King of Song

Chapter 185 Cotton Field Promotion
Shops and farmers!
This is the method Lin Zhao came up with, which was borrowed from the company-plus-farmer model of later generations!
It can be seen that most of these people were born in poverty, and their life must be very stressful, so their repayment ability is self-evident.Without a guarantor, Chang Pingcang dared not lend them grain at all.

As for disaster relief, the amount is already very large, and it has been extended from the three months stipulated by the court to five months.This is unique in the Great Song Dynasty, and this kind of relief will end sooner or later, after all, it is not a long-term solution.

So we must think of a way that can not only help them, but also benefit from it, forming a virtuous circle of development.

After thinking about it, Lin Zhao had this idea!
This year they plan to promote cotton planting on a large scale, but after all, the purchased land is limited, and they can't plant much at all.What's more, planting cotton requires a lot of manpower. It is not easy to support full operation, and the scale will be limited.

What can be done to resolve this contradiction?

Because of the matter of the guarantor of the young crop money, two problems are intertwined, which is very helpless and troublesome.Now, instead, there is such an opportunity. If the two things are combined, the problem will be solved easily, right?And it’s the best of both worlds!

Lin Zhao thought that he could mobilize these people who want to get money for young crops to survive to grow cotton!

That's right, that's it!
After waiting for the picking in autumn, the Meng's Commercial Bank will purchase them in a unified manner, while the Qiantang County Government will participate in the whole process and preside over the mediation.To put it bluntly, it is as if Meng's Commercial Bank negotiated with the common people and signed an agreement. One is responsible for growing cotton and the other is responsible for harvesting cotton, which belongs to the targeted acquisition model!
"Cotton, what is this?" Chen San had exactly the same mentality as the villagers in the whole village, and was very curious.Looking at the crop samples brought by Lin Zhao, each one's eyes widened with curiosity.

Something like snow velvet, light and soft, can fly into the sky with a single breath.But that snow-white look looks really good.

"This is cotton?" Chen San looked at the cotton sample suspiciously, and asked, "Can this be eaten?"

"No, this is not food, but a commercial crop...ah, no..." Lin Zhao explained: "This thing is similar to silk floss and hemp, and it can be used to make cloth..."

"Cloth?" The villagers were even more curious. How could such a soft and flimsy thing be used to make cloth?Will the fabric be made like this?This look...can I wear it?
Many people were skeptical and full of doubts about it, and it seemed difficult to accept it for a while.Lin Zhao fully understands this. After all, it is a new crop, and ordinary people have never seen it before. It is normal to have concerns.

Especially for ancient farmers, the first thing they thought of was one word - eat!As soon as everyone meets, someone will first ask, can this thing be eaten?For them, food is always the most important thing.

So if the government says to let them grow rice, they will definitely agree without saying a word, but cotton is another matter...

"Master County Magistrate, you want me to grow this... cotton?" Chen San was dubious.

Lin Zhao nodded lightly: "That's right, I hope you can grow cotton this year!"

"This thing can't be eaten, or..." Chen San changed the subject and asked, "Master County Magistrate, why can't our young crop money be distributed?"

"Because of the lack of guarantors, Chang Pingcang did not dare to release money and food easily..." Lin Zhao also knew in his heart that these people were really anxious.

"There is no shortage of guarantors. The Wang family at the east end of the village is a top-notch household. We can definitely ask him to guarantee us!" Lin Zhao was a little surprised. He didn't expect that Xiren was so interested in Qingmiao's money that he was unwilling to listen to him. Say, ask about it directly.

Lin Zhao smiled and asked, "Then have you asked the Wang family if they are willing to guarantee you? After the guarantee, can you return it on time?"

Chen San said: "As long as the county magistrate speaks, the Wang family will definitely guarantee that we will return the grain with interest when we harvest it in autumn!"

Lin Zhao didn't know whether to laugh or cry. He wanted to put an end to forced apportionment, and he didn't want to embarrass the upper-class households, suffer losses, and even lead to bankruptcy.

But I never expected that ordinary poor people would take aim at them, and even offered to ask the government to come forward to help them ask for guarantees. What is going on?

As for the return, what Chen San said was clear and swearing, but the second half of the sentence was obviously lacking in confidence, and some things were already clear at a glance.At this time, some people's consciousness became more and more intense. Many people wanted to take advantage of this opportunity, but they hesitated to take responsibility.

"However, the imperial court has regulations that can't be forcibly apportioned. If the Wang family doesn't want to, I can't demand anything from them..." Lin Zhao still explained to the villagers on the strength of his temper. This principle must be adhered to.

