Chapter 96 Food Production Issues
Shen Xia nodded in sudden realization. So that's it.
She looked at Zheng Jinshu and smiled gratefully, "Oh, I see," and then explained, "Before, my family didn't come to pay the land tax themselves, so I'm not very clear."
Zheng Jinshu went on to say: "However, although the output this year has decreased, if we can reasonably distribute taxes and reduce the burden on farmers, perhaps we can avoid some unnecessary troubles."
Shen Xia thought about it and suggested: "Can we adjust the taxes according to the actual situation? This will not only ensure the country's income, but also take care of the interests of farmers."
Gu Zizhan interrupted: "What do you think is the right way to adjust it?"
Shen Xia looked at Gu Zizhan and said, "Pay according to the percentage of production! Pay more when production is high, and pay less when production is low. This will also ensure the livelihood of the people."
"The advantage of paying taxes based on production is that when production is high, the country can also get more harvests, and when production is low, the people will not go hungry because of paying taxes. Of course, this is the business of the emperor, and it is something that we ordinary people cannot solve. It is very difficult to change it from this aspect."
"Unless there is a senior official in the family who suggests this, it is not realistic. It would be better to change the amount of grain production."
The two people next to him had some thoughts in their minds after hearing this.
Zheng Jinshu said, "The two methods you mentioned are not as good as the first one!"
"The second one is too unrealistic. Our country's grain production has always been like this. How can it change?"
Now it was Shen Xia's turn to be curious, and she looked at the two people in confusion.
They also looked at themselves in confusion.
What puzzled Shen Xia was that they actually thought the first method was simpler.
That is to say, their backgrounds are different.
Perhaps it is a position that gives one the opportunity to make reports to His Majesty today.
Of course, after being confused for a moment, I didn't say much. Since they asked me about the second method, I would tell them my opinion on the second method.
After thinking for a while, he said, "It's about solving the problem fundamentally. I want to know how low the yield is when you say it's low. Is it the yield of a few crop varieties that is low, or is it the yield of all crop varieties that is low."
At this time, Gu Zizhan looked at Shen Xia who was talking eloquently and said, "The current rice yield per mu is more than 200 kilograms, and the court requires 100 kilograms per mu."
"This year, I heard from the agricultural sector that the current rice ear production may not even reach last year's level, so there will be even less left, and it will be difficult to survive this winter."
After hearing this, Shen Xia realized that in this era, growing crops is really not enough to support a family!
It's more than 200 kilograms, so you have to pay almost half of it, and there are many mouths to feed at home. No wonder you are so poor that you can't afford white rice.
Only whole grains can be eaten.
It's really far behind modern times.
Thanks to Grandpa Yuan’s achievements, my country’s grain output ranks first in the world today, and we don’t have to worry about food problems at all.
The general output is between 1,200 and 1,400 kilograms, and in some places the output even reaches 2,000 kilograms, but of course this is a small amount.
Not to mention a lot, even if it reaches 800 kilograms, the people can live if they hand in 100 kilograms.
Shen Xia thought that he couldn't say too much.
Otherwise, it would be unrealistic for a farm girl like me to know so much.
Now a lot has been exposed.
After thinking it over again and again, he asked, "Doesn't the imperial court have a department specifically responsible for researching crops?"
After I finished speaking, I looked at the two of them and they didn't say anything. It seemed that they didn't really understand what I said.
Then he continued: "It means setting up an agricultural department, giving that department a few acres of land, and inviting people with experience in crops to do research."
"Is the grain yield a problem of the grain variety, the planting method, or the land?"
Gu Zizhan said, "What about the problem with grain seeds, the problem with planting, and the problem with land?"
"Brother, isn't this something the court should consider? Do you think I'm omnipotent?" Shen Xia blurted out his catchphrase.
Looking at the surprised expressions of the two people: "Mistake, mistake, catchphrase--" Shen Xia smiled awkwardly.
"Although Miss Shen comes from a wild background, her vision and perspective are still far-sighted. Since you can point out the essential problem, you must have some ideas in your mind, right!"
"Besides -"
Gu Zizhan pretended to pause.
Shen Xia was thinking about what he was going to say.
I heard it by my ears
"Miss Shen, have you ever eaten pork but never seen a pig run?"
Shen Xia listened.
"Cough cough cough——"
No, brother, what you said is,
Fortunately, I didn’t drink the soup at this time.
otherwise,
Definitely spray them in the face.
Zheng Jinshu laughed. He remembered this sentence. It was what Shen Xia said in the lobby.
At this time, Zheng Jinshu also spoke up: "Shen Xia, there are no outsiders here. Because it is a crop, Zizhan and I don't know much about it. You must be more proficient in this area than us. Just tell us what you think."
After listening to Zheng Jinshu's words, Shen Xia agreed. It was normal for her to know a little about agriculture since she lived in the countryside.
"First of all, if it is a problem with grain varieties, this situation is more troublesome. It requires professionals to research new varieties of grain with high yields. It is not something that can be done overnight."
"But if the problem is with the planting method, we can try another method."
"But if it's a problem with the land, then it's either because the land is too poor or it's because we need to make it more fertile."
Gu Zizhan smiled and said, "I understand other things, but what's going on with this land becoming fertile?"
"That's right. It's what the land gave us. How can it be changed?" Zheng Jinshu was also surprised.
Although he was not as well-read as Zizhan, he was also knowledgeable.
I have never heard of what Shen Xia said.
"Land is like people. If you eat more meat, you will gain weight. If you give the land more nutrients, it will make crops grow more."
Zheng Jinshu wanted to ask more.
"If you don't eat now, the food will get cold. This can't be explained in just a few words." Shen Xia interrupted.
The two of them looked at the food on the table, their faces full of desire for knowledge.
There is no appetite at all.
But looking at Shen Xia, she is small and not very old.
She has to eat on time, she can't be hungry.
Thinking that there is a long time to come, there is no need to rush.
"Okay, let's eat first." Gu Zizhan glanced at Shen Xia.
The food on the table can only be described as nutritionally balanced.
There is meat, vegetables and soup, but it can hardly be said to be delicious.
"Shen Xia, the cooking skills of the people in the kitchen are far inferior to yours. Just make do with it." Zheng Jinshu looked at Shen Xia with an expressionless face as he looked at the food on the table.
Of course I know that because I have eaten the food cooked by Shen Xia.
The taste on the table is far from what she cooked.
But Gu Zizhan didn't expect that she was not only smart and well-educated, but also had great cooking skills.
This is the legendary versatility! Shen Xia listened and said: "Fortunately, I am not picky about food."
It would be strange if you weren't picky about food. That's just a polite statement.