Novel Full Chapter 894 - 34: Composting (Part 2)
Chapter 894: Chapter 34: Composting (Part 2)
"Are these the terraces?" Wen Daoji exclaimed first and then examined the terraces in front of him with a look of astonishment. "Can crops really be grown here?" These winding terraces didn’t look like fields at all. Moreover, these so-called terraces had no water. They were more like dry land rather than fields.
"If His Highness says they can be planted, then they certainly can." Tong Xi had blind faith in his lord. He believed that anything Zhao Yao made was bound to be powerful and useful.
Wen Daoji was somewhat knowledgeable about farming, having personally worked the fields and planted grains before. He really couldn’t see how these dry lands on the hillside could grow rice.
Zhao Yao was still talking with the old farmer, and Wen Daoji and the others didn’t want to interrupt, so they stood aside with Tong Xi and waited.
"The day after tomorrow, it will rain in Swamp Prefecture." Zhao Yao pointed to the terraces that had been excavated and said to the old farmer with a smile, "Once it rains, the terraces will have water, and then we can plant rice."
"Young master, this is dry land. Even if there’s water, rice can’t survive," the old farmer thought this young handsome man beside him oversimplified farming. It wasn’t just a matter of digging a piece of land, filling it with water, and then crops would live. "And the land has to be well plowed; if the land isn’t plowed well, crops won’t grow well either."
"Old man, don’t worry. I will plow the land properly first, and once it’s plowed, I’ll fertilize it." Zhao Yao grabbed a handful of soil from the terraces and said with a cheerful smile, "As long as there’s enough fertilizer, these terraces can become fertile fields."
Upon hearing this, the old farmer shook his head and said, "This hillside is steep and high; carrying manure up here to fertilize is too troublesome."
"Old man, the fertilization I’m talking about isn’t with manure; it’s with fertilizer." When Zhao Yao finished speaking, seeing the old man’s expression of "you’re talking nonsense," he quickly added, "The fertilizer I’m talking about is a special type, more fertile than manure."
The old farmer, upon hearing this, quickly asked, "What kind of special fertilizer?"
"Prince Han is currently making it, and once it’s done, His Highness will distribute it to the people." Before Zhao Yao started making terraces, he had already instructed others to make fertilizer. In fact, many years ago, Zhao Yao had developed the fertilizer, and at that time, it was directly given to Prince Chu far in Liangzhou. Liangzhou also had a lot of mountainous land, and the cultivated land was very barren. Zhao Yao wrote the method of producing fertilizer to Prince Chu, who then had people make it and discovered that the originally barren land became much more fertile.
Seeing that the fertilizer formula given by Zhao Yao was effective, Prince Chu immediately submitted it to the court. Upon learning of it, the Emperor published the fertilizer formula, allowing the people of Great Zhou in different places to make and use the fertilizer to enrich the fields.
In the past few years, the grain output across Great Zhou has increased. Part of it is because Zhao Yao invented the Curved Handle Plow, and the other part is due to the fertilizer he developed.
The climate in Lingnan is different from that in the capital and Jiangnan, and naturally, the soil quality is also different, so the fertilizer needed is different as well.
"Is Prince Han really making this kind of fertilizer?"
"It’s being made and should be ready soon." Zhao Yao pointed again at the terraces in front and said to the old farmer, "The terraces were also instructed by Prince Han to be built, all to provide more land for the people of Swamp Prefecture to grow crops."
The old farmer was very moved upon hearing this: "Prince Han is truly a living Bodhisattva saving those in distress."
Zhao Yao felt a bit embarrassed and said somewhat unnaturally, "Old man, His Highness says it’s his duty to do so."
Tong Xi walked over to Zhao Yao’s side and said to the old farmer with a serious expression, "Elder, Prince Han is extremely intelligent. If he says crops can be grown on terraces, then they surely can. Just wait for the good news."
"Alright, alright, I’ll wait then." The old farmer looked at the terraces, which were still dry land, with a smiling face, "If Prince Han can truly turn these terraces into fertile fields, it would..." The old farmer hadn’t been educated and didn’t know what to say, stuttering, "It would save our lives."
In recent years, Swamp Prefecture’s grain production, although not the highest in Lingnan, is still among the top. In theory, the people should not lack food, but previous officials cruelly exploited them, so after handing over their grain, the people had little left, often going hungry and having insufficient food.
Zhao Yao waved his hand to let Tong Xi step aside, as he had more to discuss with the old farmer.
The old farmer had spent his entire life farming and dealing with crops, gaining a wealth of experience. Zhao Yao was prepared to learn some tips from the elder.