Eight hundred and fortieth chapters Zhu family's ancestral talent
Potatoes are definitely something that Zhang Ximeng has been thinking about for a long time. When they were suddenly delivered to his hands, it would be a lie to say he was not happy. But they were far from earth-shattering and exciting.
Even Zhu Ying funded and completed the circumnavigation of the world, but it did not set off much waves in the Ming Dynasty.
It stands to reason that this is a more exciting victory than drilling through the Western Region. Why is there no movement? It is completely unreasonable!
Celebrate, build temples, reward heavily, erect monuments, confer titles... From top to bottom, everything is moving. This is how it should be. What does it mean to just brush it off?
Zhang Ximeng didn't want to do this. There was really nothing he could do.
In fact, people often have the illusion that certain historical events have changed the direction of the world and are worthy of special mention. Heroes who have accomplished great feats should be worshiped and bowed to the ground.
But in fact, when placed in history, there are inevitably some discrepancies.
What's more, it is the continuous improvement and excavation of later generations that gave certain events sufficient status. If we look at the time when the events occurred, it seems that people's focus was not on this at all.
For example, Columbus discovered the New World, so he should be praised! But I'm sorry, until Columbus died, he thought he discovered India. There was no New World. He just crossed the ocean and came to the distant east.
It is true that one can reach India by sailing westward from Europe through the ocean, but one must cross the Americas, cross the Pacific, and sail into the Indian Ocean.
Columbus only completed a small part of it.
The discovery of the New World is constantly praised, constantly elevated, and even written into textbooks, making people worship it. It was the development of the New World that provided endless wealth. Even on the New World, a city on a mountain and a lighthouse country rose up, and this country controlled
It has the right to speak and has huge cultural output capabilities.
Then the act of discovering the New World, which was the beginning of everything, became unique.
As for Columbus, he really didn't think it was that great. He just wanted to make a fortune in India, and before he succeeded, he died in confusion with a wrong understanding.
On the side of the Ming Dynasty, the situation was only slightly better.
Completing the circumnavigation of the world only proved that the earth beneath our feet is round.
The only people who really care about this matter are Xia Zhifeng and those scholars who love astronomy and geography. For ordinary people, the earth is round, and that’s right. Don’t you still have to work in the fields tomorrow!
Is it possible to get something for nothing if you know that the earth is round?
Zhang Ximeng certainly does not think that ordinary people are shallow and need to be criticized... In fact, only the crops, wealth, and even vast living space brought by the New World completely changed the Ming Dynasty and made people realize the value of global navigation.
At that time, people will look back at history, invite the heroes of the past, commemorate them, and be grateful.
Although this behavior is a bit hindsight, there is really nothing that can be done.
It seems that all Zhang Ximeng can do is to grow potatoes quickly and show enough value to make people realize the contribution of these pioneers.
It seems that at that time, commemoration becomes justifiable.
Of course, at such an important time, we must choose the most noble pair of farmers in the Ming Dynasty.
Zhu Yuanzhang and Zhu Xiongying took the job without hesitation.
As expected, Ma Sanbao worked as a helper for Zhu Xiongying, one older and two younger, and occasionally Zhang Ximeng would come over.
They prepared the soil, fertilized, observed the weather... and even checked the perpetual calendar.
I found an auspicious day and auspicious time and planted the potatoes smoothly.
The bag of potatoes that Ma Sanbao brought was mostly rotten by the day they started planting, and only one-third was left.
And these potatoes were not as big as later ones, just about the same size as duck eggs.
Zhang Ximeng doesn’t find it surprising that later generations of potatoes were so big that they were even bred in space, which took a lot of pressure, but they were not that big at the beginning.
Moreover, potatoes are toxic and require a long period of adaptation. Otherwise, the potatoes grown will be small and astringent, which is far from a high-yielding crop.
In fact, if you think about it, you will know that if you get potatoes, you can produce several thousand kilograms per acre, and immediately create a prosperous potato age. Why didn't Zhang Ximeng get potatoes earlier, and then sweep the world!
As for the native Americans, they not only had potatoes, but also sweet potatoes and corn, all of which were high-yielding crops. Why didn’t they accumulate enough wealth and, in turn, overwhelm the Old World?
In fact, the reason is very simple. Potatoes and sweet potatoes are indeed high-yield, but they are not as high as heaven-defying.
The real value of these crops is that they can be grown anywhere, regardless of land.
Without intensive farming, you can harvest a lot, which can feed the poor people and prevent them from starving to death.
To be honest, the people of Ming Dynasty at this time may not be able to accept these coarse grains...
In this case, why does Zhang Ximeng still have high hopes for potatoes?
This means knowing what is happening but not knowing why.
Although potatoes are not good at the moment, in a few decades, after proper cultivation, the output will increase rapidly. When the population expands again in the future, there will be enough food to satisfy the hunger.
Moreover, the people of the Ming Dynasty did not like to eat. With so many factories in Peiping, sugar cane fields in Luzon, Japan, Korea, and so many manors, how could we waste precious food on them?
It can't be done!
Potatoes, sweet potatoes, and corn are all favorites for starting a factory. They can definitely save costs and accelerate industrial and commercial progress.
In a word, potatoes are definitely a good thing to look forward to in the future.
