Eunuch Ming opened the letter carefully.
"I wish Gao Liangqi..."
Zhu Gaoliang is the magistrate of Huzhou, ranking fourth rank.
"It's late June now, when cotton is growing vigorously. Magistrates from Ping'an County, Hekou County, Fenghuang County and other counties have come to report that the cotton plants are already ten to fifteen inches high. Various places have already responded to cotton watering and insect resistance. However, in other counties within Huzhou, such as Qingshui County, Deping County, and Wanquan County near Huzhou, the survival rate of cotton seedlings is less than half when they are cultivated, and half of them die after transplantation. As time goes by, Nine out of ten cotton plants left in the field will die..."
Halfway through the belief, the people present couldn't help but burst into an uproar.
"Didn't I say at the beginning that this cotton is suitable for the climate of any region? Why did so many people die?"
"The imperial court issued a decree to promote cotton, and the common people vacated the land to plant it, but all of them died. The farmers in these places are afraid that they will complain and curse the imperial court."
"Didn't the people of Sui'an propose to promote cotton cultivation at the beginning, but they didn't expect that cotton cannot grow even in Huzhou, which has good weather and good weather. Wouldn't it be more difficult to grow cotton in other areas?"
"The people of Sui'an made such a big mistake by rashly submitting a memorial to the court before they understood the habits of cotton."
"..."
Many people cast condemning glances.
The Minister of Household Affairs frowned. He originally sent Mr. Zou and his team to Dahe Village in Huzhou to study cotton. All data showed that cotton could indeed grow and survive in many different climate conditions. How could there be such a big flaw?
If there is a mistake, the Ministry of Revenue is also wrong.
When he was about to speak, Eunuch Ming said: "My lords, calm down first, I haven't finished reading this letter yet."
"... In order to find out why cotton plants died in large areas, I traveled around and finally learned the truth... It turned out that farmers in Ping'an County, Hekou County, Fenghuang County and other places used cotton left over from last year's harvest in Dahe Village. Plants, and those areas with large areas of death used cotton seeds brought by southern merchants... In order to prove that it was indeed the seeds, in late May, I sent people to the northwest, where cotton grows The seeds are extremely good, which means that only the seeds produced in Dahe Village can adapt to the climate of various places..."
There was silence.
Dahe Village is the hometown of the Sui'an people, and the cotton seeds there are basically produced by the Sui'an people.
In other words, the cotton seeds provided by the Sui'an people can grow in desolate places like the northwest, while the cotton seeds purchased from the south can die in good weather places like Huzhou... If you continue to blame The people of Sui'an are at fault, and it is simply targeting the people of Sui'an deliberately.
Under the various gazes of everyone, Cheng Wanwan always looked indifferent. She said: "Before planting cotton in Dahe Village, Weichen Zhenzhen selected those seeds from the south. He used a lot of time to raise seedlings for the first time. Using local methods, the cotton seeds after the first generation cotton harvest are more suitable for the weather in Huzhou. Once again, the seedlings are carefully selected and raised twice. The bad seeds are naturally screened out, and these excellent seeds are passed on from generation to generation. If this goes on, the output should become more and more stable..."
Taifu Lin said sincerely: "The people of Sui'an really deserve to be called people of Sui'an."
"The people of Sui'an are indeed worthy of the title I gave them." The emperor suddenly laughed, "From this point of view, these new species paid tribute by the Laji Kingdom should indeed be cultivated by the people of Sui'an. What do you think? "
The people who were the most opposed just looked at each other, but no one said anything.
They will step forward without mercy and step on those who are unable to take credit.
But for those who are capable, they can no longer criticize them verbally. If they talk too much, it will appear that they are jealous of the Sui'an people.
They are scholar-officials and men, how can they be jealous of a mere woman?
He Hanhai cupped his hands and said: "Your Majesty, I believe that the people of Sui'an have the ability to cultivate species suitable for our country, and I also believe that the people of Sui'an will not let down the emperor's trust."
Cheng Wanwan lowered his head and twitched the corners of his lips.
The meaning of these words is that if she cannot cultivate successfully, then she has betrayed the emperor's trust...
Master He had already compromised, but he still insisted on giving her eye drops in front of the emperor. He was really cunning.
"Since the beloved ministers have no objections, then this matter will be left to the people of Sui'an." The emperor paused and continued, "For the promotion of cotton next year, the people of Sui'an will take the lead in screening seeds. In this regard, the people of Sui'an Do you have any objections?"
Cheng Wanwan immediately said: "Wei Chen accepts the order."
Some court officials sighed, thinking they could take the opportunity to step on this woman, but unexpectedly, she was given another opportunity to make meritorious deeds.
I think that by this time next year, she will be promoted to the fifth rank of imperial concubine. The speed of this promotion is really enviable...
"Your Majesty, there is another letter here. It is from Ping'an County Magistrate Shen Dongming." Eunuch Ming said with a smile, "Do you want me to continue reading?"
The emperor nodded, Shen Dongming. He had heard of this name two years ago. It is said that he has been sitting in the position of Qipin County Magistrate for more than ten years. Without Shen Dongming's trust, the people of Sui'an would not have made so many great contributions. , and in the past two years, the people of Ping'an County have lived and worked in peace and contentment, and it has become a prosperous place in Huzhou. It is time for Shen Dongming to be promoted. For talented people, special promotions are common...
While the emperor was thinking about it, Eunuch Ming had already read the key point.
"... After Mr. Zou and his party came to Dahe Village, Ping'an County, they devoted themselves to the development of agriculture. Under the guidance of the Sui'an people, they successfully developed a human-powered rolling cart. Because it was driven by water, the locals called it a waterwheel... In the water After the car, the rice threshing machine was developed. It is difficult to rely on external force and relies on pure human power to thresh rice and wheat. It is extremely efficient..."
Whether it was a waterwheel or a threshing machine, few people present could understand it. They were all scholar-bureaucrats and people from the upper class. How could they know how the farmers at the bottom worked? Only some people in the Ministry of Household Affairs who had some knowledge of farming understood something. .
Da Sinong took a step forward and said, "Eunuch Ming, are there any drawings on this memorial?"
In his brain, he really couldn't imagine what a water-driven overturning car looked like, and what a threshing machine was...
"Of course there are drawings." Eunuch Ming smiled, "However, Mr. Shen ordered the water truck and thresher to be sent to the capital. They should have been sent to Guanghe Hall by now. If you are interested, you can go and take a look. , the people from Sui'an are also here, so I can explain to the Emperor and Queen what these two things are."
The Minister of the Ministry of Industry said repeatedly: "When Lao Zou and his party went to Huzhou and completed the cotton test task, they wrote to Wei Chen asking to stay for a while longer to study irrigation tools. Wei Chen thought that he would have to study irrigation tools for at least one or two years. Unexpectedly, it would be so It was almost successful, and it must be because of the guidance of the Sui'an people, who are admirable for their cleverness and ingenuity."
The emperor stood up and said, "Mr. Ming, lead the way. Assab and the envoy from Laji Kingdom should go and have a look."
Cheng Wanwan naturally took the lead.
She was really helpless. She did not intend to take credit for the agricultural equipment, because she only put forward the idea and direction, and it was Mr. Zou and Mr. Li who really came up with the research... Now County Magistrate Shen is giving this memorial. Come on, the credit seems to be placed directly on her head.
But now is not the time to talk about this. It is obvious that the emperor can't wait to see the new gadgets and can't wait to show his national prestige in front of Assab and Laji...
