Fu Tinghan had never seen sorghum flowers before, so he curiously followed her to take a look.
It wasn’t far; there were fields on either side of the road in front of the barracks, and behind was a vast wasteland and hill where they trained.
The two of them walked out of the barracks, found a patch of grass by the field, and sat down together to watch the flowers.
Sorghum flowers only bloom at night, so they could only be seen at night. It was the first ti for both of them to see them, and to be honest, it was quite magical.
While watching, Zhao Hanzhang discussed her plans with Fu Tinghan, "We still need to farm. It’s a slack farming period now, so let’s have the auxiliary soldiers open up wasteland. This year, we should plant more wheat, and if possible, also so ramie."
This would not only reduce the need to buy grain but also lessen the purchase of cloth.
Fu Tinghan said, "The yield of sorghum is still too low. I think Luoyang also needs a Ministry of Agriculture to study how to improve the per-mu yield of sorghum."
"Regarding hybridization," Zhao Hanzhang mused, "I vaguely recall reports suggesting that besides interbreeding cereal seeds, sorghum can be crossed with barnyard millet too, but this is not sothing that can be achieved overnight."
Zhao Hanzhang plucked a foxtail grass and lightly tapped the sorghum ears in front of her, softly saying, "Though it’s not sothing that can be done overnight, it indeed needs to start because food is the foundation of the country, and it’s necessary for the future."
Fu Tinghan nodded, "The Ministry of Agriculture in the Yu State focuses on the wheat yield; Luoyang here can entirely focus on sorghum. If even one of these grains makes progress, it’s a significant benefit for the people."
Zhao Hanzhang thought of so historical records, lowering her eyes with a solemn expression, "In a few years, there will be a great drought, followed by locust plagues, so the drought resistance of wheat and sorghum is crucial. I’ll find soone tomorrow; indeed, the Luoyang Ministry of Agriculture needs to be established."
However, establishing the Ministry of Agriculture wasn’t sothing that could be done just by wanting to; they needed to find people who knew farming and research.
Not just any old farr would do; the person needed to have an investigative mindset, and literacy would be even better.
One had to admit, even in farming, people who had studied had broader and more profound thinking and were more inclined to research.
Zhao Hanzhang rifled through the people she knew, found no one suitable for the task, and could only say, "Let’s post a notice to recruit people first."
Fu Tinghan heard her sowhat resentful tone and couldn’t help but laugh, "Lack money?"
Recruiting people cost money, especially for special talents, which required more expenditure.
Zhao Hanzhang replied, "I don’t lack houses; I can settle them down easily, but to let them live in peace and work diligently, having just a house isn’t enough."
Fu Tinghan thought for a mont and said, "I still have so money; you take it first. Gao Hui should be back soon; he took a lot of goods this ti, and conservatively estimated, he can exchange for a lot of things."
He comforted Zhao Hanzhang, "Once he returns, you’ll have money to use."
Zhao Hanzhang cheered up and asked, "Can he make it back before the Dragon Boat Festival?"
Fu Tinghan calculated the ti and nodded, "Should be around that ti."
He continued, "He’s not just bringing money back; there will also be so Northern Land goods for trade in Luoyang. The Dragon Boat Festival is a major event; he should make it back by then."
Indeed, Gao Hui planned to return to Luoyang before the Dragon Boat Festival, intending to purchase a batch of sheep and cloth from Bingzhou.
He knew that Luoyang lacked everything now — grain, at, cloth. Even though a lot had been taken from the remnants of Luoyang, a skinny cal is still bigger than a horse, and once they return to Luoyang, they’ll quickly have money again.
As long as he could bring back goods, there was no worry about selling them.
So, Gao Hui took the money he just earned from Shangdang to buy sheep and cloth, heading toward Luoyang, not expecting to encounter bandits on the way.
But the people Gao Hui brought were not ordinary; all of them were elites selected from the Zhao Family Army.
As soon as they were surrounded by bandits, they swiftly drew knives from the carts and ford a military formation to face them.
Having road the world for many years, Gao Hui was not inexperienced. Seeing the bandits intimidated and taking a step back, he stepped forward with a long sword and clasped his fists, saying, "Gentlen, I’m Gao Hui from Shu. This isn’t my first ti passing Hai’er Ridge, and I’m aware there are heroes on the mountain. I wished to visit but have not found the way, hence the miss."
"Since I have the fortune to et the esteed gentlen tonight, why not bring out a few jars of wine and speak frankly? In the future, I’ll be traversing this ridge many more tis."
He implied a willingness to pay a toll.
Qiao Sheng, the head of Hai’er Ridge, erged, his gaze sweeping over the dozen carts encircled by them and the sheep penned to the side, a glint of greed flashing in his eyes.
He scrutinized Gao Hui for a mont and said, "I don’t mind letting you pass the ridge, but you have to leave behind half the sheep and carts."
Gao Hui’s face darkened as he said, "Mr. Qiao has quite the appetite. If passing Hai’er Ridge once requires giving up half of the goods, then I’m truly afraid to cross it."
Qiao Sheng bared his teeth and said, "At least half; brothers work hard to co down the mountain at midnight and can’t return empty-handed."
Gao Hui bargained with him, "I’m willing to give up ten sheep, another ten pieces of cloth, and fifty thousand coins. How about that?"
This was a very high price for a toll.
Still, Qiao Sheng directly shook his head, firmly insisting, "No way, at least half."
Upon hearing this, Gao Hui discreetly glanced at Zhao Chang standing to the side. Zhao Chang was the leader of this military escort, reputed to be skilled in martial arts and a distant kinsman of Zhao Hanzhang’s lineage, albeit from a very remote branch.
His family was extrely poor, so he joined the army. Unfortunately, he had only brute strength and wasn’t heavily relied upon by Zhao Hanzhang.
As soon as Fu Tinghan spoke, he obeyed imdiately, precisely because Fu Tinghan would be his future son-in-law, like Gao Hui. If he couldn’t be heavily used by Zhao Hanzhang, he would stand out here with Fu Tinghan.
Seeing Gao Hui looking over, Zhao Chang glanced at the bandits and, with a firm heart, nodded.
Gao Hui didn’t know, but Zhao Chang did, that these goods eventually returned to the lady, and the lady’s assets ultimately supplied the Zhao Family Army.
These were the brothers’ military supplies; to want to rob them had to depend on whether the knife in his hand agreed.
With Zhao Chang nodding, Gao Hui’s face darkened as he said, "Since Mr. Qiao doesn’t agree, then there’s no need to discuss further."
With that, he drew his sword and charged forward.
Qiao Sheng hadn’t expected him to act imdiately, quickly wielding a knife to block. The companions behind him, upon seeing this, drew their swords and charged with a shout.
Zhao Chang also led his n to charge forward.
These bandits had indeed seen blood and killed people; their skills weren’t bad, and they had so coordination among themselves, but they were still a notch below the Zhao Family Army, who were specially trained.
Besides, who among them hadn’t been on the battlefield and killed people?
They were planning to trade with the Xiongnu and Jiehu in the Northern Land; how could they not be diligent?
After a fierce battle, the bandits had three to four out of ten killed, and the rest turned to flee. However, several from their side had also died, with more wounded.
Gao Hui, skilled in martial arts, spat out a blood-tinged spittle and said viciously, "We can’t stay here for long; treat the wounds briefly, take our dead, and cross Hai’er Ridge tonight."
When they arrived here, it was already dark. To avoid being targeted by bandits, he purposefully did not enter Hai’er Ridge, instead camping outside, planning to cross the mountain at dawn. Who would have thought the bandits would specifically co to surround them?
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