Upon entering the capital, Han Zhongyu went directly to the palace to request an audience with Emperor Qingyuan without even entering his own home.
It was afternoon, and the Emperor was reviewing memorials in his study when he heard a servant report that Han Zhongyu was requesting an audience. He thought he was hallucinating.
"who?"
"Your Majesty, it is Han Zhongyu, the governor of Tai'an Prefecture!"
Emperor Qingyuan was slightly angry. Han Zhongyu had come to the capital without being summoned. What was he trying to do?
"Summon him in. I want to see what excuse he'll give for abandoning his post!"
If a prince or a general leading troops were to enter the capital without being summoned, he would be punished for treason. Although Han Zhongyu was a civil official, his unauthorized entry into the capital was also a violation of the law. He would be severely punished, if not killed. Emperor Qingyuan thought to himself, if Han Zhongyu had come to refuse the marriage, he would have given him a good beating.
She really thinks she can't bear to touch him just because she admires him!
After the summoned eunuch left, Han Zhongyu knelt before Emperor Qingyuan's dragon desk in the time it takes to drink half a cup of tea.
"Your subject Han Zhongyu pays his respects to Your Majesty. Long live the Emperor!"
Emperor Qingyuan slowly sipped his tea, scrutinized the scene for a moment, and then spoke.
"Han Zhongyu, isn't it time for you to go to the capital to report on your duties?"
"You entered the capital without being summoned; do you know what your punishment should be?"
Han Zhongyu replied respectfully.
"Local officials who cross the line without authorization commit dereliction of duty. The punishment ranges from a salary deduction and a demerit to a caning and dismissal."
However, Your Majesty, I have an urgent matter to report, concerning the livelihood of the people of the Great Qi. Time is of the essence, and I have no choice but to risk coming here in person.
Emperor Qingyuan narrowed his eyes slightly upon hearing this.
"Oh? Tell me about it!"
If you make a mountain out of a molehill, I will not let you off easily!
Hmph! I hope you're not lying to me. If you dare to use official business as an excuse to sever your personal affairs, you're sure to get a beating!
Emperor Qingyuan waited with a serious expression for Han Zhongyu to speak.
Han Zhongyu cleverly avoided mentioning the imperial decree granting them the marriage, instead presenting Emperor Qingyuan with the biogas digester blueprints Xie Yushu had drawn for him.
"This is the drawing of a biogas digester that Lord Jingde drew for me a few days ago."
The biogas fertilizer produced by fermenting this stuff can increase crop yields by at least 10%, and if the soil is fertile, it can even increase yields by 20%.
Moreover, this biogas digester is simple to make and inexpensive. Each household can make a biogas digester of a suitable size for their own use based on the amount of land they own.
Moreover, the raw materials for making biogas fertilizer are very common. You can ferment your own livestock manure and straw together, and it will be ready in two to three months.
Low cost and readily available materials make this undoubtedly the most cost-effective and efficient way to increase grain production.
Princess Jingde and her minister have already begun promoting the experiment in Tai'an Prefecture.
Your Majesty, I originally intended to wait until autumn to see the results of the experiment before reporting them to you. However, I also thought that the borders are not stable and grain is an important reserve resource. Starting early would mean an earlier harvest.
Although an extra 10% or 20% per mu may not seem like much, a prefecture has more than 3 million mu of land. Even if each mu produces an extra 100 jin of grain, a prefecture can harvest an extra 3 million shi of grain.
Not to mention the entire Great Qi.
In this way, the people can truly achieve food and clothing security, have surplus grain in their hands, and naturally will not default on rent payments.
In the past, some places often delayed payments. While it cannot be denied that a few individuals embezzled funds, the main reason for delays in most places was probably a lack of surplus grain.
Moreover, biogas fertilizer is made by fermenting straw and livestock manure. These two things are originally farm manure. Fermentation only enhances their fertilizer effect and will not cause any harm.
"If we can promote biogas fertilizer as soon as possible, I believe that before long, the Great Qi will enter a golden age, and Your Majesty will become a wise ruler who creates this prosperous era!"
When Han Zhongyu painted this rosy picture, Emperor Qingyuan was so excited that he grinned from ear to ear, and his earlier slight displeasure vanished.
A golden age! How many golden ages have there been throughout history?
Which emperor of a prosperous era didn't achieve lasting fame?
What a golden age! He was the king who ushered in this golden age. When later generations mention him, and the Great Qi of that time, won't they say...
"The Prosperous Era of Qingyuan"
What an honor!
He imagined himself being supported by the people of his time and revered by future generations, and his heart was filled with excitement. Only then did he ask Han Zhongyu the question again, albeit uncertainly.
"Do you really believe what you're saying?"
Han Zhongyu said
"Your Majesty, I believe there is an 80% chance of success at this point."
Although this biogas fertilizer was never used to grow crops, the flowers and plants in Yuquan Manor were all irrigated with enzyme fertilizer by Princess Jingde, and they were indeed growing very well. She always knew that the enzyme fertilizer was made from rotten fruit, vegetable leaves, and tree leaves, and that the contents were actually similar to straw.
"Okay, okay!"
If this matter succeeds, it will be a great achievement for both you and Princess Jingde!
"I will reward you handsomely!"
Han Zhongyu then spoke in a serious tone.
"It is my duty to share the Emperor's burdens, and neither I nor the Princess dare to claim credit for it."
"Those who have made merits should be rewarded, and those who have made mistakes should be punished!"
Minister Han doesn't like to make excuses!
Han Zhongyu feigned humility for a moment, then began to strike while the iron was hot.
"Your Majesty and I have no other wish than that the Great Qi will prosper and its national fortune will last forever."
"One reason is that we are deeply in love and have already arranged our marriage some time ago. If Your Majesty wishes to bestow a reward, both I and the Princess would like to request a marriage certificate. With Your Majesty's blessing, we would be more precious than any other reward!"
Emperor Qingyuan immediately felt guilty!
If it weren't for the biogas digester issue, he would have definitely refused with a clear conscience, and then given Han Zhongyu a beating to uphold his authority.
But then Han Zhongyu and Xie Yushu conspired to paint him a rosy picture, and this rosy picture looked delicious.
Now that Han Zhongyu has been punished, it's difficult for him to convince the public!
Not punishing him felt like Han Zhongyu had outmaneuvered him, leaving him feeling somewhat uneasy.
Emperor Qingyuan, realizing this, immediately questioned...
"Han Zhongyu! You dare to defy the imperial decree!"
Han Zhongyu immediately looked puzzled.
"Your Majesty, I dare not. I do not understand. When did I disobey your decree?"
If I were to be punished for privately presenting biogas digester blueprints to the Emperor before the Emperor, I would gladly accept the punishment!
Play dumb!
However, Emperor Qingyuan had no evidence.
I had no choice but to take the initiative.
“A few days ago, I bestowed a marriage upon you and Princess Jinghe. The imperial decree has already been sent to Tai’an Prefecture. Do you dare say you didn’t know?”
Han Zhongyu innocently prostrated himself on the ground to beg for forgiveness.
"Your Majesty, please forgive me, I truly did not know!"
The fermentation time for this biogas fertilizer is two to three months. I calculate that it is only the first month of the lunar calendar now. I am reporting to you that in one or two months, it will be available in at least half of the areas, and it will be ready to use when planting crops in May.
"After instructing my subordinates, I hastened my journey to the capital, fearing that a written memorial would be unclear and that the round trip would be too time-consuming. Therefore, I dared not delay, even at the risk of overstepping my bounds. Thus, I truly have not received the imperial edict!"
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
