In Hongwu, we started as rebels

Chapter 854 Harvest Time, Land Prices in the Capital

As mid-October approached, Daning City became increasingly bustling.

Because of the busy sweet potato harvest, carriages and horses were constantly coming and going at the four city gates.

This caused a significant halt to the movement of many merchants and their carriages.
They could only wait patiently outside the city gate, extremely anxious.

According to the laws of Daning City, once the harvest season arrives, everything in the city must give way to the grain harvest.

Let alone merchants' carriages and horses,
Even vehicles transporting military equipment had to wait patiently.

Five miles north of the city, Lu Yunyi walked through the fields with some of his personal guards.

The gullies carved into the land have disappeared, replaced by a lush, verdant green.

Sweet potato vines have long, narrow rhizomes, with leaves only at the very end.
A casual shovel reveals a dense network of roots, intricately intertwined, emanating the unique aroma of fresh vegetables.

Beside her, Sun Ling from the Agricultural Policy Institute, dressed as an old farmer,

He wore a dark brown linen shirt covered in mud and ash, a dirty brown straw hat on his head, and cloth shoes on his feet.

Dark cheeks, deeply lined
They were no different from the old farmers working in the fields.

If there's any difference, it might only be the neat, white teeth when you smile.

He walked side by side with Lu Yunyi, his hands behind his back, and said with a smile:
"Young Lu, this thing you made is a real treasure."

Look at it, even after being eaten away by insects and reduced to a single surviving member, it's still alive. It's incredibly resilient.

Sun Ling pointed to a somewhat unusual plot of land on the left and right sides.

Most of the sweet potato leaves on top were riddled with holes by insects, and only one in ten survived.

Even so, the roots, stems and leaves of these sweet potatoes remained lush and green, exuding a vibrant vitality.

"Mr. Sun, is this a specially set-up experimental field?"

Sun Ling nodded:

"Few fields are cultivated in the Daning area, so the soil is very fertile and there are many insects."

If we don't consider how much these sweet potatoes can withstand in the Daning area, it will be troublesome to grow them later. This is called seeing the big picture from a small example.

Lu Yunyi's expression was solemn. He was very generous with this kind of experiment and even felt that the intensity should be increased.

Farming is a very complex and troublesome discipline.
It took thousands of years of development for the common people and the government to barely control the Miao people's methods, and there are still many unknowns.

He looked at Sun Ling and asked:

"Mr. Sun, after these months of research, is it possible to continuously crop sweet potatoes?"

Sun Ling glanced at Lu Yunyi with some surprise and smiled:

“You know quite a lot, unlike the crude soldiers in Beiping who think that if something grows well, they can just keep planting it.”

His expression was grave as he continued:

"In my opinion, the reason why sweet potatoes grow so well and are so easy to grow is precisely because they cannot be cropped in the same field repeatedly."
This thing is incredibly resilient; it absorbs so many nutrients from the ground.

But they've been doing this in Yunnan for two years now.
Judging from their reports, the results are quite good.

There was no damage to farmland or other reductions in grain production.

Therefore, whether or not it's possible to do consecutive works remains to be seen.
An object will grow differently and produce different yields in different places.

"A letter from Yunnan?"

"I came a few days ago, but you were fighting fiercely with the merchants in the city, so I didn't show it to you."
It's good news; we've grown more grain than last time.

With so much land spread out, a yield of five or six shi per mu (a Chinese unit of dry measure) should be no problem.

At this point, Sun Ling's sallow cheeks regained some color, and she was clearly very happy.

Lu Yunyi raised an eyebrow:
"It's far inferior to those grown in the capital."

"Alas, meticulous care is not comparable to free-range breeding. It is already a blessing for the Ming Dynasty to have five or six shi of grain."

Sun Ling said with a smile:

"I'll stay here next year and plant another crop to see what happens."
If there are problems with the land, take a break, plant something else, and see how it goes.
So, it seems I'll have to stay for another two or three years.

"Oh?"

Lu Yunyi's eyes lit up:
"Mr. Sun, although you live in Daning City, we've provided you with all the necessary carriages and a residence."
What Da Ning will become in the future depends on these next few years.”

