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"Your Majesty, if you want to increase farmland, the only way to do it is to open up wasteland." Yan Yu, the head of the cabinet, took a step forward, bowed down and analyzed: "However, the labor force of farmers is also limited, except for the elderly and children. The peasant households are young and strong, men and women, but there are only 40 million people. Now it is in the register of grain fields, there are more than 300 million acres. The maximum amount of peasant labor has almost been reached. Even if we vigorously reclaim new farmland, we can increase the per capita income of some peasant households to a greater or lesser extent, but it cannot change the fundamentals. ”

This is again a problem involving labor efficiency, and the average of 10 acres of land can be planted in the prime of life. Even if they were given more fields, they would not be able to keep up. However, if you want to change the problem of labor efficiency, it involves industrial development. However, if we want to develop industry, it is difficult to liberate the manpower problem of peasant households, which now account for the vast majority of the population. It's really a link and a link.

What's even more terrifying is that the ministers don't have much thought or even a concept to develop industry. As for things like chemical fertilizers, pesticides, and the optimization of rice seeds. It also involves the knowledge of many disciplines. Poor Zhao Zhe, although he graduated from college back then, he came out in a mess. Even if you don't mix it up, it's hard to have a great effect in this society, because it's impossible for a computer to be invented.

But fortunately, Zhao Zhe has far more insight than modern people, and he can't invent it himself. But the concept of surname is still slightly understood. After a little hesitation, he said in a deep voice: "I and everyone in the court have a common goal. That is, the country is stable, and although the people do not want to live richly, at least they do not want to be poor enough to rebel. Otherwise, not only will I not be able to sit comfortably in this position. I also believe that your life will not be too easy. Among you, there must be people from Henan and Shandong, right? Now that the two places are in chaos like this, how much loss will your family suffer? ”

Zhao Zhe's words made some of the ministers' faces change, and they became a little sad, and they shook their heads. looked at Zhao Zhe with a pitiful look.

Zhao Zhe saw it in his eyes, but he also smiled and comforted a few words: "Don't worry, don't bully me." It's impossible that you guys didn't think that there would be such a day, and it was estimated that the main members would have run away with the softness. As for the fields, at most they are just barren. There are losses, but not to the point where the sky is falling. You have to trust General Yang, he will help you regain the land and property. Okay, okay, I know, I'll invite you to eat two more imperial meals when I go back. Anyway, you are all the ministers of the humerus of the imperial court, don't be pitiful like a refugee. ”

A small joke made the atmosphere a little tense at the court. Several ministers laughed. At least, they didn't go to the disaster this time.

The atmosphere was lively. Zhao Zhe cleared his throat at this time, and waited for the audience to be quiet before he said: "I add some of my own ideas, and I will also help you summarize them, as for whether you can implement it or not, whether you have a bad idea or not, I will discuss it one by one." In order to stabilize the country, it is necessary to stabilize the peasant households, increase their income, and increase their sense of stability. On this point, I have reached an agreement with all of you. There are only a few ways to increase agricultural profits. Reducing taxes, reducing rents, reclamation, increasing efficiency, increasing yields, and planting new varieties. I don't know what the meaning of Aiqing? ”

Shen Yijun took a step forward, frowned and said a little unclearly: "Your Majesty, this reduction in endowment, rent reduction, and reclamation can still be understood. It's just that this increases efficiency, increases yields, and plants new varieties. Wechen didn't quite understand. ”

Not only did Shen Yijun not understand it, but the rest of the ministers were also confused.

"Okay, I'll tell you Aiqing." Zhao Zhe stepped down from the dragon chair and walked to His Highness with his hands behind his back: "Yan Aiqing has already analyzed before, on average, a man and a woman in the prime of life can plant at most ten acres of land. Otherwise, the fields that have been cultivated too much will not have time to be planted, and they will all be wasted. What if, in one or several ways, a man in the prime of life could plant twenty acres of land with the same amount of sweat? Well, as long as the reclamation of wasteland is in place. Not only will the income of the farmers increase greatly, but the grain output of the entire Great Zhao Empire will also double. This is efficiency. ”

Zhao Zhe's words immediately caused all the ministers to discuss. In this world, how can a farmer double the number of lands? Could it be that the immortal law is not successful? One by one, they are either incredible, or frowning and thinking, but they can't think of a reason.

"Your Majesty, if there is really such a method, it will really be the blessing of Dazhao and the blessing of the people of the world." Yan Yu said with a straight face: "And the emperor is bound to be praised and happy by the people." ”

"Actually, I don't have too many practical ideas." Zhao Zhe said calmly: "I just know that whether it is cultivating new fields or ripe fields, the greatest labor is wasted on ploughing. The speed of ploughing by man and ploughing with oxen can be described as worlds apart. Yan Aiqing, as the first assistant of the cabinet, must know the difference. ”

Yan Yu was stunned for a moment, and then smiled bitterly: "Your Majesty, the old minister knows that if there is one more ploughing ox, it is often worth several middle-aged laborers. However, it is absolutely impossible to get every farmer to use cattle. Not only is the price of ploughing cattle extremely expensive and rare, but raising a ploughing cow is also a matter of consumption and difficulty. In my Great Zhao Empire, I have long legislated to prohibit the consumption of cultivated cattle, but the number is still far from enough. ”

"This is nature, and I didn't think about promoting cattle farming on a large scale." Zhao Zhe suddenly put his hands behind his back and said in a deep voice: "What if I have a way to make an ordinary farmer be able to exert the power of a cow?" ”

"What?" Yan Yu and the ministers were stunned one by one and looked at each other. Let ordinary people give full play to their strength. If this is the case, double the amount of grain land will be cultivated, and it will definitely be planted. But how is this possible?

Zhao Zhe ignored their shock and the doubts hidden in his heart. walked to the middle of the ministers, and their direction was constantly adjusting with his footsteps. Zhao Zhe turned to Xu Hong, the secretary of the Ministry of Industry who had never spoken: "Xu Aiqing, your Ministry of Industry is in charge of all kinds of construction and water conservancy projects, within your jurisdiction, is there any kind of weird person who has a particularly strange mind, likes to think crankily all day long, and makes some strange things by hand, and others can't think of things?" ”

Xu Hong almost hesitated, and immediately responded: "Yes, and there are several." ”

Zhao Zhe was overjoyed in his heart, and waved his hand: "Xu Hong, you and I will quickly recruit them to the Qianqing Palace." I want to talk to them personally. ”

……;