Chapter Fifteen: A Mu of Sugarcane Forest (Seeking Votes and Bookmarks)

  The Zheng family has a large estate of nearly 1,000 hectares on the outskirts of Luoyang City.

  The people of several villages around, almost all rely on doing tenant work for the Zheng family to make a living. The farming season is about to arrive, and the tenants are also getting anxious... Although since the beginning of the imperial court, Emperor Yang of Sui has been continuously strengthening the promotion of the equal-field system, but a large amount of land occupied by aristocratic families will not be easily returned. Not to mention that most of these fields are the Zheng family's permanent property, even those exposed fields, wanting the Zheng family to return them easily is not an easy task.

  In its heyday, the Zheng family had a vast amount of good land, with just one place in Luoyang having over 10,000 hectares.

  Now reduced to thousands of hectares, it also seems to indicate the decline of the Guandong aristocracy. However, a dead camel is bigger than a horse, and even if the Zheng family is not what it used to be, it still occupies an important position in the Hebei region. This status lies not in the size of official positions, but in family reputation and prestige. The reputation of the Guandong aristocracy is far beyond that of the Guanlong group.

  In early spring, the fields showed vigorous vitality with dew.

  Dozens of diviners, led by the steward of Tianzhuang, observed the earth's energy in the fields. These diviners were also a specialized profession. Unlike geomancers, their main work was to inspect the land every spring.

  How is this land divided?

  Which piece of land should be left idle and which one should be cultivated?

  No feng shui master's inspection, will never easily start work.

  Watching those busy fortune tellers, Zheng Yance couldn't help but feel a sense of melancholy.

  It's really true that every profession produces a top talent... I didn't expect that investigating feng shui would also become a career.

  What is professionalism?

  This is what it means to be professional!

  At least in later generations, Zheng Yanqing had never seen such a meticulous division.

  Several attendants followed behind Zheng Shisan, occasionally answering questions raised by Zheng Shisan, and sometimes even engaging in fierce arguments.

  Zheng Yanqing was very leisurely, walking aimlessly in the fields.

  Xu Shiyou didn't come, he had no interest in this kind of thing. As he said, it's better to stay at home and read a book or practice boxing than to go to the countryside for a stroll. But Zheng Yance was instinctively eager to watch. After all, in his previous life, he hadn't missed many such occasions. According to Zheng Shi'an, when the dragon raises its head, the tenants will also worship heaven and earth to pray for good weather and a good harvest. Probably because of this reason, Yance followed along...

  Zheng Shi'an was busy, Zheng Yanqing borrowed a donkey and rode it around the village.

  The wind in early spring still has a bit of chill, but it's not piercing. Blowing on the body makes people feel very comfortable.

  Especially the breath that permeates the air is the earth's energy stored for a whole winter, taking a deep breath can make people feel invigorated. Every year after autumn harvest, farmers will discard those stubble in the fields to nourish new life.

  And these natural fertilizers, after a winter of fermentation, are transformed into the land's vital energy.

  Breathing in such fresh air gives people a kind of inexplicable sense of satisfaction... it's very comfortable and also makes people feel happy.

  "Huh?"

  As he wandered aimlessly, Zheng Yance suddenly pulled tight on the reins of his green donkey.

  "Xiao Ba?"

  "Yes, Master Zheng!"

  From behind the donkey, a boy of eleven or twelve years old ran over. Although he was dressed as a farmer, he looked quite handsome. The boy's surname was Mao, and he was the eighth child in his family, the son of a tenant farmer. In rural areas, people didn't have names, so everyone called him Mao Xiao Ba (Mao the Eighth). Over time, Xiao Ba became his name. Although Zheng Yanqing was only the grandson of the steward of the Zheng family, to these tenant farmers, he was like heaven... After all, neither Zheng Da Shi nor Zheng Ren Ji would come to interfere with farm work. The real person in charge was still someone like Zheng Shi An, the steward.

  How many seeds to distribute, how much land to allocate, as well as farm tools and oxen, and the amount of rent, are all under the management of the steward. A single word from Zheng Shisan could send a tenant to heaven; similarly, a single word from him could also send a tenant to hell. Therefore, this time when Zheng Shisan inspected the estate, the estate managers did not dare to slack off in front of Zheng Yanqing either.

  Xiao Ba's older sister is the concubine of Tian Zhuang, the manager of the estate.

  So the task of accompanying Zheng Yance fell on Xiao Ba's shoulders.

  Zheng Yanqing pointed with his whip at a distant riverbank and asked: "What is planted on that riverbank?"

  Xiao Ba replied, "I reported to Young Master Zheng that it was last year when Manager Zheng brought back sugarcane from Lingnan. He originally wanted to use these sugarcanes to make some brown sugar for convenient daily use. But unexpectedly, after planting them, they didn't grow."

  Later, I heard that the sugarcane planting season and method are very unique, and it can only produce sugar on sandy land. The manager thought it was troublesome, so he gave up the idea. That piece of land was not good to begin with, and after the busy farming season started, he put this matter aside. The manager said that after the busy farming season is over, he will deal with these sugarcane and then rest for a year before planting again next year... Actually, if I may say so, this piece of land is not worth cultivating, it's really poor.

  The planting method of this sugarcane is indeed different from ordinary crops.

  In late autumn, just before the frost, cut off the head and tail of the sugarcane, and bury it in the mud. Avoid low-lying areas with accumulated water. Then, 5 or 6 days before the rain comes in the second year, take it out from the soil. After peeling off the outer skin, cut the sugarcane into sections of about 5 or 6 inches long, and place them densely on the ground, with the head and tail connected like fish scales. Cover with a little mud. Later, sprouts will emerge, and they should be transplanted separately, preferably in sandy soil near a river.

