Datang: What's wrong with my fief being a billion points larger?

Chapter 69: The Problem of Farming

In Haikang City, Leizhou, Lingnan, after arranging Ning Chun to take charge of the farming and reclamation of Tiepa, Shenchuan, Xuwen and other places, and going to Yazhou and other places with Feng Zhixun to take charge of matters, Li Yuanji also focused on farming.

This year's farming directly affects the grain harvest. The most basic element of development is to be able to have food to eat, and even this point alone is extremely difficult to meet at the moment.

Li Yuanji came to the farmland, and Ning Chun and Xie Shufang accompanied him.

After walking along the field for a while, Li Yuanji looked a little heavy.

"Where has the canal been dug so far? How long will it take to connect to farmland?"

Li Yuanji was also anxious. He had people start digging the canal a long time ago. Especially after the iron cattails were made, the progress of the canal should have been faster, but it still has not been completed.

Once drought or heavy rain occurs, the failure to transport water in time and drain the accumulated water will affect the harvest. The importance of this canal is self-evident.

Ning Chun responded solemnly, "Your Majesty, the farmland here is on a higher ground. If we divert water from the nearest river, it won't be enough. We can only divert water successfully by building a canal from the top of the river downwards, which has delayed us a lot of time."

Upon hearing this, Li Yuanji looked at Ning Chun in disbelief.

"Why didn't you tell me about this earlier? The river is low-lying, so we can use a water truck. We can solve the problem by installing a water truck. Why not install one?"

Li Yuanji was really angry that he didn't know about this in advance. Looking at Ning Chun, Li Yuanji was a little disappointed. He could be said to have valued Ning Chun very much, but there was still some gap between Ning Chun's ability and his.

Especially Ning Chun's attitude in handling this matter. Since it was not possible, he should have told him at the first time. Instead, he was smart enough to dig a canal from a high place. It would take a long detour. Even if there are many people and iron cattails now, it is not an easy task to complete such a canal.

What is more crucial is that now it is not about building a canal, but the farmland here all needs it. The original canal cannot withstand heavy rain and severe drought. Once this occurs, the harvest will be directly affected, or even a complete failure.

Ning Chun felt helpless when he heard this.

“Your Majesty, it’s not that I didn’t build the overturned cart, but even if I did, it wouldn’t work. The water couldn’t get in, and I couldn’t do anything about it.

Your Majesty was busy at that time, so I went to discuss with Xuan Ce, and in the end we had no choice but to bring water from a higher place. I failed to complete the canal in time, and please punish me, Your Majesty."

When Li Yuanji heard that it was done after consultation with Wang Xuance, he was shocked. After thinking for a while, Li Yuanji found that at this time, it seemed impossible to divert water from a low place to a high place.

The improved tipping cart did not appear until the Tang Dynasty. Today's tipping cart is still based on the prototype of the tipping cart of the Eastern Han Dynasty, with only partial improvements. The barrel cart has not yet appeared.

The key to improving the tipping car is the use of axles and converting water potential into power. These two points are the basis for improvement.

After understanding the situation, Li Yuanji looked at Ning Chun and was not so angry anymore. He really could not blame anyone else for this.

"Dahao, get up. You did nothing wrong. It is indeed impossible to overturn the waterwheel today. I will find a way to stop it. You should immediately stop drawing water from high places. Each piece of farmland should still dig canals towards the nearest river. I will figure out how to bring the water in!" Li Yuanji knew something about this waterwheel. The main type of waterwheel was the one in the Yuan and Ming dynasties. After that, there was no special progress.

The water wheels of the Yuan and Ming dynasties completely got rid of human-powered power and liberated labor. In places with steep terrain, there were also high-rotating drum wheels that could be used. Li Yuanji said that he had seen these, and although he might not be able to make them, he could still draw them.

Keeping this matter in mind, Li Yuanji continued to observe.

No major problems were found afterwards, but Li Yuanji also had his own ideas.

"Dahe, you can go find some animal manure, especially the manure of oxen, and put it in the farmland in advance, so that the crops will grow better. In addition, you can prepare some wood ash, which is the ash from burning dead trees and grasses. You can sprinkle some of it on the fields, which can also increase the growth and prevent insects."

Nowadays, almost no one raises livestock here, so manure might be a little difficult to find, but there is no other way. It would be better if there was some. Ning Chun can only ask people to collect it. As for the wood ash, it not only serves as a nutrient, but also as an insect repellent.

The bad thing is that you can't put too much, as it will affect the acidity and alkalinity of the soil. People here don't put anything in when they plant, and just cut the weeds afterwards. Li Yuanji feels that he still needs to make all these arrangements.

Ning Chun was stunned by what Li Yuanji said, and so was Xie Shufang. How could Li Yuanji, as a high-ranking King of Qi, actually understand farm work?

Especially Xie Shufang, he knew best what kind of luxurious life Li Yuanji had lived in Chang'an before. Now that Li Yuanji knew all this, he could only admire him for a while.

In Xie Shufang's eyes, these must have been things that Li Yuanji slowly figured out after coming to Lingnan, and he put in a lot of effort. Otherwise, why would Li Yuanji know these?

Although he didn't know how Li Yuanji figured it out, it did not stop him from admiring him.

Ning Chun on the side agreed immediately.

"Your Majesty is so talented. I never thought you were so proficient and good at farming. I will definitely do a good job. However, it may be difficult to collect the manure. I will have someone start making the wood ash later, and it can be spread today."

Li Yuanji knew the shock in the hearts of the two people, and he also knew that his behavior was completely unrelated to his usual behavior. However, there was nothing he could do. These people were shocked, and he was also concerned about the grain harvest.

Then Li Yuanji said: "Dahe, just collect as much livestock manure as possible. If there is nothing, forget it. Remember not to spread too much wood ash, otherwise it will affect the grain harvest.

As for why this happened, you will find out if you read more books. This is also what I saw by chance in a miscellaneous book when I was in Chang'an.

Just pass these on and make sure you do it well. If you don’t grow crops well and don’t have a good harvest, you’ll really go hungry next year.”

Li Yuanji made up an excuse to get away with it and didn't elaborate. After watching for a while, Li Yuanji went back.

After returning, Li Yuanji took out a piece of drawing paper and started drawing. He wanted to draw the blueprint of the waterwheel and then have someone make it. The problem of water diversion and irrigation could be solved.

(End of this chapter)