The Three Spirit Stones

Hundreds of officials stood in the Purple Palace!

Emperor Zhenzong of Song, Zhao Heng, looked at the large basket of potatoes presented by the eunuch and said to Ding Wei in disbelief, "Is the yield of this fruit really 3,800 kilograms per mu?"

"Your Majesty, it is absolutely true. Here is a detailed record of the yield of each plot. Please take a look."

He took out the account book that Cheng Yu had given him, and the eunuch took it and presented it to Zhao Heng.

Zhao Heng opened it and saw that the number of crops in each ridge was clearly listed. The total number was more than 54,300 kilograms. With only 14.5 acres of mountain land, the yield per acre was indeed nearly 3,800 kilograms!

This is incredible!

If this fruit could be eaten, it would save people from hunger!

"Someone, start the fire and cook the fruit!"

Zhao Heng waved his hand, and someone immediately set up a stove in the hall and started boiling potatoes in an iron pot.

Soon, the potatoes began to gurgle in the water, steam rose up, and bursts of fragrance filled the Purple Palace.

The eunuch tried poison first, and after a while he presented Zhao Heng with potatoes in a silver bowl. He peeled the potatoes with chopsticks, picked up a piece and put it in his mouth.

Mmm~ It tastes pink and has a slightly sweet fruity aroma! Delicious! He ate the whole potato.

"Come here, install one for each of the nobles,"

A team of eunuchs came out, put potatoes in bowls and distributed them according to the official rank. The court officials ate while nodding in praise!

After eating, the ministers came out to congratulate the emperor on his auspicious sign, saying that this was a divine fruit sent from heaven that would save the people from hunger. Emperor Zhenzong of Song laughed with joy!

Throughout the dynasties, food shortages have plagued emperors. All the rebellions of the lower classes are because of lack of food! It can be said that if there is food to eat, who would risk being beheaded to rebel? Therefore, sufficient food is the cornerstone of national stability!

"Ding Wei, Ding Weizhi! You are very good. Where did you find this potato?"

The official actually called himself by his courtesy name and praised himself!

Ding Wei was flattered. He stepped forward, bowed and said, "Your Majesty, I got this potato from someone."

"Oh! Who is this person?"

"It was Cheng Yu, the son of the former Earl of Loyalty and Bravery Cheng Xiao, who brought this plant back from outside and successfully planted it in the villa, and then it was discovered by me,"

"Loyal and Brave Earl Cheng Xiao? ... I have some impression of him, but where is the Crown Prince Cheng Yu?"

"Your Majesty, I am waiting outside the palace, waiting for your summons!"

"pass,"

"The loyal and brave prince~"

"The loyal and brave prince~"

The eunuchs called out one after another, and a man in a moon-white brocade robe, with an upright figure, sword-like eyebrows and bright eyes, gradually appeared in the court.

After thousands of years of experience and nourishment of Yuanling Qi, Cheng Yu, wearing a brocade robe and a bun, naturally has a calm and elegant temperament!

He walked slowly in the hall with his head down, like a banished immortal appearing in the mortal world!

When all the officials saw it, their eyes lit up and they whispered to each other. Emperor Zhenzong of Song couldn't help but feel happy when he saw it!

In ancient times, appearance was very important for officials. Talent was a stepping stone, but appearance was sometimes a necessary condition for promotion.

Someone like Ding Wei, who had an extremely low appearance but could thrive in the court, could only be because of his extremely high IQ.

Cheng Yu walked to a stop ten meters in front of Zhao Heng's throne, knelt down on both knees and bowed to perform the etiquette of monarch and subject, and shouted, "I, the Crown Prince of the Loyal and Brave Earl's Mansion, Cheng Yu, pay my respects to Your Majesty! Long live the emperor!"

"My dear, please stand up!"

"Thank you, Your Majesty!"

"You are Cheng Xiao's son?! I still have an impression of your father,"

"Your father is extremely loyal and brave. I grant him the title of Earl of Loyalty and Bravery."

"As his son, you, like your father, can share the emperor's worries and seek a safe life for the common people. I am very pleased that you brought back potatoes, a high-yield crop!"

