"Ah...it's a bit hot."
He Shengan looked up at the sky in some confusion. It was cloudy and there was no sun.
"Brother Yun, I'm worried you're suffering from a severe internal heat. Come out later and I'll take your pulse. We're about to go to Wofeng Road, and we'll be busy. If you're not feeling well, I'm afraid you'll miss Earl Ding'an's orders."
"..." Yun Xiyan turned around and looked at He Shengan, thinking that this kid is really honest. He didn't even realize that I am also feeling guilty!
"Can you also take pulses?"
"My father was a traveling doctor, so he learned a little bit."
The group arrived at the gate of Chengtian Hall. Eunuch Jia asked them to wait here and he walked in with his head bowed.
"Your Majesty, the top ten for this year's exam have arrived!"
"Xuan!"
Following Eunuch Jia's greeting, Yun Xiyan and ten others walked into the Golden Palace and stood neatly on the left side of the ministers.
Emperor Xuan merely glanced at them. He was holding a memorial in his hand and said, "Since the beginning of summer, there has been heavy rain in the eastern and western parts of Jiannan. The Imperial Astronomical Observatory predicts that floods are very likely this year. Therefore, the Council of State will soon send a document to all prefectures along the Yangtze River, instructing officials to take precautions against flooding."
"In addition, rainfall in the Jianghan River Basin is 20% higher than usual. This water will flow into the Yangtze River. Special attention must be paid to the Jingjiang River section. The Ministry of Works must dispatch officials from the Ministry of Water Resources to monitor the Jingjiang River section. Officials on the Jingjiang River frontline must cooperate with the Ministry of Water Resources to address the situation and prevent a major disaster."
"Bi Dong."
"I am here!"
"When will the Water Department's Doctor Cui Ziqi return to the capital?"
"Your Majesty, roughly three days."
"After he returns to the capital, tell him to come and see me immediately!"
"My lord, I obey the order!"
Emperor Xuan stood up, his hands behind his back, and took two steps. "The two regions south of the Yangtze River are extremely important to the Yu Dynasty. I don't want to hear any more news of the Yangtze River breaching its dikes! The upper reaches of the Yellow River thawed a full twenty days later this spring than last year. According to Earl Ding'an, the two regions along the Yellow River must pay special attention to rainfall this summer!"
"If the thawed waters coincide with heavy rain... the Yellow River and its banks will likely suffer another major disaster!"
"Therefore, officials from the Ministry of Water Resources must also be stationed at the Yellow River. Any abnormal rainfall must be reported to local officials immediately, and the people on both sides must be evacuated immediately!"
"Remember this! If a flood disaster occurs anywhere this year and more than ten people die, county and prefecture officials will be dismissed on the spot! If more than thirty people die, provincial officials will be punished for dereliction of duty! If more than a hundred people die... the local prefect will be out of office!"
The introduction of this harsh policy immediately shocked the ministers below.
Has there ever been a flood in the Yellow River and the Yangtze River over the years without thousands of people dying?
Apart from those who are corrupt and commit law-breaking crimes, those officials have not been punished.
But today, Your Majesty has set the number so low and directly linked it to responsibility... I don't think Your Majesty would come up with such an idea. Then who came up with this bad idea?
It goes without saying that many ministers glanced at Fu Xiaoguan!
The power structures in the imperial court were intertwined and complex. Even though there had been a rectification last year, many officials in various states and counties were still their sons, nephews, and students.
This guy Fu Xiaoguan... doesn't follow the rules!
Now that His Majesty has spoken, he must fulfill his words. So after the court is dismissed, he must quickly write a letter to his sons, nephews, and students, reminding them not to be careless.
Fu Xiaoguan stood in front, carrying a lot of resentment, but he didn't care at all.
This was indeed his idea, but it was by no means a bad idea. He believed that those officials would inevitably take action in order to keep their official hats.
That’s enough. If a flood really happens, fewer people will die.
Emperor Xuan stood still and continued, "Regarding the discussion on floods... no, regarding disasters, we will follow today's policy from now on. I think what Earl Ding'an said is right. If an official doesn't serve the people, he might as well go back to selling sweet potatoes!"
When Emperor Xuan said this, all the ministers looked at each other in confusion. Even Yun Xiyan boldly raised his head and took a look. Who was the Earl of Ding'an?
"You may not know about sweet potatoes yet, but I'll tell you, the sweet potatoes that Earl Ding'an found were planted on over ten acres in West Mountain last year, yielding 4,700 kilograms per acre!"
The yield per mu is 4,700 kilograms!
This number was like a thunderclap exploding in the Chengtian Hall.
The ministers were suddenly shocked, and all ten students raised their heads with their mouths open in disbelief.
“This…is impossible!”
"In the past thousand years, when has there ever been a crop that could yield 4,700 kilograms per mu?"
"Lord Ding'an... could it be that he made a false report?"
"Even if it's a false report, this is too outrageous!"
“…”
No one believed it except Yan Beixi, Dong Kangping and other people in the know!
Whether it was the court officials or the ten students, this number was beyond their imagination.
Emperor Xuan suddenly smiled and said, "I know you don't believe me, but I have two memorials here from the two counties of Pingling and Quyi."
"In March of this year, the Earl of Ding'an dispatched farmers from Xishan to Pingling and Quyi counties, delivering a total of 40,000 kilograms of sweet potatoes. Each county received 20,000 kilograms. The sweet potatoes have now been transplanted and planted on 800 mu of land. They are growing well, and the magistrates of both counties have reported the situation. Don't be surprised, just wait and see."
At this time, an official stood up and asked, "Your Majesty, can sweet potatoes be used as food?"
"The Earl of Ding'an has already sent over thirty kilograms. I've tasted it, and so have Prime Minister Yan, Minister Dong, Master Yan, and Yan Haochu. It's sweet, fragrant, and delicious. It's a divine substance that can be used as a staple food!"
Yan Beixi cupped his hands, bowed, and said loudly, "When the harvest is in October this year, Quyi will send some of this. When you try it, you will surely be full of praise!"
He paused, bowed again, and said, "This is a blessing for the Great Yu! In the years to come, the Yu Dynasty will no longer suffer from a lack of food. The people will be able to eat their fill, and the world will be at peace. This is the result of your majesty's benevolence. Your majesty has obtained this divine object, and you will usher in a peaceful and prosperous era just around the corner!"
All the ministers immediately bowed and congratulated each other. For a moment, the Chengtian Hall was filled with praise.
Emperor Xuan's gaze fell on Fu Xiaoguan's face, which was filled with a faint smile.
Is this kid not surprised by praise or criticism or does he not care?
Food problem is the most serious problem plaguing every country.
It directly limits population growth, and insufficient population hinders economic growth. Economic stagnation, in turn, makes people even poorer, more afraid to have children, and even willing to rebel just to make a living!
So sweet potatoes are truly a magical thing!
The yield per mu is nearly 5,000 kilograms!
What a great achievement!
But His Majesty did not dare to reward Fu Xiaoguan again, so he felt a little embarrassed, but he had to express something in appreciation for such a great contribution.
"Mr. Ding'an..."
"I am here!"
Yun Xiyan couldn't see Fu Xiaoguan's face from where he was standing, but he heard the voice, it sounded very familiar!
He took a deep breath. Could it be that I have seen this Earl Ding'an before?
"You have made great contributions to the country again. I allow Sitong Bank to issue silver bills!"
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