Farming in Xi'an and Fengxiang is in full swing.
With Chongzhen's strict order yesterday, after killing the chicken to scare the monkey, the trouble disappeared in an instant.
The common people queued up to draw lots, register, receive farmland, and then go to the county government office to receive seeds.
Hundreds of people gathered in the square in front of the south gate of Chang'an County.
A commoner looked at the baskets of peanuts, soybeans, mung beans, cotton, and barley (corn) seeds, and asked with confusion: "Mr. Chen, why are there all these seeds?"
"Yes, although it is simple to grow, the yield is low and the price is not high. This..."
"Master Chen, we have some places where we can grow rice. It's not too late now. Why don't you give us some rice seeds?"
…
The common people were talking to each other, and the whole city gate was in a commotion.
Chen Qiyu stood on the high platform: "Fellow fellows, please be quiet. I am Chen Qiyu, Deputy Envoy of Economic Strategy and Comfort of Shaanxi Province. I will be inspecting Chang'an County today. Please listen to what I have to say!"
“Based on the predictions of Qin Tian Jian and the experience of some elderly people, there may be another drought this year, but it will definitely not be the same as last year.
So to be on the safe side, the imperial court prepared these drought-resistant crops to ensure that everyone would have a harvest.
It’s time to plant now and harvest from mid-to-late July to late August, without delaying the planting of rapeseed and winter wheat after September. "
"And in order to reassure everyone, as long as they are planted and harvested, the court will be responsible for recycling, and the output will be guaranteed at one and a half stones.
One stone of peanuts is exchanged for one stone of grain, one stone of soybeans and mung beans is exchanged for one and a half stones of grain, one stone of cotton and wheat is exchanged for two stones of grain. When harvesting, it doesn't matter whether you want money or grain, so plant with confidence and boldness. "
This kind of preparation was naturally arranged by Chongzhen. Since we knew that there was a high probability of drought, we planted drought-resistant crops.
There are reasons for choosing these types. Peanuts and soybeans can be used to extract oil and are necessary at all times. Mung beans can be used to make bean sprouts and pastries.
Now in the Little Ice Age, cotton is the best thing to resist the cold, so it is naturally considered.
PS: (The following two paragraphs are not included in the word count of this chapter) Corn was introduced to Guangxi in the Ming Dynasty in the 10th year of Jiajing (1531). It was not cultivated on a large scale at that time, but by the 16th year of Chongzhen, the Ming Dynasty and the Ming Dynasty Part of the local chronicles of eight of the provinces are recorded.
The earliest record of Shaanxi is recorded in "Pingliang Prefecture" in the 39th year of Jiajing (1560). Therefore, it can be inferred that corn has been planted in Shaanxi for nearly 70 years in the first year of Chongzhen. Even though Shaanxi did not plant large areas, it planted There is definitely a lot of area, so the author did not mention corn when talking about sweet potatoes and potatoes.
"Master Chen, you didn't lie to us, did the court really take it back?"
"Old man, the imperial court sells the land to everyone in installments, just to keep everyone fed. If it is not responsible for recycling, then what will it do with the land? Then what will we do with the seeds?
If there is no harvest, the court will still have to provide disaster relief, or it will still have to be borne by the court, don’t you think so? "
"That's right. The old man is confused. Please forgive me!"
When everyone heard this, they laughed.
By raiding the Prince of Qin's palace, investigating evil gentry and wealthy merchants, dividing land, etc., the imperial court's reputation in Xi'an has been raised to the ceiling.
"However, I have said something ugly before. The imperial court believes in everyone, allows everyone to plant with confidence, and provides a guarantee, but this is by no means a reason for us to ignore it after planting.
The imperial court would send people to inspect the cultivated land from time to time, and the county and Li Zheng would also be responsible for supervision.
If a lazy farmer is found, the minimum guarantee will be cancelled, and it will not be covered by the disaster relief scope, so just fend for yourself. "
"Your Majesty, you are joking. The imperial court treats us with sincerity. Naturally, we will treat the imperial court with sincerity and will never let down the trust of the imperial court."
