Chapter 261 New Farm Tools and Agricultural Productivity
The king stood in front of the copper plow, silent and silent, only the time flowed in his eyes.
Familiar agricultural production tools were lined up in a row, and they came into view one by one, taking his racing thoughts back to his motherland nearly two thousand years ago. It was an era that was very similar to today's world, and it was also an era of change!
"The great affairs of the country lie in sacrifice and military service." This was the Spring and Autumn Period of 578 BC, the beginning of new changes.
"The reason why a country thrives is agricultural warfare!" This was during the Warring States Period in 356 BC, when Shang Yang launched his first reform.
The Reform was conceived in the Spring and Autumn Period and took place in the Warring States Period. The real fundamental driving force was the continuous development of agricultural productivity with iron tools and cattle farming!
The historical process is cyclical, and social productivity and social systems advance alternately. In today's Mexica Union, during the feudal state of Huzhong at this time, Hulot had already started the transformation of the social system with reference to Shang Yang's reform. Correspondingly,
The purpose is to further promote the development of agricultural productivity to match the institutional innovations of the Qin and Han Dynasties and build a unified empire foundation!
Under the guidance of historical logic, Xiulote's political ideas are very clear. To develop agricultural productivity, the first step is to control feudal land and concentrate agricultural capital; the second step is to establish households and integrate people, strictly require and encourage farming, and improve
Investment in agricultural labor; the third step is to popularize bronze hand tools, improve the efficiency of making wood and stone agricultural tools, and create and apply new bronze agricultural tools!
During the long pre-Qin era, the Celestial Dynasty had a highly prosperous bronze civilization. Bronze farm tools have been around for a long time and can improve agricultural production efficiency, but they have not been popularized in the Yellow River Basin. This is mainly due to the preciousness of bronze and the scarcity of bronze resources in the north. Limited bronze resources
Bronze was used in sacrificial ritual vessels, military weapons, and chariot and horse equipment. Correspondingly, the Yangtze River Basin was rich in bronze resources, and the production and use of bronze farm tools during the Shang and Zhou dynasties was significantly developed.
"Oxen plowing is still far away, and iron tools are also far away. If we want to improve the agricultural production technology of the feudal country, we can only pile up manure, build dikes and use bronze agricultural tools."
The king's thoughts returned from time. He carefully looked at the classified farm tools. These farm tools came from his memories and were modified with reference to the opinions of old farmers. He also has many subsequent designs, which are still on the drawing board.
The farm tools in front of you are divided into seven types, corresponding to the seven activities in agricultural production.
"A human-powered bronze plow, shaped like a spoon, has a wooden board that is stepped on by the feet, and is often used by one person. Well, yes, it is simple and strong, and can be called a tread plow. If you step on the plow for five days, it can be used as an ox plow for one day.
Although it consumes a lot of energy, it is the best result!"
Shulot first held the newly made bronze plow, inspected it for a moment, and a smile appeared on his face. This is the first and most important agricultural tool for land preparation. Plowing the land is very important for agricultural production and can effectively
Promote crop growth and increase yield. There are many reasons for this.
First, prepare the soil. Smooth the land and break up the soil clods to make it easier to sow seeds in the soil layer.
Secondly, it is breathable. Loose soil can improve breathability and help the roots of crops grow deeper.
Next, evenly fertilize. Cultivated land can turn the fertile soil at the bottom to the surface and bury the remains of the previous season's crops to form new fertilizer.
Third, weeding. Before sowing, get rid of the weeds that have emerged to disrupt the growth cycle of weeds. In tropical America where there is sufficient rainfall, fast-growing weeds will greatly reduce crop yields, requiring a lot of manpower to deal with them.
Finally, remove the insects. Dig the soil to dig out the eggs of the insects in the ground, and let natural enemies and tropical sunlight kill them.
It is precisely because of these benefits that agricultural production is called farming, and the popularization of iron plows and ox farming will have a revolutionary impact on agricultural production!
Plows in the history of the Celestial Dynasty can be divided into ancient human-powered plows and common animal-drawn plows. The animal-drawn plow developed from the straight shaft plow in the Han Dynasty to the curved shaft plow after the Tang Dynasty. The plow plate was installed on the shaft head to rotate freely.
A plow was installed on the arrow to control the depth of soil plowing, which was still used until agricultural machinery became popular.
