It is true that Jinghua experimented with rice cultivation in Liaodong. This matter was not a solution thought up by Jinghua's subordinates at all levels, but came from Gao Pragmatic's own idea. When he proposed this experiment, everyone inside Jinghua was shocked.
As we all know, rice is traditionally a typical southern crop, while northerners have always used corn and wheat as their main crops. The black soil in Liaodong or Northeast China did not grow rice for a long time. As the sad and indignant song "On the Songhua River" after the fall of Northeast China during the Anti-Japanese War sang: "The mountains and plains are full of rice." Soybeans and Sorghum.”
But modern people are very aware that Northeast rice is very famous, so it can be seen that rice can definitely be grown in the Northeast. So when did the history of rice cultivation in Northeast China begin?
First of all, let me explain a situation: Generally speaking, "Chinese rice" and "Northeast rice" are actually two concepts.
The world's rice originated in China, but that was in the Yangtze River Basin. As early as 7,000 years ago, the original inhabitants of the lower reaches of the Yangtze River had fully mastered the cultivation technology of rice and used rice as their main food. The earliest rice cultivation was limited to the offshore side of Hangzhou Bay and the Yangtze River Delta.
After rice cultivation was promoted in China, it soon spread to neighboring countries in East Asia. About three thousand years ago, at the turn of the Yin and Zhou dynasties, rice was spread from the Zhoushan Islands to North Korea and Japan, and to Vietnam in the south. During the Han Dynasty, Chinese rice was introduced to the Philippines. In the fifth century AD, rice was introduced to West Asia via Iran, and then to Europe via Africa. After the New World was discovered, it spread from Africa to the Americas and even the world.
Scholars from the Northeast region of later generations conducted research on when rice began to be planted in the Northeast. They believed that it was probably after the Opium War that the Qing government tacitly allowed farmers from the tributary country North Korea to come to the Northeast to plant rice in order to increase income.
However, since the earliest records were recorded in 1845, North Korean farmers have actually been less successful in planting rice in the Northeast. At first, they planted it on both sides of the Hun River in the upper reaches of the Yalu River (later the main water system of Huanlong Lake), but they were not successful.
The Koreans were very dedicated to rice and persisted, so they planted it along the Hunjiang River all the way to the Huanren and Tonghua areas, but unfortunately they were not successful. It was not until 1875 that a Korean immigrant named Jin in Huanren County, Liaoning Province, successfully tried planting in a place called Shanggucheng (later Huanren Ancient Town).
However, he brought this kind of seed from North Korea. Although this kind of Korean japonica rice grew in the cold climate and short frost-free period of the Northeast, its yield was extremely low, less than 150 kilograms per mu. Pay attention to the world at this time. The average rice yield per mu in various places has increased significantly, and it cannot be compared with the current data of the rice yield per mu during the Wanli period of the Ming Dynasty.
The development of rice in Northeast China, objectively speaking, is actually thanks to the Japanese. When North Korean immigrants first tried planting rice, the rice seeds were all brought from their hometown in North Korea. This Korean japonica rice did not adapt well to the Northeast. It was not until the early 20th century that Korean immigrant Shin Woo-gyeong brought the "red hair" rice seed from Hokkaido, Japan, and the history of rice planting in Northeast China truly began. Because the climate of Hokkaido is similar to that of Northeast China, this rice seed can adapt to the climate environment of Northeast China.
But this time it was only a trial planting success, and large-scale rice planting came after the Russo-Japanese War. At that time, in order to drive away Russian influence, the Qing government invited Japan to fight against Russia. After Japan's victory, the Changchun-Lushun section of the Middle East Railway originally built by Tsarist Russia was transferred to Japan, which became the South Manchuria Railway.
At this time, Japan's Nanmanchuria Railway Co., Ltd. brought funds, farms and rice seeds. Later, it rented land from the puppet Manchukuo government and began to gradually promote the improvement of farmland water conservancy facilities and rice varieties in Northeast China. Rice in Northeast China was slowly promoted. stand up. However, not many Chinese followed the Japanese in planting rice at that time. The Japanese even classified Chinese who ate rice in the Northeast as "economic criminals."
What followed was the victory of the Anti-Japanese War and even the Civil War. The local people discovered that rice could indeed be grown and was very profitable, and began to plant it spontaneously. After the implementation of the joint production contract responsibility system, the enthusiasm of farmers in Northeast China for production was unprecedentedly high, and the promotion of rice was fully launched, eventually forming the rice production situation in Northeast China for later generations.
How did Gao Pragmatic know these things? In his previous life, as a "young cadre" at the grassroots level, when Northeast rice was forming a brand and selling well across the country, he was organized by the city and sent to a place in Heilongjiang to inspect and learn from the experience of "famous agricultural product planting and brand promotion" in brother areas. He listened to the explanations of the above-mentioned things by local technicians.
