Northwest of Qingzhou Prefecture, Qilizhuang.

The village didn't have a name before sweet potatoes were grown, and the locals called it Beizhuang. Since Du Feng and Zhang Lei's people tried to grow sweet potatoes here, the shogunate adopted the name of the Ministry of Agriculture and named it Qilizhuang in order to facilitate communication.

After Liu Yan heard this, he smiled and said to Miao Shao: "Qilizhuang? Is there still a flower called Qilixiang in the village? ”

Miao Shao was stunned when he was asked.

In early June, the fields were extremely hot, Zhang Lei, and Du Feng sweated like rain, leading a group of officials from the Ministry of Agriculture and the people of Qilizhuang to be busy in the fields, and everyone was shirtless and shirtless in the fields.

"Haha, Consultant Du, this sweet potato is really high-yielding, dozens of seedlings are planted, and there are so many sweet potatoes harvested!"

Du Feng said with a smile: "What is this, those dozens of seedlings are not even planted in an acre of land, I estimate that this harvest is about 1,000 catties." ”

"There are so many!"

Zhang Lei laughed and said, "Dozens of seedlings can produce more than 1,000 catties, which is unheard of." If wheat and rice could be produced in this way, the world would be really peaceful. ”

Du Feng said: "How can wheat and rice be so productive? But this sweet potato, I have seen it when I was in Manila, about one acre of sweet potatoes planted, as long as the fertilizer and water are sufficient, there are no pests and diseases, and there can be a yield of more than 3,000 catties when harvested! ”

Zhang Lei looked at Du Feng with excitement on his face and said, "Okay! Well, great! ”

Zhang Leiyi said three good words in a row, his heart was full of hope, and he couldn't wait to promote sweet potatoes to the whole of Shandong, and even the whole world

Go.

When everyone around heard this, they were all smiling, and the busy and hard work during this time was finally not in vain, and the sweet potato trial was off to a good start, and it was successful!

"Minister, Advisor Du, look, it's the governor here!"

Zhang Lei, Du Feng hurriedly looked up, and saw a large group of cavalry rushing into Qilizhuang from the official road in the north, and the first person was Liu Yan in civilian clothes.

As early as half a month ago, Zhang Lei and Du Feng discussed that the sweet potatoes were about to be harvested, so they sent someone to report the matter to Liu Yanyu.

Liu Yan laughed and walked into the field, looking at the sweet potatoes that had been piled up, it was really happy to see so many sweet potatoes in this era, and I really missed the aroma of roasted sweet potatoes.

"Meet the Doge!"

Zhang Lei, Du Feng and others saluted one after another, and the hired Qilizhuang farmers all knelt down, and when they saw the face of the governor of Shandong, these honest farmers had already trembled with fear.

Liu Yan smiled and said, "Haha, everyone works hard, get up, don't be polite." ”

Then Liu Yan picked up a sweet potato and looked at it, it was a little different from the sweet potatoes that had been continuously optimized and cultivated in later generations, smaller in size, and more pitted, I don't know how it tasted, whether it was as sweet and delicious as sweet potatoes in later generations.

But this is no longer important, because this sweet potato, that is, sweet potato, is originally for the sake of hunger, in order to prevent the people from starving to death, it is used to fight famine, as for the taste, it is not within Liu Yan's consideration at all.

"Have you harvested everything?"

Zhang Lei wiped his sweat, and at this time, he didn't care about the heat, hurriedly put on his clothes, and said: "Qiyu Governor, it's almost the same, it's all over."

Less than an acre of land has already been harvested. ”

Du Feng on the side also hurriedly put on his clothes and said: "Governor, this is the first time I have planted it, and I have harvested about more than 1,000 catties, but the next stubble will be fine, these sweet potatoes are cut into small pieces and cultivated, and they are directly planted as seeds, and those seedlings can also be planted." So many sweet potatoes and seedlings are enough to plant more than ten or twenty acres, and the next harvest will be much more. ”

However, Liu Yan was also worried, and said: "If this is planted round by round, will this sweet potato be degraded, that is, will the yield be less and less?" ”

Du Feng was slightly stunned, and then said: "There is this possibility, but there is also a way to solve it, that is, to cultivate better seeds." ”

"What's the solution?"

Du Feng said: "Yes, when I was in Manila, I consulted with a local sweet potato farmer, and there are two ways to do so. ”

"The first method is called rattan potato cellar seedling cultivation method, which is to store the sweet potato vines harvested that year in the cellar, and must ensure sufficient moisture and temperature, so that the sweet potato vines will not wither, and even continue to grow in the cellar. In the second year, the sweet potato vines in the cellar are taken out and cuttings are used to grow seedlings. ”

"The second method is called potato root seedling cultivation method, which is to build a damp and warm house in winter, transplant the potato roots into the house, and wait until the next spring to take them out and plant them directly."

"Of course, there is a premise for both methods, that is, the sweet potatoes and vine seedlings taken must be the best of the best, and the sweet potato vines should be grafted every two years, so as to avoid the drawbacks of lower and lower yields."

Liu

Yan was very surprised after hearing this, because in the impression that Manila belongs to the tropics, right? Is there winter over there too, and why is the second way to grow sweet potatoes specifically in winter?

