The First Emperor's idea was very simple. At present, the grains and hemp were used for textiles. Let's not mention them for the moment. The output of the other four items was much lower than that of corn.
Not to mention corn stalks and corn cobs can be used as firewood, corn bran can be fed to livestock and other benefits. Moreover, corn growth cycle is shorter, and the yield is almost twice that of other grains.
From any point of view, corn is inferior to other cereals at present. The First Emperor was a practical person. What was good and bad, economical, convenient, high yield, edible, easy to store and transport, that was enough.
When Zhao Si heard this, his first reaction was that the First Emperor was possessed by the Corn Emperor.
Then Zhao Si immediately shook his head: "Your Majesty... All grains have their uses, and corn is not suitable for all areas. Moreover, if a single type of grain is planted, if it encounters disease, it is very likely that the whole country will lose its harvest... The diet is too simple, and it is easy to Cause disease."
In fact, what Zhao Si wants to say at the beginning is that corn is not delicious. Compared with white flour or rice, it does taste very bad. Corn was once popular in the era when productivity was underdeveloped, but after the rapid development of productivity, corn is basically It was reduced to something used to feed livestock.
But as soon as Zhao Si was about to speak, he realized that the idea that corn was not delicious was simply untenable in this era.
In an era when productivity was underdeveloped, Li Shu was not qualified to arbitrarily discard a type of food based on taste.
In fact, even during the Ming and Qing Dynasties, most ordinary people could not eat white-flour steamed buns. At most, they were shelled wheat but not peeled, and the taste was not much different from steamed buns.
How could Li Shu be so luxurious as to grind the wheat and then sift out the outer skin to eat white-flour steamed buns?
Zhao Si had used white flour before when cooking for the First Emperor. It was ground with a stone grinder on top and a millstone on the bottom.
After grinding, the white flour is manually sifted.
But the common people in Li could not afford to use yams, because the industry in this era was not developed and the yams were expensive to build.
For Li Shu, it is self-evident which one tastes better, the corn kernels with the outer shells easily removed or the wheat rice without shells.
To sum up, corn has indeed defeated the mainstream crops of this era.
However, Zhao Si vaguely remembers that after the Corn Emperor, the blind popularity of woolly bears started a nationwide craze for growing corn, which eventually led to a food crisis.
The disaster resistance of a single crop is too low.
The First Emperor frowned slightly.
The First Emperor could understand what Zhao Si said because the First Emperor had seen it before.
That is recorded in farmers’ books. Every kind of grain may be affected by diseases. Some diseases come from insects, some diseases come from the grain itself, some diseases can affect all grains, and some diseases can only affect a single kind of grain. Harmful.
Zhao Si's statement was almost completely consistent with the farmers' views in this regard. After the First Emperor pondered, he still gave up the plan to plant corn throughout the country.
However, given the current advantages of corn, it is inevitable to plant more corn and reduce the planting quantity of other cereals.
Grains may welcome new partners and become six types.
However, it is reasonable that there are five of the Four Heavenly Kings and six types of grains.
"In this case, plant more corn, and reduce the rest of wheat, chestnut, rice and rice..." The First Emperor is a person who listens to advice. Of course, the First Emperor intends to ask for advice from farmers and scholars on this matter, although the First Emperor does not like the farmer's way of governing the country. Concept, but the farmers’ experience and knowledge in cultivating the land are still worthy of recognition.
Just like the Mohist family was divided into three, the peasant family also split during the process of Qin's unification of the world.
Some support the six kingdoms to maintain the order of the world, while others support Qin to unify the world. Since Shang Yang proposed to focus on farming and war, Qin has begun to absorb farmers and scholars. However, the idea of farmers farming together with the king and the people is too advanced, even if it is early The peasant scholars who took refuge in the Qin State only existed at the bottom of the power center of the Qin Dynasty.
The peasant family was not a prominent scholar in the first place... Its advanced ideas of governing the country were also attacked by Confucianism, Legalism and other prominent scholars. If not for the deliberate protection of the First Emperor, the peasant family would have long been labeled as a low-class society. (Farmers during the Han Dynasty were classified as lower class by Confucianism.)
Zhao Si did not comment on the First Emperor's decision, but Zhao Si also made up his mind. Since his aura of raw jade was also useful for crops, he would plant wheat, rice, chestnuts and beans on his more than ten hectares of cultivated land, and go for a walk every day if he had nothing to do. Two rounds of power can be used to strengthen the body, and it may also be able to induce genetic mutations. Although it is impossible to enjoy the shade under the rice like Mr. Yuan, doubling the yield is not a fantasy.