Cheng Yu put his hands to his forehead and said, "Thank you, Your Majesty, for remembering my father. If my father knew about this, he would be grateful to Your Majesty!"

"Your Majesty, I have brought back not only potatoes, but also two other crops that can grow in sandy loam and water-scarce environments, and the yields are not low. Please allow me to present them to Your Majesty."

Zhao Heng heard, "More?" He said happily, "Present it quickly."

A eunuch came forward with a tray on which were placed several sweet potatoes and corn.

"What kind of crop is this?"

Zhao Heng pointed at them and asked,

"Your Majesty, the one on your left is called sweet potato, and the one on your right is called corn,"

"Sweet potatoes are best grown in the south, where they can be harvested twice a year, with an output of about 2,000 kilograms per mu. Corn can be grown in both the north and south, where it can be harvested once a year, with an output of about 500 to 600 kilograms per mu! These two crops are drought-resistant and heat-resistant, and do not require much land,"

"Great!" Zhao Heng clapped his hands happily and said, "I wonder how these two crops taste?"

"Come here, cook it and try it,"

After a while, the eunuch brought cooked sweet potatoes and corn. After testing the poison, Zhao Heng put the sweet potato into his mouth first.

Hmm! It was sweet and sticky. Before I knew it, I had finished the whole thing. Then I tried the corn. I took a bite of it. Hmm! It was sweet and refreshing, with a nice fragrance!

These two crops are even more delicious than the potatoes we just mentioned!

"Cheng Aiqing,"

"I am here,"

"I am deeply gratified by your sincere love!"

"If these two crops really have such high yields as you said, there will be no need to worry about the people having no food to eat!"

"I now order you to be in charge of the promotion of these crops."

"I obey your order!"

Then, the Secretariat decided to appoint Cheng Yu as the deputy envoy of the Agricultural Promotion Department, and confer him the title of the third-rank loyal and brave marquis. Ding Wei was commended for his recommendation and was promoted to the first rank.

From now on, Cheng Yu officially enters the court as an official!

……

In the pavilion of the Imperial Garden, eunuchs placed several charcoal stoves around the pavilion. After the court session, Zhao Heng summoned Cheng Yu and Ding Wei separately.

"Your name is Xuzhi?"

"Yes, sir! My father took the meaning of the rising sun."

"Hmm, good handwriting, Xuzhi! Cao Wei is your uncle, right?"

"Yes, sir. Although we have correspondence from time to time, I haven't seen him for several years and I miss him very much."

"Cao Wei should be in Beijing by the end of this year, and then you and your uncle will be able to meet!"

"Oh! That's great!"

Cheng Yu was very happy to hear that.

After chatting for a while, Zhao Heng asked again, "Where did you bring these potatoes and sweet potatoes from?"

"Reporting to the emperor, I brought it from my wife's hometown."

"Oh! What is that place?"

"It is the southernmost land, called South America,"

"South America? I have never heard of such a place."

"It's a very remote place, the furthest south, and it takes half a year to get there by sea."

Cheng Yu was making up stories. Although deceiving the emperor was a capital crime, he really didn't know how to say it if he didn't say so.

Then Zhao Heng asked him how he planned to promote these crops?

He said that potatoes have been successfully planted locally, and the harvest of tens of thousands of kilograms will be distributed to farmers who are willing to plant them for a fee in the spring after the New Year.

From now on, he will print some potato planting brochures in the name of the Agricultural Promotion Bureau, distribute them to farmers on planting techniques and potato eating methods, and set up a point to invite special people to promote it.

After farmers plant and harvest, the Agricultural Promotion Agency will have a potato recycling outlet to sell these potatoes. The potatoes can also be processed into dried vermicelli, which can be preserved for a long time.

As for sweet potatoes and corn, you have to go to the south in person after the New Year to find a suitable place to grow them!

When Zhao Heng heard Cheng Yu's plan, he secretly admired it!

The organization is clear and they not only know how to plant, but also how to promote and publicize potatoes and how to make other products from them.

He is a rare talent, and I like him even more!

