Chapter 59: The Fire Kang Cultivation Method

At this moment, Jiang Xuan dreamed of nothing but leaving this place.

It had only been half a month; the little boy who had been pampered into a fair and tender state by Liu Zheng's side had been doing some labor with the Militia, and now his face was dark and his skin was cracked.

"Little Xuan, what are you spacing out for? Hurry up, let's go get to work!"

At this moment, the Militia captain shouted.

"Why should I?"

"I, Jiang Xuan, am a talent for command; why must I be here digging in the dirt and farming!"

Jiang Xuan could not fathom it, and just as he was about to retort, the captain's horsewhip lashed out precisely, striking Jiang Xuan's face with a *crack*. With a dark face, he barked: "Once the Spring Festival passes, it is the spring plowing. Our team is responsible for the Young Master's so-called 'Trial Field.' If we can't get this cleared, you'll have a hard time!"

Jiang Xuan felt a sharp pain in his face and retorted stubbornly: "So what if he is the Young Master? He is still just..."

*Crack! *

Another lash of the whip. Jiang Xuan looked at the group of burly men beside him and felt like crying, yet had no tears. Was this the life he had chosen? If he had known it would be like this, wouldn't it have been better to stay with Sister Yue Ru at the Chamber of Commerce, eating and drinking well? For the first time, Jiang Xuan felt regret.

"Fine, I'll do it!"

But this fellow also had a stubborn temper.

It would certainly not be a big problem to ask that Young Master Liu to transfer him away from here. But how embarrassing would that be? Since he was here, he would make the best of it; he, Jiang Xuan, was determined to make a name for himself in this Militia. Gritting his teeth, Jiang Xuan followed the group of big men and, together with two others, lifted the Yinzhou Plow.

So this was the Yinzhou Plow?

Although he was very dissatisfied with Liu Zheng, in his heart, Jiang Xuan actually still held a sense of admiration and fear for Liu Zheng.

After all, Liu Zheng's deeds had already spread throughout Liangzhou.

Writing poetry, Fengming Tower, brewing fine wine, inventing the Yinzhou Plow, establishing the Chamber of Commerce. Although there would be errors in the transmission of information in ancient times, he was in Yangzhou, the place closest to Yinzhou, so most of what he heard was first-hand news.

People said this Yinzhou Plow increased efficiency by nearly five times compared to the old Straight-shaft Plow!

Why?

Why would a dignified County Marquis's son, and the once-notorious number one playboy of Liangzhou, put his mind to the affairs of these Commoners? Shouldn't a scholar have some pride?

Jiang Xuan could not understand it.

It wasn't until he had eaten Nang Bread here for a few days that he truly understood... the people of Yinzhou were too hungry!

Although they were not well-fed, when they worked in the fields, they were as hardworking as oxen. At those times, Jiang Xuan could see a wolf-like glint in their eyes; their desire to be full had taken first place!

"Commoners! Hmph!"

Jiang Xuan thought to himself that although he was born into a farming family, Yangzhou was much wealthier than Yinzhou, and he had never suffered such hardships since he was a child.

"Young Master!"

Just then, the captain suddenly shouted, and the group of Militia immediately became restless, their expressions excited.

Jiang Xuan also looked over at the sound, and sure enough, Liu Zheng had brought a group of farmers over. Jiang Xuan's face darkened, and he was unwilling to look again.

Yet these Militia already had a fanatical reverence for Liu Zheng.

"Greetings, Young Master!"

"Has the Young Master eaten?"

"I heard the Young Master was unwell a few days ago; I have hot water here!"

Without Liu Zheng, they were afraid they wouldn't even have fields to farm now. Furthermore, many merchants were coming to Yinzhou to open workshops and Factories, naturally choosing the cheap labor here in Yinzhou and hiring locally. At first, the farmers didn't have any ideas, but under Liu Zheng's reminder, he encouraged them to work as helpers during the slack farming season to earn some silver to support their families. This suggestion immediately ignited the enthusiasm of the Yinzhou people.

So, to them, if he wasn't a savior, what was he?

Liu Zheng saw so many people and laughed: "Liu Zheng is fine, thank you all for your concern!"

