In this era, two crops a year were cultivated, mainly in the form of rice-wheat rotation, with rice intercropping in double seasons.
The cultivation of early rice seeds was relatively recent. In the early days of the multiple cropping system in the south, winter wheat was planted first, followed by rice.
Originally, early rice seeds were cultivated in the late Song Dynasty. From that period to the Qing Dynasty, double-season intercropping was the main method used in southern China. This involved intercropping early and late rice seeds, transplanting them at different times, and achieving two harvests per year. It wasn't until the late Ming and early Qing dynasties that people gradually developed a method for double-season rice rotation.
Chen Biao is not an agricultural student. Although the changes in multi-cropping systems are mentioned in economics, Chen Biao did not remember it for a while until he came across it.
Now, he asked the old farmer if he could directly rotate rice into two seasons.
The old farmer didn't dare experiment with his own land. However, Chen Biao had been awarded land in Hongdu for his contributions, and the Chen family had also purchased land from many soldiers whose families had no one to cultivate their land. The old farmer felt comfortable experimenting with the Chen family's land.
They decided to try double-season rice rotation next year. If the harvest is better than the current farming method, they will promote it to other people.
Chen Biao squatted on the ground, poking holes in the soil with his fingers: "Double-season crop rotation consumes a lot of soil fertility, this needs to be taken into consideration."
The old farmer said honestly, "I understand this, don't worry."
Chen Biao gave an awkward smile, as if he was trying to show off his skills in front of an expert.
When Zhu Yuanzhang saw his son's embarrassed look, instead of comforting him, he laughed at him.
Chen Biao pouted: "Dad, your smile looks familiar."
Zhu Yuanzhang said: "I am your father, of course we are familiar with each other."
Chen Biao pondered deeply, and then a "ding dong" sounded in his head: "Dad! You and the lord are very similar when you laugh!"
Zhu Yuanzhang's eyelids twitched and he said, "Nonsense, who looks like him?"
Chen Biao thought for a moment and said, "When Brother Zheng laughs, he's very similar to you guys."
Zhu Yuanzhang: “…” There’s nothing he can do. He raised and educated his nephew. If not him, who else could he look like?
Chen Biao just mentioned it casually. After all, the uncles he was familiar with were all military commanders, and there were too many "Haha monsters".
In August, Chen Biao sorted things out and found that there was really nothing for him to do in Hongdu, so he and Zhu Yuanzhang boarded the ship back to Yingtian.
On his way back, he saw the old man he had met by chance talking to the guard at the city gate, so he went over to ask curiously.
It turned out that the old man was asking if there was any help needed in the city. His village had just finished harvesting wheat and planting rice, and now it was the off-season, so he could go to the city to work.
The old man smiled and bowed: "Make more money and have a good New Year this year."
Chen Biao followed suit and bowed: "I'm sure we'll have a good new year this year!"
The old man glanced at Zhu Yuanzhang, his eyes flickering for a moment, and then he continued with a smile: "By the way, young master, I was just thinking of looking for you. To thank you for giving us the meat, I have something I want to give you."
Chen Biao quickly declined.
The old man shook his head and said, "They are some books. There is no use for me to keep them, so why not give them to the young master? Maybe they can be put to good use."
Chen Biao was unable to say anything to refuse.
Although movable type printing had already existed during this era, it still relied solely on manual labor to stamp the pages, rather than mechanical processes. Therefore, books were still considered precious. Many were out of print, hidden in the attics of scholarly families and rarely brought out.
Chen Biao couldn't find many hobbies in this era, so he could only read. He would be happy for a long time if he could read a book he had never read before.
According to the old man, these books...could they be out-of-print family heirlooms?
Chen Biao thought for a moment and said, "Old man, if you don't mind, I can print a set of books for you and return them to you... Well, if the book is very useful, we can discuss printing more and putting them in the bookstore so that everyone can read it and we can discuss the profit sharing! Well, if it's a family secret that's hard to pass on, then forget it."
The old man smiled and said, "It's not a family secret, but I've kept a copy on someone's behalf. If the young master can publish it, I'd be more than happy to help. Forget the money."
Chen Biao immediately said seriously, "That won't do! A gentleman loves money, but he gets it in a proper way. The reverse is also true. Why not accept money that is obtained in a proper way? If everyone refuses to accept money obtained in a proper way, then doesn't that mean the gentleman deserves to be poor? Don't good people necessarily live worse than bad people? You must take this money!"
Chen Biao complimented him several times. The old man was stunned for a long time, then he said with a smile, "Okay, okay, I won't refuse. But the book is not mine, and I can't take the money. I will send it to his family."
Chen Biao shook his head: "You were entrusted by him to do things for him, so you should get paid. I will divide it into two parts, one for you and one for the original author."
Chen Biao patted his chest and said, "I am the head of the wealthy Chen family. I am a professional in business!"
The old man thought to himself, you don’t look like a businessman at all.
He smiled and asked, "Your father is behind you, right? You are the head of the family, so your father..."
Zhu Yuanzhang joked without hesitation: "Me? I do odd jobs for the head of the Chen family."
Chen Biao put his hands on his hips: "Yes!"
The old man laughed heartily, wiped away the tears of laughter, and said, "Then I feel relieved."
I feel relieved, relieved.
When the old man saw that Chen Biao was about to leave, he asked Chen Biao to wait for a while and asked a middle-aged man to carry a box of books.
The old man said, "Just take your time on the way. I'll be here the whole time. If you have any questions, feel free to ask me."
Chen Biao smiled and said, "Okay! Take care, old man!"
He thought for a moment, then had someone bring the Chen family's commercial bill to the old man and said, "This bill can be exchanged for cloth as a deposit for the printing of the book."
