Chapter 291: Promoting high-yield grain, trains
With the wood escape technique performed by Itachi and Shisui, after the New Year and in spring, there was enough hybrid rice and wheat to supply the entire country.
After the New Year, the cow-leg mushrooms were also sent to the border areas between the Land of Fire and the Land of Rain.
Haneda made a secret visit there and the results were very good.
Whether in mountainous areas or in towns, every household has some variety.
The price is also relatively affordable.
Combined with food sold from other regions, it is enough to meet the five major nutrients of the human body.
Perhaps Haneda is indeed fulfilling its promised first five-year plan and achieving results.
There were fewer potential reactionaries in that area, and there were no beggars or orphans on the streets.
Spring of the 56th year of Konoha, Hokage's office.
Haneda was too lazy to open the door in the morning and walked into the office. Shikaku heard the noise and saw the person coming, and showed a surprised expression.
The naturally lazy Hokage came to handle official business so early today. Has he turned over a new leaf?
Before Shikaku could come to his senses, Haneda urged him to work:
"How's the spring seed distribution going, Shikaku?"
Lu Jiu replied: "Some people are very opposed to it. According to the intelligence we have gathered, about 30% of people think that there is something wrong with the free seeds we provide. They are afraid that there will be no harvest next year, or that the harvest will be smaller."
Asuma, who took the initiative to take charge of this matter, said indignantly:
"Brother Haneda has put in so much effort for them, but they still don't appreciate it. I really don't know what's going on in their heads."
“I can’t tell who’s being nice to them!”
"Brother Haneda, I would enforce it! Once they eat the candy, they will know how great Brother Haneda is!"
Haneda knew that Asuma had taken the initiative to go outside the village to promote the cause for him and had even gone to investigate.
Asuma is so angry, it's probably not just as simple as the data compiled by Shikaku.
30% of people resisted the seeds, and it is estimated that a considerable number of people pretended to receive the seeds and then threw them away.
Haneda pondered for a moment and said:
"Change the previously free seeds to paid ones. After ten days or half a month, all seeds will be expensive to buy."
"The propaganda on the market is too exaggerated for them. They have never heard of double the yield and various resistances. They think it is normal to be fake."
"But the price will reflect the relevant value. When we sell it at a high price later, they will naturally realize the preciousness of the seeds."
Haneda paused and continued:
"The public's distrust of the country began last year."
"Specifically, when we suppressed the rebellion, we used violence and killed many people. It is normal for them to resist us."
"Once some policies are fully implemented and the people receive tangible benefits, cohesion will naturally increase."
"For example, the people in the Rain Country clearly recognize our Republic."
Lu Jiu was smart enough to understand these principles, so he was not in a hurry.
In his opinion, as long as some people benefited from the hybrid rice or wheat provided by Muye, it would be much easier to promote it later.
Five years may be short but also long, but it is enough to fulfill Haneda's promise.
However, what Haneda said about changing the free trip to paid one surprised Shikaku a little.
Although Lord Hokage doesn't really have a say in things, he always comes up with some novel and effective methods.
There are always people who don’t cherish free things, but once they become paid, many people will probably regret it.
After all, it is almost human nature to be greedy for small gains.
By then, a considerable number of people will be willing to plant the seeds that Haneda ordered to be sent for free.
Asuma doesn't think as much as Shikaku.
He simply thought that it was great to change from free to paid.
Brother Haneda and Konoha spent countless time and money promoting the seeds.
In the end, they don’t even appreciate it. They should have charged the cost a long time ago!
Asma praised:
"As expected of Brother Haneda, if you change to paid payment, those people will have to pay a lot of money if they want to buy it!"
"Rice can be harvested three times a year in the south, right? In less than half a year, they will have to pay the price for their current mistake!"
Shikaku smiled and said, "Hokage-sama will change it back to free then, Asuma."
"This was originally done without regard to cost, and now the payment is only for better promotion of seeds."
Haneda nodded and said, "That's exactly what I thought."
Seeing this, Asuma was very unhappy that he could not retaliate against those people who slandered and distrusted Brother Haneda, but seeing that Brother Haneda was willing to pay, he had to accept it.
Afterwards, Haneda and Shikaku discussed other things to note when promoting seeds.
After talking for a while, Haneda went to the Root's experimental base.
That place is now Orochimaru's personal laboratory.
Orochimaru returned to the Akatsuki organization last year to carry out a one-month mission and only returned at the end of the year.
According to Shikaku's calculations, hybrid rice was more than enough to meet the domestic food supply, so Haneda began to change direction to complete the first five-year plan.
In addition to eliminating hunger in the country, the first five-year plan also aimed to build a complete transportation system.
When Haneda came up with the idea of this transportation system, it was proposed to help eliminate hunger.
The traditional method of transporting food in the Fire Nation is by rickshaws and horse-drawn carriages.
These traditional methods of transportation not only take a long time, but also consume a large amount of food.
There are also many unnecessary losses.
Haneda is prepared to use other means to reduce these losses.
He has to consume oil or electricity, or chakra, to replace this loss.
As for things involving science, Haneda would definitely leave it to Orochimaru.
Apart from anything else, at least Uncle Snake’s scientific research level is trustworthy!
Came to Orochimaru's laboratory.
A device that resembles an internal combustion engine and is as big as a table comes into view.
Orochimaru noticed Haneda coming in, and pointed to the mechanical device in the center of the laboratory and introduced it:
"This is what you asked me to study. It has the characteristics of large chakra storage and chakra conversion."
"According to your request, as long as the ninja sends chakra into it, it will automatically be converted into lightning chakra and stored in the battery."
"This power supply is sufficient for the train operation you mentioned."
"However, there are also disadvantages. The materials that can store chakra in the ninja world are very expensive. A machine like this is very expensive."
"In addition, a complex sealing technique is required inside, which requires someone to repair it once a year."
As he spoke, Orochimaru handed a thick book to Haneda:
"This is the manual. It contains detailed relevant parameters and design drawings of each part and component."
"Just leave it to the researchers at the root. They know what to do."
Haneda inquired, "Have you designed the rest of the train, Orochimaru-senpai?"
