I run a training class in Shu Han

Chapter 57 Agricultural Science Class

After writing down everyone's opinions in detail, Huo Yi presented them to Liu Shan.

Liu Shan looked at the meeting minutes, somewhat perplexed.

Although he came from a rural background in his previous life, he had farmed with his grandfather and father when he was a child.

But he hasn't done farm work since graduating from high school.

In other words, he's fine with transplanting rice seedlings and harvesting crops, doing some farm work, but to talk about developing agriculture and increasing yields is beyond his capabilities.

"Now that all the problems are out there, we need to solve them one by one. I also welcome your suggestions so that we can come up with a feasible solution today."

This means that no one can go home until the problem is solved.

"First, there's the issue of fertile land. Can suitable land still be cultivated in Yizhou?"

The first question stumped everyone.

Although there are still some abandoned fields in Yizhou, the amount is limited and ultimately insufficient.

If we reclaim wasteland and cultivate it, turning waste into treasure, it will take several years, and the yield cannot be guaranteed to be stable.

"Your Majesty, I believe that we can establish military farms outside of Yizhou."

Everyone looked at Lü Yi in surprise.

"Ji Yang, what nonsense are you talking about? Where are there any places to cultivate land now?"

"Yes!" Lü Yi said decisively, "Hanzhong is a vast area, suitable for garrisoning troops and cultivating the land."

Hanzhong?

Everyone was taken aback.

This was the only territory outside of Yizhou that Shu Han controlled, and it was also an important barrier and buffer zone against Cao Wei.

"Although Hanzhong has land, its population is sparse. How can we establish military farms there?" said Meng Guang, the Grand Minister of Agriculture.

The reason they didn't consider Hanzhong wasn't because they were unaware of it, but because they were all too aware of it.

Because while Liu Bei acquired Hanzhong, a strategically important location, he lost Hanzhong's population base.

When Cao Cao withdrew his troops from Hanzhong, he relocated tens of thousands of households, leaving Hanzhong virtually empty.

Although Liu Bei acquired the land, he had neither people nor food.

In ancient times, population was the most important resource.

The entire Yizhou region currently has only 20 households and approximately 90 people.

Nowadays, there are more soldiers than civilians in Hanzhong, and the land is naturally being abandoned.

Another point is that Hanzhong lacks convenient irrigation water conservancy. If you want to cultivate land, you must first build water conservancy projects, which will be difficult to achieve results in a short period of time.

"Your Majesty, I protest. Yizhou already has a small population and a shortage of manpower. How can we mobilize more labor to build water conservancy projects?" Meng Guang was the first to stand up and object.

"The cost of land reclamation in Hanzhong is enormous, and I'm afraid the court will find it difficult to sustain. We should proceed cautiously," Yang Min echoed.

Although the others did not speak, they were all aware of the difficulties of establishing military farms in Hanzhong.

Liu Shan, however, did not think so.

Although the initial phase of the land reclamation project in Hanzhong was massive, it was a project that would benefit future generations.

If land could be cultivated in Hanzhong, it could provide the imperial court with a large amount of grain every year, becoming the imperial court's "Great Northern Granary".

"Back then, Sima Cuo of Qin overcame all opposition and conquered Bashu with light cavalry because he valued the rich land there. Later, the King of Qin also withstood the pressure and sent Li Bing and his son to build the Dujiangyan Irrigation System, making Bashu the granary of Qin."

"In my opinion, Hanzhong is the second Bashu."

Having made up his mind, Liu Shan continued, "Prime Minister, issue an imperial edict to Wei Yan, saying that I have ordered him to cultivate land and raise troops in Hanzhong to be self-sufficient. This will be his achievement for the next few years."

"Zhuge Qiao".

"Your subject is here," the young Zhuge Qiao replied, bowing respectfully.

"You are in charge of the Dujiangyan irrigation system. You just mentioned that the newly recruited officials are of varying quality?"

"Yes," Zhuge Qiao replied with difficulty.

Maintaining the Yizhou water conservancy project is a challenging task, and the shortage of personnel is a key factor.

"These are easy to handle. The Prime Minister's Office can start by temporarily setting up training courses for irrigation officials at the Imperial Academy, and strive to cultivate a group of excellent irrigation officials by next spring."