Everyone urged Liu Zheng to take care of his health. Everyone knew that this County Marquis's son was practically a "workaholic"; once he started "scientific research," he wouldn't sleep for days on end, and people's hearts broke to hear it. Such a benevolent Young Master—who wouldn't want him to live a long life?

"Haha, Young Master, are you here to see the 'Trial Field'? The first plot has already been cleared!"

The captain said with a smile.

"Is that so?"

Liu Zheng excitedly followed them to his own "Trial Field" and his eyes lit up. It was flat and neat, with paths crisscrossing, and according to Liu Zheng's requirements that others couldn't understand, a large shed had been built over this field! This left many people quite confused; with this shed built, could the crops still drink the wind and dew?

"Good!"

Liu Zheng praised with a laugh.

A group of people asked curiously: "Young Master, what is this 'Trial Field'?"

Liu Zheng smiled without answering, and Liang Erfu stood out from the side and said: "It is what the Young Master has prepared to plant new types of crops!"

"New types of crops?"

"What kind of thing is that?"

The group was very puzzled.

Liang Erfu laughed heartily: "If this thing is successfully cultivated, our Yinzhou grain production will surely increase several times over! We can conservatively harvest twice a year!"

The crowd was in an uproar, all of them shocked.

These farmers had always sown in the spring and harvested in the autumn. When had they ever heard of a crop that could be harvested twice a year? The crowd did not believe it. Jiang Xuan, in the crowd, also sneered: "Two seasons a year, this Young Master is probably talking nonsense!"

Liu Zheng didn't care about them. For something like Sweet Potato, the fastest way was naturally the cultivation of Sweet Potato Seedlings. He didn't intend to hide his methods either; since everyone present was a farmer he trusted, he let Liang Erfu gather them all together.

And there were two ways to cultivate Sweet Potato Seedlings.

The first way was Sweet Potato cultivation. This was also the Method Liu Zheng intended to use this time. He chose Sweet Potatoes that were not moldy or diseased and sprouted them in an environment of thirty-five degrees.

This was the reason Liu Zheng needed a "Trial Field," because in Yinzhou, this was the only Method that could make the field reach this temperature in the middle of winter! Moreover, what Liu Zheng chose was not just shed cultivation, but a combination with Fire Kang cultivation. Because, no matter the method of cultivation, plastic film could not be found in this era, so Liu Zheng had to find a way to solve this problem.

Liu Zheng first had people dig a Seedbed in this Trial Field, and then built a Fire Kang underneath—this was not difficult in Yinzhou; it was essentially just a stove that could burn fire, and the specific process need not be described in detail.

After the Seedbed was built, sterile base soil had to be used... this was a bit difficult for Liu Zheng. He certainly couldn't get fungicides, so he could only choose to sun-dry it for sterilization. Fortunately, when Liang Erfu left, Liu Zheng had dried some soil himself, and it finally came in handy now. Then came fertilization... feces, the most natural fertilizer, were then mixed evenly with the base soil.

At this time, the Fire Kang needed to be lit to keep the Seedbed at a temperature of thirty-five degrees!

Then, it was the final step.

From the Sweet Potatoes Liang Erfu had brought back this time, Liu Zheng selected the higher-quality ones—those without disease spots, without damage, and without insect pests—and then laid them out in rows, head up and tail down, on the Seedbed. Then Liu Zheng filled the gaps between the Sweet Potatoes with fine soil, sprinkled some fine soil on the top layer of the Sweet Potatoes, and then watered the Seedbed thoroughly...

Liu Zheng explained as he did these things.

By the time all of this was prepared, three hours had already passed!

"Young Master, drink some water..."

Liang Erfu brought over some water.

Liu Zheng chuckled: "No need, you all drink it. I will stay here and tend the fire in a moment. Erfu, go back and bring me a bed!"

Everyone was greatly shocked.

"Young Master, why is this?"

"This must absolutely not be done!"

"This place, how can this place be a place to sleep?"

Liu Zheng said decisively: "This is the first time cultivating it, the process is complex, and you all cannot handle it. I must watch over it the entire time. Stop the nonsense, hurry and go get it for me!"

Everyone's eyes turned red.

With such a Young Master, why would Yinzhou not be prosperous?

