Chapter 246: Agriculture and Animal Husbandry

The person in charge of the Agriculture Department is named Geng; the name was given to him by Baifeng. Originally, he was just a Slave, and this is the highest position a Slave has attained so far. He did not go through the process of moving from Slave to Free Person and then to Tribesman, but was promoted directly to Tribesman by Baifeng.

His physique was not that good, nor did he have any particular craft, so among the policies Baifeng proposed, there was not one he could benefit from; originally, he was just an ordinary Slave responsible for farming.

Later, as the amount of cultivated land in the Baifeng Tribe increased, to facilitate production management, Baifeng divided the farmland into blocks. A group of Slaves was responsible for one plot, and the Slaves of the plot with the highest yield would receive a certain reward, so the Slaves were exceptionally attentive when farming, thinking of ways to increase production.

Geng was responsible for a field of soybeans, but because the soybeans Baifeng had traded for were mixed with different varieties, there were subtle differences in yield and various aspects of the plants. However, Baifeng himself had never noticed this; he had never thought that soybeans traded from the same tribe would have different varieties; he only knew that their Rice varieties had differences.

But because Rice hybridization technology is truly not something anyone can handle, even if there were many varieties, Baifeng had no way to crossbreed and improve them, and could only manage selection and breeding.

Unexpectedly, it was just a farming Slave who discovered two different types of soybeans: one with short plants but many pods, and one taller but with fewer pods. At first, he thought it was just a difference of one or two plants.

But in his slow observations, he discovered that this was actually not an isolated case, and that there were certain discernible differences in other aspects as well.

He had once accidentally heard the Tribal Chief talk about the theory of crop cultivation and selection in the fields. He felt it was interesting, so he remembered it. Seeing these two different types of soybeans, the idea of hybridization sprouted in his mind.

Unexpectedly, in two years, he really managed to produce a type of soybean that was tall and had an even higher yield, though the quantity was very small. He had been doing this secretly, and over the years, he had also discovered several slightly different varieties, all of which were products of natural hybridization from the mixed seeds.

He remembered the location of every special soybean plant clearly. When it came time to harvest, he would pick a few grains in advance to keep as seeds; otherwise, after they were collected, he would have no chance to find them again.

Because he hadn't hidden many seeds in total, no one discovered what he was doing; otherwise, hoarding food was punishable.

When his hybrid soybeans matured, he decided to take a gamble. Without waiting for the harvest, he pulled the hybrid soybeans out by the roots, brought along a common soybean plant, and went to find the Baifeng Tribe Soldier responsible for managing them to explain the situation and ask to see Baifeng.

All the farming Slaves worked diligently, but no one had ever noticed which soybean plants were more lush or had taller stalks, so until Geng spoke up himself, no one knew what Geng had been doing for the past two years.

The Soldier in charge of management was also very shocked, but the comparison between the two soybean plants was indeed obvious. Following Geng to see the hidden experimental plot he had separated, he had to believe Geng, so he took Geng to find Baifeng. If this matter were recognized by Baifeng, it would also be his own achievement; furthermore, this could not possibly be a bad thing.

Seeing the hybrid soybeans, Baifeng's eyes went round, and he clicked his tongue in wonder. He carefully asked Geng about his hybridization process, lest he had just found a different root by chance to deceive him. Unexpectedly, Geng spoke in great detail and even took seeds from his bosom that were packed in different bamboo tubes. Because he was illiterate, each tube was carved with marks only he could understand.

Baifeng now completely believed that Geng understood how to perform hybridization, and from his words, he could also feel that he not only had strong observational skills but also exceptional memory and comprehension. Baifeng was very happy to have found such a talent, so he asked for his name.

Unexpectedly, he was previously a savage from a small tribe and had no name at all, so Baifeng gave him the name Geng and granted him the status of a Tribesman, as well as the treatment only enjoyed by old Tribesmen, which left Geng pleasantly surprised.

At that time, Baifeng was already conceiving the formation of various departments, but he could never think of suitable personnel for the Agriculture Department. As a result, he obtained Geng. However, he did not give him any power at the beginning; apart from the treatment, he specifically approved an experimental plot for him to properly conduct hybrid soybean experiments. As a result, the soybeans had new achievements the following year.

Originally, the yields should have increased, but a heavy rain caused most of the crops to lodge, and the Baifeng Tribe's food production dropped significantly. However, the soybeans in one part of Geng's experimental plot were surprisingly sturdy, did not lodge, and did not have a reduced yield. Baifeng understood that a variety with better lodging resistance had been cultivated.

Seeing that Geng truly had the ability, Baifeng, who had just formed various departments this year, arranged for Geng to be the person in charge of the Agriculture Department. In addition to arranging farming, harvesting, and land reclamation matters, he was also responsible for the work of hybridizing and cultivating improved seeds. This made Geng, who was born a Slave, weep bitterly; he had never thought he would have such a day.

In order for the breeding work to proceed faster and better, Baifeng selected the main contributors from the Slaves responsible for the high-yield farmland. Baifeng taught them the principles of hybridization and some knowledge of farming. After the training ended, there was an exam; those who passed the theory remained in the Agriculture Department, and those who failed returned to Nuliqu.

While those who remained were still Slaves, as long as they could produce results in the first year, they could immediately have their slave status removed. The Agriculture Department was also the only department in the Baifeng Tribe primarily managed by Slaves.

Other Tribesmen were puzzled but dared not complain. Baifeng also gave Tribesmen and Free Persons the opportunity; those who liked farming all received training, and those who passed could also stay in the Agriculture Department. However, their goals were different: Slaves were for freedom and a better life, while Tribesmen were for power.

The person in charge of the Animal Husbandry Department was the person who used to raise cattle, named Mu; Changxu was also one of the people in charge, but their division of labor was different, and they usually did not interfere with each other. After all, they did not have many animals. Mu was responsible for the cattle, and they also tried raising wild boars, which had already shown initial results. The second and third generations of pigs were friendly to people, and the first generation of wild boars entered the mouths of the Tribesmen after completing their reproductive tasks.

Mu was also responsible for the tribe's dogs. Although the dogs were raised by each Tribesman themselves, when the breeding season arrived, Mu needed to arrange and plan it. The puppies born also needed him to count and register them, and finally, Baifeng decided who to distribute them to.

Changxu was still raising his chickens and pigeons, and the scale was already very large. Baifeng had already achieved "chicken egg freedom," and the tribe's pregnant women could also enjoy the benefit of chicken soup. This was all Changxu's credit, and his status had long since ceased to be that of a Slave.

As for the birds he obtained a few years ago, they were a nest of falcons, and they were of the larger variety. Baifeng could not determine the specific variety, but they were now trained to be very obedient and could fully handle the work of surveillance and intelligence transmission. After several generations of breeding, the quantity was also sufficient.

Now the Baifeng Tribe had achieved a state where "chickens and dogs are heard," only, the sound of these dogs was a bit strange.