After three days of traveling, the Western Envoy Brigade, which had taken a break in Chang'an, finally caught up with the camp that had returned east to Huayin County. Moreover, under the instruction of Emperor Liu Chengyou, the two carriages were personally greeted and escorted by guards, and entered the camp until they were in front of the imperial tent.
"These are cotton seeds?" Liu Chengyou asked.
"Exactly!" After returning, Lu Duoxun, who had been working as a reporter in Liu Chengyou's side, immediately responded: "I have investigated and found that this product came from the West. It has been in the Western Frontier for hundreds of years and has been widely planted in the Western Region. The velvet and cloth produced by it have become the most important cold-proof and bedding products for the people in the northwest. There are many cotton cloths traded from the west in Guanzhong and Longyou.
I heard that this material is easy to grow, loves light and is drought-resistant, has high yield, is widely used, and is extremely effective. If it is promoted, it can replace silk and linen and become the main clothing material of choice for people all over the world! I would like to ask Your Majesty to write down the system and promote it, and plant this plant in the Central Plains. This will definitely benefit the court and the people of the Han Dynasty! "
Lu Duoxun sang in a high tune. Liu Chengyou did not speak for a while, but carefully observed the cotton seeds brought back from the Western Regions. It is brown, egg-shaped, with a pointed head and thick tail, with a little white on the tip, just like a layer of white snow on the top of a brown soil mountain.
This is Liu Chengyou's first time seeing what cotton seeds look like with his own eyes. As for the role of cotton, Lu Duoxun didn't need to say more. He knew it very well. When he sent Lu to the west, he had told him to try to bring back some cotton seeds for promotion.
But listening to his unusually proactive suggestions, whether he really discovered its effectiveness or just to cater to himself, Liu Chengyou admired this attitude.
However, Liu Chengyou remained calm at this time, put down a few cotton seeds in his hand, and said: "I naturally know the benefits of this thing, but it is not that easy to promote it in the Central Plains.
Not many people know the benefits of this crop. Will people who have never grown it be willing to grow it? If the environment is changed, can it grow normally in the Central Plains area? People depend on food. Will these crops affect the food quality? Planting…
These issues all need to be considered, and they cannot be implemented just by issuing an edict. Even if the court forces it, how can the people grow it willingly? The most important thing is that the people in the Central Plains have no experience in planting this plant. If they want to implement it, the first thing to solve is the planting method! "
Hearing the emperor's remarks, Lu Duoxun's mouth curled up slightly, and he said with a look of admiration: "Your Majesty is very concerned about this matter. It is true that this matter should not be rushed. I am impatient! However, I am returning east this time. We also brought back two cotton farmers from the northwest!”
Hearing this, Liu Chengyou immediately looked at him with admiration and said with a smile: "Well, Lu Duosun, I'm afraid you have already thought about it!"
Lu Duosun smiled modestly.
"Bring those two cotton farmers up, I want to meet them!" Liu Chengyou waved.
Soon, two middle-aged men were brought to the front of the king. One was tall and the other was short. Both were lean and had dark skin, obviously from too much sun. They were wearing cotton clothes.
Seeing Liu Chengyou's bright yellow clothes, he quickly bowed down and said with a little fear: "I see you, His Majesty the Emperor!"
Liu Chengyou also held a few cotton-padded clothes in his hand. They were soft in texture but rough in workmanship. Looking at the two of them, their accents were a little strange and their conversation was vague, but they could barely understand it. Liu Chengyou was surprised: "You can actually speak Mandarin!"
Lu Duoxun explained from the side: "They were originally remnants of the Tang Dynasty. On the way back east, I also spent time teaching them elegant pronunciation. After such a long time, they couldn't speak well, but they could barely talk, for your Majesty's observation." ask!"
Liu Chengyou likes this Lu Duoxun more and more. His arrogance and arrogance may make people unhappy, but his talent and agility are real.
"How long have you been growing cotton?" Liu Chengyou asked.
"More than ten years!" the short man replied.
"Are you willing to travel thousands of miles eastward to return to the Central Plains?"
After hearing the question, the two of them looked at each other and looked at Lu Duoxun, who was standing beside the emperor. The short man replied: "Shijun Lu told us that we can get rich rewards when we return to the Central Plains.
After hearing what the two said, Lu Duoxun smiled awkwardly at Liu Chengyou. Liu Chengyou looked cheerful and said: "He is right! I will indeed reward you, but there are conditions!"
The two of them were stunned for a moment, their confidence was a little weak, and they responded: "The common people only know how to plow the land, grow cotton, and herd livestock..."
