Read Novel Full Chapter 275
Chapter 275: National Power Increases by Thirty Percent
The Governor of Shezhou, Zeng Ziqian, never disappoints!
He entered the hall with a beaming smile, and after performing a grand salute, his first words were congratulations to the Da Qi and the Emperor!
Hearing this, the officials’ eyelids twitched! As expected, as expected, he’s back again!
Just moments ago, the Minister of Revenue had been arguing intensely with Xue Yan and Li Yu, his irritation palpable. He glanced at Zeng Ziqian with a furrowed brow. Being interrupted from discussing urgent matters was particularly annoying.
“Governor Zeng, unless you bring food sufficient to support the army for a year, no matter what you say, it won’t count as good news. The plow and pig-raising initiatives do benefit the country and the people, but they won’t resolve the current crisis.”
Clearly, his frustration with Xue Yan and Li Yu had spilled over to Zeng Ziqian.
Zeng Ziqian’s brow twitched slightly, and he smiled: “Minister Chen, isn’t this quite a coincidence?”
At these words, the Emperor’s eyebrows also twitched. “Stop with the theatrics. Quickly, tell me, what brings you back to the capital?”
Zeng Ziqian immediately became serious, pulled out a memorial from his sleeve, and presented it with both hands. After Cen Xi took it, he performed a standard bow and said with a broad smile: “I bring good news to His Majesty—
The county lord, Sang Luo, has spent four years experimenting with composting methods, which can increase rice yields by forty kilogram per acres!
The method of alternating between wet and dry farming has shown that in climates suitable for this practice, it is possible to achieve two harvests a year. Furthermore, this method balances soil fertility, making it possible for even inferior fields to be cultivated for at least three consecutive years without needing to fallow!”
When it came to the composting method, it was fine, but when he got to the alternating wet and dry farming method, the Emperor nearly leapt from his dragon throne in shock!
“Zeng Ziqian! Is this true!?”
Forty kilogram increase per acres!
Two harvests a year!!
Inferior fields can be cultivated for at least three years without needing to fallow!!!
What does this mean?
In that instant, the Emperor could feel his own blood rushing through his veins, his heart almost bursting from his chest!
The entire court was stunned, as if they were hearing a celestial proclamation. The Minister of Revenue, who had just been arguing fiercely, stared at Zeng Ziqian in disbelief.
“Zeng Sanlang, what are you saying…”
Although he wasn’t an expert in agriculture, he knew that soil fertility was limited, and without proper rest, it would be exhausted. Especially for inferior land, it had always been the practice to alternate between cultivation and fallowing. How could it possibly support two harvests a year and continuous cultivation for three years?
“I do not dare deceive Your Majesty. The reason I say that inferior land can be cultivated for at least three consecutive years without needing to fallow is because County Lord, Sang Luo only experimented with this method for three years before leaving the mountains. Therefore, the figure of three years is based on that. In reality, if the fertility is maintained, the upper limit could be more than three years, but I do not know.”
The Emperor quickly took the memorial from Cen Xi and read it through line by line. After finishing, he seemed unable to believe it and read it again!
“Excellent!”
“Excellent!”
“Excellent, Sang Luo!”
He was so excited that he paced back and forth in front of the throne, thoroughly enjoying himself. After a moment, he slapped the memorial into Cen Xi’s hand: “Take this down and show it to all the officials! This is what a county lord I personally appointed can achieve! Increased yields per mu, two harvests a year, and several years without needing to fallow—that means our people in the Da Qi will see at least a thirty percent increase in their annual grain harvest!”
Yes, a thirty percent increase is a conservative estimate based on the implementation in counties with climates similar to Shezhou. This figure has been averaged for other counties in the Da Qi where this method might not be applicable. For Shezhou alone, the increase could be several times more!
As for whether Zeng Ziqian’s report is accurate, with his understanding of Zeng Sanlang, there is no doubt!
Moreover, the most important point is that these methods were devised by Sang Luo.
The Emperor had never met her, but a young woman in her twenties who developed the curved plow, yam cultivation, pig-raising methods, and even papermaking! Only he and Zeng Ziqian knew where the current papermaking techniques came from.
The repeated contributions of Sang Luo in agriculture and handicrafts had elevated her to a semi-mythical status in the Emperor’s eyes.
So, the Emperor truly believed the seemingly unbelievable data in Zeng Ziqian’s memorial!
—
The officials below were stunned, unable to believe what the Emperor was saying. Cen Xi had just descended the steps when several dukes, the Minister of Rites, the Minister of the Secretariat, the Left and Right Chancellors, and the six Ministers quickly surrounded him.
Xue Yan and Master Chen, though not the highest-ranking officials, were quick and agile. The two, who had just been furiously arguing, now acted in perfect unison. They pushed past the other high-ranking officials to get close to Cen Xi, grabbing half a roll of the memorial each.
Seeing the other hand, they instinctively nodded in agreement: “Let’s read it together!”
Cen Xi, smiling, let go of the memorial and returned to the palace.
The high-ranking officials crowded around to read the memorial. Li Yu, not as courageous as Xue Yan and Master Chen, pulled Zeng Ziqian aside: “Is it really true that this method can increase our grain yield by at least thirty percent?”
