Zhao Yinggong said with a smile: "If the adults have this intention, the students can help." ”

Sun Yuanhua was silent, Zhao Yinggong mentioned "Tuntian" just now, and he already vaguely understood what the other party meant. It is true that it is indeed very cheap in terms of the land price of Tuntian in Dengzhou, but it is not easy to get rich because there are many problems to deal with the reclamation and a lot of investment, and the person in charge must endure hardships and be capable enough. This person gave up the privileged life in Hangzhou and Guangdong, and came here to reclaim the famine, what is the purpose of this person? He couldn't help but be suspicious of the purpose of this Zhao Yinggong.

If it weren't for Zhao Yinggong's strong recommendation from the Hangzhou Church and the Society of Jesus, he would have served tea and sent guests away with a few words at this moment. However, since this person has been recommended by the Jesuits and has gained the trust of the Hangzhou church, it shows that this person is "reliable" - especially the attitude of the Jesuits. Although the Jesuits are "not my race", at least they have nothing to do with the terrible party struggle within the court, and what Sun Yuanhua fears the most: neither overseas aliens nor Houjin Tartars, but those who are in power in the court and court.

He asked tentatively: "In the area of Denglaiqing, there is no fertile field, and the land is saline-alkaline, I don't know if Mr. has any magic method for clearing the wasteland?" ”

Zhao Yingong knew that his proposal for reclamation was a bit abrupt - things without interest always made people suspicious, so he was prepared for this, and immediately ordered Jiying to send a box.

Sun Yuanhua opened the box, and inside was a handful of crop seeds, a number of sun-dried stems, and a gray dried cabbage. Sun Yuanhua has a certain amount of research on agronomy. Immediately recognized the seeds of the crop as reed millet, which is common in Jiangnan. There is a kind of sorghum in the villages by the river and the sea, and it is actually a kind of sorghum.

Sorghum is a common crop in the north, and Sun Yuanhua is no stranger to it. Although this crop of reed millet has the advantages of not picking land and climate, and is very suitable for the barren land of the eastern three prefectures, the yield per mu is only 300 catties. Compared to the millet soybeans that are commonly cultivated here, there is nothing superior. Moreover, it is not popular as a food crop.

"This is the reed, to which the sorghum belongs." Sun Yuanhua didn't care, "What's the point?" ”

Zhao Yinggong thought that Lao Sun was worthy of being a disciple and son-in-law of an agronomist. He actually recognized that it was a reed millet, and sure enough, it was not a person who did not distinguish between grains, and he said: "Since your lordship knows that this is a reed millet, you always know the beauty of this reed millet straw?" ”

"When the seedlings are young, the straw is very sweet, and the country children often think that it is sugary. Book mí group 2"

"Yes, this straw has a sweet taste, so you can boil sugar to make wine......"

"Boiling sugar to make wine?" Sun Yuanhua was taken aback. Wine is either grain or fruit, and I haven't heard of straw to make wine - what can it taste like? As for boiling sugar with straw, it is even more incredible. Sun Yuanhua knew that various grains such as millet and sorghum rice could be boiled out of "syrup" -- in fact, maltose. Straw is used as feed for cattle, sheep and horses, and is used to return to the field as féi. Now someone told him that it could be used to make wine. Of course I think it's unbelievable. He shook his head, just incredulous.

"It's a secret recipe that students get from Australians." Zhao Yingong whispered, "Adults always know that Australians have secret skills in agriculture, and they can often make people rich?" ”

Sun Yuanhua nodded, he had also heard such a statement - it was said that the Australians sold the national warriors in Guangzhou, and he had also sent people to buy a lot of them for use as favors, and he thought that after some research on this kind of wine that was not too expensive. The so-called Guoshi Wushuang is just soju that is distilled very well.

Although it was just soju, he didn't have the ability to make such a sake himself. If only the Australians had a way to make sugar and wine from the reed stalks. Not surprising.

He was skeptical, and picked up the dried vegetables and looked at them. Looking at its sè color gray and black, there is nothing abnormal. There are some traces of salt frost on the leaves.

"This is Hae Ying cuisine." Zhao Yinggong introduced, "It can tolerate salinity and drought, and countless people can live in famine years." ”

Sun Yuanhua nodded, quite appreciative. At the end of the Ming Dynasty, natural disasters were frequent, and agronomists paid great attention to the study of famine, among which finding and trying a variety of edible wild vegetables became one of their regular things. In addition to many books such as "Wild Vegetable Recipes" that introduce the appearance, origin, and eating methods of wild vegetables.

"This thing is good for the country and the people." Sun Yuanhua said, "It's also produced in Australia." ”

Zhao Yingong said: "There are a lot of this thing on the Nanzhi Seashore, and it can grow everywhere, but few people know about it." It is eaten only by the salt people and fishermen of the seashore. The students thought that they could also introduce seeds on the seashore in the area of the East Three Provinces, and there was no need to plant and cultivate them. Although it is not of great use, it can also save a momentary emergency. ”

This statement greatly moved Sun Yuanhua. It also aroused his interest in the cause of land reclamation, and there was a discussion about local agriculture at the moment. The first of the three eastern provinces is mountainous and hilly, and the second is the saline-alkali land of many coastal tidal flats. Even contemporary agronomists like Sun Yuanhua have a headache about how to do agriculture well.

