Chapter 140
Chapter 140
The most important things in farming.
Land, fertilizer, seeds, irrigation.
Each of them can be discussed at length and become an article that takes the size of a book.
Ji Yuan already knew the local situation very well.
Land, irrigation, and even fertilizers are all slowly developing.
Now, it’s finally the seeds’ turn.
The development of agriculture from ancient times to the present has a history of thousands of years.
The grains that are common today were just weeds in the beginning.
After years of domestication, it finally has the appearance that everyone is familiar with.
Ji Yuan has always believed that Dianzhou Prefecture has great potential for development because of the diversity of local plants and its suitable climate.
Such a climate also provides absolutely strong support for subsequent breeding.
The first two years were fine, and Ji Yuan felt that it was also good to develop slowly.
It was probably because he had less than two years left before leaving office, and he just felt that the situation had become urgent.
It just so happened that General Zhang, the commander-in-chief, came over, and there was also a new prefect at Zhennan Pass.
Even though Liu Tongzhi could handle most of the things in Ning'an Prefecture, he simply stayed near Guantian and even wished he could build a small house nearby to live in.
In the past, when everyone wanted to find Ji Zhizhou, they didn’t know where he was busy.
Now whenever it is mentioned, people would say, "Ji Zhizhou must be near Guantian."
Besides Chai Feng, Wu Renhao was transferred to General Zhang's side. General Zhang was overjoyed and felt that he had found a capable assistant.
An Dahai was nowhere to be seen. He is now an expert on livestock in several nearby places, and is directly improving the level of local livestock breeding.
Those standing in front of Ji Yuan were basically powerful local farmers and minor officials in charge of government fields.
These petty officials in charge of official fields only felt extremely stressed.
You are a prefect, why do you come to farm yourself?
Look at the halo around you, don’t you think it’s a waste of your talent to do this?
People say that scholars are very arrogant. Why are you different?
Especially for the officials who had just been transferred here, every time they saw their prefect, their top scholar Ji, wearing shorts and rolling up his sleeves to work, they felt it was embarrassing to watch?
You have reached the pinnacle of your studies.
Don’t you think this is disrespectful?
Ji Yuan accidentally heard it, and he could only say: "Why? You don't want to eat?"
Eat, but don’t plant.
Gentlemen and farmers each have their own duties. We work with our talents and do not feel guilty about eating food.
But I couldn't say that at all.
Talent?
Compared with Ji Zhizhou?
Do they deserve it?
As a result, local officials actually developed a pragmatic character.
There's nothing we can do about it, it's just because the local leader has such a personality.
Ji Yuan said: "The cultivation of rice seeds mainly focuses on these aspects."
"High yield is not to mention, but stable yield is also necessary, that is, stability and strong adaptability."
"We also choose better quality ones and try to shorten the growth cycle."
After Ji Yuan finished speaking, the official field clerk and five or six old farmers all leaned back.
Ji Yuan himself paused.
What's wrong with him? What he just said made him sound like a bad party.
Or the party A who wants both.
But when it comes to food, he really wants both.
These five or six old farmers, led by the local farmer Tian, said bluntly: "It's not that good."
"In fact, many of the rice ears sent here are quite good, with full grains. If you take good care of one acre of land, you can get 400 kilograms."
That would require good care to weigh only 400 kilograms.
The official fields have no shortage of water, fertilizer, or strength, so they can be taken care of so well.
What about ordinary people?
Even the most hardworking people can make mistakes.
If this kind of seeds were really promoted, it would produce at most 300 kilograms.
Just like playing a game.
A very good person, using the top equipment of the time, scored a pretty good score.
Can you say that everyone who plays games can achieve such results?
This is definitely not fair.
What the era requires is a lower limit.
A farmer doesn't have to work so hard or stay in the fields every day, and he can still harvest more than 400 kilograms.
Not everyone can be the top scorer, and you also have to consider universality.
If you want to maintain the lower limit, the upper limit must be high.
Laonong Tian muttered to himself that their Magistrate Ji’s demands were really too high!
But after a detailed discussion, I found that Ji Zhizhou's high demands were justified.
Because he knows something about breeding.
He also put forward many of his own opinions.
The first step is to introduce new species.
Ji Zhizhou has already done this.
It is really not easy to get Champa rice.
Although everyone kept the incident involving Ji Zhizhou and the Tianqi Kingdom a secret, they still managed to bring so many people over.