Sun Ling nodded:

"When the time comes, give this old man a big house, no courtyard needed, just a plot of land."
"I need to study this further; it's inconvenient to do this in the fields outside the city."

Having said that, Sun Ling glanced at the guards around her and waved her hand impatiently:
"Get away from me, it's so hot!!"

The guards who had surrounded Sun Ling finally relaxed a little, and a gentle breeze squeezed out from between them.

“Mr. Sun, Daning is a strategically important border region. There are grassland people everywhere inside and outside the city. We must be wary of anyone trying to cause trouble,” Lu Yunyi explained with a smile.

Sun Ling breathed a sigh of relief and said earnestly:
“If I were more valuable in the Northern Yuan, they wouldn’t harm me.”

"You can't be too careful. When we get back, we'll get Old Sun a new house and a big vegetable garden."

Sun Ling nodded and asked:
"How's your research on that egg fat thing you told me about last time coming along?"

At this point, Lu Yunyi sighed dejectedly:

"The military craftsmen have been studying it for almost half a year, but they haven't even taken the first step yet."
"Making a complete nitrogen fertilizer is simply impossible without overcoming the challenges of high temperature and high pressure."

"High temperature and high pressure?"

Sun Ling was somewhat bewildered.

"Can't it even be placed in the iron furnace?"

Lu Yunyi shook his head:
"It's still far from enough. Even if the temperature is sufficient, the pressure is not enough. It's a huge gap."

Sun Ling was a little confused, so she asked:

"Is that Egg Fat guy really as amazing as you say?"

"If we could make it..."

The Ming Dynasty will no longer have to worry about natural disasters; having enough to eat will be a given, and not having enough to eat will be considered abnormal.

"Ang~"

Sun Ling was still somewhat skeptical:

"Is Dusi still continuing his research?"

"Of course, half a percent of the money from trade with the grasslands is invested in research on nitrogen fertilizers."
But seeing results seems a long way off.

The main problem was the lack of suitable people who were skilled in farming, weaponry, and craftsmanship.
There aren't many people in this world, so we have to take it slow.

"If I can get even five or six tenths of it before I die, I'll be thankful."

"Before you die?"

Sun Ling looked at Lu Yunyi with some surprise, and after confirming that he hadn't said anything wrong, she pursed her lips:

"By the time you die, I will be long gone and won't be able to see it."

He waved his hand again, appearing very impatient:

"Since it's something that will happen sometime in the future, there's no need to talk about such irrelevant things."
We'll continue with the current method, using seven types of fertilizer.
Try them all, and use whichever one works best.

The harvest should have already begun in the capital.

If you receive a letter, you must tell me immediately.

Lu Yunyi nodded:
"That's natural, the government doesn't understand some of the things related to farming."

"Okay, let's go. Let's look further ahead; they're using green manure there."

Made with milkvetch, alfalfa, sesbania, mung beans, broad beans, and peas, it is very expensive.
It's not cost-effective to use it for planting sweet potatoes, but we still need to see how it goes.

"Alright, Mr. Sun, please don't be stingy with your money."
When it comes to farming, you can never spend too much money.

The weather in Beijing in October was still hot.

The sun hung high overhead, generously showering down its rays.
The entire field was bathed in a golden light, causing many farmers to sweat profusely.

Despite the scorching sun, the smiles on their faces never faded.

With each swing of the hoe, his smile grew wider.

An elderly man, nearing fifty and dressed respectably, was now wearing a bright red shirt.
He swung the hoe repeatedly, sweat pouring down his face!
With another swing of the hoe, the surrounding crowd erupted in a deafening cheer.

"Yes, yes!"

All eyes were fixed on the dark, deep soil.

There, layers upon layers of plump, reddish-yellow fruits were piled up.

The soil covered its surface, and roots burrowed menacingly from the soil, one after another, intertwined.

The old man in red tossed the hoe aside, bent down, and pulled hard.
A root with more than a dozen sweet potatoes of various sizes hanging from it was pulled out.

Feeling the heavy weight in his hand, the old man was first stunned, then shocked, and then burst into laughter, shouting:
"A bumper harvest!"

