Chapter 44, Chapter 22: The Heir Apparent's Wife
Since the journey was long and it was for important business, Xu Qingzhou did not bring his family.
The efforts of Marquis Chengqing and his wife to have a child had to be temporarily abandoned.
Xu Qingzhou's method for combating desertification has two points.
One is a short-term emergency measure.
Firstly, a sand wall was built to block the sand. A hundred-foot sand wall was constructed in the sea of sand, and a beacon tower was set up every ten miles to warn of sandstorms.
This method is one that Da Rui has been using for a long time; it has some effect, but it's not very good.
Xu Qingzhou added another layer to the existing structure, planting sand willows on the inner side of the city wall to form a basic green barrier.
Secondly, water conservancy rescue efforts should be made to dredge the river channels blocked by sand and soil. The method of using bamboo cages filled with pebbles can be used to reinforce the embankments. At the same time, underground channels should be dug for drinking water and irrigation, and the groundwater should be drawn out by utilizing the natural slope of the mountain to reduce the evaporation of water during the transportation process.
The area around the Hanhai Desert is not a natural desert, but rather the result of the gradual migration and coverage of the original cities by the desert over the past few decades.
This method is still feasible even though it is not yet a hundred years old.
Of course, these are measures that Da Rui is already implementing, and Xu Qingzhou has only made some minor additions and modifications.
What impressed His Majesty was his long-term governance plan.
Xu Qingzhou wrote that in the vast desert area, it is necessary to vigorously carry out vegetation reconstruction projects, build windbreak forest belts, and create a "triple protection system" on the edge of the desert.
The inner layer is planted with drought- and sand-resistant trees such as poplar and saxaul, which use their deep root systems to firmly fix the sandy soil.
The middle layer is densely planted with sea buckthorn and tamarisk, both of which have lush foliage and can effectively buffer against wind and sand.
The outer layer is planted with tall trees such as elm and locust, forming a green barrier.
A "grass and tree workshop" was established to cultivate seedlings and provide sufficient seedlings for the continuous construction and maintenance of windbreak forests.
At the same time, reservoirs and sluice gates need to be built to release water regularly to flush out the sand layer, reduce sand damage, and replenish soil moisture according to different seasons and needs.
These were all methods he combined for desertification control and ecological protection from his time, and were proposed based on the actual conditions of the vast desert.
In fact, he had many more ideas, but he couldn't bring them all out at once.
Everyone knows that it would take more than a year or two to fully realize what he wrote.
Xu Qingzhou's departure lasted for three years.
The Crown Prince returned to the capital long after the afforestation project in the Gobi Desert was on track, entrusting him with the full responsibility of desert protection.
Over three years, they successfully established windbreaks and built reservoirs on the edge of the Gobi Desert.
And the results are significant.
Since the windbreak forest was built, the vast desert has not moved forward an inch.
As for what happens next, that will require the efforts of generations to come.
Having successfully halted the migration of the vast desert, Xu Qingzhou was summoned back to the capital.
Because of his meritorious service in combating desertification, he was promoted to Vice Minister of the Ministry of Revenue upon returning to the capital.
This time, Xu Qingzhou truly relied on his own achievements to successfully enter the ranks of civil officials and gain a place in the imperial court.
During his tenure, he came up with many good ideas for making money, which were then presented to His Majesty by his superior, the Minister of Revenue.
Because of his understanding and lack of self-appointment, the Minister of Revenue had a good impression of him and did not erase his presence when submitting his memorial.
His performance put His Majesty at ease.
In addition, he had previously worked with the Crown Prince to control desertification, and they had lived and eaten together for a long time, thus establishing a good friendship.
In an instant, Xu Qingzhou became a rising star in the imperial court.
Five years later, His Majesty passed away, and the Crown Prince ascended the throne.
When the new emperor ascended the throne, the Minister of Revenue, being old, voluntarily submitted his resignation. In the same year, the Marquis of Chengqing also abdicated, passing on his title to Xu Qingzhou, and then went to live out his retirement in a separate residence with his wife.
Not long after Xu Qingzhou succeeded to the title of Marquis, he was promoted to Minister of Revenue.
Because of his title of Marquis, he was not promoted again, but he was favored by the Emperor and worked with His Majesty to promulgate many new policies that benefited the country and its people, and was highly respected.
The only pity is that he left no children before his death.
In the end, just like in the original story, the title of Marquis Chengqing was passed on to Xu Mingche's lineage.
This time, Yu Wanwan left first.
How did you get there?
Yu Wanwan gets angry just thinking about it.
The old man Xu Qingzhou refused to accept his age; instead of staying put at his age, he insisted on causing trouble.
He said that when he was young, he gave her an estate, but she didn't like it, probably because the flowers in the estate weren't beautiful enough.
This time, he was determined to grow even more beautiful flowers to give to her.
As a result, when he went up the mountain to find flower seeds, he slipped and fell. Yu Wanwan tried to pull him up, but her head hit a rock and she died from the fall.
To be honest, after discovering how she died, Dao Guo, who had just woken up, was speechless and even wanted to laugh a little.
Xu Qingzhou hasn't died yet, the next world hasn't started, and even if Yu Wanwan kicks the bucket, she can't leave.
She floated beside Xu Qingzhou in the form of a spirit, watching him frantically hold "her" and desperately perform first aid. Yu Wanwan could only sneer.
