I am engaged in construction in Datang

"Sister, this plant called cotton was planted by me before."

Li Shimin said: "I am ashamed to say that I felt that this plant was too fertile, attracted insects, and had average yields. The cloth made from it was not as good as silk, so I planted it in the garden for viewing."

"Brother, you haven't found the right solution." Li Yin drank tea.

This cannot be blamed on Li Shimin. The cotton production in the mainland is indeed average at that time. It consumes soil fertility, has deep roots and fertilizer, and also causes soil salinization. It was only in later generations that it gradually developed in the Yangtze River and Yellow River basins.

The population of the Tang Dynasty was small, and people could not stop farming to grow cotton. After growing cotton, the land would be wasted.

"The best place for cotton to grow is not in the Central Plains, but in the Western Regions!"

"What my sister-in-law means is..." Li Shimin hesitated. Why did he feel that there was something else in his sister-in-law's words?

Hiss—could it be what he thought it meant?

Li Yin took a sip of tea and did not continue with Li Shimin's words. Instead, she began to introduce the growing conditions of cotton: "Brother, the three most important factors for cotton growth are temperature, light and water."

"If it were a normal crop, the environmental conditions in the Central Plains would naturally be feasible, but the living conditions required by cotton are quite different from those of other crops, which is why it cannot survive in the Central Plains."

This is not the future, we cannot improve better seeds or change environmental conditions.

In comparison, the easiest option is to directly choose to grow cotton in the Western Regions.

For example, many merchants who cooperated with Zhuangzi have now gone to the south to grow tea trees and sugarcane. I believe that next year every household in the Tang Dynasty will be able to afford white sugar.

Li Shimin listened attentively, while Wang Desuqing on the side was busy taking notes.

"Cotton doesn't need very high temperatures to grow?" Empress Changsun also knew the weather conditions in the Western Regions. People there wore leather clothes with exposed arms, and it was cold at night and hot during the day.

"That's right!" Li Yin gave Empress Changsun a thumbs up. Since the swearing-in ceremony that day, the thumbs-up gesture for praising people has become the most popular one in Chang'an.

"Cotton doesn't need high temperatures to grow, but it needs plenty of sunshine. It doesn't need continuous rain, but it needs plenty of water."

After hearing this, Li Shimin finally understood why he couldn't grow cotton.

"This is a troublesome little devil!" Li Shimin said, and then complained: "I want to eat the whole fish, but I don't want to see a single fish bone!"

"Yes!" Li Yin agreed.

After everyone finished eating the rice noodles, they were served fruit snacks and milk tea.

"Cotton prefers warmth to heat. Continuous high temperatures will hinder its growth and development. So, after being exposed to sunlight during the day, the temperature will drop at night." Li Yin took a sip of the milk tea. It tasted delicious. I haven't had it for a long time.

"Cotton needs sufficient sunlight to grow. Four or five hours a day is not enough. It needs at least six hours, and it has to be for several consecutive days. The sunlight in the Western Region just meets the requirements."

"In addition, cotton also needs an important growing condition, water resources."

"But there is very little rainfall in the Western Regions!" said Li Shimin.

"But the groundwater resources in the western region are extremely abundant, and together with the water resources of the southern river (Tarim), and the important snowmelt water, it can fully meet the irrigation needs of cotton."

Li Yin said: "Less rainfall is actually a good thing. Cotton attracts insect pests, and rain is not good for cotton growth."

"Okay!" Li Shimin thought for a moment and said, "Then let's go buy cotton and have it planted in the Western Regions."

"Why buy cotton..."

"Master, Duke Liang is here, along with his wife."

Before Li Yin finished speaking, the Qianniu Guards guarding outside the manor came to report.

Li Shimin: "..."

You come here more often than I do!

"Let's go and meet them." Li Yin stood up, followed by Feng Sanxi and Li Xiaochun.

The villagers served more snacks and tea so that people wouldn’t eat the leftovers.

Soon, a group of people came over, talking and laughing.

As soon as I walked into the wing room, I saw Li Shimin and Empress Changsun sitting on the upper throne.

Fang Xuanling: "..."

Oops, we crashed.

Then he quickly winked at his wife, but did not dare to expose His Majesty's identity.

Mrs. Lu was a smart person and understood it immediately.

"Please take a seat. Auntie, there's no need to be restrained. We're all family here." Li Yin invited the two to sit down and have some tea.

Fang Xuanling bowed to everyone, then pulled Lu to sit down and said, "Master Li, the other day when Madam saw newspaper boys selling newspapers everywhere in Chang'an, she was suspicious. When I told her about the difficulties faced by the newspaper boys, she was greatly shocked and wondered if she could do her part to help."

Mrs. Lu bowed and apologized, "I wanted to ask Qiao Lang to ask first, but I couldn't help being impatient. I'm sorry for being rude to Master Li."

Li Yin quickly grabbed Lu, feeling very excited.

This is just like sending a pillow to someone who is sleepy. Her women's factory just happens to be lacking a person in charge and a spokesperson!

At this time, laws and etiquette are above everything else. Even if Li Yin recruited female workers, she did not dare to let men and women work together. Everyone was separated, and even the cafeteria was divided into men's and women's areas.

Only in the village are there no taboos about these things. Men, women and children all learn and work together.

"Don't be abrupt, don't be abrupt, Auntie, please sit down."

Li Yin took Madam Lu's hand and asked them to sit down: "Auntie, you came at the right time and solved my urgent problem!"

Empress Changsun was confused, so everyone explained it to her again.

"Sister-in-law, is there anything I can do?" Empress Changsun's eyes were bright, full of expectation and hope.

Although she is in charge of the harem now, she has less time now that things are on the right track.

What's more, she felt that she could do more than just take care of the affairs of the harem.

"Of course! I have planned it long ago!" Li Yin nodded. The first chairman of the Women's Federation will depend on Empress Chang Sun!

It's just that it's not convenient to bring it up now: "Sister-in-law, take care of your body first, until you can run five miles in one breath, then I will rest assured to hand over the most important work to you."

"When the time comes, we will not only need sisters-in-law, but also many sisters and sisters to come together. Only when we gather together can we have strength!"

Empress Changsun knew that her sister would not lie.

If so, then there really is something for her to do!

She can also bring the concubines with her. Everyone has things to do, so the concubines in the harem won't cause trouble when she is away!

Li Shimin: "..."

I held Bangbang’s beating heart with one hand, feeling like something was about to happen. What should I do?

"Sister, let's continue talking about the cotton in the Western Regions."

Li Yin nodded and continued the previous topic.

"Brother, we can't purchase cotton directly from the Western Regions. Doing so will only make them raise the price and become more arrogant, which is not good for the Tang Dynasty. We all know that group of people cannot be tamed. We can't lure them with sweet dates, but beat them with sticks."

Li Yin added: "Of course, even if we defeat them, they will come back in the future."

Li Shimin naturally knew this truth: "What do you think, sister?"

Over there, Fang Xuanling's forehead had already started to sweat.

How did you end up discussing this?