How to Cultivate a Ten-Thousand-Mile Empire for the Young Emperor Qin?

Chapter 14: Meat sauce mashed potatoes

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Zhu Xiang is lonely.

Sometimes, only he can taste his pain and happiness quietly and savor it slowly.

However, he has been in this era for so many years and has encountered so many difficulties. He has a strong character and quickly calmed down.

Zhu Xiang wiped away his tears, summoned another potato and observed it carefully.

The system rewards one thousand good seeds each time, and once taken out, they cannot be put back, and they will only appear in Zhu Xiang's hands. But potatoes do not need to be planted in an entire plot, so Zhu Xiang took advantage of the system a little.

"Zhongshu No. 2?" Zhu Xiang made a preliminary judgment.

He searched the system, but found that it only provided improved varieties, without any instructions on seed characteristics or key points of cultivation.

Zhu Xiang once again discovered how flawed this system was.

Improved seeds are just better seeds, not some magical seeds that can be harvested by throwing them into the soil. Soil, fertilizer, water, temperature... all environmental factors may affect the planting efficiency of improved seeds.

Moreover, different varieties have different resistance to viruses, diseases and insect pests, and different tolerance to cold, heat, drought and flood. Whether it is possible to save seeds by oneself, and how many generations of seeds will degenerate after self-save, these are all problems.

Full of questions!

If you don't know anything about the good seeds, you can harvest them two or three times at most, and then the good seeds will turn into bad seeds. Such good seeds are meaningless except for showing off.

"System, even if there is no manual, at least tell me whether my judgment is correct!" Zhu Xiang said anxiously, "Otherwise, your improved system is a scam!"

The system didn't answer. It really had no intelligent assistance function.

Zhu Xiang had no choice but to do it himself. He turned the system upside down and clicked on every word and icon with his mind. He actually clicked on a new function - as long as he successfully planted the improved seeds, he would be able to obtain detailed information about the seeds when he received them.

Zhu Xiang threw the potato up and caught it. This system was just like the online course system he had taken in college. If you don't take the initiative to learn, you will get nothing.

"I have to go to the mountain more often in the future." Zhu Xiang pondered.

Seeds need a plausible excuse to appear.

In order to find and cultivate good varieties, he often went to the mountains to scatter seeds and let them grow wildly, and also went to find new edible plants to bring back for experiments. He also asked the caravans passing by to bring him some of the strange and bizarre food seeds they saw.

Although the effect is minimal, people around him have become accustomed to his "weird behavior".

Now he has been searching for many years and finally found new seeds in the mountains, which is normal.

Zhu Xiang put the potatoes in his arms and went to the kitchen to make mashed potatoes for the Emperor's son.

The three hearts of Zheng'er's father rewarded him with cumin, fennel and potatoes, all of which were things he wanted very much. Zhu Xiang could not thank Zheng'er's father now, but thanked his beloved nephew Zheng'er.

Moreover, Zhu Xiang guessed that if Zheng'er had not recognized him because of a nightmare, the system would probably not have been activated until now.

Although there is no "Qin Shi Huang" in the favorability system, Zhu Xiang suspected that the "energy" of the entire system was provided by the favorability of his family. So when he drew new food, he would first offer it to the great Qin Shi Huang.

Although it was to offer sacrifice to the First Emperor, Zhu Xiang made five bowls of meat sauce and mashed potatoes in one go. Everyone in the family got a portion, including Cai Ze, who had moved to Xun Kuang's yard and took the initiative to serve Xun Kuang.

Peel the potatoes and steam them, then add goat milk little by little and pound them into a paste. Then pour the heated meat sauce in the clay pot on top, and a simple and delicious meat sauce and mashed potatoes is ready.

Zhu Xiang covered the small bowls of mashed potatoes with lids, asked the old servant to deliver two of them to Xun Kuang's yard, and carried the remaining three bowls of meat sauce and mashed potatoes on a wooden plate to find Ying Xiaozheng and Xue.

Ying Xiaozheng was sleeping like a pig. After his snowy legs became numb, he was held on the pillow and fell asleep. He did not move, not even kicking his legs.

Zhu Xiang opened the lid of the mashed potatoes and fanned Ying Xiaozheng's nose. Ying Xiaozheng's nose moved, and his little hands scratched randomly like a sleepwalker.

"Zheng'er, if you don't get up, your uncle will eat up all the delicious meat sauce and mashed potatoes." Zhu Xiang said with a smile while fanning himself.

Ying Xiaozheng's eyes suddenly opened wide, all sleepiness gone.

