Chapter 23

First to catch the eye were five small sweet potatoes. Although they had been in the bag for nearly 8 days, they seemed to have lost little moisture and showed no signs of drying out. Luo Shizheng carefully rubbed the sweet potatoes in his hands, recalling the introduction from the encyclopedia of his previous life.

Sweet potatoes, also known as yams, are annual plants of the Convolvulaceae family. They are creeping herbaceous vines, growing over 2 meters long, lying on the ground at an angle. They have underground tubers, which are spindle-shaped, with an outer skin that is earth yellow or purple-red. The leaves are alternate, broad-ovate, and 3-5 palmate. The inflorescence is a cyme, with small, awl-shaped bracts, oblong sepals of unequal length, and a bell-shaped, funnel-shaped corolla, ranging in color from white to purple-red. The fruit is ovoid or flat-round, with 1-4 seeds. The tubers are a source of starch, used for food, brewing, or as animal feed.

In his memory, this crop was introduced to China from the Spanish colony of Luzon (present-day Philippines) during the tenth year of the Wanli reign of the Ming Dynasty (1582), first brought to Guangdong by Chen Yi from Buzha, Humen, Dongguan. In the fifth month of the twenty-first year of the Wanli reign (1593), Chen Zhenlong from Chang乐, Fujian, risked bringing it back from Luzon, and after a trial planting, "within four months, the soil was dug up, and the tubers were connected, with the larger ones as big as an arm and the smaller ones as big as a fist." The Fujian governor, Jin Xueceng, began to promote it vigorously, and subsequently, it was widely planted in China.

In terms of yield, sweet potatoes can be eaten not only for their tubers but also for their leaves. In later generations, the yield per acre could range from 4,000 to 10,000 pounds, and even in this era with backward agricultural technology, a yield of 300 pounds (7 shi) per acre should be possible. Of course, it has its shortcomings, such as a lack of protein and fat, making it unsuitable as a sole staple food. The solution is to mix it with other high-protein grains. In this era, solving the problem of food and clothing is already a great achievement, so it will be an important food for the territory in the future. Sweet potatoes have strong adaptability and can be planted even on less fertile mountainous land, making them suitable for planting in hilly areas.

One could say that the sweet potatoes in his hands might change the food situation of this era, truly a miraculous crop. Thinking of this, Luo Shizheng couldn't help but feel hopeful.

Putting down the sweet potatoes, he picked up another type of grain, corn.

Corn is the seed of the grass family plant Zea mays. Its origin is in Mexico or Central America. In 1492, Columbus discovered corn in Cuba, and it was cultivated throughout North and South America thereafter. In 1494, corn was brought back to Spain and gradually spread to the rest of the world. In his memory, corn should have started to be planted in Guangxi during the Ming Dynasty. In terms of planting, corn can grow in sandy loam, loam, and clay, making the soil of the territory suitable for planting. In terms of consumption, corn kernels can be used as a grain, and with the current technology, an acre can yield about 100 pounds (2 shi) of corn kernels if there are no major diseases. Additionally, the other parts of the plant have various uses: corn stalks can be used for papermaking and wallboard; the husks can be used as filler material and for grass weaving; the corn cobs can be used as fuel; and the stems and leaves can be used as animal feed or fertilizer.

However, Luo Shizheng was somewhat pessimistic about the planting effect of this crop. First, it is more susceptible to diseases compared to sweet potatoes. Although it is a high-level genetic crop from a few hundred years in the future, no one knows the final planting effect until it is actually seen. If a major disease occurs, under the current technology, there is little one can do but leave it to fate. Second, it requires a large amount of fertilizer, and without the chemical fertilizers of the future, even with the experience from the future, the amount of fertilizer that can be provided is limited. Therefore, this crop can only be a grain or a specialty for the territory in the future.

After looking at the corn, Luo Shizheng went to the small wooden window. There, a broken stone bowl was quietly placed on the window sill, and inside the bowl was a damp, tattered cloth. Luo Shizheng carefully opened the cloth, revealing dozens of melon seeds wrapped inside. Most of the melon seeds had already sprouted a white, tender sprout. A few days ago, Luo Shizheng, with a trial mindset, followed the experience from his previous life and found this broken stone bowl from Matsuko. He soaked a piece of cloth in water and wrapped the melon seeds to see if they would sprout. Unexpectedly, a few days later, the melon seeds began to sprout. Now, although the sprouts are small, they are sufficient for planting.

In fact, Luo Shizheng didn't know if melons could be grown here, but he thought that since Japan's latitude and longitude are similar to where he was in his previous life, if they could be grown there, they should also be able to be grown here. Of course, he didn't expect this fruit to improve the food situation of the territory; he only planned to grow it as a luxury fruit and a specialty.

