Chapter 1004: Official Mechanized Farming Experimental Field
The yellowish-orange potato was soft in the hand. This was a phenomenon that would only occur after it was frozen and thawed at room temperature. In short, this potato was useless and would never sprout again.
Thinking of this, Luo Chong suddenly felt so heartbroken that he couldn't breathe.
But it was true. It was the coldest time of winter now. If it flew in the sky like an eagle delivering a letter, it would be strange if it didn't freeze.
"Is this the only one?" Luo Chong immediately asked the people in the room with the potato.
Upon hearing this, She Xin, the governor of Liuyang County, replied, "It's just this one. I opened the package. There was only this little thing inside. I saw that it was a letter from You Fu, so I immediately sent someone to find the leader. Leader, what is this? Is it important?"
"Well, it looks like a new crop. Do you think it's important?" Luo Chong asked perfunctorily. Of course, he couldn't say that he knew potatoes, so he didn't ask any more questions and immediately opened the letter.
The letter mentioned two things. The first was the coal mine that Luo Chong had been thinking about. You Fu briefly described the process of discovering the coal mine in the letter, and then gave the approximate location of the coal mine. In addition, a map was attached, which marked the geographical relationship between the location of the coal mine and the Taigang County of the Tang tribe, providing reference information for Luo Chong's subsequent plans and deployments.
The second thing was that the 16th group of the exploration team discovered the Baiwu tribe. It also mentioned the population of the Baiwu tribe, their intentions, and the Baiwu tribe's crop "fragrant taro".
This was the name given to potatoes by the Han tribe exploration team, because the Han tribe originally had taro growing in the soil, so they knew that this thing grew out of the soil, and it was understandable that they regarded it as a new variety of taro.
In addition, the letter also mentioned the hematite near the Baiwu tribe, but the other party only used it as a pigment and did not master the technology of iron smelting.
Originally, an iron mine was nothing to be surprised about. The Han tribe had discovered quite a few iron ore resources, and none of them had the high quality and large reserves of magnetite in Xingang County, so the development value of this hematite was not great, but it was very close to the coal mine discovered this time, which undoubtedly became an advantage.
The map attached to the letter also marked the location of the Baiwu tribe and the iron mine, so that Luo Chong could have a clear idea.
It also mentioned the deal reached between Youfu and the other party, in which some salt and iron were exchanged for two sacks of "taro", and the two parties agreed that in the spring of next year, the Han tribe would exchange domesticated sheep for the other party's taro planting technology.
Luo Chong knew about the potato planting technology, but he would not stop Youfu's transaction. The deal should continue, otherwise how could the other party be absorbed into the Han tribe? Since Youfu was sure, let him go.
Seeing that Youfu had exchanged two sacks of potatoes, about two or three hundred kilograms, Luo Chong was relieved. Even if only a few potatoes were sent back, it would be fine. In this way, they could obtain some potato seeds. As long as they had seeds, they could reproduce indefinitely, and the Han tribe would be able to obtain a staple food and vegetable again. After all, potatoes are good for both vegetables and food, and they can be eaten in any way.
Putting this matter aside, he spread out the map again and began to check the location of the coal mine. The importance of the southern coal mine is self-evident. It determines the industrial foundation of the Han tribe in the south. Without coal mines, it is impossible to do anything.
"Come here, bring me a ruler for drawing." Luo Chong looked at the map and ordered without raising his head.
"Yes!" The clerk on the side responded with a fist, and brought a ruler after a while.
Luo Chong took it and measured it on the map. He found that the straight-line distance from Taigang County of Tang Tribe to the coal mine was nearly 300 kilometers. However, there were two mountain ranges and a river on this line. If a detour was taken, the route might be extended to more than 500 kilometers. This was too far and not suitable for transportation between the two places. Even building a railway would be very troublesome.
After all, this was a wilderness without even the most basic transportation, and it was difficult for construction teams and various equipment to enter.
The iron ore in Taigang County of Tang Tribe had been confirmed by the Comprehensive Research Institute to be manganese iron ore, and manganese steel was related to the construction of heavy-duty railways in Han Tribe. Even if it was not needed now, it would definitely be needed in the future. Moreover, manganese steel had a high hardness and was suitable for the development of more advanced machine tool cutting tools, which was very important for industrial use. At present,
the chemical industry level of Han Tribe was not good enough, and it was impossible to make synthetic steel by itself. Only this natural alloy mineral could solve the urgent needs of Han Tribe.
