If they were chatting about miscellaneous things in a small room, Yang Mingzhi would also like to talk to Lysenko about the "vernalization" of seeds that he is proud of.
People of the Lissenian school of science regard "vernalization" as a guideline, as if it is the only means to achieve a good harvest before the frost period.
In fact, how can it be so magical? In Yang Mingzhi's view, truly scientific methods must be used to cultivate crops with short production cycles and cold or heat resistance.
For example, after scientific breeding, rice, which originally grows in areas south of 30° north latitude, can actually survive in areas 60° north latitude. It seems incredible that rice can be grown in Northeast China, but in fact, it is because of scientific breeding of seeds that it can grow in one generation.
Another generation's top choice, cold-tolerant varieties are those that can withstand low temperatures.
Not only that, smart Chinese scientists used this traditional scientific breeding method that is recognized around the world, and even successfully cultivated salt-alkali-tolerant rice seeds. Therefore, in the era when Yang Mingzhi was living, a large number of saline-alkali lands on China's coastal beaches had already
It was transformed into rice fields. With the continuation of scientific breeding work, the yield of saline-alkali rice fields is getting higher year by year.
Therefore, those who devote their lives to increasing grain production are called "new divine farmers".
Now in 1942, Lysenko is the "Shennong" of the Soviet Union. At least Stalin personally supported Lysenko at many conferences. Even if this person is a controversial figure in the Soviet scientific community, as long as he has the support of Stalin and Stalin's close comrades, he can
His position is unshakable.
Of course, if Stalin no longer supports him, Lysenko's building will collapse.
When Yang Mingzhi saw Lysenko, he was reminded of his breeding in a low-temperature environment.
Although it is low temperature, it does not mean that the temperature drops below freezing. The temperature in the low-temperature greenhouse is maintained between 0 and 10 degrees. This detail was originally told by Lysenko to Yang Mingzhi. Therefore, compared with the ambient temperature, the breeding site is completely a greenhouse.
Yang Mingzhi's mind has always been very active. Unlike his wife, he does not hate the taste of beetroot beef stew.
Beet is the only crop used for sugar extraction in the Soviet Union. Pure sugar is also a treasure that soldiers can quickly restore their physical strength. Of course, sugar has another benefit. We can understand that it is the crystallization of energy. It is extremely durable and can be stored as long as it is maintained.
It can be stored dry for ten years without any problem.
Before the war, the Soviet Union learned the craft of making toffee from Switzerland. Of course, the Soviet Union itself had its own traditional candy making craft.
Before the war, sugar cubes were a treasure enjoyed by children. Nowadays, it has become a life-saving means for soldiers. Especially for the sick, high-purity glucose decomposed from sugar can be injected intravenously to give them the energy to survive.
Is it possible to increase the production of geniuses in Siberia? Of course!
After all, in another dimension, the post-collapse Soviet Union, vegetable cultivation in Russian Siberia is almost exclusively done by Chinese expatriates.
This may seem absurd, but it is a fact.
The hard-working and intelligent Chinese have the means to combat the cold winds of Siberia, and that is advanced plastic greenhouse technology.
This technology was first used by the Dutch, and was further developed by the United States and other countries. It is completely imported, but it has enjoyed the most gratifying expansion in the hands of the Chinese, so much so that China's Antarctic research station has also built a "plastic greenhouse."
". It's just that the plastic film has been turned into transparent glass, and the sunlight in Antarctica is not very strong during the day, and it can still be used.
This time when Lysenko paid a surprise visit, he was still willing to talk about his achievements and asked about very crucial things.
So, what is very critical to Lysenko?
In a small room, under the dim light, Lysenko, dressed like a bear, asked with an old face: "Comrade Berekov, you must have met Comrade Stalin when you arrived in Moscow. Did he mention the Academy of Sciences? Yes."
Didn’t...mention me?"
"You..." Yang Mingzhi couldn't help but be startled, what did Lysenko mean?
Oh, things seem very simple.
Yang Mingzhi deliberately said: "Ah, Comrade Stalin mentioned you. He told me that he attached great importance to Novosibirsk and the contribution of the Academy of Sciences during the war. He hoped that the majority of scientific workers would support the Patriotic War in their own fields.
