Murong Yuanbo couldn't remember where he had seen saltpeter, so Gao Zhijun took Qinglong, Moxue and Huo Jinqian out to look for it.
We came to a small village where the villagers were working.
The border is cold and desolate, and it is difficult to grow good crops.
"Uncle, Auntie, why don't you go back and rest in such a hot day?"
Gao Zhijun and Huo Jinqian got off the carriage and walked over to a family of four working in the fields.
"Master and Miss, what are you doing?"
The old man asked Huo Jinqian and Gao Zhijun curiously.
Judging from their clothes, they are either rich or noble. I wonder which family they are from and why they come here.
"Miss, the wheat hasn't been planted yet."
The lady said.
Yes, barley is planted here at this time.
Wheat is drought-resistant and suitable for cultivation here, and it is also the only food.
People here only plant one crop a season. They choose to plant in June and harvest in late October or early November.
In fact, barley, like rice, can be planted for two seasons and has a similar growth cycle.
"Auntie, why do you only plant one crop? Barley can actually be planted twice."
Gao Zhijun asked and reminded.
When her sweet potatoes are grown, she will plant them here first because the conditions here are too poor and the people live too hard.
"What are two seasons?"
The old lady asked in confusion.
"Auntie, two seasons means you can plant barley in the early spring and harvest it in the summer, then plant another season of barley and harvest it in the late autumn."
Gao Zhijun explained.
Barley is planted in February and harvested in June. It's planted in July and harvested in November. It's the same growing cycle as rice, but I'm not sure if the soil here is suitable for two crops.
"Miss, are you kidding me? We have always planted one season, how can we plant two seasons?"
The old lady didn't believe her at all. What did a rich lady know about planting? It was just nonsense.
"Auntie, you'll know if you can plant two crops if you try. Start planting one crop of barley in late January or early February next year, and you'll be able to harvest it around early June. Then plant another crop of barley, and you'll be able to harvest it around late October or early November. You only need to waste a little barley seed, and you might be able to harvest an extra crop of barley. Wouldn't that be enough food for the whole family? Why not?"
Gao Zhijun kindly told them the time for planting two crops of barley. As for whether they would accept it, that was their business.
"Miss, it really can be done. You didn't lie to me."
The old lady still didn't believe it, but she was a little moved.
Just as the young lady said, if they could grow barley, they would only need to waste a little seeds and a little manpower, and they would have an extra season of food, which would be enough for their family's food.
"Didn't I tell you? You'll know once you try it. It won't delay your barley planting. That's all I have to say. Believe it or not is up to you."
"Auntie, uncle, we're leaving!"
After Gao Zhijun finished speaking, she took Huo Jinqian and the others away.
"Zhijun, can it really work?"
Huo Jinqian asked Gao Zhijun.
"You forgot about the rice I planted. It should be harvested soon."
Gao Zhijun talked about her rice in Taizhou.
Yes, the ears of rice she planted were full and golden, and were ready to be harvested.
Magistrate Zhang went to Huojia Village every day. He also submitted a memorial to the emperor to report the situation of rice, hoping that the emperor would send someone over.
The emperor did not disappoint him and sent the Minister of Revenue and the Minister of Agriculture to the princess. If the news was true, they would buy the grain seeds at a high price and would not let the princess suffer any losses.
He also sent people to the border with his imperial edict.
The villagers of Huojia Village have to check on the rice and touch the ears of rice every day before they can work with peace of mind.
It was growing so well, it was sure to be a bumper harvest. They all regretted not following the princess in planting, and even more so not asking her for seeds.
Magistrate Zhang sent a group of detectives to guard the fertile land rewarded by the emperor, for fear that some ignorant people would destroy the rice or secretly harvest it. This was the people's food ration and also the food of the imperial court. Destroying or wasting the rice would result in the death penalty.
Prefect Zhang's worries were completely unnecessary. After the people of Taizhou learned about this, they all went to help Gao Zhijun guard the farmland. They all remembered Gao Zhijun's kindness. And they also knew that Gao Zhijun would definitely sell them the seeds.
The rice merchants and landlords wanted to have evil intentions, but they didn't dare to act.
Taizhou is the princess's fiefdom, and everything here belongs to her. They only dare to touch it because they think their lives are too long.
Didn’t you see that the rouge shops and medical clinics made it impossible for the owners of those rouge shops and drug stores to continue running their businesses, so they had to close their shops and open rouge shops and drug stores elsewhere.
Even in the restaurant, hot pot restaurant, and soap shop opened by the princess's family, no one dared to cause trouble, and everyone did business based on their own abilities.
Back to here.
"Zhijun is right. I hope they can believe you."
Huo Jinqian said.
"Miss, if they don't believe it, it's their loss. We don't care about them."
Mo Xue said.
The lady kindly reminded that whether they believe it or not is their business.
The lady is very capable and everything she says will come true.
"Mo Xue is right, Miss. Whether they believe it or not, we can't interfere. Why not find saltpeter as soon as possible?"
Qinglong said.
What he wanted most was to find saltpeter and make ice.
The lady is so amazing and has created so many miracles.
He had no doubt that the young lady could not make ice, and he admired her very much.
"Qinglong is right. Our top priority is to find saltpeter and make ice. We don't need to worry about anything else."
Gao Zhijun also felt that finding saltpeter was most important. She kindly reminded them that it was up to them whether to accept it or not. Even if they didn't, they should still be able to plant sweet potatoes next year and still be able to feed their families.
Sweet potatoes and cassava can adapt to growing here and are no worse than in the south.
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