  It seems that Zheng was only aware of the need to plant near the riverbank, but did not understand the steps involved in planting.

  In later generations, as regional differences became smaller and smaller, sugarcane, which was originally grown in the south, also had a large number of plantations in the north. Zheng Yanqing's ancestors were in charge of this area, so they weren't very unfamiliar with the method of planting sugarcane either.

  It's nothing much to plant sugarcane after all.

  The problem is that the cultivation of sugarcane is complicated and has many limitations, making it difficult to promote large-scale planting in the north. Moreover, this thing seems to have no other use except for producing sugar.

  Zheng Yanqing shook his head and gave up on the idea of planting sugarcane.

  If he had just discovered the sugarcane forest, he did indeed have such an idea. But as soon as he thought about its feasibility, Zheng Yance immediately gave up on this idea. It wasn't worth it, and it seemed to have no practical value.

  The young donkey's halter is ready, and Qing is preparing to leave.

  Wait, just now Xiao Ba said... using sugarcane to make sugar?

  China's sugar-making techniques date back to the Western Zhou Dynasty. However, at that time, the main product was maltose, also known as barley sugar. The cultivation of sugarcane is recorded in the Chu Ci. In the famous "Chu Ci - Zhao Hun", it says: "Hui Bao sugar cakes, with sugarcane juice." Here, "Zhe" refers to sugarcane, and "Zhe Jiang" refers to the juice of sugarcane.

  In Zhang Heng's "Seven Disputations" of the Eastern Han Dynasty, there is a sentence with "sand sugar stone honey".

  Rock candy is a small crystal, also known as the prototype of granulated sugar.

  During the Renzong period, the sugar people ate was dull in color and often had a syrupy hue. However, the amount used was extremely large.

  People like sweets even more, and some will add sugar when brewing tea.

  The price of sugar is not too expensive, so even ordinary families can afford it. Moreover, sugar is not like salt and other commodities that are strictly controlled by the government and subject to high taxes. The cost of sugar is low, but its prospects are very broad. The key lies in improving the production process of sugar, which can dominate the market.

  Of course, with Yiwenqing's current ability, it is naturally impossible to monopolize the sugar sales market.

  But Zheng Yanqing knew the method of refining sugar, and also knew the deep processing technology of sugar, that is, the production process of rock sugar. To say, this craftsmanship is not very profound, but it is absolutely ahead of this era.

  "Master Zheng, Housekeeper Zheng is calling you."

  Mao Xiaoba's voice awakened Zheng Yance from his contemplation.

  He looked up and saw Zheng Shian waving at him from a distance, indicating that he should hurry over.

  "Oh, let's go then."

  Yan Qing had no choice but to temporarily give up on the idea and hurriedly rode his donkey forward.

  But in his heart, he was working hard to recall the craftsmanship of making white sugar. If he could really make white sugar, it would be a big income. Of course, there was also the issue of a partner, which needed careful consideration.

  He knew very few wealthy merchants, only Xu Ge and Zhang Zhongjian.

  It's not a big deal if Zheng Yanqing can control Xu Shixun, and persuade Xu Ge to take over. However, the relationship between Xu Ge and the Zheng family is too close, if he tells the Zheng family about this matter, then the one who will be welcoming Zheng Yanqing might be a disaster.

  If Xu Gei is not found, then there's only Zhang Zhongjian left.

  To say the least, Zhang Zhongjian is indeed a suitable candidate.

  One, Zhang Zhongjian's father was the richest man in Yangzhou, and behind him was the support of the Wu County Zhang family. The main production area of sugarcane is concentrated in the Jiangnan region, and the Zhang family has this innate advantage. This point is absolutely not comparable to Xu Ge.

  And secondly, Zheng Yanqing and Zhang Zhongjian didn't have much contact, but it can be seen that Zhang Zhongjian is a very straightforward person.

  Neither Sun Simiao nor Du Ruohui gave a low evaluation of Zhang Zhongjian.

  But the problem is whether Zhang Zhongjian can convince his old father? Moreover, he himself does not know how to contact Zhang Zhongjian, which is a big trouble. Before thinking of a good way, Yanqing decided to hide for the time being.

  At the same time, there was another idea in his mind: how to tie Xu Shixun firmly to his own ship?

  "It's all right, things have been settled..."

  Zheng Shi'an smiled and said: "The sky is getting late, let's go back now. If it's too late, I'm afraid we won't be able to enter the city."

  Zheng Yanqing nodded and followed Zheng Shi'an as he prepared to get on the car.

  It's strange to say that the donkey actually followed Zheng Yanqing step by step, and no matter how hard others pulled the reins, it wouldn't work.

  "Do you want to go back with me?"

  Zheng Yanqing smiled and looked at the donkey with a smile, stretched out his hand and hugged the donkey's face.

  "Otherwise, come back with me... Grandpa, is it okay?"

  Zheng Shi'an smiled warmly and said, "Since this beast is willing to follow you, take it back then."

  In this way, the donkey's halter was tied to the carriage, Zheng Shian and Zheng Yanqing sat in the car, leaving the Zheng family manor.

  "Grandfather, if... I mean if, the young master really has other ideas, what would you do?"

  On the road, Zheng Yankai suddenly spoke up and asked.

  Zheng Shi'an was so clever and naturally understood the meaning of Zheng Yanqing's words.

  Earlier, he had said to Yanqing: Zheng Renji may not let Zheng Yanqing be the book boy of Zheng Hongyi. In fact, there is another layer of meaning here, that is, whether Zheng Renji will value Zheng Shi'an? I'm afraid it's also a problem.

  Zheng Shi'an's face turned gloomy as soon as he heard this question.

  He hesitated for a moment and said softly: "If that's the case, let's leave Luoyang and go back to serve Master."