After checking these future hopes of the territory, Luo Shizheng wrapped them up carefully in the tattered cloth and carried them with him, then quickly left his residence and headed to another destination, the territory's granary.

The so-called granary was just a larger mud and wood house.

The two women in charge of the granary saw the lord and quickly bowed their heads in greeting. Luo Shizheng waved his hand to indicate that no formalities were necessary, then quickly entered the granary and approached the grain. Lifting the thatch on top, he saw dozens of yellowish beans lying there. Yes, they were soybeans, or more precisely, yellow soybeans. These were unexpectedly discovered by Luo Shizheng the previous afternoon when he came to inspect the newly purchased grain, accompanied by Higashimatsu Heiji. According to Higashimatsu Heiji, soybeans were grown in many places in Japan.

Upon hearing Higashimatsu Heiji's words, Luo Shizheng was initially surprised. Soybeans were a Chinese specialty; how could they be grown in Japan at this time? After recalling, he remembered that Japan had long been in contact with China, learning Chinese culture, and the people who returned from China likely brought these crops back. Discovering the soybeans, Luo Shizheng was delighted. They were a good thing, as they could be used for food, oil, and even tofu. Mixed with sweet potatoes, they could solve the problem of the lack of protein in sweet potatoes. With improved fertilization, an acre should yield about 100 pounds.

For the planting of crops in the territory, Luo Shizheng planned to use rice, sweet potatoes, and soybeans as the main staples, with corn and other grains as secondary crops, and to promote them with necessary incentives. Of course, this was for the future. First, a demonstration agricultural base needed to be established. Why? Although he could force the people to plant these crops through a decree, the most effective method was to show them the actual results, which would make promotion more effective. If forced, it would inevitably cause resistance from the people, as food is a matter of survival, and they would fight for it. Moreover, even if forced, a large amount of seeds would be needed, and where could he find such a large amount of seeds? Therefore, the promotion could only be considered for next year.

Returning to reality, Luo Shizheng carefully collected the soybeans in front of him and then turned and left the granary. Now he needed to find a plot of land to serve as a demonstration field.

As he walked along the path by the stream, Luo Shizheng thought about what kind of land he should find. Hmm, first, it needed to be near a water source, the soil should be relatively fertile, but not too low-lying. Geographically, Higashimatsu is a coastal area, and in July and August, there would likely be a lot of typhoons and rain. If not careful, the low-lying fields could be flooded, destroying all his hard work and affecting his overall farming plan, which would have a significant impact on the entire territory.

"Hmm, is that?" While looking around for a suitable plot of land, Luo Shizheng suddenly saw a familiar figure. Wasn't that Matsuko? From a distance, the rice in the paddy field had already sprouted and was growing taller, and some corners had grown wild grass, which she was clearing in a small paddy field.

"Big brother," Tamiko, who was weeding nearby, saw Luo Shizheng and quickly threw away the wild grass she had been "torturing" and ran over happily. Seeing the small package wrapped in a tattered cloth in Luo Shizheng's hand, the little girl became curious again, "Big brother, what is this?" she asked, her big eyes wide and blinking.

"Tamiko, you'll know soon," Luo Shizheng teased her mysteriously.

"Lady," Matsuko also came out of the paddy field, washed her feet, put on straw shoes, and hurriedly bowed to Luo Shizheng.

"Matsuko, is this land yours?" Luo Shizheng asked. He looked at the land in front of him, which was near the stream and had some fertility, meeting his requirements.

"Yes, my lord," Matsuko replied. Even after taking care of Luo Shizheng for several days, the young woman still appeared somewhat reserved in front of him, answering only what he asked and never saying more. Looking at the young woman with her head lowered, Luo Shizheng sighed inwardly. She was a woman who appeared gentle but had her own determination. In fact, when he officially recruited her as a servant, he suggested that she lend part of her land to other residents (at least she could collect some grain as rent at the end of the year) and keep only a part. For a single mother who had lost the mainstay of her family and was raising a little girl, farming far beyond her capabilities in this era was a difficult task. However, the woman in front of him refused, though she didn't give a reason, Luo Shizheng felt that she wanted to rely on herself to survive.

"Hmm, Matsuko, let's discuss something. How about lending me the land you haven't cultivated yet?"

"My lord, this..." Matsuko was now confused. She felt that the lord was too good to her, saving her daughter's life, preserving her honor, and recently taking her in as a servant so that she and her daughter wouldn't starve. Now, he was borrowing her land (of course, the lord would give compensation), which was too good for her. Was the lord interested in her...? The thought of something terrible made Matsuko tremble all over, and she lowered her head even further, looking like an ostrich burying its head in the sand.

