Chapter 290

Spring went and summer came, and the wheat in the experimental field grew amazingly.

The new wheat seeds were not only drought-resistant but also disease-resistant. The yellow leaf disease that occasionally appeared in ordinary wheat fields was almost invisible in the new wheat fields.

In early June, the wheat ears turned yellow and hung their heads heavily.

Chen Tugen carefully cut a plant, weighed it in his hand, and his eyes were moist.

"My lord, it's a success, it's a success!" He said with a trembling voice. "The grains of this one plant are more than three times that of ordinary wheat!"

Jiang Jinshi took the wheat ear and rubbed it gently. The golden wheat grains fell into his palm, plump and solid.

He finally felt relieved in his heart. The drought-resistant and high-yield wheat seeds provided by the mall system really adapted to the environment of this era.

"Measure the yield!" Jiang Jinshi ordered, and Feng Chunsheng, Wei Xikang, and Xiao Chunqiu beside him all looked forward to it.

Thirty people started reaping at the same time. In half a day, one acre of experimental field was harvested.

Threshing and weighing. When the numbers were reported, the whole scene was silent.

"Yield per acre... four hundred and seventy catties!" Feng Chunsheng's voice was trembling.

He knew that in the best years of Beijiang in the past, the yield per acre was no more than one hundred and fifty catties.

Chen Tugen knelt directly in the wheat field, tears streaming down his face: "Heaven has eyes, the people of Beijiang are saved!"

Jiang Jinshi helped the old man up and said to everyone: "Keep this matter secret for now! Uncle Chen, you select one hundred reliable farmers to expand planting.

Feng Lao, you are responsible for counting the good farmers among the refugees and training them in batches. Remember, keep a low profile and don't be flashy!"

"Yes!"

After the summer harvest, Jiang Jinshi summoned core personnel to discuss matters at the academy after it was built.

Now the main hall of the academy was changed into a lecture hall, the side rooms on both sides were study rooms, and the backyard was the library and workshop.

"Commander, the Western Liang King is being attacked from the back, and the Southern Barbarians are moving, causing the battle between them and the Great Qian to slow down." Wang Hou reported the latest military situation. "Our personnel deployment has reached Jiangnan, but we haven't infiltrated yet. The control in the capital is too strict, and we may not be able to establish a post station in the short term!"

Jiang Jinshi nodded: "Let them fight! We continue to act according to the plan. After the summer harvest, expand the planting of new wheat seeds by one hundred thousand acres, and at the same time start building the official road from Shuo Fang to Guansong Ridge, using work for relief."

"Commander, the academy has recruited three hundred students in the second batch, all of whom are refugee children and soldiers in the army." Wei Xikang presented the roster. "It's just that currently... the number of teachers is seriously insufficient."

Wei Xikang now lived and ate at the academy every day, and he couldn't finish his work even if he split himself into several parts. Xiao Chunqiu and Feng Chunsheng would also come to help teach when they were free, but the effect was not significant.

Jiang Jinshi rubbed his head: "I'll think of a way for this! You continue to recruit people from the outside, regardless of their background, as long as they have a skill, they can come to the academy to teach, and the treatment will be excellent."

An old scholar wanted to speak but stopped. He was once a classmate of Feng Chunsheng and was recommended by Feng Chunsheng because the academy lacked people.

"But Commander, is teaching these skills..."

"Is what? Is it not in line with the teachings of the sages?"

Jiang Jinshi turned around, his eyes burning. "Master Liu, I ask you, can reading the classics and history solve the drought in Beijiang, or can mastering water conservancy solve the drought in Beijiang? Can writing poetry and painting solve the Xiongnu cavalry, or can forging strong bows and hard crossbows solve the Xiongnu cavalry?"

Master Liu's face turned red, and he couldn't speak.

"I don't oppose reading the books of sages." Jiang Jinshi's tone softened. "But what Beijiang needs are people who can solve problems. Agricultural students must understand farming and water conservancy, engineering students must understand construction and manufacturing, and military students must understand marching and formations.

As for the classics and history..."

Jiang Jinshi paused. "They can be used as auxiliary subjects, just understand the principles."

"Commander has high insights." Master Liu was convinced and bowed to Jiang Jinshi.

"There is one more thing." Jiang Jinshi took a drawing from his sleeve.

"This is the cylinder car and overturning car I designed, which can significantly improve irrigation efficiency. Engineering students are divided into three groups, one group studies improving farm tools, one group studies water conservancy facilities, and another group..."

He unfolded another drawing. "Study this."

Everyone gathered around. On the drawing was a strange furnace with a complex structure and strange symbols marked on it.

"This is a blast furnace, which can increase the output and quality of pig iron." Jiang Jinshi explained simply. "Beijiang has iron ore, but the smelting technology is backward. We need better iron to forge farm tools and weapons."

Everyone was used to Jiang Jinshi often coming up with strange things. Anyway, these things were beneficial to the people and harmless, so they just implemented them.

Jiang Jinshi issued a series of arrangements and turned to walk toward the highest bell tower of the academy.

Standing on the bell tower, the appearance of Guangwu City was in full view: neat streets, newly built houses, wheat fields spreading outside the city, and further away, the city walls being heightened and busy craftsmen.

A year ago, there were corpses everywhere! A year later, although it couldn't be called prosperous, the people already had smiles on their faces, children had books to read, and the land had a harvest.

As long as Beijiang's foundation becomes more and more stable, by the time the Imperial Court or the Western Liang King notices, it will no longer be a behemoth that can be easily shaken.

Wang Hou followed behind and hesitated for a moment before saying: "Commander, are you really prepared to go to Jiangnan?"

The reason for sending people to Jiangnan and other places first was because Jiang Jinshi had always had the intention to go to Jiangnan. Wang Hou didn't understand, but he still did it as it was.

"Hmm!" Jiang Jinshi nodded lightly. "Go to Jiangnan to take a look, and by the way, see if you can find some talent to bring back!"

Wang Hou was anxious: "We haven't fully infiltrated Jiangnan, Luoyang, and other places! Why not..."

Jiang Jinshi smiled lightly and interrupted Wang Hou. "Wang Hou! How many scholar-gentry are there in places like Jiangnan and Luoyang? And how many noble families? It's impossible to infiltrate!"

Wang Hou also knew this was impossible, but it concerned Jiang Jinshi's safety, so he had to advise him again. "Big Brother! Why not wait until we have more people there before going?"

"It doesn't matter! Where is that girl Xiao Yu now?" Jiang Jinshi changed the subject; he didn't think there would be any risk in the Jiangnan trip.

Taking advantage of the Western Liang King cleaning up his own mess, and the Imperial Court taking the opportunity to catch its breath, there was no war for the time being. He wanted to understand how prosperous these places were.

And ninety percent of the scholars in the world were there. He wanted to solve the problem of too few literati in Beijiang, so he finally had to make a trip.

After all, among these ninety percent of scholars, there were always those who were frustrated and not appreciated, or those who would not bow for five pecks of rice.

As long as he could find some capable people to bring back, this problem would be solved!

"Xiao Yu is in the capital now!" Wang Hou answered truthfully. "She brought a lot of 'good things', saying they could be used to open up the information network in the capital!"

"What good things?"

"Things from the Xinyue Chamber of Commerce, soap, silk stockings, and some erotic things. I wanted to see them but she wouldn't let me!"

Jiang Jinshi coughed awkwardly. "You'd better not look!"

"Yes!"

Wang Hou agreed on the surface, but his heart was itching. Since these things could help establish the information network, he should be able to use them too!