Rebirth of Wu Ba Spring and Autumn

Chapter 166 Rice production capacity
"Chen Sun Ping, see the king! The king is ten thousand years old!"

"Thousands of years, king!"

On a patchwork of fields, Grand Sima Sun Ping is leading a group of soldiers to greet Qingji who came from afar.

After several days of trekking, eating and sleeping in the open, Qingji and others finally arrived at their destination.

Looking around here, all kinds of hills have been opened up into irregular fields, on which are gradually yellowing rice planted, the growth is mediocre, even shabby.

The sparse ears of rice indicate that this year's harvest is poor, and it may not be enough for food and clothing!

When Qingji came to this place, many farmers, that is, the former prisoners of the Chu army were still shirtless, waving farm tools and digging the soil, or clearing the weeds in the fields.

Just reclaiming the world is not enough. If there is not enough water or fertilizer, or if weeds are overgrown, it is estimated that they will find it difficult to even support themselves at the most basic level!
Qingji gave Sun Pingfang a little support, and let Sun Pingfang lie behind him, and then looked around at the scene.

"Da Sima, do you know the rice fields in the southwest, what is the yield per mu?"

Qingji is very concerned about people's livelihood issues.

He also attached great importance to the development of the Southwest.

Upon hearing this, Sun Ping lowered his hands and said, "Reporting to Your Majesty, it is the harvest season right now, and the yield per mu of rice fields in the southwest is roughly around half a stone."

"Half stone?"

Qingji was taken aback by such data, secretly surprised.

According to the measurement unit of this era, converted to the modern catty, one stone is equal to one hundred and twenty catties, and half a stone is only sixty catties!
With such a low output, how can Qingji not be worried?

Seeing Qingji frowned, Fan Li, the governor of millet at the side, couldn't help lowering his head, and said slowly, "Your Majesty, it's not surprising that the yield per mu of rice fields in the southwest is so low."

"The rice fields here are harvested once a year, unlike the high-quality good fields in Wudu, Meili and other places, which can be harvested twice a year."

"Furthermore, the rice fields have just been opened up, and they are still dry fields. If the weather is not good and the weather is good this year, I am afraid that the rice grains in the fields will not be harvested!"

Hearing this, Qing Ji nodded slightly, obviously agreeing with Fan Li's opinion.

These prisoners of war of the Chu army who were farmers were forced to cultivate fields in the southwest for less than a year.

Turning wasteland into fertile land is not something that can be achieved overnight.

Moreover, during this period, there will inevitably be more difficult reclamation processes.

"Are they digging aqueducts?"

Qingji asked, pointing to the farmer not far away who was wielding a hoe and digging hard.

Sun Ping replied: "Exactly. Your Majesty, farmland needs irrigation. Rice fields need more water than wheat fields. If there is no sufficient water source, even ordinary fertile soil cannot guarantee that the harvest will not fail!"

The truth is this, even Qingji understands it.

However, Qingji is still very concerned about the development of the southwest land. The speed of development is so slow and the effort is so small. When will Wu Guo have a real big granary?
You know, in later generations, in the current land of Wuyue, there is a saying that "Suhu is familiar with the world".

If Qingji remembers correctly, this proverb appeared in the Song Dynasty.

During the Song Dynasty, the food supply bases in the world were mainly concentrated in plains, lakes and swamp areas such as Taihu Lake and Poyang Lake in the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River.

These areas are not only densely populated, but also transport a large amount of grain to other areas every year.

Suzhou and Huzhou are one of them, prosperous and prosperous.Therefore, gradually there is a saying that "Suhu is familiar, the world is full"!

This is due to the fact that during the Wei, Jin, Southern and Northern Dynasties, the Han family traveled southward in their clothes, bringing a large number of people and advanced production techniques to the south, which made the economic center of the Chinese dynasties gradually migrate to the south of the Yangtze River.

But now, not to mention the more advanced production tools in Wu State, the population is still so sparse, it is tantamount to fantasy to fully develop this place!
"Have you used fertilizer?"

"some."

Fan Li replied: "We have used all the fertilizers that can be used. Human and livestock manure, soil ash, and fertilizers from dead leaves are all put in the fields, but there is still little effect."

Hearing this, Qingji was helpless.

There are many kinds of fertilizers that can be used in ancient times, but the effect is far less than that of modern inorganic fertilizers in the true sense.

In ancient times, not only the expansion of fertilizer sources was emphasized, but also the accumulation and processing of fertilizers to improve fertilizer efficiency.

The accumulated fertilizers include miscellaneous manure, barn manure, cake manure, fire manure, as well as the preparation of manure pellets and the preservation of fertilizer efficiency.

The retting of miscellaneous fertilizers can be said to be the origin of people using retting.

As early as the Spring and Autumn Period and the Warring States Period, people had used the high temperature in summer to rot the weeds in the fields as fertilizer.

However, the nutrients absorbed by such fields are still negligible.

"The harvest is so low, I'm afraid it's not enough to feed all the soldiers who are farming and reclaiming wasteland?"

Fan Li couldn't help sighing when he heard this, "That's right. Your Majesty, even if the land tax for the land reclamation in the Southwest is reduced for a few years, the remaining grain may not be enough to support their daily life."

"As far as I know, in addition to daily farming, the soldiers also have to go hunting in the mountains and forests, and fish in the streams and rivers to get enough food and clothing. However, this will also greatly affect the progress of farming and reclamation."

Hearing this, Qingji didn't feel any dissatisfaction in his heart.

It's not surprising that the development time is slow because of fishing and hunting.

If these soldiers who are responsible for farming and reclamation are not allowed to fill their stomachs, Qingji is hard to imagine. Will they riot because of this, or will they flee directly into the mountains, become bandits, and defect to the Shanyue and Jingman tribes who are entrenched here?
Furthermore, in the harsh natural environment with long and obstructed roads, if the rations of these soldiers were to be transported from Wudu, it would be as difficult as going to heaven!

In this way, the price Wu Guo has to pay is too high, and the gain outweighs the loss.

Qingji then patrolled the fields surrounded by his officials.

At this time, it was already the season of harvesting rice, so many soldiers were already sweating profusely, waving Wu hooks, harvesting rice in the fields.

Qing Ji waved his hand, telling the idlers to leave, while he started chatting with Chief Sima Sun Ping.

The two walked on the ridge of the field one after the other.

Qingji inquired, "Elder Sima, do you know what the widow's intention is in ordering you to lead the troops south?"

"I don't know, please let the king express it!"

Before Qingji left the capital of Wu, he had ordered Sun Ping to lead [-] soldiers who were good at fighting in the mountains, plus a large number of weapons and armor, to go to the southwestern part of the state of Wu first.

Sun Ping didn't know what it meant, but he could vaguely guess something!
However, in front of Qing Ji, Sun Ping really can't pretend to be smart, lest Qing Ji mistakenly think that he is trying to figure out the king's heart without authorization, and has acted like a courtier and a courtier!
(End of this chapter)