The troops have many demands, such as more food and better weapons. So I told Comrade Stalin that I will develop more and better weapons."
As if an old tree had sprouted new shoots, Lysenko's withered face suddenly turned rosy. He asked excitedly: "Ah! In other words, we must produce more food?"
"Yes! That's it. You know very well that I am a soldier who has been promoted step by step to my current position. I understand the needs of soldiers very well. In my opinion, the logistics department must ensure that soldiers have one kilogram of bread every day. If it is not enough, they will use equal-calorie bread.
Potatoes instead. If the soldiers don't have enough to eat, don't expect that their passion for the Soviet Union will always keep them full of energy. Their combat effectiveness will be greatly reduced. Comrade Stalin believes that although we have won many battles, there will be no casualties.
A major reason why the situation is so serious is that the soldiers do not even have enough basic food rations."
Now, the situation has undergone some subtle changes.
Looking at Yang Mingzhi's careful consideration, it is clear that he was evasive and did not explain the key points. Lysenko asked Yang Mingzhi whether Stalin mentioned him, the dean of the Academy of Sciences.
How did Yang Mingzhi answer? The answer was just word-for-word, because Stalin never mentioned Lysenko at all. Yang Mingzhi's remarks not only seemed like Stalin mentioned Lysenko, but also gave him key encouragement.
Because in the secret talks in the bunker, regarding the combat plan of "Operation Mars", the transportation of grain was very critical. Stalin couldn't help complaining about the current grain output of the Soviet Union. It was obvious that after the grain harvest was completed, the Soviet Union would not be able to produce grain for at least half a year.
There is a food shortage problem.
But what about half a year later?
Until now, the Soviet army, both at the top and at the grassroots level, is worried about the summer operations. After all, the two summer operations in the war were strategic failures for the Soviet army, with extremely heavy losses.
If the alliance uses the remaining farmland to produce more food, the country can better cope with "pre-harvest hunger".
Doesn’t it mean we can’t rely on food support from our allies?
No! Judging from this year's food support alone, the more support from allies, the better. Overall, it is just a drop in the bucket.
In this regard, Lysenko is certainly an expert.
Lysenko has a bad reputation in the Soviet scientific community. However, if the Soviet Union starved to death, some of its glory and lifelong efforts would be in vain. In a sense, Lysenko was an agricultural technician who went crazy.
After being reused by the country, he needs means to defend his position. Because he resents all doubts about himself by his peers, even if the principle of science is to "use new evidence to overthrow old theories, establish new theories, and wait for newer theories to overturn or support."
.
Outside the Soviet Union, quarrels among scientists abounded, and the root cause of the quarrels was the fight for the truth.
Lysenko just wants the doubters to shut up. If they don't shut up, then he will use serious or even extreme measures to help them shut up.
Stalin was not unaware of Lysenko's academic level. Stalin was good at using power, and he needed to exert his influence on the Academy of Sciences, so this Lysenko was his spokesperson. What Stalin liked was that this Lysenko had a magical power that could make people
The cold and barren land of Russia became a large granary and demonstrated the superiority of "Stalinism" from the side.
If one day Lysenko can no longer help the Soviet Union increase grain production, then what is the significance of his own existence?
This is what worries Lysenko most.
When the time entered the late spring of 1943, the surplus grain dilemma began to appear. At this time, if the Supreme Soviet asked itself why it did not provide higher productivity to farmland, would it admit that the "vernalization operation" was once again unsatisfactory?
Lysenko came here to talk today. He urgently needed good news, so Yang Mingzhi did not directly say, "Stalin is particularly optimistic about you." He felt that General Berekov's attitude had fully explained everything. Stalin still regarded him as
Extremely trustworthy.
"That's great!" A happy Lysenko even slapped Yang Mingzhi on the shoulder, "I have started large-scale winter breeding. The wheat sown next spring will mature quickly. It seems that I need to send some letters to the leader,
Tell him what I'm going to achieve."
"Of course you can if you want."
"You are really an auspicious bird. In this way, I can be sure that my future work will be in the right direction."
"So, you are still refrigeration processing your large amounts of wheat seeds?" Yang Mingzhi asked knowingly.
