Chapter 358: The Elements of Farming

The great horse-raising enterprise of Huaxia is proceeding smoothly, but the horses have absolutely no intention of being ridden; even Changzhi, who has already built an extremely good relationship with those two horses, cannot get the chance to climb onto their backs.

Fortunately, those mares are nearing their foaling season. They are carrying the foals from last year. Everyone in all of Huaxia, including Baifeng, does not know when exactly the breeding season for horses is, nor do they know how long a horse must be pregnant before it gives birth.

They only see the horses' bellies getting bigger and bigger. Logically, these herbivores generally give birth in the spring and summer so they can catch the season when food is most abundant. Since horses are not like rabbits or dogs, which have short gestation periods, and they have never witnessed the mating behavior of horses, it is naturally assumed they were conceived last year.

Why do they pay attention to these things? Because this is something all breeders must figure out. They are still studying the rules now; at least after a few generations, they must refine the horse's gestation period down to the day, otherwise, the great horse-raising enterprise will be a joke.

The Xuanyuan Tribe conducted two trades with Huaxia last year: one was trading for grain, and the other was purely trading for knowledge to pay off the debt they owed Huaxia, and they brought an extra plant, asking Baifeng yet another question.

Of course, Baifeng only scratched another itch on Xuanyuan's heart. The answer was given, but it was not the main point; profound things still require Xuanyuan to realize and execute the research himself. How could Xuanyuan not understand this? But he had no other way; this was something he had to know.

This year is the same as before, trading supplies that are not much different from usual, and then Xuanyuan brought out various plants he had collected to trade with Baifeng for answers.

After returning to his own tribe, Xuanyuan combed through everything Baifeng had told him. Although he fell ill because of that time, he finally figured out his future direction of development.

First is to vigorously develop agriculture so that his tribesmen can all be full. After being full, it is time to expand territory. Once he does not have to worry about food and clothing, he will then consider the matter of establishing a state with rites and laws. Although this goal will take many years to spend, he feels that he is still very young and is not in a hurry about it.

Moreover, he also began to vigorously cultivate his son, Xuanxiao. If Baifeng can use all his strength to cultivate his son, then he can do the same. He is not afraid of his son seizing power; he has this confidence. His power will be handed over to his son sooner or later anyway. Cultivating him now and letting him walk in front from the very beginning is the safest way.

After careful consideration this time, Xuanyuan asked Baifeng a very critical question: "Baifeng, to obtain high-yield grain, besides plowing the land and turning the soil, and the grain seeds, what other necessary conditions are there? I have already experimented; just having good grain seeds is definitely not enough. There must be something else, right? Don't just say 'right', give me the answer. If you just say 'right', I won't accept this answer."

Baifeng gave a wry smile. Xuanyuan is indeed Xuanyuan; the insight and execution of the ancestor of human civilization are far beyond what ordinary people can compare to. In just a few short years, he discovered this important problem. In fact, this key point was not figured out in the historical West for thousands of years.

Baifeng told Xuanyuan very seriously: "Your guess is correct. The major elements I have summarized are water, light, soil, fertilizer, and seed."

Then Baifeng's words came to an abrupt end and he did not continue. Xuanyuan's expectant gaze turned to indifference: "Such simple words, I'm afraid they don't count as an answer, Baifeng. I don't think I can accept this answer of yours."

Baifeng was not in the slightest hurry: "Xuanyuan, all the answers are within these few words. As long as you understand one word, you can raise your planting level and yield by a large margin. But I will not explain in detail, because if I say one more word, it will affect the fundamental interests of our Huaxia. We had an agreement on this from the beginning. You don't have to worry about me lying to you; I only feel that I have revealed too much to you."

Xuanyuan did not speak for a long time afterward, only resting his hand on the table and tapping rhythmically with his fingers. His expression was one of deep thought. Baifeng did not know what he would understand, but he also waited quietly.

After a while, Xuanyuan came back to his senses and asked Baifeng: "This 'water', it refers to the water needed when grain grows, right? You don't need to reveal highly confidential answers; just say a free answer."

Baifeng nodded, but said in a tone that was not entirely certain: "Yes, but not entirely. It's not that simple, but you got a part of it right."

Xuanyuan gave an 'en' and continued to ask: "Light, I still can't figure it out. Soil, does it refer to the farmland? Seed must be the seed, right."

Baifeng pointed at the sun and said: "Light."

Xuanyuan was full of confusion; what does farming have to do with the sun? But Baifeng had no intention of continuing to explain, though he did say: "Seed, and soil—you only got a part of it right as well. As for fertilizer, you will have to ponder that yourself slowly. Perhaps you won't figure out what that is for hundreds of years."

Xuanyuan was sensible enough not to ask further; he knew there would be no result if he kept asking. So he picked up the tea in his cup, intending to take a sip and leave. But after taking a big gulp, there was unexpectedly no bitter taste as he had anticipated. This made him suddenly frown: "Could it be that Huaxia has grown tea leaves themselves?"

Seeing Xuanyuan's appearance, Baifeng knew he had discovered the difference in the tea. This was something he had tinkered with for many years before he managed to produce Black Tea, which is Fermented Tea. Naturally, the taste is very different from directly processed Raw Tea, and this kind of Tea Leaves has a wide audience, and everyone's acceptance is also good.

Xuanyuan had always known that Tea Leaves were a good thing, but he never drank them. Every time they traded, a cup would be prepared for him, but it would always be poured onto the ground after Xuanyuan left. Today, for some reason, he actually drank it; how strange.

Xuanyuan still couldn't help but ask. After all, this would affect their future trades. Although the amount of Tea Leaves Huaxia traded here was not particularly large, it was still a source of income for them, and it could not be lost so easily.

Baifeng picked up his own teacup, took a sip, savored it, and then said slowly in a pretentious manner: "The Tea Leaves are naturally still yours and the Suiren clan's, but we process them, so the taste naturally changes. How is it? Do you like it? Do you want to exchange for some to take back? Of course, you are my old friend; even if you don't exchange, I can give you some."

Having said that, he had a personal guard bring over a rough porcelain jar, which contained half a jar of Tea Leaves.

Xuanyuan's face twitched, but he still took the tea jar. What he had his eye on was not the Tea Leaves, but that jar he had never seen before.