Three Kingdoms: A Million Soldiers Grown from the Fields

Chapter 71 Repaying the Emperor's Kindness (Please continue reading 4k words)

Zhang Xian watched as Bu Er ran downstairs with delight, his eyes slightly narrowed.

'Difficult to grow'

"Yes, the cotton that entered the Central Plains from the Western Regions mostly came from India. It's called Sindhu now, right?"

He seemed to understand why Bull had hesitated earlier; it was because he was afraid of offending someone.

Indian cotton is a tropical crop, and it is indeed difficult to grow it in the Central Plains region.

The cotton that was passed down to later generations—no, it should be said that most of the cotton in later generations was replaced by American cotton, which is why it could be grown all over the country.

However, it is a fact that cotton thrives in warm climates. Even in later generations, the best quality cotton was produced in Xinjiang, which is now the Western Regions.

However, it was African cotton that truly began to be widely cultivated, but that was during the Ming Dynasty.

He had finished the wine in his glass, and tapped the glass as he pondered.

Seeing that his brother Xian was lost in thought, Zhao Yun quietly got up and poured him a glass of water.

'Let's just say we're talking about Indian cotton. As long as it can be grown in our fields, we're not worried about not being able to develop a variety that can be widely promoted.'

Even the worst cotton is still cotton, and cotton can be used for many things! At the very least, if it can be used to stuff winter clothes, that's a great thing. Besides, I just touched that piece of cotton fabric, and the quality wasn't as bad as I thought.

Cotton has many uses, which is why he values ​​it so much. Not to mention the simplest thing: keeping warm, bandages made of cotton are better for cleaning wounds and stopping bleeding than those made of linen.

It will definitely be useful in the future.

Moreover, he narrowed his eyes.

The news of purchasing seeds at great expense needs to be spread by Boer, preferably widely among the Hu merchants.

There are plenty of good things in the Western Regions and Europe. As long as we get off to a good start, we won't be afraid that those merchants who risk their lives won't be tempted.

Qian Ge went too close. If he had gone further west, he might have brought back even more good things.

Pity.

He stopped tapping the table with his knuckles, grasped the bottle, raised it, and drank it all in one gulp.

Footsteps echoed downstairs.

Boer came in a hurry, carrying a wooden box.

"Steward Xiahou, you have done your mission well and managed to find it."

He knelt down beside the table and pushed the wooden box in his hand toward Zhang Xian.

The wooden box looked shiny, so it must have been a temporary replacement.

Zhang Xian reached out and pressed down on the wooden box, not even opening it to check: "Aren't you afraid I'm trying to trick you?"

"Haha, Steward Xiahou is joking. I am not very talented, but I am good at judging people. Judging from your behavior, even if your identity is fake, you are definitely a noble person."

Boer laughed heartily.

Zhang Xian nodded slightly and slid the wooden box he was holding toward himself.

"I don't have many hobbies, I just like novelty. There are many good things in the Western Regions. If you are capable, you can also collect some unique seeds of the Western Regions for me. As long as they are not available in the Han Dynasty, bring them to Peach Blossom Spring and I will give you a profit."

He opened the wooden box, which was filled with fine, dry seeds. Without even looking closely, his ability to identify hundreds of herbs was already activated.

[Cotton seed: Tree cotton, originating from Sindhu, growth cycle 200 days, requires long-term high temperature environment.]

With a snap, he closed the wooden box again.

It's definitely cotton, but unfortunately, it's a tree cotton variety. No wonder it's so much worse than African cotton.

One is tree cotton, the other is grass cotton; their growth cycles are completely different.

However, it's not too bad; a 200-day cycle is only 240 hours in the homestead field.

I don't believe we can't grow three crops a month if we switch to this method.

When he left Peach Blossom Spring, his home and fields had already yielded a crop that had been replanted, so he was now very confident.

Given enough time, let alone replanting, it's not impossible to improve the tree cotton to be completely identical to the grass cotton.

Seeing Zhang Xian's delight, Bu Er, who was kneeling beside the table, still interrupted, saying, "Although Steward Xiahou has already spoken, I still have to offer some advice. Even in the scorching heat of the Western Regions, this poisonous white berry may only grow in June or July. The climate of the Central Plains is not suitable for its cultivation."

Zhang Xian looked up at him and nodded: "I know what you mean. I'm just curious. If it grows, great. If it doesn't, so be it. I only care about the process."

"Steward Xiahou has a good heart." Bu Er raised his cup to offer a toast, but then, remembering that the man in front of him did not like to drink, he turned to face Huang Zhong and the other man.

"Let's drink together, please!"

"please!"
-
After a round of drinks, Bull was completely drunk, and the two of them ended up making a business deal.

Zhang Xian sold 100 jin of diluted sorghum liquor for 10,000 coins; as for how much Bu Er would sell it for, that was his own business.

The price of 10,000 coins for 100 jin was not actually a discount for him; on the contrary, it was more expensive than the price given to the Zhou family.

A vat of fermented sorghum from Taoyuan yields 200 jin (approximately 100 catties), which, when diluted with water, produces 400 jin (approximately 200 kg) of liquor. The price given to the Zhou family for 400 jin is 30,000 coins, which is considered wholesale.

