In previous years, March and April were rainy months. This was a suitable time for spring planting and the seeds would germinate quickly. However, this year the weather was abnormal and there was no rain at all in April.
Although the sweet potatoes and potatoes grown by the Shen family had sprouted, they were still sickly. Jiang Miao asked Li Dajiang to go to Qingquan River to fetch water and irrigate the fields to ensure that these potatoes and sweet potatoes grew.
The elders in the village were worried that there was going to be a drought. Father Shen and a few other old men were squatting under a tree at the head of the village, smoking cigarettes, all with sad faces.
"If it doesn't rain, my wheat will die from drought."
"Hey, the water in the river is almost dry. I dug a hole this morning and the water can't come out."
"It's not really going to be a drought. It's only been a few years since we've been stable. I don't even dare to think about the possibility of drought and famine!"
Father Shen just smoked and said nothing, and the old man next to him kicked him.
"Old Shen, what do you think about this matter? Is there any way?" Shen Yanqing is about to pass the examination for meritorious honors, and the Shen family has become taller in their eyes.
Father Shen knocked his pipe on the ground, "What do you think? If God wants us to live, we can live. If God doesn't want us to feel better, we can only suffer!"
"Hey, what you said is as if you didn't say it. Once the harvest in our fields is dry, it will be all over, and our whole family will starve to death. Your third daughter-in-law had the foresight to buy ten acres of land, even with a small harvest, we can feed a family."
"that is.……"
Everyone expressed envy, but they had no money, otherwise they would have bought two acres of land to open up wasteland.
However, not only were they worried, the emperor was also worried.
Zhao Jing frowned as she looked at the news delivered by Black Eagle. Last year, the disaster was only near Zhenjiang Prefecture, but now it has expanded to half of the Yan Dynasty, and it has also come straight to the capital. Drought has occurred in the villages near the suburbs of Beijing. The water was cut off.
If this is not handled properly, the entire Yan Dynasty will be in turmoil.
Zhao Jing rubbed his brows tiredly, feeling a sense of powerlessness in his heart. Since he took office, the national treasury has been without money and food, and the Huns outside are still eyeing him. He is troubled by internal and external troubles. Could this be all? The punishment for his dishonest reputation and his high position?
Zhao Jing shook off the emotions in his heart. He is the most justifiable. If the country falls into the hands of his other brothers, it will only be destroyed faster. Only he, Zhao Jing, has the ability to make the people of the Great Yan Dynasty live a better life and make the Great Yan Dynasty More prosperous, the country is peaceful and the people are safe.
"Here comes the Prime Minister, the Minister of Finance, and the Minister of Household Affairs to come and see you!"
"嗻."
The drought is getting worse. There wasn't much to eat in the spring. Now the bark of the trees on the mountain is almost being stripped off. Jiang Ji's snack shop has also suspended operations. The price of food in the town has doubled. People are panicking and are afraid of a sudden food shortage. All the money spent on snacks was used to stock up on food.
The business of the Shen family's shop has also deteriorated, and Boss Shen and Mrs. Wang have been worried all day long.
"When will this rain start falling?"
Jiang Miao was worried. If she remembered correctly, the whole spring would be dry and it would not rain until July. They could wait, but the crops in the fields could not wait, and people also needed to drink water.
"Old man, let's also stock up on food. Let the eldest and the second eldest go to the shop tomorrow to buy ten bags of rice and keep them there. If there is a famine, we can survive for a while."
Mrs. Zhang and Mr. Shen are also people who have experienced various disasters. They know that famine is the most difficult to endure. Now that they have money, they can prepare early.
"Okay, I'll listen to you."
Jiang Miao now pins all her hopes on potatoes and sweet potatoes. She goes to the village every morning to see how they are growing, and she also tells Li Dajiang to keep an eye on them and not to damage them. .
"Don't worry, boss, Xiaoshan and I are keeping an eye on you every day."
"Well, just give me some snacks and wait for the seedlings to grow." They won't be easily destroyed by then.
"Hey, I know."
People here are in panic, and the trial in the capital has begun.
Shen Yanqing picked up his things and followed everyone into the examination room. Liu Wenxuan was in front of him and glared at Shen Yanqing when he saw him.
He didn't know what the charm of this pretty boy was. His sister had often mentioned it to him recently and asked him to take care of Shen Yanqing. Liu Wenxuan felt sick in his heart and looked even more displeased with him.
Shen Yanqing ignored Liu Wenxuan's malicious intentions. He was now thinking about taking the exam and would be able to take Jiang Miao to Beijing after the exam results were known. Thinking of this, he became even more impatient.
The examination process of the general examination was similar to that of the provincial examination. Shen Yanqing had experience and did not feel nervous. After receiving the examination questions, he glanced through them in general. When he saw the policy questions, Shen Yanqing's eyes froze.
If you were the magistrate of a certain county, how would you respond to a drought?
Although he had been staying in the academy, he had already heard about what was going on outside. He knew that there was a drought in the Yan Dynasty and that this question in the general examination was very important. It was more like a question for the emperor to select capable ministers.
He thought carefully for a moment before laying out the test paper and writing. Shen Yanqing answered some detailed countermeasures. After the drought, famine will occur. Not only will there be a shortage of water and food, it will also be extremely easy to cause riots and epidemics. If not in time, The consequences of guidance are endless.
Shen Yanqing wrote about promoting high-yielding crops. As a farmer, he naturally knew the harvest of one acre of land. In years with good harvests, the output per acre was only two hundred shi.
In the event of a drought, at least half of the harvest will be lost, or even none will be harvested. But with high-yielding crops, it is different. Originally, the output of wheat was 200 tons per acre, but now it is 500 tons of sweet potatoes. This can make more people People survive.
Shen Yanqing wrote with great energy and eloquence, attracting the attention of the invigilator. Song Shilang walked over and stood at his table to take a look.
He was first astonished by Shen Yanqing's handwriting, which was clear yet sharp, gentle and graceful.
Good words!
Shilang Song praised Shen Yanqing secretly in his heart. His words were just like his words, and he had a better impression of Shen Yanqing.
Looking at the content again, Shilang Song knew clearly when he saw the title. This question was difficult to answer, especially since these students had not experienced the disaster and had no idea about drought. Even what they wrote was just talk on paper. Talk in general terms.
He didn't have much hope for Shen Yanqing's answer, but because his handwriting was pleasing to the eye, he stood aside and looked at it a few more times. But it didn't matter. Shen Yanqing had something to say and some novel ideas. He didn't even expect that Song Shilang was gradually fascinated.
What is "this sweet potato..."?
He was so excited when he saw the high-yielding crops that he almost asked. When he found out that this was an examination room, he regretfully suppressed his doubts. He looked deeply at Shen Yanqing and remembered his appearance in his heart. He was a good seedling. When I get out of the examination room, I will definitely ask him.
If his method is really effective, then the Yan Dynasty will be saved!
