Traveling to Ancient Times: My Space Contains Weapons

Chapter 1518 Sugarcane Planting Popularized Throughout the County

"Does the Imperial Advisor mean planting sugarcane?"

“That’s right. Although sugarcane is not as valuable as grain, it is more productive here. I believe that as long as you do as I say, Tonglai will become rich in less than three years.”

Following that, Chu Chen gave Luo Bai a briefing on the planting and harvesting of sugarcane.

After telling him my estimated price again, I explained it to him again.

Luo Bai knelt down before Chu Chen again: "My lord, on behalf of those who came with me, I would like to express my gratitude in advance."

"Lord Luo, please get up. There is one more thing, which is taxes. I hope you will not be too harsh in taxing the sugarcane grown by farmers."

"Another point is to mobilize the people to reclaim wasteland. The reclaimed wasteland will be leased to the people for cultivation on an average basis per person, and the rental fee will be tax revenue."

After listening to Chu Chen's suggestion, Luo Bai thought to himself, "This Grand Preceptor is so bold."

This land has been controlled by powerful families since ancient times, how dare he?

However, if the wasteland is reclaimed by the people themselves, then I can make the decision to distribute it equally among the people for planting.

This would indeed bring many benefits. The people who came with them would have their own land, and if the Grand Preceptor bought and guaranteed the sugarcane they grew, it would bring them endless profits.

And their county government could also collect substantial tax revenue.

The only thing that worried him at that moment was the Grand Preceptor's influence and status in the court, as well as His Majesty's attitude towards him.

"Your Excellency, please give your instructions. I will cooperate fully."

After the negotiations were completed, Luo Bai invited Chu Chen to stay for dinner, while he himself took the opportunity to call a constable and send him on horseback to Hancheng and the capital to inquire about the Grand Preceptor.

If he really has that much power, then Tonglai is probably going to take off.

"Lord Chu, we are both poor and need not have been treated well. Please forgive us."

Luo Bai looked at the meager ingredients on the table with some embarrassment and said to Chu Chen.

Chu Chen didn't say much. After a quick meal, he took Gou Shengzi back to Niu Zi's father-in-law's house.

The next day, Chu Chen began preparing to set up the factory. The first thing was personnel. This was simple; making white sugar only involved a few steps, so he just needed to hand over the core technology to Niu Zi.

The remaining steps involved having Niu Zi take the silver to recruit workers.

The target is all the farmers in Tonglai County.

When people heard that they could earn fifteen coins a day for their work, and that food and lodging were included, the entire Tonglai County was in an uproar.

Only after hearing this news did Luo Bai believe that Chu Chen was serious.

He quickly organized the constables to maintain order. Looking at the dense crowd at Niu Zi's job recruitment booth, Luo Bai was quite moved. He had never seen such a lively scene since he took office.

However, recruiting workers was only one part of the process, and the requirements were particularly strict. On the other hand, Chu Chen had Luo Bai mobilize the people to reclaim wasteland and cultivate the land in the name of the government.

Ten days later, hundreds of juicers were transported from Seoul.

Niu Zi recruited approximately two hundred people this time.

At this moment, the craftsmen who were temporarily helping were setting up the delivery room. For a time, the open space outside the village where Niu Zi's father-in-law lived, which had been allocated to Chu Chen by Luo Bai, was bustling with activity.

Because they had money and enough food to satisfy their hunger, these people worked especially hard.

The factory building was very simple, consisting of blue brick walls, a wooden roof, and a tiled roof. Due to structural limitations, it couldn't be built too large, so it was divided into numerous smaller factories. For the past ten days or so, Chu Chen had been drawing plans for Niu Zi, creating blueprints for the entire sugar factory layout.

Niu Zi and his men followed Chu Chen's plan and completed the project exactly as planned.

Three months later, with the help of a large workforce, the sugar factory was finally completed, and the first batch of sugarcane at Niu Zi's father-in-law's house had been completely harvested.

That day, Chu Chen brought Niu Zi and his family to the factory.

They were taught how to make white sugar step by step.

Looking at the crystal-clear white sugar.

Chu Chen looked at Niu Zi's family and said, "Niu Zi, everyone, I believe you all understand the importance of this item. The final step in the process can only be controlled by you."

"If these things are leaked, you will have no competitive advantage."

"After the sugar we produce is sold, I only need half of the profit; the rest is entirely up to you, Niu Zi."

“We’re good brothers. As long as I have food to eat, I won’t treat you badly.”

After hearing Chu Chen's words, Niu Zi's family became excited.

Chu Chen only wants half the profit. Even if they only have 10% left after deducting raw materials and labor, it would be enough for them to rise rapidly and become a powerful and influential family in Tonglai and even Xiangcheng.

Wei Dequan excitedly grabbed Chu Chen's hand: "Young Master Chu, I am too old to express the kindness you have shown to our family, but rest assured, our Wei family will always follow your lead."

Chu Chen smiled and looked at Wei Dequan: "Uncle Quan, you're too kind. Niu Zi is my brother. You are all Niu Zi's closest relatives, so you are my family as well. Don't worry, your lives will definitely get better and better with me."

After saying that, he whispered in Wade's ear, "When you have money in the future, you can marry as many wives as you want, and you won't have to crawl through sugarcane fields anymore."

When Wei Dequan heard this, his face turned red. He thought to himself, "This kid still remembers what happened that day."

"Um...Young Master Chu, let's talk about it another day, another day."

"Fine, we'll talk about it later." The next day, Chu Chen had Gou Shengzi drive the carriage while he sat inside.

Two horse-drawn carriages followed behind, covered with oil paper and filled with white sugar.

Winter was approaching, but Chu Chen wasn't worried about the sugar melting on the way.

And so, the three carriages slowly headed back towards Seoul.

Little did they know that just as they left Tonglai County, a group of men wielding steel knives spotted the three carriages.

"Boss, what's inside is the white sugar we've been talking about since we came to this wretched place these past few days. They say this stuff is worth a fortune, it's extremely precious."

"The higher-ups said that not only should we seize these goods, but we should also capture the people in the carriages ahead."

Chu Chen held a submachine gun in his hand and closed his eyes to rest.

He could imagine that someone would try to stop him on his way back, and he wondered if they would do what that fool did before and bring a group of villagers.

I've heard that Xiangcheng and Shacheng are teeming with bandits, but I haven't encountered any along the way. It's really boring.

Moreover, he caused such a commotion during his time here, and with cargo still in the car behind him, someone is bound to be watching him; it's just a matter of when they'll make their move.

"Brother Chen, someone's watching us from behind."