Daqin: When I return from sea, I will offer you a map of the world

Chapter 377 The savior of the Mo family, Zhao Si!

"This is this?" Tian Xin looked at the seeds in Zhao Si's hand and asked in confusion.

"The envoy from Ye Tiaoguo came to Qin, and these are the cotton seeds he brought." Zhao Si said with a smile on his face.

"What is cotton? Grain seeds?" Tian Xin took the seeds from Zhao Si's hand and his eyes lit up.

At present, the work of the Grain Garden and the Animal Garden is taken care of by Tian Xin and the farmer disciples who study with him. Tian Xin has begun to summarize the grain management techniques and artificial selection. However, in this era, the scientific research methods are relatively crude, and the establishment of the Grain Garden is inconsistent. By the end of the year, not much useful experience has been summed up for the time being.

Agriculture is like this. It takes time for seeds to grow and mature. It requires time to grind hard, constant trial and error, and constant comparison.

For this reason, Zhao Si specially opened an experimental field for Tian Xin in the Five Grains Garden that was not moistened by the halo of raw jade.

This was to prevent Daqin's grain yield from falling significantly after his death, which would cause social unrest.

Over the past few decades, while constantly comparing artificial breeding, some useful experiences have been gathered in agriculture.

Tian Xin is very busy now, leading his disciples to carry out agricultural research all day long. Although all the disciples have a heart to be involved in politics, Tian Xin is older and can calmly focus on scientific research.

"It's similar to hemp. It's used as cloth for clothing, but compared to hemp, it has a higher yield, is warmer, and is more comfortable to wear." Zhao Si said.

A person's life is inseparable from food, clothing, housing and transportation.

The reason why hemp ranks among the five cereals is because of its textile properties.

After all, not everyone can wear silk.

The people at the bottom of the society all wore rough linen clothes. It was precisely because linen was tamed and textile technology began to develop that human beings were able to gradually transform from primitive to civilized.

Clothing and cloth are of paramount importance to the progress of civilization.

But there is only hemp in the Central Plains, not cotton.

This was something Zhao Si did not expect when he returned from the sea. When he realized this after returning to Qin, he regretted it.

Fortunately, the First Emperor was able to make up for the regret by restarting the sea route with Zhao Si's persuasion.

"You said the output was higher, how much more?" Zou Feng looked at Zhao Si with extremely suspicious eyes.

It's not that I don't believe Zhao Si, it's just that Zhao Si is too conservative in this regard.

Zhao Si also said before that the yield of sweet potatoes per mu is upwards of [-] kilograms.

This kid is always a bit conservative in this regard.

No, it’s the kind of crop that can directly replace the current raw hemp production, right?

"It's hard to say, I don't know for sure. We'll see after they are planted. And there are more cotton seeds than these. The ships going out to sea should bring back new seeds in a few years." Zhao Si fiddled with Tian Xin's potted potatoes.

Indian cotton, also known as Asian cotton, was probably introduced to China during the Song Dynasty. It is coarse staple cotton with thick and short fibers and relatively low yield. It is not very suitable for machine spinning.

Better cottons are long-staple cotton from South America and fine-staple cotton from Central America.

Long-staple cotton is characterized by long fibers and high strength, making it suitable for spinning high-count yarns.

Fine-staple cotton has the characteristics of wide adaptability, high yield, long fiber and good quality. It can spin medium-count yarn.

Before cotton was introduced to the Central Plains, bedding in the Central Plains was mostly filled with kapok. The yield was low and the warmth was not that good...

No matter how bad Indian cotton is, it is much better than kapok and hemp. I don’t know how long it will take for Jing to go to America and come back. For now, let’s use Indian cotton for a while, then figure out the wool degreasing process, and then add the textile machine technology tree If you light it up, the people of Great Qin can get rid of the worries of tight clothes, the nomads can sing and dance happily, and overseas countries can happily accept the dumping of goods from Great Qin, which will benefit the whole world.

Zhao Si does not reject war. The expansion of territory and cultural integration are all inseparable from war.

However, without a certain scientific and technological foundation, even if it can span three states, it will only be short-lived and will not last long.

"I wanted to plant it now, but it's a pity that the weather has turned cold now..." Zou Feng sighed.

"It's bitterly cold in the north, and there are too few farming seasons. If we can open another garden in Lingnan, we can save a lot of time." Tian Xin said tentatively.

Zhao Si agreed. In a land like the Central Plains with four distinct seasons, the scientific research work in the Grain Garden is indeed very time-consuming. After all, the halo of raw jade will not shorten the growth cycle of crops, nor will it allow crops to thrive despite heavy snow.

Planting only two seasons a year is a waste of time.

The temperature conditions in the southern region are indeed more suitable than those in the Central Plains.

Not to mention large-scale farming, development has not been done well, there is miasma everywhere, and the mountains and forests in the south are indeed hilly and dense, which is indeed not as good as the plains.

