Chapter 358: A bumper corn harvest! Gu Ting betrays his ministers!
Autumn is the season of harvest.
The corn grown in Zhuangzi had a bumper harvest this year, and the corn planted on trial in other counties also had a bumper harvest.
This was the first time they had seen such a high-yield crop, and the people were extremely happy.
When the imperial court forced them to plant the crops, they were very nervous because the land was their life and the guarantee of their survival.
If the corn planting failed, it would be just one season's crop for the imperial court, but it would be nearly a year's food for them.
Many people were very nervous, but the court promised that if the planting failed, they would be given a grain subsidy per acre of land, so everyone dared to join in the fight.
The result was so surprising that the yield of this acre of land almost caught up with their yield in the previous season.
After the corn was harvested, good news from all over the country was sent to the capital. Young Master Chen personally went to the palace to ask for an audience with His Majesty, and his joy was beyond words.
The emperor had not expected such a good result. He was overjoyed and praised Mr. Chen highly, and promoted him directly.
But Mr. Chen Er did not take any credit for it and put all the credit on Qin Zhizhi.
"Your Majesty, this is all the credit of the County Lady. I am just carrying out the orders. Please do not promote me. I am willing to work with the County Lady. Please give these rewards to the County Lady."
Young Master Chen is a straightforward and simple person. He feels that without Qin Zhizhi's selfless provision of these high-yield seeds and planting methods, it would be impossible to have a good harvest this year.
With these high-yield crops, people no longer have to go hungry.
"Your Majesty, please reward the princess!" The Minister of Agriculture also knelt down and begged the emperor.
"This is a commendation for my beloved ministers. You must cooperate with the county lady. As for the county lady's reward, I will have someone deliver it."
The emperor was in a very good mood. How could he forget Qin Zhizhi's contribution?
"Your Majesty, I have another idea. Why not let the county lady join my Agricultural Department?"
The Minister of Agriculture felt that with Qin Zhizhi around, they couldn't produce anything.
The court officials were dumbfounded. They knew that Qin Zhizhi could make money and grow crops, but they had never thought of becoming an official in the court.
"My dear, your suggestion is very good, but I have to go back and ask the county lady for her opinion."
The emperor saw Qin Zhizhi's excellence. Compared with farming, Qin Zhizhi was also good at making money.
"Your Majesty, my wife is not interested in this. I just want her to be happy."
Gu Jinghuai knelt down and refused on behalf of Qin Zhizhi.
"Oh, then tell me why the county lady is unwilling to serve as an official in the court?"
The emperor wanted to hear what Gu Jinghuai had to say. After all, he was the top scholar appointed by him personally, so he would not say anything extra on a normal day.
"My wife once told me that anyone who can insist on attending court every day and not be late is a person with an unusually strong will. She can't do that for even a single day."
"Every day when I went to court, she looked at me with sympathy and heartache."
"My wife is not like you gentlemen, who can endure this hardship. She really can't get up."
…
The emperor was shocked for a moment. He thought of many reasons, but he never thought that he couldn't get up.
The other ministers instantly felt so pitiful for themselves. They didn't want to get up so early every day. The county lord was so clear-headed.
"Lord Chen, you've seen this too. It's not that I won't help you. You've also heard Lord Gu's words. If I had agreed to your request, you would have been ungrateful."
The emperor directly put the blame on Lord Chen and his son.
"I was mistaken!" Lord Chen quickly admitted his mistake.
"Alright, you guys should assist the county lady on a daily basis and meet her needs. The county lady is very talented and has a talent for farming."
The emperor is already thinking about what reward to give to Qin Zhizhi, this is a great achievement.
"Your Majesty, I have something else to report." Young Master Chen remembered that he had something else to say.
"Permission granted!"
"Your Majesty, the county lady has already started picking the new cotton she planted this year. I find it very rare. Would Your Majesty like to go and take a look?"
Young Master Chen thought that the emperor should also go and see the cotton flowers that were as white as clouds.
The county lady had spent a lot of effort to grow it, and Uncle Qin and the others had been on the farm all the time.
"What new varieties did the county lady plant this time?" The emperor suddenly became interested.
"Your Majesty, the crop the county lady is planting this time is called cotton. I heard from the county lady that it can be made into cotton-padded clothes and quilts, which are very warm to wear in winter."
"The county lady said that this first batch of cotton clothes was given to the soldiers on the border. They have worked hard to defend their country."
All the civil and military officials in the court were shocked at this moment, and all praised the county lord for her righteousness.
"Your Majesty, if the cotton grown by the County Lady can really be made into warm cotton clothes as Lord Chen said, that would be wonderful."
The military officers were excited. The border was cold and the mountains were covered with snow in winter. If there were really warm cotton clothes, it would save the lives of the soldiers.
"Master Chen, if the farm is busy enough, the Ning family is willing to provide people to help free of charge. We only ask that the county lady give priority to selling the cotton to the Ning family army when the time comes."
"Ning Kun, it's not just your Ning family that's willing, my Xiao family is willing too!"
"Your Majesty, the Ji family is also willing!"
"Your Majesty, you must not be partial!"
…
Because Ning Kun took the lead, the generals quarreled with each other, which gave the emperor a headache. They were not so active during the court sessions on weekdays.
"Master Gu, you are the Minister of Revenue, and this county lady is your niece-in-law. You must keep all this cotton. The soldiers really need it!"
"Master Gu, please speak well of us to the County Lord!"
Even Gu Jinghuai and Gu Ting did not escape, and Gu Ting looked very proud.
"Tomorrow is a day off. Why don't you all come with me to the farm and work for a day so the county lady can see your sincerity and she can make the decision."
Gu Ting is such a smart man, how could he make the decision for Qin Zhizhi? That was grown by his niece-in-law with great effort.
Besides, they are his own family, so of course he has to protect them. His nephew is thin-skinned, so they can't try to morally blackmail him.
The emperor gave Gu Ting a thumbs up in his heart. When it comes to shamelessness, Gu Ting is the best.
"Since you are all interested, and Lord Gu has sincerely invited you, why don't you go and work together for a day? After all, you don't have to go to court during your day off."
Gu Ting had already moved the ladder, so of course he had to give him the steps, besides, that was the one Zhizhi planted on her niece's farm.
How could we let two children be cheated by these old foxes?
"Your Majesty, I obey your command!"
"It's the farm where I accompanied the emperor last time. My lords, please get up early. After all, there are hundreds of acres of cotton waiting for us to pick!"
Gu Ting's words made everyone's mouth twitch, but Gu Ting didn't care about them and was very happy.
When I get back from duty later, my mother, the princess and my niece-in-law will definitely praise me.
Qin Zhizhi has been busy with farm affairs recently and has not been seen every day. The old lady is very distressed and has even lost her appetite.
Gu Ting felt that most of these people were military generals, and some were strong, so it was perfect for them to work on the farm. He was really smart.
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