roccoschili Chapter 133: Promoting Sweet Potatoes 3
Chapter 133: Promoting Sweet Potatoes 3
Su Qin shook her head: "I'm not good at military affairs."
Qi Lusheng was a little disappointed. He thought it was another of Su Qin's ideas. He now admired Su Qin so much that if it was Su Qin's idea, he probably would have agreed to it without even discussing it with his father. In his heart, what Su Qin asked him to do must be right.
Zhao Liangchen looked at his lost face and said helplessly, "No, you have no confidence in me. Even if I'm not as smart as Miss Su, I'm not completely clueless about military affairs."
After all, he was reborn and has grown some brains.
Qi Lusheng retorted, "I didn't expect you to be so thoughtful, did I?"
Zhao Liangchen's expression became more serious. "Lusheng, what we are doing now is like walking on a single-plank bridge. We are risking everything, so we must be extremely careful and plan carefully. Your mansion is currently living a stable life, and there is no need to get involved in the party struggle. But now that the Marquis has joined in to fight for a better way out, we must do our best and take into account all possible events that may happen in the future.
What military commanders fear most is the suspicion of those above them. However, if they hold military power and are irreplaceable, then even if the Emperor secures his throne and wishes to attack your mansion, he will be hesitant and will not act rashly. We must seize the initiative now."
Qi Lusheng's expression also turned serious: "I know you are doing this for our own good. I will discuss this with my father when I get back."
After Qi Lusheng returned, he discussed the matter with Marquis Wuning. After much consideration, Marquis Wuning and his wife decided to let Qi Jingde take over the matter.
They didn't want their eldest son, whom they had carefully nurtured, to live a life of mediocrity. They also wanted him to achieve something. Instead of joining the army and enduring it, it would be better for him to take on this task now. Even if this private army was not used in the future, he would at least be the commander of an army and the one the emperor trusted the most. But if this army was used, he would be a meritorious official who saved the emperor, and with his own strength, he could continue the glory of the marquis's mansion for a few more years.
Marquis Wuning wrote a letter to Qi Jingde urging him to come back as soon as possible so that they could discuss future matters in detail.
The snow still didn't stop the next day, but Zhao Liangchen returned to the camp. He wanted to send someone to deliver a reply letter to Su Jijing.
None of the ministers who went to court today expected that they would have anything to eat in the court.
When Gu Yun went to court, he was carrying a basket of things. He was not allowed to bring anything into the palace, so he was stopped by Zou Tai and his men. When Zou Tai saw that the things in the basket were the same as what he had eaten yesterday, he realized that this was Zhao Liangchen's idea, so he sent someone to ask the emperor for instructions and let him go.
Amidst everyone's puzzled gazes, Gu Yun submitted a memorial. This memorial was written based on the letter that the emperor had shown him that Zhao Liangchen had sent to the palace. It was written in great detail, listing many benefits of growing sweet potatoes.
He even bought a basket of sweet potatoes. Since there are people growing it, there are people selling it, but the sales volume is small.
As soon as his memorial was read, all the officials began a heated discussion. Grand Tutor Yan looked at him and asked, "Is this sweet potato really as good as you say?"
Gu Yun: "Grand Master, you can ask the adults present here. I'm sure someone in their family has planted it before."
One official said, "I've grown it at home and heard the yield is quite high, but it's just not very tasty. Eating too much makes you feel sick. How can we allow people to grow it in large quantities if it's not even as good as food?"
Gu Yun: "Since you think it's not tasty, it's probably because the cook at home doesn't know how to make it, or you just don't like it. As for feeling uncomfortable after eating too much, you'll feel uncomfortable after eating too much of anything. This one has a strong sense of fullness, so it should be fine if you mix it with other foods.
Your Majesty, I have brought a basket of sweet potatoes and have consulted many people to write down some recipes for making them. It would be better if the imperial chef could make the sweet potatoes according to these recipes and let you taste them. Then we can decide whether to promote the cultivation of sweet potatoes on a large scale."
The emperor agreed, and other officials had no objection. So all the ministers had a sweet potato feast when they attended court.
These recipes were all written by Su Qin. She wrote down every possible way to eat sweet potatoes.
Except for vermicelli, the chef made all the other dishes, and the ministers all thought they were delicious after eating them.