But there is no problem for Wuguyuan to open an experimental field in the south.

"I will report to Your Majesty later and contact Zhao Tuo. It is not a big problem to open up a few hectares of farmland. The place is full of miasma and there are no people to open up wasteland in the mountains and plains. It is easy to send people there." Zhao Si smiled. .

The First Emperor wanted to bring Lingnan under the rule of the Qin Dynasty, but there were too many barbarians there, the land was vast and sparsely populated, and it was undeveloped. He could only fill it with population. It is like a bottomless pit until now. Even if he threw 200 million people into it, it would not be possible Enough.

In the Lingnan area, I really wish I could split it into five people.

The main job of the 60 troops stationed in Lingnan by the Qin Dynasty was not to fight, but to open up wasteland and build cities. The Qin State established many counties in Lingnan, including Nanhai County, Guanglin County, Xiang County...

These counties and counties were not just established. Cities had to be built and wilderness opened up. It was equivalent to pulling people out of thin air from a barren land and forcibly bringing civilization to the barbarians in Lingnan, so Lingnan counties and counties were established.

This is almost from scratch, 60 people, really just a few.

"In fact, it is also possible to cultivate greenhouses and other facilities, but the cost is too high. In comparison, it is better to set up a branch of the Grain Garden in Lingnan. In the future, just transfer the summary information through the post station to cultivate grain seeds and crops. , it’s not a day’s work, but it’s inseparable.” Zhao Si thought for a moment and said.

Tian Xin nodded and didn't say much. Zhao Si mentioned that the greenhouse is nothing more than artificially creating an environment suitable for plant growth to replace nature.

It's okay for a small area, just get a flower pot or something, but it's really a bit confusing for a large area.

"Mr. cotton seeds will be stored in the warehouse first and can be planted in the next spring. I'll go take a look at the wheat."

After emphasizing cotton planting, Zhao Si inspected a circle of planted wheat, continuing to exude his own aura of raw jade.

After a visit to the Five Grains Garden, Zhao Si was not idle, and went straight to the Shaofu, where he found the current representative figure of the Mohist family, Liu Pi, the Marquis Zuozhong of the Shaofu.

As time progressed, Chi Gong, the right prime minister of the Shaofu, had completely retired, and Liu Pi's direct boss and promoter Yuan Gong took over as the right prime minister.

However, as one of Xian Gong's team members, Liu Pi was still Zuo Zhonghou, and his buttocks remained motionless.

In the final analysis, it is still the same sentence.

Xian Gong was a serious Qin official, while Liu Pi was a descendant of the Mohist family. Not only was he a descendant of the Mohist family, he was also the spiritual leader of Qin Mo in the Shaofu.Law students have always hated ink.

In fact, the real upper class, the Mohist family, has completely disappeared.

After all, the Confucians, who had three thousand disciples and opened private schools, only had the power of public opinion, while the Mohists could fucking influence the low-level knights and craftsmen.

The ranger wears armor as a soldier, not to mention the craftsman, who directly explodes the equipment.

In addition, the Mohists did not conform to the mainstream governance concepts and ideas in the Qin Dynasty, which led to the current situation that there were no Mohists at the middle level and above.

Objectively speaking, Zuo Zhonghou is already half a senior official.

The only people pressing on Zuo Zhonghou are You Zhonghou and the two prime ministers on the left and right, who are one step away from Shangqing.

But at the end of the day, if Xian Gong hadn't promoted Liu Pi in order to win the position of You Cheng, Liu Pi wouldn't even be able to touch Zuo Zhonghou.

Suppressing the Mohists has become politically correct for those who are legal officials.

Now that Xian Gong has become Youcheng, Liu Pi not only has not been promoted, but his status has gradually been marginalized, which seems to mean that the cunning rabbit will die and the lackey will be cooked.

Therefore, Liu Pi's life was not easy.

But, Zhao Si is here!
Liu Pi did not forget what Zhao Si came to see him for last time.

At that time, Zhao Si said that he wanted Mohist craftsmen and granted him a title. Liu Pi decisively seized the opportunity and launched what he considered to be the most outstanding Mohist masters to give the Mohist family a glimmer of hope.

Qiu, Zhuo, Ouyang Chong...

In fact, the Mohist disciples recommended by Liu Pi to Zhao Si did not have a deep understanding of Mohist scriptures and were not academically powerful, but they were good at skills and quick thinking.

Now three years have passed, and everyone has achieved results. The title of Zhuo, the little guy who can't explain clearly, has been promoted to eight levels in a row.

But this is still a drop in the bucket for today's Mohist family.

To put it bluntly, Mohist disciples still can't find any suitable official jobs.

If you can't be an official or a clerk, you can only be an ordinary craftsman when you enter the general's mansion. It doesn't matter if you don't have real power. Upgrading your title is also very demanding.