That Jiang Xuan, who originally had a sneer on his face, was now also staring at Liu Zheng, dumbfounded.

Isn't it just a crop?

Is it worth risking his life like this?

"Young Master, Erfu will accompany you!"

Liang Erfu said with red eyes.

Thus, Liu Zheng moved into this greenhouse. Another thing that gave him a headache arose, which was that he had no thermometer! When the Sweet Potato reached the seedbed for one to two days, it had to be covered with film to begin burning fire to increase the temperature. Although there was no film, Liu Zheng used Oilcloth as a substitute; although there was no sunlight, it could maintain the temperature to a great extent. When the seedbed reached thirty-five degrees and the seeds were sown, the temperature would drop significantly after watering, and Liu Zheng needed to burn the fire to make the temperature rise back to thirty-five!

However, fortunately.

Thirty-five degrees was exactly the range of human comfort!

If it exceeded thirty-five degrees, a person would feel uncomfortable, so for these few days, Liu Zheng was testing the temperature with his own body!

Of course, it sounded simple, but in operation, it was still very difficult.

In the blink of an eye.

Five days had already passed.

"Young Master! Let us do it!"

"Young Master, you cannot endure this!"

More and more farmers gathered around this greenhouse.

Liu Zheng, sporting panda eyes, smiled: "What is there for me to not endure? It is quite warm inside! Hurry and leave, go do your work!"

Just at this moment, Liang Erfu inside the greenhouse exclaimed: "Young Master, Young Master, look!"

"It has sprouted, it has sprouted!"

Liu Zheng was shaken all over and turned back; sure enough, on the arranged Sweet Potatoes, little buds had already grown...

Liang Erfu's eyes widened.

He could not believe everything before his eyes.

So, without seeds, it could still sprout?

A miraculous technique, a celestial being descended to earth!

"Good, good!"

"Increase the temperature!"

In the germination state, the temperature could be increased to thirty-eight; maintaining this temperature for four consecutive days could achieve the goal of high-temperature germination and also inhibit the development of bacteria.

These four days were simply high-temperature labor.

Then, it was lowered to thirty-one degrees; at this time, those young buds had already begun to push through the soil. At this moment, water it heavily once more to prevent the bud tips from drying out and affecting the growth of the Sweet Potato Seedling. At this time, the temperature could be lowered to twenty-eight degrees...

Fire Kang seedling cultivation sprouted earlier than warm bed seedling cultivation, and the probability of germination was thirty percent higher! But this required someone to manage it specifically, yet Liu Zheng had no choice; he could not wait! He wanted to promote this Sweet Potato as soon as possible. The people of Yinzhou did not want to go hungry anymore!

On this day of New Year's Eve.

The Sweet Potato Seedling was finally successfully cultivated!

Liu Zheng looked at the lush green patch of seedlings in the greenhouse and smiled broadly.

"Young Master has great talent! Truly a divine man!"

"Great Good!"

"Young Master's achievements will surely be recorded in the history books!"

The entire Yinzhou cheered and jumped for joy.

To be able to cultivate seedlings without seeds, is this not a miracle?

A divine man has descended to Yinzhou, and the world can be observed!

Ancient times were just like this; all sorts of miraculous rumors began to spread.

Jiang Xuan, at this moment, stared blankly at Liu Zheng, who was revered as a god by the people, and he was completely stunned.

To leave a name in history and have achievements that last for a thousand autumns.

This had been his ambition since he was small.

And now...

He was plowing the fields, while Young Master Liu had already become famous far and wide.

He suddenly remembered those words Liu Zheng had scolded him with.

Born as a human, why distinguish between noble and lowly?

Self-proclaimed to have read a few books, and thus one is a superior person?

In his view, it was not even as good as a bedbug!

On the night of New Year's Eve, the Yinzhou County Marquis Mansion was once again filled with the sounds of gongs and drums, lively and extraordinary.

County Marquis Liu Dahao and Viscount Liu are once again enjoying the festivities with the people.

Jiang Xuan pursed his lips as he watched all of this, feeling incredibly lonely in his heart.

【Author's Note】

The requests for more chapters have been a bit weak today, brothers... The platform has released a tipping feature, heh heh... Well, I won't say much more, I'm off to write another chapter!