Simultaneous travel: City, infinite evolution

Chapter 274 The Terrifying Yields of High-Yield Crops [Requesting Recommendation Votes]

For a moment, Ying Zheng and his ministers were excited, as if they had a premonition of something.

Ying Zheng grabbed Chen Hong's arm excitedly.

"Fairy!"

"This output, this output, isn't it..."

Chen Hong smiled and nodded, "Your Majesty, please don't be anxious."

"The specifics will be clear once you hear the name."

Ying Zheng couldn't wait any longer.

"Quickly, call for help!"

"Quickly send people to harvest the wheat!"

The ministers suddenly realized what was happening and quickly summoned many soldiers and farmers.

"You all hurry down to the fields to harvest."

"Be careful, these are all divine objects! Divine objects!"

Upon seeing this unusual sight of wheat swaying in the wind, the soldiers and farmers had already guessed what was going on and were immediately excited.

They harvested the wheat stalks with utmost care, as if on a pilgrimage.

Chen Hong found it somewhat amusing and summoned more people.

"Go and dig out the potatoes and sweet potatoes over there."

I'll demonstrate for you.

Soldiers and farmers followed Chen Hong's example and began digging potatoes and sweet potatoes.

"Remember to dig along their root system. These guys grow very deep and numerous, so don't miss any."

Dig boldly; their lateral roots and underground fruits are far more abundant than you can imagine.

The soldiers and farmers dug carefully, making sure not to miss any treasures buried underground.

The more they dug, the more alarmed they became, because there were just too many.

One by one, strung together one after another.

The yield of just a single potato and sweet potato plant shocked them and made them question the meaning of life.

Upon seeing this scene, the minister blushed with excitement.

"So many, so many!"

"A sacred object! This is simply a sacred object!"

"Immortal, are these potatoes and sweet potatoes edible? Are they filling? How many meals a day do I need to eat to feel full? Are they like millet?"

Chen Hong explained, "These are all new grain varieties that I have cultivated. They are edible and contain no toxins."

Although potatoes and sweet potatoes contain less energy per unit than millet.

But its advantage lies in its high output.

If farmers only eat potatoes and sweet potatoes, they would need to eat three meals a day to feel full.

A meal of potatoes is about 2 jin (approximately 500g in Qin system).

A serving of sweet potato is about 1 jin (approximately 400g).

Millet, on the other hand, only needs to be eaten twice a day, with each meal consisting of a little over half a pound (approximately 140g).

“That’s still quite remarkable,” Li Si said. “Such a terrifying output, as long as it’s edible, it’s fine.”

"Compared to potatoes, sweet potatoes contain more energy and more sugar per unit."

However, eating too much can easily cause bloating and flatulence.

However, dried sweet potatoes are easy to store and are excellent winter food reserves, suitable for use as military rations during marches and battles.

Upon hearing this, Meng Tian's eyes lit up, and he became even more fond of sweet potatoes.

"Potatoes contain less energy per unit but more potassium, and since potatoes are tasteless, they can be paired with a variety of flavors."

Potatoes can be used to make many delicious dishes.

However, never eat sprouted potatoes, as they contain toxins.

Chen Hong then directed the soldiers and farmers to harvest the corn cobs from the corn stalks.

Chen Hong explained, "The energy contained in a unit of corn is about the same as that of millet, but it is digested faster."

Therefore, if you're only eating corn, you need to eat three meals a day, with each meal weighing a little over half a pound (about 160g).

Soon, the corn, potatoes, sweet potatoes, wheat, and rice were all harvested.

Chen Hong happened to plant each type of plant on a acre basis.

"quick!"

"Quickly send people to thresh the rice and wheat."

"Quickly weigh the yield per acre!"

Ying Zheng excitedly waved his hand, ordering people to weigh and calculate the weight.

He was so excited that his beard trembled.

Even just looking at these potato mountains, sweet potato mountains, and corn mountains is already quite awe-inspiring.

The yields of each high-yield variety were weighed and calculated.

"Your Majesty, the yield of this wheat is as high as 13 shi per mu! (approximately 800 jin in modern terms)!"

Ying Zheng and his ministers were stunned.

"How much... how much?"

"Your Majesty, it's 13 shi, 13 shi!"

Qin Shi Huang and his ministers, including Li Si, were shocked. They were sure they hadn't been hallucinating.

Currently, the wheat yield per mu (60 jin) irrigated by the Daqin Zheng Guo Canal is only slightly more than 1 shi (60 jin).

This is an incredible 13-fold increase!
What an appalling production volume!

But before they could even finish being shocked, another piece of news arrived.

"Your Majesty, the yield of this rice is as high as 16 shi per mu! (approximately 1000 jin in modern terms)!"

Qin Shi Huang and his entourage were stunned.

"what?"

"16 shi?"

"How many more lives could be saved, and how many more armies could be supported?"

"Immeasurable merit, immeasurable merit!"

"This immortal is truly a sage of our Great Qin!"

The First Emperor Ying Zheng praised it, while Li Si and others were terrified.

Rice is one of the staple foods that can really fill you up.

It's just as good as wheat and millet.

Before they could even begin to sing praises, another bombshell announcement came.

"Your Majesty, the yield of this corn is... more than 23 shi per mu! (approximately 1400 jin in modern terms)"

The agricultural official's voice trembled as he reported.

"More than 23 shi!" Ying Zheng and the others were shocked, their eyes widened, and their scalps tingled.

"This output...this output is simply incredible!"

Before they could ask for details, an even more explosive piece of news shocked them so much that their minds went blank.

"Your Majesty, the yield of these potatoes... is as high as 66 shi per mu! (approximately 4000 jin in modern terms)!"

The agricultural official's hands were trembling as he held the calculation paper.

"what?"

"How many?"