However, according to Bu Er, the price of diluted liquor that arrived in Luoyang had been inflated to 400 coins per jin (500 grams). No wonder it's called "grain essence"—it's completely concentrated.

Four hundred coins could buy a bushel of wheat; there are definitely many wealthy people in Luoyang.

After the banquet, the guests were all in high spirits. Zhang Xian and Bu Er agreed to meet again in Taoyuan a month later, and then they left.

The business deal was a pleasant surprise, but Zhang Xian clearly lost interest in sightseeing.

Now that the cotton seeds are planted, he can't wait to fly back to Peach Blossom Spring and plant them.

Even if only the homestead fields can produce a small amount in the early stages, the cumulative effect of three rounds a month can still produce some cotton cloth. It is good to experiment in advance.

Nothing can be made simply by having raw materials; initial research and exploration are unavoidable.

With the accumulation of technology, once a cotton variety is improved to be suitable for planting in the Central Plains, Taoyuan can start production directly.

Once outside the restaurant, Huang Zhong instantly sobered up from his drunken state.

"Does my lord still wish to explore? Just a thousand meters ahead is the East Market, where most horse traders live."

Upon hearing this, Zhang Xian shook his head: "No, the novelty of Luoyang will wear off quickly, it's time to go back. Gongzhi can wait, but that thing can't."

That thing?
Oh, what a big head! In July weather, if we dawdle any longer, by the time we get back to Peach Blossom Spring, all that will be left is a skeleton.

"Zhong, go prepare the horses. Ayun, guard our lord well."

Huang Zhong bowed to Zhang Xian, then turned and walked to the other side.

Zhang Xian looked at Zhao Yun. "Young man, young man. He drinks whenever someone offers him a toast, and his face is all red."

She smacked him on the head in an annoyed tone: "You're still guarding me? I'm the one guarding you, not you."

"Hehe, I won't drink next time." Zhao Yun hiccuped, looking embarrassed.

"Yes, it's best not to drink alcohol for the rest of your life. So many heroes have fallen victim to it."

"I'll remember that, Brother Xian."

"So you're willing to call him Brother Xian again?"

Zhang Xian glanced at him.

The latter scratched his head: "As Mr. Gongzhi said, it's better to address him as 'Lord' when we're out in public."

"Yes, yes, Mr. Gongzhi is right, and what I said is not right."

"No, I'll listen to Brother Xian."

As the evening breeze caressed their faces, they left Luoyang and embarked on their journey home.

Along the way, passing through Chenggao Pass and Hulao Pass, Zhang Xian would stop for a moment at each place to deeply imprint the route in his mind.

We might have to find a different way to travel this route in the future.

Leaving Hulao Pass and heading straight for Xingyang Ferry, the hundred-mile journey was covered in the blink of an eye, from morning to dusk.

That's already considered fast.

We stopped at Xingyang Ferry at nightfall and crossed the Yellow River early the next morning. Now we were on a smooth road.

The area from Xingyang to Yecheng is also a plain, where one person and two horses gallop at high speed.

As I was running, I heard a "ding" sound.

【Riding skill level: 3 (3/50000)】

Skill sub-items:
Spirit Bone Whistle: The mount bound to the whistle will automatically appear within a suitable range of 200 meters when you blow the whistle.

Gale Ride: Increases the speed of the horse by 10%.

Breathing without panting: The horse's stamina consumption has decreased by 10%.

I traveled over 600 li from Changshan to Wancheng, and now I'm traveling back from Wancheng. The journey is already more than halfway over, about another 300 li. My horsemanship has finally improved.

While riding, Zhang Xian glanced at the newly appeared skills and casually selected them. Three level-three skills appeared, but they were all related to terrain, so he simply selected them all, aiming for a well-rounded approach.

Mountain Horse: Your horse is more familiar with mountainous terrain, reducing the speed penalty by 20%. Desert Horse: Your horse is more familiar with desert and Gobi terrain, reducing the speed penalty by 20%.

Grassland Horse: The horse you ride is more familiar with the grasslands, and the speed penalty is reduced by 20%.

He closed the control panel, and his warhorse suddenly sped up.

No, you're classifying plains as grasslands?!

"Oh!"

The sense of speed rushed towards him, and Zhang Xian couldn't help but cheer.

Seeing this, Huang Zhong and Zhao Yun could only sigh and then increase their horse speed.

That was incredibly tiring.

Fortunately, the speed increase only lasted for half an hour, after which their lord slowed down again.

Passing through Dangyin, Chaoge, Handan, and Jingjingkou.
It took them six days to travel three hundred miles.

When we went to Wancheng, it was 600 li away and it only took us seven or eight days to get there, even if we rushed. Perhaps because we weren't in a hurry on the way back, it took us even longer.

From the beginning of July to the end of July.

Six tall Liangzhou horses stopped at the entrance to Taoyuan.

After nearly a month away, the scent of Taoyuan seemed even more comforting.

The originally uneven dirt roads are now paved with gravel, and the streets are clearly well-planned.

A cry of an eagle rang out from high above.

