“Vice President Chen, it’s okay to say so!”
Zheng Chongjian looked slightly stunned, but he didn't take it to heart at all. He couldn't solve it, and the emperor was here to take care of it.
Chen Jinglun looked at Chongzhen again: "Your Majesty, I have recruited two hundred farmers with experience in sweet potato planting from Quanzhou to come to Xi'an.
Not only is he responsible for growing the sweet potatoes delivered this time, but he also spreads his planting experience to farmers near Xi'an.
I promise you five taels of silver a month, food and shelter, one meal of meat a day, and the time spent traveling back and forth will be considered official time.
But in a hurry, I really couldn't raise any money in Quanzhou. They were willing to come because my father had been promoting sweet potatoes for many years.
Now that we have arrived in Xi'an, the labor minister is thinking about paying them some money first to calm their minds for the next planting..."
"We have made this money in Shaanxi!"
Without waiting for Chongzhen's response, Zheng Chongjian spoke up first: "Later, I will ask the Chief Secretary's Yamen to allocate 20,000 taels of silver to be sent to Weinan as a special fund for sowing sweet potatoes.
As long as the sweet potatoes can be planted successfully, it doesn't matter how much money you have.
It is related to the food rations of our eight million people in Shaanxi. If we need money, we will give money, if we need people, if we need land, if we need it, the three departments of Shaanxi will have nothing to say. "
It turned out that they wanted money, so what did they think? Shaanxi is short of everything now, except money.
In His Majesty's words, anything that money can solve is nothing.
Zheng Chongjian's firm attitude made Chongzhen feel happy. If he could care about the life and death of the people, he would be considered qualified.
This is not a judgment based only on Zheng Chongjian's few words just now, but a conclusion based on the results of his own observation in Xi'an City and the investigation of Jin Yiwei.
At least it looks okay for now, let’s talk about the future later.
"Okay, this matter is settled. Zheng Aiqing, the planting and promotion of sweet potatoes in Shaanxi is the top priority in Shaanxi agriculture. You must take it seriously.
Technically, you have everything to listen to Chen Aiqing, and the same goes for other industries. You should not let an outsider guide an expert, you know! "
"I understand!"
After Zheng Chongjian responded, Chongzhen looked at Chen Jinglun: "Chen Aiqing, you should be the first to introduce sweet potatoes to Shaanxi this time.
But now is not the time to reward you based on your merits. The most urgent thing is to plant the seeds. When the harvest comes, I will personally celebrate your achievements! "
"Your Majesty, don't worry, I will live up to your Majesty's trust!"
"Oh, by the way, there is a crop called maize in Guangxi, Shaanxi and other places, which is also relatively resistant to low temperature and drought.
If planted well, the yield should be about four to six stones per mu. You have time to study how to increase the yield.
I vaguely feel that this crop can become the third staple food after rice and wheat, and its role will be even more important than sweet potatoes and potatoes.
If the research is successful, plus sweet potatoes and potatoes, the Ming Dynasty will have five staple foods. After full promotion, we will not be afraid of natural disasters in the future! "
"corn?"
Chen Jinglun was stunned for a moment, then realized: "Your Majesty is talking about Fanmai. I have heard of this kind of crop, but I have never seen it.
Records say that the leaves of the seedlings are like Sichuan stalks but fat and short, and the ears at the end are like rice but not solid. They are actually like a tower, as big as a tung tree, with internodes, and red velvet flowers are at the end of the tower. They are five or six inches long. They are planted in March. , collected in August. "
"Yes, this is the thing. You should also focus on this!"
"I understand!"
After Zheng Chongjian and others asked Chen Jinglun some questions about sweet potatoes, he suddenly said: "Vice President Chen, after talking so much, I am full of curiosity about sweet potatoes. I feel the same as Cat's Claw. Have you brought some?" Come?"
Hearing Zheng Chongjian ask this, everyone looked at Chen Jinglun.
Chen Jinglun immediately said: "Your Majesty, I have brought more than a hundred kilograms with me this time. Your Majesty, please have a taste!"
"Haha, it seems that I am very lucky today, let me show it to you all!"
Chongzhen had long wanted to ask Chen Jinglun if he had brought some. It was because of his identity.
Moreover, I have been busy for several months, and it is really unreasonable for you to think about food instead of doing work first.
After a while, two sergeants came in carrying a box. Chen Jinglun stepped forward and opened the box, revealing a thick layer of pine needles in front of everyone.
Chen Jinglun pushed aside the pine needles and took out a long object wrapped in paper.
“Your Majesty, the pine needles are anti-collision and the paper is moisture-proof, which can extend the storage time to the greatest extent.
These methods were all explored by ordinary people, and the effect is particularly good. If placed in a dry cellar, it can be stored for at least half a year! "
After opening the paper, sweet potatoes with a half-foot-long, earthy, red skin appeared. They were almost the same size, and it was obvious that they had been carefully selected.
Everyone also picked it up, looked through it, and smelled it before putting it to their noses. If it wasn't for the wrong occasion, they all wanted to break it open and have a taste.
“My lords, this sweet potato can be eaten whole and raw, but it can also be boiled, roasted, roasted, or steamed!
After steaming, add flour and sugar and fry them into sweet potato balls, or make dried sweet potatoes, sweet potato glutinous rice cakes...
We Fujian people have developed more than ten ways to eat it, which is suitable for all ages! "
Gululu...
Gudu...
The sounds of swallowing and stomach rumblings resounded among the crowd. Everyone was a little embarrassed. They really had never seen this thing before. Chen Jinglun said it so enticingly, and it was time for dinner again.
"Your Majesty, I have brought some cooks here. How about I ask them to make some sweet potato snacks for Your Majesty?"
Fuck...
what's the situation? You came to Shaanxi on a business trip and brought a cook with you? Is it such a big deal?
And you said in front of the emperor that you brought a cook. Do you mean you don’t want to do it anymore?
Seeing everyone's strange looks, Chen Jinglun knew that everyone had misunderstood, and immediately explained: "You have misunderstood. There are several reasons for bringing a cook.
First, when His Majesty summoned Dean Song Yingxing and I to discuss the promotion of sweet potatoes and potatoes years ago, His Majesty said that we should not only promote planting and research on increasing yields, but also study how to eat them.
With more varieties of food, people will be more likely to accept planting, both for promotion and for selling after production!
The purpose of taking them is to wait for the sweet potato harvest to teach the fellow villagers in Shaanxi how to make sweet potatoes!
Secondly, it is prepared for the more than 200 people who grow sweet potatoes that I brought. After all, the eating habits of Fujian and Shaanxi are very different.
If they are not accustomed to eating, their physical condition will be affected, which will also affect the cultivation of sweet potatoes! "
Listening to Chen Jinglun's explanation, everyone smiled awkwardly and were full of admiration for the emperor's comprehensive consideration.
Before the cultivation is fully promoted, the issue of sales after the harvest has already been taken into consideration.
"Since I have brought the chef, I will lend you flowers to offer to the Buddha, and we will have a sweet potato feast at noon.
It is not only a blessing for Chen Aiqing, but also a reward for your hard work during this time! "