The Xinning people spoke and said that they were brought here by a handsome lumberjack, who also had a confidant who was nearly two meters tall.
Even a fool knows who this is talking about.
It took several months of traveling through mountains and rivers to attract new species. Such perseverance is admirable.
Therefore, even though the demands made by him as "Party A" were unreasonable, Tian Laonong and the others gritted their teeth and nodded.
The next step is the systematic seed selection.
The 160,000 kilograms of rice seeds that were exchanged also need to be selected.
It’s a coincidence. I don’t know if the royal family of Hehui Kingdom made any selection, but these rice varieties are not too bad.
This is possible.
Judging from the importance He Huiguo attached to it, he probably did make a selection.
Even so, Ji Yuan said, "Keep picking."
Choose the best from the best.
Although this was a time-consuming and laborious undertaking, the petty officials in government fields, the exiled criminals, and the farmers all participated in the election.
Finally, out of 160,000 jin, 10,000 jin were selected for the first batch, and the first batch was planted on 500 acres of land.
While they were selecting seeds, they were already plowing the best paddy fields.
In December, the first batch of Champa rice seeds were cultivated, and then they were planted and fertilized, waiting only for the female plant to be emasculated and help with pollination.
The female plant is emasculated, which means removing the stamens in the rice flowers. These stamens are collected and then artificially pollinated.
In modern terms, it is the hybridization of crops.
The hybridization of two or more genetically different breeds.
However, the hybrid generation in December can basically only be pollinated by Champa rice. This time, the planting will mostly depend on the adaptability of this type of rice here.
After all, the Hehui Kingdom is several hundred miles away from here.
So the first batch of planting was only 500 acres of land.
Of course, the area of 500 acres is not small, but it is still not enough to supply the entire Ning'an Prefecture to grow this rice seed.
These 500 acres of land were called Experimental Field No. 1 as Ji Zhizhou called it, and were planted with the first generation of hybrid crops.
Next, each batch of seeds will be numbered to see which method produces the best seeds.
Generally speaking, it takes at least three years to breed good varieties.
Fortunately, the local climate is suitable.
In addition, with Jiyuan investing money like crazy, we hope to be able to cultivate high-quality Champa rice by this time next year.
Speaking of free money.
Thanks also to the local rubber industry.
Otherwise, we wouldn't have the time to invest so much manpower and resources.
While waiting for the hybrid first-generation seeds to be emasculated and pollinated, Ji Yuan finally withdrew from the farmland.
From late October to late December, a full two months.
Therefore, when the officials of Ning'an Prefecture Government saw Ji Zhizhou in the Prefecture's Mansion, some of them even cried for joy.
Speaking of this period of time.
On Ji Zhizhou's eighteenth birthday, Miss Cheng from the official school took the lead in hosting a banquet for Mr. Ji.
At other times, we can only meet in the farmland!
Ji Yuan said with a smile: "Why don't you recognize me?"
How could I not know him!
Someone shouted, "Master Ji, is this year's assessment about to begin?"
"Yes." Ji Yuan said, "It's about to begin."
He just knows it!
Ji Zhizhou is coming here, there must be something wrong.
Actually it’s fake.
Ji Yuan almost forgot about the year-end assessment.
Mainly because in the past few years, the officials of Ning'an Prefecture were not complete, and everyone knew each other every day. His colleagues knew how much they had done.
This year is indeed different.
This year, Ning'an Prefecture's configuration is considered complete.
From prefect to associate prefect.
The following judges and so on.
As well as the heads of the six departments and the minor clerks under them.
In short, no matter how you look at it, it is a sound team.
The person who spoke just now actually reminded Ji Yuan.
The assessment is indeed about to begin.
Today is December 22nd.
By the time winter break starts on the 28th, there will only be five days left.
It’s a good time to take stock.
Building roads and farmland, rubber and cloth dyeing.
Then we asked all the households which had oxen to work and assessed them all.
Each household owns a working ox, which makes Ji Yuan feel more at ease.
Today, Ning'an Prefecture has a total population of 320,000, more than 50,000 households, and a total of more than 13,000 oxen.
Finally, the ratio of one ox to every four households was reached.
This number has increased very quickly, which is actually related to road construction.
Most of the households that bought cattle this year had extra money because they participated in road construction.
I think this number will go up a bit after the Chinese New Year.
Spring plowing starts after the New Year, which is definitely different.