When he was the governor of Liao, he once wondered that the Liaodong region was basically the Liaoning of later generations, and its agriculture was not bad. Why did various reports, including those from Jinghua, tell him that Liaoning's agriculture was not good? Later he discovered that there was no rice in Liaodong at this time!
Then he remembered this, and taking advantage of the large amount of trade between the Beiyang Maritime Trade Alliance and Japan, he began to send people to search for Hokkaido's "Red Hair" rice seeds.
Who knew that Hokkaido at this time could not be regarded as belonging to Japan. There was a Japanese daimyo family that only occupied the southern part of it. The fourth-generation head of the Uyizaki family, Yoshihiro Uyizaki, had certain influence in Hokkaido. Not long ago, he was recognized by Toyotomi Hideyoshi as the "Ezo Principle" ", theoretically the ruling daimyo of "Ezo Territory".
Jinghua then asked Uyizaki Yoshihiro to find red rice seeds for them - the reason why it was a "request" was because Uyizaki Yoshihiro's strength was not worth mentioning in front of the Beiyang Maritime Trade Alliance. Even if the fleet heading to Ezo As long as the sailors come ashore, they can easily defeat the opponent.
So Uyizaki Yoshihiro started looking for rice in a hurry.
The name "Akage" was given by Gao Pragmatically, and it might not have been formed in the local area at all. Therefore, Uyizaki Yoshihiro could only start searching based on the characteristics of this rice species, and actually found seven similar rice species. Jinghua did not dare to neglect, and in line with the mentality of "it is better to kill the wrong ones than let them go", they made a batch of all seven kinds of seeds and transported them back to Liaodong to start trial planting.
This batch of seeds were all successfully tested, but the yield and taste were high or low, good or bad. Gao Pragmatic finally selected two types to start the second phase of trial planting in Liaodong.
Since Jinghua never likes to buy fields, its fields in Liaodong are "included" when buying mines, so the distribution of trial planting sites is very messy, with little bits and pieces scattered everywhere. However, this also brings an advantage, that is, it can be encountered in various situations, which can be regarded as meeting the requirement of "extensive trial planting".
The final conclusion is still gratifying: the plain areas across Liaodong are very suitable for planting, and the yield even catches up with most "fertile farmland" in the mainland. This is not surprising, because the fertility of the land in the northeastern plains definitely exceeds the number of cultivated fields in the mainland. Thousands of years of cultivation.
However, after receiving the news, Gao Pragmatic not only did not immediately promote rice planting in Liaodong, he even suppressed the internal calls for promotion in Jinghua.
It’s not that I don’t plan to do it, it’s that I don’t plan to do it now. The Chinese people's traditional habits are obvious. When a land outside the frontier is not suitable for agriculture, it is a "foreign land" or a "barbarian land" and is completely uninteresting; when this land is found to be very suitable for agriculture , that is "the whole world is not the king's land".
The Northeast can only be the Northeast of China. Of course Gao Pragmatic fully agrees with this, but now is not a good time to stir up the national goal to shift to Liaodong or even the entire Northeast.
The two major upcoming wars, the Chahar War and the Imchen Japanese Rebellion, have not yet been resolved. How can the Jurchens capture the entire Northeast? You must know that since rice can be grown on a large scale in the Northeast, the victory this time will definitely not be the kind of victory of "Nuergandusi", but the victory of Liaodong and even the mainland, as the core rule of the country. Get the district!
If the news is released now that rice can be grown in the Northeast and the yield per mu exceeds that of wheat, not to mention the imperial court and the people in the Ming Dynasty, even the Jurchens will definitely become nervous, and it will interfere with the future layout for no reason.
For the sake of a thousand-year plan, what’s the point of wasting a few years? This account is quite pragmatic and quite understandable. Since the Ming Dynasty wanted to take the Northeast, it had to eat it safely and not choke to death as soon as it was swallowed.
What Gao Pangshi didn't expect was that there were actually people - even Jurchens - who could see his ambition for the Northeast at a glance.
There are very few records of Sorgo in history books. Even the history books compiled by the Qing Dynasty mostly mention him briefly. The most common record is that in the 16th year of Wanli, Fei Yingdong "went to Taizu with his father Sol Guo", and Sol Guo became his son Fei Yingdong's foil.
However, in the 16th year of Wanli in history, Ye He's various strengths still seemed to be crushing Jianzhou. Although Nurhachi won many small battles, I am afraid that he still couldn't see the power of a king. Angry.
Sorgo would actually go far away to hang out with Nurhaci during this period. What does this mean? It means that this person has a precise strategic vision and has accurately predicted the current situation.
But in this life, Sorguo did not defect to Nurhachi, and now he judged that Gao Pragmatic was interested in "Manchuria" outside Liaodong, and pointed out his son Fei Yingdong.
He clasped his fingers and said to Fei Yingdong: "With a lot of coal, people in the Ming Dynasty can use coal stoves, so that the people in the Ming Dynasty can solve the problem of housing. And I heard that the coal ash can be sent to Jinghua’s recycling point sells some for a small amount of money (Jinghua recycles them into concrete).