"Then some officials were selected to go to Hanzhong to assist Wei Yan in repairing the water conservancy."

"Any other questions?"

This statement, though seemingly a question, actually carries an unquestionable tone.

Even though everyone had doubts, no one dared to question Liu Shan because of his authority.

"Okay, two problems are solved. Now it's about farm tools."

Liu Shan didn't waste any words and went straight to the next step.

"The issue of agricultural tools has already been discussed between the Prime Minister and me. We have ordered the blacksmiths to cast more iron plows to facilitate plowing."

"And the curved plow, which the Prime Minister has already improved, has been ordered to be made by craftsmen immediately, and must be ready before the spring of next year."

Liu Shan was so assertive because the court had a continuous supply of iron ore resources after pacifying the southern regions.

These iron ore deposits can be used to make weapons, as well as agricultural tools, thus improving agricultural efficiency.

"I have another plan."

Lü Yi suggested, "The court could follow the example of Cao Wei and provide the people with oxen for plowing, then collect grain as rent, killing two birds with one stone."

"This plan is excellent. It will both protect the people's strength and replenish the national treasury. Huo Yi, quickly write it down."

In ancient times, oxen were scarce and considered strategic resources. Without the government's permission, ordinary people were not allowed to buy, sell, or slaughter oxen.

Therefore, many people relied on manual labor to plow the fields, which was not only time-consuming and laborious, but also risked endangering their lives due to overwork.

The problems raised by the group were resolved one by one under Liu Shan's leadership.

It was getting late, and everyone was starving.

"Your Majesty, Her Majesty the Empress has prepared dinner for Your Majesty and the esteemed officials."

"Very well, please thank the Empress for me, and bring it up."

The palace maids quickly brought the evening meal to everyone.

Dinner consisted of rice, vegetable soup, and a small bowl of meat.

Liu Shan immediately recognized the rabbit as the one he had hunted that morning.

Yun'er, oh Yun'er, this meat is for you to nourish yourself, why don't you keep it for yourself instead of letting these grown men benefit from it?

After eating a few mouthfuls of rice, Liu Shan suddenly remembered something and immediately put down his chopsticks.

"Prime Minister, my esteemed ministers, is rice now the only grain grown in Yizhou?"

Supervisor of Agriculture Yang Min said, "Your Majesty, Yizhou has always mainly grown rice. Although some beans are also grown, the yield is not high."

"Then why not plant wheat?"

"Wheat can only grow in the north, while the soil and water in the south are more suitable for rice. It is not widely grown in Yizhou."

Those present were all officials engaged in agriculture, and they wondered why Liu Shan would ask such a conventional question.

Liu Shan asked this question because he remembered that from the end of the Han Dynasty, wheat gradually replaced millet and became one of the country's staple foods.

Not only because wheat yields more than millet, but also because it can be harvested three times in two years, almost twice that of millet.

The staple food of Shu Han was rice, followed by wheat, millet, beans and other supplementary grains.

This knowledge was learned in a previous life from a project about food.

Thinking of this, Liu Shan suddenly seemed to have found inspiration and tried hard to recall all the knowledge he had previously learned about food.

Develop high-quality varieties...

Composting and fermentation...

crop rotation and intercropping...

Terraced fields...

One by one, the knowledge began to become clearer in his mind, and Liu Shan's lips began to curl upwards.

Everyone was puzzled as they watched Liu Shan's eyes change from being vacant and unfocused to now gleaming with a faint light.

"Your Majesty, Your Majesty..." Zhuge Liang called out softly.

Upon hearing the shouts, Liu Shan regained his senses and his gaze gradually focused.

"Father..."

"Your subject is here!"

"I would like to trouble Your Excellency to issue a decree to recruit talented people from all over the country who are skilled in farming to come to Chengdu. I have a great use for them."

"May I ask, Your Majesty, what is the purpose of summoning these people?"

Liu Shan laughed heartily.

"Of course, it's farming. However, before that, they need to go through training courses."

"Only those who pass the examination can enter the court as officials."

Training courses?

Zhuge Liang was puzzled.

"Your Majesty, there are no agricultural courses taught in the Imperial Academy."

"It didn't exist before, but it does now."

"Let's call it... Agricultural Science Class."