to Jiuyuan County to cultivate rice and wheat.

Lin Qian was helpless: "Since Jiujiang County has already vacated the land, why do you bother with the original land? Isn't it good to continue planting according to the previous plan?"

Ying Zheng looked at Lin Qian and sighed, "That's fine, just make the best use of it..."