Suddenly a gust of wind ruffled Zhang Xian's dark hair at the temples.

"You have a pretty good eye for things."

On horseback, Zhang Xian turned his head and chuckled as he flicked the beak of a falcon.

The latter stepped on his shoulder, shook its body a couple of times, spread its wings slightly, and then began to preen its feathers.

"Go home."

He dismounted, and Huang Zhong familiarly stepped forward to take the reins.

"The scent of Peach Blossom Spring is still the best," he said with a smile, leading his horse behind his lord.

Zhao Yun also looked nostalgic. Although they had only been away for about ten days, the group seemed to have been away from home for a long time.

"Let's go, let's deliver a gift to Gongzhi!"

Zhang Xian laughed and took a wooden box from Huang Zhong's horse.

The two men led the horses, and Zhang Xian entered the Peach Blossom Spring in front.

"The owner of the village!"

"The master is back!"

"The owner of the manor is back!"

"The owner of the village."

"."

Upon entering the Peach Blossom Spring, the villagers along the way all bowed and greeted them.

Outsiders may not know, but they hadn't seen their own manor lord for over ten days. They felt as if something was missing in their hearts, fearing that the past few months had all been in vain.

Fortunately, their leader has returned, and their spirit has returned as well, so they can't help but smile with joy.

Zhang Xian nodded in agreement as he walked, and by the end of July, all the fields in Taoyuan had been planted, with lush green bean sprouts emerging from the soil.

The view is pleasing to the eye.

The peach trees transplanted along the stream also stretched out their branches and leaves.

These all originated from the two peach trees in the fields of our home.

They're already more than half a person tall now. If all goes well, Taoyuan will really have peaches to eat next year.

Along the stream, dozens of branching peach trees are arranged in two neat rows.

Zhang Xian nodded in agreement.

It seems that Alan and Han Ji did a lot of work during his ten-day trip away.

As they entered the depths of Peach Blossom Spring, the shouts from the martial arts training ground became even clearer, and further away, the faint sound of children reciting their lessons could be heard.

The clanging of blacksmiths could be heard, and wisps of smoke rose from the warehouse, indicating that the brewing work had never stopped.

"It's always more lively at home," he couldn't help but laugh.

Behind him, Huang Zhong kept glancing in one direction.

"Alright, alright, I'll go find Gongzhi myself. You go find your sister-in-law."

Zhang Xian wasn't without tact, and he directly laughed and scolded.

Huang Zhong laughed heartily, handed the reins to Zhao Yun, and then quickly rode away.

"Ah Yun, just tie the horse up and let it run by itself."

Holding the six reins, Zhao Yun nodded with a smile: "I know, Brother Xian, don't worry about me. I'll practice martial arts when I'm free."

"become,"

The three parted ways in Peach Blossom Spring, each going their own way.

In the thatched cottage, children learning to read and write sway their heads.

"To know what you know, and to know what you don't know, that is true knowledge."

"Good, you all recited it well. That concludes today's lesson. After class, write down what you have learned today and hand it in to class tomorrow."

"Yes!"

Dozens of children stood up in unison and bowed to the Koreans, then happily jumped out of the thatched cottage.

"Where does this little girl think she's going?"

Li Zhen was also in the cheerful group, but before she could run out of the thatched cottage, a thick, large hand pressed down on her head.

"Ah! It's the head of the family!"

Upon seeing the person's face, Li Zhen was so happy she almost jumped for joy. Fortunately, Zhang Xian held her down, otherwise Lord Niu would have turned on his knees.

"Master, when did you get back? Have you eaten? Did you eat well while you were out? Were you tired from the journey? Did someone cover you with a blanket while you slept last night?"

With her little mouth, she chattered on and on about the trivialities of life.

"Okay, okay, stop it, stop reading. It's all very good, very good. Go do your homework now. I heard you. You need to write. Has Caotang already started teaching writing?"

Zhang Xian was so confused that he immediately pinched Li Zhen's cheeks and pulled them outwards.

"Woo-ah-wa-la."

Li Zhen struggled for a while, but how could the kind little girl be a match for the evil master? In the end, she had no choice but to suffer a crushing defeat and leave the scene.

"Uncle Zixu, I hope you are well. Goodbye, Uncle Zixu."

Huang Xu finished his studies and rushed over, grabbed Li Zhen's hand, and ran outside, afraid that he would be the next one.

The last student had also disappeared from sight. Han Ji walked up to Zhang Xian and bowed.

"I am well, Lord."

"Okay, everything is fine."

Zhang Xian nodded and smiled, then became more solemn as he handed the wooden box to Han Ji.

"Your presence brings comfort to my family."

The wooden box was slowly opened, revealing a stench of decay emanating from a head covered in lime that could no longer suppress its putrid odor.

With just one glance, Han Ji slammed the wooden box shut again.

He gazed at the sky for a long time, and finally let out a deep sigh.

"My great revenge has finally been achieved! I have no regrets in this life."

He immediately discarded the wooden box, straightened his clothes, hair ornament, and sleeves.

He knelt heavily on the ground, facing Zhang Xian, and cried out.

"I will serve as a servant to repay your kindness!"

(End of this chapter)