Chapter 42: Trying to get involved in the lifeblood of the Qin Dynasty is a death wish
Even the best farmland in Guanzhong produces less food than these mysterious potatoes!
If potatoes were planted on a large scale in Daqin, why would Daqin worry about food shortages, and why would so many people starve to death every year?
The Daqin court would not have to worry about food and grass problems!
Everyone in Daqin is well-fed and well-clothed, so who would risk their lives to rebel against him, Ying Zheng?
This time, Daqin is stable!
Chen Qilin was not surprised to see the extremely excited expressions of Ying Zheng, Fusu, and Wang Ben.
In ancient times, productivity was low, and coupled with the problem of grain, a family worked hard to farm for a year, and even in a good year, they might not be able to eat enough.
If it was a bad year, they would have to sell their children.
In a year of great disaster, there would even be human tragedies of cannibalism!
In ancient times, even in those so-called peaceful and prosperous times, such as the reign of Wenjing in the Han Dynasty and the reign of Zhenguan in the Tang Dynasty, some people would starve to death due to lack of food!
Not to mention other years of war and famine!
The significance of Chen Qilin taking out potato seeds can be seen.
"Sir, how many potato seeds do you have? Can Daqin cultivate on a large scale?" Ying Zheng came to his senses and continued to ask.
If it is only a very small amount of potato seeds, it will not be of much use for the time being.
Chen Qilin pointed to the backyard: "Your Majesty, there are 500 stones of potato seeds in my backyard. You can send people to carry them back, select good fields in Guanzhong for breeding, and distribute them to the people after the harvest, and promote large-scale planting in Daqin!"
"I thank you on behalf of the people of Daqin!!!" Ying Zheng excitedly clasped his fists.
"Sir, your merits to the people are comparable to Shennong!" Fusu also clasped his fists.
"Sir, I am a rough man who can't speak, but I think you are really amazing and a great benefactor to the people!" Wang Ben also said sincerely.
Chen Qilin waved his hands and said:
"Okay, stop flattering me!"
Then he picked up the sweet potato and shook it in front of Ying Zheng, Fusu and others.
Ying Zheng asked curiously: "Sir, what is this?"
There was no sweet potato in the pre-Qin period, so it was normal that Ying Zheng and others didn't know about it.
Sweet potatoes are native to South America and the Greater and Lesser Antilles, which are very far away from China. They were brought to the Philippines and other countries by Spanish colonists for planting, and then introduced to China around the Wanli period in the late Ming Dynasty.
If Ying Zheng, Fusu and others know about sweet potatoes now, it would be really weird.
Chen Qilin said to Ying Zheng:
"Your Majesty, in addition to potatoes, I have also prepared sweet potato seeds for you. The yield of this grain crop per mu can generally reach 3,500 jin, which is about 35 shi.
Sweet potato planting is also very convenient, and it is not picky about the land... sowing in spring and harvesting in autumn. The vines on the ground can be used as fodder for pigs, cattle, sheep, horses, etc., and the underground rhizomes can be used as food, which is also convenient to store."
Ying Zheng, Fusu, Wang Ben and others were excited again after hearing what the master said.
Another treasure of the immortal family! ! !
The master is so amazing, he is simply a god in the world!
In a moment, he took out two grain seeds that can change the national destiny of a country!
This is not an exaggeration. Food is the first necessity of the people. Whoever can make them full is their heaven!
After Ying Zheng has potatoes and sweet potatoes, Daqin will be as stable as a rock!
Chen Qilin confidently said to Ying Zheng: "Your Majesty, Crown Prince, with these potatoes and sweet potatoes, the food problem of Daqin will definitely be completely solved next year."
"Sir, you are right!" Ying Zheng nodded.
Chen Qilin continued: "Now, I will talk to your majesty about increasing the revenue of the treasury."
"Sir, please give me some advice, I am all ears!" Ying Zheng said with a gleam of light in his eyes, looking forward to it.
Sir, you are simply a god-like existence. You can always solve many problems that he originally thought were unsolvable.
Fusu and Wang Ben are also looking forward to it!
Chen Qilin raised the cement, glass, and refined salt (drying sea salt process) production technology materials in his hand, and said: "Your Majesty, I want to cooperate with the Daqin court to establish a state-owned enterprise!"
"State-owned enterprise?"
Ying Zheng, Fusu and others were confused.
Seeing this, Chen Qilin explained: "It means that I will cooperate with your majesty to do business!"
In the entire Daqin, only Chen Qilin dared to say this!
Doing business with Qin Shi Huang, the tone is simply too big to the sky!
"I understand!" Ying Zheng finally understood.
"I wonder what business you want to do with me?" Ying Zheng asked curiously.
Chen Qilin said: "There are three businesses I want to run with Your Majesty at present: one is salt!"
As soon as this was said, Wang Ben was nervous and couldn't help but sweat for the gentleman!
Salt and iron are the court's monopoly!
Since Qin Xiaogong Ying Quliang reused Shang Yang's reform, Qin has learned from Qi Prime Minister Guan Zhong to take over the salt and iron monopoly rights to the court, making the court earn a lot of money and become rich.
Now a large part of the Qin treasury income comes from the salt monopoly.
Salt monopoly is one of the economic lifelines of the Qin Dynasty, but you are setting your sights on this, isn't it courting death? !
How can a monarch as talented and wise as Ying Zheng tolerate others coveting the salt business? !
"Sir, salt and iron are the exclusive business of the imperial court, and the salt business is also an important source of revenue for the national treasury. I cannot cooperate with you!"
The smile on Ying Zheng's face disappeared, replaced by seriousness, and he shook his head and refused.
Although Ying Zheng admired you very much and you helped him a lot, he would not sell out the interests of the country for this.
In addition, the salt technology has been mastered by Daqin, and there is no need to cooperate with others!
If someone else said this to Ying Zheng today, he would have asked Wang Ben to chop the other party into meat sauce and exterminate the three clans!
It is so audacious and lawless that he wants to get involved in the salt business!
Fusu hurriedly added: "Sir, salt and iron are one of the lifelines of the court. My father really can't cooperate with you. Please forgive me!"
He knew that you were very important to Daqin and didn't want the relationship between you and your father to become stiff!
Originally, Ying Zheng, Fusu, and Wang Ben thought that Chen Qilin would retreat and give up.
Who knew that Chen Qilin took out two small bags and said with a smile: "Your Majesty, take a look at the difference between the salt I make and the salt of your Daqin, and then make a decision!"
He was not angry, and Ying Zheng's reaction was within his expectations.
As he said that, Chen Qilin opened the paper bag and saw a small pile of delicate, white and crystal powder, which was refined salt.
He opened another paper bag, and inside were granules of different sizes and colors, which were the current salt of the Qin Dynasty.
No comparison, no harm!
Comparing the refined salt and the Qin Dynasty salt, the difference between the two is obvious.
One is like a virtuous and gentle lady, while the other is like a village girl with freckles and rough hands and feet...
"This... is the salt boiled by the master?!"
Ying Zheng stared at the refined salt with his eyes wide open, saying in disbelief.
This is the second update. Thank you for your support. I will continue to ask for votes. There will be a third update in the evening, and I am writing it now