"It's a lot of money!" Although the cotton farmers are mediocre, and some people are shrewd and greedy, Liu Chengyou seems to be very close to the people: "Stop kneeling, stand up and answer!"
"Thank you, Your Majesty!"
"How long will it take for this cotton to mature? How many seasons can it be grown in a year?" Liu Chengyou was concerned about some details.
"In Xizhou, spring is planted and autumn is harvested. If the time is short, it only takes five months from seedling emergence to catkins! You can only plant one season a year, but you need to harvest it multiple times!"
Liu Chengyou pointed to the two carts of cotton seeds again: "You have a long way to go back. Can these cotton seeds still be used?"
The short man replied: "These cotton seeds are all new ones from last year. They are relatively well preserved along the way. Even if they are damaged, most of them are still usable!"
Nodding, Liu Chengyou no longer asked about the specific situation, but returned to his usual strong character, staring at the two of them and said: "I will set aside a few hectares of suitable land for you two, and find some common people for you. You guys Just use these cotton seeds and teach them a series of things such as cotton planting and management, so as to cultivate cotton suitable for planting in the Central Plains. As long as you teach well, I will not hesitate to reward you! Are you willing?"
The power of God was revealed, and the two small farmers were so frightened that they bowed down and said, "I am willing!"
"I will send more people to you!" Pointing to the two trucks, he said, "I will leave it to you to take charge of these two trucks of cotton seeds!"
"yes!"
"Take them down!"
There has been some progress in the cotton matter, and Liu Chengyou is in a good mood. Taking Lu Duoxun with him, he walked through the camp. The sun was shining brightly and fell on his body. The heat warmed his heart. Liu Chengyou felt that the whole world was much clearer and brighter.
"Your Majesty is still considering planting cotton?" Lu Duoxun asked proactively.
Nodding, Liu Chengyou clasped his hands behind his back and said slowly: "This thing is planted in spring and harvested in autumn. It is midsummer now. If you want to sow it in the ground, you will have to wait until next year. And when they have harvested it, it will be enough The extent of large-scale promotion in the Central Plains cannot be achieved in a short time. Therefore, I am not in a hurry on this matter!"
As for whether it will succeed, Liu Chengyou is not worried at all.
"I won't hide it from you. I have decided to promote cotton cultivation under the rule of the Han Dynasty, even if it is forced by administrative orders." Liu Chengyou confided his determination to Lu Duoxun and said seriously: "However, compared to imposing it on the people, I still I would rather let things happen as time goes by, and let the people take the initiative to plant!"
After listening to the emperor's words, Lu Duoxun immediately said: "Your Majesty, in addition to cultivating food, the common people also raise silkworms, mulberry and hemp. Since you can grow hemp, you can also grow cotton. I think that the world is bustling with profit and gain. In the past, in the future, the common people may be repelled because they are not familiar with cotton and do not know its benefits. However, as long as the court vigorously publicizes it to let them understand the benefits of cotton and make them profitable, and then supplement it with government decrees, it will naturally take effect. Good results!”
His eyes were slightly bright and full of energy. Liu Chengyou looked at Lu Duoxun and asked with interest: "Lu Duoxun, you are young, but you are very good at thinking about my thoughts. Your thoughts are not mine." And the same!"
After hearing this, Lu Duoxun became a little more cautious and said cautiously: "How dare I presume to speculate on His Majesty's thoughts? It's just an accident."
Smiling, Liu Chengyou looked to the west and said: "I intend to open up a large market in the northwest, and the government will organize trade with Helong forces, not only to penetrate it, but also to strengthen exchanges, and gradually restore influence. At the same time, re-open the Hexi Corridor , Encourage merchants to go to the West Market and purchase cotton cloth from the West! Starting from the northwest border states, we will gradually promote cotton products to the east so that the people can be familiar with them first!"
"Your Majesty's consideration is very wise!" Lu Duoxun first agreed, and then cautiously raised some concerns: "However, the journey is long, the transportation is inconvenient, and the trade route is too risky, and the value of cotton is not high compared to other goods. I'm afraid Not many people are willing to sell…”
"This is something I didn't expect!" When the problem was pointed out, Liu Chengyou didn't get angry. Instead, he thought about it seriously and said, "Before the development of cotton cultivation in the Central Plains, the imperial court abolished customs and city taxes on all cotton products. Governments and the military should also use cotton quilts in appropriate amounts.
As for the safety of the trade routes, Dahan should work together with the various forces in Lanliang, Gansu, and Guasha to safeguard it. Taking the lead of the Han Dynasty, we should eliminate bandits, ensure the security of the Silk Road, and maintain stability in various places. They should not refuse! "
"Your Majesty is wise!" Lu Duoxun said with sincerity.
