I run a training class in Shu Han

Chapter 56 brings the issue to the surface.

"His Majesty has issued an oral decree to immediately summon Meng Guang, the Grand Minister of Agriculture; Zhang Yi, the Chief Secretary of the Prime Minister's Office; Jiang Wan, the Prime Minister's Office Director; Yang Min, the Supervisor of Agriculture; Lü Yi, the Supervisor of Agriculture; and Zhuge Qiao, the Weir Official, to the palace."

At the command of Chen Dao, the commander of the Imperial Guards, more than ten Imperial Guard cavalrymen set off from the palace to deliver the imperial edict.

Since food is a matter of national lifeline, Liu Shan immediately summoned the officials in charge of agriculture in Chengdu to form a special discussion meeting.

Zhuge Liang was quite surprised by his decisive and efficient style.

Within half an hour, all the officials on the imperial edict were anxiously waiting outside the palace gates.

"This year's grain harvest is less than in previous years. Has His Majesty summoned us to the palace so urgently to punish us?"

"The amount of grain Chengdu produces each year is recorded. Your Majesty should not blame us without asking why."

"Everyone knows what the situation is this year. It's already quite an achievement to have this harvest. We can't possibly grow any more surplus grain."

"I originally thought I could achieve my political goals for this year, but now that this has happened, there's no hope of promotion. I just hope I won't be punished by His Majesty."

"There is a reason for this. I wonder if Prime Minister Zhuge could intercede for us before His Majesty?"

The officials waiting to be summoned whispered among themselves, their hearts filled with anxiety.

After Liu Shan ascended the throne, he governed Yizhou with radical political tactics. All officials, from the central government to the counties and prefectures, were extremely cautious and self-disciplined, fearing that they might make mistakes that would affect their political achievements.

As grain was of paramount importance to the imperial court, officials were extremely afraid of making even the slightest mistake.

Just when they thought it was going to be a bumper year, an imperial edict from Liu Shan summoned them to the palace, making them anxious and fearful.

"His Majesty has decreed that all of you are to enter the palace."

After Wang Gui jogged out to report, he led a group of anxious officials into the palace.

Upon arriving at the side hall, just as the officials were about to bow, Liu Shan preemptively said, "Gentlemen, there's no need for such formalities. Please be seated."

Everyone was slightly taken aback.

Judging from Liu Shan's tone, it seems he did not intend to punish him.

After everyone was seated, Liu Shan didn't waste any words and went straight to the point.

"The Prime Minister has already told me the general outline of this year's national grain harvest; it is estimated to be around twenty-five bushels per mu."

Upon hearing this, everyone's hearts skipped a beat.

It seems His Majesty is still not satisfied with the grain yield.

They kept their heads down, but their eyes secretly glanced at Zhuge Liang.

"Before you all came, I had already discussed with the Prime Minister how to improve and increase grain production. This is the method proposed by the Prime Minister to increase production. Please take a look."

Wang Gui handed the memorial in Liu Shan's hand to Meng Guang, the Grand Minister of Agriculture.

After Meng Guang finished reading it, he handed it to Zhang Yi and the others.

Everyone nervously swallowed hard as they read the memorial.

No one dared to drink the tea served by the palace maids.

Because they still don't know what the purpose of this meeting is.

After everyone had finished reading, Liu Shan asked, "What do you all think?"

After a moment's hesitation, Meng Guang, the Grand Minister of Agriculture, said, "Your Majesty, Chengdu's yield per mu in previous years was at most thirty hu, but this year it has decreased due to the war. If we follow the Prime Minister's method next year, it is possible to reach thirty-five hu per mu."

This statement is very prudent.

First, the facts are stated, then the reasons are explained, and finally the conclusion is drawn, making it impeccable.

But saying it is pointless.

Liu Shan, well aware of the intricacies of officialdom, said, "The Battle of Yiling depleted the national treasury's reserves. Most of the people are working on an empty stomach this year, and they will have to wait another year to solve their basic needs. What will they do for the next year?"

"The Imperial Academy must continue to operate, the army needs to be expanded, and grain reserves need to be stockpiled. What should we do if our yield per mu is only thirty-five bushels?"

Liu Shan's words were like sharp knives, aimed straight at the throats of the crowd, making them feel as if they had thorns in their backs.

