CHAPTER 172: CHAPTER 172: NEW GRAIN (PART 1)

Cui Du lowered his head, the charcoal pencil dancing on the paper, producing a faint sound as it rubbed against the surface.

Jiang Shaohua waited patiently, not making a sound.

The study was quiet. This quietness wasn’t tense in the slightest; it was particularly peaceful, even carrying a hint of warmth.

After a moment, Cui Du smiled and handed the paper to Jiang Shaohua. Jiang Shaohua looked down carefully and saw that the paper depicted various types of seedlings, different in height. These seedlings appeared lush and healthy, clearly well-cultivated.

Jiang Shaohua couldn’t help but smile: "Before I left, you were selecting and cultivating seeds. Have you cultivated these new seedlings with higher yields?"

Cui Du first shook his head, then nodded. Finding it difficult to express clearly, he finally said in a rough voice, "This is only the second batch of seed selection. To cultivate wheat and millet seeds with high yields, further experimentation is needed."

The voice was indeed unpleasant, like sandpaper scratching by the ear.

Jiang Shaohua restrained the urge to scratch his ear, warmly smiling: "Then continue experimenting slowly. Once you have truly improved grain seeds, start promoting them."

Cui Du nodded: "Yes. This year’s grain seeds can increase yield by at most thirty percent..."

Before he finished speaking, a figure suddenly flashed before him, grabbing his wrist: "What did you say? Thirty percent increase?"

The Commandery Princess’s voice was urgent and quick, even trembling a bit.

Cui Du’s wrist was almost being crushed; he struggled to speak, "Commandery Princess! My hand!"

Only then did Jiang Shaohua realize his overreaction, promptly letting go. Cui Du sighed in relief, wiped his sweat with his sleeve, and rubbed his left wrist, which was starting to bruise, with his right hand, "This is a rough estimate. To know how much it can truly increase the yield, we’ll have to wait until the winter wheat is harvested next year."

Jiang Shaohua’s eyes sparkled brightly, looking at Cui Du as if he were a rare treasure, and spoke in an exceedingly gentle voice: "A thirty percent increase is already remarkable. There’s no need to wait; start promoting it next year. And if even higher-yield seeds are developed in the future, we will continue to promote them. In Nanyang County, what I say goes."

It was the first time Cui Du saw Jiang Shaohua so visibly joyful, and he couldn’t help but smile: "Alright, I’ll listen to the Commandery Princess."

Jiang Shaohua beamed with joy: "In the past six months, I’ve toured the Fourteen Counties, witnessing the hardship of the poor. Particularly Zhi County and Wuyin County, where people are busy all day yet can’t even get enough to eat. As the Commandery Princess, it pains me to see this."

"When we harvest the grain seeds this year, we will first supply Zhi County, Wuyin County, and also Li County."

By now, Cui Du was somewhat knowledgeable and knew that these three counties ranked among the poorest in Nanyang County, nodding in agreement: "The Commandery Princess is correct."

Jiang Shaohua exhaled and sighed: "Li County is relatively better off; the bandit trouble has been eradicated, and County Magistrate Cai is diligent and capable. In the spare time during busy farming periods, he organizes the people to go into the mountains to collect fruit, hunt, and gather herbs. The lives of Li County’s people have improved significantly compared to before."

"Zhi County and Wuyin County are the real problems. These two counties suffer from perennial drought and water shortages, and though the people labor tirelessly in the fields, their harvest depends on luck."

Cui Du chimed in: "In drought-prone areas, we can plant sweet potatoes, corn, or sorghum."

Jiang Shaohua gave Cui Du a deep look: "I know about sorghum, but what are sweet potatoes and corn?"

Cui Du took out a pen and started drawing on the paper.

Unable to contain his eagerness, Jiang Shaohua leaned his head over directly.

A faint scent wafted into the nostrils.

Cui Du remained focused on drawing, not lifting his head. However, the tips of his ears quietly reddened.

All of Jiang Shaohua’s attention was on what Cui Du was sketching, not noticing anything else. When Cui Du drew out the sweet potatoes and corn, he eagerly asked, "If we plant these, how much can an acre yield?"

Cui Du made an estimation in his mind and answered in his rough voice, "Not less than twenty bushels."

His wrist tightened suddenly, grabbed again by the Commandery Princess.

This time, however, the Commandery Princess controlled her strength, much gentler, her bright eyes seemed to light up: "Really twenty bushels?"

One must know, currently, an acre of prime land meticulously tended could at most yield four bushels of grain. If it were medium or low-grade land, the yield would be even lower.

Cui Du’s statement of over twenty bushels meant that the yield per acre could increase fivefold! If what Cui Du said were true, this could be a groundbreaking event, capable of solving Nanyang County’s grain shortage and saving countless lives!

Cui Du nodded: "I am estimating conservatively. Corn can be a staple food, and the stalks can feed cattle and sheep. Sweet potatoes have even more uses, and their leaves are also edible."

"Moreover, these crops are suitable for drought-prone areas. If the next year or the year after turns out as the Prince’s dream foresaw, and Nanyang County faces a great drought, then switching to corn and sweet potatoes would be the best choice."

Jiang Shaohua’s eyes shone brightly: "Where can we find sweet potatoes and corn?"

Cui Du shrugged: "That I am not sure of."

Jiang Shaohua: "..."

Yet, Jiang Shaohua wasn’t angry and released Cui Du’s hand: "Given your conviction, this world surely has these two crops. If we don’t have them here, we’ll send someone out to look for the seeds."

"The Commandery Princess should send people to search coastal areas," Cui Du suggested after some thought: "As long as we can find seeds, I can cultivate sweet potatoes and corn."

Coastal areas... Jiang Shaohua pondered for a moment, went to the bookshelf, and took out a folded piece of paper. After unfolding it and examining it, it turned out to be a hand-drawn map of Da Liang.

"This map was brought out of the palace by my grandfather when he left the Capital City," Jiang Shaohua said softly. "My grandfather often looked at it in his leisure time, and over the years, it got quite worn."

The map was indeed somewhat worn, the paper yellowed, and the ink faded.

Jiang Shaohua’s slender fingers glided over the map, finally stopping at a location: "Here is Guangzhou, with Nanhai County, Xinhui County, and Gaoliang County along the coast. Nanhai County has ports and sea merchants. I’ll send someone there."

Under the Commandery Princess, there are loyal civil and military officials, both capable and numerous. To accomplish such a task isn’t difficult.

Cui Du agreed with a nod.

Once Jiang Shaohua made up her mind, she wasted no time, personally opening the study door: "Yin Zhu, Tu Bai, you two go immediately to invite Chief Historian Chen and Chief Historian Feng here. Tell them the Commandery Princess has an important matter to discuss."

...

Tonight, Chen and Feng, the two Chief Historians, each drank a little, and were getting drowsy. When urgently summoned by the Commandery Princess, half their sleepiness vanished instantly.

The two Chief Historians left their respective courtyards and came together.

After entering the study, Chief Historian Chen glanced at Cui Du who was alone with the Commandery Princess: "The Commandery Princess summoned me and Chief Historian Feng. What important matter might it be?"

Jiang Shaohua raised her eyebrows and smiled: "It’s a major event concerning new grains!"

Da Liang regards agriculture as the nation’s foundation. Feeding the populace is of utmost importance.

The mere mention of new grain erased the last bits of drowsiness from Chief Historian Chen and Chief Historian Feng.

"Cui Du, please elaborate."