The Chinese people had a natural love for food. No matter how bitter and difficult life became, they never gave up pursuing good food.
As early as the Han dynasty, the court discovered that wheat’s yield per acre was higher than millet, so they promoted wheat cultivation. But after hundreds of years of effort, results were minimal.
After eating wheat rice, Zhao Hanzhang unilaterally believed wheat hadn’t been widely promoted in the past because wheat rice tasted worse than millet rice.
Not until Zhuge Liang invented steamed buns, plus dumplings that began trending among the upper class after Zhang Zhongjing of the Eastern Han, did the proportion of wheat planting among the people begin to rise.
But because dehusking wheat and grinding flour required enormous manpower, millet still dominated the five grains planted by the people.
Not until the realm descended into chaos and continuous famines did the people temporarily abandon taste and turn to planting wheat and soybeans in large quantities—two crops with high yields.
Now that the realm was stable, people were beginning to resume planting millet. However, this time, wheat planting rates were higher than millet. Under the court’s promotion, even rice, which had always ranked last, was beginning to see increased planting rates.
First, because wheat and rice yields per acre were higher than millet. Second, because of the stone mills and water mills Zhao Hanzhang had promoted for years. Especially after her ascension, she required every village to have a stone mill and ordered all provinces and commanderies to build small and medium-sized water mills near water sources for the people’s convenience.
Water mills not only made pounding rice convenient and labor-saving, but grinding flour was also fast and cheap.
But the court always had limits to its reach. So commercial mills began appearing among the people—some powered by livestock, some by water.
They earned hard-earned money.
After Zhao Hanzhang heard about this, she even praised them in court for being diligent and clever. She published the design drawings for small water mills that Fu Tinghan had drawn in the newspapers, saving those interested in this business from many difficulties.
This way, even more people planted wheat.
And great landowners, great aristocratic families, and great bureaucrats like Zhao Hu, Wang Dao, and Ji Yuan directly eliminated millet and planted wheat and rice in large quantities, which were more delicious and higher-yielding.
Compared to ordinary people, they had no shortage of labor to refine grain. And because they could bear greater risks, they privately contacted the Bureau of Agriculture to purchase cultivated superior seeds, planting them ahead of everyone else.
The Bureau of Agriculture also needed large amounts of data for research, so they wouldn’t refuse. As long as those who came to buy seeds signed contracts guaranteeing seeds wouldn’t be leaked, they would sell to all.
Planting data would later be reported to the Bureau of Agriculture.
Over two years, some planted well, some planted poorly. But overall, successes far exceeded failures.
However, agricultural returns were low. Even if only one acre out of ten was planted poorly, the loss exceeded the benefits brought by superior seeds. So everyone became more cautious, not pursuing Bureau of Agriculture seeds as fervently as at the beginning.
This time Shen Ruhui entered the palace to complain, and incidentally to promote their newly researched Luoyang South No. 2.
“With fewer people recognizing superior seeds, we officials collect less data. Research timelines get extended. Especially with rice—this official has discovered rice yield increases exceed wheat, but its variations are also large. Luoyang and surrounding areas are cold and dry. Many places aren’t suitable for planting rice.” Shen Ruhui wanted to go to Jingchu or southern Yuzhou to do research.
Zhao Hanzhang, seeing he seemed very interested in rice, asked, “Does Minister Shen now specialize in rice?”
“Not exactly, but I find planting rice quite interesting,” Shen Ruhui said. “Of the ten people in the Bureau, six ran off to research wheat, three research rice, and one does miscellaneous work. So this official felt there were enough people researching wheat.”
Moreover, because Zhao Hanzhang widely recruited talented people—even illiterate old farmers, as long as they had good insights on planting, could receive a stipend from the Bureau of Agriculture—the Bureau was now quite crowded with people.
If not for Shen Ruhui’s strict management, the Bureau of Agriculture would nearly rival the Bureau of Natural Philosophy in numbers. Truly terrifying.
Zhao Hanzhang thought for a moment and agreed to let Shen Ruhui go to Jingchu during rice planting season to conduct experiments, but didn’t agree to him staying long. “I’ll have Wang Yifeng arrange experimental fields for you. State your requirements. When you go, take several people with you to record data.”
She paused before continuing, “Jingchu is indeed suitable for planting rice, but the south has places even more suitable than Jingchu. I’ve heard that in the southernmost regions, the weather is hot—even winter is as warm as spring and summer. Those places can plant two seasons of rice per year.”
Shen Ruhui’s first thought was, “Can the soil’s fertility support it?”
Zhao Hanzhang smiled, “With added fertilizer, naturally it can. We’re experimental fields seeking speed. With sufficient fertilizer, there’s no fear of depleted soil. The people can choose freely. Our goal is to increase yield per acre, not just total quantity.”
Upon hearing this, Shen Ruhui began thinking about more southern places, worrying, “Could Your Majesty mean the Jiaozhi area?”
Zhao Hanzhang nodded, “Jiaozhi, and also the Hepu Commandery area of Guangzhou, Zhuya Province—all meet the conditions.”
Shen Ruhui: “But there, miasma runs rampant, all are barbarians. If this official goes…” Wouldn’t this take his old life?
Zhao Hanzhang gently consoled him, “Minister, first try Jingchu. As for Guangzhou and Jiaozhi, there’s no rush. Zhao Shen has been there over a year. I believe it won’t be long before the Bureau of Agriculture can conduct experiments wherever you wish.”
Zhao Shen didn’t know Zhao Hanzhang had such confidence in him. At this moment, he had just climbed over a mountain. The accompanying soldiers’ legs were trembling—this mountain was so steep…
The guide stood to the side, mockingly looking at Zhao Shen.
He saw Zhao Shen with bright shining eyes looking up at the opposite mountain, exclaiming in admiration, “What a fine mountain!”
Seeing the spring water flowing down the mountain ravine, he again couldn’t help but sigh, “What fine water!”
Zhao Shen knelt down to cup water and drink. The water was cool and slightly sweet, refreshing to the heart. His eyes lit up as he shouted loudly, “Come drink water quickly. This general has lived over twenty years—this is the first time I’ve drunk such sweet water.”
Upon hearing this, soldiers immediately came forward to cup water and drink. Everyone’s eyes brightened, and the fatigue on their faces dissipated considerably.
One soldier exclaimed in wonder, “If this were in Luoyang, a small stream like this on the mountain would have long dried up. Even if it didn’t dry up, it would freeze. How could we drink directly? The weather here is truly strange—winter doesn’t bring snow, yet the weather is so cool and warm, with green everywhere.”
Zhao Shen said, “The world is so vast, full of wonders. Beyond this, there are even more miraculous things. If nothing else, following me, your knowledge can continuously grow.”
Soldiers: …Actually, this knowledge wasn’t something they necessarily needed to gain. Glancing at the greenery before them, they felt no love like Zhao Shen—they only wanted to cry.
When on earth could they get out of here?
But Zhao Shen was in no hurry. Seeing everyone was tired, and with a water source here, he had everyone rest on the spot. He took an eight trigrams compass and walked around, calculating for quite a while before sighing, “What an auspicious place of wind and water! If one carved a cave dwelling here to cultivate, life would be complete.”
The guide listened nearby, his heart scratched like a chicken’s claw. He very much wanted to step forward and ask, but didn’t dare.
After Zhao Shen finished his work, he pulled out a recently received gazette to read. He frowned, “I know about the new spinning machine, but what is this sewing machine?”
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