Chapter 256 begins the transformation of results.

Upon hearing this, Yang Xin, Chu Weiguo, and Nie Yunxia immediately knew that Gao Yuan had put considerable thought into it.

Before his transmigration, Chu Weiguo owned a large foreign trade company, making him intimately familiar with the intricacies of such matters. Thus, he was highly suitable for overseeing the Maritime Trade Office.

Nie Yunxia was the deputy dean of a university college and a mathematics professor, possessing both professional expertise and management experience. She was well-suited for teaching, nurturing talent, and conducting research.

Their son-in-law had gone to such lengths; the two of them had no reason to refuse and promptly accepted the arrangements.

At the small court assembly the next morning, Zhao Xiyao publicly announced the establishment of the two departments and announced the appointments.

The Maritime Trade Office was formally established, with Chu Weiguo appointed as its first Commissioner, concurrently serving as the Transport Commissioner of Lingnan Circuit.

The Engineering Research Institute was established, with Nie Yunxia appointed as its first Chancellor and Princess Consort Huang Yueying as the Vice Chancellor. Additionally, Gao Yuan, Yang Xin, and Chu Weiguo also took on concurrent roles as Erudites.

Both received treatment equivalent to the upper fourth rank, leaving Chu Weiguo and Nie Yunxia feeling somewhat dizzy. Had they suddenly become high-ranking officials?

The poor young girl Chu Yue, having just escaped the torment of high school from her previous life, was now immediately to enter the Engineering Research Institute as its first student.

Upon hearing this news, the young girl felt the entire world was filled with malice towards her.

After arranging these matters, Zao Zhi, who had been preparing for spring plowing elsewhere, also returned. Only then did Gao Yuan find an empty warehouse and bring out the seeds he had brought.

Standing in the warehouse filled with various seeds and looking at the introductions for the different crops in his hand, Zao Zhi found everything utterly unbelievable. He asked in a trembling voice,

'M-my lord, can this rice truly yield fifteen hundred catties per mu?'

'Hmm... the first harvest should yield that much. However, as the seed quality inevitably declines, the yield will likely decrease somewhat.'

After speaking, Gao Yuan patted Zao Zhi on the shoulder.

'This is where your Agricultural Research Institute must excel in seed selection and breeding work.'

Regarding seed selection and breeding, Zao Zhi had already performed this task countless times over the years and understood its importance. Through his efforts, rice yield per mu had long surpassed four hundred and fifty catties.

Now, with a better foundation given to him, Zao Zhi felt even more confident.

'Rest assured, my lord. Your subordinate will spare no effort in cultivating superior seeds.'

'Good. If you can stabilize a yield of eight hundred catties per mu after five years, I will petition Her Highness to grant you a marquis title. If you can stabilize nine hundred catties, you will be granted the title of County Duke. If it exceeds one thousand catties, I will proclaim to the world the establishment of a living shrine in your honor;

Those under your command, regardless of who they are, can all receive noble titles, and their memorial tablets can also enter the living shrine alongside you.'

Zao Zhi willingly swallowed this grand promise made by Gao Yuan wholeheartedly. At that moment, he wished he could immediately return to the fields to trial-plant these treasures.

Seeing his eagerness, Gao Yuan smiled faintly.

'Do not be hasty, Zhongfang. I still have good things here.'

Saying this, Gao Yuan led Zao Zhi to another pile of seeds, picked up a potato, and took out another set of documents.

'This is called a potato. Though it may look unremarkable, its yield per mu can easily reach three thousand catties. With proper cultivation, four thousand catties is not impossible. Moreover, in southern regions, it can be planted twice a year...'

'H-how much?'

Zao Zhi, already excited, grabbed Gao Yuan's arm, trembling all over as he looked at him, his eyes filled with admiration and longing.

'The first harvest should yield three thousand catties. What happens after that, I cannot say.'

In truth, the figure Gao Yuan reported was quite conservative. After all, these were superior seeds brought from the future, capable of achieving yields of eight thousand to ten thousand catties per mu in their original time. Even here, without pesticides and fertilizers, three thousand catties was a very conservative estimate.