This shout roused the onlookers from their reverie.

A smile gradually spread across their lips.
Then it grew bigger and bigger, and finally they all shouted in unison:
"A bountiful harvest!"

The sound lingered, frequently echoing across the fields outside Yingtian City.

The officials in the capital were busy running around, and even though their official uniforms were soaked with sweat, they did not slow down.

Prefect Gao Shou was dressed in a bright red robe.

He was carrying three plump sweet potatoes, each bigger than his palm.
He stood smiling with a group of wealthy men, watching the busy scene in the fields ahead.

A tall, broad-shouldered middle-aged man, dressed in the attire of a wealthy landowner, with a long beard, looked at the scene before him and said with a smile:

"Lord Gao, this sweet potato is truly a wonderful thing."
It's easy to harvest so much with minimal effort; I wonder what it tastes like.

Gao Shou smiled:
"Master Chen, as long as sweet potatoes are edible, it's a blessing from heaven."
Moreover, sweet potatoes taste quite delicious.

"They've already started digging. You can all take some back and try them out—steamed, boiled, cooked, fried, you name it."

Gao Shoujiang lifted the sweet potato in his hand slightly, his meaning quite clear.

Another portly wealthy man looked at the bountiful harvest before him.
His smile gradually faded, because he had thought of something.

"Since sweet potatoes are so resilient, can we also make use of those long-abandoned, rotten plots of land?"
Even planting two or three bushels, let alone seven or eight bushels, would be fine; it's free money either way.

Having figured this out, the wealthy man immediately left the group and said to his attendant:
"Quickly, hurry to the real estate brokerage in the city and buy all those unwanted, worthless plots of land!"

The attendant beside him was somewhat taken aback:

"Sir, buying rotten land?"

"Yes, buy all the land that nobody wants. Get the money from the manor. Buy it for five thousand taels of silver, the cheaper the better."

Although the attendant didn't know why, he complied since his master had given the order.

"Yes, sir, I'll take care of it right away."

Once the portly rich man returned to the group, the tall and broad-shouldered Mr. Chen immediately asked:

"Brother Jingfu, why are you in such a hurry? Are you going back to deliver good news?"

Many people turned their gazes toward Hao Jingfu.
This person is very famous in the capital region. He has a knack for doing business and never suffers a loss.

Some people are paying close attention to his every move.

Hao Jingfu rubbed his large belly, smiled, and nodded:

"A bumper sweet potato harvest is a joyous occasion!"
I ordered someone to go back to the manor and inform them to prepare some fine wine and food.
If any of you would like to try it, we can go together later.

You wouldn't believe it, but my chef came all the way from Jiangxi; he's an excellent cook!

As the crowd listened to his eloquent speech, their expressions grew increasingly suspicious.
The more he said this, the more everyone felt that things were not simple.

Prefect Gao of Yingtian Prefecture glanced back at him and said indifferently:
"Master Hao, you don't need to show off your Jiangxi cupboard anymore."
You've seized quite a bit of fertile land outside the capital; it all needs to be registered this time.

"Don't try to cheat or shirk your responsibilities. His Majesty and the Crown Prince both want to know how much was planted and how much was harvested. If there are any mistakes, you'll be in big trouble."

"Yes, sir! We will not hesitate to do our job and will record the exact amount of our spoils!"

Hao Jingfu's expression tightened, but he secretly breathed a sigh of relief, thanking Gao Shou for getting him out of trouble.

Things like buying land should definitely be done as quickly as possible.

Being one step ahead means a difference of ten thousand taels of silver.

The group wandered around, strolling through the fields and villages.

Master Chen glanced thoughtfully at Hao Jingfu several times.
He seemed a little absent-minded, as if he was thinking about something.
The sun was blazing, and after walking for about 15 minutes, everyone was already drenched in sweat.

Hao Jingfu, due to his obesity, was covered in sweat.

However, Master Chen discovered that Hao Jingfu, this fat man, was most afraid of sweat, and would wipe it off constantly whenever he sweated.

