Although Shen Jia'an didn't know why she was hiding her whereabouts, he figured there must be some unspeakable reason that she couldn't tell outsiders, so he didn't ask for any details.
"Young Master You, have you thought this through? This is no small achievement."
"Of course I've thought it through."
Shen Jia'an didn't force her. Since she didn't want this "reputation," he couldn't just force it on her.
After reaching an agreement, Shen Jia'an hurriedly returned home; he'd been very busy lately!
At this moment, Youqing felt a little regretful. She should have changed her name. Youqing and Youqing sounded too similar.
Although Kangxi had probably forgotten about her by this time, what if she were accidentally discovered?
It's better to be safe than sorry.
Emperor Kangxi in the capital was delayed because of the sudden death of his sixth son. He was still recovering from the grief of losing his son when he got busy again.
As an emperor, he was actually very busy and didn't have much time to be sentimental.
This wasn't the first time he had lost a son, but the fact that he had raised the sixth prince to the age of six and developed a deep bond with him made his grief even more profound.
Just as he was preparing to promote the new farm tools in the capital, news came from Yunnan.
According to the report, in Sanbo County, Kunyang Prefecture, Anning Prefecture, Yunnan Province, someone has developed a fertilizer that yields five shi of wheat per mu on farmland fertilized with it.
Five shi per mu—what a level of yield! If such fertilizer could be applied throughout the country, then Emperor Kangxi's throne would be secure, and he wouldn't have to worry about any objections from the Han people.
Ordinary people care about who can provide them with enough to eat and wear. Some people in remote areas may not even be able to distinguish the different ranks of officials, such as county magistrate, prefect, and governor, throughout their lives.
For ordinary people, it doesn't matter who is in power, but if someone makes them go hungry, then that regime should be overthrown.
At that time, most people were illiterate and politically ignorant. The only thing they knew was how to take care of the crops in the fields to make them grow well, and whoever could make the crops grow well was a good person.
It's that simple and straightforward.
This is also the most basic demand of ordinary people.
"Liang Jiugong, the memorial says there is a county in Yunnan where there is a kind of fertilizer that can produce five shi of wheat per mu of farmland. Do you think this is believable?"
Although Liang Jiugong entered the palace early, he was not ignorant of farming. If the yield of five shi per mu was really that high, then as long as the people of the world were diligent and hardworking, there would be almost no starvation!
"If you ask me, this is definitely true." Who would dare send such a message to the capital if it weren't true? To joke with the Emperor—wouldn't they be afraid of losing their head?!
So it's 99% true.
Emperor Kangxi also believed it to be true, but since he hadn't seen it with his own eyes, he was still uneasy.
The secret guards sent to Yunnan had not yet returned, so Kangxi had no choice but to continue sending secret guards to Yunnan.
"Liang Jiugong, do you think a lot of things have happened in Yunnan in the past two years?"
First, there was the corruption scandal that he made a big fuss about without even sending anyone to investigate; then there were the new farm tools; and now there's fertilizer.
"I have heard that Yunnan is a land of beautiful mountains and rivers, and must be a place of outstanding people and resources, which is why it has produced such talented individuals who serve the Qing Dynasty."
"You certainly know how to talk."
Yunnan is indeed a place of outstanding people and beautiful scenery, and the people it produces are also exceptionally talented. He has become interested in Yunnan.
Perhaps we should go and take a look?
However, it's probably not going to work out this year.
Emperor Kangxi sent people over, and the secret guards who had been sent to gather information returned.
"Your Majesty, the new farming tools were sent from the magistrate of Sanbo County, Kunyang Prefecture, Anning Prefecture. I learned that these tools were made by a merchant surnamed You to facilitate the cultivation of flower seeds. Later, they were discovered by Magistrate Shen Jia'an of Sanbo County, who found them to be very useful for farming, and thus sent them to the capital."
This bodyguard did his best to investigate, and he did a thorough job, but he didn't directly reveal the name of the merchant surnamed You as You Qing.
After hearing this, Emperor Kangxi thought the merchant surnamed You was quite capable, but he didn't think much of it and didn't pay much attention to her.
However, I did remember Shen Jia'an's name.
He remembered that not long ago, Sanpo County in Yunnan was also a place where the yield per mu could reach five shi (a unit of dry measure), and the magistrate of Sanpo County was Shen Jia'an.
It seems this person has quite a bit of luck and ability.
Looking back, if possible, it wouldn't be a bad idea to reuse them.
After reporting, the guard put down the file and left.
The dossier did contain the name You Qing, but the secret guards had already said everything they needed to say, so Kangxi went to look at the dossier again and had it put away.
Actually, it's not entirely the fault of the secret guards. The names of the concubines in the harem couldn't be leaked. These secret guards were responsible for going out to investigate information. There were also some secret guards in the harem, but the two groups were led by two different people and never met.
This bodyguard had no idea what Consort Shu's name was.
Yunnan is quite far away, and investigations can't be rushed, so the fertilizer issue is still uncertain. However, the new agricultural tools are being promoted quite well in Beijing.
The new farm tools are indeed useful, and there are indeed people who oppose them, but opposition is useless.
Of course, Emperor Kangxi couldn't possibly liberalize iron production all at once; he could only liberalize it partially, starting in the capital. Once it was widespread in the capital, it would be promoted in other places.
Another month passed, and the secret guards who went to Yunnan to investigate wheat production returned.
The message he brought back was: "...It is indeed true that the wheat yield per mu in Sanbo County exceeded five shi. I have found out that the yield of all cultivated land that used fertilizer almost doubled. I have also found out that this fertilizer was originally obtained from a merchant named You Qing..."
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