Everyone looked at the clod of earth and their lips twitched. Even if the Jiang family suffered a lot in the war, they could not afford meat, so they had to eat this clod of earth.
Is it edible? It won’t kill you.
Seeing that they didn't move, Jiang Sheng thought they didn't know how to eat, so he sat down and started peeling the potatoes. He demonstrated it, and the potatoes tasted soft and sticky, but had no flavor.
If it were dipped in some sauce, it would probably taste better, so I urged, "Eat it, it tastes great. I'll explain it in detail after you finish eating it."
Everyone took a tentative bite, their eyes lighting up: "Hmm? This tastes... well, how should I put it, kind of delicious, but just doesn't have much flavor."
Jiang Sheng waited quietly for them to eat, then said, "The land in the Northern Wasteland is barren and arid. If we try to store water for farming, the crops will almost die before they grow."
"In that case, why not grow other crops? We all want to eat, so why not grow drought-resistant crops that are more suitable for the Northern Wasteland?"
"This thing is called potato, and it yields 5,000 kilograms per mu."
Everyone suddenly looked up, staring at him in disbelief, and said in astonishment, "What? Third Young Master, are you kidding? How can this tiny clod of earth yield 5,000 kilograms per mu?"
"This kind of grain we have, the yield per mu is only 400 to 500 kilograms. Is there something wrong?"
Jiang Baichuan looked over with a puzzled look in his eyes. Is this thing really so productive? Is the third brother kidding?
Jiang Sheng hummed, "Yes, time waits for no one. We must start planting now. Plant twice a year, and within three years, no one in the Northern Wasteland will starve to death again."
"Don't plant crops for now. Save the people's lives first. Once the reservoir is built and there's no water shortage, it won't be too late to plant crops..."
"This, this matter is of great importance. If this thing fails, Third Young Master, do you know what will happen? How many people will die in the cold winter?"
The old man's aggressive tone.
The smile on Jiang Sheng's face faded, and he said seriously, "Even if we grow crops, have you seen how many people are fleeing on the road and how many people are starving to death?"
"Since growing grain isn't enough, why not grow potatoes? And I asked you to come here today not to discuss anything, but to inform you that everyone must grow this."
"I will buy the seeds, and I won't charge the people a cent. After the crops are grown, I will pay the taxes and the people will keep 80%."
Liu Yong looked at him in surprise and asked tentatively, "Third Young Master, are you sure you want to leave 80% for the people? Isn't that a bit too much?"
Jiang Sheng glanced at him and said calmly, "Not much. Only in this way can the people have a surplus and survive the cold winter."
Everyone talked about it, and finally looked up at the person above.
Jiang Baichuan glanced at his eldest son, and when he nodded, he coughed lightly and said, "The food problem in the Northern Wasteland comes first. We can take our time with other things, but the people can't wait any longer."
"Tomorrow, a notice will be posted. All citizens are required to plant potatoes. The seeds can be obtained directly from the City Lord's Mansion. They are all free. A 20% tax will be paid."
"If anyone embezzles from this, he will be killed without mercy!"
Liu Yong met those cold eyes and couldn't help but shudder. It felt like he was being seen through, which was really scary.
The next morning, the notice was posted, and people from the government office went to the villages to announce it. In less than a day, the news of planting potatoes spread throughout the Northern Wilderness.
The people were at a loss. They had never seen free seeds before. In the past, they had to pay 70% tax, but now it was only 20%, which they had never seen before.
The Jiang family is so good as soon as they arrive. Do you believe it or not?
It was not until people saw people carrying bags of things out that people gradually began to believe that the new city lord was really going to give out seeds, and that he didn't want to pay for them.
After the news spread, more people came into the city. There were two tables at the entrance of the city lord's mansion, where people were registered one by one, and the seeds were distributed within three days.
Jiang Sheng trained a group of people in advance on how to plant potatoes. After making the arrangements, he locked himself in the yard and started tinkering with something. When he opened the door again.
His face was unshaven and he looked very disheveled, but his eyes were frighteningly bright. He called people into the yard and jumped on the white ground in front of them.
"Brothers, look, this is the Silver Road I researched based on ancient texts. If you have this, you will be able to open up your roads and finances in the future."
"You don't have to worry about muddy weather on rainy days. You can use horse-drawn carriages even when it rains, and the cost is very low..."
The Jiang family's father and son were stunned, staring blankly at the silver road. They rubbed their eyes, wondering if they had seen it wrong.
"How long will it take to pave this road?"
"It can be paved in one day. Once it turns silver and hardens, people can walk on it. Carriages can also be used, but the load capacity still needs to be measured."
Jiang Ling's mind was full of thoughts, and he instantly thought of the use of this thing. If it could be laid out all over the Northern Wilderness, how many merchants would be attracted?
The people have money and their lives are better, so they naturally pay more taxes. There is no need to worry about not being able to attract people. The Peach Blossom Spring in the Northern Wilderness is not just a dream.
Seeing that they were silent and looked dull, as if something was broken, Jiang Sheng pulled them up and let them feel it for themselves.
Jiang Baichuan stamped his feet. The ground was very solid. If it were paved with bluestone slabs, it would cost a lot of money and take a lot of time. This could be done in just one day, which was incredible.
He raised his hand and patted his shoulder, saying awkwardly, "Third Brother, if this Silver Road can really be paved, you will have made a great contribution. Not bad, not bad."
"Have you calculated the cost? How much silver will it cost?"
Jiang Sheng took out the list, motioned for him to look at it, and said with a smile: "It's just a small labor fee. I can dig up the materials myself. It doesn't cost any money at all."
"We can first build an official road. When the people from the four families arrive, there's nothing more shocking than this. They will definitely stay."
"The countries surrounding the Northern Wasteland will definitely target them. We need treasures to keep them here."
After the father and his two sons finished discussing, they immediately arranged for people to prepare materials and started working on cement to pave the official road. They did it half and half so as not to delay the people's passage.
Three days later, a road as long as the Milky Way was paved. When many people passed by, they only dared to look at it from a close distance and did not dare to get too close.
They were afraid that it would be damaged and they couldn't afford to pay for it.
Until the guards retreated and shouted, "You can leave Yinlu now, you can leave now."
The people stepped on it tentatively and found it very firm, not as slippery as bluestone. They smiled from ear to ear and said, "It's great to have this road in the future. We don't have to worry about rainy days anymore."
"But I've never seen this road before. It's so white, like silver, it's really beautiful. Thanks to the city lord's righteousness."
The people felt the changes and smiles appeared on their faces.
Later, it rained and wet the Silver Road, turning it back to the color of mud. Everyone was worried that it might collapse, but unexpectedly it was still very solid.
Once the weather clears up, the moisture dries up and everything returns to its original state.
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