Since discovering that this portable charger's solar charging speed is incredibly slow, Li Nian has never used this feature again. She is somewhat uncertain and says, "The merchant who sold this item to the common people claims that it can replenish electricity when placed under the sun, but the common people haven't tried it yet, and don't know how long it takes to fully charge under the sunlight."
Meng Yi was astonishingly looking at the portable charger in his hand, could something like this really absorb the essence of the great sun?
Upon hearing from Li Nian that the portable charger could be charged using sunlight, Ying Zheng said: "If one day won't do, then three days will. If three days won't do, then a month will. As long as it can be recharged in my great Qin."
Alright, you are the King, and your word is law!
Since Ying Zheng has no objections, Li Nian naturally has none as well. He took the phone and charger from Meng Yi's hand, disconnected the data line, turned off the phone, and then very discreetly handed them back to Meng Yi.
After crossing into this era, the phone and portable charger no longer belonged to him.
Observing Li Nian's actions, Ying Zheng was very pleased. This descendant from a later era was very perceptive and not an idiot!
After handling the phone, Li Nian looked at the potato being guarded by a few palace guards and said, "King, this thing in the later era is known as 'potato', also known as 'Yam' and 'Potato', which is a edible crop!"
It was clear that it was a type of crop, but Li Nian's subsequent words shocked everyone in the hall.
"This crop in the future can yield between 2,000 to 3,000 kilograms per mu, according to the calculations of the Great Qin, that is, 12,000 to 18,000 jin per mu! This crop can be both staple food and a dish; it is easy to cook, convenient to store, and has a good taste. It's not difficult to grow either."
What, how many pounds?
Upon hearing Li Nian say "according to the algorithm of the Great Qin, it can yield 12,000 to 18,000 jin per mu!" Ying Zheng's expression suddenly changed and his gaze fell instantly on the two potatoes. These two fist-sized items could yield thousands of jin per mu?
Glancing at the potatoes, Ying Zheng turned back to Li Nian and asked in disbelief, "You said how much yield per mu?"
Li Nian said: "The yield is between 12,000 to 18,000 jin per mu, but in the later era, there are fertilizers and pesticides that the Great Qin does not have. Therefore, the yield per mu should not be this high."
'Even if it's not this high, with just five times the yield, it's already a lot better than crops in the seven states. The kid must have been afraid that I would destroy the potato.'
Ying Zheng muttered to himself, and he found Li Nian increasingly pleasing to the eye, 'The countries in the later era could support a population of 140 million, perhaps this potato also played a role.'
originally Ying Zheng was thinking how the countries in the later era could support such a large population, but now he understood, it was because of crops like potatoes.
If Li Nian knew what Ying Zheng was thinking at that moment, he would have told him he was wrong. The reason later era could support so many people, should be attributed to an old man who has passed away!
Ying Zheng asked eagerly, "Is it possible to grow this crop in our Great Qin? Do you understand the method of cultivation?"
If the potato is indeed as this person said, then his population in our Great Qin would increase exponentially, reaching an unprecedented prosperity.
One of the key factors that prevent ancient populations from growing in large numbers is food. If there's not enough food, it's natural that they can't support so many people. During the Qing dynasty, sweet potatoes, potatoes, and corn were introduced, which contributed to the so-called "Kangqing prosperity".
Kangxi, Kangxi, eat bran and drink thin gruel, but there were some dynasties where people couldn't even get bran to eat. Naturally, the population could not grow.
So Ying Zheng was eager and out of control when hearing Li Nian mention the yield of potatoes!
Ying Zheng felt a burst of relief in his heart. Fortunately, he saw these things as strange and valuable enough to be guarded carefully at the time, so he didn't destroy them. Otherwise, he would regret it today because they were treasures that could revitalize a nation.
Li Nian replied, "Your Majesty, since potatoes can be grown in the later era of the Chinese Empire, they can also be grown in the Great Qin. The method of planting potatoes is known to the common people, but no one has planted them personally."
Ying Zheng wondered, "Were you not a farmer in the later era? Then where did this potato come from? Are you a merchant or a scholar?"
Li Nian shook his head: "It's unrelated. It comes from the era of the common people, where resources are far richer than those of the Great Qin, and many people do not need to farm to get enough food. That's how the common people are."
I think I understand. In the later era, with abundant resources and no shortage of food, many people can have meals even without farming.
But what do these people who don't farm do?
Join the government, become a craftsman, enlist in the army, or go into business?
With so many people not farming but doing other things, wouldn't the kings of the later era be concerned about potential unrest in the country and its impact on governance?
I almost forgot, in the later era, it seems there are no more kings!
Ying Zheng said, "In that case, I will return the potatoes to you. I hope you can grow them in the Great Qin. If you grow them well, I will reward you generously!"
Ying Zheng didn't specify what would happen if they didn't grow well because Li Nian had said that he knows the method of cultivation but has never planted them before. Now that Li Nian is being asked to plant them, it's also his first time.
Since it's Li Nian's first time planting them, there is a chance of failure. Ying Zheng is not a person who doesn't care about reason. He wants people to try, but he also doesn't want people to fail.
Li Nian said: "I will try my best to fulfill your request!"
Ying Zheng looked at him and said, "There's no need to call yourself 'the common people' anymore. From today on, you are the subject of mine. However, I will not appoint you to an official position just yet."
This means he's an official in the Qin Empire?
But this official position is a bit strange, with no official rank or title!
Li Nian said, "Thank you, Your Majesty!"
After discussing the potatoes, Ying Zheng pointed to the other items and said, "What are these things?"
He's afraid he might miss something useful for the Great Qin among these items, like potatoes!
Li Nian understood Ying Zheng's thoughts and introduced them one by one, "This is my clothing, which includes short-sleeve shirts, long pants, and underpants. The materials to make these are not easily available in the Great Qin now, but the styles can be used as a reference and replaced with other materials. This is my key!"
So it's a key, not a coin or some kind of accessory? As for the coins in the later era, how were they like?
"This is my tissue pack. Paper has great use and can be used to write down characters, far superior to bamboo slips. This pack of paper can record much more text than would take several dozen pounds of bamboo slips."
Upon hearing this example, Ying Zheng and Meng Yi immediately understood the value of this so-called "paper" and its advantage over bamboo slips.
"Of course, my tissue pack isn't used for writing, but for cleaning and hygiene. It's used to clean the mouth after meals and to clean up after using the toilet. In the later era, paper is one of the essential daily necessities!"
Ying Zheng looked at Li Nian with displeasure, such a useful item was used for...
In this era, the common people generally use wooden splinters or leaves for defecation, while in the royal palace, of course, it's slightly better, but not much.
After being in the Qin Empire for over a week and a half, Li Nian had already felt that his butt couldn't take it anymore and urgently wanted to improve his bathroom quality.
This is the contradiction between the primitive toilet conditions of the Great Qin and Li Nian's urgent desire to improve his toilet experience.
Seeing Li Nian go into such detail about "paper," Ying Zheng caught on and said, "Can we produce this thing in the Great Qin?"