Why am I sweating buckets today and not even caring?
Something must have happened!
Master Chen strolled away from the group, beckoned to his attendant, and whispered:

"Go, send someone to find Hao Jingfu's buddy and see what he's up to."

Seeing the solemnity on the master's face, the attendant also became serious.

But after taking only two steps, he pointed somewhat suspiciously to the end of the road.

"Master, has that person returned?"

Master Chen looked over,
The guy who had just left came running back, covered in sweat.
Seeing this, Hao Jingfu also left the group and went to meet them.

The waiter, panting, said:

"Sir, someone has already made the first move; all those worthless plots of land have been bought up in the last few days."

"What? Who bought it?"

Hao Jingfu's eyes widened, a sense of unprecedented bewilderment washing over him. How could anyone in the capital be faster than him?

"My lord, it is Yingtian Trading Company, Yingtian Construction Trading Company, Xinma Trading Company, Zhenru Trading Company, Tiankun Trading Company, Sandu Trading Company, as well as Miaoyinfang and Sanxian Gang."
According to the brokers, in just five days, they bought up all the worthless land in the capital!

"what?"

Hao Jingfu was startled again.

Apart from the Three Sages Gang, whose identity was unknown, these merchant guilds...

The others are all more frightening than the last.

Yingtian Trading Company and Construction Company need no further explanation.

Behind the Xinma Trading Company is the Cao Guogong Mansion.

Zhenru Trading Company is backed by the Duke of Wei's mansion, and its main businesses are textiles and tea.

Tiankun Trading Company was owned by the Prince of Kaiping and the Duke of Kaiguo, while Sandu Trading Company belonged to the Duke of Yingguo.
Miaoyinfang was already someone you couldn't afford to mess with.

But compared to these, they seem like ants.

Hao Jingfu's initial ambition to make a fortune gradually faded.
Even with his sharpest mind, he couldn't outrun such powerful and influential figures.

The waiter then said:
"But sir, these merchants have already bought all the land."

The broker said that these plots of land would be resold tomorrow, but the prices would be higher.

Hao Jingfu's eyes widened:
"Resell it? For a higher price? How much more?"

"The owner of Xinchen Trading Company said it might cost more than twice as much."

"Only double? Only double?"

Hao Jingfu froze on the spot, then a surge of wild joy welled up within him, and he quickly grabbed the waiter's shoulder:

"You mean they won't start selling until tomorrow?"

"right"

"Okay, go back now and take out all the money you can get from your home."

Go and make arrangements with those brokers again.
"The money will be in hand as soon as the market opens tomorrow; we'll take as much as you can!"

"Yes!"

The waiter hurriedly ran away
Hao Jingfu watched his retreating figure, lost in thought.
He did not return to the crowd immediately.

Instead, he gazed quietly at the lush green fields not far away, lost in thought.
Soon, he thought of something else.

"If even rotten land can grow crops, then why is good land still so valuable?"

Hao Jingfu's heart skipped a beat; his sharp mind sent a chill down his spine.

The more he thought about it, the more uneasy he felt, and his expression became increasingly serious.

It's hard to say which will become the rotten field and which will become the good field in the future.

Taking a deep breath, Hao Jingfu ignored his friend's urging.

Instead, he stood by the roadside and quietly thought about it again.
Finally, he confirmed that there was nothing wrong with his thinking!

The price of prime farmland near Beijing, which had skyrocketed, will plummet due to a bumper sweet potato harvest.
Meanwhile, those previously stinking, rotten fields will see their prices skyrocket!
Hao Jingfu confirmed this lead.

He quickly beckoned to another employee and ordered in a deep voice:
"Listen carefully, and tell Chunwen exactly what I'm about to say."

"Make him get it done immediately. If he's slow, I'll break his legs!"

"Yes!"

"Have Chunwen divide the family's land deeds into ten parts, keeping three for himself."
The remaining seven assignments were made to trusted confidants.

This afternoon, I'll go to seven different dental shops and sell them the services at a discounted price!
The schedule must be tight, leaving no room for the dental clinic to react!
Remember, make sure he gets this done perfectly. If he doesn't, the family fortune will be split in half!

"Yes!"

(End of this chapter)