Chapter 107
Fertilizer is undoubtedly a powerful tool for increasing production. With it, people's lives will be much better.
Chu Huan knew the function of fertilizer, but she never took it out because she was worried.
Ancient farmers were basically illiterate. How could they use fertilizers correctly and ensure that they were not overused or abused?
If someone doesn't use it correctly, and crop yields don't increase, or even if seedling burns or root rot occurs, then both she, the person who came up with the fertilizer, and the court that promoted it, will probably be in trouble.
Some minor troubles are fine, but the most worrying thing is that some people are afraid of the consequences and think that fertilizers are not good things, so they abandon them and eventually make this good thing with remarkable effects become something that everyone condemns.
Another reason why she was reluctant to take it out earlier was that she only knew the composition of the fertilizer but was not clear about how to use it specifically.
Each plant lacks different nutrients at each growth stage and requires different fertilizers, so it cannot be generalized.
Chu Huan asked herself, what if a stranger one day handed her fertilizer and said, "I made this stuff. It will increase plant yields after you use it, but I don't know how to use it or when. You have to research it yourself."
As long as she didn't roll her eyes at people, her attitude was considered good.
I want to take it out in advance because I know the situation is not optimistic, and we cannot retreat if we have the ability.
Moreover, with the previous experiences with chili peppers and sweet potatoes, the emperor and his officials all trust her more, so maybe she can give it a try.
After the system searched out specific results, Chu Huan wrote down the contents one by one, attached a letter of her own, and asked the Jinyiwei to deliver it to the palace together with today's report.
Then, she made a detailed list and handed it to Jia Yi and Cai Gang: "Gather the items on the list as soon as possible. Ask Qingzhu for the money."
Jia Yi and Cai Gang: "Yes."
From that day on, Chu Huan continued to practice martial arts and attend classes during the day, and only used the time she used to study astronomy at night to do research in the laboratory.
There are many types of fertilizers, the more common ones are nitrogen fertilizer, phosphorus fertilizer, potassium fertilizer, compound fertilizer, and water-soluble fertilizer.
If you use a modern laboratory, you can quickly make nitrogen fertilizer by purchasing some ready-made raw materials such as urea, lime, gypsum, etc.
Nowadays, with many conditions lacking, Chu Huan can only extract and try again and again by herself, which makes life difficult for people living near Qianhuaju, as they often smell strange odors coming from the laboratory.
The fifth prince was at the age of growing up, and Chu Huan made him read for a while at night. He had to eat a midnight snack before going to bed every night.
Ever since Chu Huan started doing experiments, he gave up midnight snacks, went to bed early every day, and got up early the next day to study and practice martial arts.
Many servants of the Chu family who wanted to take advantage of the system were not willing to approach Qianhuaju.
Even the personal maids like Qingzhu and Hongmei would find excuses to visit other courtyards and chat as soon as they saw Chu Huan enter the laboratory, and then come back when the time was right.
Jia Yi and Cai Gang, who couldn't escape: "..."
They sincerely thought that the Pacification Office could add another punishment, the kind that would stink to the point of making your nose stink.
After half a month of this, and without seeing Chu Huan come up with anything, the old master asked on a sunny afternoon, "I heard you haven't been going out at night lately."
Chu Huan:?
A qualified student should be able to understand the teacher's meaning perfectly.
Coupled with the inquiring looks from the Fifth Prince and Nangong Ling, many things became obvious.
Chu Huan figured it out and said, "Yes, I want to make something."
The old master said tactfully, "If it's something important, I can ask the emperor to send more people to guard it."
Chu Huan hesitated for a moment: "It's not really a big deal."
The old tutor and the fifth prince had already learned from the emperor what the Jinyiwei had been preparing for Chu Huan recently: urine, lime, gypsum, etc.
I won’t talk about anything else, but as for urine... I really don’t know what’s the use of it no matter how hard I think about it.
The three people's hearts seemed to be scratched by a kitten. They really wanted to know what that not-so-important thing was and why it tasted so strange.
"Would you like to talk about it?" The fifth prince smiled shyly.
After knowing that Chu Huan was studying urine in the laboratory every day, he really couldn't help but care - he was afraid that one day Chu Huan would come out with a medicine made from urine, so should he use it or not?
"It's not inconvenient." Chu Hua didn't think it was a big secret and said quickly, "Make some fertilizer."
