My Pen Pal Zhu Yuanzhang

Chapter 73 Old Li Asks Heaven

"Look, are you speaking human language?"

Zhu Yuanzhang was immediately furious. "You have such a big hand, how could Zhu Yunwen snatch it from you?"

Zhu Yunwen nodded in agreement.

Zhu Di felt aggrieved. He thought that his hands and mouth were just a little bigger, so was there anything wrong with that?
If you want to blame someone, blame my eldest nephew for eating slowly. Real men are not supposed to be so gentle.

Seeing that Zhu Di was about to be scolded again, Zhu Biao quickly stood up to smooth things over.

"Dad, today's family dinner has all these delicacies that we have never tasted before. How about you tell me what these delicacies are?"

As soon as these words were spoken, everyone turned their attention to Zhu Yuanzhang. They were also curious about what was being served at the family dinner today.

Queen Ma was also curious and asked, "Yes, Chongba, can you also tell us what these delicious foods are?"

Our Biaoer is still the best, he is sensible and good at talking. Zhu Yuanzhang nodded, picked up a piece of potato chips and said:

"This thing is called potato. It can be harvested twice a year and is very suitable for cultivation."

As he said this, he put the potato chips into his mouth and ate them, then picked up a sweet potato.

"This is called sweet potato. Like potatoes, it is also very easy to grow and can be harvested four times a year."

"Potatoes can be harvested twice a year, which means farmers can harvest twice. Sweet potatoes can be harvested four times a year, which means farmers can harvest four times. Dad, if this is the case, then the people of the Ming Dynasty will no longer have to worry about famine!"

Zhu Biao said a little excitedly.

Zhu Yuanzhang shook his head and said, "Not only that, the people of the Ming Dynasty will be able to have enough food to eat in the future!"

Seeing that everyone was puzzled, Zhu Yuanzhang smiled slightly, looked around at everyone, and then slowly spoke:
"Potatoes, 4,000 kilograms per mu, sweet potatoes, 5,000 kilograms per mu!"

When these words were spoken, everyone in the room was shocked. Except for a few grandchildren, they could not understand what the emperor was saying.

The French fries in Zhu Di's hand fell directly onto the table, and then he subconsciously picked them up and put them into his mouth.

Zhu Biao was relatively calm, but he didn't even notice the chopsticks falling from his hand.

"Dad, is what you said true?"

"That's natural. It's a gift from a strange man, so how could it be fake?"

Zhu Yuanzhang said solemnly: "Perhaps this strange man saw that the Ming Dynasty suffered from natural disasters one after another, and the people were starving and cold, so he gave such a magical grain to save the people of the world."

"So good, so good!"

Zhu Biao said excitedly: "This is a blessing for the Ming Dynasty and the people!"

At this time, Zhu Di suddenly said: "In that case, these potatoes and sweet potatoes can be used as military rations. They are easy to cook. Just roast them and they will taste good. They can also fill the stomach."

As he spoke, he couldn't help but burp, which smelled like sweet potatoes.

"If there is more food, the soldiers in the garrisons won't have to farm all day. They can use the extra time for training, and the court can also support more soldiers."

Zhu Yuanzhang looked at Zhu Di in surprise. He didn't expect that this bastard who hung out in the martial arts arena all day long actually had some brains.

He patted Zhu Di's shoulder fiercely and said, "Good boy, it seems that you have been in the martial arts arena for so long, and it is not useless."

Zhu Di laughed foolishly. It was rare for Zhu Yuanzhang to praise him, and he was very happy.

"Dad, you see, my fourth brother isn't completely useless." Zhu Biao joked cheerfully.

"Ha ha ha ha"

Everyone laughed happily.

As the sky gradually darkened, after the family dinner ended, everyone gradually dispersed, and Zhu Yuanzhang also returned to the inner palace bedroom to prepare to write back to Li Han.

The food problem was solved, and the haze that had been lingering in my heart for days was swept away. The only regret was why I didn't save more potatoes and sweet potatoes. The taste was really unforgettable. I could only wait for another three months until the potatoes and sweet potatoes were harvested, and then I could enjoy them to my heart's content.

