Hu Hengqiu: "Then you..."

"Sir, cotton is different from grain. Land suitable for growing rice may not be suitable for growing cotton." Chu Qing pursed her lips. This topic was a bit complicated to talk about.

"Your Excellency, the Emperor, the Queen Mother, the Empress, the Secret Investigation Department, and even the Duke's Office have given me so much help. From an ignorant widow, I have gradually become capable of doing things. It really depends on everyone's support.

Now that my subordinates have a small income, they also want to do something for the court and the people, which can be regarded as giving back to the country.

Regarding the cultivation of cotton, my subordinates originally wanted to conduct experiments on a small scale, and then expand the scale after gaining experience.

But from the perspective of the common people, having more ways to keep out the cold is a guarantee of health, a promotion of population growth, and an urgent matter for the country. Several generations of kings have worked hard for this, which illustrates this point.

But the main problem with the lack of results is the conflict between cotton and grain. Using grain-producing land to grow cotton will indeed affect the grain harvest.

After returning from the country of Voss, my subordinates have been thinking that the fact that the planting conditions in Voss are so poor can produce something like cotton only means that cotton is not as delicate as rice and does not need a lot of water and fertilizer.

Moreover, people would be dissatisfied if the water and soil were changed, let alone cotton? It is impossible to grow a single cotton boll despite past efforts. It can only be said that without long-term persistence, cotton has no chance to adapt to the climate and soil of Daxuan.

We can find a similar environment to grow cotton and gradually adapt it.

There are two retired veterans in the family: Lao Yu and Lao Zhao. In order to raise the Voss horses they brought back, they even spent their own money to buy Voss's forage. The effect is also good, and none of the horses are sick so far.

Then if cotton is given similar growing conditions, it should be able to survive."

Hu Hengqiu listened carefully and nodded from time to time, but he had different views on "long-term" and "persistence": "Daxuan does not have the extra manpower and land to do this."

"Yes!" Chu Qing said, "Farmers can work in my workshop during their slack time, which means there is manpower available."

"What about the land?" Hu Hengqiu asked.

“Cotton doesn’t need good land, and it’s especially afraid of rain. If it rains, the cotton bolls will rot.

Therefore, we can make use of wasteland. Xinlun Prefecture and the areas bordering Xinlun Prefecture have higher terrain, as well as the northern area of ​​Daxuan. These are places with little rain and plenty of sunshine.

Cotton is a light-loving crop and is suitable for growing in an environment with sufficient light conditions. It needs water but is afraid of rain, so irrigating cotton fields is more important.

So based on what we have said before, manpower can solve it, and the adaptability of cotton can be slowly gained. The only problem is land. I wonder if the court has a policy for the use of barren mountains and wasteland?"

"Barren mountains and wasteland are not a problem, but I think it is a problem why we should let the people work hard to cultivate them." Hu Hengqiu said.

In anything, the human factor is the most critical.

"They have money to make!" Chu Qing replied: "As long as they can grow cotton, I will harvest as much as they plant, at a high price! Who wouldn't do something profitable?"

Hu Hengqiu's eyes were full of admiration when he saw Qing Qing. Then he changed again. He patted the table and stood up: "You accept it! What money do you accept it for? Where's my money? Ah, where's the money for the Secret Investigation Department?"

?”

………………

Chu Qing told Hu Hengqiu that she wanted to send a message to the emperor through Hu Hengqiu. She was not qualified to meet the emperor unless he summoned her.

Secondly, in order to bribe the emperor to protect her as much as possible, she felt guilty without a backstage. With such a big scene today, who knows what "adverse reactions" will be caused in the future?

As for the righteousness of the world, well, you should say what you say on the spot, benevolence is in the eyes of the benevolent and wisdom is in the eyes of the wise.

Hu Hengqiu really lived up to his trust and went to the emperor for a "heart-to-heart" talk the next day.

I didn't help Chu Qing with "kind words" last time, so I have to do my best this time.

When the emperor learned about this, he was very moved.

The Queen Mother had also told him a few days ago that the Chu Qing Dynasty seemed to intend to plant cotton extensively in Daxuan, which coincided with the ideas of previous emperors.

Jiangnan is the "land of fish and rice", with fertile water and soil, and the highest grain yield. And the land is in the hands of major aristocratic families.

In the past several generations of emperors have tried to grow cotton, and the aristocratic families did cooperate and allocate land for cultivation, but the result was that they suffered a lot of losses.

Now what Chu Qing meant was that she didn't need the fertile land in Jiangnan, so there was no conflict with the family, and she dared to make a commitment to purchase cotton on her own.

It doesn’t cost the treasury and only requires some barren mountains and wasteland. This is a good deal!

"What do you think of what Chu Qing said?" the emperor asked.

"I think it's very good in terms of wishes. He is a conscientious person. He has been deeply favored by the emperor and wants to repay it." Hu Hengqiu observed the words while talking.

As for the beautiful words, they have to be beautiful in the right place.

At this time, the emperor's expression looked relatively calm, and it was hard to tell whether he agreed or despised Chu Qing's "whimsical ideas."

Because he didn't see anything, Hu Hengqiu had no choice but to say tentatively: "But after all, it's just her family's opinion. She was the only one who went to Voss for on-site inspection. Whether it is feasible or not has not been verified by the agricultural officer."

"I think Chu Qing can serve as a peasant official!" The emperor was a little dissatisfied with Hu Hengqiu's mention of a peasant official.

If agricultural officials could go out and see more like Huang Zhong, how would Daxuan's agriculture be in its current situation?

Chu Qing, on the other hand, is engaged in extracting oil and making steel. Now he is raising horses and spinning. By the way, he also ate peanut oil this year. The oil is so delicious! Can’t he afford to be a farmer with such a practical spirit?

Hu Hengqiu's eyes rolled: What does the emperor mean by this? Give Chu Qing another empty post in the household department?

The emperor did not provide money, but he could issue decrees: "Since it is a barren mountain and wasteland, we can give it a try. We don't need to cover the whole country. We should first select a few suitable places for planting.

Don’t let the common people’s work go in vain. In areas where experiments are conducted, for every acre of wasteland cleared, the common people can keep half an acre for themselves without paying taxes for five years, but they must grow cotton and cannot use it for other purposes.”

Hu Hengqiu didn't dare to speak. This needed to be discussed in court, and they couldn't just say a few words here.

"Your Majesty, Chu Qing said that there are three problems in trying to grow cotton:

1. Manpower. Chu Qing said that since people can go to her place to work during slack times, it means that the manpower is sufficient;

2. Land. Your Majesty, you need to issue decrees on the use of barren mountains and wastelands;

Third, enthusiasm. Chu Qing said that any labor requires a certain return to stimulate the people's enthusiasm and bear the cost of purchasing cotton."

The emperor compared the three points summarized by Hu Hengqiu and found that only the item of land needed to be included in the court meeting.

Once the matter is discussed, the rest is not a problem.

The matter was resolved at the court meeting the next day. No one opposed the development and utilization of barren mountains and wasteland. If it can be used, all major forces can make profits, which is a good thing.
Chapter completed!