Zhang Ximeng's calculations are not known to others, especially Zhu Xiongying, who is single-mindedly focused on his little treasure.
This year is the fifteenth year of Hongwu, and the little guy has reached the age of entering elementary school.
With Zhu Xiongying's brain, it is not difficult to study in elementary school.
Moreover, he memorized a lot of poems and was very good at arithmetic. The teacher often praised him and gave him a little red flower from time to time.
This made Zhu Yuanzhang extremely happy.
After all, there are so many sons and daughters, but few are smart. An imperial grandson has finally earned his face. He is more and more partial to Zhu Xiongying, and even Zhu Biao steps aside.
Moreover, Zhu Yuanzhang liked the honest and honest Ma Sanbao very much. He would even take Ma Sanbao and teach him Changquan.
Zhu Yuanzhang's kung fu was no show-off. In fact, the Hongwu Emperor who led the charge in his early years was not much weaker than Chang Yuchun.
He knows weapons, riding and shooting, boxing, and even wrestling, and he's all top-notch.
Ma Sanbao has a thick body and strong bones, which makes him very suitable for martial arts training.
In just a few short months, Ma Sanbao's kung fu has improved greatly and he is very powerful.
Moreover, this kid also identified Zhu Xiongying and treated the little guy as his own brother, which also made Lao Zhu very happy.
In Zhu Yuanzhang's mind, Zhu Biao has gathered enough ministers under him. Zhu Ying and Zhu Di can all help Zhu Biao, so he has no shortage of helpers.
When Zhu Xiongying arrived, there were not many people who could protect him.
Zhang Chengtian is one of them, this guy is smart, scheming, and good at getting things done... he is definitely one of the best arms.
But the bad thing about Zhang Chengtian is that he is so smart, and he has learned everything from his father.
Lao Zhu was even a little worried that the emperor and grandson could not control Zhang Chengtian.
With Ma Sanbao, the situation is different.
This child is honest, kind and simple-minded.
After practicing martial arts well, when you grow up, you will definitely be the right-hand man of the emperor and grandson.
With both civil and military skills, with these two people protecting the emperor and grandson, Lao Zhu had nothing to worry about.
Even though he said he wouldn't do anything for his children and grandchildren, Zhu Yuanzhang had this temper and really couldn't change it.
"Grandpa Huang, come and see!"
On this day, Zhu Xiongying took Zhu Yuanzhang to the fields.
The rain in the past two days washed away the soil, and a potato appeared on the edge of the ground, only a little bigger than Zhu Xiongying's fist.
And the exposed potato skins are already turning green.
Looking at the potato seedlings again, they have begun to wither and turn yellow.
"Grandpa Huang, is it possible to harvest?"
Zhu Yuanzhang looked at it carefully and suddenly whispered: "Go and ask Sanbao to call the Grand Master."
Not long after, Zhang Ximeng came. Not only did he come, but also the fat boy Zhang Chengtian, and by the way, Xia Zhifeng also came.
Zhu Xiongying was very happy to see the master, "Sir, sir!"
Xia Zhifeng ran over in a few steps, reached out and touched Zhu Xiongying's head, and then said: "Do you still remember what the teacher taught you?"
"Remember... this harvest, we need to count the output to see how it is?"
Xia Zhifeng smiled and said, "Smart! Then don't be stunned."
Starting from Lao Zhu, Zhang Ximeng, Zhang Chengtian, and Ma Sanbao, each took a shovel, cleaned the potato seedlings, and then started digging... They were all very careful, for fear of damaging any potatoes.
It is really not easy to pay for one's life.
After half a day of busy work, the harvest is finally complete.
Zhang Ximeng was also very concerned about the output, and he personally followed along to estimate it.
There were less than half a bag of potatoes planted at the beginning, but now there are twenty-five bags of potatoes harvested.
In other words, it has doubled almost fifty times!
Xia Zhifeng couldn't help but his eyes lit up when he saw this result.
"Master, I feel like I've found a treasure!"
Zhang Ximeng nodded, "Indeed, these twenty bags weigh almost 1,500 kilograms, and the land is less than two acres, which means that the yield per mu is several hundred kilograms! Although the yield is still high, it still needs to be farmed
Go to ordinary fields and conduct tests, but it definitely has research and promotion value! And the value is not small."
Lao Zhu also smiled at this time and said: "There are some benefits that you haven't mentioned. The potato harvest time is short. After the rice is planted, potatoes can be planted, and the harvest can be harvested before the Ghost Festival. And when the potato seedlings grow, there is no need to weed.
Fertilizing... is very convenient and saves labor.”
They chatted excitedly, talking about the benefits of potatoes.
The little Zhu Xiongying was so beautiful, running back and forth around the bag, overwhelmed with joy.
"Grandpa Huang, do you think I'm great?"
Lao Zhu laughed with joy, "Of course our eldest grandson is great! Our family's ancestral skills have been carried forward in you!"
Everyone else was chatting excitedly, but Zhang Chengtian thought seriously for a moment, and then said: "Your Majesty, there is only one last thing left... If you can't do it, your work will be in vain."
"What's up?"
"Of course I want to see if it tastes good. If it doesn't taste good, who would want to grow it?" Zhang Chengtian showed his foodie instinct...
(End of chapter)
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