With new cotton-padded clothes, you don’t have to worry about the cold when you go out in winter. The people of the Ming Dynasty were industrious. As long as this matter was solved, many people could go out and do something to make a living in the winter. The fact that the Ming army dared to use troops in winter this year also shows that the clothes are indeed effective.
Corn and the kind of rice that can be grown in Liaodong are even more critical. With corn, Liaodong's war horses are doing better this year than in previous years. Few cattle and sheep have frozen to death. There are even some mules and donkeys left that can be sold. Think about it, if there are more cavalry in Liaodong, not to mention that our Jurchens are invincible, even the Mongolian Tumen Khan, how long can he last?
I wasn't familiar with rice at first, but after doing some research recently, I found out that it has a higher yield than wheat and beans. Fei Yingdong, do you know what eating too much means? "
Fei Yingdong said: "The representative will not go hungry and has the confidence to fight."
Sorguo nodded and shook his head: "You are right, but you are not right. Once there is more food to eat, people will dare to have more children. In other words, the Han people in Liaodong It is likely that there will be more and more in the future. The more Han people in Liaodong, the stronger Liaodong will be, and the more Han people will need more fields... If this continues, sooner or later they will be tempted by Manchuria. Who can resist in Manchuria at that time? If the Han people occupy Manchuria themselves, where will our Jurchens go?"
Fei Yingdong's face became serious and his brows furrowed: "Amma means that Gao Situ has not been kind to us from the beginning?"
"I don't know how Gao Situ plans to arrange the Jurchens." Sorguo shook his head: "I am just Su Wanbeile, not the leader of Manchuria, and I can't control that much. As for whether Gao Situ has bad intentions, It may be true for the Jurchens as a whole, it may be true for Yehe, Jianzhou, Hada and other countries, but it may not be true for me, Su Wan."
Fei Yingdong frowned: "What do you mean by Amma's words? Am I, Su Wan, not a Jurchen?"
Sorguo's expression remained unchanged, and he said calmly: "It doesn't matter if they are Jurchens. Can't they be Ming people if they are not Han? Ma Chengxun from Kaiyuan is still a Hui, so can't Jurchens be Ming people or officials?" "
"Ah? But the Jurchens and the Han people have never been together..."
Sorguo interrupted: "Let's shave our hair like a Han, wear Han clothes, speak Chinese, and live in a Han city... How can we look like we are not Han?"
Fei Yingdong was shocked: "Then we don't even want our ancestors anymore?"
Sorguo was silent for a moment, shook his head and said: "The ancestors hope that you will live well instead of dying for them. If everyone dies, then the bloodline of the ancestors will really be cut off."
Fei Yingdong's eyes widened, but he did not ask again. After a long while, he seemed to be deflated. His whole body seemed to be exhausted, and he leaned against the pavilion pillar and gasped for air.
Sol Guo remained the same as before. He glanced at Fei Yingdong and said, "I know what you are thinking. You want to resist, but when you think of Gao Situ's methods, you feel that you are unable to resist at all, so you are like this. Is it?"
Fei Yingdong didn't speak, but sighed deeply.
Sorguo nodded: "I don't have to hide it from you. When Amma first wanted to understand, she was just like you, even more miserable than you. I broke out in a cold sweat, felt like I was shaking all over, and shivered for a long time."
Fei Yingdong looked at his Amma in surprise, as if he didn't recognize this person. His Ama is actually average in terms of bravery, and he doesn't seem to be very good at fighting. There is only one thing that he particularly admires: Ama is calm at all times. It seems that nothing in the world can surprise him, let alone scare him. .
Sorguo looked at his son's appearance, sighed, and said: "Gao Situ's plan is perfect. Many seemingly casual chess pieces are connected together, and they become an overwhelming wave. Anyone who stands in front of it can only He can be overwhelmed. With him in the Ming Dynasty, it is definitely not something that the Jurchens can resist.
In the past two years, Nurhaci was born in Jianzhou, and he was very energetic. I have carefully observed it. After the death of Qingjia Niu and Yang Jiniu, I also observed their successors Nalin Bulu and Buzhai.
None of these three people are Gao Situ's opponents. The former, Nurha Chirui, is very sharp, but he cannot see Gao Situ's hidden moves. He is always jumping around on the chessboard without knowing it. The latter two are hardly able to defend Chengdu, let alone open up. Thinking about it, the only smart thing he did was to marry Meng Gege to Gao Situ... Maybe this would save the lives of Yehenala and his family in the future. "
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Thanks to book friend "Cao Mianzi" for your reward and support, thank you!
Thanks to book friends "Cao Mianzi" and "Yunlan" for their monthly support, thank you!
PS: I took a look at last month’s manuscript fee that was just released today. There is no perfect attendance award at Qidian. I have generally entered the dedication period. It’s almost my ideal to make money on cigarettes and pay for electricity and keyboard without losing money. However, the book will continue to be written and I can sustain one chapter a day, so don’t worry about that.
