Chongzhen: I am the king of prosperous times

Chapter 499 Harvest
silver.

food.

It has always been the most important thing for Emperor Chongzhen.

The many problems exposed by the Ming Dynasty cannot be avoided in these two categories.

Including the many deployments planned by Emperor Chongzhen, money and food are needed to cover the bottom line. This is the most fundamental thing to ensure the order and stability of Ming Dynasty.

Xu Guangqi couldn't hide his excitement, he lifted his robe and walked quickly towards the Qianqing Palace. He, who usually abides by etiquette, had no such thoughts at this moment.

Xu Guangqi's official robe and boots were stained with dirt.

When passing through the gate of Qianqing, I called the athletes of the Zhiqin guards, and I was very surprised when I saw it. Although Xu Guangqi rarely entered the palace to meet the saints, every time he met, he was very respectful.

Why is it so inappropriate this time?

"Your Majesty, Your Majesty!" Xu Guangqi walked forward quickly with his robe lifted, and when he saw the Qianqing Palace, he shouted excitedly, "Auspiciousness, auspiciousness descended from heaven!"

The Han generals outside the palace, the eunuchs of the inner court, etc. all frowned when they heard the sudden shout, and followed the sound to look over.

But when they saw Xu Guangqi's attire, they were all taken aback.

Wang Chengen walked out of the hall quickly with a whisk in his hand, and when he saw Xu Guangqi who was almost running, he subconsciously blurted out, "Old Xu Ge, what happened?"

"Auspicious! Auspiciousness descended from heaven!"

Xu Guangqi stretched out his hand and said, "Quick, I want to see Your Majesty."

Wang Chengen was taken aback, seeing Xu Guangqi's excitement, he didn't dare to hesitate, so he led Xu Guangqi into the hall to have an audience.

"Xu Qing, what kind of happy event did you encounter?"

Emperor Chongzhen picked up the teacup, took a sip, and said with a smile, "Let's talk about it, it seems like a big deal to make Xu Qing so excited."

"Your Majesty! Potatoes and sweet potatoes, good harvest!"

Xu Guangqi lifted his robe and knelt on the ground, knelt down and bowed, and said: "God bless Daming, the sweet potatoes grown in Fujian can be adapted to the climate in northern Zhili.

Especially potatoes, the output is amazing. "

"Potatoes and sweet potatoes, are they ripe?"

Emperor Chongzhen put down the teacup, got up and walked towards Xu Guangqi, and said, "Tell me about the yield per mu in various places. Besides, what about the yield per mu of corn?"

Ever since Yan Yingyuan brought back potatoes and corn, plus the sweet potatoes donated by Xu Guangqi, they were planted in Huangzhuang villages in northern Zhili, and Emperor Chongzhen had been waiting anxiously.

If the food crisis in Ming Dynasty is to be fundamentally resolved, it cannot simply rely on overseas imports, after all, there is no absolute guarantee.

Especially in the territory of Northern Zhili, the number of off-duty groups continued to increase, and Emperor Chongzhen often felt pressured. After all, he could not provide them with food rations. Therefore, Ming's desire to increase productivity was short-lived after all.

"Report to Your Majesty."

Xu Guangqi saluted and bowed again: "According to the situation presented by Huangzhuang in various places, the average yield of potatoes per mu is more than [-] catties, and the average yield of sweet potatoes is more than [-] catties per mu.

The yield of wheat planted in Daming ranges from 250 to [-] jin per mu, and the yield of rice per mu is much higher. However, to have such a good harvest, the requirements for soil quality, climate, water source, and insect pests are extremely high.

But potatoes and sweet potatoes are different.

According to the situation gathered by the minister, they do not have high requirements on soil quality. If potatoes and sweet potatoes can be promoted and planted in Daming, there will be no famine in the world! "

Only this little?
Emperor Chongzhen frowned slightly. The yield per mu of potatoes and sweet potatoes did not meet his expectations. Logically speaking, wouldn't it be normal to yield several thousand catties per mu?

But after thinking about it, Emperor Chongzhen understood what was going on.

Potatoes and sweet potatoes are alien species after all. To achieve such a yield per mu, it needs to be cultivated from generation to generation and the best selected from the best to ensure the increase in yield.

As far as the current yield per mu is concerned, it is excellent for Daming.

Planting one acre of potatoes or sweet potatoes can catch up with three or four acres of wheat. This is definitely auspicious existence for Daming, which is prone to disasters.

It is very common for people to be hungry, not to mention gnawing tree bark, eating soil, and cannibalism.

"What about the yield of corn?"

Emperor Chongzhen calmed down, stepped forward, helped Xu Guangqi up and said.

"My Majesty, the corn has not been harvested yet."

Xu Guangqi leaned forward and said, "According to my observation, the maturity of corn has not yet arrived, but judging from the situation in hand, the yield per mu is also amazing.

At least twice as much as wheat.

However, the specific output will not be determined until after harvesting, peeling and weighing. "

As an agricultural expert in the late Ming Dynasty, Xu Guangqi was extremely capable in crop cultivation and planting.

"For Daming, this is indeed auspicious."

Emperor Chongzhen nodded slightly, and said: "Since potatoes and sweet potatoes have been planted in Huangzhuang in various places in Northern Zhili, the results are so obvious.

That means that there is no problem in planting in the Northland.

The next thing to do is to start large-scale planting in the prefectures and counties of Beizhili. Xu Qing may become busier in the future, and the burden on her shoulders will be heavier. "

"If you can find something to live for the people of Ming Dynasty, even if you exhaust your ministers to death, it's worth it!"

Xu Guangqi couldn't hide his excitement and said: "If the yield of corn per mu is excellent, then Daming's planting method must be changed, especially in the Northland, where one crop of wheat and one crop of corn.

Adjust according to season and climate.

If such a thing can be done well, it will definitely be a major event that will benefit the present and benefit the future. "

The large-scale planting of corn, sweet potatoes, and potatoes requires periodicity. In the eyes of Emperor Chongzhen, it will take at least ten years to spread the planting to all parts of Ming Dynasty.

After all, as the group that knows the most about farming, the change of main crops has been implemented for a long time.

"This matter must be done well."

Emperor Chongzhen thought for a while, then stretched out his hand and said: "If Xu Qing's agricultural department is short of manpower, you can ask the Inner Court Yousi to continue to supplement it.

As for the silver needed, don't worry.

What Xu Qing has to do is to use the shortest period of time to solve the food security for Daming. Next year's trial planting in Beizhili, I will solve all the problems for Xu Qing. "

"The minister obeys the order!"

Xu Guangqi bowed in response.

Grain production is one of the benchmarks for judging whether a country is strong or not. After all, compared with others, the cycle of grain planting is longer, and how much hard work you can get.

"By the way, Nongke is going to start research on how to increase the yield per mu." Emperor Chongzhen thought for a while and said to Xu Guangqi: "It's like when a person is weak, he needs to use tonics to warm up.

If the fertility of the land decreases, can it be supplemented in a similar way?

Xu Qing should pay attention to this matter, conduct more research in this area, and develop a fertilizer for the land to increase the grain yield per mu. "

"The minister obeys the order."

Xu Guangqi bowed again.

The words of Emperor Chongzhen opened up new ideas for Xu Guangqi and asked him to start thinking about this matter. If a fertilizer can be developed to increase the grain yield per mu, then the food security of Ming Dynasty will not be a problem.

(End of this chapter)