In June of the 18th year of Jian'an, Lan Tian and Gao Shun were patrolling outside Quanling City. The scorching sun hung high in the sky, the fields were golden, and the branches were bent by heavy ears of rice.
"It looks like it will be another good year. The official warehouses that were emptied out at the beginning of this year should be filled within two seasons." Gao Shun said, stroking his beard.
Lantian nodded happily: "The people are getting better and better at composting. Coupled with the use of pesticides last year, the number of rice seedling deaths due to diseases has been greatly reduced. Grain production should soon reach its limit. If we want to increase production, we can only work hard on grain seeds."
"When will you be able to breed that kind of hybrid rice that Mr. once said?" Gao Shun asked curiously.
"It's easier said than done..." Lan Tian smiled bitterly and shook his head.
Later generations spent decades with the efforts of the whole country. The discovery of the male sterile strain was accidental and might not be found in a lifetime. Lantian only wanted to cultivate two-line hybrid rice. Even if the cultivation and development are successful now, the seeds will be selected and retained. It also requires a lot of manpower and is an extremely difficult road.
In fact, at the stage when seeds are not advanced enough, agricultural fertilizer is the most effective way to increase production, but Lantian's professional knowledge does not match. Apart from using simple green manure, organic fertilizer, manure, etc., he is unable to do anything that requires industrial means to refine the fertilizer.
In this era, there are fewer people and more land. As long as there are no wars, natural disasters, etc., the existing technical means can already feed the people.
Seeing that Lantian was a little melancholy, Gao Shun asked: "Is it a problem of land and climate? My husband once said that Jiaozhou is the most suitable place for growing rice. Can't we just wait until we capture Jiaozhou in the future?"
"The climate in Jiaozhou is mild and suitable, which is somewhat effective in cultivating improved rice seeds, but this kind of thing is like going against the will of nature. In addition to hard work, success also requires a little bit of luck."
"Anyway, I believe sir."
Gao Shun has been with Lan Tian for more than ten years and has witnessed so many novelties and impossibilities with his own eyes. He even suspects that his husband is comparable to the ancient saints and no one can understand him thoroughly, so he has unlimited trust in Lan Tian.
Looking at Gao Shun's serious expression, Lantian smiled slightly and said: "Actually, there is an ancient rice species in the south of Jiaozhou. This rice has long ears, no awns and a small grain difference. It is drought-resistant and grows indiscriminately. The most important thing is that it has a short growth cycle. , it only takes more than fifty days from planting to harvest..."
Gao Shun was dumbfounded. He had been involved in supervising rice planting for several years. One season of rice each year has the highest yield and takes about 150 days. Nowadays, the two-crop rice with a slightly lower yield also takes 100 days to mature. Comparing the two, the ancient rice species in Lantiankou have the advantages of being drought tolerant and having a growth cycle of more than fifty days.
"This... can this be called divine rice? Where is the rice grown? Let Usdin and the others get some?" Gao Shun asked excitedly.
Lan Tian shook his head, "This rice is in the Funan Kingdom south of Jiaozhou. It is already outside the territory of the Han Dynasty. It is even more barbaric than Jiaozhou. In addition, Usdin does not understand the language. We will slowly think of a solution in the future..."
Lantian's words were like a basin of cold water poured over him. Gao Shun hadn't even figured out the territory of the Han Dynasty yet, so he felt it was a pity when he heard that it was a foreign product.
"It's a pity that such a good thing actually grows in Fanbang..." Gao Shun sighed.
"Actually, there are a lot of good things outside the region. If we have the opportunity in the future, we will send people to look for it slowly." Lan Tianxin said that Champa rice is nothing. Sweet potatoes and potatoes produced in the Americas are high-yielding gods. Unfortunately, it is difficult to get through with the current navigation power. .
Gao Shun sighed: "Where there are teachers, it is really a blessing for the people."
The two of them were riding horses and walking slowly. At this time, the sun was rising to the zenith and the sun was scorching. Lan Tian thought to himself that it would be great if he could eat watermelon. Unfortunately, this thing was not on the diet of the Han Dynasty. Even if he had a powerful cultivation method, it would be great. You can only imagine in your mind.
