Chapter 589: He kneels down like a house dog, how can he be a beast?
"I've personally visited the farm. Although the initial clearing of the mountain and forests took a lot of manpower and resources, the cultivated land that was created now flows down the mountain in a terraced shape, and is known on the farm as terraced fields."
"Each of these terraces is small in size, but winding down from the hills, the total area is astonishing. Water diversion for irrigation and cultivation is also going very smoothly."
"I visited the terraces a month ago and saw that the rice seedlings were flourishing, and the transplanted fruit trees on both sides of the terraces were gradually taking shape. This not only solved the risk of landslides during heavy rains, but also protected the rice seedlings and cultivated soil on the terraces. It was truly a brilliant achievement."
The most serious problem that makes it difficult to maintain farmland on the mountains in the long term is that once there is heavy rain, the cultivated soil is easily washed away by rain, and after landslides and forest collapse, the roads become rugged and difficult to travel, which is not conducive to farming.
But Xu Minghui took a different approach. He first built terraces along the mountainside, and then transplanted a large number of fruit trees into a forest on the edge of the terraces.
Roads that are easily washed away are covered in trees, and terraced fields are protected by a circle of trees like the moon surrounded by stars. The combination of fields and trees preserves the water and soil in the cultivated land even under unpredictable weather changes.
It's not that the local farmers in Lingnan haven't thought of such a method, but the nobles in the royal capital have no shortage of manpower and material resources, and some fertile land does not require such a method at all.
Ordinary people with scarce and barren arable land do need it, but ordinary people do not have the financial resources of Xu Minghui, and it is difficult to form and apply even the smallest details.
Xu Minghui spared no expense and invested a huge amount of money. After more than a year, the results are beginning to show, and the achievements are already very encouraging.
The old prince said thoughtfully, "From what you have seen, what do you think the harvest will be from this farm he has built?"
Jiang Yubai said a shocking number, and the old prince's eyes narrowed suddenly: "Really?"
"I think it's eighty percent credible."
Jiang Yubai explained, "When I was in the northwest, I visited the Xu family's farm and even went to the fields to harvest for a few days. The grains used on the farm are very different from those elsewhere. The yield per mu is more than three to five times that of other places."
"Even if I'm a little uncomfortable with the local conditions in Lingnan during my first year, the difference won't be that big."
With this extra food, not only did it benefit the local people in Lingnan, but it also...
Jiang Yubai quickly collected himself and said calmly, "Father, just focus on getting well. At the current rate, it will only take three to five years at most."
"In three to five years, I guarantee that the granaries of Lingnan people will overflow, every household will have surplus food, and the military pay will be generous and the coffers will be full."
"if only……"
"How's the deal you made with the Xu family's young lady by using the canal transport to secure her?"
The old prince didn't respond to Jiang Yubai's words and only asked questions that interested him.
Jiang Yubai was extremely anxious, but he had to continue: "Everything is fine."
"The Xu family's young mistress is incredibly intelligent. Her business model is unique from others. Last year, I agreed with her to build a thoroughfare using the canal. We spent six months building it, and now, businesses are spread across the country. The profits from the past six months alone have far exceeded tens of millions of taels."
Even though the old prince had seen extremely wealthy people, he couldn't help but be shocked by the huge profits made by this small shop.
"Tens of millions in half a year?"
"have."
Jiang Yubai carefully looked through the account books and whispered, "The North-South Road was only opened at the end of last year, and I already have 32 million in my hands. I'm sure this number will increase, and it will definitely be more than this in the long run."
There is food in reserve and silver on the way.
The old prince smiled with emotion and sighed, "So, by inviting the Xu family, we have solved the two most vexing problems."
Whenever there is a war or a conflict, the most scarce things, besides people, are supplies.
The military pay that is earned in real time is enough to make people fight for their lives, and the military rations that can fill the soldiers' stomachs.
With both available, why worry about having no one to use?
Seeing that the old prince had perked up a bit, Jiang Yubai quickly added, "That's not all."
