MM Racing Chapter 282 Mentality
Chapter 282 Mentality
"Young Master, let's go out for a walk!" As soon as he finished speaking, he turned around and saw that Ying Zheng didn't seem to object, so he signaled someone to lead the horse over.
Ever since Fusu installed horseshoes on the horses' hooves and iron stirrups under the saddle, young members of military families have given up riding in carriages and traveled on horseback instead.
After all, riding a strong animal weighing over a thousand kilograms (calculated according to the standard weight of Qin) and running across the vast plains is much more comfortable and eye-catching than sitting in a carriage!
In the prominent family circles of the city of Xianyang, a subtle chain of relationships was even formed: those who rode famous horses from the Western Regions despised those who rode Qin horses, and those who rode Qin horses despised those who rode nomadic horses; as for those who rode on the backs of cows, they could only glance at the mounts of other animals with envy... There was also a strange trend that came from nowhere and affected some people. Anyone who owned a horse that was less than 5 feet 7 inches (about 172 cm here) would usually be excluded from the social circle overnight.
However, such a cultural atmosphere had not been formed in the land of Nanhai County. Therefore, Ziying's horse was a docile mare with a back height of just over 5 feet (approximately 152 cm).
Riding on horseback, Li Shang reluctantly lowered his body slightly, trying to make himself look equal to or similar in height to Ziying, so as to avoid any embarrassment or disadvantageous situation caused by the obvious difference in body size.
Ziying was unaware of this incident. He pointed his whip at the land being reclaimed not far away, his eyes filled with anticipation and enthusiasm: "In another half a month, this vacant land will be turned into fertile farmland."
After hearing this, Li Shang nodded slightly. Ren Xiong had mentioned this history before. The land beside this river originally belonged to Yixusong, the chief of the Yuexi tribe. Later, the Yuexi tribe was conquered. The Qin people set up a county in Vietnam. The soldiers who died in the battle with the enemy drifted with the river, which brought a group of ferocious crocodiles, making the fields by the river uncultivated. Ren Xiong's original intention to set up a plantation was also based on the special environment of this place. The crocodiles lurking in the waters indicate that the Luoyue slaves could not easily escape. On the opposite side are the residential areas of the Qin people. The southern end is Panyu, the capital of Nanhai County. Such a geographical layout naturally makes it difficult for slaves to escape.
Li Shang rode his horse and followed Ziying's steps forward. What he saw was a farmland grid divided according to the strict laws of the Qin State. The ridges were neatly arranged and intertwined, showing a state of order.
It seems that under the influence of this regulation, people generally have a slight sense of order.
Because not only the farmland presents this scene, but also the tents that are temporarily erected and the bamboo houses that are being built. They are all the same size, and the overall design presents a high degree of standardization, which is amazing!
"Sir, so the rice seeds we introduced from Luoyue and Indochina will be sown soon?" Li Shang imagined all this in his mind, with a smile on his face. "To be honest, I have never seen how people grow rice since I grew up!"
Hearing his question, the smile on Ziying's face froze for a moment, then he asked someone to bring a scroll, handed it to Li Shang and said, "Take a look for yourself."
Li Shang took the scroll and found that it was an imperial edict from Chang'an, still bearing the seal of the Central Secret.
Central Secretary, this should be the reply from His Majesty, right? I don't think it's appropriate. Never mind. You can make your own decisions when you encounter something... Li Shang opened the scroll and saw that it was a report submitted by Ziying to the palace, requesting to test rice planting in the South China Sea and to dispatch agricultural tools and cement.
Lord Fusu only agreed to the transfer of tools, and specifically pointed out that all metal tools must be registered and stored one by one for unified management. Whether it is a sickle for cutting rice or a tool for hoeing the soil, the management strategy of "borrowing and returning on a daily basis" must be implemented. If there is poor management of the errands, it will be punished according to the laws of the Qin Dynasty.
As for the cement part, there is no mention of it in this memorial, and it is obvious that it will not be passed.
The last few paragraphs mentioned the issue of when to plant rice, and the reply only left three words: ask farmers for their opinions.
Li Shang blinked and asked in confusion: "Sir, what does the emperor mean?"
Ziying replied with a bit of embarrassment: "At the beginning, the county lieutenant and I were also very confused about this matter, so we invited the minor official in charge of coordinating farming work to ask about it. Alas..."
Ziying sighed, but such an explanation made Li Shang, who was standing beside him, very anxious.
What happened? Go on and explain the situation. Why are you sighing? Although he was anxious, Li Shang did not dare to interrupt and urge him.
He shook his head, as if trying to shake off the embarrassment at the time: "Rice planting in Lingnan is not like the four-season harvest in Guanzhong. The rice planting time here starts in late spring. Now is not the best time to plant rice..."