But in this case, Zhao Si's inadvertent move still made Liu Pi feel a touch of warmth and hope.

Therefore, Liu Pi was extremely solemn about Zhao Si's visit.

After tidying up his clothes, Liu Pi hurried out to meet him without any hesitation. Anyway, he was almost invisible now, so even if he didn't work for a day, it wouldn't matter.

After nearly three years, I came to Zhao Si again.

Liu Pi saluted Zhao Si seriously.

"Meet Shangqing!"

Liu Pi raised his head and looked at Zhao Si, who was more mature and wealthy than before.

When they first met, Zhao Si was just a little transparent person who was close to the king. He was just an official. Seriously speaking, his official title was not as good as that of Liu Pi.

But now when we meet again, Zhao Si is already regarded as a high minister. He is a close minister of the king. He is in charge of the shipping and trade army, the grain garden, and the feather forest army. The guests who come to visit are all the three ministers and nine ministers. Even everyone can't persuade him. His majesty, he can persuade.

Zhao Si's energy is no longer what it used to be!
If there is really one person who is capable of solving the Mohist family's current predicament, it is undoubtedly Zhao Si.

Liu Pi was relatively short, so Zhao Si could only look down.

Bowing his head downward, the gray on Liu Pi's temples was clearly visible. Zhao Si returned the greeting and then supported Liu Pi's body.

"Mr. is much older than me and is more knowledgeable than me. Don't do this!"

"Although I am older, I have wasted my years, and although Shangqing is young..." Liu Pi had a smile on his face.

"Sir, please stop talking. I came to see you for business." Zhao Si interrupted Liu Pi's compliment in time.

Flattery sounds nice, but when it comes from the mouth of Liu Pi, an old man over fifty who fights for the life and death of the Mohist family, it always sounds a little sad.

The Mo family has a chivalrous style and has always been straight forward. They are not good at flattery and trying to gain support. If they were not in a difficult situation, why would they be like this?
"Please give me your orders!"

Liu Pi was overjoyed when he heard this!
Zhao Si is a Shangqing, a figure at the level of the Three Gongs and Nine Qings, and the top boss in the Qin Dynasty today.

To put it bluntly, Liu Pi was not qualified to receive such a person as the Young Master. If he wanted to communicate with him, he would go directly to Xian Gong, who was also the minister, to communicate directly with him for the transfer of government affairs.

Being able to find him, a figure who has been completely marginalized in Jiangzuo Shaofu, must have nothing to do with his official position.

So apart from his official position and position, the only thing he deserves praise for is the confidence of Qin Mo's disciples in the general's office.

and so……

Liu Pi didn't forget that the last time Zhao Si came to the general's office to name the masters of the Mohist family, it was obvious that this newly promoted top boss in the court had a good impression of the Mohist family.

"That's right. Sir, you should have heard of the Five Grain Garden, right?" Zhao Si asked.

Liu Pi nodded. Of course he knew that Wuguyuan, although he had no rights, was definitely the largest auspicious department in the Qin Dynasty. The three nobles and nine ministers could not underestimate it. There was no way, the whole Qin Dynasty had to rely on Wuguyuan for food.

"Nowadays, most of the people in the Grain Garden are farm disciples. Although they don't have much rights or practical work, they are less troubled by the court. Now the farm disciples are responsible for cultivating seeds and increasing grain production for farming." Zhao Si explained. one time.

"In addition to the Five Grain Garden, I plan to ask your Majesty to set up a craftsmanship bureau, independent of the general's office, dedicated to improving tools, inventions, techniques, and theoretical research for the purpose of fortifications. Like the Five Grain Garden, it has no rights and Government affairs, however, are not subject to interference from the court. They only need to focus on fortifications. As for the required expenses, you only need to submit a budget to me. I will ask Your Majesty for approval. If manpower is needed, the same is true. I would like to ask you, sir. "Jiang Zuo Bureau, please take charge of the craftsman Zuo Bureau for me, what do you think, sir?" Zhao Si asked.

When Liu Pi heard this, his face lit up with joy!
He saw hope!

I saw the hope of the Mo family!

Zhao Si has already explained the advantages and disadvantages. The disadvantage is that he cannot interfere in government affairs and has no rights.

But what is it?This is work!
The struggle between various schools of thought is, to put it bluntly, a struggle over work. Legalism won, so the world can only rely on officials as teachers.

The Mohist family was the worst. On the verge of life and death, a group of high-level intellectuals could only do the same thing as illiterate craftsmen, and were severely suppressed.

In this case, the so-called shortcomings are no longer shortcomings.

This is already the case, what else do you need a bicycle for?
Liu Pi wished he could kneel down and lead the Mohist disciples to Zhao Si.

(Note: The jobs in this article refer to government jobs, which can be regarded as iron rice bowls.)
(End of this chapter)