Ying Zheng, Li Si, and the others were dumbfounded, wondering if their ears had been damaged and they had fallen into an illusion.

"Your Majesty, it is more than 66 shi (a unit of dry measure)."

The agricultural official's affirmative voice made Ying Zheng and the others feel as if they were dreaming.

"66 shi (a unit of dry measure) – what a terrifying number!"

"This could feed so many people!"

"With such grain, how prosperous will the Great Qin Dynasty become?"

"I dare not think about it, I really dare not think about it."

After being stunned, Ying Zheng and the others were overjoyed and danced with glee.

The higher one climbs in rank, the more one understands how much impact a grain yield of 66 shi per mu can have on a country.

That could truly be earth-shattering.

But before they could even dance and celebrate, the next bombshell number left them even more incredulous.

"This...this sweet potato yield is as high as 100 shi per mu (equivalent to 6000 jin in modern terms)!"

Ying Zheng and the others felt their legs go weak, fearing it was all a dream.

"One...one hundred shi!"

"Such a divine object...such a divine object!"

"Why worry that the world will not prosper? Why worry that the world will not prosper!"

Ying Zheng was overjoyed, and so were all the ministers.

This is really awesome!

It's like listening to a myth.

No, even myths and legends wouldn't dare to sing it this outrageously!

They seemed to see an unparalleled golden age rising.

All nations paid tribute, the people lived in peace and prosperity, every household had overflowing granaries, and the people were incredibly wealthy. Doors were left unlocked at night, and no one picked up lost items on the road.

"Immortal, quickly tell me the specific details of these divine objects."

Are these divine creatures produced in the same quantity throughout the world? Are there any requirements for their cultivation?

Chen Hong smiled and replied, "These are ripened artificially. Even if ordinary people plant them, the soil won't be as fertile, and the yield will only be slightly lower, not much worse."

The yield is affected by factors such as the environment in the north and south, whether the land is barren, the quality of irrigation, and the presence of pests and diseases.

But on average, it's not that low.

"This...this is wonderful!"

Ying Zheng and the others were overjoyed.

Chen Hong continued to explain: "This wheat is more suitable for the northern climate and can be harvested once a year."

Compared to millet, which is more drought-resistant, it requires more water, so water conservancy projects are needed to ensure a good harvest.

It can be rotated with rice.

"Rice is harvested once a year in the north."

In the south, however, two or even three harvests can be achieved in a year.

Compared to wheat, it relies more on water and requires a large amount of irrigation to grow well.

"Potatoes are harvested once a year in the north and twice a year in the south."

"Sweet potatoes depend more on hot climates. In subtropical regions, they can be harvested two to three times a year, while in tropical regions they can be grown year-round."

Sweet potatoes have the most terrifying yield; I would call them the 'King of Mass Production'!
If sweet potatoes were cultivated on a large scale in the south, it would be enough to feed hundreds of millions of people, serving as a life-saving food in times of famine.

Qin Shi Huang and his entourage were thrilled; they had no resistance to high-yield crops—they were simply too tempting.

"As for corn, although its yield is not as high as that of sweet potatoes and potatoes, it is simply a 'holy grail' for drought and barren soil."

Even in barren mountains, dry fields, and water-scarce terraces, corn can still maintain high yields.

In the north, there is one harvest a year; in the south, there can be two harvests a year.

Intercropping corn and soybeans increases light energy utilization by 30%.

Corn has low water consumption, low fertilizer requirements, low temperature sensitivity, low pests, and high calories.

Its land yield is three times that of millet and its marginal adaptability is five times that of wheat, making it the preferred choice for large-scale planting.

It can be planted in both the north and south, in both mountainous and arid land.

Ying Zheng and the others were thrilled and exclaimed in admiration:

"This is truly a divine object!"

"As for this last rubber tree, it is an essential source of natural rubber for opening the door to industry."

Chen Hong pointed to the rubber tree seedlings and explained: "The first five years are the juvenile stage, during which they do not produce latex."

Years 6-8 are the initial tapping period, with a dry rubber content of 18-22%.

Years 9-25 are the peak production period, with a dry rubber yield of ≥25%.

After 26 years, it enters the decline phase; the dry rubber yield is less than 15%, and it's no longer worth tapping.

"Rubber trees are suitable for growing in the tropical climate of the south. Let's prepare to plant them in advance when we transplant them to the south."

There will always be a time when it comes in handy.

"Alright, Your Majesty."

"I suggest that these crops be planted in accordance with the different climates in different regions."

Different terrains, fertility levels, and irrigation conditions allow for the cultivation of different crops.

Different crops can also be intercropped on the same piece of land.

"In addition, we should build water conservancy projects in Guanzhong, the Central Plains and Jiangnan, and divert river water to irrigate farmland in order to increase production."

"Furthermore, the various barbarian tribes of the Baiyue in the south should also be pacified."

I will create some prescriptions for preventing and treating miasma and insect poisoning, and also some prescriptions for preventing heatstroke and acclimatization problems.

The goal is to reduce the mortality rate of the soldiers on the southern expedition.

In addition, Your Majesty should extend goodwill to the southern barbarians and guide them to surrender to the court. Offer them incentives, whether it be salt, iron, grain, cloth, land, or titles. They will surely be tempted.

Divide and conquer them, then send a large army to their borders; they will surely submit.

After conquering the south, they will then migrate people to the border areas, intermarry and integrate with the local natives, cut down trees on the plains, and cultivate the fertile soil of the south.

At that time, the Jiangnan region and the southern barbarian lands will surely become the empire's granary, their potential even surpassing that of the Guanzhong Plain.

"Excellent! Excellent!" Emperor Qin Shi Huang was extremely excited. "With an immortal in my possession, what great things cannot be accomplished!"

(End of this chapter)