But for Zao Zhi, or rather for everyone in this era, this was already an incredibly terrifying figure, not undeserving of being called an auspicious sign.

Upon receiving the affirmative answer, Zao Zhi fell to his knees with a *thud*. First, he bowed towards the north, then bowed to Gao Yuan.

'My lord bringing such superior seeds is an unparalleled achievement. Your subordinate thanks you on behalf of all the people under heaven.'

Gao Yuan, putting on an air of humility, helped Zao Zhi up.

'You exaggerate, Zhongfang. This is what I should do, merely a trivial effort.'

Next, Gao Yuan patiently explained some precautions regarding potatoes to Zao Zhi, such as storage methods, the toxicity of the stems and leaves, and the toxicity when sprouted.

Then came crops like corn, chili peppers, and sweet potatoes. As for wheat seeds, Gao Yuan temporarily did not bring them out. Planting wheat in the south was not cost-effective, and storing them in the system space would not cause damage.

After listening to Gao Yuan's introduction, especially regarding the yields of corn and sweet potatoes, Zao Zhi felt somewhat puzzled.

'My lord, since the sweet potato yield is so high, why bother cultivating others?'

Gao Yuan roughly recalled the information he had previously researched, clasped his hands behind his back, and began lecturing this expert.

'Compared to potatoes and sweet potatoes, corn has better adaptability. It can be planted on a large scale even in poor lower-grade fields or the desert regions of the northwest;

As for sweet potatoes, although sweeter, eating too much can easily cause diarrhea, making it unsuitable as a daily staple. However, after drying, it tastes very good when added to porridge.'

Zao Zhi suddenly understood, nodding repeatedly to show he knew.

Although he had previously said he didn't want to make a big fuss to avoid attracting the covetous eyes of petty individuals, for safety's sake, Gao Yuan still assigned one hundred and fifty Baier Soldiers to Zao Zhi and gave him a token that could mobilize the Xuanjia Army in forces of up to one thousand men.

Seeing off Gao Yuan with immense reverence, Zao Zhi immediately summoned his subordinates and students from the Agricultural Research Institute, distributed tasks and materials to them, and then, emulating Gao Yuan, began making grand promises.

'The lord has promised that as long as the yield can be stabilized after five years, everyone present here can receive noble titles, and their memorial tablets can enter a living shrine to enjoy the incense offerings of ten thousand households.'

This promise was fragrant and sweet; everyone eagerly accepted it and immediately began bustling with activity.

As for those Baier Soldiers, they were system-enhanced and naturally would not leak secrets, nor did they have any complaints about Gao Yuan's arrangements.

With these superior seeds brought from the future, Gao Yuan could already foresee an explosion in grain yield, followed by a population explosion. Surpassing one hundred million, even two or three hundred million, should not be a problem.

It is worth knowing that in the original timeline, after sweet potatoes were introduced to China, by the mid-to-late Ming Dynasty, the population had already approached two hundred million.

In this life, with the increase in grain yield and a relatively stable environment, the population growth rate of the Southern Yue Kingdom had already significantly surpassed that of the Great Qian, which occupied the fertile lands south of the Yangtze.

In feudal times, having grain and population meant strong national power. Strong national power meant one could bully others—it was that simple and crude.

The warfare in the north was nearing its end. Now, Chang Xingrong was like the setting sun, his territory reduced to only four places: Mizhou, Laizhou, Dengzhou, and Haizhou. His demise was imminent.

Li Zonghan and the Turks had been driven out of Yanmen Pass. Although Northern Liang had paid a huge price, its gains were also immense.

It was foreseeable that the rivalry between the two powers, Northern Liang and the Yan State, was imminent.

In the south, the battle for Yaizhou had turned into a complete war of attrition, with both sides forming a prolonged stalemate at Yao Cheng County.

For Western Kang, Yaizhou held little profit left, but losing it was even more unacceptable.

For Jiannan Circuit, they had already invested enormous costs. If they could not capture Yaizhou, everyone would be in trouble.

Both sides were in a dilemma, unwilling to yield. However, according to reports from the covert guards, both sides recently seemed to have a desire for peace talks.