The sweet potatoes grown now and the original species brought back are completely different species. It is also reasonable for wheat, rice and chestnuts to undergo point genetic mutations under the influence of their own jade halo.
"The method of drying salt has been implemented in Qi, and now salt pools are being opened widely. What do you think?" The First Emperor looked at Zhao Si.
After all, Zhao Si was the initiator of the sun-drying salt method and the purification of table salt, and the sun-drying salt method was very important. Now he was planning to completely replace the boiled salt method. I would like to ask Zhao Si again to prevent mistakes.
"That's not true. The method of drying salt is far better than the previous method of boiling salt." Zhao Si shook his head and suddenly remembered something.
Wait... Dictatorship of Salt and Iron...
"I have a suggestion." Zhao Si raised his head.
"Speak!" The First Emperor nodded.
"Salt and gold can be controlled by the government, and a monopoly system is implemented. Private sales are not allowed among the people. In this way, taxes are included in the price. People have no choice but to pay taxes, and there is no tax. Merchants are not allowed to hoard goods. If there are people who are deliberately cheating, they are not allowed to sell in large quantities. Privately buying a gold-made armor and a murderous weapon..." Zhao Si was talking eloquently, but he didn't notice that the Emperor's face was getting weirder and weirder.
Zhao Si was most impressed by Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty and Sang Hongyang of the salt and iron monopoly system. The salt and iron monopoly strengthened central fiscal revenue and provided strong local control, which was of great significance to the country.
Zhao Si definitely doesn't know how to implement it specifically, but Zhao Si also said that he just made a suggestion.
The First Emperor looked with a rather strange expression on his face as he talked about the salt and gold monopoly, with a playful smile on his face.
This is because today's Great Qin has a salt and gold monopoly system.
The salt and iron monopoly system began with the policy of Guan Shan Hai proposed by Guan Zhong of Qi State, which was to implement a monopoly on salt and iron together.
After Shang Yang's reform, the Qin State controlled the benefits of mountains and rivers and also implemented a monopoly on salt and iron.
The Shaofu, one of the nine ministers, was in charge of the salt and iron monopoly to provide support.
The First Emperor looked at Zhao Si who was talking eloquently. It was obvious that if Zhao Si knew enough about the Qin Dynasty, he would not make such a joke.
But it's normal to think about it. After all, Zhao Si wandered overseas as a young man, and after returning, he lived in Lantian, isolated from the world. So far, his understanding of Da Qin probably comes from the few books he has read.
Thinking of this, the First Emperor suddenly felt that if Zhao Si could propose a salt and iron monopoly policy through superficial reading and study before he had ever been exposed to the concept of Guan Shan Hai...
The First Emperor looked at Zhao Si who was talking endlessly and raised his eyebrows, and had a strange misunderstanding.
Zhao Si talked eloquently about the salt and iron monopoly. He had no idea that he had made a joke. His mouth was dry when he said it, and he felt that he had explained the pros and cons clearly. Then he stopped and looked at the first emperor: "I have not read a few books." The book has little knowledge and your majesty laughs at it."
That's what he said, but Zhao Si believed that a wise man like the First Emperor would realize the huge benefits just by hearing the words "salt and iron monopoly". Zhao Si would never look down upon this unprecedented person who dominated the world. king. He also never underestimated the wisdom of the ancients.
Sometimes, the ancients were just missing a layer of window paper.
He thought that his copying behavior could inspire the First Emperor to some extent, but unexpectedly, the First Emperor just had a playful smile on his face, turned around, took out a few bamboo slips from the bookshelf, and threw them into his arms.
Zhao Si subconsciously took a few bamboo slips and saw the First Emperor pacing and saying: "These days, Zou Feng will stay in Lantian and watch the sky at night to ensure that the weather is safe. Although you have read some books, you have not gone to school. , if you have any questions, you can ask more questions."
The First Emperor knew that Zou Feng wanted to talk to Zhao Si about the sea. Of course he was willing to give Zou Feng this opportunity. After all, the Yin and Yang family still had to undertake the official task of inspecting the world for the Qin Dynasty. Of course, the First Emperor also knew that Zou Feng was quite jealous of Zhao Si.
The First Emperor didn't care at all about Zou Feng's small selfishness, because the decision-making power was always in his hands.
Zhao Si nodded. He really needed a qualified teacher. The more he read, the more he felt that studying by rote was not enough. Even with modern knowledge that corroborated each other, Zhao Si still felt that he was not thorough in many aspects. After all, he is a contemporary representative of the Yin-Yang family. He once angered hundreds of powerful people for the great Qin Dynasty's destiny. It can be said that he is more than enough to teach Zhao Si.
