Chapter 307 The Wedding Dress is Ready
The Huo family army continued to grow, and soon reached 300,000 people. The wealthy merchants from various families were also quietly transporting reinforcements and supplies in a bid for wealth and glory.
The former Yangguan General's Mansion was changed to Dingxi Prince's Mansion, and Yangguan became the military command headquarters.
In mid-March, officials from ten cities in the northwest gathered in Yangguan to receive spring planting seeds.
Sang Ning and Huo Changan moved all the food out of the space in advance.
The grains were so large and full that the governors of the ten cities were so excited that they cried.
"With seeds like these, there's no need to worry about not being able to grow good crops. In our northwest, the biggest problems are water and food shortages and severe cold weather.
Coal was distributed before the New Year, and this winter, no one died from the severe cold. Now we have so much high-quality grain, which we couldn't even imagine before!
In the past, who would have dared to imagine that the coal used by the rich would one day be available to the poor.
The Northwest cannot produce high-quality grain. Every year, we have to buy grain seeds from outside. Due to insufficient funds, how much can we buy? Most of the grain seeds are of low quality.
This also led to the Northwest being barren for many years, and it became a bitter and cold place in the eyes of people in the mainland.
"I hope this year will bring good weather and good harvests. Don't waste such good grain!"
Good weather and good harvest depend on God’s will.
It's time to bring out the spiritual spring water.
Sonning thought.
After three years of drought, people are now in urgent need of food and cannot rely solely on relief.
Huo Changan was busy reorganizing the army and mining iron and salt mines.
The task of agriculture fell on Sang Ning's shoulders.
She began to travel around the cities, using water wheels to irrigate the land and mixing it with the spiritual spring water.
What the people saw was the image of a mistress working in the fields with the people, and they were deeply moved.
The King of Dingxi was popular in the army.
Princess Dingxi is popular among the people.
With the couple working together, the northwestern cities gradually got back on track.
However, Sang Ning discovered a terrible problem: her spiritual spring water would not regenerate and was gradually decreasing!
The spring pool was not very big to begin with, only slightly larger than the previous Moon Spring. After being used for a period of time, it has shrunk by half!
She was reluctant to use more water to irrigate the fields, as she wanted to save the rest for drinking!
The harvest should be stable this year, but in the future, we will still have to rely on the weather for our livelihood.
This is the climate in the Northwest, there’s nothing we can do about it.
Unless we divert water from the south to the north and build the Grand Canal, but that is definitely not realistic now.
Fortunately, as long as there is no more drought, the multiple diversions of the Shatu River will be sufficient.
It is better to find crops that are drought-resistant and barren-resistant.
Cotton seeds have been distributed and planting has begun in various places. She also planted the pomegranate and cantaloupe seeds brought back by Bai Yi and Xu Wude in the space.
If only we could find more millet and sweet potatoes.
Bai Yi came to see Sang Ning.
His skin became rougher after his trip to Talas, but he did not look older. This was because he was very energetic and his whole person had changed.
Not as serious and rigid as before.
In his words, he was a frog in a well before, but after going out, he realized how big the world is and how exciting it is out there.
He seemed to have opened up his Shendu meridians, and a vitality emanated from him from top to bottom.
"Princess, are the crops listed on the piece of paper you gave me earlier really suitable for cultivation in our northwest?"
Sonning scratched his head.
She didn't mind when the people called her Princess, but why did she feel so awkward when Bai Yi called her that?
It’s too familiar!
"Stop calling me princess, okay?"
"That won't work. Rules are rules, and you have to adapt to them. In the future, you may have to change to another title." Bai Yi hinted.
Sang Ning didn't dwell on this anymore.
"Yes, those crops have high yields, strong adaptability, and are drought-resistant and alkaline-tolerant, especially sweet potatoes, which are perennial plants. If they are introduced to Dongyang, they will definitely solve the national food shortage problem."
"Then I am willing to go on another diplomatic mission to foreign lands and bring back these crops!"
"You're still addicted after going out? You won't be able to return in a few months. It's even farther than Talas. Not only will you have to walk 18,000 miles, you'll also have to cross the ocean. It might take several years!
Oh, there’s a chance I’ll die outside and never come back!”
"I'm not afraid!" Bai Yi was very firm.
"Bai Yi, think carefully. If you were here, you could be granted a title for your contribution in driving out the Liao. Even if you do nothing for the rest of your life, you can still live a stable life."
We are all friends, and Sang Ning doesn't want him to go.
Going to Talas and coming back is already a big risk.
Not every time you are so lucky.
If she remembered correctly, sweet potatoes originated in South America and were introduced from the Philippines. At that time, information was blocked and trade routes had not yet been opened. One could imagine how dangerous and difficult it would be to go to a country one had never known before.
"Bai Yi, listen to me, we'll talk about this later."
"Princess, I have no merit. It is merely atonement."
Yes, atonement.
Because of his negligence, people were massacred. He has no way of avenging the loss of so many lives.
"Bai Yi..."
"Princess, I have made up my mind. Please make the arrangements. I only wish to do what I can for the people of Dongyang during my lifetime."
Looking at Sang Ning's admiring and hesitant look, Bai Yi smiled.
"Princess, there's no need to be like this. In fact, I really enjoy seeing the customs and people outside. It makes me feel free.
If you can make yourself happy and do something for the people, why not do it?
Furthermore, I found some books from Yue Buyuan and learned that some people have already walked that path and are not completely ignorant.
When we reach the Dongyang border, I believe the people there will know more. I will be fully prepared before setting off again, so don't worry!"
Well, what else can Sonning say?
"If you leave, who will be the governor of Liangzhou?"
"More and more talented people are coming to us for refuge. Anyone can be a county governor, but such a heavy and difficult mission as a diplomatic mission to a foreign land must be undertaken by a capable person.
I think I'm a good fit." Bai Yi pretended to be narcissistic.
Sanning also laughed.
"Okay! Who are you going to take with you? I guess Xu Wude never wants to go out again, right?"
"You're wrong. When he came back, he said he would never leave even if he was beaten to death. Now he says he'll go as long as he's not beaten to death!
And Lu Minghao, you don't know, everyone hates the Talas woman he brought back, saying she's from Western Liao. Lu Minghao is tired of explaining and is just about to take her on another trip abroad!"
Sanning seemed to understand.
They must be addicted to traveling! Although the journey is dangerous, it is also full of fun.
Adventure, novelty, excitement, and liberation of nature.
Once you experience this feeling, you will never feel at peace!
She wanted to follow him!
What was Nanyang like at this time?
Sanning's fantasy was shattered by reality.
Li Yuzhi came to see her.
"Ning'er, Fourth Brother has sent people to urge us several times. Should we go back?"
"The wedding dress and phoenix crown are ready." She whispered in Sang Ning's ear.
"He said if you don't come back, he will come to pick you up personally."
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