Ding Wei observed the emperor's words and expressions and saw that he appreciated Cheng Yu. He couldn't help but feel fortunate that he had discovered this Prince Cheng so early.

The king, his ministers and his two men exchanged some insights and knowledge on agriculture and had a very pleasant conversation!

Then, in order to show his concern for his subjects, Zhao Heng asked about the situation in Cheng Yu's house and whether his mother was in good health.

Cheng Yu was moved, and said to Zhao Heng, "Your Majesty, I actually have a problem that I don't know how to solve. I hope your Majesty can give me some advice."

"Oh! Tell me about it,"

"It's like this. When I was fourteen, I got engaged to Miss Sun Yuechan from the Sun Mansion. We met once at that time."

"Later, I went to the northwest to train with my uncle. Four years ago, I was almost killed by Li Lizun of Zongge City because of a defeat on the battlefield."

"Then I fell off a cliff and survived. I was saved by my wife's father, who took me back to his hometown."

"Finally, before my benefactor died, he entrusted her daughter to me and held a simple wedding for me and her."

"It was not until the beginning of this year, when my wife and I returned to Bianjing, that I learned that I had married Miss Sun four years ago, after I was in danger!"

Hearing this, Zhao Heng and Ding Wei exclaimed at the same time!

Zhao Heng asked, "How can you get married when you are in danger?"

"At that time, everyone thought that I had died, and both parents wanted to cancel the engagement, but Miss Sun was loyal and insisted on marrying into the Cheng family even if she was a widow. She married a rooster."

Oh! Then they understood.

"But I really didn't know that I was married. At that time, my mother's letter asking me to return to Beijing to get married was still on the way. I was in danger and didn't see it at all. I didn't expect Miss Sun to make such a choice. If I knew, I would never marry my wife."

Hearing this, Ding Wei said to Zhao Heng, "Your Majesty, this is really a trick of fate, a combination of circumstances!"

Zhao Heng nodded and said, "My dear, since both women like you, why don't you marry them both?"

"Your Majesty, I have married both of them."

"But what worries me now is that although Miss Sun was married into the Cheng family as the principal wife, my benefactor's daughter cannot be taken as a concubine. If I take her as a concubine, my benefactor will never forgive me in his grave. Now she is still with me without any status. I feel very sorry for my benefactor."

This is indeed a difficult matter!

Zhao Heng and Ding Wei were both scratching their heads. Zhao Heng said to Ding Wei, "Weizhi, you have a lot of ideas. What do you think we should do?"

Ding Wei hesitated for a moment and said, "Lord Cheng's situation..."

"Two wives, this is reasonable but illegal. One man has one wife and multiple concubines. This is the ethical law of the country and cannot be changed at will, unless..."

"Unless what?"

Cheng Yu asked hurriedly,

"Unless you, my Lord, have made great contributions and then use these contributions to ask for a favor from the government, this... is reasonable and legal!"

When Zhao Heng heard this, he laughed and said, "That's right, your idea is good, great!"

"Thank you for the compliment,

Ding Wei bowed to Zhao Heng.

Ding Wei was indeed smart. The suggestions he gave not only provided Cheng Yu with a solution, but also made him work wholeheartedly for the emperor.

What is a great achievement?

The emperor has the final say, so Zhao Heng laughed so happily.

Cheng Yu thought, a huge achievement?

It turns out that serving potatoes, sweet potatoes, and corn is not enough!

All the officials in the court, including the emperor, are as cunning as monkeys. They will squeeze your value dry before giving you any benefits. So, let's see who can do better between me, a man who has lived for a thousand years, and you?

He bowed to Ding Wei in a polite manner to express his gratitude, and Ding Wei hurriedly supported him.

He asked Zhao Heng again,

"Your Majesty, I don't know what counts as a great achievement. Please give me some advice!"

"This... is a great contribution! It is indeed difficult to define, Xuzhi! As long as you sincerely work for me and the country, I can see it,"

The standard official answer:

Cheng Yu sneered inwardly, bowed his head and said yes. The king, his ministers and his two men exchanged some pleasantries about family matters, and then left happily!