Chapter 71 071 Divine Mandate.
Although it was a day off, Xie Lanzhao was not idle. Zhao Jialing, on the other hand, still remembered his seeds. After staying at the Xie family for a while, no matter how reluctant she was to leave, she had to return to the palace.
Inside the bathhouse, Zhao Jialing waved his hand, signaling the palace servants to leave for the time being.
She knew nothing about farming, but was quite curious about the "seed gift pack." In her mind, seeds were tiny grains, so she patted the table, signaling the system to put the items on it.
The system ignored Zhao Jialing.
After Zhao Jialing decided to exchange the seeds, several large baskets filled with various items suddenly appeared in the hall. A considerable number of the seeds were the same as those Zhao Jialing recognized, but the rest—
Zhao Jialing stared at the object, which was larger than two fists: "Is that a seed?"
The Wise Ruler System responded calmly: [Host, rummage through the basket; there's a planting manual inside. This time it's a bulk sale of plant seeds, including grains, fruits, and spices—a wide variety.]
As a competent system, it started rambling on and on, specifically introducing potatoes, sweet potatoes, and corn—three powerful tools for population growth—which greatly alleviated the pressure on food supplies! Moreover, they were relatively easy to grow and highly adaptable.
The system also told Zhao Jialing about the yields of these grains, leaving him speechless with astonishment. He quickly added, "[Host, you can't let the people grow all of these. If a single grain crop fails, it will surely lead to annihilation. Wheat, rice, and other crops still need to be planted. By the way, there are corresponding seeds included, with yields higher than those currently available in Dayong.]"
Zhao Jialing thought she had been tempered into a calm and collected person by the system's repeated use of divine artifacts. But upon hearing the system's mention of production output, a grand vision suddenly appeared before her eyes, igniting her passion. The people could expect to be well-fed and clothed; would the utopian world envisioned by Confucian scholars be realized in her hands? Unfortunately… many Confucian scholars were obstacles on the path of idealism.
After regaining his composure, Zhao Jialing asked again, "Is it appropriate to have so many baskets in the hall?"
She initially thought it wouldn't take up much space.
Wise Ruler System: [Divinely Bestowed!]
This wasn't some artificial performance like secretly stuffing cloth strips into a fish's belly or imitating a fox's cry in the middle of the night; it was a true divine gift! The palace servants couldn't hear the inner voice, but the previous host's miracles had already spread far and wide, and no one would question the Holy Son of Heaven.
Zhao Jialing gave a soft hum, rolled up his sleeves, and rummaged through the basket. He found the corresponding planting manual. He recognized the individual words, but when they were put together and lingered in his mind, they slipped away without leaving a trace. Zhao Jialing breathed a sigh of relief, closed the manual, and knew this task had to be left to someone else.
Regarding the abundant harvest, the ministers naturally had to take their places, and Zhao Jialing also invited the Minister of Agriculture and the Attendant-in-Ordinary Du Wenyu.
The eunuchs who went to their residence didn't hide anything, and the officials probably knew why. The Minister of Agriculture was quite agitated. Last time, although the Ministry of Agriculture had also sent people to handle the cotton seeds, they were all peripheral figures. The one who was truly in charge was the Supervising Censor Meng Xuanhe, who was also the cotton envoy. Any credit would go to her or to the local authorities, but it wouldn't go to the Ministry of Agriculture. But now it was different. His Majesty had finally remembered the Ministry of Agriculture and was giving it a chance to advance.
"A gift from God." Zhao Jialing said succinctly, not even bothering to make up a story. Whether she believed it or not, the thing was there, and it had to be planted according to her wishes.
Xie Lanzhao lowered her eyelashes. She and Du Wenyu had heard about the achievement reward with their own ears, and now the seeds were indeed before her, though most of them were unfamiliar. How to plant them? And how to eat them?
Zhao Jialing added, “The planting is the responsibility of the Ministry of Agriculture and the agricultural department of Mingde Academy. The ministers also need to pay attention. These foods are crucial to the people’s livelihood. If we succeed, our Great Yong can be spared from famine.”
The people's livelihood is paramount, the very foundation of life. The court officials felt a chill run down their spines, knowing the importance of the matter, and unanimously agreed. After a few moments of silence, the Minister of Agriculture pointed to the unfamiliar tuber and asked with difficulty, "How should it be planted? When should it be sown? When should it be harvested? What are its requirements for soil and water?" Although the Ministry of Agriculture has "agriculture" in its name, the officials were actually not involved in farming; their main responsibility was managing the nation's granaries. He had once said that Xie Lanzhao didn't know how to farm, but in reality, he didn't know much about it either.