Damn it, now you're anxious and scared? Where were you before?!
I'm so annoyed.
Yu Wanwan stayed by his side, watching him go from madness to gradual silence, and finally calm down. He peacefully held a funeral for her, and finally, sitting in front of her tombstone, he left this world.
To be honest, Yu Wanwan didn't quite understand his emotional changes, nor did she understand why he wanted to leave this world before his lifespan was up.
However, none of this has much to do with her; if she doesn't understand, she doesn't understand.
She retrieved the shard that had landed on him and waved her hand weakly.
"Next dungeon."
Back in the system space, Xu Qingzhou was still somewhat bewildered.
"I've completed my mission?"
The mission target died because of him, and he thought the mission had failed and there would be no next chance.
But since he returned to the system space, it means that his mission did not fail.
[No penalty will be imposed for completing more than half of the task.]
Xu Qingzhou remained silent.
"Are the mission objectives really okay?"
[Tested, no results found.]
That's an answer that's hardly surprising.
"Then how did she know that Xiaotang has a system?"
They even discovered it before him, and weren't curious at all.
The human heart is unpredictable; often, a subtle change can shape countless different personalities.
Xu Qingzhou understood this principle without the system explaining it to him.
He knew very well that her changes were different from what the system had described.
But he also knew very well that if he continued to ask, he wouldn't get any more information.
[Host has completed the newbie mission and has been awarded one chance to draw a prize. Would you like to draw a prize now?]
Xu Qingzhou was stunned for a moment, somewhat surprised.
"You have this function too?"
【certainly. 】
Xu Qingzhou suddenly thought of Xiaotang's system shop and couldn't help but feel curious.
"Do you have a system store?"
Of course, the condition for unlocking the system shop is successfully completing five tasks.
This condition isn't difficult to meet.
Let's have a lottery.
A box suddenly appeared in the dimly lit system space.
It's like those simple, unadorned raffle boxes you see at the entrance of supermarkets, square-shaped with an opening only at the top.
Xu Qingzhou stared at the box in silence for a few seconds.
Is the system lottery really this simple?
It's not high-end or sophisticated at all.
What's in here?
[It has everything.]
"..."
It's the same as saying nothing at all.
Xu Qingzhou sighed, didn't ask any more questions, and reached out to draw a prize.
Like the contents of other lottery boxes he had seen, it contained lottery tickets, the contents of which he couldn't tell by touch.
He was too lazy to choose carefully and just randomly picked one out.
The words "One Portable Space" were written neatly on the lottery ticket, as if they were printed on.
Xu Qingzhou raised an eyebrow.
"Portable space?"
Is it the portable space he was thinking of?
The kind where you can grow vegetables in a spring with a magical spring?
Suddenly excited!
As soon as the system's voice faded, Xu Qingzhou could feel that something had been added to his body.
He couldn't describe what it felt like, nor could he say where this space had appeared.
He stood there, and without even looking, he could sense its presence.
Just by thinking about it, the appearance of that space would appear in his mind.
It's amazing.
Unlike the spiritual spring and fertile fields he had imagined, this space was just a simple space, completely empty, with nothing inside.
With a thud, the excitement that had just begun to rise was shattered.
[Please note, host, time is frozen in this space. Items can be stored, but living beings cannot.]
Xu Qingzhou was somewhat disappointed.
Based on the novels he had read, wouldn't such a space be the most ordinary kind?
It's good enough to have one; in the past, having a space was something he never dared to dream of.
Xu Qingzhou tried to comfort herself and adjust her mindset.
This space can be upgraded, but the host will need to figure out how to upgrade it on their own.
This news did dispel some of the disappointment and regret in Xu Qingzhou's heart.
He roused himself and waved his hand.
"Let's continue the mission!"
"Xiaoman, have some water first, we'll be there soon."
Yu Wanwan woke up on a ship.
The surroundings were dim and unclear, but one could sense that a large number of people had gathered there.
The man who handed her the water was handsome.
The man's eyes were filled with concern as he carefully shielded her from the wind.
Yu Wanwan squinted at the familiar face, feeling the unfamiliar aura emanating from him. She slowly took the water but didn't drink it.
Why aren't you drinking?
"..."
In such an environment, with a face similar to Xu Qingzhou's and adopting this posture, how could she dare to drink?
"I'm not thirsty."
The man didn't seem to mind; he simply patted her head, a hint of helplessness in his eyes.
"It's okay, you can drink it when you're thirsty."
"Um."
Yu Wanwan ignored her and lowered her eyes to receive the plot.
This is the end of the world.
In the 30th century, due to excessive mining by humans and various experiments conducted in secret, the environment was severely polluted, and a toxin called phytophagous spores gradually appeared in the air.
This toxin can devour oxygen and even convert carbon dioxide into a toxic blue-violet flame.
Creatures touched by the flames will not die immediately, but will gradually mutate into monsters. These mutated monsters will spew blue flames, further expanding the spread of the infection, and the infection is incurable.
Oxygen is becoming increasingly scarce, while blue flames and mutated monsters are increasing in number, gradually occupying Blue Star and shrinking the living space for humans.
In 113 30th century, in order to survive, humans moved from the surface to the underground and built a huge shelter underground, which was maintained by electrolysis devices and artificial photosynthesis systems.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com