"Something happened in the northwest not long ago. The Crown Prince had a large number of weapons obtained from the Northern Di people outside the Great Wall. Xu Yu intercepted some of them and sent them to Lingnan."
"Last year, Xu Yu discovered a secret that no one knew about, and helped me buy iron ore from a mine at a low price."
"Now, with the convenience of caravans traveling back and forth, a large amount of iron ore has been secretly transported from the north to Lingnan. I have ordered special personnel to secretly forge those ores. The sharp weapons produced are in no way inferior to those produced in the court."
"Father, everything is going in a good direction. Whether it's soldiers, food, silver, or weapons, we have everything we need. As long as..."
"As long as you can win people's hearts."
The old prince once again waved his hand to interrupt Jiang Yubai's words, and said with satisfaction: "A hundred years ago, the ancestors of the Xu family followed the Emperor Taizu to conquer the world. After pacifying the four seas, they continued to guard the borders for generations. With their meritorious service over generations, they should have been noble and aristocratic along with the imperial family that ruled the world, and their legacy will last for a hundred generations."
"It's a pity that the royal family was unfortunate. They successively produced a pair of royal fathers and sons who, for their own selfish interests, disrupted the government and invited foreign enemies, and could not distinguish between loyalty and treachery. This is why the Xu family, which had been brave and proud for generations, has fallen to this point. However..."
"This is also an opportunity given to you by God, as he sees that it's not easy for you and me as father and son."
The old prince couldn't help coughing a few times, then calmly stuffed the blood on his palm into the quilt, forcing himself to say, "Yubai, remember this."
"Wild beasts should be protected with kindness, moved with affection, and promised with the heart, so that they will be convinced and supportive. But you must never force it, nor should you try to wear down the beast's pride and make it kneel like a domestic dog. If that happens, how can it still be a wild beast?"
"You must be able to use people wisely and trust them, and you must also be able to use drastic measures and be willing to be sincere even to the beasts. Only then can you achieve a good relationship between ruler and subject, and also achieve hegemony over the world."
Lingnan is in need of people, and Jiang Yubai is even more in need of a right-hand man.
The Xu family arrived at the right time.
With the Xu family taking the lead, there will be no shortage of candidates who will follow suit among the countless dissatisfied powerful families in Kyoto.
As long as you seize the opportunity, there is always something to gain in this world.
A fierce glint flashed in the old prince's eyes as he spoke word by word, "Remember the countless jokes that were made in Kyoto, and also remember the lessons of our predecessors."
"I've been lurking here, planning for years, paving the way for you. I only hope you can see peace and prosperity for me. You know what to do."
Jiang Yubai was so heartbroken that he couldn't speak. He knelt on the bed and lowered his head deeply.
Seeing this, the old prince laughed and said, "Forget it, you know everything, there is no need for me to tell you this."
"You go and do your work first. The day after tomorrow the Xu family will arrive and I'll go with you to pick them up."
Jiang Yubai said without thinking: "Father, you..."
"Yubai, be obedient."
The old prince waved his hand forcefully, not letting Jiang Yubai say more. He slowly exhaled and smiled, "My body knows itself. I'm not going to give up after going out for a while."
"Go down."
Jiang Yubai suppressed his uneasiness and walked away. The old prince leaned against the head of the bed quietly for a while, pulled the bell at the head of the bed, and soon an old woman with strange clothes and white hair walked out from the dark room at the back.
The old woman looked at the old prince with a complicated expression and sighed, "Your Highness, has it really come to this?"
The old prince said self-deprecatingly, "Great wizard, with the reincarnation Gu in my body, how long can I live?"
"One year."
The great wizard whispered, "For one year, you will walk, sit, and lie down like a normal person, but at night you will suffer from the torment of a poisonous insect gnawing at your heart."
"A year later, no medicine can cure him, and he will die a miserable death."
"A year..."
The old prince closed his eyes and smiled with relief, saying frankly, "That's enough."
"Let's get started."
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