Although You Fu had said in the letter that he was leading the team to find a transportation channel, Luo Chong could not be idle. After all, he still had to control the overall layout.
There are only two options at present. First, transport the manganese iron ore in Taigang County to the coal mine, and build the steel mill and coking plant there; second, build both the steel mill and coking plant in Taigang County, and transport the required coal directly from the mine to Taigang County; third, compromise the above two options and find a new place to live between the two, and at the same time serve as the location of the steel mill and coking plant, and transport the required raw materials from the north and south to the middle.
These three options are not good or bad, and they can be done in any way. The key is to see which place has a more advantageous geographical location. Luo Chong actually prefers the third one in his heart, because he wants to find a place near water as a steel base in the south, preferably built along the Liuyang River, so that the finished manganese steel can be transported to the entire Han tribe through the Liuyang River, which is a major artery. Whether it is going north or south to the capital, it will be very convenient.
Isn't the biggest limitation of the choice of industrial base the transportation conditions? As the saying goes, if you want to be rich, you must first build roads. If you can rely on the currently mature water transportation, it will be even better.
However, Luo Chong could not find the most suitable location on this simple map.
"Chief, what are you thinking about? Didn't you find the coal mine? Why are you worried about it?"
Seeing Luo Chong frowning and thinking silently after reading the letter, She Xin couldn't help asking.
"Here, take a look for yourself. I just think the coal mine is a bit far away, and I don't know where to put the steel plant for the time being." Luo Chong explained and handed the letter to She Xin.
She Xin took it and read it quickly. He saw that the coal mine was found and a strange tribe was found. Not only that, the other party also had a population of nearly 2,000, new crops, and an iron mine. He couldn't help but sigh and envy.
Although You Fu didn't have a big fixed position, he had made many contributions by exploring the east and the west. There were so many crops in the Han tribe. Except for rice and peanuts, which were found by Luo Chong, the rest were brought back by You Fu. This is a great achievement. And now there is another one. How can people not be jealous?
However, She Xin was only envious and jealous, and he did not hate him at all. He was the head of a county and a frontier official, so he had much more power than You Fu. It was just that he had no other opportunities to make meritorious contributions except for his political achievements, so it was difficult for him to move up.
But speaking of it, the most powerful position in the Han tribe now seems to be the county governor, and he has no room to climb up.
After taking a bite of lemon, he comforted Luo Chong, "Why bother with a simple map, Chief? Didn't Youfu write in the letter that he would lead people to explore the traffic route? Even if the chief needs to make a decision, he has to wait for them to send the specific information, right?"
Luo Chong raised his eyebrows when he heard this. Of course he knew this truth, but he was just anxious in his heart, and he had nothing to do. He wanted to go and explore the road himself, but he was the chief and couldn't do everything himself, so he looked depressed.
After taking a sip of tea, Luo Chong said, "There is nothing to worry about. When a car reaches the top of a mountain, there will be a road. When a boat reaches the bridge, it will naturally go straight. Now the construction of the capital has just started, and we are not in a hurry for land transportation for the time being. It's okay to do it later, but there is another matter that needs to be handled next year. I may need your Liuyang County to help."
"Ah? What's it?"
She Xin didn't expect Luo Chong's thinking to jump so much. He was racking his brains with the map of the south just now, and now he suddenly turned to Liuyang County.
"Bring a map of the eight northern counties of the Han tribe." Luo Chong greeted and said.
After the guards brought the map, Luo Chong pointed to the west of Liuyang County and said, "Regarding the war in the north, although I only sent one garrison with 2,600 troops, this actually does not take into account the original population of the north.
"In order to cooperate in this war, the three major camps in the north have almost sent out all the men, and most of the young and strong men have enlisted in the army as militia. The farming level over there is not as developed as ours, and this battle cannot be ended quickly. The first two stages are planned to take half a year, and this is under the condition that the war goes smoothly. The final mopping-up stage will inevitably be delayed until next year.