After listening to Liu Yan's inquiry, Du Feng said: "When I heard the local farmer talk about it, I was also very surprised, after all, Manila is hot and humid all year round, and there is basically no time when it is too cold. The farmer had said that the second method had been learned from the Franc man, and the rest was unknown. ”

Liu Yan nodded and said secretly: "It's no wonder, those Spaniards must have also grown sweet potatoes in their homeland, it seems that the winter in Spain is also very cold." ”

Then Zhang Lei also picked up a sweet potato, and said with a smile: "Governor, is this thing delicious, what does it taste like?" ”

Liu Yan didn't dare to guarantee whether the sweet potatoes at this time were the same as those in the later generations, so he said with a smile: "This is for Consultant Du." ”

Du Feng said: "If this sweet potato is eaten raw, it is very crisp and sweet, but there is no juice. If it is roasted or steamed, it is very soft and glutinous, sweet and rich. ”

Zhang Lei's work for a long time, listening to Du Feng at this time, he couldn't help but be a little greedy, and said with a smile: "These sweet potatoes are so precious, they must be preserved, and they can be planted again this year." It's just a shame that I can't taste it. ”

Liu Yan smiled and said, "Then try it!" ”

Everyone was surprised, although there are more than 1,000 catties of sweet potatoes, plus seedlings, you can plant more than 10 or 20 acres, but this amount is still a drop in the bucket for the victims of the entire Shandong. Therefore, every sweet potato and every seedling is very precious, and everyone never imagined that Liu Yan would be so easy to speak.

Liu

Yan picked and chose among a pile of sweet potatoes, found four sweet potatoes that were not very well developed and not too full, and said to everyone: "Come, let's roast these few and taste the taste!" ”

Everyone was overjoyed, Zhang Lei went to fetch water to clean the sweet potatoes, Du Feng found a place to dig a pit to make a stove, and Miao Shao went to find firewood.

Soon several people were ready, Liu Yan took out the fire fold and lit the fire, and threw the four sweet potatoes directly into the fire.

The surrounding farmers, officials of the Ministry of Agriculture, and guards surrounded one after another, and everyone had never seen a roasted sweet potato, and they didn't know what it tasted like, and they were looking forward to it.

Soon, a rich and sweet smell wafted out, everyone sniffed and showed a look of surprise, Du Feng said with a smile: "Yes, this is the taste, I really can't imagine that our Daming is tens of thousands of miles away from Manila, and we can eat baked sweet potatoes again!" ”

Liu Yan saw that the fire was almost over, so he asked Miao Shao to extinguish the fire, and then took out the four sweet potatoes and peeled them, revealing the chestnut-like "sweet potato meat" inside.

"Come on, everybody share a little bit, just taste it."

After speaking, Liu Yan directly broke a small piece while it was hot, and everyone quickly divided the four sweet potatoes, and the dozen or so people in front of them all got a small piece, but the people behind only smelled the fragrance, and the four sweet potatoes were not enough for everyone to share.

Liu Yan looked at everyone's regretful expressions and said with a smile: "Don't worry, I estimate that by the time of next year, at least in the Qingzhou Mansion area, sweet potatoes can be planted in a large area, and everyone will be able to eat them by then." ”

Zhang Lei said unsatisfied: "Haha, this sweet potato is really delicious, the governor has seen people, and Du Consultant is brave."

I have known people, and we can eat sweet potatoes, which is the blessing of the governor and the Du consultant! ”

Du Feng suddenly blushed, and smiled, not knowing what to say.

Liu Yan said: "Bendu is not the first person to introduce sweet potatoes, in fact, in the Wanli Dynasty, some people have already begun to plant sweet potatoes in Fujian. It's just that when there is chaos today, this sweet potato is also silent in various places. It is estimated that even if there are still people planting in other places, it is only sporadic and cannot be promoted at all. ”

Du Feng said: "The governor is right, this sweet potato is a good thing, after we harvest this time, we will promote planting, and the next year will be better." In another two or three years, it will be fully promoted in all provinces of Shandong, and even if there is drought and famine, we will not be afraid of all parts of Shandong! ”

"yes,"

Liu Yan listened to Du Feng's words, and couldn't help but sigh: "Only when you have food in your hands can you not panic!" ”

Then Liu Yan said to Zhang Lei: "These sweet potatoes and seedlings are all properly stored, don't be stolen." In addition, you should discuss with Consultant Du to plant a stubble as soon as possible and strive to harvest again this year. ”

"Yes."

Zhang Lei said: "Governor, my subordinates are going to build a cellar in the city of Qingzhou, and after the second harvest, all the sweet potatoes and seedlings will be stored and guarded by special personnel. ”

Liu Yan nodded and said, "Okay, the specific matters will be drawn up by the Ministry of Agriculture." ”

"The governor should go into the city to rest, his subordinates have been staying in Qingzhou Mansion City during this time. It is that Shen Tuo, the general of the middle camp, just led his troops to Jinan Mansion some time ago to station, otherwise he could still let Shen Shen treat him tonight, and his subordinates and ministers would eat him. ”

"Haha,

Forget it, Shen Tuo's military salary is saved for his daughter-in-law, and Bendu should go to someone else to fight the autumn breeze. ”

"The governor won't return to Jinan?"

"Don't go back yet."

Liu Yan said: "This time, the governor will inspect various places to see the results of the implementation of the new policies in various places. ”