Zhu Xiang nearly dropped the bowl with laughter, but luckily Xue was quick to snatch the bowl from Zhu Xiang.

"Oh my Zheng'er, are you so greedy? As soon as you heard there was something delicious, you immediately woke up?" Zhu Xiang pulled Ying Xiaozheng out of the quilt, held him in his arms and rubbed his head hard.

Ying Xiaozheng, who was rubbed dizzy by his uncle, asked in confusion: "What's wrong with me?"

Xue said helplessly: "Okay, stop teasing Zheng'er... What is this?"

"Mashed potatoes. Potatoes... Xue, you should remember that when we were young, we went to the mountains to dig up edible tree roots, which were similar to those." Zhu Xiang said, "I bought all kinds of strange plants from traveling merchants, and finally cultivated a high-yield food that can be used to save famine. I wanted to plant more first and then tell you. Zheng'er cried today and his uncle was heartbroken..."

Zhu Xiang rubbed Ying Xiaozheng's head again: "Uncle, make some mashed potatoes for Zheng'er in advance."

Xue hesitated and said, "New food? It's okay for me to eat it, but can Zheng'er really eat it? He's still young..."

"Of course." Zhu Xiang sat on the edge of the bed and let Ying Xiaozheng sit on his lap. He picked up another small bowl and scooped a spoonful of mashed potatoes into his mouth with a wooden spoon.

Ying Xiaozheng's lips moved and his cheeks moved.

He reached out and held Zhu Xiang's chest, looking at her eagerly. It smelled so good!

Zhu Xiang smiled and picked up another wooden spoon. He mixed the mashed potatoes and meat sauce together, then scooped a small spoonful of mashed potatoes into Ying Xiaozheng's mouth.

Ying Xiaozheng opened his mouth obediently, hummed, and sucked the spoon clean.

The rich aroma of the meat sauce and the sticky texture of the potatoes blended together, making it a hundred times more fragrant than just eating meat sauce. Ying Xiaozheng couldn't help licking his lips, raised his head, and continued to look eagerly at Zhu Xiang.

"Eat by yourself." Zhu Xiang handed the small bowl and spoon to Ying Xiaozheng.

Ying Xiaozheng took the bowl and started eating happily.

Xue put down her needlework and started eating the new food.

"My dear, what is this potato? It's delicious." Zhu Xiang said, "I have a dozen potatoes left. Let's plant them together. If this batch can be grown, we can try to promote it to farmers next year."

Through observation and eating raw vegetables, Zhu Xiang judged that the improved variety given by the system might be "Zhongshu No. 2".

"Zhongshu No. 2" is an early-maturing variety that can be harvested in just two months. If he succeeds in the trial planting and gets detailed information from the system, he can promote it in the spring of next year.

It is not difficult to persuade farmers to open up a small piece of land in front of or behind their houses to try planting. The small piece of land in the farmer's fenced yard is where they plant wild vegetables for famine relief. These small pieces of arable land do not need to pay taxes.

"So little?" Xue was dumbfounded, "Then why did you give us food..."

Zhu Xiang said with a smile, "If I don't let you taste it, how can you support me in growing potatoes? Zheng'er, starting tomorrow, your uncle will teach you how to grow potatoes, okay? When it's Zheng'er's birthday, you can eat potatoes, and it will be your birthday gift to yourself."

I grow them myself? Grow them as a gift for myself? Ying Xiaozheng nodded immediately: "Okay, Zheng'er wants to grow potatoes!"

Xue hesitated: "My dear, Zheng'er is still so young, how can he go out to the ground?"

Zhu Xiang smiled and said, "With me watching over him, how could he possibly get tired?"

Xue said: "Zheng'er can't get tired, so I want to go too."

Xue was in poor health, and Zhu Xiang didn't want her to go to the fields. He used the excuse that "men farm and women weave" to prevent her from doing farm work.

Xue knew that these were all excuses for her lover to sympathize with her. This time she finally found an excuse to share more work with her lover, and she was very proud.

"Okay, this won't happen again." Zhu Xiang agreed.

Xue was surprised: "My dear, do you really agree?"

Zhu Xiang smiled and said, "Of course. It's just planting a dozen potatoes. This little bit of work can be considered as a family's fun. Right, Zheng'er?"

Ying Xiaozheng didn't understand, but nodded: "Yes! Uncle, I'm not full..."

"It's all gone. The rest will be used as seeds. If Zheng'er still wants to eat it, he has to grow it himself." Zhu Xiang teased.