"That's right, don't worry, sir. Even though we farmers don't know a few words and don't understand the truth, we still know who is good to us!"
"Sir, don't worry, we will definitely be more meticulous than raising our own children here this year, don't worry!"
"You can pull me down, you are a bachelor, where will the child come from? Marry a wife first before you say this!"
"Dad Li, you can't say that. We used to have no land and were poor. Now we have land. If we work hard, we will have enough money to marry my mother-in-law in a few years. I'll treat everyone to a wedding banquet then!"
"Everyone, if you want to have food to eat and feel full, then use your strength!"
…
As the people responded one after another, Chen Qiyu's sullen face relaxed and he said loudly: "Everyone line up, take the land deed and the receipt and start collecting the seeds!"
"I would also like to wish you all a bumper harvest this year! We will all be well fed."
"Hahaha……"
…
The people consciously stood in line and received the seeds in an orderly manner. Similar scenes were staged in dozens of counties in Xi'an and Fengxiang.
The people who received the seeds also began to plow the ground and sow seeds impatiently.
The fields in the two mansions are full of working people. Although it is hard work, they are full of energy. Everyone has a smile on their face and the expectation of harvest in a few months.
Chongzhen, as the chief director of the event, naturally saw such a scene during his daily inspections, and felt extremely happy in his heart.
He felt that this kind of life was much more comfortable than dealing with political affairs in Huangji Palace.
"When potatoes and sweet potatoes are planted in August or April or May next year, I can rest assured and the burden on the court will be much lighter."
Looking at the people farming, Chongzhen sighed.
It's not that he doesn't want to plant potatoes, he really doesn't have any.
Song Yingxing built more than 200 acres of greenhouses in Beijing to grow potatoes. These potatoes were carefully grown and have the best quality in terms of maintenance and fertility.
If one acre produces 3,000 jins, two hundred acres will produce 600,000 jins.
One acre of land requires 300 kilograms of seed potatoes, and 600,000 kilograms can be planted on two thousand acres. When harvested in August, it will reach 6 million kilograms, and another 20,000 acres can be planted.
Twenty thousand acres is only enough for planting around Beijing and cultivating some farmers.
Shaanxi will not be able to plant some of it until at least April or May next year.
Potatoes cannot be grown, but sweet potatoes can be grown. The two thousand hectares of land he has reserved are for sweet potatoes. It depends on whether Chen Jinglun can arrive on time.
This comfortable life was broken after only two or three days. On this day, he had just returned to Prince Qin's Mansion from an inspection outside. Before he finished drinking a cup of hot tea, Yuan Keli came in.
"Your Majesty, something happened."
Listening to Yuan Keli's report, Chongzhen was shocked and secretly said, "Is there any action?"
"Your Majesty, various counties have sent back information. Many shops in many counties have closed or their prices have nearly doubled, such as clothing shops, oil, salt, vinegar and tea shops, flower and fruit shops, coffin shops, study shops, etc."
"Is there any statistics?"
"According to preliminary statistics, there are nearly 3,000 stores, with an average of more than 100 stores in one county."
Chongzhen frowned slightly. These industries seemed inconspicuous, but in fact they were matters related to people's livelihood and were inseparable from daily life.
The county is not big to begin with. There are about a hundred or so stores, which is probably 99% of the stores in these industries in the entire county.
Now that it is closed, the people will definitely be dissatisfied.
“How much farmland has been sold?”
"Back to Your Majesty, today is the fifth day. More than 60,000 hectares have been sold. It will be sold out the day after tomorrow at the latest. We estimate that there should be more than 800,000 people unable to buy land.
Excluding the people's own cultivated land, only three to four hundred thousand people are landless, about 10% of the people in the two prefectures. Now the gentry and wealthy businessmen are also adding fuel to the flames among these people. "
"How do you think this should be handled?"