Spreading out the letter paper, Zhu Yuanzhang wrote:

"Old Li, the Ming Dynasty has been hit by a series of disasters recently, either the flood in Dongting Lake or the severe drought in Ganzhou. The people are starving and hungry. It is you who have compassion for the world and gave us those potatoes and sweet potatoes to save the people of the Ming Dynasty from the dire straits.

Otherwise, we would be annoyed to death by those scholars in the Ministry of Rites and the Honglu Temple, saying that we are not benevolent and that it is God who is condemning us.

He also clamored for us to disband the Jinyiwei and restore peace and order to the Ming Dynasty.

What does this God have to do with the Jinyiwei?

In my opinion, these guys have something to hide and are afraid that they will be discovered by the Royal Guards.

What’s even more infuriating is that the censors from the Inspectorate asked us to issue an edict of repentance. Isn’t this just nonsense?

These guys are just idle!

Fortunately, the potatoes and sweet potatoes you sent us in time, Lao Li, have been a great help to us.

From now on, there will be no more famine in the Ming Dynasty. I, Zhu, will never be able to repay this kindness.

Although it may sound cliché to say thank you for the friendship between us, Old Zhu still has to say that on behalf of the people of the Ming Dynasty, I would like to express my gratitude to you.

But I, Old Zhu, have a question in my mind. Why have floods and droughts occurred one after another since the founding of the Ming Dynasty? Now, in the fifteenth year of Hongwu, there have been no less than ten large-scale floods, and severe droughts have followed one after another.

Could it be that our Ming Dynasty really violated God's taboo?
Over the years, I haven't had a single day of peace.

But since the founding of the Ming Dynasty, I have been working diligently, neither lazy nor tyrannical. I can assure myself that I, Zhu, am not a foolish person.

Lao Li, you are a god, why don't you ask God for help and see what God means. "

Having written this, Zhu Yuanzhang couldn't help but laugh. When they first started communicating, he called Lao Li an immortal. Maybe the old man really had the ability to ask the heavens for help.

"Regarding Xu Da and the other three's use of the needle-fired gun, our ideas coincide with yours, Old Li. At this stage, the needle-fired gun and bullets have just begun production. It will take some time before they can be put into service on a large scale.

Therefore, Tang He’s suggestion is indeed the most appropriate one to start with in the current military construction.

However, I am really interested in the sniper team you mentioned. It is really fascinating to take the head of an enemy general from thousands of miles away.

Even though it is impossible to do it a thousand miles away, with the needle-shooting gun, it is no problem to hit the target from a hundred steps away.

Therefore, could you explain this sniping tactic in more detail?"

After writing the letter, Zhu Yuanzhang was again at a loss as to what gift to give.

By the way, Mr. Li likes painting, so he will naturally like calligraphy as well.

Recently, his second son Zhu Chong gave him a copy of "Lanting Xu", which was a copy of the regular script master Chu Suiliang from the Sui and Tang Dynasties.

Throughout the dynasties, there are numerous copies of "Preface to the Lanting Poems", but Chu Suiliang's copy is not only similar in appearance but also in spirit, and is famous for both its emphasis on similarity and spirit.

Moreover, wasn't "Preface to the Lanting Collection" written by Wang Xizhi when he was filled with passion and casually splashed ink when he and his friends gathered at the Lanting in Shanyin, Kuaiji?

It is most appropriate to use this book sticker to express the friendship between the two people that is as strong as mountains and flowing water.

It’s a pity that there is no authentic copy of "Preface to the Lanting Poems". It is said that the authentic copy was taken into Zhaoling Mausoleum by Emperor Taizong of Tang, Li Shimin.

Later, Zhaoling was excavated and robbed by Wen Tao, the governor of the Liang Dynasty. It is said that the "Preface to the Lanting Poems" was also stolen by him.

Since then, no one has ever seen the original work.

It's really a pity.

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(End of this chapter)