"Don't use the sugarcane that has been sent yet. Save it for when the floodwaters recede to replenish the people's sugar levels. Otherwise, if they only eat porridge and fruit, it might be okay for a short time, but their bodies won't be able to withstand it in the long run!"
As soon as he finished speaking, Meng Can said somewhat awkwardly, "Grand Commandant... this sugarcane... sugarcane..."
The wicked husband was somewhat puzzled and immediately asked, "Stop stammering! Speak plainly if you have something to say!"
“Sugarcane…sugarcane…” Meng Can stammered, seemingly finding it difficult to speak, “The sugarcane was not transported to the disaster area, it was all stockpiled in Xianyang, and…a lot of it was also distributed.”
Upon hearing this, the wicked man's face turned ashen, and he glared angrily at Meng Can, instantly creating an extremely tense atmosphere in the hall.
"cough..."
Seeing the somewhat tense atmosphere, Ying Zheng coughed lightly, and said with some embarrassment, "This isn't Meng Can's fault. You only said that collecting sugarcane was very useful, but you didn't know it was for disaster relief. I..."
When he heard from the scouts that Meng Ao had tasted it himself and said it was incredibly delicious, he couldn't resist his curiosity and tried it himself.
The wicked husband had only said it was of great use, but hadn't specified its exact purpose or when it would be used. He thought it was a very rare item, and being a ruler, he valued social etiquette, so he bestowed quite a few upon it.
"It's not Meng Can's fault; it's because I've given away quite a few of these items as rewards."
Ying Zheng's tone was tinged with self-reproach, and he felt extremely guilty. As a king, he had taken what was the life-saving possession of the people for the sake of his own appetite, which was a sin.
Seeing that Ying Zheng had said so, the wicked man could only smile helplessly and said, "Issue the order that from this day forward, all sugarcane must be supplied to the disaster area first, and there must be no more private distribution."
"Once sugarcane is widely planted, there will be plenty to eat in the future. I guarantee you'll eat until you're sick of it!"
Since it has already happened, what good will getting angry do?
The atmosphere inside the hall seemed to have eased somewhat, but everyone was filled with guilt.
The wicked man sighed and said in a deep voice, "The rain should be stopping soon. We need to quickly assess the food shortage in the disaster area and formulate a detailed disaster relief plan."
Having said that, he turned and bowed to Ying Zheng, "Your subject has just returned. I will first go back to my residence to remove my armor and freshen up, and then come to attend the morning court tomorrow."
"Go, get some rest tonight!" Ying Zheng nodded.
.........
Upon returning to the mansion, the servants informed the wicked husband that Wu Shilu had been waiting there for a long time.
Helpless, the wicked man had no choice but to quickly remove his armor and come to the front hall.
"Greetings, Grand Commandant!"
The sound of footsteps startled Wu Shilu from his reverie. He looked up and saw his wicked husband striding towards him. He quickly stood up, bowed, and greeted him.
"No need for formalities, please have a seat!"
The wicked man went straight to the head seat, poured himself a glass of warm water, and drank it all in one gulp. His long-parched throat immediately felt a little better.
"Is there something urgent that you need to see me about?" the wicked husband asked, somewhat puzzled.
It was late at night, and Wu Shilu would never have done this unless it was something urgent.
Upon hearing this, Wu Shilu laughed and said, "The Grand Commandant is too busy these days. If I don't hurry up and see you, I'm afraid I won't be able to find another opportunity."
The wicked husband frowned slightly, his tone inquiring: "Speak, what is so urgent?"
"Grand Commandant, have you forgotten about the matter of the glass?" Wu Shi Luo reached into her bosom and pulled out a palm-sized object, handing it to the wicked husband.
Upon closer inspection, it turned out to be a colorful and exquisitely crafted glass horse.
"This...you made this?!" A look of amazement flashed in the wicked man's eyes, somewhat incredulous. The craftsmanship and design were no worse than those made in later generations, and even had a bit more liveliness.
“Indeed, Your Excellency.” Wu Shi Luo nodded with a smile. “This is a new glassmaking technique recently developed by our workshop’s artisans. We have come to present it to Your Excellency for your appreciation.”
The wicked man took the glass horse and examined it closely. He saw that its color was crystal clear and its shape was lifelike, truly a rare masterpiece. He couldn't help but praise, "This glasswork is truly ingenious, the craftsmanship is excellent, and it deserves to be rewarded."
Wu Shi Luo humbly replied, "You flatter me, Grand Commandant. If you like this item, it will be the greatest reward for the craftsman."
The wicked man placed the glass horse on the table, pondered for a moment, and then said, "This item is exquisitely crafted. If it can be mass-produced, and we simply promote it among foreign tribes, it will surely bring great profits to our Great Qin."
Upon hearing this, Wu Shilu's eyes flashed with excitement: "Your Excellency is wise, Grand Commandant. I will certainly live up to your expectations and carry forward this glassmaking craft."
The wicked man nodded and then asked, "However, judging from this kind of technology, the efficiency must not be very high. How much would it cost?"
Wu Shilu replied, "Colorful glass like this requires a lot of fuel and the process is complicated, so the cost is 40% higher than that of ordinary colorless glass. However, the efficiency is not reduced by much."
“Very well, I will report this matter to His Majesty and personally request credit for you.” The wicked man decided, “After you return, compile a detailed report as soon as possible, including the required materials, process flow, expected costs and benefits, etc., so that I can report to His Majesty.”
"Furthermore, we should speed up the refining process. Once we have accumulated a sufficient quantity, we will await Huan Yi's good news to attract foreign merchants and establish a reputation as a distribution market!"
Upon hearing this, Wu Shilu was overjoyed: "Thank you for your guidance, Grand Commandant. I will certainly live up to your expectations."
The wicked man waved his hand, indicating, "No need for formalities. We both serve the Great Qin, so we should support each other. Go back and prepare, and I will speak to His Majesty tomorrow."
Wu Shilu bowed again, then took his leave.
The wicked man watched Wu Shi Luo leave, pondering in his heart what means he should use to manipulate the sale of glass and add another stroke to the prosperity of the Great Qin.
......
Western Regions, Kucha.
"Come, this cup of wine is a toast to the General!" King Bai Wuni of Kucha smiled broadly, raised his cup to Huan Yi on his left, and looked somewhat ingratiating.
Huan Yi responded with a smile, raised his hand to clink glasses with him, and then drank the wine in his cup in one gulp. "Thank you for your warm hospitality, Your Majesty!"
Bai Wuni quickly waved his hand, claiming that the Qin army was passing through the Kucha region and that stopping there was a sign of respect for them.
Now, who doesn't know that the Qin state sent troops to wreak havoc on the three tribes, causing unbearable suffering to the Yuezhi, Xiongnu, and Donghu?
At this time, Kucha was still under the rule of the Xiongnu. Its tribal strength ranked among the top in the thirty-six tribes of the Western Regions, but unfortunately, this only applied to the Western Regions.
The Kucha tribe now has a population of over 80,000, including men, women, and children. Naturally, they must greet Huan Yi with a smile and dare not offend him in the slightest.
Huan Yi smiled and nodded, then secretly winked at Zhang Han and the other two sitting on his left.
The three immediately understood and picked up their wine cups to drink heartily. This wine from the Western Regions was stronger than that from China, and after only a few cups, their faces turned rosy.
Her eyes... also became very unfocused.
Seeing this, Huan Yi chuckled to himself; the show was about to begin!
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
