Just after a battle with the so-called Dragon King of the South China Sea, several people around him were injured. Xu Mochen ordered everyone to train and suspend all actions.
Taking advantage of this gap period, he and Tang Derun followed Fang Minghang's brother and sister to the rubber plantation.
Strictly speaking, this is actually a naturally formed rubber forest.
In this era, rubber trees had no value to agricultural civilization, so no one planted or cut them down.
Only then did a small part remain in Danzhou in the south.
"Your Majesty," Fang Minghang reported, "Actually speaking, rubber trees are not native to the country. I heard from nearby villagers that they were businessmen from foreign countries who planted a few trees at random in the early years. ap.
Later, the ancestors of the villagers also cultivated some of them, but they found that they were of no use, so they just lay here deserted. "
Now it has become like this.
Xu Mochen looked over and saw that the forest was not small enough for initial use.
But he comes from the 21st century and knows clearly that there will be a huge demand for rubber in the future.
Therefore, the promotion of rubber planting must be put on the agenda sooner or later.
Here, if Gu Jinge intervenes, using magic can indeed quickly achieve the result of increasing the growth rate.
But it will also leave Gu Jinge's seal in the rubber tree, which is not conducive to cutting with immortal cultivators.
If humans are allowed to plant and harvest natural rubber liquid, the first thing to solve is the food and clothing problem of people engaged in this industry.
Relying on ideals and slogans, no one will work for you, even if you are the emperor.
This goes back to the basics, changes in the structure of farming society.
The root of this change lies in the high degree of agriculturalization.
In this way, there will be excess social labor force that can be invested in other fields.
Then gradually, as multiple fields unfolded, demands and exchanges between each other arose, and new transactions were born.
Only in this way can the stable development of Daqian be promoted.
Otherwise, Xu Mochen forced a group of people to plant rubber trees. Even if they were provided with food, drink, and wages, the items they produced had no socioeconomic value except for Xu Mochen's own use. In the end, it was equivalent to saying that the country paid for it.
Small-scale experiments are possible, but if you want to promote it on a large scale, this model is absolutely undesirable.
Although Xu Mochen is a horse-riding emperor who values speed and efficiency, he is not a reckless person.
In the end, priority should be given to the research and development of hybrid rice.
With more food and surplus food, you can have the energy to do other things.
What's more, Daqian's food feeds more than just the people of Daqian.
Now that the world is unified, household registration statistics are in progress, and it is only a matter of time before the total population is estimated.
But as for the immortal cultivators, Xu Mochen had no way of knowing how many other immortal cultivators were also eyeing the food of the human race.
It's hard for a clever woman to make a meal without rice.
Xu Mochen did not say this out loud. As the emperor, he had to bear some pressure himself.
Xu Mochen was still very satisfied with this rubber forest, and finally "bought" this place in the name of the government.
The reason why I bought it was because of the current acceptance issue among the people. After all, Danzhou in the south had just experienced a disaster.
After the matter was settled, Xu Mochen returned to the prefect's mansion.
News from Danzhou in the south and other places indicates that the entire situation has stabilized.
This made Xu Mochen breathe a sigh of relief.
Except for Gu Jinge, the injured cultivators all recovered one after another.
An Zerui looked resentful: "Your Majesty, I think there must be a masked man behind this matter.
He intercepted and killed the water demon clan we were going to take to the Mo Alliance on the way, and his intention was already obvious. "
Xu Mochen pondered for a while and looked at Luo Xuanzhi: "What do you think?"
Luo Xuanzhi was also seriously injured this time. He looked pale and stepped forward to salute: "Your Majesty, there is now a separation between Danzhou and Daqian in the south.
Absolutely, information exchange cannot be realized, and its disadvantages are obvious, but it is not without benefits. "
This was the first time I heard about it, and Xu Mochen became interested: "Tell me what Aiqing thinks."
"I heard Master An once said that one of the purposes of Your Majesty's coming here is to find the Rebirth Flower." Luo Xuazhi weighed his words, "I have heard about this Rebirth Flower. It is said to be located at the junction of the mortal world and the underworld. The place.
The netherworld realm is actually the sphere of influence of the Cloud Realm. It is different from the mortal world and cannot be entered by casual cultivators.
If you want to go, you need to use some means. "
Xu Mochen immediately understood that this was the restriction imposed by the Cloud Realm on mortal cultivators: "It's like breaking through barriers and formations."
Luo Xuanzhi said respectfully, "Your Majesty is wise.
Once this barrier-breaking formation is activated, it will definitely alarm the upper world of the clouds and the mortal world, but now Danzhou in the south is completely blocked..."
Xu Mochen smiled: "So, it's a good thing for me."
"This official is just making an opinion. Your Majesty will make your decision on the details." Luo Xuanzhi kept smiling, "But this is just what I heard, and I am not sure of its authenticity."
"As long as Aiqing has this intention," Xu Mochen waved his hand, "You and Mr. An are still injured, so it's better to recuperate for a few more days."
Luo Xuanzhi was overjoyed: "I thank your Majesty for your concern."
Watching him exit, Xu Mochen turned to the topic.
He is also an immortal cultivator, but he actually doesn't have high trust in courtiers, even those like Anzerui who have surrendered.
He always remembered a saying, once the fundamental interests of immortal cultivators are touched, they will stab you in the back without hesitation.
That's a huge army.
"Zisu," Xu Mochen ordered, "You also heard what Luo Xuanzhi said just now. It involves the underworld and the underworld. I think it is most appropriate for you to investigate in secret."
Zi Su understood: "Your Majesty, don't worry, it's a matter of princess, and I will do my best.
Since Danzhou in the south is one of the four major crossings of Huangquan, there should be a special entrance. I will go find it first. "
This little girl's attitude towards him has been much better recently. Xu Mochen nodded: "Be careful of the masked man, and run away immediately if you encounter him."
Zi Su took the order.
"Back to our original intention, the cultivation of hybrid rice," Xu Mochen took the information handed over by Shen Zhining, "Looking back from the conclusion, we need to find varieties with undeveloped stamens."
This is the difficulty. They are immortal cultivators, but they are not the kind of beings who can figure out the secrets of heaven with just a finger.
It can only be discerned through divine discernment.
But here in Danzhou in the south, there are a lot of farmlands, and it takes time to find them one by one.
"Your Majesty," Shen Zhining requested, "I, together with Cuizhu, will search the northern area with Wanquan River as the boundary."
"Then I will team up with Tang Aiqing to search the farmland in the south," Xu Mochen agreed, "No matter how difficult it is, we must continue with this step."
Gu Jinge raised his head: "Xu Mochen, I also want to join your team."
Hearing this, Xu Mochen hesitated a little.
