Despite his busy military duties, the wicked man would personally inspect the research institute every few days. He skillfully incorporated the essence of modern agricultural knowledge into his guidance, leading the agricultural experts in the right direction.
"Grand Commandant, we have begun experimenting with hybridization," Tao Rang reported to the wicked man. "Following your suggestion, we have selected Champa rice as the female parent and northern japonica rice as the male parent, and are currently cultivating new seeds after artificial pollination."
"Very good." The wicked husband nodded in satisfaction. "We must record every step of the process and the result so that we can summarize our experience and continuously improve."
He knew that cultivating hybrid rice was a long process that required countless experiments to succeed. But as long as the direction was right, success would eventually come.
Meanwhile, the water resources department was also busy.
"Grand Commandant, this is our newly designed irrigation system." A water conservancy expert showed the blueprints to the wicked man. "Following your instructions, we have designed a network of channels that can precisely control the water flow. This ensures that the rice paddies have sufficient water even during droughts."
The wicked man carefully examined the blueprints, offering suggestions for modification from time to time. As a time traveler, he had a basic understanding of water conservancy projects and was able to point out their shortcomings.
"We must ensure the channel design is reasonable and the water flows smoothly. We also need to consider the drainage system to prevent flooding," he said, sketching on the drawings. "Furthermore, the ratio of the main channel to the branch channels must be appropriate to ensure even water distribution."
The water conservancy experts nodded repeatedly, deeply admiring the wicked man's insights.
The soil department has also made new discoveries.
"Grand Commandant, we've discovered that Champa rice isn't as demanding on soil as northern japonica rice," the soil expert reported. "Given sufficient water and sunlight, it grows well in almost any soil. However, the yield can be even higher with the addition of some special fertilizers."
"What kind of fertilizer?" the wicked husband asked, intrigued.
"We tried several formulas, and the most effective was a mixture of human excrement and wood ash. In the experimental fields where this fertilizer was applied, the rice grew nearly 30% better than in other fields."
The wicked man nodded in agreement: "Continue the research and see if there are any other better fertilizer formulas. Furthermore, it's crucial to teach farmers how to apply fertilizer correctly; timing and dosage are both critical."
The Mohist craftsmen in the agricultural implements department were not to be outdone.
"Grand Commandant, this is our newly developed rice transplanting tool." The craftsman demonstrated a special wooden tool, "It ensures that the seedlings are planted at a consistent depth and with uniform spacing, making it twice as efficient as hand transplanting."
The wicked man tried out the tool and found it indeed convenient and efficient. He then offered several suggestions for improvement, which the Mohist craftsmen immediately noted down, preparing to further refine it.
And so, under the guidance of the wicked husband, the Agricultural Research Institute proceeded smoothly with its various tasks. He incorporated every aspect of agricultural production—breeding, irrigation, fertilization, farming tools, etc.—into a systematic research scope, striving to improve agricultural productivity in all aspects.
With the arrival of autumn, the first batch of Champa rice has been harvested.
The wicked husband personally inspected the harvest in the fields. The workers used newly developed sickles to harvest the rice, which was 30% more efficient than traditional sickles.
"Dean, what's the yield from this experimental field?" the wicked man asked.
Tao Rang excitedly replied, "Grand Commandant, the actual yield per mu reached 320 jin! That's even higher than we expected. If this can be promoted on a larger scale next year, the grain output of our Great Qin will increase significantly!"
The wicked husband nodded in satisfaction and then asked, "How is the progress of hybridization breeding?"
"Reporting to the Grand Commandant, the first batch of hybrid rice seeds has been cultivated. We selected twenty of the best-performing female plants and pollinated them with pollen from northern japonica rice. Seeds have already formed, and we can begin trial planting next spring."
"Excellent!" the wicked husband exclaimed with delight. "These seeds must be carefully preserved. Next year's trials are crucial!"
After the harvest was completed, the wicked husband immediately reported the good news to Ying Zheng.
"Your Majesty, the Champa rice experiment has been a great success!" he exclaimed excitedly. "The yield exceeds 320 jin per mu, nearly twice that of northern japonica rice. More importantly, it has a short growing season and strong drought resistance, making it very suitable for large-scale cultivation in the north."
Emperor Ying Zheng was overjoyed: "Excellent! Truly excellent! Your actions, my dear minister, are a meritorious deed that will be remembered for generations to come!"
The wicked man seized the opportunity to suggest: "Your Majesty, I believe we should select some areas in the Yellow River basin next spring for a small-scale trial to see the actual results. If successful, we can gradually expand the planting area."
"Approved!" Ying Zheng agreed without hesitation. "You will be fully responsible for this matter. The court will provide full support in terms of manpower and resources!"
The wicked man continued, "Your Majesty, besides the promotion of Champa rice, the Agricultural Research Institute is also conducting hybridization breeding experiments. We hope to cultivate a new variety more suitable for the northern climate. If successful, the grain production of our Great Qin will reach a new level!"
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