“There’s a planting manual. Study it carefully and experiment.” Zhao Jialing raised an eyebrow and said, “There are only so many seeds. If you grow them badly, you’ll be a sinner for all eternity.”
Her tone was calm, but the Minister of Agriculture's face hardened, as if a mountain weighed on his shoulders. Just moments before, he had only seen the promise of success; now, a trembling fear, like walking on thin ice, filled him, as if a bottomless abyss lay behind him! In the years since His Majesty ascended the throne, there hadn't been any large-scale disasters, but the calamities recorded in history were truly horrifying. The Emperor's relocation to Luoyang to "hunt for grain" was bad enough, but the most horrifying was the tragedy of cannibalism. Thus, each seed, light as a feather, suddenly carried a thousand pounds of weight. It represented the lives of millions of people, a responsibility that the officials in charge should bear.
Zhao Jialing then said, “Everyone has their own expertise, and I did not expect you to be knowledgeable about the soil and water or to be familiar with all kinds of crops. Countless farmers near Chang’an make a living by farming. Why don’t you ask them? Farmers may not be literate and may not be as learned as you, but they have always been in contact with the soil and water and can hear things that you cannot.”
The courtiers exclaimed in unison, "Your Majesty is wise and sagacious."
Zhao Jialing waved her hand. Whether he was wise or not was unimportant; as long as what she wanted was planted, that was enough. After the court officials left, Zhao Jialing sat cross-legged on the couch, deep in thought. The seeds had indeed been distributed, but it would take time for them to mature. Even with the court's guidance, crop after crop, it would still take a long time for them to cover the entire Dayong.
"They were all rare things at first," Zhao Jialing muttered to herself, her expression quite wistful. The burning flames gradually cooled down, and she raised her hand to gently pat her cheeks. She couldn't let the magnificent scene cloud her judgment; it belonged to the future.
After receiving their assignments, the Ministry of Agriculture and the Mingde Academy immediately began reviewing planting manuals. In their minds, grains and fruits grew according to the seasons, and suitable crops had to be planted immediately. The agricultural students at Mingde Academy largely agreed, but the discussion eventually brought up the greenhouses mentioned in the manuals. However, given the preciousness of the seeds, the students dared not experiment recklessly. People's philosophies are not always aligned, and when it came to valuable resources, the disputes became even more intense, with frequent petitions to Zhao Jialing for a decision.
Zhao Jialing: "..." She doesn't understand farming, and she won't interfere casually.
Xie Lanzhao calmly said, "The group experiments serve as a reference for each other."
About half a month later, the group that almost fought over the seeds finally reached a "great harmony".
Seeing that everything was going smoothly, Zhao Jialing turned her attention to "cement." With the tireless help of the Ministry of Works and the Imperial Workshop, Gui Hongjing and Gao Shao successfully produced the cement described in the book!
The cement used for the experiment was laid at Princess Jinxian's residence. Upon learning this, Zhao Jialing immediately went to the princess's residence to see it.
The cement structure was originally intended for the prince consort to keep his pets. Now, all the pets have been moved to the other side, except for a few unruly kittens that have wandered over there, strutting around arrogantly as if they were surveying their own territory.
"A while ago, the princess consort was always covered in dust. I thought she was giving a lecture to her students in a pile of dirt." Zhao Xianju's tone sounded like a complaint. Zhao Jialing wanted to say a few words in defense of Gao Shao, but when she saw the smug and proud smile in her fourth sister's eyes, she knew that her thoughts were superfluous.
The Xie family and Princess Jinxian's residence were both located in Wubenfang, and Xie Lanzhao was also there. She carefully observed the cement-poured ground, inquiring about the cost and load-bearing capacity. Cement floors don't raise dust, but if they can't withstand galloping carriages and sink like mud, that would be a problem. Gao Shao answered her questions one by one. It was impossible for the common people to pour these things themselves; the short-term goal was Chang'an City, and further afield, the official roads of the two capitals. As for the roads, Gao Shao told Xie Lanzhao not to worry; Gui Hongjing and Princess Wannian of the Cao Prince's Mansion had calculated them together and had also conducted experiments.
"Does Your Majesty intend to set up facilities in the Taiji and Daming Palaces?" Gao Shao inquired.
