Ming politicians

Su Tiancheng's statement has been carefully considered.

The time to purchase winter wheat will be in April of the next year. At that time, corn and sweet potatoes will be sown. Corn seeds are available in Pingyang Prefecture and can be purchased directly. However, the method of sowing must be changed. I can hand in hand with the tenants of the Su family I believe there will be a bumper harvest. The sweet potato seeds must be purchased in Fujian. The distance from Shanxi to Fujian is far away. According to the current traffic conditions, it takes at least two months to go back and forth. The sweet potato seeds purchased are at least [-] catties. The delay in transportation may be more than three months.

Sweet potatoes are cut into pieces to germinate. One catty of seed potatoes can grow about 70 seedlings, and 3000 seedlings can be planted per mu. Calculated in this way, one mu needs at least 3000 catties of sweet potatoes, and [-] catties of sweet potatoes can be supplied About [-] mu of fields.

The yield per mu of sweet potatoes is very high, at least more than 600 jin. For the [-] mu of sweet potatoes, conservatively calculated, the yield can reach [-] million jin, which is more than [-] shi of sweet potatoes.

The remaining 4500 mu of land can be planted with corn. The yield of corn is a bit poor. According to the current level, it is very good if it can reach more than 500 catties per mu. It is also a conservative calculation. The yield of 4500 mu of corn can reach more than 200 million Jin, that is, more than 1 shi of corn.

If this plan can be realized, the tenants of the Su family will be able to recover in less than a year, and the food storage of the Su family can be greatly increased, and there will be no problem in coping with the famine in a few years.

Of course, there is a premise here, the preliminary work needs to cost money.

A simple calculation shows that the 350 tenants of the Su family will need at least 360 shi of wheat flour to last until May next year. This expenditure is 500 taels of silver. Su Tiancheng doesn't know the exact price of 200 catties of seed potatoes. Sweet potatoes haven't been popularized in Shanxi yet, and they haven't been planted for a long time in Fujian. Calculated based on the price of four coins, 50 taels are needed. The transportation cost on the road is at least 250 taels, and the total is 5 taels. Besides, for corn, one mu of land needs 22500 catties of seeds, which is equivalent to 110 catties of seeds. About 33 shi, the estimated price is about the same as that of wheat noodles, and it needs 650 taels of silver. Adding up all of them, the required silver is [-] taels.

This does not include the silver needed to dig ditches and dig wells for water.

Su Tiancheng now has a total of about 800 taels of silver, which is enough on the surface, but there is one biggest problem here, that is, if he wants to find his own way out after falling out with the eldest wife, that is to say, when the time comes Without the 30 taels of silver per month, I still have to live.

To do anything, you have to plan for the worst. This is the reason why Su Tiancheng was able to succeed in his previous life. After traveling to the Ming Dynasty, he still has to maintain such advantages.

But if these things are not done, it will definitely not work. In the next few years, food will become the biggest problem, especially the great famine in Shanxi recorded in the ninth year of Chongzhen in history. I don’t know how many people starved to death, farmers and even Cannibalism, now must be prepared for a rainy day.

After visiting the tenants' homes, Su Tiancheng had the most direct feeling that if these tenants continue to develop according to the current situation, they are potential peasant rebels, and they are about to starve to death. What can they do if they don't rebel.

Back in the mansion, Su Pingyang was very anxious. He knew exactly how much the young master had. There was only 240 taels on the book. In May of next year, it would be 210 taels in seven months, a total of 450. About two silver, which includes living expenses.

"Young master, there are so many expenses you mentioned, but the mansion doesn't have that many money expenses."

Su Tiancheng took out the kit, the 50 taels of gold in it was what he got from selling his war horse last time, it has come to this time, and he must take it out.

"Uncle, here is 50 taels of gold, you take it first, and plan your expenses together."

Su Pingyang took the kit tremblingly, 50 taels of gold was a huge sum of money to him, not to mention the exchange price of gold was a bit strange in Pingyang Fucheng, rarely seen in the market There is not much gold and silver, most of them are copper coins, and one tael of gold can be exchanged for 11 taels to 12 taels of silver.

"Uncle, there are a few other things I have in mind, but they need to be entrusted to a trustworthy person. The first thing is to buy 110 stone corn seeds and keep these seeds well. The second thing is to buy 500 stone seed potatoes. Send people to Fuzhou, Fujian Province to buy, how to keep fresh, the farmers there must be clear, these two things need to spend more than 300 taels of silver, these two things must be done, in addition, the distribution of wheat noodles At that time, tell all the tenants to store a large amount of straw and straw, and they must be stored."

Su Pingyang took a deep breath again. He originally thought that with the 50 taels of gold, there was nothing to worry about, but the young master still has so many things to do, all of which need money, especially to go to Fuzhou in Fujian Buying sweet potato seeds, not to mention the quantity purchased, is just transportation.

"Young Master, it's a long way to go to Fuzhou, Fujian. I'll handle this matter directly."

"No, uncle has to take care of the affairs of the mansion, as well as many things of the tenants. He must not leave Pingyang Fucheng. My consideration is whether to let Su Jun handle this matter."

"Let Su Jun go, young master, should you think about it, or else, I'll tell Er Tong to go to Fujian."

<During the festival, it is relatively safe to transport seed potatoes along the road. These seed potatoes must be transported back, and there must be no mistakes. "

Su Jun was very excited.

Unexpectedly, the young master would arrange such a big event for him. He went to Fuzhou, Fujian to purchase sweet potato seeds, and he would bring 25 taels of gold. This kind of sacred feeling, this injury on the body is nothing, it is estimated that it will be almost healed when it is not in Fujian.

Looking at Su Jun, Su Tiancheng was still a little worried. It wasn't that Su Jun couldn't do things well. It wasn't very peaceful outside. Su Jun was just a child of the Su family and hadn't seen much in the world. Encountered trouble on the road, I don't know if I can handle it.

"Su Jun, going to Fuzhou, Fujian Province to buy sweet potato seeds this time is a very important matter. We must do our best to handle it well. However, it is not very peaceful outside. If your life is threatened, don't worry about the seeds. People can come back. Enough."

"Master, I must protect the sweet potato seeds with my life."

"I'm just worried that you have such an idea. The world is difficult. Don't do things like losing your wife and losing your army. If your life is lost, can the seed potatoes be shipped back? Be smart along the way, the situation is not right If it’s gone, let’s resolutely abandon the seeds, the most important thing is to save our lives.”

Even though Su Tiancheng said so, in Su Jun's heart, sweet potato seeds were more important than his life. As for the possible difficulties, he didn't think so much. <Jie, you can't live in the mansion, go back and tell Yuhuan well. "

After Su Jun left, Su Tiancheng fell into deep thought. He faced too many difficulties, and the silver tael was not the biggest problem. At worst, he could sell a few horses first, and he could get the silver tael. With the eldest wife, there is no need to overdo it. I'm worried, this is a typical internal conflict, let's put it aside for the time being.

The encounter with the horse market outside Pingyang Fucheng made him realize that in this turbulent era, if you want to do things, you must have your own armed forces, otherwise you will be restricted in everything you do. Power comes from within.

But in today's situation, wanting to have their own armed forces is tantamount to fantasy.