"What are you thinking about, sir?" Gao Shun asked as he walked.
"I was thinking about the Western Regions... There are many good things in the Western Regions. It has been hundreds of years since Zhang Qian was sent to the Western Regions as an envoy. In the future, after the mountains and rivers are unified, we will have to send someone there..." Lan Tian shook his head and smiled.
"If that day comes, I would like to serve you, sir." Gao Shun said excitedly.
"When the world is peaceful in the future, Boping will still enjoy the beauty of the world, and leave the matter of his mission to the Western Regions to Yuan'er and Ji'er..."
"That's fine, I'll ask Gao Ling to lead their horses."
Lan Tian smiled bitterly and did not answer. Gao Shun was good at everything, but he was too principled. I wonder how many generations this master-servant friendship will last. On the other hand, Gan Ning was more open-minded and free-spirited. He could not only eat, drink, fight, and joke with old Hua Tuo. We also had a great time talking.
Gan Ning's free and easy attitude benefited from Lingling's good political environment. There were only a few nobles who held important positions under Lan Tian, and most of them were from relatively low backgrounds, so they didn't have to be particular about getting along with him.
The two returned to the prefect's mansion, and Mengang told them that Gan Ning had brought someone to see them.
Lan Tian and Gao Shun looked at each other after hearing this. After Gan Ning returned to Lingling, apart from supervising the construction of transport ships, he spent the rest of his time in the medical hall asking for advice on Wu Qin Xi.
"Didn't Xingba give me a hard time? Let's go in and see who he brought." Lan Tian said jokingly.
Gao Shun guessed: "Could it be Yuan Hua? Don't you want him to teach Yuan'er and Ji'er the Five Animals Opera?"
"Madam said that Wu Qinxi is soft and gentle. Now she urges the children to learn kung fu every day. Let's wait until they grow up." Lan Tian quickly denied.
"Young lady is right, her family's martial arts skills are no better than Wuqinxi? I don't know why General Gan admires her so much..." Gao Shun was puzzled.
Lan Tian smiled bitterly: "Wu Qin Xi still has some effects. For people like me who have a weak foundation, at least it can strengthen their bodies."
Gao Shunzhi shook his head, "Sir, your ability is not reflected in your martial arts. Generals Guan and Zhang respect you immensely, so why do you insist on the bravery of an ordinary man?"
"Well, I'm not persistent, I'm just a little regretful. Let's go into the palace..." Lantian's regret is that he didn't wear it on a strong general. The thrill of charging into the battle and killing the enemy is buried in every man's heart when he was a teenager. Dream.
Perhaps in strategy games thousands of years later, Lantian's panel attributes are seriously biased, and his force value is extremely low and his internal affairs value is close to full. He was left in the rear to improve the city's basic data.
Only imperfections are perfect, and regrets are what life is. Lantian himself is not too entangled, after all, the one in his family is very good at fighting.
The two of them entered the main hall, and Gan Ning hurriedly introduced a stranger to meet him. Although this man was not as rugged as Samoko, he was seven feet tall, broad-shouldered and round, and looked like a fierce general.
After being introduced, I found out that he was Li Yi, the spy Gan Ning had found for Zhang Fei.
Li Yi and Gan Ning were both from Bajun. When they were young, they admired the "Jinfan Thief" very much. This time, they came to Jingzhou to report the news on Zhang Fei's order.
Lan Tian was a little confused after hearing this. Gan Ning had just passed his forties and Li Yi was so mature. How could he be his crush?
"How old is General Li?" Lan Tian asked curiously.
"The last general will be twenty-seven this year." Li Yi answered sonorously with his fists clasped, and the messy beard on his cheeks trembled.
Lan Tian was startled when he heard this, and quickly nodded in affirmation: "A good age..."
Historically, Zhuge Liang came out of the army at the age of twenty-seven. If the Li Yi in front of him had not reported his family name, he would have looked thirty-six or seventeen, if not forty. However, he was actually a few years younger than himself, and he did look a little anxious.