Chen Biao didn't give the money because, firstly, the money was difficult to spend and, secondly, it was easy to be robbed.
Since the old man said the harvest was good, there might not be a shortage of food for the time being. But right now, everyone is rushing to plant crops to avoid starvation, so cloth is scarce. Cloth must be in short supply.
The old man was indeed very happy when he received the commercial bill.
Chen Biao waved his hand and left with Zhu Yuanzhang.
When leaving, Chen Biao and Zhu Yuanzhang said that they were lucky to have met the old man at the city gate, otherwise they would have to wait a long time to see the new book.
Chen Biao rubbed his hands together and said, "Let me see what book it is!"
Zhu Yuanzhang quickly stopped him: "Be careful!"
Chen Biao complained: "How careful should we be? Can hidden weapons still fly out from inside?"
Despite his complaints, Chen Biao still hid behind Zhu Yuanzhang and let the servants check first.
After the servants checked and told Zhu Yuanzhang that there was no poison or foreign matter, Chen Biao began to flip through the book.
"Hmm... this..." Chen Biao's eyes widened in surprise. "It's actually a book on river management? And it's all handwritten? This isn't a book at all, it's a collection of river management experiences! And this is signed... Jia... Youheng?"
Now it was Zhu Yuanzhang's turn to have his eyes wide open.
He quickly approached: "Jia Youheng? Could it be Jia Lu?"
"Dad, you know him...wait, I seem to have some impression of him..." Chen Biao pondered, "I can't remember."
Zhu Yuanzhang frowned and said, "He was already dead when you were born. You have some impression of him, probably because so many people cursed him. Biao'er, do you still remember the crimes of the Yuan Dynasty that we listed when we started the uprising ?"
Chen Biao asked, "Opening the river to turn it into money?"
Zhu Yuanzhang nodded.
In the tenth year of Zhizheng, Emperor Shundi of Yuan changed Zhongtong banknotes into Zhizheng banknotes, issued banknotes excessively, and prices soared, which was called "banknote change";
In the 11th year of Zhizheng, Emperor Shundi of Yuan Dynasty appointed Jia Lu as the Minister of Works and mobilized 150,000 civilians and 20,000 soldiers from 13 routes including Bianliang to dig a new river channel and control the Yellow River, which was called "opening the river".
The opening of the Yellow River and the exchange of currency for money led to widespread devastation for the people. The first Red Turban Rebellion came from the Yellow River construction site. The laborers, wearing red scarves on their heads, killed officials and rebelled, and the rebellion quickly spread like wildfire.
At that time, people sang a short song called "Drunk in Peace" by an unknown author, which said, "Opening the river and changing the banknotes is the root of the disaster, causing thousands of red scarves." It can be seen that "opening the river and changing the banknotes" is recognized by the people as the "source of disaster in troubled times."
Chen Biao sighed: "So it's this Jia Lu..."
Zhu Yuanzhang said: "It records matters related to water conservancy, so it must be him."
The father and son were silent for a while, and Chen Biao said, "Dad, this Jia Lu, didn't he end up in a bad way?"
Zhu Yuanzhang said, "He died in glory, even leading his troops to attack us before his death. However, the situation of the Yuan Dynasty deteriorated soon after his death. He was only a Han Chinese, and the Yuan emperor would not treat his descendants well. I guess most of his descendants have been scattered due to the people's anger over the opening of the river."
Chen Biao looked at the box of books and finally remembered the name "Jia Lu".
He was not remembering Jia Lu, the minister of river management in the Yuan Dynasty, but the "Jia Lu River".
While Chen Biao was in Zhengzhou discussing business, he heard people talking about the Jialu River. The Jialu River is Zhengzhou's second largest water source. Formerly the "Honggou" (Great Divide) between the Chu and Han dynasties, it was named after a man named Jialu, who was commemorated by the local people.
Chen Biao said, "Opening the river is a crime, but regulating it is not. Jia Lu's faults are in his own time, but his benefits will last for generations to come. Even his grave may have been dug up by angry people now, but in the future, people will still remember his good deeds in regulating the river."
Chen Biao carefully picked up the books and said, "We can't keep this box of books. We have to give it to our lord. When he becomes emperor, he will also have to manage the river. These are all Jia Lu's experience in managing the river. They are very valuable."
Zhu Yuanzhang frowned deeply. "Ah? I... we also need to control the river? It's expensive and time-consuming, and what if it provokes rebellion?"
Chen Biao said angrily, "Controlling rivers, building roads and cities is the most important infrastructure work in a feudal dynasty. If we don't control rivers and wait for them to flood, that's when the people will suffer! Dad! How did you study? All this is written in history books, but did you really read carefully? During the time I was in Hongdu, you didn't put down your books just because I didn't have letters to supervise you, did you?"
Zhu Yuanzhang shook his head like a rattle, feeling very guilty: "No, no, really not."
In order to meet the one-month rescue deadline, he had no time to study!
To cope with Chen Biao, he read like crazy after arriving in Hongdu, but he only read the Four Books and Five Classics that Chen Biao might randomly check. Even if he had read the history books before, it would be impossible for him to remember all the details after losing them for so long.
Flood control was only mentioned briefly in history books, how could he remember it!
"Hmm?" Chen Biao put down the book, crossed his arms, and looked at Zhu Yuanzhang with a serious look, "Dad, I think you are lying."
Zhu Yuanzhang reached out and covered Chen Biao's scrutinizing eyes: "No, you don't feel that way. Come on, tell Dad how important river management is."
Chen Biao was speechless : "Do I need to tell you how important river management is?! Dad, can you use your brain to figure it out?!"
Zhu Yuanzhang shamelessly said, "Aren't you here with You Biao'er?"
Chen Biao was furious: "I'm not your brain! You have your own brain!"