Luo Shizheng was looking around at the terrain and didn't notice Matsuko's abnormal reaction.

"This is what I need some land to plant something," Luo Shizheng waved the tattered cloth package in his hand and continued, "this land is just right."

"My lord..." Matsuko hesitated, intending to refuse.

"Hmm, let's decide it this way," seeing the "stubborn" side of the woman in front of him, Luo Shizheng quickly used his authority as the lord to command, "Matsuko, find a few women in similar situations to you, and they will help take care of this land." How did he feel like he was bullying someone? Luo Shizheng criticized himself internally. But another part of him immediately consoled him, saying that as the lord, he had the right to do so, and besides, wouldn't they benefit in the end when the crops were harvested?

After saying this, Luo Shizheng hurriedly left, needing to find Higashimatsu Heiji to get some people to prepare the land.

"...Yes...yes," Matsuko, startled by Luo Shizheng's sudden seriousness, lowered her head and replied meekly, not even noticing that Luo Shizheng had left. When she realized the lord had gone, she immediately remembered his instructions and wondered, "Is the lord not...?" She sighed in relief, looking at the lord's retreating back.

Luo Shizheng didn't realize that his moment of sympathy had caused a small misunderstanding. He found Higashimatsu Heiji, who was directing people to clear the land, and took seven people with him. He asked them to bring several hoes and follow him to Matsuko's land. The residents, seeing the lord personally working the land, were greatly encouraged, and the speed of land clearing increased significantly.

Returning to Matsuko's land, she had already gone to find people as Luo Shizheng requested, and the land was now empty. Luo Shizheng stood at the edge of the field and roughly estimated the situation.

Matsuko's land was half a fan (5 mu), and currently, more than 3 mu were still uncultivated. This area should be enough for him to plant the things he had. After surveying, he began to prepare the land. He first had people level a plot of about 1 mu of paddy field near the river, turning the soil and burying the wild grass in the soil. Then, he repaired the embankment on the side of the paddy field near the stream, raising it, and finally, he moved the silt from the stream to the paddy field.

After this, he dug a 40 cm deep small ditch above the paddy field to draw water from the stream. Thus, a paddy field was formed. On the higher side of the paddy field, he reserved a space to build a pigpen, planning to catch a few wild piglets for breeding, and the pig manure could flow down to the fields below.

On the right side of the paddy field, he prepared another plot of about 1 mu, planting about 2,000 corn kernels with a spacing of about 0.5 meters, occupying more than 4 fen (1 mu = 10 fen) of the land. He carefully planted the sweet potato, soybean, and melon seeds in the remaining empty land next to the corn field. Finally, he had about 1 mu of land left, which he divided into two parts: one part reserved for sweet potato planting (the vines could be directly planted when the sweet potatoes grew), and the other part would be fenced to create a small pasture for raising rabbits.

The territory was extremely short of meat, and Luo Shizheng had specifically consulted with Higashimatsu Heiji, who was born locally. Although the territory had a rich variety of wild animals, large animals other than wild pigs were concentrated in distant forests (the forest where Luo Shizheng had traveled through), making hunting there unprofitable (the journey was long, and there was always the risk of being attacked by bandits). Therefore, the lack of meat was difficult to improve in the short term. In the end, Luo Shizheng thought of raising poultry, and rabbits were the fastest to show results. A litter of rabbits would quickly produce many baby rabbits by autumn. Rabbits only needed to eat grass and other feed, and the pressure of raising them was not high. In short, as long as the rabbits were raised well, the meat problem would be solved.

Finally, Luo Shizheng had people build a 1-meter-high wooden fence around the land and set up several scarecrows in the field. The fence was mainly to prevent wild pigs, as Higashimatsu Heiji said there was a group of about 20 wild pigs that often visited the territory's fields. The scarecrows were to prevent birds from digging up and eating the seeds.

By nearly 5 p.m., with the help of over ten people (Tamiko had found six women in similar situations to her), the agricultural base was finally formed. The pasture currently had no rabbits, and Luo Shizheng planned to have the hunting team catch more wild rabbits from Kyushu. As for the wild piglets, he needed to plan carefully, as catching them would mean facing the entire wild pig group, which was not an easy task.

After the experimental base was prepared, Luo Shizheng briefly explained the precautions to Matsuko and the other women. He planned for them to take care of the few acres of land and gradually learn the planting and management methods of these crops from him. In the future, when they were widely promoted, each of them would be responsible for guiding the planting in a specific area.

After everything was settled, on that day, Luo Shizheng formally issued an order that no one could enter these fields without his permission. Thus, the agricultural experimental base of the territory, which would later be regarded as a miracle, was finally established.