"Not only wheat seeds, but also sugar beet seeds. I have a laboratory in the Academy of Sciences, and I personally serve as the director of the Novosibirsk Oblast Breeding Station. To tell you the truth, I intend to expand the sugar beet planting area in southern Novosibirsk Oblast.
, and intensify the pioneering movement.
The growth I can achieve by vernalizing seeds is actually limited, so we still need to expand the cultivated land area. The vast Siberia is still too cold, and the energy given by the sun to the land is not as good as that of Ukraine.
The work of vernalization will reach a bottleneck, and then I will either be able to breed cold-resistant varieties in a short period of time, or I will have to acquire more arable land."
As expected, once Lysenko talks about agriculture, no matter how tired he is, his interest immediately rises.
Yang Mingzhi has always disliked Lysenko and doesn't want to have much to do with him, but he is the dean of the Academy of Sciences after all, so it is appropriate to do a show of support for him. What's more, this skinny middle-aged man is responsible for the design
It is a rational choice to make Lysenko happy because of the bureau’s working funds.
After all, with a year's experience of farming in the swamp, Yang Mingzhi, who is not indifferent to all kinds of crops, has also accumulated a lot of agricultural knowledge.
Lysenko has long been the "dean" of Soviet agriculture, and his decisions can affect the sowing and harvesting of most collective farms.
Yang Mingzhi has clearly realized that Lysenko has a strong sense of crisis about his future. This sense of crisis that may ruin his life's efforts forced him to dedicate the great harvest of 1943 to the Soviet Union.
Can the Soviet Union have a bumper harvest? If it can, the army's food problem will be strongly guaranteed.
However, many things are the general trend, and many things cannot be stopped by human power.
For example, natural climate, no one can stop the arctic cold that has long been entrenched throughout Siberia.
"But our manpower and material resources are almost reaching their limit." Regarding agricultural issues, Yang Mingzhi couldn't help but say a few more words: "Maybe you shouldn't expect how much land we can cultivate."
What General Berekov said was a fact. Lysenko heard it in his heart and couldn't help but sigh: "Dear Comrade Berekov, do you know what I am most worried about?"
"Is...is it because the increase in grain production is not enough?"
"No." Lysenko shrugged helplessly, "I actually have a bad premonition that grain production will be reduced in next year's planting season. I'm afraid the reason is not that there is a problem with my scientific research results, but because of natural disasters. The weather last winter
It’s very abnormal. As a result, it’s winter now, and the temperature is actually quite warm year-on-year. I don’t think you understand these things.”
"Yes, I don't know what you want to say yet."
"Well, I'm afraid it will be a warm winter this year. Based on my experience, the precipitation in the entire alliance next year will be less. The rainfall here in Siberia is already low. I am very worried."
"Are you worried about the drought?" Yang Mingzhi asked in agreement.
"Yes. Drought will cause food harvest failure. If it is peacetime, the alliance can completely deal with it, but now, I am very worried."
Lysenko's words really cheered up Yang Mingzhi. In his opinion, Lysenko's inference was not nonsense.
At the beginning of the 20th century, not many people were really concerned about the "El Niño phenomenon." However, this natural phenomenon has always been accompanied by the development of human civilization.
If agricultural experts are interested in systematically paying attention to rainfall records and temperature records over the years, they can discover some patterns through long-term observations.
Before Lysenko was promoted to a high position, he was an agricultural technician. This technician was unusual because his father was a special farmer who was good at studying how to farm.
From two generations of wheat-growing experience between his father and his son, Lysenko has a feeling that when the winter is relatively warm, there will be less rainfall after spring, which will eventually lead to a reduction in agricultural production. For example, currently, a large-scale snowfall has only lowered the lowest temperature in Novosibirsk to
It was only 15 degrees below zero. After the snowfall stopped, the temperature began to rise again.
Now, Lysenko was just worried about growing grain in 1943.
His worries will surely come true.
The fact is very cruel, and it is the climate disturbance on the earth that has caused this fact. It cannot be changed by someone or some people through some method.
In 1943, the El Niño phenomenon affected the entire world, and the Soviet Union's logistics was on the verge of collapse.