"The problem of severe cold weather has been solved with the use of heaters and briquettes."
"Relief for work can partially solve the problem of refugees gathering in Xudu, but for the rest, we still have to rely on our food assistance."
"When we do that, we're going to be food insecure."
"Watazuki just talked about farming and there are suggestions to increase grain production."
"How exactly?"
Cao Cao immediately raised this issue.
This is what needs to be solved urgently right now. They have to ensure that the population under their rule is sufficient so that they can have enough foundation to calm the world in the future.
Today's severe cold is definitely not just in Yuzhou, but also in all parts of the Han Dynasty. If Cao Cao can solve this problem, he can be ahead of the other princes of the Han Dynasty.
The Cao family strengthened and the princes weakened.
The advantages are like this, gradually improving.
"Actually, the problem of severe cold is only half solved, not completely solved."
After listening to Cao Cao's question, Chen Zhou's mind raced quickly and he continued: "Warmers and briquettes are only suitable for heating indoors. Once they go outdoors, they are of little use. People can't hide indoors all winter. If you do this, you will starve to death sooner or later."
Hearing this, they thought it was right and felt worried again.
According to Chen Zhou, a heater is far from enough to solve the problem.
Not to mention ordinary people, even their official people have to distribute heaters and briquettes, and outdoor activities are also indispensable.
It’s really only half of the solution, not all of it.
"Please give me some advice."
Cao Cao said solemnly.
Chen Zhou said: "In fact, it is not difficult to solve it! I have heard that in the northwest, Liangzhou or the Western Regions, there is something called Baidianzi. It is as white as clouds, soft and comfortable to the touch, and is used to make clothes. It’s very effective in keeping out the cold.”
Baidianzi is cotton.
It is also called Baidie and Bodie. During this period, there were records of its cultivation in the Western Regions. During the Southern and Northern Dynasties, it was commonly planted in Gaochang and other places. Most local people thought that cloth was used for trading.
It's cold in the north, so wear more clothes and you'll be fine.
However, cotton had not been officially used in this period, and down and other things were even less likely to exist. You had to wear a lot of clothes to keep out the cold.
Using cotton to make cotton-padded clothes is now the best way to keep out the cold.
In order to cope with the Little Ice Age, Chen Zhou needed to advance the use of cotton.
"Baidiezi from the Western Regions?"
Guo Jia said: "With today's weather, it will be difficult for us to go to the Western Region. Even if we can get there, it will be almost spring to transport Bai Diezi back."
Chen Zhou said: "There is indeed no time this year, but it can be done after the beginning of spring to prepare for next year."
"What you say makes sense."
Cao Cao naturally believed in the Bai Diezi that Chen Zhou was talking about.
Although they have never been to the Western Regions, they have heard relevant rumors. As for whether Bai Diezi can withstand the cold, they will find out when they bring a large number of them back to try.
Ma Teng and others are in Liangzhou, and it is easy to get Bai Diezi through them.
"As for the problem of insufficient food and grass, it is a problem for the time being."
Chen Zhou hesitated for a moment, shook his head and said: "With our current reputation and the degree of resistance from the aristocratic families, it will no longer work to use similar methods to steal grain. However, the safest method is to farm the fields ourselves. "
Cao Cao said: "I have been doing it for a long time, but the effect is not very good. In recent years, I have often recruited refugees to open up wasteland, including using the millions of Yellow Turbans to open up wasteland. However, they seem to be unwilling to become tenant farmers of the imperial court and go to the aristocratic family. Run over there.”
The world is in chaos, and there are many ownerless wastelands.
More land can be cultivated for the common people, but the wandering common people can only bring some of their own farm tools with them at most, and more common people may not even be able to escape with their farm tools.
Not to mention crop seeds, etc.
Refugees from other places have only two ways to go if they want to cultivate land.
Either he worked as a tenant farmer for a wealthy family, or he followed the government's arrangements, receiving the seeds and farm tools distributed by the government, cultivating the fields designated by the government, and then paying taxes.
However, there are drawbacks to following the government.
And it is quite unfriendly to the people.
This can easily lead to refugees being willing to go to aristocratic families even if they are more deceived, because if they follow the government, if they cannot pay taxes, they are breaking the law and may be imprisoned.
If you can't pay the land rent to the aristocratic family, the most you can do is to be evicted.
"The main reason is that when my lord first started to farm, he issued a decree called Counting Cows and Losing Grains."
"This decree seems quite fair. There is no problem in paying taxes based on the number of leased cattle and the amount of farmland."
Chen Zhou proposed Cao Cao's decree for farming.
Of course they knew about this decree and how to implement it. They nodded slightly and waited for Chen Zhou to continue.
“However, there are drawbacks to counting cattle and losing grain.”
"This shortcoming cannot be said to be serious, but it will make the refugees unwilling to cooperate with the government, leaving the government fields without enough manpower to cultivate, and they will have to be abandoned in large quantities."
"If we want to solve the food problem in the coming year, we must use the cultivated land as soon as possible."
"After all, the refugees become tenant farmers of the aristocratic family, and the food the aristocratic family receives will not be selflessly donated to us."
Chen Zhou said again.
"Excuse me, Watanabe, what is the disadvantage?"
Xun You asked.
Chen Zhou was about to explain, when he heard the words, he continued: "The starting point of calculating cattle and losing grain is good. The Lord also considers it to restore production and restore people's livelihood. Even if the refugees hand over half of the grain as tax, they can still keep it." The next half of the food, even if there is no food stored, at least you can eat enough, right?"
Cao Cao said: "Yes!"
After receiving so many Yellow Turbans, he used this method to farm the fields. What Chen Zhou was thinking was exactly what Chen Zhou was talking about now.
"That's the downside."
"Calculating cattle and losing grain, handing over a fixed amount of grain is naturally good in a good harvest year."
"If during a drought or flood year, the people have no harvest, the government will continue to collect taxes."
"Since what the common people farm is government land, if they cannot pay taxes, they may face imprisonment, being questioned, exiled to the army, or being enslaved, etc."
"When refugees see how harsh the government is, they might as well become tenant farmers of aristocratic families."
Chen Zhou gave them a brief analysis.
Cao Cao and the three of them thought about it seriously, and it was not difficult to imagine the disadvantages. There were indeed fatal problems.
"What do you think the solution should be?"
Cao Cao asked immediately.
Chen Zhou said: "We have changed the method of counting cattle and losing grain. We divide the farmland into two parts, the civilian settlement and the military settlement. Let's talk about the civilian settlement first. It means abandoning the method of counting cattle and losing grain and changing it to a proportional harvest. Tax."
"For example, in a good year, more grain will be harvested."
“In disaster years, the harvest will be less.”
"The imperial court and the farmers share the risks of farming together."
“However, in order to do so, we need to determine a collection ratio that everyone can be convinced of.”
Chen Zhou explained his method.
Cao Cao and the three of them fell into deep thought for a moment, wondering whether this method was appropriate.
