Zhang Jian had long noticed that the people of Daqian were not just starving due to a lack of land, but also because of the inefficient farming methods and breeding techniques of various grains.
The same grains, even in good years and fertile lands, yield only three to four hundred catties.
If the family farms on mountainous or arid lands, the yield is even lower.
Moreover, with not enough land, they still need to pay population taxes, land taxes, various labor levies, and taxes, and their strongmen are conscripted. How can they feed so many mouths?
The people's suffering is unavoidable.
Though Zhang Jian is restricted by his authority and cannot intervene in the current political situation, if he could improve crop varieties and increase their yield, he can still save countless lives.
For him, this is another source of destiny.
...
The Great Nong Temple is located at the edge of the Ministry of the Imperial Household, similarly adorned with glazed tiles and high palace walls, though the Ming Hall is slightly lower than other Government Offices, yet the officials are all beaming, it is a well-padded Government Office.
In fact, the Great Nong Temple is not just a simple agricultural office. Although major powers such as storage, accumulation, and salaries for officials at various levels have been separated by the Ministry of Revenue under the Ministry of the Imperial Household, holding powers over grain transportation, agricultural examinations, and military farming is enough to make this a wealthy office.
Zhang Jian, the Minister of the Ministry of Agriculture, usually holds the title, spending most of his time at the Sports and Arts College revising the Daqian Complete Book, with the day-to-day operations of the Great Nong Temple handled by the Minister of the Ministry of Agriculture.
As Zhang Jian stepped into the Ming Hall of the Great Nong Temple, Minister Qian Pan hurriedly came to greet him.
"Minister of the Ministry of Finance Qian Pan pays respects to the Minister of Agriculture!"
This Minister of the Ministry of Finance wore a blue official robe, slightly different from other fifth-grade officials, with golden rice ear embroidery on the sleeves and robe.
He looked over forty, his face slightly dark, yet his eyes shone with intelligence.
Zhang Jian smiled and waved his hand.
"I'm just taking a casual walk, Minister Qian, no need to worry, carry on with your duties!"
Qian Pan heard this and slightly bowed, smiling.
"If the Minister of Agriculture has any instructions, feel free to summon us at any time!"
Qian Pan remained amiable and respectful.
He knew very well that Zhang Jian, unlike other officials, had substantial qualifications and connections at court; even the State Preceptor was a regular guest at his mansion. He didn't dare to contest him, worried about being targeted and ousted from his comfortable position as the Minister of the Ministry of Finance.
Despite his concerns, he couldn't approach directly, instructing those around to be perceptive and not offend this Minister of Agriculture.
Zhang Jian headed straight for the storage room beside the Great Nong Temple.
The storage room was filled with 'high-yield' crops sent from various Government Offices across Daqian.
Clusters of tender green pak choi, along with many types of mallow, leek, horseradish, Chinese chives, and scallions.
Zhang Jian shook his head at just one glance. These vegetables were not only few in number but also low in yield.
Except for radishes and bok choy.
Bok choy is the same as pak choi.
There were also many seeds stored beside them.
The steward managing the storage stood by respectfully, but upon noticing Zhang Jian's surveying gaze, he seemed puzzled.
Noticing the steward's expression, another stepped forward and sternly asked, "Is this all that's in the storage?"
Hearing this, the clerk named Zhou Song promptly answered.
"To report to the Minister of Agriculture, these are just the fruits and vegetables sent from the Capital Region for seeding, originally prepared for officials in the temple to trial plant!"
After a slight pause, seeing Zhang Jian's gaze, he quickly added, "In other storages, there are various fruit and vegetable seeds sent from each prefecture, but they're quite similar. I don't know what the Minister of Agriculture seeks; perhaps I can assist!"
"I've managed this storage for four to five years and am quite familiar with the seeds inside!"
Zhang Jian nodded and then asked with a slight fluctuation in his gaze.
"I heard that the storage contains quite a few exotic varieties offered by the barbarian lands. Is that true?"
Frowning, Zhang Jian considered the seeds. Most didn't have much value for improvement. Changes could increase scale, but many required strict land conditions or couldn't serve as staples, failing broad promotion.
Zhou Song grew uneasy upon hearing this, and with his head lowered, he confessed.
"To report to the Minister of Agriculture, there is such a batch, but a rat infestation in the storage in recent years destroyed many seeds. I humbly ask for your forgiveness!"
Saying this, he knelt involuntarily.
Zhang Jian's expression turned stern, scolding, "How could you be so careless?!"
He had hoped these seeds from the barbarian lands could break the stalemate, only to be dashed before starting.
"Please forgive me, Minister of Agriculture!"
Zhou Song, terrified, quickly kowtowed, and the other governmental officials around the storage also quickly bowed their heads.
Zhou Song thudded his head, gradually bruising his forehead.
After a few breaths, Zhang Jian stopped him.
Zhang Jian glanced at him, coldly snorting, and criticized, "Tributes should be carefully managed, how could you be negligent?"
Zhou Song quickly added, "It's my dereliction of duty!"
Fearful of any pursuit by the Minister of Agriculture, he worried about not only losing his position but also facing imprisonment.
Zhang Jian's expression softened, but he sternly warned, "I don't tolerate negligence under my command; if more is lost from the storage again, beware of your official cap!"
Zhang Jian chided Zhou Song, warning other officials as well.
He stepped out of the storage, knowing that the situation might require assistance from Zhang Qi's family, or fellow disciples within the sect, to see hope.
Not a typical official, his vision was limited, unable to break the impasse.
In the following period, Zhang Jian instructed his family to pay attention to passing traders from the barbarian lands and any strange crops in Haojing City.
As a Yin Spirit Venerable, determined to enhance crop yields and bring out latent advantages, he had some methods.
Soon, his family indeed had findings.
One day, a young family member of Zhang brought some special items, among them unusual fruit and vegetable seeds.
Red fruits among them surprised Zhang Jian.
"Aren't these wild cherry tomatoes, so small…"
Looking at the thumb-sized tomato, Zhang Jian smirked, recalling past articles. Tomatoes originally were this small before ancestors' research and trials gradually enhanced size and yield.
With just one glance, Zhang Jian grew interested, seeing potential in them.
"Where did this come from? Any seeds available?"
The young family member quickly replied, "Lord, I picked this next to West Mountain Temple, where there's a large planting!"
"West Mountain Temple?"
Holding the small tomato, surprise filled Zhang Jian's eyes.
West Mountain Temple is near Haojing City, followed by expansive royal gardens, then royal manors beyond.
Originally a Royal Daoist Temple, West Mountain Temple housed the Daqian Royal Family's princesses and concubines who took to monastic life. Some Sinful Consorts, or those gravely ill, unable to stay in the palace, would retire and heal here.
For those concubines entering here, it was akin to being relegated to the Cold Palace.