Spring has come again, and the Qin Empire is welcoming the second year that the wicked Grand Commandant has promoted the "Qin Zhan No. 4" rice variety.
As the sun rose and a warm breeze blew, the wicked man stood on the plain outside Xianyang City, gazing at the distant, rolling fields. The planting of 100,000 mu of new rice had begun in full swing, and farmers could be seen busily working everywhere.
"Grand Commandant, how is the situation progressing?" came Ying Zheng's voice from behind.
The wicked man quickly turned around and bowed to the emperor: "Your Majesty's arrival is a great honor; I have failed to greet you properly."
Ying Zheng waved his hand: "No need for formalities. I came out of the palace today specifically to see the condition of these 100,000 mu of rice paddies with my own eyes."
The wicked man pointed into the distance and said, "Your Majesty, look! From Xianyang southeastward, along both banks of the Wei River, lie our rice paddies. In another half month, the seedlings will be ready for transplanting."
Ying Zheng squinted and looked out, and saw that the fields were beginning to turn green, a scene full of vitality.
"Judging from last year's situation, how will this year's harvest be?" Ying Zheng asked.
The wicked man confidently replied, "If there is no major disaster, this year's harvest of 100,000 mu of land should yield more than 40 million jin of rice."
"Forty million catties!" Ying Zheng exclaimed in amazement. "How many people could that feed?"
The wicked man did a quick calculation: "If each person eats 300 catties of rice a year, it can feed over 130,000 people. If the supply is reduced during times of famine, it can still keep 200,000 people from starving."
Upon hearing this, Ying Zheng felt greatly relieved: "With such good grain, my Great Qin will no longer have to worry about famine!"
"Your Majesty, this is just the beginning," the wicked man said firmly. "Next year, I plan to expand to 500,000 mu, and the year after that, to 2 million mu. Three years later, all the southern prefectures of the Great Qin can cultivate this rice, with an annual yield of hundreds of millions of jin."
"A hundred million jin!" Ying Zheng's eyes lit up. "Is my dear minister's statement true?"
The wicked man said, "I dare not speak presumptuously. This rice grows rapidly, can be planted twice a year, and yields twice that of ordinary rice. As long as the methods are proper, a yield of 400 catties per mu is not difficult."
Ying Zheng gave his wicked husband a deep look: "My dear minister, your achievements are no less than those of a thousand miles of territory!"
As the two were talking, Tao Rang came to report: "Grand Commandant, the rice planted in Huayin County for the second season last year has begun to be harvested. Preliminary estimates indicate that although the yield per mu is slightly lower than the first season, it is still around 350 jin."
Ying Zheng was overjoyed upon hearing this: "In that case, one mu of land can produce more than 700 jin a year!"
The wicked man nodded: "That's right. Last year, three counties tried planting a second crop, and this year even more places should be able to harvest two crops a year. If we calculate it this way, the grain production of our Great Qin can increase several times over!"
Emperor Ying Zheng was overjoyed: "Excellent! This is truly a great fortune for the nation! Once this matter is accomplished, I will reward you handsomely!"
After returning to Xianyang, the evil man summoned experts from the agricultural school, the Mohist school, and the water conservancy department to discuss the important matters of the year.
"Now that the 100,000 mu of rice paddies have begun to be cultivated, is there anything you need to pay attention to?" the wicked man asked.
Tao Rang spoke first: "Grand Commandant, there are two things we must pay attention to. First, this year's rainfall is more than usual, making rice blast more likely; we must take precautions. Second, the region is vast, and conditions vary from place to place; we must adapt to local conditions."
The wicked man listened attentively, then asked, "How can we prevent and control rice blast?"
Tao Rang replied, "I have already made preparations. First, I select superior seeds, avoiding diseased ones; second, I drain the water in a timely manner to prevent waterlogging; third, I sprinkle wood ash water to alleviate the disease; and fourth, I promptly remove diseased plants to prevent their spread."
The wicked man then asked the water conservancy official, "Are there any difficulties with water conservancy?"
The water conservancy official replied, "Grand Commandant, most areas have sufficient water resources, but several western counties are at higher altitudes, making water diversion difficult. We are currently constructing additional canals and hope to complete them in a timely manner."
The wicked man nodded: "This matter is crucial. If the water supply is insufficient, the rice will struggle to grow. If necessary, more laborers can be called in to ensure the work is completed before the seedlings are transplanted."
The Mohist craftsmen also offered suggestions for improving agricultural tools: "Grand Commandant, although the rice transplanter used last year was good, some farmers reported that their hands easily became fatigued after prolonged use. We have improved the design, lengthening the handle and wrapping it with soft material, which can reduce farmer fatigue."
The wicked man was very pleased with this spirit of continuous improvement: "Very good, the value of farm tools lies in their practicality. Implement any good improvements you may have."
Spring has passed in the blink of an eye, and the rice seedlings are ready for transplanting. The wicked man personally went to Huazhou to inspect the situation and saw farmers in the fields lined up neatly, holding new rice transplanters, methodically inserting the seedlings into the mud.
"Grand Commandant, look at this new rice transplanter. It's much better than last year's," the magistrate of Huazhou said, pointing to the tools in the farmer's hands.
The wicked man took a look and found that the workmanship was indeed more refined, the handle was longer, and the grip was wrapped with soft cloth, making it more convenient.
"Good, improvements are a good thing," the wicked husband said with satisfaction. "How are things in the fields?"
The county magistrate replied, "Reporting to the Grand Commandant, everything is going smoothly. This year, our county has planted 12,000 mu of this rice, distributed across nine townships. Irrigation facilities are fully operational, and fertilizer is plentiful."
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