I am Li Shen and Li Shimin, the free kings of the Tang Dynasty

Sugarcane has existed in China since ancient times and is mostly grown in various parts of the south.

Li Shen knew about it a long time ago, but he didn't know that large-scale cultivation had already begun in the Tang Dynasty.

It was also sent to the palace as a tribute.

Li Shen was a little puzzled as to why he hadn't eaten sugarcane in the past ten years. Not to mention eating it, he had never even seen it.

"Shitou, you have been in the palace for so long, have you ever seen Kunlun sugarcane?"

Puzzled, Li Shen looked at Shi Tou and asked.

Stone nodded:

"My Lord, I have seen you."

"What? You've seen them all? What about you guys?" Hearing that Shitou had seen them, Li Shen turned around and asked Chunxiang and Dongmei in disbelief.

The two maids also nodded.

"Your Majesty, we servants have seen it too."

"You have seen it too? You and I have never seen it, right?

That means that this Kunlun sugarcane is indeed a tribute, and it was shared after entering the palace, and there is no share for me, right?"

Li Shen tilted his head and widened his eyes, feeling a little distressed.

Every time I entered the palace, I would bring a lot of gifts, all of which were the best, but I couldn't even get a piece of sugarcane.

My father is too stingy. It turns out that my status as a bastard can never be changed.

I really didn't expect that all my efforts over the years would be rewarded with a cold family and a ruthless father.

Li Shen felt very wronged and sad. What was all his efforts for?

The study was filled with Li Shen's sadness.

Everyone could feel that Prince Ji was secretly sad.

But they didn’t know why Prince Ji was sad. Was it because he didn’t get to eat Kunlun sugarcane?

"Shitou, has my mother ever eaten Kunlun sugarcane?" Li Shen asked pretending to be calm.

"Replying to Your Majesty, the Imperial Concubine has definitely eaten it, and she has a share every year."

Fortunately, his mother was still around, so he still had some conscience. Hearing Shitou's answer, Li Shen felt much more comforted.

But when I remembered that I didn’t get to eat the sugarcane, I started to feel sad again.

At this moment, he was not in the mood to talk about things, and ordered Wang Xuance:

"Xuan Ce, I want to do the sugar business. Please send someone to find out where Kunlun sugarcane is mostly distributed.

Where is the most suitable place to grow Kunlun sugarcane on a large scale? I hope that all the people in the Tang Dynasty can eat sugar."

"Your Highness wants to make sugar?" Wang Xuance asked back after hearing Li Shen's words.

“Yes, the price of sugar is too high now, just like spices in the past, which were only enjoyed by princes and nobles.

This king hopes to increase production so that more people can afford it and make some money at the same time."

Li Shen nodded.

"Your Highness, if you want to make sugar, this Kunlun sugarcane may not be suitable." Wang Xuance said something that surprised Li Shen.

"No?" Li Shen was a little surprised. Isn't sugarcane used to make sugar?

Since sugarcane has become so mature in the Tang Dynasty, they should not be unaware of this.

"Xuan Ce, I'm afraid you don't know much about sugar making. Kunlun sugarcane is used to make sugar."

Li Shen guessed that although Wang Xuance was well-read, he did not know everything and probably did not know how to make sugar.

After hearing this, Wang Xuance bowed and said:

"Your Majesty, I am saying that Kunlun sugarcane is not suitable for making sugar, but there are two other types of sugarcane besides Kunlun sugarcane.

Meng Shen's "Dietary Therapeutic Materia Medica" says: There are red sugarcanes, which are called Kunlun sugarcanes. White ones are called Reed sugarcanes and Bamboo sugarcanes, and those from Sichuan and Lingnan are the best.

Reed sugarcane is white in color, with sparse, short and thin nodes. It can be eaten or made into syrup.

Bamboo sugarcane is similar in color to bamboo, has a thin green skin and a very mellow taste, and is used specifically for making frost.

Kunlun sugarcane is red in color and can only be eaten raw, not made into sugar.

Among them, bamboo sugarcane is the best for making sugar, and is mostly produced in Yizhou Prefecture, Zizhou Prefecture, and Mianzhou Prefecture in the Shu area of ​​Jiannan Road.

The cropping in Lingnan is more diverse, but the area is the largest, so Lingnan is said to be the winner.

Reed sugarcane and Kunlun sugarcane are more suitable for eating raw, and the taste of sugarcane is not good. "

After Wang Xuance finished speaking, he looked at Li Shen, only to see Li Shen staring at him blankly, his eyes open in astonishment.

After a long while, Li Shen finally closed his mouth:

"Xuan Ce, have you read all the books in the Tang Dynasty? Do you know this kind of anecdotes?"

Li Shen really admired Wang Xuance from the bottom of his heart. He actually knew something that he himself didn't know.

It seems that reading more is necessary, at least it can make it easier for you to show off.

To be honest, Li Shen really didn't know that sugarcane has different varieties. He thought that all sugarcane was the same kind he had eaten.

I didn’t expect that eating and making candy are actually different. It’s true that you never stop learning.

"Your Highness, what are you talking about? I just like to read a book when I have nothing to do.

I have to thank His Majesty for this." Wang Xuance said modestly.

"Thank you, my king? What do you mean?"

“Your Majesty, the library in Prince Ji’s mansion contains a vast amount of classics and folk gossip.

All the books in the court, including those on farming, textiles, etc., are available.

That is why I am fortunate enough to read so many books. "

"What? Prince Ji's Mansion also has a library?"

Li Shen suddenly felt that this world was so strange. How come he didn't know anything?

This doesn't fit with my setting as a time traveler. From sugarcane to the library, I have no idea. I can't live like this.

"Shi Tou, do you know about the library?" Li Shen asked his follower again.

"This..." Shitou hesitated.

"Tell the truth." Li Shen shouted angrily.

"Your Majesty, I also know where the library is. It is on the east side of the palace, next to the princess's residence," Shi Tou replied quickly when he saw Li Shen was angry.

"How come I don't know anything?" Li Shen was really angry.

For so long, Li Shen always thought that he was in control and everything was under his control.

I didn't expect that I didn't even know what was happening right under my nose.

"Well... Your Majesty, in fact, the library was built under your order, and it will take several years."

Shitou hesitated for a long time before explaining.

"Did the prince order it to be built?" Li Shen was a little surprised. He had no impression at all. Prince Ji's Mansion was too big and there were many places he had never been to.

Li Shen scratched his head and glanced around his study. There were more than a hundred books and hundreds of volumes in the collection.

Li Shen hasn't seen more than 90% of them.

These books are all classics, used to show how cultured, talented, and well-read one is.

Li Shen was a little puzzled. He wondered what he was thinking at that time. He hadn't even finished reading all the books here, but he still built a library.

Am I overestimating my own accomplishments? He is not that self-aware at all. He can read books or even fall asleep while listening to books.

But at this moment he still had to continue pretending:

"Ah... yes, I had it built by someone. I have loved reading since I was young, especially all kinds of classics, and I read them every day.

As the saying goes, books are the golden house and the beautiful woman.

The reason why I have such a great family business is because I love reading."