After another heated discussion, most people agreed to promote the large-scale cultivation of sweet potatoes.
The emperor ordered those officials who had grown sweet potatoes to send people to Chanzhou to teach the people how to grow them.
This was a good thing and no one refused. As for the people who would go to Chanzhou to take charge, the emperor asked Chang Shanqi and Gu Yun to go together.
Although this idea was proposed by Gu Yun, he had just been appointed as the Right Vice Minister of the Ministry of Revenue, and the emperor was afraid that he would lack prestige if he went alone.
Chang Shanqi did not refuse. Although his body could not handle the long journey, this was a good thing that would benefit future generations. He just had to go and sit there, and let Gu Yun do everything. The credit would still be attributed to him.
Prince Liang's men did not object, because once Chang Shanqi and Gu Yun left, the Ministry of Revenue's affairs would be decided by them.
The matter was decided in this way. Because Prince Liang had a leg injury and could not attend court, he only learned about this matter after the court was dismissed.
He frowned and asked the person who brought the news: "Who entered the palace yesterday?"
He knew that Gu Yun was the emperor's man, and it was impossible for Gu Yun to do this for no reason. It must have been instructed by the emperor.
It is impossible for the emperor to know about sweet potatoes for no reason. Someone must have told him something.
The messenger thought for a moment and said, "Except for Deputy Commander Zhao, no one else has entered the palace."
"Zhao Liangchen?"
King Liang rubbed his fingers and narrowed his eyes. After meeting Zhao Liangchen, he felt that Zhao Liangchen's attitude must indicate that he was willing to surrender to him. Although he did not say it explicitly, he believed that Zhao Liangchen was not a fool and could understand his hints. In addition, with Zhao Jian around, he did not think that Zhao Liangchen would betray him.
But there is always a chance of something happening. He knew that Zhao Liangchen was the emperor's man before. If the idea of promoting sweet potatoes was proposed by Zhao Liangchen, then Zhao Liangchen was playing both sides, not wanting to offend him, nor giving up the emperor's side. Then he would have to carefully consider whether to use the Zhao family in the future.
He did not go through Zhao Jian, but sent someone directly to the military camp to find Zhao Liangchen.
As soon as Zhao Liangchen sent the messenger away, he was called by King Liang to go to King Liang's mansion.
Zhao Jian was also called to Prince Liang's mansion. In the past, Prince Liang was cautious and never met these court officials in private. If he had something to tell Zhao Jian, he would go through Mrs. Zhao's family.
But ever since he broke his leg, he didn't want to endure it at all. He had been enduring for so many years, but the progress was still slow. This time the loss was so huge, which made him a little angry. He didn't want to maintain his image as a good person. He wanted to confront the emperor head-on. Sometimes he was looking forward to the emperor's reaction after knowing this. After all, the emperor trusted him so much.
So he didn't hide anything when meeting court officials recently.
Zhao Jian was a little nervous when he arrived. He had attended court today, so he knew about the sweet potato matter. He felt that King Liang did not want the emperor to accomplish this matter and improve his reputation among the people, so he asked him to come to give advice. However, after he arrived, King Liang did not say anything, so he began to feel nervous.
When he saw Zhao Liangchen coming, he was puzzled, but he didn't think there was anything wrong. After all, they were now standing in the same line.
When Prince Liang saw Zhao Liangchen, he asked directly, "What did you do in the palace yesterday?"
Zhao Jian looked at Zhao Liangchen fiercely: "Did you enter the palace yesterday?"
He had an incredible idea in his mind. The idea of promoting sweet potatoes was proposed by Zhao Liangchen, but he felt it was impossible because he felt that Zhao Liangchen did not have the talent for it.
Zhao Liangchen answered the question calmly: "I came to the palace to report to the emperor on the affairs of the imperial guards."
The Imperial Guards were directly led by the Emperor, so it was natural to report matters within the Imperial Guards to the Emperor.
Prince Liang scrutinized Zhao Liangchen's expression and asked, "Didn't you mention anything else?"
Zhao Liangchen looked a little bewildered. "Anything else? No, I didn't say anything else."
Suddenly, as if remembering something, he said, "I gave His Majesty a sweet potato, and He said it was delicious."
Zhao Jian's expression instantly turned angry: "Did you really give the sweet potato to the emperor? Why did you do this?"