After Transmigration: Building a Kingdom in Turbulent Times

Chapter 1184 - 1166: An Accidental Collision

First Year of Jianxing, although there were minor droughts and floods in various regions of Jin State, they were only temporary and could be overcome locally, hence it was deemed a year of overall abundance.

A bountiful harvest indeed, after harvesting the winter wheat in the summer, they continuously sowed and harvested soybeans, millet, panicum, and rice.

Millet, which is large yellow grains, is one of the five grains but yields very low; Zhao Hanzhang, considering the yield issue, only distributed seeds of wheat, soybeans, and rice, though privately, seeds were also retained plentifully, especially among the nobles.

In remote areas far from Luoyang and Yu State, stone mills hadn’t been widespread, so wheat and bean meals remained the staple food of ordinary people, while those with slightly better conditions preferred millet and rice meals, hence many continued to cultivate millet.

After the autumn harvest, farmers set aside enough for this year’s taxes, and then enough for household needs, and the surplus would be taken to the market for sale, resulting in a variety of grains on the market.

Besides grains, there were various types of seeds, like vegetable seeds, hemp seeds, etc.

Zhao Hanzhang commanded the Ministry of Agriculture to find and cultivate various seeds from the market, saying, "Besides wheat, rice, and beans, you should also study other crop seeds. The harvest period after wheat matures is very short, and whether it is the winter wheat planted in Central Plains or the spring wheat to be planted in the north of Youzhou and Bingzhou, the harvest period is prone to wind and rain."

"Once mature wheat falls, it’s hardly any different from having no harvest at all. Human power is limited, so cultivating a variety of grains is essential to stagger the harvest times."

If harvesting ten acres of wheat for a family of three takes ten days to transport home, then twenty acres would take twenty days. The time period is too long, and mature wheat could suffer from weather-induced falling, and overly mature wheat might scatter.

To minimize losses, separating some lands to stagger the harvest time is the best method, allowing a more reasonable application of human labor and some room for adjustments.

Millet and panicum are very good choices.

Additionally, panicum can be used to brew alcohol.

Just look at Zhao Hu, life’s better, and alcohol is indispensable.

Furthermore, Zhao Hanzhang added, "In addition to various seeds on the market, you should also gather some wild seeds."

The Ministry’s scholar was puzzled, "Wild seeds?"

"Indeed, wild wheat, wild rice, wild millet. Breeding wheat from two traits too similar often doesn’t result in much change and can sometimes cause adverse mutations. Yet wheat with very contrasting traits may yield excellent seeds, adding new and different traits," said Zhao Hanzhang. "During my inspection of wheat fields around Luoyang this year, I noticed quite a bit of wheat fell just shortly after ear formation; wind and rain are uncontrollable, so we must find ways to enhance wheat’s robustness, enabling it not to fall in bad weather."

The scholar’s eyes brightened instantly, "Great General, are you suggesting we should crossbreed our current wheat with wild wheat that has endured wind and rain without falling to borrow their robustness?"

Zhao Hanzhang nodded, "We shouldn’t just focus on the number of grains per ear, aiming for increased yield while overlooking other traits. If we can cultivate strong, sturdy wheat seeds that don’t fall, that’s also a form of yield increase. Furthermore, there are drought-resistant and flood-tolerant seeds, allowing people in the future to choose wheat seeds with different advantages based on varying local conditions."

"What goes for wheat, goes for rice as well."

The scholar quickly noted this down; being engaged in agricultural research, naturally, he was aware that wheat breeds with wheat. Previously, they always selected the best wheat seeds for crossbreeding and never thought of seeking wild wheat, as wild wheat indeed yields really low, tastes bad, with small grains, and short, few ears, isn’t it pairing superior with inferior?

But the Great General’s point is also reasonable; perhaps they could cross three wheat plants at once, or first pair A with B, obtain C, and then cross it with fine-grade D, which could possibly result in better wheat seeds?

No matter, let’s go back and try.

Currently, it’s not too cold yet; by venturing into the mountains, one might just find some. Unfortunately, all winter wheat has been planted, only next spring’s wheat can be considered, or perhaps setting up a greenhouse to catch up on winter wheat?

In the midst of wandering thoughts, the scholar suddenly bumped into Shen Ruhui, who was walking ahead immersed in thought.

The scholar, having abruptly bumped into Shen Ruhui, became flustered, tangled his left foot with the right, and stumbled down alongside Shen Ruhui.

Shen Ruhui was lost in thought too, thus neither he responded in time nor did he avoid, directly toppled like a mountain toppling, with a loud thud.

The scholar hastily tried to stand up but bungled, accidentally pressing Shen Ruhui down again, while passing officials, holding back laughter, ran forward to help them up, jests piping up amidst the crowd, "Dr. Yu, no matter how dissatisfied you may be with a superior, you shouldn’t be physically attacking them!"

Dr. Yu stood up with support, face turning scarlet upon hearing this, hurriedly waved, saying, "I didn’t, I merely didn’t see Doctor Shen."

"Doctor Shen is your superior, such a big person walking before you, and you didn’t see?"

Dr. Yu was anxiously scratching his ears, unable to explain his way out, was truly unaware at that time, even failing to recall if he was walking, yet they surely wouldn’t believe if he said so.

Shen Ruhui, pulled up from the ground, somewhat disheveled, adjusted his crown, thanking the surrounding officials, then addressing Dr. Yu, "It’s alright, we’ll return to the Ministry together."

Dr. Yu exhaled a breath, steadied somewhat, responding with a firm "Yes" and closely followed Shen Ruhui.

"Wait a minute," Li Tian He smiled, blocking their path, "Doctor Shen, isn’t Dr. Yu’s action considered disrespecting a superior? If you don’t penalize him, perhaps the Imperial Censor should, conveniently, Imperial Censor Lu is here, why not let him handle this for you?"

Imperial Censor Lu, suppressing laughter, said, "Dr. Yu, don’t worry, if you demonstrate it was unintentional, at most, you’ll be fined three months of salary, it’s no big deal."

Shen Ruhui retorted, annoyed, "It was indeed unintentional, I’m not concerned, why are you?"

Three months’ salary might not be significant to those with military achievements and spoils like Li Tian He, nor a noteworthy amount to Imperial Censor Lu, wealthy and coming from a distinguished family, but to Dr. Yu, who needed salary for family support, it was a substantial sum.

If truly deducted, Dr. Yu surely would have to scrimp and save henceforth.

Imperial Censor Lu, formally, "Words shouldn’t be framed like this—assaulting a superior is a public matter, whether or not Doctor Shen is concerned is his viewpoint; we, as censors, cannot allow official misconduct to go unchecked. Otherwise, should such disrespectful acts occur again, privately resolving wouldn’t be tolerable?"

Shen Ruhui was upset, "You!"

Dr. Yu, face paler by the moment, looked helplessly at Shen Ruhui.

Nearby officials and military generals observing were amused, addressing Shen Ruhui, "Dr. Yu is your subordinate, you punish him first, and the Imperial Censorate won’t penalize again."

Shen Ruhui, although tongue-tied, wasn’t dim-witted; with fear the Imperial Censorate would penalize despite his punishment, he firmly refused to penalize, insisting Dr. Yu’s action was merely a mistake, not intentional wrongdoing.