Time flies to the hottest time of summer, that is, mid-July. It has been almost three months since Chen Qing returned from Shandong Road.
The capture of Shandong Road this time brought extremely rich war dividends. The war dividends were distributed according to the prior agreement. The temple treasury of the Internal Affairs Hall was allocated 5 million yuan, which was enough to make up for the ten-year fiscal revenue and expenditure gap, which greatly eased the financial tension.
Moreover, Shandong Road has a large population. Even if the land tax and household tax are exempted for two years, the salt and tea tax alone will generate an income of more than 2 million guan every year.
It is for this reason that the Internal Affairs Hall approved Chen Qing's plan, and the Western Army expanded by another 100,000 troops, bringing their total strength to 600,000.
That morning, Chen Qing took various counselors from the Internal Affairs Hall and dozens of officials to the outside of Xicheng. Outside Xicheng, there was a piece of official land covering hundreds of acres, which Chen Qing designated as a test field, specifically for planting corn and pumpkins.
Today is the corn harvest day, and Chen Qing specially brought officials to inspect it.
There is not much corn, just over 100 acres planted, mainly because there are not enough seeds, but there are plenty of pumpkin seeds, with 300 acres planted.
"I told you before that corn and pumpkin are our trump card to solve the famine. With these two things, our population will not be unable to feed."
As he spoke, Chen Qing led everyone to the cornfield. They saw lush corn fields, like green gauze tents. Hundreds of soldiers were breaking corn cobs in the field, and from time to time they came out with piles of corn and placed them on the ridges of the field.
There were dozens of large bamboo baskets filled with corn. Apparently there were not enough bamboo baskets.
"Just to ask!"
Chen Qing stopped a soldier, who quickly stepped forward and saluted, "See you, Your Highness!"
Chen Qing smiled and asked: "How many corns are produced on one pole?"
"Reporting to Your Highness, most of them have two knots, but there are also one knots, and the number is very small."
"Is there anyone with three knots?"
“I don’t know if other people have experienced humble positions, but I have never encountered humble positions.”
"I know, go ahead!"
The soldier bowed and left. Chen Qing took a few sticks of corn and handed them to everyone, "Let's take a look! This is our important food in the future. It used to be called corn, but I call it corn. The yield of corn per acre in dry fields is about two thousand kilograms."
Everyone suddenly exclaimed. You must know that the rice yield is only 600 to 700 jins. The annual yield of two-crop rice is about 1,300 jins per mu. That is still the fertile paddy fields in the south of the Yangtze River. If it is dry land in the northwest, the annual output of wheat and millet per mu is about 1,300 jins.
Only five hundred kilograms of corn is unbelievable. It is still a two-year and three-crop system. The yield of corn can actually be two thousand kilograms per mu. How come everyone is not amazed.
Jiang Yanxian said excitedly: "In this case, we need to seize the time to promote it!"
Chen Qing said with a smile: "Don't rush this. Next year it will be extended to about 2,000 acres, and the year after that there will be 20,000 acres. It can be promoted in Guanzhong the year after that. I estimate that in five years it can be promoted in the entire northern region. It will be just right."
The land used to grow hemp will be freed up to grow corn."
"Your Highness, where is the pumpkin?" Zhou Kuan asked.
"Pumpkins are grown in front of and behind the house. The biggest advantage is that they don't take up any land. Let's go take a look."
Everyone followed Chen Qing. At this time, Zhou Kuan suddenly found dozens of soldiers sitting on the ground eating corn stalks. He was surprised and asked: "Can these stalks be eaten?"
Chen Qing picked up a corn stalk and said with a smile: "This corn stalk is a bit like sugar cane. It is slightly sweet. It can be eaten and used to squeeze sugar. But I recommend using it to make green fodder for cattle, horses, mules and donkeys.
Camels are good things."
Everyone came to the pumpkin patch. Hundreds of acres of pumpkin patch were planted, just like watermelons. The ground was covered with creeping vines, all covered by leaves. But they could still see countless pumpkins, which were not yet mature and were as big as footballs.
.
"Your Highness, is this also food?" Lu Qingshan asked curiously.