“No.” Zhao Jialing shook her head, pondered for a moment, and said, “Let’s start with Hengjie Street and Zhuque Avenue.” She had made the decision, but the actual implementation still required discussion among the court officials. The two streets sounded simple, but it was actually a huge project. Hengjie Street separated the palace city and the imperial city, while Zhuque Avenue was a vital north-south thoroughfare connecting Chang’an. The cement wouldn’t harden immediately after being laid; it would take some time. If construction were to begin, it would likely have to be done section by section.
The day after visiting the princess's residence, Zhao Jialing summoned his ministers to discuss the construction of a cement road. The ministers hesitated slightly; the Ministry of Revenue was naturally concerned with the cost, while the others pondered the road's impact on the people. After all, something entirely new, even if beneficial to the populace, could potentially cause some degree of panic.
"Let's start with Hengjie and Tianjie." Zhao Jialing frowned slightly upon hearing the ministers' objections. The cement was already in place; she couldn't abandon the project. However, she also didn't want to cause daily disturbances among the people. Hengjie ran east-west, while Tianjie was Chengtianmen Street, and Zhuque Avenue was the section within the imperial city's government offices. Starting construction from that section would minimize disruption to the people of Chang'an, and it would also allow officials to see the progress firsthand, giving them a clear understanding of the situation. Some would obey orders, but in reality, they were quite skeptical.
The construction work was handed over to the Ministry of Works. The Minister of Works was in a good mood after receiving the order, but he received several glares from the Minister of Revenue.
Zhao Jialing was aware of the Minister of Revenue's displeasure, and she estimated that the national treasury wasn't yet at its lowest point. If it were, even if cement were a divine gift, she wouldn't have taken this step first.
At this moment, Xie Lanzhao needed to share the burdens of the country and the emperor. After everyone else had left, she said, "Cement isn't just for paving the streets, is it? What about inside houses?" While landscapes and ponds might require the ambiance of stone paths, who wouldn't prefer a flat, dust-free floor in their home? Glass could be used to extract money from the powerful and wealthy; cement could obviously do the same, after all, it was a truly valuable commodity.
Zhao Jialing blinked, immediately understanding.
At Princess Jinxian's residence, Gao Shao, sensing the subtle meaning behind the music, knew the crux of the matter. Before Zhao Jialing could even speak, she was already planning a banquet at the princess's residence. Flowers and plants were secondary; the key was to let people see the cement ground of the residence. But showing people a bare, empty space wouldn't do; something needed to be erected.
While Zhao Xianju and Gao Shao were busy making arrangements, the "money" that Zhao Jialing had been longing for came to her in another way.
After obtaining the corresponding mineral maps, the imperial court immediately dispatched envoys to secretly investigate. The envoys closest to Chang'an had already brought back the news. Some people, having heard the news, wisely refrained from allowing the mountains and rivers to become private property. Even the county magistrate, who had previously pretended not to hear, broke out in a cold sweat and hurriedly reported the mineral resources.
However, some people are inherently arrogant. Firstly, they do not believe that the court has any supernatural powers; secondly, their interests are too deeply entangled and they cannot extricate themselves from the situation. Therefore, the envoys can only follow the orders of Chang'an and directly use knives on them.
When the memorial arrived in Chang'an, Zhao Jialing couldn't help but gasp. It was equivalent to half of the annual national treasury revenue! Wealth hidden among the madmen! The figures were glaring, and the list of names was equally alarming. The network was intricate and entangled! The powerful clans and local tycoons had long since formed a vast web, even implicating county and prefectural officials. These powerful clans paid a small profit, which in turn allowed county and prefectural officials to open the floodgates of corruption. If this were to be investigated, it would undoubtedly be a shocking and appalling case. Not only would those with familial ties be terrified, but even uninvolved officials would be filled with apprehension upon learning of it.
During the court assembly, Zhao Jialing's expression was cold. She said, "My firearms were not used to drive out the barbarians with their wolfish ambitions, but instead, they made those who shouted the loudest about loyalty to the emperor taste the bitterness and saltiness of the situation first." The urgent message sent to Chang'an also said that a county magistrate colluded with local powerful families to try to silence them, but fortunately, they were prepared.
After a pause, Zhao Jialing asked with great interest, "Have you all not received the news?" Death can be turned into life, exile can be turned into a guest of the Dali Temple, shouldn't the official marriage network play its role at this moment?
The courtiers shuddered, their bodies swaying precariously.
It's true that some people received letters of appeal from old friends, but the relatives of those old friends' old friends... to be honest, they're completely unrelated. Is it really necessary to risk one's career or even life for them?
How much does His Majesty actually know?
Why is the system so quiet? Heaven above, can't we at least hear their heartfelt words?
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