The most arrogant in history

Ye Kun shook his head: "It will take several years to change rice to mulberry. Mulberry trees cannot grow in one year. I suggest that we expand the scale of silkworm production appropriately and control the scale of grain production. Because the population is growing rapidly, the demand for grain will double in the future."

There is still a large amount of abandoned farmland waiting to be reclaimed.

It is not difficult to increase the area of ​​mulberry tree cultivation.

But Ye Kun thought that silk had no obvious advantages compared to cotton.

Wearing silk in summer is very cool.

In winter, furs and old cotton-padded jackets can save lives.

The rise in silk prices was mainly due to the huge demand in overseas markets such as the Western Regions, the Roman Empire and the Kushan Empire.

Because silk is something unique to China and cannot be produced anywhere else.

Ancient Rome was very good at culture, art, mathematics, geometry, music, and architecture, but it was a mess when it came to handicrafts. They couldn't even learn to make silk and porcelain in a thousand years.

In the world before Ye Kun traveled through time, it was not until the late Ming Dynasty that the West sent people to China to study and learn how to make porcelain.

Wen Axiu also rushed over, listened for a while, and whispered:

"There are actually some benefits for farmers to grow crops and adjust the proportion of crops on their own. For the imperial court, it is enough to ensure food security. In recent years, the mulberry gardens have been consumed a lot due to the vigorous papermaking. Adding some mulberry trees will also guarantee the future of the papermaking industry."

After Ye Kun pacified the Central Plains, he vigorously developed paper mills.

There are hundreds of paper mills across the country!

The earliest papermaking used the second layer of bark of the mulberry tree, called mulberry pulp.

This thing makes beautiful, snow-white paper, and the quality of the paper is comparable to that of later generations.

All the major schools, middle schools, universities, science and technology centers, hospitals, and government offices at all levels in the country have begun to use paper, so the consumption is extremely high.

There are also other countries that know that Chinese paper is easy to use and they all come to import it.

In order to make money, paper is also exported in large quantities.

This has led to a rapid decline in the area of ​​mulberry plantations across the country.

In addition, as cotton became more popular and the status of silk declined, ordinary people no longer felt bad about cutting down mulberry trees.

According to statistics from the Ministry of Agriculture, the area of ​​mulberry plantations in the country has been reduced by half in the past five years.

In another five years, it will be gone.

Ye Kun laughed and said to Wen Axiu: "Teacher Wen, what you said is outdated. Our papermaking technology is constantly improving, and we will soon abandon mulberry pulp."

Wen Axiu didn't understand the situation yet, so she asked, "What do you use to make paper?"

"Most trees in the world can be used to make paper. And not only the bark can be used to make paper, but also the trunk." Ye Kun nodded:

"The Ministry of Science and Technology has completed research and has greatly expanded the range of papermaking materials. In the future, eucalyptus will be the main wood in the south and poplar will be the main wood in the north. Eucalyptus and poplar papermaking began to be promoted last year."

Wen Axiu smiled and said, "It's so amazing, I didn't know that at all."

Ye Kun nodded: "Making paper from tree trunks is the same. Cut it into small pieces, beat it into pulp, and then mix it with chemicals to make paper. In the past, only mulberry pulp was used to make paper, and too much tree trunks were wasted, which was a waste of resources."

Wen Axiu smiled and said, "So, the existing mulberry garden can be preserved?"

Ye Kun nodded: "The Ministry of Agriculture will soon issue an order prohibiting the cutting of mulberry trees. Leave some mulberry trees to maintain the development of the silk industry."

In fact, the area of ​​mulberry plantations in the country's four major silk bases has not decreased.

The Shu brocade of Yizhou is famous throughout the world.

If all the mulberry trees in Yizhou were cut down, the Shu brocade industry would be destroyed.

Although Ye Kun vigorously promoted cotton, he was not so foolish as to completely destroy the silk industry.

Technician Lao Zhang flattered Ye Kun: "The emperor is the emperor, he has already made plans."

Ye Kun smiled and asked, "Do you think there are other problems with local agricultural development? Big or small, you can talk about it."

Old Zhang pondered and said, "Except for the fact that food is worthless, there are no other problems. The people are living a good life, but they are a little worried that there will be another war in the future and they will have to live a hard life again."

Ye Kun smiled and said, "Then we will tell the people that there will be no more wars on the land of China for a hundred years. If we have to fight, we will go overseas and rob other people's land and gold and silver!"

Wen Ah Xiu covered her mouth and laughed, "Your Majesty, this is not your style. China is a country of etiquette, why would it go overseas to plunder?"

“Yes, it should be to help overseas development.”

Ye Kun smiled and shook hands with the two technicians, the village chief, and the villagers one by one:

"I won't bother you guys with your production. I'll come visit you again when I have the chance. When I go back, tell the other villagers that the emperor is also an ordinary citizen and will definitely lead all the ordinary people to live a good life!"

The technicians, the village chief and the farmers were all so moved that they bowed and nodded quickly.

Ye Kun left two silver coins worth one tael each: "I didn't bring any gifts, so this little money is for you guys to drink. Goodbye!"

Two taels of silver seemed a little shabby and not befitting of an emperor's status.

But for these ordinary people, it is the supreme honor.

Ye Kun walked a long way away, and the technicians and the village chief were still watching him.

Cao Xiong asked: "Principal, many years ago, when we were fighting in Phoenix Mountain, did you foresee this day? At that time, did you dare to believe that the people would not be able to finish their food?"

"To be honest, I had predicted this day when I was in Xinye County. In fact, this day came late than I expected."

"Your Majesty, you are truly a god."

"No, I'm not a god." Ye Kun turned his head and looked at everyone:

"Why do you think I could start from Pingye County, occupy Dongba, enter Yizhou, and then defeat Xiao Dequan from Jiangdong and Xiahou Chang from Zhongyuan, and unify China? Why can I lead everyone to this affluent society today?"

Wei Jinde smiled and said, "Of course it's the emperor's benevolence and great talent!"

“No, it’s technology.”

Ye Kun shook his head and said seriously: "You must remember that science and technology are the most powerful forces that will change everything and realize all our dreams!"

Cao Xiong nodded and said, "It was the emperor who vigorously developed science and technology and invented explosives, muskets and artillery that enabled us to achieve the final victory."

Ye Kun nodded: "Yes, if there were no muskets and artillery, I would not be able to defeat Xiahou Chang. If there were no scientific composting, one ox pulling a plow, and no improved agricultural technology, our logistics in Yizhou would not be able to keep up, even with guns and artillery.

The porcelain, glass, refined salt, and high-quality steel that we make money from are all the results of scientific and technological progress.”

Cao Xiong smiled and said, "After all, it's all thanks to the emperor. Without the emperor personally presiding over it, how could we have the current technology?"

Ye Kun smiled and said, "I'm not being complacent. I'm telling you that you must stick to the science and technology path in the future. No matter how much money you spend, you must not stop scientific research."

Wei Jinde asked, "Your Majesty, I heard that there is a kind of train in Zhuo County that can run 3,000 miles a day, is that right?"

"We haven't built a train that can run 3,000 miles a day yet. A train that can run 1,000 miles a day is about the same."

Ye Kun laughed: "When the opportunity arises, we can build a railway in the Hanzhong Plain. It will only take three hours to travel from east to west!"

The Hanzhong Plain is more than 200 miles long from east to west, and extends eastward to Fenghuang Mountain.

If we drill through the Phoenix Mountain area, we can connect to the Central Plains.

It is not impossible to build a railway.

Wei Jinde asked, "Your Majesty, we heard that the nine ministries are against building the railway, is that right?"