When Shen Nian heard Xia Tian asking about the potato harvest, she smiled and said, "The potato harvest is good. It looks like it's even better than the trial planting in spring."
"That means the potato planting is successful!" Xia Tian was very happy.
This is also the greatest contribution they have made to the people of Linzhou since they came to Linzhou.
No, this planting method has been reported to the emperor for nationwide promotion and should benefit people all over the country.
"Yeah, it was very successful." Shen Nian was also very happy.
Regardless of whether the food can be stored or not, at least the output has increased and people can have more food to eat.
"Then Brother Shen will be busy again recently, right?" Xia Tian teased him.
This was their first real autumn harvest since coming to Linzhou, and also the first time they paid taxes seriously.
Spring taxes were exempted for one year due to the severe drought last year, so taxes are paid for the first time this autumn.
"Yes, I'm very busy." Shen Nian nodded, and thought of the good harvest of potatoes, but they were not easy to preserve, and began to worry again.
Looking at Xia Tian's bright eyes, I remembered that these potatoes were successfully planted during summer's trial, so she might also know how to preserve them.
"Xia Xia, Linzhou is collecting grain taxes, and they've brought in a lot of potatoes. These potatoes are difficult to preserve. Do you have any ideas?"
"There are ways." Xia Tian thought about it, and then explained it to Chen Nian in combination with ancient characteristics.
"The most direct storage method is to dig a cellar in a dry, well-ventilated area on high ground, about two to three meters deep. Cover the bottom with three to five centimeters of dry sand or straw. Don't pile too many potatoes in the cellar. Keep the cellar dry and the temperature stable. They can be stored for several months."
This is also the method she saw in a book, but nowadays there are cold storages and the temperature and humidity can be controlled, so potatoes can be stored for a longer time.
Nothing was certain in ancient times. If such a large amount of potatoes were stored like this and not preserved properly, the loss would be huge.
Shen Nian thought for a moment, "Digging a cellar is quite difficult, mainly because the weather here in Linzhou is humid, and it may not meet the requirements you mentioned."
Xia Tian nodded, that’s indeed the case!
Moreover, potatoes are taxed as food in the national treasury. If they are not properly stored and spoil, you may lose your head.
The key point is that potato planting is recommended throughout the country, so the potatoes collected as tax revenue are not a small amount, but a considerable quantity.
Another point is that although potatoes can fill your stomach, you can't eat them every day. Eating too much of them will cause heartburn.
"Brother Shen, there is another way. That is to make potato flour. If stored properly, it can be kept for one to two years."
"Tell me in detail." Shen Nian's eyes lit up. If this could be preserved for a year or longer, then the wish of not letting the people go hungry would really be realized.
"To make this potato flour, first wash and peel the potatoes, then mash them, then add clean water and filter..."
Xia Tian carefully explained the method of making potato starch. To be honest, it requires a lot of manpower and time to produce it in large quantities.
"As long as we can make potato starch, there will be a lot of delicious food to make." Xia Tian started to feel a little greedy when talking about potato flour. "When the potatoes are harvested, I'll have Cui Ling try making it."
Shen Nian also thought this method was good, but now it was only a theory and he hadn't seen the specific production process, so he had no idea.
But he believed what Xia Tian said and believed that she would definitely succeed.
Xia Tian chatted with Shen Nian for a while and suddenly remembered that there was another preservation method that might be more suitable for farmers. "Brother Shen, there is another preservation method. Just steam the potatoes, then cut them into thin slices and dry them in the sun. That way they can be preserved for a long time. And stews and meats are also very delicious."
Mainly this method is more suitable for frugal farmers.
The production of potato starch still involves a lot of losses.
"Okay, got it." Shen Nian took out a pen and paper and wrote down everything Xia Tian said.
He will have to discuss this matter with Lord Cao and others when the time comes.
Then let Xia Tian demonstrate the production process again so that you have a clear idea of it, and then we can show it to others.
He was sure that the emperor might be worried about how to store the potatoes right now!
Imperial Study in the Beijing Imperial Palace
"You all say that this tax is more than in previous years, but the treasury is full of potatoes now. We can't just leave them to rot, right?"
There was a bumper potato harvest all over the country. When the tax was first collected, all the ministers and the emperor were excited. But who knew that after only about half a month, they started to worry again.
Because the climate in different places is different, the planting time is also different. The potatoes harvested earliest were placed in the granary. As a result, they began to rot and sprout in just half a month, which made all the officials very worried.
Never before had food gone bad so quickly.
The main reason is that we have never received any tax payment using potatoes before.
"Your Majesty, why don't we let the people replace potatoes with other easy-to-store grains to pay taxes?" An official began to offer advice.
"What are you talking about? Potatoes were promoted by the imperial court for the people to grow, but we can't use potatoes to pay taxes. So why grow them?" Prime Minister Xu was the first to stand up and object.
The people are not fools. No matter how good potatoes are, they are not as good as other grains. If the court cannot preserve them, then how can the people preserve them?
Doesn’t this create conflict between the court and the people?
The emperor also thought this method was inappropriate. "The people have more potatoes for themselves. If they can't be preserved for a long time, they will be useless."
The emperor frowned, and the Minister of Revenue also had a worried brow. They didn't expect that even though the grain harvest was good, he would still be worried.
"Then we can't just watch the potatoes rot like this, right?" The Minister of War began to worry.
Originally, it had nothing to do with him, but the emperor himself didn't know what to do, so he could only call these trusted ministers to discuss countermeasures.
He is not the Minister of Revenue, so how does he know how to preserve it?
"Why don't we ask Lord Shen and his wife?" The Minister of Justice suddenly had an idea.
The potato planting was initiated by Lord Shen and his wife, so they might know how to store them.
The Minister of War suddenly realized, "Right, ask Lord Shen, he must have a solution."
The other adults also quickly agreed, "Yes, Master Shen will definitely have a way."
The emperor was also paused. Yes, how could he forget Shen Nian?
"Eunuch Xu, grind the ink!" The emperor couldn't wait a moment and asked Eunuch Xu to serve the pen and ink. He wanted to write a letter to Shen Nian immediately.
The other officials also breathed a sigh of relief. They had been worried sick these past few days because the emperor had forced them to brainstorm.
It's okay for them to govern the country, but they have no idea how to preserve the food.
Here, the emperor finished writing the letter and ordered his men to deliver it to Chen Nian as fast as they could.
Over there, Xia Tian looked at the potatoes that Shen Nian brought back, and began to direct Cui Ling and other maids to make potato flour.
Library Category Author Full Book Ranking
Home Page Click List Recommended List Collection List Temporary Bookshelf
PC Version All Novels Latest Updates Site Map Member Bookshelf
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