The three people had the same confused expression on their faces. What is fertilizer?
Chu Huan explained briefly, "The fertilizer people use now is made from composted human and livestock feces, wood ash, river mud, and other materials. It's universal, meaning it can be used on all crops."
"The fertilizers I'm making now separate the nutrients needed for plant growth. I can give them what they need, which is more targeted. Proper fertilizer application can greatly increase crop yields."
The explanation was easy enough for the three of them to understand why Chu Huan was researching urine—it was one of the raw materials for fertilizer.
The Fifth Prince and Nangong Ling had never farmed due to their status and gender, so they didn't understand farming. But the old Taishi knew! He had farmed himself when he was young, and he still grows flowers at home, which are blooming beautifully. He often uses this to tease the old Taishi.
“How much can production be increased?”
Chu Huan hesitated for a moment. She wasn't sure how effective modern fertilizers would be in Dasheng, so she offered a safer figure: "Triple or quadruple shouldn't be a problem."
Old Master: “…”
This year's wheat harvest was reported to the court early on. The yield per mu was as low as 30 kilograms in some places and as high as 150 kilograms in some places. This was caused by many factors including climate, region, and soil.
If chemical fertilizers were used, wouldn't Dasheng be able to produce over 100 kilograms per mu, with the highest yield reaching 400 to 500 kilograms per mu? How many more people could that feed?
"Hiss——" For the first time, the old master found himself dizzy with numbers.
The system loved seeing others stunned by Chu Huan's displayed talent, and said with a grin, "Sister Huan, don't be so modest. Don't you know how effective fertilizers are on plants?"
Does this mean it will triple or quadruple, or even less? The old master gasped.
Wait, let him take it slow. He is old and can't stand such great stimulation.
Soon, the old master heard the reason for Chu Hua's modesty. She said, "No matter how effective the fertilizer is, it has to be used correctly to achieve its full effect. If it is not used correctly, the plants will be lucky if they can survive."
System: [That's right. If the fertilizer isn't diluted to the correct ratio, it can easily burn the seedlings if poured directly onto the soil.]
So if used correctly, five or six times the amount shouldn’t be a problem?!
The old master's face flushed with excitement because of this speculation. When he thought of Chu Huan saying that this was not a big deal, he immediately looked at her with disapproval.
"Why is fertilizer not a big deal?" He really is holding a treasure without knowing it.
The Fifth Prince and Nangong Ling had never farmed the land themselves, so they didn't know the specific yield per mu of various crops in Dasheng. But just by listening to Chu Huan and the system, and watching the reaction of the old master, they could understand the importance of fertilizers.
Now, the two of them looked at Chu Huan with eyes that said, "How can you say it doesn't matter?"
Chu Huan: “…”
Guilty, he looked away and whispered softly, "Because I only know how to make it, but I don't know how to use it."
Three people: ???
Three people:!!!
W-What the hell?!
If someone can only make fertilizer but can't use it, what's the difference between that and saying Miaoshou Kongkong can only make machinery but can't use it? Do we believe it?!
Chu Huan faced the three people's "Are you kidding me?" looks and continued, "I roughly know what fertilizers to use for some common crops, but when to use them, how much to use, and how to use them, I have no idea. I'll have to entrust it to the Minister of Agriculture."
Three people: "..."
It felt like the Imperial Medical Bureau telling them, "I know how to make this medicine, but I don't know how to boil it, how much to boil, or how much to use. You guys figure it out on your own."
Damn it! Are you the doctor or am I the doctor?!
The atmosphere was so awkward that Chu Huan felt like she was sitting on pins and needles.
She ran to chat with the system as if to escape: [See, this is why I didn't take it out earlier. No one believed that I could make it or use it.]
The system had tasted the melon of Chu Huan's previous life and knew the reason but couldn't say it out loud, so it could only express its deep sympathy for her.
I believe you.
Although the system is not a person and is not within the scope of "no one", it is at least a comfort.
Chu Huan was comforted: "Anyway, I've made the fertilizer. Whether to use it, how to use it, and how much to use, I'll leave it to the court to figure out."
With so many civil and military officials in the court, she didn't believe that she couldn't find a few people who could conduct experiments and controls.
System: [That's right! You don't even get a penny in salary, so why are you worrying about that? Wouldn't it be better to spend more time looking at the beautiful Shanglu?]
