After spending two more days in Liaoyang, Li Xin presided over the opening ceremony of the Liaoyang branch of Qingyu Trading Company.

After opening the shop, goods such as soap, cement, Dongning liquor, and perfume from Dongning City were sold together.

This caused an instant sensation throughout Liaoyang.

In particular, the purchase of thirty jars of Dongning liquor by the Liao Prince's Palace caused a huge stir.

Everyone was drawn to the aroma of Dongning liquor and wanted to be among the first to taste its delicious flavor.

However, it's extremely difficult to buy even one jar.

Li Xin was no longer able to witness the commotion in Liaoyang.

After opening the Liaoyang branch of Qingyu Trading Company, Li Xin once again embarked on his journey westward.

This time, there were a few more people on the journey, namely Li Tong, the heir apparent of the Liao King, and Li Cai, the princess of the Liao King.

They were representing His Highness the Prince of Liao, going to pay homage to the Emperor.

Traveling together along the way, we were able to look after each other.

After leaving Liaoyang, they traveled westward for four or five days until they crossed Shanhaiguan and entered the interior of the pass.

The surrounding scenery also became lush and green.

As summer arrives, the wheat fields on the horizon turn golden, a pleasing sight to behold.

Zhao Bingzhang came to the edge of a field, picked an ear of wheat, rubbed it in his palm, and looked worried.

A farmer's family by the field was preparing straw ropes by the roadside.

Zhao Bingzhang stepped forward and asked, "Old man, how's the harvest this year?"

"harvest?"

The old man looked up at Zhao Bingzhang, who was dressed in plain clothes, and sighed helplessly, "We encountered a drought in the spring, just when the wheat was filling out. The drought has caused a significant reduction in yield this year."

"If an acre of land yields eighty catties of wheat, that's considered good! Sigh!"

As he spoke, the old man sighed, his cloudy eyes gazing at the distant sky, and said with a touch of desolation, "Compared to previous years, the yield has been reduced by half! Why doesn't God give us a way to survive!"

The desolation in his voice was palpable.

Zhao Bingzhang remained silent for a long time, unsure of what to say to comfort him.

Back in the group, Zhao Bingzhang finally let out a long sigh of relief, but he still couldn't hide the frustration in his heart.

"Mr. Zhao, what's wrong?"

Li Xin asked the question.

Zhao Bingzhang sighed and recounted what he had seen and heard to Li Xin.

"Only 80 jin per mu?"

Li Xin was somewhat surprised.

But then, in a flash, Li Xin remembered what his grandmother had told him in his previous life—

Back when his grandmother first got married, a wheat yield of one or two hundred jin per mu was considered very good!

Wheat is not drought-resistant, and if the weather is unfavorable, the yield will be reduced!

Therefore, ordinary people can only eat white flour steamed buns a few times in their entire lives.

During festivals and holidays, some sorghum flour is mixed into the dumplings.

The people are suffering!

Li Xin sighed helplessly, thinking to himself: It seems that after returning from the capital this time, I will have to start researching fertilizers.

Without chemical fertilizers, grain yields cannot be high!

It was only after the large-scale production and widespread use of chemical fertilizers that grain production began to rise steadily in later generations.

Although it cannot be used to make compound fertilizer, it can still be used to make some soil fertilizer.

Thinking about it, Li Xin made a mental note of it.

"Your Highness,"

Zhao Bingzhang sighed and said, "With the current situation, it would be good if we could get eighty catties."

Fortunately, most households have planted sorghum. Let's see how much grain we have by the autumn harvest.

If sorghum production also decreases, the people will probably go hungry…

If the people go hungry, then trouble is bound to happen!

Li Xin's heart skipped a beat.

In this era, the borders were constantly threatened by bandits from the grasslands.

Natural disasters and man-made calamities have led to reduced grain production.

Beset by internal and external troubles, the people suffered terribly.

This world feels a bit like the end of a dynasty!

Li Xin remained silent for a long time, unable to utter a word.

"Fortunately, things are not too bad in Dongning City!"

Zhao Bingzhang took a deep breath and said, "Although the grain has not yet been grown, the sea routes to Annam, Champa, Siam and other places have been opened."

Rice, cotton cloth and other supplies can be transported to Dongning City in a steady stream, which can relieve the enormous pressure on Dongning City!

However, the situation is not so optimistic in other places!

Especially in other inland provinces, if another natural disaster were to occur, the consequences would be unimaginable…

The two sat facing each other, sighed, and neither had a good solution.

After all, Li Xin was only the Prince of Xin, a vassal king of Dongning Province.

His influence doesn't even extend to the mainland yet.

After passing Shanhaiguan, and traveling for another seven or eight days, they finally arrived at the outskirts of the capital.

Even from afar, one can see the towering city walls of the capital.

That's not comparable to the small city of Dongning.

Even the city wall of Dongning New City is probably not as tall as the city wall of the capital.

The majestic city walls, with their blue bricks and yellow tiles, exude the majesty of a unified dynasty!

Upon arriving at Chaotianmen in the east of the city, officials from the Imperial Clan Court and the Ministry of Rites came to greet us.

After exchanging greetings, Li Xin, Li Tong, and their entourage entered the capital city under the guidance of officials from the Imperial Clan Court.

The accompanying Tiger Guard Battalion was all stationed outside the city. Only Wei Dahai and a few others were allowed to enter the city.

Returning to the capital, some memories became clearer in my mind.

Despite the ongoing disasters in other prefectures and counties, the capital city remained a scene of prosperity.

The streets were bustling with traffic and people.

Among them were even blond-haired, blue-eyed foreigners and dark-skinned Kunlun slaves, all speaking fluent Mandarin and haggling with merchants in the city.

Prosperous and luxurious!

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