Seeing the unusually tense atmosphere, Zhuge Liang quickly stepped in to smooth things over.

"Gentlemen, His Majesty has summoned you to the palace today to discuss how to increase grain production. Please feel free to express your opinions and do not stand on ceremony."

With Zhuge Liang's words, everyone understood the situation.

Supervisor of Agriculture Yang Min said, "Your Majesty, since Yizhou was submitted to Qin, water conservancy projects have been carried out to irrigate farmland, resulting in fertile land for thousands of miles. Grain production has been increasing every year, from the original yield of a dozen bushels per mu to the current stable yield of thirty bushels, which is the limit."

Before the advent of hybrid rice technology, this was already the pinnacle of ancient planting techniques.

To increase production, a technological revolution is necessary.

"Your Majesty, Sichuan and Chongqing are a land of plenty. If there are two or three years of peace, the national treasury will surely be full, and the people will be able to eat their fill."

The speaker was Lü Yi, the agricultural supervisor.

He originally served as a salt commissioner, in charge of the financial revenue from salt and iron.

Because of his kind heart and compassion for the people, Zhuge Liang appointed him to concurrently serve as the supervisor of agriculture.

"Two or three years of peace?"

Although Liu Shan's tone was calm, everyone could detect a hint of indifference in it.

"You are all important officials of the court, and you should be aware of the country's situation and care for the people. You have done your part in caring for the people, but what about the country's situation?"

The crowd was puzzled.

"Now the world is divided into three, with Cao Wei and Eastern Wu eyeing our Han Dynasty covetously, with the intention of annexing it. Have you all considered this question: if there were three years of peace and prosperity, perhaps the Han Dynasty could ensure that its people have enough to eat?"

"But for Wei and Wu, weren't those three years also a period of growth and expansion for them?"

"If they were to launch an attack, would the imperial court have sufficient troops and provisions to withstand the overwhelming forces of Cao Wei and Eastern Wu?"

Liu Shan's words were profound and insightful, like a thunderclap exploding in everyone's minds.

Their thoughts and ideas are all based on their own positions; they never consider things from a national perspective.

Zhuge Liang, in particular, was once again completely overturned by his understanding of Liu Shan, and the astonishment in his eyes was beyond words.

As the prime minister, he wielded power second only to the emperor, but also bore pressures that ordinary people could not endure.

The Han Dynasty was confined to a corner of the country, and its territory and population were inferior to those of Cao Wei and Eastern Wu.

If we do not expand our territory and increase our population, we cannot even protect ourselves, let alone restore the Han Dynasty.

Therefore, what Liu Shan said was exactly what he was worried about.

"Be prepared for danger in times of peace. These four words have been deeply engraved in my mind since I ascended the throne."

"Leaving aside our temporary ally Eastern Wu, Cao Wei's fertile land far surpasses ours, and their military farming ensures ample food supplies. Although Yizhou has natural barriers of mountains and rivers, as long as they station troops to confront us and exhaust our national strength, they can make us surrender without a fight, and this is by no means an exaggeration."

"The reason I have summoned you all here today is precisely to resolve this issue."

"To solve a problem, we first need to know what the problem is."

Liu Shan set the tone for today's meeting.

Supervisor of Agriculture Yang Min spoke first: "Your Majesty, if you want a better harvest, in addition to increasing production, you also need more land, but there is currently no arable land left in Yizhou."

These are the only fertile fields in Yizhou; the rest of the land is mountainous and unsuitable for growing crops.

Even if it were successfully planted, the manpower and resources consumed would far exceed the harvest, making it a losing proposition.

"Okay, that's one question. Anything else?"

"Your Majesty, to do a good job, one must first have the right tools. At present, the people's farming tools are simple, and most of them still rely on manpower to plow the land, which is time-consuming and laborious."

The speaker was Zhang Yi, the chief secretary of the Prime Minister's office.

He originally served as the General of the Treasury, in charge of manufacturing agricultural tools and weapons.

Because of his meritorious service in pacifying Yong Kai, he was summoned back to Chengdu by Zhuge Liang and served in the Prime Minister's office.

"Okay, is there anything else?"

"Your Majesty, the officials in charge of maintaining the Dujiangyan Irrigation System lack experience..."

"Besides millet and rice, we need to plant more other grains..."

In an instant, everyone expressed their opinions, and the problems surfaced one by one.