Qin Yu was wolfing down his food when he suddenly smelled a strong odor wafting over. He twitched his nose and shuddered.
A long-dormant dopamine region in the brain is rapidly awakened!
This fucking smells like tobacco!
That's at least on par with the best quality Furong King cigarettes!
With his eyes wide open, Qin Yu's face was full of disbelief.
"Quickly, let me see!"
It was almost snatched directly from Qingzhu's hand. Upon closer inspection, the leaves were large and wide, with a slightly wrinkled texture and obvious veins.
The leaves are tinged with a mature yellowish-brown.
Unexpectedly, it really was tobacco!
Seeing his sudden ecstasy, the three women were somewhat alarmed, and Zhao Yan asked him in fear.
"Your Majesty, what's wrong?"
Before he could even respond, Qin Yu grabbed a large sheet of the Confucian classics from the Empress's bedchamber table and rolled his pipe into it.
After skillfully lighting it, I couldn't wait to put it on my lips.
Take a deep sip!
"Cool!"
The hazy sensation from nicotine and tar first penetrates deep into the lungs, then feeds back into the brain.
After many days, he never expected to be able to smoke cigarettes in this era, and he even rolled his eyes in delight!
"Your Majesty, are you alright?"
This scene left Zhao Yan and Zi Yan speechless. They couldn't understand why the emperor, who had been eating peacefully just moments before, would suddenly act this way!
He looks like he's gone completely mad!
Qingzhu also hurriedly spoke up to dissuade them.
"Your Majesty! This medicine can only be inhaled, not taken orally! Otherwise, there will be unexpected and dangerous effects!"
Qin Yu paid no attention to them, skillfully crossed his legs, half-closed his eyes, and took another long inhale.
It takes about three puffs to smoke a cigarette, and afterwards I feel refreshed.
My head is no longer dizzy, my back is no longer sore, and I feel full of energy.
"May I ask you, did this tobacco really come from Abbot Liu?"
Qingzhu quickly replied, "Yes! Abbot Liu has friends all over the world, one of whom is cultivating and spreading the Dao in the Western Regions. She specially asked this friend to send this divine medicine."
"But Your Majesty, this medicine really cannot be taken orally!"
Zhao Yan and Zi Yan also spoke up to dissuade them at the same time.
But Qin Yu ignored him and continued to ask, "Approximately how many?"
"There should be five small bags left. Since it's a potent medicine, the demand isn't high, so it's enough for Her Majesty the Empress!"
"Only five small bags?"
Qin Yu's excited gaze immediately dimmed, and he was greatly disappointed.
Upon closer inspection, this isn't even enough for five days of smoking!
Touching his smooth chin, he fell into deep thought.
Zhao Yan feared that the emperor had taken the medicine incorrectly, which had messed up his mind, and asked him worriedly.
"Your Majesty, why are your eyes unfocused? Should we summon the imperial physician?"
"Quiet! I'm thinking!"
In my past life, what was the most profitable thing in a state-owned enterprise?
That must be a tobacco company!
The total tax and profit in just one year exceeded 1.4 trillion!
The entire army's budget was almost entirely covered by smokers!
I myself am a major contributor to the funding for aircraft carrier construction!
If we could import tobacco from the Western Regions and establish a state-owned cigarette factory in the Great Xia Dynasty to monopolize the market before merchants even realized what was happening, it would be like a nuclear-powered money-printing machine!
Then there will be no need to worry about an empty treasury.
From ordinary people to high-ranking merchants and officials, no one can resist the allure of tobacco!
Furthermore, this item can effectively achieve class balance.
For those with money, offer them high-end finished cigarettes; for ordinary people, offer them cheaper, affordable cigarettes.
Most of the profits are siphoned off from those at the top!
Thinking of this, Qin Yu became even more excited.
"I ask you, how many of these things are there in the Western Regions?"
After pondering for a moment, Qingzhu finally gave a firm response.
"Your Majesty, Abbot Liu asked her friend, and this stuff is not rare in the Western Regions; many families grow it!"
"very good!"
Upon careful consideration...
Tobacco did not yet exist in the mainland at this time, but since tobacco had already appeared in the Western Regions, it was only a matter of time before it spread to the Central Plains.
Isn't this perfect? I just happened to be right at this point in time!
Although this stuff consumes a lot of soil fertility and doesn't produce much, Daxia is a typical small-scale agricultural economy, and all the good land is used to grow grain.
But don't forget that the southernmost part of the South Central region is now the province that produced the most tobacco in later generations!
The climate there is very suitable for tobacco cultivation.
Currently, many people still regard the southern part of the country as a barbarian land. The population is small, the grain output is not large, and many arable lands are still idle, which can be used for tobacco cultivation.
Several sunny areas in northwestern Gansu are relatively arid, resulting in low grain yields and extremely difficult lives for farmers. However, these areas are also suitable for tobacco cultivation.
After tobacco is introduced, it can help these poor farmers become rich!
As long as some people are sent to transplant some high-quality tobacco seedlings and cultivate them carefully, his idea will soon be realized!
"Your Majesty? You?"
Zhao Yan was still asking worriedly.
Qin Yu smiled excitedly and opened her arms.
"My Empress, do you see anything wrong with me? I'm perfectly fine, aren't I? There's no need to worry!"
"I can tell you with absolute certainty that this substance can not only be inhaled to treat illnesses, but also taken orally, and it will have unexpected effects!"
Tobacco was not only used to make huge profits and enrich the national treasury, but it could also be used on the battlefield.
Nicotine in tobacco has a stimulating effect that can boost soldiers’ energy and concentration in a short time, and can also be used for pain relief and other medical purposes.
In addition, it can greatly alleviate the problem of excessive tension among new recruits, and if the supply is sufficient, it can also be used to boost morale.
At that time, the army will definitely be able to gain a significant advantage on the battlefield by using tobacco!
Seeing the emperor's confident demeanor and the fact that he was indeed unharmed, Zhao Yan finally relaxed completely.
Qingzhu brought quite a bit of tobacco this time, so Zhao Yan obediently followed suit and rolled her own cigarettes.
Qin Yu was extremely satisfied and enjoyed himself for a while. He felt warm all over and saw that the Empress in front of him was getting more and more radiant!
With a single glance, Qingzhu and Ziyan understood that the emperor was thinking about that matter again.
"This servant takes her leave!"
He then bowed respectfully and left, showing great understanding.
Before leaving the palace gates, they looked at each other one last time and shook their heads.
It's truly heartbreaking to see the Empress suffer like this. She's only just recovered from a serious illness, and now she's going to be put through so much hardship again.
Inside the palace, Zhao Yan asked a question with some curiosity.
"Your Majesty, I noticed you were staring at this object, lost in thought, and then suddenly delighted. What was on your mind?"
Qin Yu smiled calmly, deliberately keeping everyone in suspense.
"It's hard to say right now, but I can tell you that the court will no longer have to worry about money!"
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