Mu Jialuo suppressed the urge to roll her eyes and asked, feigning grievance, "Your Majesty, do you dislike me?"
"You also think that I'm an old maid who can't get married and that I'm a disgrace to you?"
Xie Yuan: ...
There are no unmarried old maids; they just don't want to settle.
Of course, Xie Yuan knew that Mu Jialuo said this not because she was really "wronged," but because she didn't want to hear her talk about blind dates and marriage.
"Very well! I understand!"
Xie Yuan curled her lips into a smile. "Don't worry, even if you never marry, I won't interfere!"
She just said it casually; she really didn't mean to pressure her into marriage.
"Your Majesty, your word is as good as gold!"
Mugalo, who had been looking aggrieved, smiled brightly.
Xie Yuan nodded, and after the joke, they began to discuss serious matters. "By the way, how's the promotion of Champa rice going?"
Mugaluo quickly suppressed her smile and replied seriously, "Your Majesty, it didn't go very smoothly!"
"The situation is better in the capital region; several imperial estates are conducting trial plantings."
"Several major families, including the Xie and Mu families, also set aside some estates to promote the new rice varieties."
“Yanzhou, Qizhou, Zhongzhou and other places are too far apart, and the local implementation is not strong enough, and there is always shirking responsibility.”
"And the Jiangnan region, too, faces numerous obstacles!"
At this point, Mu Jialuo, worried that Xie Yuan would be disappointed upon hearing this bad news, quickly helped to explain: "Actually, we can't blame the local authorities for not implementing the policy effectively enough."
"Mainly, mainly because we missed the season."
It's already May, and the summer grain harvest is just around the corner.
Although new rice can be planted after the harvest, the soil fertility is limited.
Even in the fertile and climatically suitable Jiangnan region, it is actually possible to achieve two harvests a year.
However, overly frequent cultivation can deplete the land.
If the soil is not fertile, the same seeds will yield a much lower harvest, which is a complete waste of manpower and land.
Therefore, relying solely on improved varieties is insufficient to increase grain yields.
There is also the issue of insufficient soil fertility.
Xie Yuan had already thought of this, so he asked, "Didn't I announce the formula for the organic fertilizer?"
If the soil isn't fertile enough, then fertilize it.
Over the years in Lingnan, Xie Yuanke has always let the old farmer run around on his farm.
After three or four years of experimentation and development, soil-based fertilizers are now a very mature 3.0 version.
Xie Yuan believed that the fertilizer formula produced by her Xie Family Manor could definitely solve the problem of insufficient soil fertility.
"..." Mugalo pursed his lips, not in a hurry to defend himself.
Xie Yuan, who had just mentioned the "traditional fertilizer" issue, realized the crux of the problem himself—money!
Not to mention in ancient times, even in later generations, with industrialization already achieved and chemical fertilizers already widely available, they are still a significant expense for farmers.
In ancient times, without industrialization, fertilizers could not yet form an industrial chain, and their prices were naturally not as low.
The most crucial point is that in ancient times, the economy was based on small-scale farming. Ordinary farmers had little money and a weak foundation, so they didn't have much room for trial and error.
If any problems arise during the use of fertilizers, improved seeds, or other related items, and agricultural work is delayed, the entire family's harvest for the whole year will be affected!
A year of poor harvest, or even a complete crop failure, is enough to ruin a family.
Of course, as the empress, Xie Yuan could enforce the order from top to bottom.
However, the consequences of brute force are even worse.
Xie Yuan's original intention was to increase grain production and improve the national economy and people's livelihood, not to force the people to rebel.
"...I'm getting impatient!"
Xie Yuan sighed softly.
She was indeed too impatient, or rather, the past few years after her transmigration had been too smooth, giving her the illusion that "I can do it, I'm capable."
Promoting improved varieties takes time.
It will take time for farmers to accept and afford chemical fertilizers.
"Your Majesty, you are doing this for the sake of the people."
Mugaluo sensed Xie Yuan's disappointment and self-blame, and quickly spoke up to comfort him.
Xie Yuan waved her hand, saying she wasn't that fragile.
It's just a little setback, she can handle it.
"The old method will still be used, and it will be implemented in the Imperial Estates of the Emperor and myself."
“I welcome any aristocratic families or local powerful clans that wish to join us.”
"...Oh, right, and also the Jiangnan region, those former royal family estates and lands that were confiscated can be used for trial planting."
Xie Yuan hadn't forgotten that Jiangnan was the largest granary in ancient times.
In addition, the Great Zhou Dynasty had only recently unified the country, and the territory of the Southern Dynasty still needed further pacification and consolidation.
Xie Yuanhui's suggestion to Helian Jue to move the capital was partly due to this reason.
Chang'an was an important city located between the north and the south. The Zhou Dynasty moved its capital to Chang'an, which was more conducive to governing the country.
"Your Majesty is right, Jiangnan is indeed a wonderful place!"
Seeing that Xie Yuan's emotions were not greatly affected, Mu Jialuo was relieved and quickly followed Xie Yuan's train of thought to start the conversation.
Mugaluo said "good," not only because Jiangnan was truly good, but also because Xie Yuan's choice to focus on promoting Champa rice in Jiangnan was an excellent one.
Because of Xie Yuan's identity, she still has some "advantages" in Jiangnan.
Xie Yuan was born into the Xie clan of Chenjun. His ancestors followed the royal army south. Although they were a prominent family of immigrants in the Southern Dynasties, they were an old and established family.
During the Southern Dynasties, the Xie family was highly prestigious.
The fact that the Empress of the Great Zhou Dynasty was a woman from the Xie family was somewhat of a consolation for the aristocratic families of the Southern Dynasty.
Not to mention, Xie Yuan's mother's surname was Chen, and although she was not from a prominent family, she was a member of the royal family of the Southern Dynasty.
Although not a princess, she was still a county princess, the daughter of a prince.
In fact, the last emperor of the Southern Dynasty was Xie Yuan's maternal uncle.
Xie Yuan also had the blood of the Southern Dynasty royal family.
Xie Yuan never cared about these things, because she was not the original owner of this body.
There was no sense of closeness or belonging to the original owner's family, including his/her father's and mother's relatives.
Compared to his status and bloodline, Xie Yuan cared more about his own abilities.
Helian Jue only valued Xie Yuan, not any Xie family woman or the daughter of a princess of the Southern Dynasty.
Emperor Helian Jue and Empress Xie Yuan didn't care, but the people of the Southern Dynasty were quite hopeful and reassured that Xie Yuan could become empress.
To some extent, the fact that the Empress of the Great Zhou Dynasty was a woman from a prominent family in the Southern Dynasty with royal blood could be seen as a way of appeasing the Southern Dynasty.
Xie Yuan: ...It doesn't matter. If you feel better thinking this way, then just think that way!
Xie Yuan truly didn't care about the Southern Dynasty's royal family.
Xie Yuan was not particularly close to his maternal clan.
For example, the last emperor of the Southern Dynasty, who was captured by the previous emperor, was brought back to the capital and became the Marquis of Anle.
With a title, fiefdom, wives, concubines, and children, Marquis Anle could indeed enjoy wealth and happiness in the capital of the Great Zhou Dynasty.
In fact, Marquis Anle was quite "happy and forgetful of Shu".
Despite the fall of his kingdom and the loss of his empire, the Marquis of Anle did not choose to end his life. He was captured, granted a noble title, and kept as a mascot in Pingcheng. He accepted it all...
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