The Prodigal Son of Zhenguan

After the nap, Li Fu took the children to the garden where flowers were grown. The gardeners were still studying how to take care of the two new cotton plants.

This thing is rare in Jingyang County. It was brought from the palace, and they only knew a little about it.

Cotton is not actually a flower. It is an economic crop.

"Have you seen cotton before?" Li Fu looked at the four children.

The children nodded.

They also lived in the palace, so they had seen it.

"This cotton is white. How can it be used as a filling for clothes and bedding?" Li Tai asked in confusion.

Li Fu reached out and picked the white cotton ball.

"Why not?"

The gardener was waiting on the side. Seeing his husband doing this, he felt uneasy.

Just picked it like this?

"There are several clumps on this one. I'll pull one off. Have you ever observed silk?" Li Fu asked, and then tore the cotton ball apart in his hand: "Tear this thing apart and make it fluffy. Just this small bud can make a lot of it fluffy."

"And this thing has a lot of yield."

"Just these two plants, see how much they can produce."

"Now is the season for picking."

"Keep the seeds of cotton and plant them again next year."

"As an economic crop, cotton can bring more income to the people of the Tang Dynasty if it is planted on a large scale. For example, in places with suitable environments, people plant cotton, dry it after picking, and go to Seeds, processing and packaging, these processes all require manpower to complete, so that an industry is formed, a profitable industry. ”

“Some places are suitable for farming, and in some places, farming is not as good as growing this thing to make money. The purpose of the court is to let the people make money and live a good life, right?”

“Moreover, after this industry is formed, the people who grow and process cotton make money, and other people spend money to buy cotton to make cotton clothes and quilts for themselves, and they can also survive the winter.”

“The price of this thing must be cheaper than fur, and it is warmer than reed flowers.”

Li Fu pulled the cotton ball in his hand apart, rubbed it a few times, separated the cotton from the seeds, and carefully collected the cotton seeds.

“Look, how soft it is.” Li Fu said: “In terms of comfort, it beats other materials.”

The children gathered around Li Fu and looked carefully at the small ball of cotton in his hand.

"Try it and feel it." Li Fu said, "You can also pick other cotton balls, don't feel bad."

It is because of the excessive pain and reluctance to waste that the wonderful use of cotton has not been discovered. Otherwise, cotton clothes and quilts should have been popularized long ago.

It is not that the Tang Dynasty does not have the ability to plant it.

After conquering the Western Regions, such a large area is just left empty? What kind of Protectorate is there just to manage the caravans?

Isn't this a waste?

Li Fu looked at the gardener waiting next to him.

"Keep all the seeds of these two cotton plants. I will send someone to the palace to ask for more seeds. Next year, open a separate piece of land on the farm and plant all cotton." Li Fu ordered.

"Yes." The gardener could only respond.

As for how to plant it, he will serve carefully at that time.

He will do whatever the young man says.

"Although I don't know whether the farm is suitable for growing cotton, I have to give it a try." Li Fu said, "After the cotton is harvested next year, I can try to make new cotton clothes."

Now thinking of cotton, Li Fu also remembered a more important thing.

That is, in the fourth year of Zhenguan, Li Shimin wanted to use troops on the grassland. The environment on the grassland is different from that in the Central Plains. As we all know, the temperature is lower the further north you go in winter and spring.

If there is cotton before the war, it will be an extra layer of protection for the soldiers rushing on the grassland.

No, we have to plant more cotton next year.

We need to collect more seeds.

"Cheng Qian, after returning to the palace, Uncle Wang wants all the cotton seeds in the palace."

Cotton seeds are selected in March, planted in April, and picked in September and October...

Li Fu doesn't know if he can catch up.

Why didn't he think of this earlier?

After all, he lived a comfortable life. In winter, he had a heated kang and a ground heating system. He also had a leather coat when he went out and a heater in his arms. He was not bothered by the cold at all.

Even his thoughts were corrupted.

This is unacceptable.

"Okay, Uncle Wang, don't worry. I'll go to Ayeti." Li Chengqian patted his chest and promised: "I promise to get all the seeds in the palace for you."

"Uncle Wang, do you want to plant cotton on a large scale next year?" Li Tai asked: "Won't we be able to see cotton-made cotton clothes and quilts next year?"

"IfIf it succeeds, it is indeed true. "Li Fu nodded in response.

"Then I would like to come and see it when it is planted next spring, and when it is harvested and made into cotton-padded clothes and quilts." Li Tai said, "I am curious about how it gets from the ground to people."

"Okay, no problem." Li Fu smiled and touched Li Tai's head.

This child is really smart and studious.

"Follow Uncle Wang to the study. I will show you what Uncle Wang has been busy with these two days and listen to your opinions." Li Fu smiled.

He took the children back to the study.

Li Fu asked Xiao Tao to collect all the drawings on the table, and then took out the drawings on the farm.

"Look, this is the academy. This was originally the farm of the Pei family. Later, the Pei family gave the farm to your grandfather, and your grandfather gave the farm to me, because the academy will expand here in the future and occupy this area. "Li Fu said, pointing at the blueprint.

"The academy is so big?!"

The children were a little shocked.

Li Chengqian and his friends had taken classes at the academy. Last year, the academy was just a large courtyard with a large classroom and two side rooms. This year, it has been expanded and is much larger than last year, and there are more places for other classes.

But according to the plan mentioned by Uncle Wang, the expansion of the academy this year is far from enough.

I don't even dare to imagine how grand the academy will be in the end.

"The one completed this year..."

"It's just the first phase of the project." Li Fu said: "Some of the larger projects on the farm are divided into phases, one phase and two phases, and there is still a lot of work to do on the farm in the future. "

"Now most of the farmers in the village still live in thatched houses. When the second phase of the housing project starts next year, we will replace the houses for the farmers. We can't let the houses collapse when there is heavy rain or snow. We will get some good quality houses for them to move in. During the rainy and snowy seasons, I, as the head of the family, can worry less."