While Mu Yi'an was at home worrying about things in the Northwest, the people in the Northwest, standing in the fields, looked at the snow-white cotton bolls on the cotton stalks, their hearts filled with excitement.
"Manager Wei, we've succeeded! We've succeeded!"
"Manager Jiang, we have lived up to your expectations!"
They've been here for a year now, going from being anxious and fearful at the beginning to feeling completely at ease now. They've experienced a lot, perhaps the most memorable period of their lives.
The wind and sand of Northwest China have tanned their skin and wrinkled their faces.
"Manager Wei, we'll start picking cotton tomorrow."
"Yes, we'll start picking cotton tomorrow."
Manager Wei has already hired a large number of local people who have experience in growing and picking cotton.
The cotton harvest began the next day.
When the hired workers saw the large, white cotton bolls, they were astonished.
They plant cotton every year, but the number of cotton bolls is relatively small. They work themselves to the bone all year, but their income is really not much.
"There are so many cotton bolls, and they're so big!"
"Yes, I've lived for decades and this is the first time I've ever seen such a big cotton boll."
"I wonder how they take care of you. There must be some secret recipe, right?"
"Sigh, if only we could grow cotton like this."
...
Envy and whispers filled the air, but Manager Wei and Steward Jiang remained silent; it wasn't something they could decide.
Whether or not the cotton planting methods could be passed on to outsiders depended on my wife's decision.
Manager Wei and his team were busy picking cotton, and Brother Mu and the Chu family were in the same situation.
The stewards sent by the Chu family were unfamiliar with methods to increase cotton production, and they listened to Manager Wei throughout the entire planting process.
Brother Mu didn't act on his own either. This time, planting cotton wasn't like planting watermelons, where Yi'an gave him all the credit.
He also hitched a ride on the cotton business this time.
In the cotton fields, cotton harvesting is in full swing.
Inside the Northwest Army's main tent, General Gu was also listening to Jiang Wen's report.
"General, the cotton harvest is truly bountiful. Although we can't calculate the yield yet, each cotton plant has produced a large number of cotton bolls, and they are quite big."
Even seasoned cotton farmers in the area, who had been growing cotton for decades, couldn't believe that cotton could produce so many bolls.
Jiang Wengang returned from several cotton fields, his heart filled with excitement.
Cotton was exactly what their Northwest Army desperately needed. The winters here were so cold that they needed to wear cotton-padded coats for almost half the year.
"Have Wu Feng send a team to guard the area, so that the enemy has no opportunity to take advantage of the situation."
After the cotton is harvested and weighed, it is all brought back.
"We'll settle the accounts with them all at once after all the cotton has been harvested."
General Gu wanted to keep this batch of cotton so that most of the soldiers in the army could wear new cotton-padded clothes this winter.
As for the price, he wouldn't treat them unfairly; it would be based on market prices.
This summer, the watermelon harvest was bountiful, which earned them a lot of money.
They traded horses, furs, and jewelry with the surrounding small tribes.
He kept the horses, their furs, and the treasures, and had them organized into a caravan to take them back to the capital, where he opened shops and sold them for a good price.
He reported this matter to the Emperor, and it was approved.
General Gu was very discreet in his actions. As the emperor's general, he would write secret letters to the emperor for any matters.
He wouldn't mention it to anyone before speaking to the Emperor, not even his father.
A general who commands a large army and is far away is most afraid of the discord between the ruler and his ministers, and mutual suspicion between them, which can be deadly.
This time, the cotton matter has also been officially approved.
The Emperor didn't actually have high hopes, after all, cotton production had been the same for decades.
"Go and talk to Wu Feng, and also make it clear to the Jiang family that we are buying the cotton, not forcibly taking it."
"General, rest assured, I will definitely complete the mission."
Jiang Wen left the general's tent to find Lord Wu.
This year has been a lucky year; we had a bumper harvest of watermelons and sold them for a good price.
Now that the cotton harvest is plentiful, people in the Northwest will be able to have a good New Year this year.
After Jiang Wen left, General Gu began writing a memorial to the throne.
Although the cotton yield results are not yet available, a bumper harvest is a certainty.
This matter needs to be reported to His Majesty. Also, they need to provide an explanation regarding the methods of cotton cultivation.
The memorials from the Northwest arrived in the capital first. In the magnificent palace, the ministers had just finished their court session, and the emperor was returning to his study.
"Your Majesty, General Gu's secret report."
"Give it to me, let me see."
Playing mind games with a group of cunning and shrewd ministers is really exhausting.
"Hmm, not bad, Gu Yuanshan is really lucky this year!"
"General Gu has more good news?"
Seeing that the Emperor was in a good mood, Eunuch Huang was also happy.
He has served the emperor for over twenty years, rising from a young eunuch to the current chief eunuch, experiencing countless dangers along the way.
"Yes, the cotton has been planted."
"That's wonderful news! Cotton is needed not only by the Northwest Army but also by the Northeast Army!"
Grandpa Huang sighed, "Cotton has always been in short supply, which makes cotton cloth expensive."
"Yes, this is a great thing that benefits the country and its people."
The Emperor recalled his teacher's letter. This time, the cotton was sourced from an ancient formula found by Jiang Jinshi's wife, who then organized manpower to send it to the Northwest.
Whether it was good luck or skill, this couple seemed to succeed at almost everything they did.
The literacy booklets from before are said to have already spread to a small extent in the prefectural city.
They've done a great job in things like watermelon cultivation and cotton cultivation, which are matters of people's livelihood.
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