Shulot still had the image of the curved-turn plow in the countryside of later generations in his mind. He roughly understood the principle and was able to draw a picture. However, the benefits of this kind of plow must be combined with farm animals to be realized. For the Chinese people of this era,
For American civilization, the human-powered bronze plow was more suitable. A human-powered rope could also be hung in front of the plow to add one more person to assist.
Behind the bronze plow, there is a bronze rake that is also used to turn the ground. As for the more detailed rake, it is not in the king's memory.
Side by side with the plow and harrow, there is a columbine with a wooden columbine on the upper part and a bronze columbine foot on the lower part. This is the second type of sowing agricultural tool, that is, the ancient drill. Because of the lack of animal power, Shulot designed two
For a foot-column cart, there are one or two people pulling the rope at the front end, and one person pushing it at the rear end. In order to adapt to the sown corn, the distance between the two legs of the column cart is wider, providing a greater distance between crop rows.
Then there is the third type, cultivating and weeding agricultural tools. It is very simple. It is actually a bronze hoe. Xiulote just glanced at it and nodded and continued forward. Bertard frowned slightly. This kind of agricultural tool seems to be distributed to farmers.
Bronze weapons. Toltec, who followed at the end, was quite curious. He stretched out his hand and played with the hoe twice, his eyes flashing, thinking about how to use this strange-shaped medium-length weapon.
The fourth type is an irrigation agricultural tool, a manual overturned vehicle, also called a keel vehicle. The operating principle is very similar to the chain rotation of a bicycle, except that there is a long groove in the middle. The wooden chain blades are manually powered to rotate, and the blades will scrape and rise to remove the water.
Send.
This kind of agricultural tool is used to lift water from the lower lake or river surface to the high level of the canal through human power, and irrigate the acres along the canal. The same agricultural tool also uses water power. Shulot has drawn the diagram,
It is planned to be first trial-produced on the banks of the Leman River in the north.
"Your Majesty, your divine wisdom is as bright as jade!"
Chalape followed closely behind and complimented with a smile.
"This artifact was made by me and a master carpenter. I used copper nails to repeatedly reinforce it at key points. With it, you can build a highland garden surrounded by earth embankments and wooden fences on an island in the lake. This way
It can be easily irrigated and you don’t have to worry about flooding!”
Hearing this, Xiulote paused and nodded slowly. The new irrigation tools must be used with dams and ditches, so there is no rush at the moment.
Next, the fifth type of harvesting agricultural tool is equally simple. It is a small sickle made of bronze, less than half a meter in length, and has a sharp inner arc. Harvesting tools actually include harvesting, threshing and cleaning. But for corn and pumpkins, this is the case
For crops, only the harvesting sickle is needed.
Shulot looked at it for a moment and asked in a deep voice.
"Charape, how much bronze does this sickle cost? How many hours does it take to cast one?"
Chalape estimated it, and he still understood such a simple question.
"Your Majesty, the bronze sickle is made of bronze in twos and twos, roughly the same as the bronze spearhead. As long as there is enough clay, it is not a problem for one person to cast more than a dozen in a day."
The king nodded, thought for a moment, and then gave the order.
"The autumn harvest is approaching in October. The 30,000 field troops cultivate a huge number of acres and need sharp bronze sickles to harvest quickly. Chalape, give you one month to provide at least half of the army with sickles!"
"Ah, this... I obey, Your Majesty!"
Chalape looked bitter, and then he lowered his head and accepted the order. His Majesty came to inspect and left tasks one after another, all of which were military orders... He secretly felt cruel in his heart. In order to complete the tasks, he must have used his craftsmen in the past few months.
Work with the apprentice to death: work from dawn to dusk, stay in the workshop for food and accommodation!
The sixth type is processing agricultural tools, which are used to process grain and cotton respectively. Xiu Luote didn't know much about the tools for processing cotton. He only remembered a scene of playing cotton, so he made a slingshot trampoline.
Basic grain processing tools include pestles and mortars and stone mills, which have long existed in the world. He recalled a later novel, drew an upgraded version of the pestle and mortar, and a treadmill, and then asked craftsmen to make them. Now he
He stretched out his foot and stepped on the tail of the turtle twice. He looked at the rise and fall of the mouth of the turtle at the front, nodded with satisfaction and smiled.
"I have made great achievements in developing the treadmill, so I will give you a first-class title!"
Hearing this, Chalape was startled, his mind was spinning, and he actually picked up the topic.
