Chapter 1168: Medicine and Agriculture

Hua Tuo no longer had any obsession with fame. Even if he didn’t give it much thought, he knew that he was destined to go down in history. His sole focus now was to improve medicine and expand the scope of medical knowledge.

Unlike the difficult-to-prove meridian system in later generations, in this era filled with inner energy, Hua Tuo, with the help of many test subjects, had almost fully mapped out this conceptual system.

"Zhang Ji, you should be the one to write this. Although I was once recommended by the San Gong (Three Ducal Ministers) in my youth, when it comes to literary skill, I can't compare to you," Hua Tuo said, turning to Zhang Zhongjing.

Hua Tuo wasn’t completely unskilled in writing, but compared to Zhang Ji, the difference was immense. Even without his medical skills, Zhang Zhongjing could have easily served as the governor of a prefecture.

Because Hua Tuo wasn’t burdened by the pursuit of fame, or perhaps because he had grown accustomed to his great reputation, he could clearly see what was needed for a book on medical ethics. Since it needed to be passed down for generations, it couldn’t be plain and unadorned. Hua Tuo knew he wasn’t capable of writing something that beautiful. However, Zhang Ji was his equal in medical knowledge, so it was best for him to write it.

If both could capture the true essence of medicine, why not choose the one who could write it more eloquently?

Zhang Zhongjing glanced at Hua Tuo and said, "Then I won’t decline." He understood the reasoning. If it weren’t for the pressure he felt from being around Hua Tuo, he might not have been able to see the situation clearly.

"Shuzhi mentioned that you brought some test materials to Ye City. I remember telling Zilong to inform you that everything would be prepared," Fa Zheng said with some curiosity.

"It’s actually for a patient. He’s difficult to treat, so we brought him here," Hua Tuo said calmly, completely lacking the excitement he once had when experimenting on Zhou Tai.

"Don’t listen to him. It’s actually a super expert that they’ve been studying thoroughly," Qu Qi suddenly interjected.

"Hanmou, any progress lately?" Chen Xi asked, waving his hand dismissively.

"There’s been some progress with grain. As for cotton, I’ve already gone through six generations of cultivation, and this generation is almost entirely long-staple cotton. We can now use it to spin thread and make clothing," Qu Qi said with a smile. "It seems that government investment in problem-solving is truly the most effective approach."

"And in other areas?" Chen Xi wasn’t particularly interested in Hua Tuo’s patient but was eager to know if there were any breakthroughs in increasing grain production.

"We’ve made some progress in soil fertility. One method involves using fertilizer water, while the other uses a mixture of nitrate water and ash. However, neither can be used in excessive amounts, and the timing for applying them differs," Qu Qi said, rubbing his chin.

On the side, both Hua Tuo and Zhang Zhongjing were watching Qu Qi. They knew this young man was the top agricultural expert of their time. Although he wasn’t very old, his value was clear to them. Whether the people of the land could eat their fill—and whether they would eat grain or meat—depended on him.

"Just tell us the best case—how much can it increase production by?" Lu Su wasn’t as relaxed as Chen Xi and took Qu Qi’s research very seriously.

"It can increase by two shi," Qu Qi said proudly.

Everyone fell silent. Even Hua Tuo and Zhang Ji held their breath, their eyes fixed on Qu Qi. Increasing crop production by two shi was practically unheard of. Before Qu Qi’s innovations, the average yield under Liu Bei's rule was around four shi per mu. To add another two shi on top of that was incredible. It was as if Qu Qi were destined to have a temple built in his honor. Just days earlier, someone had joked about building a temple for Hua Tuo—now, it seemed Qu Qi might soon have his own temple too.

"Are you sure you didn’t make a mistake...?" Lu Su asked, feeling parched.

"No mistake. It’s definitely an increase of two shi, and if more resources are invested, it could increase even further. However, beyond that, the costs outweigh the benefits," Qu Qi said, shaking his head. The reality was that before crops reached their maximum potential, more fertilizer meant more yield.

"Well done," Chen Xi said, patting Qu Qi on the shoulder. "Can it be widely implemented?"

"Yes. We’ve tested it many times, and there haven’t been any issues," Qu Qi replied solemnly. "However, I believe there’s still room for further research."

"Then keep going. If you need anything, just ask Zijing," Chen Xi said with a smile.

"We can’t keep testing in the same location. The climate is affecting the crops. Your mental abilities can’t precisely regulate the weather in every region. While we may have abundant harvests, the climate varies across different areas," Qu Qi said with a grin, thinking quietly to himself that Chen Xi wouldn’t be around forever.

"It’s become difficult to make universal advancements. The next steps will require more specialized research, so I plan to travel," Qu Qi said, looking earnestly at Lu Su and the others.

Everyone except Hua Tuo, Zhang Ji, and Chen Xi had uneasy expressions. Qu Qi had gone from being important to becoming a strategic asset.

They weren’t worried about him defecting. The real concern was whether Qu Qi would come back once he left. Both Cao Cao and Sun Ce would realize Qu Qi’s importance and, while they might not kill him, the likelihood of him being detained or placed under house arrest was high.

"Don’t worry. I’ll make the new planting methods and soil improvement techniques public before heading out," Qu Qi said with a smile. He wasn’t foolish. Staying under Liu Bei’s rule was ideal for him—his dreams would eventually come true here, but the progress was too slow.

"You’re going to make it public for the whole world?" Jia Xu frowned.

"Yes. I’ll make it public for the entire world. That way, I’ll have completed the first stage of my dream," Qu Qi said with a smile. "Besides, I don’t think food shortages will be an obstacle to your unification. Zichuan, what you’re really trying to preserve is the strength of the people, right?"

Liu Ye sighed, Man Chong remained expressionless, Fa Zheng massaged his temples, and Guo Jia was filled with admiration. Jia Xu and Li You exchanged glances and sighed, while Lu Su shook his head with a wry smile. Only Chen Xi responded with a calm smile, "Make it public then. Let them believe what they want. Since when has the Central Plains ever been our obstacle?"

"Our real opponents were never them," Li You and Jia Xu said in unison, sharing a knowing smile.

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