Ying Xiaozheng licked his lips and said pitifully, "Okay, I'll grow them myself. My uncle will teach me."

Zhu Xiang rubbed Ying Xiaozheng's face and said, "I'll teach you tomorrow."

Ying Xiaozheng was too greedy, and for the first time he said to Zhu Xiang, "No, I want to plant today."

Xue suppressed a smile and said, "Since Zheng'er wants to plant potatoes so much, go ahead. It's still early today."

Zhu Xiang sighed, "Okay, I'll go get the potatoes, and you guys go to the yard and burn all the weeds that Lin Li planted."

Xue couldn't help but smile: "Puff... My dear, Mr. Lin will be sad."

Xue laughed even harder: "Mr. Lin will be even sadder if he hears your beloved say this."

Ying Xiaozheng tilted his head in confusion. Why was my aunt laughing so hard? Did my uncle tell a joke? Should I laugh too

He gave a tentative hesitant smile.

Zhu Xiang and Xue: "..."

Ying Xiaozheng: “Hmm?”

Xue took a deep breath and said, "My dear, our Zheng'er is even cuter than you were when you were a child!"

Zhu Xiang: “… Yeah.” Well, my status in the family has been reduced by one.

But there was nothing Zhu Xiang could do about losing to the Qin Shi Huang, so he accepted it.

Speaking of Lin Zhi, Lin Zhi arrived.

This idle guy was forced by Lin Xiangru to study under Xun Kuang.

"Ah? Why did you burn the flowers I planted!" Lin Zhi said dissatisfiedly.

"Plant potatoes. Here, I've left you a roasted potato, try it." Zhu Xiang threw a paper bag to Lin Zhi.

Lin Zhi opened the paper package and looked at the strange... fruit (?), and asked worriedly: "Can it really be eaten?"

He took a bite, chewed it, and swallowed it. "It tastes good. Where did you get it?"

Zhu Xiang said: "I have previously asked the caravans that have been to Shu and Chu whether they know of a food called 'taro'."

Lin Zhi said, "I know. You said that taro is a plant that grows near water. Its rhizomes are edible, the yield is good, and it does not occupy good farmland. You want to introduce it to Zhao State to use it to relieve famine. Is this taro?"

Zhu Xiang shook his head: "No, although this is not taro, the merchant made a mistake, but its rhizome is edible. I cultivated a dozen of them and wanted to see if I could grow them without intensive cultivation. If I can, let the farmers plant some in front of and behind their houses, so that they can get through the lean season."

Lin Zhi immediately forgot about his precious flower: "Really? I want to plant it too. Give me the seeds!"

"The seeds have to germinate before they can be planted. Today we are just preparing the land," said Zhu Xiang.

Lin Zhi immediately rolled up his sleeves and said, "I'll do the ground preparation!"

He immediately became busy with interest and used the hoe very skillfully.

Zhu Xiang looked at Lin Zhi, who immediately got busy without caring about his image after hearing about famine relief. He couldn't help feeling sad when he remembered that he was not included in the favorability list.

"Hey, you're just standing there watching? Aren't you ashamed?" Lin Zhi stopped hoeing the ground and scolded Zhu Xiang with a smile.

Zhu Xiang immediately rolled up his sleeves: "Here I come."

"Zhu Xiang! The potato you gave me to eat...what are you doing?" Xun Kuang rushed over in a hurry, and Cai Ze followed Xun Kuang and arrived a step slower.

Zhu Xiang said: "The whole piece of land, plant potatoes."

Xun Kuang asked, "Can it really be grown?"

Zhu Xiang laughed and said, "I have already planted a nest. Hasn't Xunzi eaten it?"

Xun Kuang immediately came to his senses and said with a smile, "I was wondering why you suddenly sent me food I've never eaten before. Who do you want me to help you convince? Go to the palace and convince King Zhao?"

Zhu Xiang fell silent immediately.

Xun Kuang frowned: "Why? You don't want to tell King Zhao?"

Zhu Xiang said, "I am afraid that the King of Zhao will list potatoes as a tribute to the emperor and only allow the royal family to grow and eat them."

Xun Kuang was stunned at first, then his brows furrowed.

Zhu Xiang did not speculate maliciously about King Zhao, but there were too many precedents in the long history. King Zhao did indeed take the sugar-making technique for royal use and forbid it to be used by the public.

For the high-ranking princes and nobles, a rare and delicious ingredient must of course be enjoyed by themselves first.