Zeng Ziqian replied calmly, “It is indeed true. If I were not sure, I wouldn’t dare report it to the capital.”
Li Yu muttered in disbelief, “How is that possible?”
He had visited Daxing Village himself. While the village was indeed different, with its energetic people and abundant poultry and livestock, and the fields growing various crops, including a flowering wild grass used as green manure, he hadn’t thought much of it then. When Zeng Ziqian mentioned papermaking progress, he had focused on that instead.
Li Yu stomped his foot: “I should have gone back to Daxing Village!”
If he had revisited and thoroughly inspected Daxing Village, he would have been able to believe it and trust it now!
—
While officials scrambled to read the memorial, the Emperor was unconcerned about the commotion. His mind had been focused on grain, and after reading Zeng Ziqian’s memorial, his thoughts raced quickly.
This memorial meant that if the methods were implemented properly, the national strength of the Da Qi would increase by at least thirty percent. The grain shortages would be a thing of the past! It was only a matter of time before the granaries across the country would be full!
It meant prosperity for the people and a subsequent increase in population!
Grain and population!
The Emperor was so excited he felt as if a switch had been turned on. He alternated between clenching and relaxing his hands, laughing heartily. His mood was extraordinarily uplifted!
When all the officials had finished reading Zeng Ziqian’s memorial, the Emperor returned to his dragon throne and announced to the assembly: “There is no need to worry about grain anymore. Also, stop talking about increasing taxes. Starting today, all counties in the Da Qi can implement the composting method. Counties with climates similar to Shezhou can also try both methods together—two harvests a year without needing to fallow. How could we worry about insufficient grain?”
“As for this year, many of you have good land and ample grain in your warehouses. Even if you have to sell it to the court, you still have family, friends, and old acquaintances. I don’t care if you have to tighten your belts or use your connections to help the court. This year, make an effort to gather grain; the court will pay you in real gold and silver.”
This speech gave the officials face. To put it another way: with two harvests a year, there’s no point in hoarding—hoarding will only devalue the grain!
Indeed, the court lacked grain, and the people didn’t dare sell their limited supplies. But did the large aristocratic families with vast lands really have no grain to sell? It was merely hoarding in anticipation of higher prices.
Most of the officials in court were from prominent families.
Increasing taxes? Ha.
The Emperor made a mental note of the officials who recently played the poverty card and their associated families.
But thinking of the abundant grain and the people’s granaries full, all his recent frustrations dissipated.
The officials below, quick to respond, said: “We will certainly do our utmost!”
Though they agreed, they still had doubts about Zeng Ziqian’s memorial.
In reality, if one excludes the counties with cold climates that cannot achieve two harvests a year, the composting method and crop rotation mentioned in the memorial could indeed double the yield for the people of Shezhou, and possibly even more.
Is that possible?
It seemed like celestial writing—no one could believe it!
In such times, someone had to take the lead. A fifth-rank official stepped forward and addressed Zeng Ziqian.
“Governor Zeng, I see that your memorial mentioned bringing two villagers from Daxing Village who have participated in the composting and rotation methods?”
“Yes, they are outside the hall.”
“Please invite them in so we can question them about how they achieve two harvests a year and continuous cultivation. It is truly incredible.”
Zeng Ziqian had no reason to hesitate. He glanced at the Emperor, who was indifferent to whether the official was genuinely curious or not, as the Emperor himself was genuinely curious.
“Let them in. I have questions for them as well.”
A junior eunuch was dispatched to fetch them from outside the hall.
Early in the morning, just as the boat arrived in the capital, Zhou Cunzheng and Chen Youtian, who had been brought directly into the palace by Zeng Ziqian, were bewildered. Zeng Ziqian instructed them to stand wherever he said, and they hadn’t moved a step. They only moved their necks and eyes, looking up at the sky, down at the ground, and around. The palace was truly magnificent.
Even the distant guards holding spears were curious, wishing they could somehow see the grand hall where Zeng Ziqian had just entered, to catch a glimpse of the Emperor and the officials discussing matters.
As they were absorbed in their surroundings, a little eunuch holding a dust whisk hurried out of the hall and approached them.
“You two are the villagers from Daxing Village who came with Mr. Zeng?”
Zhou Cunzheng and Chen Youtian were a bit stunned. Zhou Cunzheng nodded, “Yes.”
“Then come with me to the hall. The Emperor wishes to see you.”
Huh?
Huh-huh?
What’s happening?
“The Emperor wants to see you. Don’t delay. Quickly follow me.”
Chen Youtian’s legs felt weak. Oh no, they had come to teach about farming. Why did they need to see the Emperor?
The little eunuch briefly explained the etiquette for meeting the Emperor. Zhou Cunzheng and Chen Youtian’s hearts raced, and they could barely hear what was being said.
Trembling and weak-legged, they followed the little eunuch toward the Taichi Hall!
As they were still some distance away, Chen Youtian grabbed Zhou Cunzheng’s arm, saying, “Jiu Jiu Jiu, I, I, I’m feeling a bit weak.”
Zhou Jiuzhangwas also trembling, his hands shaking. He tried to encourage both himself and Chen Youtian, “It’s, it’s fine. This is our, our fortune.”
A great fortune!
Meeting the Emperor.
If only their legs would stop shaking and their spirits wouldn’t falter.