An Dahai said: "It's just that we have too many farms here. At the beginning, there were only five or six, and we had to find them to come over."
"We have now grown to 16 stores. We have so many oxen working the fields that we may soon be unable to continue."
An Dahai is like a fish in water in the local area. He often travels between these farms and has a good understanding of them.
Ning'an Prefecture's agriculture and economy are developing too fast.
As a result, these farms are also developing rapidly.
If it goes on so fast and without restraint, life will not be easy for everyone.
Ji Yuan nodded: "So we need guidance."
"Our local rice-flavored duck is selling so well, we can also raise ducks."
The main reason is that Ning'an Prefecture has a well-developed water system, and the chickens, ducks, and geese raised in such a place do not taste too bad.
There may be a rough range for the number of oxen needed locally.
But when it comes to satisfying your appetite, it’s hard to say.
Not to mention that people outside like the local Daoxiang Duck, there are more than 300,000 local people and the demand is huge.
The most urgent need for working oxen has almost been met, and we really need to slowly turn to other areas.
An Dahai seemed to be thinking about something and nodded to do it.
Dahai has actually always been considered a local non-staff member. Although he is a minor official, he has a lot of freedom.
Some are like local technical support.
But there will be absolutely no problem if we leave the matter to him.
There is no need to talk about the road construction. Although two roads are built at the same time, they have enough money and manpower.
Lord Ye and Lord Cheng from the provincial capital have already gone to look after the east and west roads separately.
Separate care?
Ji Yuan looked at Cheng Yisan, one of the few women present.
Cheng Yisan nodded.
There have been so many things going on recently that Ji Yuan didn't even notice this matter.
"My mother is with me, so it's no problem."
"Master Cheng is much better."
When I first came here, I had attacks of madness almost every day, but now, I haven't had one for nearly two months.
With Mrs. Cheng by his side, the two of them supported each other, which was pretty good.
That's good.
The last thing I want to talk about is definitely the local official school.
If An Dahai is considered a non-staff member, then Cheng Yisan's existence is even more of a non-staff member among non-staff members.
In places of exile, it is common to use convicted officials.
However, few people employed the family members of criminal officials.
When recruiting officials this year, the prefect also asked whether they needed people from official schools. Ji Yuan did not say much, but just sent Cheng Yisan's article.
The prefect must also be a Jinshi. After reading Miss Cheng's article, he silently took back what he said.
Just send some teachers here, forget about the manager.
I thought Ning'an Prefecture had an era, but the level was already very high.
Now there is Cheng Yisan and even Lord Cheng.
There is simply no comparison to other places.
Therefore, the Ning'an Prefecture official school was still defaulted to Miss Cheng being in charge.
The problem is that it's fine as long as Ji Yuan is here, but if he leaves Ning'an Prefecture, the person in charge of this official school will have to be replaced.
Everyone knows this.
Cheng Yisan naturally understood, but she still handled the official school affairs very well.
Ning'an Prefecture Official School, as mentioned before.
The veterinary department is running well and there are many students from other places coming to study.
For students from other places, a part of the fee will be charged, but food and accommodation are not included.
There are two types of local students. One type pays their own fees, which is still lower than that of non-local students.
The second type is free, including food, accommodation and books, but after completing the course, you have to provide free medical treatment to local livestock within two years.
The last type also belongs to the Agricultural Department of Ning'an Prefecture, and specializes in treating livestock of poor families.
Next is the adult department.
At the beginning, only people from the lumberjack association came to learn. There were no books, and everything was free. The main goal was to learn how to write one’s name and know how to count.
From the time the state school opened in June and July to now, December, it has taught nearly 10,000 people, making it a successful literacy class.
After all, it has been established for such a short time, but it has been able to teach so many people, all thanks to Cheng Yisan who built it up bit by bit.
These people don’t just teach and then stop. There is also a small test at the end. To a real scholar, the questions seem very simple.
But for ordinary people, it is definitely enough.
This incident perfectly demonstrates Ji Yuan’s thinking.
Whether it is text or books by sages, they are indeed classic works and they do represent cultural cultivation.
But it is also an everyday tool.
Mastering daily tools is a very convenient thing for yourself.
In the adult department, those who have talent can enter the next stage.
Most official schools will list this area as a priority.
Imperial examination.
That is the path that Ji Yuan took.
Starting from teaching children, enlightenment, primary school, university, and then to deeper research.
Studying on your own and opening a school are completely different paths.