"But if this happens, when the spring comes next year, continuing the spring offensive will affect farming. If we temporarily stop the fighting and let the soldiers go back to farm, we will lose our advantage. We can't give the enemy a chance to breathe in the favorable situation we have worked so hard to gain strategically. We should kill them all in one fell swoop. This will save time. The war in the north must not be dragged on for more than two years.
"In this way, the grain production in the north will definitely decrease or even fail next year. They can only grow one crop of grain and are barely self-sufficient. If there is a failure of grain next year, the 30,000 existing population in the north, plus the 2,600 soldiers of the Shen Ce Guards, and the increasing number of prisoners, will require a huge amount of food. Next year, we must at least prepare annual rations for 50,000 people in the north, and also prepare a fleet to transport grain. "
After saying that, Luo Chong looked at She Xin.
Upon hearing that, She Xin opened his mouth wide and swallowed unconsciously.
Fifty thousand people. One year's rations
. My God, that's how much food. I'm afraid that ordinary counties of the Han tribe can't afford it. At least it has to be a large agricultural county like Weishan County or Liuyang County to provide so much food. But if it is taken out, the family fortune saved in the first year of Da Ming will have to be paid out again, which is equivalent to working for a year in vain, and it may even be necessary to pay out the old capital saved before the first year of Da Ming.
He was stunned and thought for a long time, and then he said after a while.
"Chief, we shouldn't need so much, right? Didn't we send a batch of food with the army before? And when the river thaws in spring, the Shen Ce Guard will definitely let the fleet escort the prisoners south, then they won't need so much food. "
"If we go south, don't we need food? Do you still expect those captives to be sent over and kept for you to farm? And if the three camps in the north have no harvest next year, they can't go south, then how will they spend the winter next year? Winter in the north is even colder and longer, lasting for six months. How can you let them survive without food?" Luo Chong glared at She Xin and scolded him.
This guy thought too simply. Even if the captives went south, they would be sent to do hard labor, and they would also need the Han tribe to provide food. No matter who paid, the food would be counted on the Han tribe.
She Xin was speechless for a moment. He watched Luo Chong constantly tapping on a place on the map. He looked closely and saw that it was the "no man's land" west of Liuyang County.
The so-called "no man's land" is actually located in the middle of the three counties west of Liuyang County, east of Ruyang County, and north of Nanzhang County. This large plain area is nicknamed "Three No Man's Land" because none of the three places can control it.
The land here is fertile and can be turned into excellent farmland with a little improvement. The three counties are very envious of this land, but due to their limited population, they simply cannot afford to use extra people to cultivate these lands, so these places are still a primitive wilderness.
Now the leader suddenly asked someone to bring a map, and suddenly pointed to this piece of land and talked about the food shortage in the north. Is he planning to use this piece of land? !
Thinking of this, She Xin asked tentatively.
"The leader wants to open up new fields on the plains west of Liuyang County? To increase food production?"
"Yes, there is such a plan." Luo Chong immediately nodded and admitted it, otherwise he would not say this now.
"Well, we also want to open up new fields to expand the cultivated area, but the population is limited. Otherwise, no matter how much land there is, no one will plant it, or it will not be planted, and it will be in vain even if it is opened up. "She Xin said helplessly.
"I know, since there are no common people to plant, let's get a piece of official land." Luo Chong said casually.
"Official land? Public land under the name of the government? But even official land needs people to plant it. Didn't the leader just say that prisoners cannot be used to plant the land? Where does the leader get people to open up wasteland and cultivate it?" She Xin asked with a puzzled look.
Luo Chong waved his hand to interrupt, "Let's not talk about this first. Do you know what I found when I was walking in the city just now?"
"What? I'm still wondering. I just heard from the clerk that he didn't find the leader after walking around the street twice." She Xin asked back in confusion.
"I found a carpenter in the city. He built a hand-cranked rice transplanter that can increase the efficiency of transplanting rice by two to three times. "
When Luo Chong finished speaking, everyone in the room was stunned.
Rice transplanter? Two to three times more efficient?
When did it happen? It was right under their noses, so why did the leader find out first?
Everyone was stunned, and they couldn't react to this sudden news.
"Is what the leader said true?" She Xin stood up excitedly and stared at Luo Chong and asked.
(End of this chapter)
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