Zhao Erlang finally left with two hundred thousand Copper Coins; he was persuaded by his sister. The current hardship is just laying the foundation for a better future.

With the grand vision his sister drew for him, Zhao Erlang happily returned to the county government. He said to Zhao Zheng, who had been silent along the way, "When the dock is built, I want to go to Qingzhou to train soldiers. Sister said we’ll need to train a navy then. Do you know what a navy is? It’s a formidable force that fights wars at sea, specifically targeting pirates."

Zhao Zheng nodded, "I’ve heard of immortal mountains overseas where there are silver and gold mines. I’m not sure if it’s true."

He said, "If it’s true, it would indeed ease the court’s immediate concerns."

Zhao Erlang said, "But you also need seeds to sow. Sister said that having gold, silver, and Copper Coins alone isn’t enough; we also need productivity, like growing grains. Otherwise, no matter how wealthy the treasury is, if there’s no grain in the world, where could you buy it?"

Zhao Zheng said, "That’s why we must promote agriculture and sericulture!"

He perked up, saying in a deep voice, "Let’s prepare once we get back and let everyone get ready now to cultivate more and harvest more next spring."

Zhao Erlang nodded vigorously.

Zhao Hanzhang entered the study where Shen Ruhui and Cao Ping were waiting. She nodded to them and asked Zhao Yunxin to bring out the drawings. "Here are the coastal conditions of Qingzhou and Guangzhou. I’ve invited you both to discuss constructing docks in these two provinces."

Shen Ruhui’s first thought was, "Is the Great General planning to attack Yangzhou from the sea?"

Zhao Hanzhang paused and looked up at him.

Shen Ruhui was startled and lowered his head, "Please, pretend you didn’t hear anything. I didn’t say anything."

Cao Ping tried hard to reduce his presence, his heart pounding.

Fu Tinghan said, "The dock is for going out to sea."

He added, "Across the sea is a land rich in gold and silver mines, which could temporarily relieve the pressure on the treasury."

Shen Ruhui and Cao Ping couldn’t believe it but dared not speak out. They could only inwardly criticize, why not say there are immortal mountains across the sea too?

China is vast and resourceful, what doesn’t it have?

If it’s hard to find such treasures in China, how can we expect them in the barbaric lands overseas?

It’s surely for a southward attack on Yangzhou, isn’t it?

Both Shen Ruhui and Cao Ping thought they understood, and they lowered their heads to examine the drawings Fu Tinghan brought back, pondering seriously. If deploying troops from the sea, the ship’s load capacity must be quite significant, especially when, in addition to soldiers and provisions, they need to carry siege machinery, which is very heavy, meaning the selection of the docks must be extremely cautious.

Shen Ruhui quickly marked three locations on the drawings, "Judging by data and the drawings, these three places seem most suitable, but whether they can actually be built and how will require on-site inspection."

Cao Ping looked at the three spots and, after mentally calculating the data, said, "Indeed, these three places have the best data, but the real conditions are unknown."

Zhao Hanzhang pondered, "Do we need a site survey?"

To build such a large dock, the designer surely must check the site before daring to proceed, who would dare start construction based solely on these drawings and data?

Zhao Hanzhang glanced at Fu Tinghan and asked Shen Ruhui, "Shen Sinong, I’ve heard you improved the plow and harrow and the soybean planting methods?"

Shen Ruhui, after a moment’s pause, said, "I made slight modifications based on Minister Fu’s handwritten instructions; the primary credit should go to Minister Fu."

Zhao Hanzhang nodded in acknowledgment and asked, "Then, do you have any new insights on wheat cultivation and yield enhancement, as well as rice sowing and yield increase?"

Shen Ruhui hesitated for quite a while before whispering, "I, I have recently been researching how to compost. Wheat needs fertilization, annually after the harvest, but because farmers have few livestock, the compost made is insufficient."

Seeing Cao Ping’s peculiar expression, Shen Ruhui quickly added, "I’ve consulted Minister Fu on this matter. Minister Fu is truly knowledgeable about ancient and modern practices. He said fallen leaves and branches can be used as fertilizer, but they don’t decompose enough. And since things rot faster in the warm climates of the South, whereas in the colder temperatures of the North they rot slower, the key to transforming these leaves and branches into fertilizers lies in temperature."

So don’t look at him with such strange eyes; he doesn’t have special preferences. Fu Tinghan understands these things too, okay?

If anyone were to be called peculiar, it would have to be Fu Tinghan before him.

But Zhao Hanzhang was looking at him with bright eyes, "So, has Shen Sinong made progress in his research?"

Shen Ruhui quietly replied, "It’s only starting to show results; I wouldn’t claim to have fully researched it yet. I think I need to look further into it."

After all, the fertilizer he produced has only been used on a few plots of vegetable gardens, not tested on fields, so the fertilizer’s effectiveness is unknown. However, privately, Shen Ruhui is quite confident.

After a pause, he said, "As for rice sowing, I experimented on several fields in the previous and last years. Transplanting seedlings when they reach over three inches yields a taller growth at harvest compared to transplanting them at around two inches; the rice ears are longer and more drought-resistant, increasing yields by roughly one to three dōu per acre."

Don’t underestimate an increase of just about one dōu per acre; this is the average yield per acre. If there are ten acres of rice, that’s an extra hundred dōu...or one shì.

One shì of grain can feed a person for a hundred days. Conservatively, it could sustain them even longer without dying from hunger.

Zhao Hanzhang’s eyes sparkled as she looked at Shen Ruhui, reluctant to send him to build docks?

Such talent should undoubtedly remain at the Ministry of Agriculture to continue researching various crop cultivation.

Her gaze shifted to Cao Ping.

Cao Ping was startled and quickly said, "I have followed Minister Fu’s instructions and built two water mills and two pressing workshops along Luoshui, and the electricity you want to make is under research, showing some signs."

Zhao Hanzhang’s eyes lit up, asking, "Oh? Any results yet?"

Cao Ping replied somewhat aggrieved, "Just showing some signs; the craftsmanship requested by Minister Fu is very delicate, and few craftsmen can achieve it. Storing that kind of Divine Power in such a small box is extremely difficult."

In Cao Ping’s view, electricity equates to Divine Power, akin to lightning from the heavenly mountains.

Lightning is naturally a divine creation, and now Fu Tinghan wants to be a creator of divine miracles, not only generating electricity but also storing and using it, which is akin to being a god.

Every time Cao Ping went to operate and research, he was utterly terrified, and the workshop indeed exploded a few times. Though each time it was just a series of snaps with no casualties, it still frightened him.

Zhao Hanzhang looked at him with compassion and understanding, saying, "It has been difficult for you; indeed, the electricity workshop is challenging. Let’s leave this matter to Minister Fu. Cao Yuanshi, how about going to Qingzhou and Guangzhou to oversee the construction of the maritime dock?"

Cao Ping: ...

Qingzhou, a barren land, he was reluctant to go.

Upon seeing his expression, Zhao Hanzhang immediately said, "I appoint you as Sea Guardian, fourth rank, equivalent to Inspector, with the authority to mobilize the people of Qingzhou and Guangzhou to construct the dock."

The difficulty on Cao Ping’s face instantly vanished as he began to contemplate.

A Yuanshi is a Secondary Sixth-rank Official; this would be a jump of five ranks for him.

Cao Ping swallowed hard, looked at Shen Ruhui, and finally gritted his teeth to agree, "I shall not disappoint General Huada’s expectations."