Cheng Yisan also explored things slowly, and with the help of correspondence with her uncle Cheng Jiaoyu, the subject of the imperial examination was indeed established.
Now the school enrolls more than a thousand students, more than 800 men and more than 200 women.
Their ages ranged from seven to seventeen.
Occasionally, there are students from the adult department who come and teach them from the basics of elementary education.
From September and October to now, the school has only been open for two months.
But according to Cheng Yishan, he still said: "Generally speaking, there will be child examinations in February in various places. I want to let them try."
“Even though most of them will fail the exam, we need to let them know the process.”
Ji Yuan nodded.
This is feasible.
In fact, there are no admission quotas for the Tongshi in Ning'an Prefecture, not even for the T County Examination.
For example, when he was in Zhengrong County, the Tongshi examination was divided into county examination, prefectural examination, and academy examination.
There are a total of ten admission places for the county examination, and you can report to the prefecture.
Ning'an Prefecture has always been special.
Before, there were neither the conditions for running a school nor anyone to run a school. Even local students went to Zhennanguan to study and used the Zhennanguan quota.
The main reason is that locals don’t pay taxes, so the higher authorities won’t give them any places.
Even this year, there are still no vacancies.
What Cheng Yisan and Ji Yuan meant was that even if there were no vacancies, they should try to hold a county exam first to allow students to adapt in advance.
At the same time, Ji Yuan had to use his connections to get the county examination quota from Ning'an Prefecture.
These places are not given out on a whim.
It is necessary to request examination places from the provincial capital based on the local population, local economy, and local official school conditions.
The situation in Dianzhou Prefecture was even more complicated.
The area of Dianzhou Prefecture is so large that its capital is Dianzhou City and its sub-provincial capital is Wuxin City of Wuxin Prefecture.
If it is the former, then it is very simple. Ji Yuan has always had a good relationship with the prefect of Dianzhou Prefecture.
But Ning'an Prefecture is close to the latter, so the quota must be applied for from the latter.
Cheng Yisan can take care of the affairs of the official schools in the state.
But if we apply to the higher authorities, Ji Yuan will have to take action.
Ji Yuan, Liu Tongzhi, Cheng Yishan and others discussed for a long time.
Ji Yuan said: "After all, it's still about taxation."
"As long as the local government pays taxes, the quota will surely be within reach."
We can discuss the specific number of quotas in detail, but the main thing is to get the authority to hold the quotas first.
If you want a place, you have to pay taxes.
The final question comes back to paying taxes.
When the new prefect of Zhennan Pass came, he actually brought the imperial edict on taxation with him.
The general idea is that the fee is exempted for the past two years, but will have to be paid starting from the 42nd year of Huayuan.
Everyone knows about this, but it has never been discussed.
This would be a good time.
Ji Yuan said: "Starting tomorrow, we will collect land tax and head tax."
"The head tax is paid in the summer, and the field tax is paid after the autumn harvest."
Ning'an Prefecture has to pay taxes.
This matter was finally spoken out.
But the groundwork has almost been laid now.
All in all, it has been delayed for two years.
Moreover, Liu Tongzhi had already started talking about it before the fifty years were up.
The locals were given four or five years of buffer time, and those who had studied in official schools also understood the situation.
In short, with efforts from all parties.
The matter was settled directly.
Ji Yuan thought for a moment and said, "Since we have to pay taxes next year, we still need the place in the county school."
They can't entertain themselves.
Although the Tongshi exam is divided into three examinations.
Even if you pass the local county exam, you will basically fail the subsequent exams.
Then you have to try it too.
Just join in the fun and learn from other people's experiences.
Although Cheng Yisan was surprised, she was more happy.
It is definitely a good thing that her students can take the provincial examination.
For five consecutive days, the Ning'an Prefecture government office had been holding a "meeting".
Jiyuan’s assessment this year is relatively loose.
As long as the officials under him work hard and achieve certain results, the assessment results will not be bad.
In addition to the assessment, news of paying taxes next year was also announced.
And registration for the local imperial examination officially begins.
Ji Yuan himself took advantage of the New Year period to visit Wuxin City in Wuxin Prefecture.
Ning'anzhou will also participate in next year's children's exam!
Their students also have to take the imperial examinations!
The most dumbfounded person might be Liu Tongzhi.
My Lord Governor, what's wrong with you? Why are you leaving again?
And we haven't paid taxes yet, but you want to take the exam. Isn't this inappropriate? !
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
