Chapter 15 High-Yield Grain Varieties
Hearing his words, Gu Xinyan understood what he wanted to ask. After thinking for a moment, she replied:
"General Guo, I have some sweet potatoes and potatoes here that aren't too picky about soil."
Even if your land isn't fertile, it's still possible to grow it, and the yield will be quite considerable.
These foods can be eaten as a staple food or used in stir-fries; both are very filling.
Moreover, both of these grains yield around 3,000 jin per mu, which is much higher than the yield of wheat you grow here.
In addition to these two types, I also have a grain called corn, which tastes very good.
Like potatoes and sweet potatoes, it can be used as both a staple food and an ingredient.
However, the yield per mu (a Chinese unit of area, approximately 0.067 hectares) is around 1000-1600 jin (a Chinese unit of weight, approximately 0.5 kg), which depends on the soil. More fertile soil can yield even higher yields per mu.
Besides these, there are also rice and wheat, both with a yield of around 800-1000 jin per mu.
I also have a type of hybrid rice, developed by academicians in later generations. It yields about 2,000 jin per mu (approximately 1,000 catties per hectare). However, this type of rice cannot be used for seed saving.
I have some fertilizer here, as well as some methods for composting.
It can make barren land more fertile. If General Guo is interested, he can teach you how.”
After Gu Xinyan finished speaking, she ignored Guo Xin, who was already stunned, and took out several sweet potatoes, potatoes, and corn from her spatial ring.
Then he took out a small bag of rice and other grains. Of course, he also took out a small bag of seeds and placed them on the table before continuing.
"General Guo, these are potatoes, sweet potatoes, and corn. The small bag over there contains their seeds, and this is the hybrid rice I mentioned. You can see that every grain is plump!"
At this moment, Guo Xin was at a loss for words. He felt that his brain was not working properly, and his heart was in turmoil.
Although the Tang Dynasty had more than just rice and wheat, their yields were far lower than Gu Xinyan's. In good years, the yield was only about 200-300 jin per mu.
In the event of a bumper harvest, the yield might be over 300 jin, but over 1,000 jin? That's unthinkable, let alone hybrid rice with a yield of around 2,000 jin per mu.
And...and those grains called sweet potatoes, potatoes, and corn, all of which have such high yields, and they're not picky about the soil, and can be eaten as staple foods? And what about methods and fertilizers to make the soil fertile?
If... if what Gu Xinyan said is true, then those of us stationed on the frontier, and the people living here, will no longer have to worry about not having enough food.
The storm raged in his mind. His eyes lit up as he looked at the pile of things on the table in front of him. He first picked up the bag of rice and examined it carefully.
The rice was plump and bright in color, clearly high-quality grain—no, it was hundreds of times better than the finest grains from the Tang Dynasty.
Moreover, the grain was of the highest quality, and even those three strange-looking big guys were now like hot commodities in his eyes.
"Good! Good! Good! Truly good! Heaven bless our Great Tang, Heaven bless our Anxi Army!"
Guo Xin shouted happily, his eyes fixed on the three big things in front of him: sweet potato, potato, and corn, his upturned lips never fading.
I like them more and more as I look at them! I just don't know how to eat them, so I asked.
"Miss Gu, you are truly a benefactor to our Anxi Army! I wonder if I may purchase some of these three large creatures now, and tonight, could you please teach us how to prepare them?"
I only have this jade pendant on me; I don't know if it's enough to buy all this. The spoils we brought back from the Western Regions are all in Kucha City. I'll exchange them with you, young lady, when we return later!"
After Guo Xin finished speaking, he took out a jade pendant from his waist. It was emerald green all over and was obviously a rare and fine piece of jade.
Upon seeing the jade, Gu Xinyan couldn't help but swallow hard.
This is an imperial green jadeite of extremely high quality. In later generations, such jadeite would be auctioned off, and you wouldn't be able to get it for less than tens of millions.
And now, it's being used to exchange for a few sweet potatoes and potatoes? Although she really wanted them, seeing the somewhat reluctant look in Guo Xin's eyes across from her, she paused, her outstretched hand hesitating before speaking:
"General Guo, this jade pendant must be of great significance to you, right? Wouldn't it be a pity to give it to me?"
Upon hearing this, Guo Xin smiled, gently stroked the jade pendant, and then placed it in front of Gu Xinyan, saying firmly:
"This jade pendant was given to me by my mistress before I came to Kucha to assume the title of Prince of Weiwu. She hoped that this jade pendant would protect me and ensure my safe return."
But now everything has changed; my grandmother is no longer here. And now, I've learned what happened afterward.
This jade, though it holds a certain sentimental value for me, pales in comparison to the basic needs of the soldiers and the people in the city.
"This jade pendant is nothing special, and besides, I just ate several bowls of instant noodles from Miss Gu. If Miss Gu doesn't accept it, I won't feel at ease."
Hearing this, Gu Xinyan didn't say anything more, but she also didn't refuse. She reached out and took the jade pendant in front of her, put it into her spatial ring, and then replied:
"General Guo, then I will accept your offer. I will write down some recipes for sweet potatoes, potatoes, and corn for you in a moment, and I will cook some of my signature dishes for you tonight."
"Then I'll have to trouble Miss Gu. I might not be able to return to Kucha City today."
"I'll head back tomorrow morning. For tonight, Miss Gu will have to stay at the military camp. I'll arrange for someone to take her to her tent to rest."
Guo Xin was relieved to see that she had put the jade pendant away, and said with a smile.
After all, if they were to have dinner in the military camp, it would be very late. Instead of rushing back to Kucha, it would be better to set off the next day.
"good!"
Gu Xinyan nodded in agreement. Anyway, she would need to stay here for another month, so there was no rush.
Upon seeing Gu Xinyan nod, Guo Xin shouted towards the outside of the tent.
"Mu Ke, arrange a clean tent for Miss Gu to rest in. Also, summon Vice General Zhang and the others to me."
"Yes, General!"
No sooner had Guo Xin finished speaking than a clear, crisp voice came from outside the tent.
If you listen carefully, you can hear a hint of barely concealed excitement in the voice.
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