After watching the fleet leave, Li Zexuan went straight to the workshop.
His family had bought over two hundred catties of cotton seeds from the Hu people yesterday. These few days, he had to start making arrangements for the servants in the residence to start growing the seeds. And growing the seeds required a type of machine — a nutrient bowl manufacturing machine.
If the cotton seeds were directly scattered in the ground, a large portion of them would not germinate. The survival rate was extremely low! In his previous life, Li Zexuan was also a villager. He had experienced the entire process of growing cotton. He remembered that when his family was growing cotton, they had to first plant the cotton seeds in a nutrient bowl. After the seeds germinated, the seedlings would be transplanted into the ground.
The so-called nutrition bowl was to load the loose, fertile soil that was easy to retain water and fertilizer, germ-free, and seedless into the machine for making nutrition bowls. Through the machine, cup-shaped nutrition bowls with a diameter of 11 centimeters and a height of 10 to 12 centimeters were manufactured. The cotton seeds were pressed into the nutrition bowls, and the nutrition bowls were covered with a thin film until they sprouted!
After the cotton seeds germinated, they would be transplanted into the ground along with the nutrient bowl and the job would be done!
The greatest benefit of this method was that it could greatly increase the survival rate of the cotton seeds. Compared to sowing directly, this nutrient bowl sowing method could save at least three times the amount of seeds! If the people of Lantian County were to use this nutrient bowl sowing method in the future, then the amount of cotton seeds they would need to plant per mu of land would not even be one catty!
In the modern era, the south used the nutrient bowl sowing method to plant cotton in one mu of land. It required about 0.7 catties of seeds. In the north, the direct sowing method required about three to six catties of seeds per mu of land. Therefore, the nutrient bowl sowing method had always been popular in the southern regions. However, there were also disadvantages. For example, it required a lot of manpower and resources.
In addition, the nutrient bowl sowing seedlings and transplanting them could make the cotton seedlings stronger. Correspondingly, they could produce more cotton in the future!
Therefore, not only did this method save on seeds, it also guaranteed a high yield!
Moreover, the most important thing was that this method of growing cotton had not appeared in this era!
Why was cotton only an expensive flower in the Tang Dynasty for people to admire? Why was it not planted on a large scale? Because it was expensive! But why was it expensive? Other than the fact that there were very few people in the Central Plains who needed to 'import' cotton, the most important reason was its low survival rate and low yield. Very few people were willing to plant it on a large scale! As the saying goes, the rarer something is, the greater its value. Thus, this cotton could only be treated as a precious flower for people to admire!
As for using it to make clothes, that would be too extravagant! Only a fool with a lot of money would do such a thing!
Therefore, Li Zexuan planned to promote his nutrient bowl planting technology. First, he had to go to the workshop to build a nutrient bowl manufacturing machine. He planned to make a hand-pressed nutrient bowl manufacturing machine for cotton!
At this time, Li Zexuan was thankful that he came from a rural family in his previous life. Otherwise, he wouldn't know about these things!
It wasn't difficult to make this kind of handheld cotton nutrition bowl making machine. Its structure was similar to the push-rod honeycomb coal mold made by the workshop previously. That was used to shape coal blocks, while this one was used to shape fertile soil!
Therefore, Li Zexuan came to the workshop and explained it to Faubert. Faubert immediately understood and promised that the hand-pressed cotton nutrition bowl machine would be ready and sent to Yunshan Mountain by noon.
Only then did Li Zexuan return to Cloud Mountain in satisfaction.
… … …
At the same time, dozens of yamen runners ran out of Lantian County. Each one of them held a notice and ran to the villages in all directions.
"Eh? The people from the county yamen came to put up notices? "
"What's going on? The yamen runners actually came to our Yu Family Manor to put up notices! It's really too strange! "
On the wall at the entrance of the Yu Family Manor, the commoners looked at the notice that had just been put up and gathered together to discuss it.
In the past, if the yamen needed to announce something to the commoners, they only needed to put up notices in key places in the city. It was very rare to see a notice directly sent to the village like today! It was no wonder that these villagers felt it was strange.
However, it could also be seen that County Magistrate He was very attentive to Li Zexuan's orders this time!
"Elementary Scholar Yu! Where is Elementary Scholar Yu? Quickly let Elementary Scholar Yu see what's written on the notice! "
"He's coming, he's coming! Quickly make way, Elementary Scholar Yu is coming! "
"Elementary Scholar Yu, quickly read it for us. What's written on the notice? Could it be that the county yamen is going to increase our taxes again? "
Amidst the numerous calls, Yu Dejing, who had met Li Zexuan a few times before, walked out of the Yu Family Manor.