"But Fuyang County is like this. As long as the government asks, the upper-class households will come forward to guarantee..." Chen San seemed a little unconvinced, or a little unwilling.

Lin Zhao's heart skipped a beat. Fuyang County is also a county under Hangzhou. It is on the same level as Qiantang County, and relatively speaking, its wealth is a little lower.Because the emperor Zhao Xu suddenly ordered that the promotion of the Green Crop Law be extended from the two counties of Qiantang and Yuhang to the entire Liangzhe Road.

Naturally, Fuyang County is also among them, and the implementation of the Green Crop Law is in full swing, but I didn't expect this kind of forced apportionment to happen.In fact, there is no precise definition of this matter. Officials may not directly ask for it, but they can use many indirect means to force the upper-class households to make concessions, and finally they have to come forward as guarantors.

What's even more frustrating is that ordinary people see it in their eyes and agree with it. They don't show much gratitude to the upper-class households, but think it's a matter of course. This is of course helpless.What kind of mentality is this?

Lin Zhao shook his head and said, "Fuyang is Fuyang, this is Qiantang County, there is no such regulation in this county..."

"Can……"

Seeing that the county magistrate spoke so resolutely, Chen San swallowed his words again, the county magistrate seemed a little angry.In any case, a common man is still very afraid of officials.

"Without money for young crops, we are afraid that we will not be able to survive this period of green crops. As you know, the county magistrate, there was a flood last year, and there was almost no harvest..."

Did you just talk about your feelings for nothing?Lin Zhao was very helpless. Didn't he even send them a solution? He didn't listen much at all, so he just kept complaining here...

Lin Xu said: "The government knows all about your difficulties. I came here today to help you solve your difficulties! The solution is to grow cotton!"

"Planting cotton?" Many people just watched the fun and didn't take it as a serious matter at all, so they naturally murmured in their hearts.There are still many people who don't want to believe it. After all, they have never seen it before, and there is a natural rejection.However, careful people discovered that County Magistrate Lin was so serious about the matter, that the majestic head of the county came to this poor village, could it be that he was joking?
Maybe this cotton is really special, let's take a look first!
Lin Xu smiled and said: "I know what you are worried about. Cotton is indeed not edible, but cotton can also be sold for money. As long as you have money, what can't you buy? It doesn't matter how much food you want! Of course. , if you are worried, then we can exchange cotton for food!"

"Dare to ask the county magistrate, what is the explanation?" Some people are already interested.

Seeing this, Lin Zhao smiled knowingly, and shouted: "I will provide you with cotton seeds, or send someone to teach you how to plant and pick cotton. After the harvest in autumn, Meng's Trading Company will come to buy it. Don't worry. Now, with the guarantee from the government, nothing will go wrong!"

"What about the purchase price?" Someone asked the most important part.

Lin Zhaodao: "We won't be able to determine the specific price. How about that? Based on the market price of grain, the purchase price of cotton will be twice or three times the price of grain. How about that?

But so far, the cotton yield per mu has not been recorded in detail.That's all right, based on your grain output per mu of land, how about twice the grain yield per mu after the purchase of cotton?Of course someone wants ready-made copper coins, no problem! "

Speaking of this, it is self-evident how generous the conditions are.At first, many people still had doubts, but now they speak clearly.

It is equivalent to the fact that the government is here to send money and food. As long as you are willing to grow cotton, you will be able to get twice the income of grain per mu in the future?Where can such good things be found?
Twice the amount of grain produced per mu?When I think about it, I feel happy in my heart. Basically, I will make a steady profit without losing money, and I will make a lot of money.As for this cotton, what the hell is it?As long as someone is willing to give money, what can't be planted?
In contrast, with such a promise, who would think about Qingmiao money?After all, that thing also has [-]% interest, and then only [-]% of the grain can be harvested. Now that it is good, you can get "[-]%" of the income.These villagers are not stupid, who would refuse such a good thing?

"Master County Magistrate, is what you said true? You won't deceive us then, right?" Many people also have such worries.

Lin Zhao shook his head with a smile and said, "No, the county government will participate in the hosting, and I promise you that the money will be given as much as it is, and we can sign a contract!!"

"Well, we've planted this cotton..." The villagers readily agreed. This is what the county magistrate himself promised. Could there be anything wrong?
The promotion of cotton planting is the first step. Although the cost is high, Lin Zhao feels that it doesn't matter and it is worth it.Only in this way can those people be tempted to participate.This kind of thing, as long as you take the first step, it will be much easier later.

Isn't it just twice the food, Meng's business can afford it.Waiting for autumn now, the white cotton fields are harvested!

(End of this chapter)