"Your Majesty, enlightened by wisdom, created a treadmill that can pound beans, corn kernels and pumpkin puree. This thing saves manpower and benefits the world... The Lord God must be delighted and bestows divinity on Your Majesty, and bestows all the hearts of the feudal people on it.
In your hands!"
Hearing this, Shulot turned his head in surprise, looked at the hereditary bronze official in front of him, and said meaningfully.
"Chalapei, serving as a small bronze official is indeed a bit unfair to your talents."
"Ah, Your Majesty, the light of your divinity illuminates my eyes, allowing me to offer the best bronze craftsmanship... No matter what position I am engaged in, I am willing to die for you!"
Chalape quickly knelt down and saluted, feeling a little uneasy. He had a deep foundation in the workshop and was unwilling to leave easily.
Xiulote nodded, without comment. He looked at the warrior commander and gave instructions in a low voice.
"What Chalape said makes sense. The research and development of new agricultural tools is a divine revelation from the king, and it is related to the blessing of the Lord God...it can be known to all people."
Bertard's eyes flashed and he nodded with understanding. Ever since the knowledgeable elder became the chief, the center has generally had the right to speak in the feudal country. The propaganda will soon be integrated into the hearts of the people like spring breeze.
The last type is to transport agricultural tools, including common poles, baskets, poles, and newly-made wheelbarrows. As for more convenient pack gear and carts, you still have to wait for the arrival of livestock.
Shulot glanced twice and expressed his affirmation. Then, he solemnly asked the most trusted warrior commander.
"Bertard, these new agricultural tools can facilitate farmers' production in the fields and help increase the income of the fields! I intend to popularize them throughout the country and let all people use them... What do you think?"
Bertard thought for a moment and looked solemn. He asked cautiously.
"Your Highness, how much do you think these farm tools can increase the harvest of the fields?"
"I have discussed with veteran farmers in the alliance. New agricultural tools can significantly reduce the consumption of manpower, thereby cultivating more land. As for increasing the yield per acre... there is no answer without actually planting the previous season. The yield of the cultivated land should increase in the first year.
It’s not obvious, but it can reduce the fallow time. And drill wide planting, copper hoe weeding... there should be at least a 20% increase in income!”
"At least a 20% increase in income..."
Bertard lost his silence and showed shock in his eyes. He looked at His Highness deeply and then said respectfully.
"Your Highness, increasing income is definitely a good thing, and wooden farm tools are also good. But the price of copper is currently high, and bronze is even more expensive. How can ordinary people afford these bronze farm tools?"
"How about it be distributed uniformly by the feudal countries?"
"Your Highness, farm tools are prone to wear and tear during use. Although bronze is strong and durable, the cost of use may not be much less than that of stone farm tools until it can be produced on a large scale. For ordinary farmers, instead of expecting to receive two or three baskets more
, three or five buckets, it is better to melt the bronze farm tools and sell them, and continue to use cheap stone farm tools!"
"Hmm... That makes sense. How about renting it temporarily?"
"Your Highness, ordinary people are not willing to rent something belonging to a distinguished person, let alone something so valuable. If they are forced to rent it, I am afraid that the people will only collect it carefully and have no sleep every day for fear of losing it and being blamed."
"Bertard, I have made up my mind to popularize new agricultural tools! How do you think we should do it?"
"Your Highness, in my opinion, bronze farming tools can be used first in military camps. Military camps are well-organized, strictly managed, strict military laws are enforced, and there are officers at all levels to restrain them. As long as they are strictly monitored and the losses are checked, it should be OK
Really take advantage of the new farm tools!”
"As for ordinary villages, only a small amount of bronze farm tools can be issued. They are handed over to the priests in the name of sacrificial objects, and then used as the grace of the main god to be borrowed by the devout farmers in the village. This can also improve the authority of the priests and strengthen them.
Mastery of the Village!”
"Well...just do as you say!"
The king stood there, thinking for a long time, and finally nodded slowly.
"Calculate the required quantity as soon as possible, and then hand over the task to the workshop. Before spring plowing next May, the field army will use all new agricultural tools."
"Now it seems that if we want to truly revolutionize the era, we must reduce the cost of bronze as soon as possible. Excavation of copper mines on a large scale is imperative!"
Shulot put his hands behind his back, pacing in thought, and everyone followed in silence. When the king stopped, in front of him was the real weapon that transcended the ages, the bronze cannon!