"Uncle Zhong, Marquis is in charge of Lantian County right now. The county yamen won't increase our taxes, so don't make wild guesses! Can you let me see what's written on the notice first? "
Yu Dejing comforted Zhong Lizheng and then looked at the notice on the wall. After a while, he was completely stunned!
"Elementary Scholar Yu? Elementary Scholar Yu? What's wrong with you? What's written on the notice?! Could it be that I, Old Zhong, guessed correctly? "
Zhong Lizheng saw that Yu Dejing's eyes were wide open as he stood there in a daze without saying a word. Instead, he looked very surprised. He hurriedly pulled on Yu Dejing's sleeve and said worriedly.
"That's right! Elementary Scholar Yu! What's written on the notice? "
The commoners were also anxious and started to shout.
Yu Dejing, who was in a state of shock, finally came to his senses. He swallowed his saliva and forcefully suppressed the shock in his heart.
He said, "The notice says that Marquis intends to promote the planting of White Die Seeds within the borders of Lantian County. He has already asked someone to buy the seeds! From today onwards, as long as a farmer is willing to plant White Die Seeds, you can immediately go to the county yamen to report. Before the seeds arrive, as long as a farmer is able to cultivate one mu of wasteland, they can go to the county yamen to receive a catty of White Die Seeds for free! "
"Receive a catty of White Die Seeds for free? Elementary Scholar Yu, you … you're not mistaken, right? "
"That's right! Elementary Scholar Yu! A catty of White Die Seeds is worth seven or eight strings of coins. Is Marquis really going to give it to us for free? Then wouldn't Marquis suffer a huge loss? "
Before Yu Dejing could finish speaking, the surrounding commoners immediately exclaimed in disbelief.
"Everyone, please let me finish reading!"
Yu Dejing hurriedly shouted to maintain order. When the surroundings quieted down again, he said loudly, "This notice also says that when the farmers receive the free seeds of the White Fold Flower, they need to sign an agreement with the yamen. That is, when the White Fold Flower matures, they need to remove the seeds and hand them all over to the county yamen. Those who don't hand them over will be fined ten strings of cash, including the principal and interest!
As for the tidbits produced by the White Fold, you can sell them directly or use them to make winter clothes. This way, you won't suffer from the cold during the winter. No matter what, the tidbits of the White Fold belong to the farmers. The Marquis will not interfere with how you use them! "
As Yu Dejing's voice fell, everyone was shocked!
After the shock, there was ecstasy!
"Marquis is actually giving out White Die Seeds for free? And all the White Die Seeds that are planted will belong to us? "
"Marquis is really benevolent! If we can receive a catty of seeds, we can at least earn ten strings of coins! "
"Ten strings of coins? Zhong Lizheng, is there that much? "
"Hey! As long as the harvest isn't bad, it won't be a problem to earn a hundred strings of coins! "
"Haha! What are we waiting for? Quickly go to the county yamen to register! Last time, when Marquis promoted the greenhouse vegetables, our Yu Family Village didn't get to see the White Die Seeds this time. No matter what, we can't miss it! "
"That's right! That's right! Quickly go to the county yamen to register! If we're late, we might not get it! "
"Go quickly! Go quickly! "
Suddenly, the group of people rushed out like a swarm of bees. They didn't even have time to put down the shovels, hoes, and other farming tools on their shoulders as they rushed directly in the direction of Lantian County!
"Hey, hey, hey! Wait for me! "
Yu Dejing called out twice and hurriedly followed.
…
A similar situation also happened in the dozens of other farmsteads in Lantian County. These farmsteads were all in an uproar at the same time!
They went to the county yamen to register and then reclaimed one mu of wasteland to get a catty of White Die Seeds for free. In the eyes of the farmers, wasn't this like picking up money? Moreover, they could pick up tens or even hundreds of strings of coins!
How could the farmers not be tempted by this?
This was especially true for the farmers who were incorporated into Li Zexuan's fiefdom later. When Li Zexuan promoted the greenhouse vegetables, they didn't belong to Li Zexuan's fiefdom. Naturally, they didn't enjoy the first wave of 'dividends'. Now that the second wave of 'dividends' was finally here, of course, they had to desperately grab hold of it!