"And if the King of Zhao knew that potatoes not only feed the hungry but also have high yields, would he impose a tax on potatoes? Would he order the whole country to grow potatoes?" Zhu Xiang continued, "Potatoes require a long breeding period, and continuous planting will cause seeds to degenerate... He would not listen to my detailed explanation of these shortcomings, nor would he arrange for me to be an official in charge of potato planting."

Lin Zhi slammed the hoe hard on the ground, his voice becoming a little hoarse from being too low: "Don't tell the king, we will plant it ourselves."

Xun Kuang sighed deeply and said, "You are right. Grow it yourself."

Cai Ze rolled up his sleeves and went to fetch water.

Ying Xiaozheng looked up at several elders whose expressions suddenly became unhappy, and a vague idea came to his mind.

He said to Zhu Xiang, "Uncle, don't be sad. The King of Zhao doesn't listen to you, but I do! You tell me how to farm, and I'll give you the order to farm!"

Zhu Xiang immediately squatted down and embraced Ying Xiaozheng: "Okay!"

He boasted to everyone, "Did you hear that? My Jiazhenger is so filial!"

"Yes, that's right." Xun Kuang couldn't help but laugh, "Now it's filial piety."

"Hmph." Lin Zhi felt sour in his heart. Could it be that even in the next generation, the Zhao royal family would be inferior to the Qin royal family

"Not only now, but in the future, my housekeeper is the best!" Zhu Xiang stood up, "Okay, stop talking nonsense and get back to work!"

Ying Xiaozheng's face flushed with praise: "Good."

Planting potatoes is not just about throwing them in the ground when you want to plant them. You have to let the potatoes sprout first and then cut them into pieces.

If it is the second harvest of potato breeding, it is time to start detoxification.

The potatoes just taken out of the system must not be that bad. The system must be the first generation of good varieties and do not need to be decontaminated.

After a long period of breeding, several people finally understood why Zhu Xiang was afraid of King Zhao's indiscriminate promotion.

There are so many things to pay attention to when planting a new crop.

Without a laboratory, Zhu Xiang adopted the most primitive breeding method - digging a hole in the ground, putting a layer of cow dung, horse dung and pig dung in the pit, sprinkling a layer of soil on the dung, putting potatoes on the soil, putting dung and soil on the potatoes, covering it with straw mat, and finally burying the straw mat with soil.

After about ten days, Zhu Xiang dug up the potatoes and sprouts began to grow. The remaining manure was used to fertilize the fields.

After the potatoes sprouted, Zhu Xiang prepared a pot of boiling water on the stove and a pot of cold water. He held a knife and cut the sprouted potatoes into pieces. After each cut, he put the knife into the boiling water to disinfect it, and then put it into the cold water to cool it down.

After the cut potatoes were planted, Zhu Xiang led a potato-planting team to patrol the fields every day. Once they found sick potato seedlings, they would immediately pull them up by the roots and throw them into the fire to burn.

"There is no way to cure potato diseases now, so when you see sick potato seedlings, you must remove them immediately to prevent them from infecting other potato seedlings," Zhu Xiang taught.

Ying Xiaozheng was so tired that he sat down on the ground: "So, so tired."

Zhu Xiang picked up Ying Xiaozheng and said, "Farming is so tiring. It's not easy for farmers to grow food, but it's hard for them to even avoid starvation."

Ying Xiaozheng whispered, "Less tax?"

Zhu Xiang smiled and said, "That's right. But instead of hoping for a wise king to sympathize with farmers, it might be more practical to increase the probability of farmers having enough food to eat by increasing grain production. If we increase the yield from one dan per mu to two dan per mu, we can still collect a heavy tax of 50%. Farmers can have enough food to eat, and the treasury can also increase its income."

Ying Xiaozheng was nodding, and Xun Kuang couldn't help but say, "Increasing production is very important, and the king must also reduce taxes and levies!"

Zhu Xiang shook his head and said, "It is good to reduce taxes and levies, but who can control what the king thinks? Even if he is a wise king, he still needs to control the floods when the river bursts, fight wars when foreign enemies invade, and build roads to increase the connection between cities... These are all very expensive, but they must be done."

Xun Kuang's tone was a little sarcastic: "So, with you, the king can be ambitious and not harm the people?"

Zhu Xiang smiled bitterly, "How is that possible? It will just save a few people from starving to death."

Looking at Zhu Xiang's bitter smile, Xun Kuang could no longer curse.

He now wants to scold King Zhao.

Could it be that this stupid King Zhao made Zhu Xiang disappointed in all the kings in the world

(End of this chapter)