"In fact, it is the same as beans and can be regarded as food, but it can also be used for cooking. Young pumpkins can be eaten as vegetables, and even pumpkin leaves can be used as vegetables. Old pumpkins can be made into porridge or steamed and eaten. They can indeed be used as food, and
It is very sweet and glutinous, suitable for all ages, and can even be dried and collected for consumption in times of famine.”
"Excuse me, Your Highness, how much pumpkins can be produced per acre?" an official asked.
Chen Qing smiled and shook his head, "I haven't calculated it, and I don't know, but the biggest advantage of pumpkins is that they don't take up any land. As I just said, they can be planted in front of and behind the house, and can also be planted in the yard. You can climb on the roof.
You can also grow them in the county. Each household can plant dozens of large pumpkins, and there will be enough food for breakfast: pumpkin porridge, pumpkin cakes, pumpkin cakes, whatever you can imagine."
All the officials had a look of expectation in their eyes. They were obviously more interested in pumpkins than corn. Chen Qing smiled and said: "During the Chinese New Year this year, it is estimated that each official can get half a pumpkin. It will not affect the seed collection. Let's go back and try it."
Once I tasted it, I found that this was a species brought back from overseas and was not found in the Song Dynasty."
........
In the afternoon, when Chen Qing returned to his mansion, he unexpectedly found that his family was also harvesting corn. Everyone was wearing a fine linen jacket, a hat, leather shoes, and gloves. All of them, including the eldest son Chen Ji,
The wives, concubines, and children were all busy, except for Zhao Yingluo, who was pregnant for seven months and helped out a little with her big belly.
The cornfield is on the north bank of Hubei. It covers an area of two acres and is lush and green. Yao Mei and two young ladies came out holding corn. Xueer jumped up with joy, "Daddy is back!"
The two little ladies also threw away the corn, and rushed towards their father with open arms. Chen Qing squatted down, hugged the two daughters, and said with a smile: "How much corn did you harvest?"
"I collected twelve, and Bing'er collected eleven. I have one more than her." Xue'er looked proud.
"Not at all!"
Bing'er blushed and said, "I also collected twelve, but she counted wrong."
Chen Qing pointed to the corn on the ground and said with a smile: "Both babies are very capable, and they are both the best today. Daddy likes it, so he quickly dropped the corn, picked up the corn, and put it in the basket."
When the two little ladies received the praise, they were very happy and ran to pick up the corn on the ground and ran towards the basket.
At this time, Princess Lu Xiu came over, and Yao Mei ran to inform her that the master was back. Her face was covered with sweat, and the weather was too hot.
"Why did you think of harvesting corn today?" Chen Qing handed the towel to his wife and asked with a smile.
Lu Xiu was a little embarrassed and took the towel to wipe the sweat on his face, and said with a smile: "Didn't my husband say last night that corn would be harvested outside the city today? Our two acres of corn are also ripe, so we can all harvest together today.
Let’s have some fun together!”
“Two acres is still a lot of land!”
"Actually, it's the female guards and maids who charge more. We just make up the numbers. By the way, I need your husband's help with something!"
Chen Qing smiled slightly and said, "What's the matter, tell me!"
Lu Xiu whispered: "My master wants to return to his hometown of Jinan!"
Chen Qing was shocked, "She is so old and wants to go back and settle down?"
"I don't want to settle down, I just want to go back and visit, visit my parents' graves, and then come back."
Chen Qing said with a smile: "You are serious about what you said. I thought she was going back to her hometown to settle down. She just went home to have a look. There is no problem. She will go back by boat. The Supervision Department will send someone to Shandong Road soon. They will take the Wanshi ship.
Your father just needs to take two maids with him, and there will be an army escort there, so there will be no problem."
"Then I feel relieved. I'm just worried that she will have a hard time on the road and won't be able to hold on."
At this time, Housekeeper Wen hurriedly came over and said: "Your Highness, there is news from the front that the King of the Internal Guard has requested to see you for something important!"
Chen Qing nodded, "I'll go take a look!"
He got into a light carriage and went to the front yard and walked into the living room. Wang Hao and Zhong Huan stepped forward and saluted, "See you, Your Highness!"
Chen Qing waved his hand, "Is there anything important?"
Wang Hao took a flat box and opened it, "Your Highness, please look at this!"
Chen Qing stepped forward and took a closer look, his face suddenly changed, "Where did this... come from?"