Of course, they weren't the only ones who wanted to grab hold of it. The farmers of the eight farmsteads who had followed Li Zexuan in the beginning were even more enthusiastic. Because of the greenhouse vegetables incident last time, they firmly believed that following Li Zexuan would bring them benefits. As long as it was Li Zexuan's decision, they would unconditionally support and support it. They would definitely make a lot of money!
Therefore, on all the roads and small paths in Lantian County, farmers could be seen running wildly everywhere. It was like ants returning to their nest. The black mass of ants came from all directions and rushed towards their nest — Lantian County!
On the street in front of the Lantian County's yamen entrance, three rows of tables had already been set up.
One row of tables faced the street in the west, another row faced the street in the east and another row faced the street in the south. The farmers who came from all directions could line up in three different directions to register. This way, they could save a lot of time!
"County Magistrate! They're here! They're here! The commoners are here! But why did they bring their shovels and hoes over? "
County Magistrate He led a group of county officials and waited at the entrance of the county yamen. Suddenly, the county official became excited as he hurriedly asked County Magistrate He.
But after seeing the 'equipment' of the farmers, the official was dumbfounded. If someone who wasn't in the know saw this, they would think that these commoners were coming to the county yamen to rebel!
County Magistrate He stroked his beard and said with a smile, "Let the bailiffs register properly and prevent commoners from other counties from mixing in! This is Marquis's kindness to our county's commoners. We can't let people from other counties take advantage of this! Understand? "
The official hurriedly cupped his hands and said, "Yes! County Magistrate! "
While they were talking, dozens of farmers had already run over. Seeing the tables that had already been set up, the farmers understood the rules and lined up. There were three tables in each direction of the street. There were a total of nine tables, which meant that they could line up in nine lines.
"Sir, I want to plant White Stack Flowers. I want to register!"
"What's your name? Which village are you from? "
"My name is Liu Mang, from Liujia Village!"
"Mm! Good! I've already registered for you! Marquis will be able to buy the seeds back in half a month. Before that, you have to cultivate a mu of wasteland. It's best if it's a hillside that's facing the sun. That way, the harvest will be better. Do you understand? "
"Understood! Understood! Thank you for your reminder! "
"Next ~!"
“.....”
The quiet entrance of the county yamen suddenly became lively. It was not an exaggeration to say that it was a boiling cauldron of voices!
The commoners in Guancheng County who woke up early saw this scene and couldn't help but be stunned.
"Hey! What are they doing? Why are they all gathered at the county yamen? "
"It seems that they are all farmers from outside the county!"
"Farmers? What are they doing here at the county yamen? "
"I know! I know! I just saw the notice at the county yamen. It said that Marquis intends to promote the planting of White Stack Flowers in Lantian County. Those who are willing to plant can register at the county yamen. As long as they can cultivate a mu of wasteland within the stipulated time, they will be able to get a jin of White Stack Flowers seeds for free! "
"What? A jin of White Stack Flowers seeds for free? Is there such a good thing in this world? No, I want to register too! "
"Bah! Boss Wang, what are you so happy about? Do you have any fields at home? Don't tell me you want to take the seeds and sell them for money? The notice said that after receiving the seeds, you have to sign an agreement with the county yamen. When the harvest time comes, the White Stack Flowers will belong to the commoners. However, all the seeds must be removed and handed over to the county yamen. If you don't hand it over, you will be fined ten strings of coins! Boss Wang, if you receive it now, you will have to pay ten strings of coins in the future! "
"Oh! So that's how it is! Then this old man won't receive it! I'll leave the opportunity to these farmers! "
"Tsk tsk! This time, the farmers outside the city are going to be rich! With a jin of seeds, the White Stack Flowers seeds can be sold for dozens of strings of coins! "
"Sigh, what a pity. Who asked us to not be farmers?"
At this moment, these city dwellers began to envy the farmers! It was really strange!
As time passed, the lines of farmers in the three directions grew longer and longer. The line in the south was about to reach the city gates. Tens of thousands of farmers outside the city suddenly flooded into Lantian County. This city that wasn't considered big suddenly became crowded!
Those businessmen who came to Lantian County to do business or those who came to watch the football match saw this scene and began to inquire about what had happened. It didn't matter if they didn't ask, but once they did, they were so shocked that their jaws dropped. Everyone couldn't help but sigh at the good welfare of the citizens of Lantian County! From time to time, Li Zexuan would 'give red packets' to the citizens. Furthermore, it was the kind of 'red packets' that were worth hundreds of strings of coins!
And the matter here quickly spread to the other counties!
…
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