[…You wanted to see it, didn’t you?] Chu Huan had never known that Xiao Sha Tong was actually obsessed with looks.
System: [Who wouldn't want to look at a good-looking person more? Just tell them, can you do an extra job for them?]
Chu Hua seeks truth from facts: [No.]
system:【……】
Chu Hua: [I can only eat one bowl. I'll die if I eat two, no matter how handsome he is.]
System: […] Damn it! Is this the rigor of a science student? This was a mistake.
Everyone: “…”
Have you two forgotten that we can hear you?
The fertilizer issue was urgently reported.
After learning about this, the emperor calmly summoned the Minister of Revenue and the Minister of Agriculture and asked, "Have you ever heard of fertilizers that can increase yields many times over?"
The Ministry of Revenue was in charge of land and taxes throughout the country, and the Ministry of Agriculture was a specialized agricultural management department. The two departments had overlapping functions in the areas of land and farmland.
The two denied it quickly: "I have never heard of it."
The emperor asked Chen Jiu to pass the report sent by the Chu family to the two of them.
When the Minister of Revenue saw that this was what Chu Huan was researching, he immediately understood. "This is an interesting idea. It's just like with people. You need to supplement what you lack. Theoretically, there's nothing wrong with it. We'll have to do some experiments after we get the fertilizer."
Increasing the yield per mu by three or four times does challenge the common sense of the Minister of Agriculture, but he would not jump up and down and say it is impossible before he even gets the result.
"What should we use for the experiment? Winter is almost here, and even wheat and rice are not growing well. How about we plant some cabbage and radishes?"
The Minister of Revenue asked: "Do cabbage and radish need the same fertilizer as wheat and rice? I'd better ask Lord Chu first."
Lord Chu? The Grand Minister of Agriculture frowned. Chu Huan hadn't even entered the court to serve as an official yet.
He glanced at the emperor out of the corner of his eye and found that the emperor seemed not to hear him, and immediately understood the meaning.
The emperor wouldn't be trying to recruit someone to be an official before the next imperial examination, right?
Grand Minister of Agriculture: “…”
After a cup of tea, the Minister of Revenue and the Minister of Agriculture left the imperial study and went to the Chu family together.
The two men went empty-handed, and when they left, they carried away a sack of fertilizer and a piece of ink-stained note on the instructions for using the fertilizer.
Before I got far, I heard the system's signature baby voice: [Haha, are these two here to buy goods?]
The Minister of Revenue and the Minister of Agriculture: “…” You know what, it’s quite vivid.
Chu Huan laughed out loud: [Tong'er, I suddenly discovered the benefits of not being an official.]
System: [Hmm?]
Chu Hua: [I have at least a dozen kinds of fertilizers. If I throw out even one, the Ministry of Revenue and the Ministry of Agriculture will be scrambling. It will take them two or three years to thoroughly research them. If I throw out all ten or so kinds...]
The Minister of Revenue and the Minister of Agriculture were stunned on the spot, looking at each other with eyes full of shock, ten! Several! Kinds!
They haven't figured out even one, so how long will it take them to figure out a dozen or so? They won't be fighting over fertilizer for decades, and won't have finished by the time they retire?
No way!
They also want to enjoy their old age!
The system suddenly realized: [That's right! If you don't hold an official position, you can just let others do the work. If you hold an official position, you'll have to do the work yourself. This deal is a good deal!]
No, no, no, no! The Minister of Revenue and the Minister of Agriculture shook their heads quickly. This can’t be calculated!
The system didn't care how strongly they wanted to refuse. It had already imagined the scene in the future where Chu Huan threw something out and the entire court was busy as hell. It immediately laughed with joy.
"Just fertilizer alone is enough for them. If you take out all the cement, steel bars, concrete, etc., will there be any idle people in the entire court?"
Chu Hua: [Cement, reinforced concrete, and concrete are used for construction and road paving. That's the Ministry of Works' job, and at most the Ministry of Revenue is involved.]
System: [Steel, stainless steel, eh? This is still the Ministry of Industry's job, at most the Ministry of Revenue will be involved.]
Minister of Revenue: “…”
Upon hearing this, the Grand Minister of Agriculture gave the Minister of Revenue a sympathetic look: Farewell!
The Minister of Revenue showed a ferocious smile. "Master Chu, you're tormenting us because you're not an official, right? Then don't blame me for being unethical!"
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