He added, "However, a few days ago, His Majesty sent a document here. The document detailed the planting rules of double-season rice crops: the first planting is carried out in mid-to-late May each year, and the first harvest is harvested around mid-July. Then the land is plowed and rice is planted for the second time. The second harvest is in early November."
Li Shang nodded, then frowned and asked, "What about during this period of time? What's the point of leaving the land idle and not doing anything with it?"
Ziying smiled and replied, "Here, the Qin people cultivate in this way to maintain the vitality and productivity of the land. Your Majesty said that during this period, we can also sow rapeseed."
After listening to this, Li Shang scratched his head, still full of doubts: "I know rapeseed is used as a seasoning for cooking. If we plant it all over such a large piece of land, can we eat it all?"
Ziying continued to smile and said, "Your Majesty, what you said is not to consume these rapeseeds directly as food, but to squeeze them to obtain rapeseed oil. Have you heard of it?"
Hearing about oil pressing? Li Shang's brows knitted together, and a complex thought appeared in his eyes. "What is that?" He asked curiously and puzzled.
Ziying waved his hand and nodded firmly, "I don't know what it is, but your majesty guarantees that oil can be squeezed out of rapeseed."
In the Wentang Palace, Imperial Censor Feng Jie and Grain Administration Minister Zheng Guo walked into the palace hand in hand. Zheng Guo had a mocking look on his face: "I heard that Your Majesty wants to collect a large amount of rapeseed seeds."
Feng Jie bowed and saluted, "Your Majesty, you cannot easily move the food supplies!"
Fusu took a deep breath and put down the kitchen knife in his hand: "When did I ever have the idea of growing crops?"
Rumors always get more and more outrageous. Originally, the plan was just to arrange for people to take a small amount of rapeseed from the imperial palace's granary to obtain oil, but it turned out to be a plan to completely eliminate the rapeseed seeds!
When Zheng Guo asked him about it, he said: "The official in charge of Taicang reported that Your Majesty sent people to extract 100 dan of rapeseed from Taicang, or to be more precise, 100 dan of rapeseed seeds."
"Does Taicang have thousands of shi of rapeseed or more specifically rapeseed seeds in reserve?" Fusu asked while washing his hands with a bar of soap in his hand.
The soap bars he made were made from a mixture of wood ash and pork fat. Because the production process was complicated, he only made a few bars for his own use.
After learning about soap, a "great artifact for time travelers to plunder wealth", Fusu discovered that in the current era of Qin State, the market adaptability of such things is not suitable for soap.
Although soap is great for cleaning, most people of that era didn’t have a need for an overly greasy lifestyle… not to mention, their lives relied on natural soapberries for cleansing.
This resulted in soap not being consumed as quickly as expected and becoming an everyday necessity like salt, but becoming more of a luxury item.
In addition to the amount that Your Majesty has already collected, there are still 3,700 dan of rapeseed stored in Taicang! Facing Fusu's puzzled expression, Zheng Guo responded immediately, and his slightly frowned eyes showed surprise at such a large-scale logging.
This shows that I really took a lot of seeds. Watching the clean water wash away the residue on the soap bar, Fusu suddenly remembered that the use of rapeseed at this time was mainly concentrated in food, and as a non-grain crop, the key is that the rapeseed here and in the surrounding areas has been planted in the ground, and the grain stored in Taicang is not specifically for this purpose; even if all the seeds are taken away, it will not shake the balance of local farmland planting activities!
Well, isn't it a bit surprising that the Minister of Grain, one of the Nine Ministers, and the Grand Censor, both came here together just for such a small matter?
Are you worried that I will occupy a large amount of national treasury resources, so you take the attitude of early intervention?
Li Si's thoughts were rolling like thunder. He suppressed a certain key word in his heart, wiped the moisture from his hands calmly, and looked at Zheng Guo: "This is the soap I created in my spare time. It is very clean for washing hands. Wait a minute, you two can take a few pieces."
Li suddenly found it hard to accept - they both wanted to give advice and persuasion, but how could they have known that it suddenly turned into a request for reward?
But when they heard Li Si say this, they both bowed deeply and thanked him repeatedly.
At this time, Li Si stretched out his hand to block them, and said solemnly: "I will keep in mind the teachings given by the two ministers."
Then he smiled and continued, "At dusk, please have dinner at the Lanchi Palace and then we will return to the capital together."
"it is good!"
In the Lan Chi Ting Quan Hall where light and sound interweave, although it is not yet completely dark, the lights in the hall are already on.
Zheng Guo took a careful look and realized that what he saw were a batch of precious candles - insect wax - that were popular in the capital Chang'an recently.
Compared with the large oil lamps of the past, it is cheaper and provides brighter illumination. More importantly, burning insect wax does not produce the pungent smell that occurs after the oil lamp burns out.
Your Majesty is so smart and capable... Zheng Guo praised in his heart and was supported by two young eunuchs to sit behind the long black lacquered wooden table. Because this palace was temporary, the ceremony was relatively simple.