As for saying that Zou Feng is a Yin Yang family? The book Zhao Si reads is Legalist?
That’s not important. There are hundreds of schools of thought. You learn from me, and I learn from you. Not to mention that the academic disputes among hundreds of schools of thought in this era are extremely anxious. If you want to defeat your opponent, you must do it without a doubt. They knew their opponents better than their opponents. Among the literati who took the lead in destroying Buddhism in the Song Dynasty, which one was not proficient in Buddhism?
Zou Fengneng became a representative figure of the Yin Yang family, and his academic achievements were naturally not limited to the Yin Yang family.
Moreover, the books Zhao Si read were Legalist books, but he had no prejudice against other schools of thought. He was happy to accept the knowledge of the Yin-Yang School, and even the knowledge of various schools of thought. His roots were modern people, not this Any house of the era.
Zhao Si took the bamboo slips and saw that the First Emperor had raised his hand, and he was ready to leave knowingly. Unexpectedly, instead of chasing people away, the First Emperor threw a jade pendant over.
"In the past few days, I have been keeping an eye on the three new grains. If anything happens, I can use this jade pendant to enter the palace and walk freely!" The First Emperor smiled.
Zhao Si was overjoyed, this was the standard accessory of the Emperor's Eagle Dog. Although there are no other rewards, the fact that he has entered the palace directly is a great honor.
But... Zhao Si still has some doubts in his heart.
"Your Majesty..." Zhao Si hesitated, asking, it seems inappropriate, so don't ask, I feel uncomfortable.
"Huh?" The First Emperor looked at Zhao Si who looked embarrassed.
"After using it, how should I return it?" Zhao Si finally used a more tactful approach.
The First Emperor burst into laughter. This kind of question was quite offensive and had obviously violated the unspoken rules of officialdom.
Thunder, rain and dew are all your kindness.
The decision whether to return it or not, and whether it can be used in the future, rests in the hands of the First Emperor. This is closely related to the attitude of the First Emperor.
"Step back!" The First Emperor did not answer, turned his back, knelt down An Ran and spread out the memorial.
Zhao Si smiled sarcastically and left, holding the simple jade pendant in his hand and thinking secretly in his heart.
How long will this thing last? Do you want to pay it back for future use?
The First Emperor didn't say it clearly. If he used this jade pendant to enter the palace in the future, wouldn't it be broken if he held it down and said that he broke into the palace without permission? Zhao Si made up his mind that after a few days, even if the First Emperor did not take back the jade pendant, he would honestly report to the police and wait for a body search when entering the palace.
There are no such examples in history, but life is still the most important thing.
While thinking about it, Zhao Si put the jade pendant into his arms and opened a scroll of bamboo slips as he walked.
"Guanzi. Mountains and Seas"
Um? The First Emperor gave the book a pipe? What does this mean?
No matter what it means, go back and read it carefully first. The book given by the First Emperor cannot be ignored.
I don’t know what the First Emperor thought of his own salt and iron monopoly system?
If Zhao Si is asked to do this, he will definitely not be able to do it. He doesn't have the ability. Politics is not about rhetoric, it must be implemented.
Throughout the past dynasties, all reformers have made better plans and blueprints than the last, but how many of them can succeed?
If different people do the same thing at different times, the results will be different.
Zhao Si was able to make suggestions because he had been reading a lot recently, so he could barely make a practical analysis. Otherwise, he could only say the words "salt and iron monopoly" while standing there. Why should he speak?
On the other side, in the palace, the First Emperor asked about Zhao Si's offense, but he did not show any anger.
On the contrary, there was a smile that lingered on the face that was hanging down to deal with the memorial.
This guy... is quite upright.
But...he is a rare and clever young man.
The First Emperor was keenly aware that a person who had basically never read a book had only been studying for less than half a year. At the same time, I have not read Guanzi and have no deep understanding of the Qin system. Able to propose a salt and iron monopoly system. Even if it is just a slightly crude suggestion, it means that Zhao Si has a very high political talent!
Obviously, the time traveler's mixed knowledge reserves from modern times caused the First Emperor to have some small misunderstandings about Zhao Si.
The tax on mountains, rivers and swamps is the salt tax, mineral tax, and the tax on mountains, forests and fisheries. "Guanzi. King of the Sea" has already mentioned the mountains and seas. Sang Hongyang's "Salt and Iron Theory" Shihuchi, Guanshanhai also clearly pointed out that mountains and seas The river tax refers to the salt and iron deposits in the mountains and forests, but Sang Hongyang once again emphasized the salt and iron. Therefore, it is called "Salt and Iron Treatise"
(End of chapter)