Zhao Yingong sold his hearsay in the old time and space plus the things he had heard and seen in the Nanhai Farm on weekdays. Don't look at the details, but many of the concepts and ideas are very novel, especially some views on the development of the mountains and hills of Dongsanfu made Sun Yuanhua quite a bosom friend.

Zhao Yingong also proposed that he wanted to recruit refugees from all over Shandong to reclaim the land in the Denglai area, hoping to give it a name so as not to be criticized by the local government.

"To recruit refugees, you first file with the governor of the Eastern Three Prefectures, and then give the prefectures and counties a subordinate and allow you to act cheaply, but the Western Three Prefectures are not easy to deal with." Sun Yuanhua expressed his embarrassment, the three western prefectures were under the jurisdiction of the governor of Shandong, and he could not interfere.

"Still, refugees have feet—"

"Students understand." Zhao Yinggong hurriedly said.

"If only you understood." Sun Yuanhua said with a smile. The two talked about the current situation from the big water in Yizhou, and gradually talked about the plight of the imperial court. He suddenly asked Zhao Yinggong: "Mr. Zhao, according to you, where is the first priority of the imperial court now?" ”

Zhao Yinggong was stunned for a moment, this was a bit of a question about his meaning. He was not Sun's staff, nor was he Sun's subordinate, so it seemed a little strange to suddenly ask about such a big policy.

He figured out what Sun Yuanhua meant, and said calmly: "The first priority of the imperial court is neither to suppress bandits nor to capture royalties, but to raise salaries. ”

"Raising money?" Sun Yuanhua said, "Mr. Zhao really has a different knowledge. He nodded a little, "It makes sense, whether the imperial court is training soldiers, suppressing bandits or imperial captives, it is still a salary!" ”

"What the Lord said is extremely true, salary is the source of soldiers, as long as the salary is enough, why worry about recruiting jīng soldiers and brave generals, why worry about not breaking the enemy?" Zhao Yinggong's words were completely in accordance with the thinking of the people at that time. But this statement is not wrong: the entire situation at the end of the Ming Dynasty was almost entirely corrupted by the poor fiscal policy of the Ming court.

Sun Yuanhua, Zhang Tao, and others were training troops in Shandong and planning coastal defense, but the biggest difficulty was the lack of food and salary, and the intermittent supply of food and salary made the morale of the army unstable, and the incidents of wage mutiny occurred frequently. With such an army, just maintaining stability is already exhausting, so let alone going out to fight.

Only a few months ago, Dongjiang Town also had a Phi Island mutiny because of the issue of military salaries, although the matter was later resolved, but the matter attracted a fierce attack on Sun Yuanhua by the DPRK and China, if it were not for Xu Guangqi and Zhou Yanru to deal with it, he would have had a hard time.

"However, there is a lack of money. That is, it cannot be throttled, and it is difficult to open source. Sun Yuanhua sighed.

Zhao Yinggong said: "Actually, the salary is barely enough, but the loss is too much......" As he spoke, he paid a slight attention to Sun Yuanhua's expression.

Of course, Sun Yuanhua understood what he meant: The food and salary were already insufficient, and civilian officials and military generals at all levels were exploited layer by layer, and it would be good if three or four out of ten could reach the hands of the soldiers -- the Phi Dao mutiny was also related to the main general's deduction of military salaries. But the matter is too big and complicated to talk deeply with such a new jiāo. He asked again: "Between gentlemen, where can this open source be?" ”

This is Zhao Yinggong's strong point. He immediately shook off the god and began to argue for the contribution of industrial and commercial taxation and overseas trade to finance. Of course, take his beloved Da Song as an example. He talked about the argument that "the Southern Song Dynasty was able to defend itself against the Jin and Méng dynasties for more than 150 years in a state of only half of the country, relying on industrial and commercial taxes and overseas trade revenues." It is a large number of papers and data found in large libraries. It's actually the truth.

"Sir, high argument." After listening to his high-minded talk, Sun Yuanhua nodded slightly and said noncommittally.

Zhao Yinggong suddenly became vigilant, and met Sun Yuanhua for the first time, so he spoke highly, whether he was right or not, it would always make people feel his superficial arrogance, and he suddenly regretted it, and no longer went deep to say, only said: "The student is lying in vain." ”

Sun Yuanhua said with a smile: "Where is it nonsense, I will have to borrow Mr. Dacai in the future." He said, "Your business, go to the Yamén in a few days to deliver the post, and I will arrange it." ”

"Yes!" Zhao Yingong bowed his head and replied, "I always ask adults to cultivate." ”

"Well said, well said!" As he spoke, he picked up the tea bowl.

Zhao Yinggong hurriedly got up when he saw it, Sun Yuanhua sent it out, and asked to stay in front of the hall, but the master refused, until the entrance of the huā hall, and repeatedly stopped each other, Sun Yuanhua turned around.

By the time Zhao Yingong left the governor's office, he had already gotten most of what he wanted. And the most important thing is a famous post of Sun Yuanhua, with this thing, although it is not unimpeded in the East Three Mansions, at least it can ensure general safety. Of course, Sun Yuanhua also reminded Zhao Yinggong that the troops near Dengzhou were frequently moved, and the guest troops crossed the border from time to time -- most of the guest troops were lawless, and theft and robbery occurred from time to time, so he should try to avoid them -- if he wanted to open up the wasteland, he must repair the village. As for his proposal to open a shipping company, Sun Yuanhua also expressed his support, saying that he would take care of people and issue tickets for smooth sea navigation.