Red Mansions: My Book is Cool

In front of me is a big basket, which is tightly covered with earthen cloth.Prince Zhongshun carefully lifted the cloth covering, and what appeared in front of Lin Mingan were sweet potatoes, which were not much different from those seen in modern society, so I don't know how the taste would be, Lin Mingan thought to himself.However, even if the taste is slightly worse, as long as it can be planted, it should be no problem to fill the stomach.

Prince Zhongshun happily told Lin Mingan that since he offered a big reward, merchants from all over the West, Southeast Asia, and Arabia have flocked to find the high-yield grain that Lin Mingan described.Originally, he had heard that the grain was brought to Europa by Westerners, so he paid special attention to those Western businessmen.In the end, it was a Nanyang businessman who offered it first, saying that he got it from a Europa businessman by accident. Seeing that the food is quite similar to the sweet potato in your mouth.The local officials did not dare to neglect, and rushed to deliver it with fast horses.It's just that he doesn't have much left behind, and if he wants to distribute it to various places for planting, it's not enough.

"It doesn't matter!" Lin Mingan didn't expect to find good varieties of sweet potatoes so soon. He originally thought that the sea route would be long and variable, and it seems that there is no large-scale planting in the Europa Continent at this time, so maybe he won't be able to find it in three to five years.He was not in a hurry, and waited patiently, sowing a seed, which would germinate sooner or later.

"My lord, why don't we just plant them in the Huangzhuang around the capital, and plant them in fields with different soil qualities. Let's do an experiment to see which one is more suitable for the growth of sweet potatoes." Lin Mingan recalled the knowledge of his previous life: "Sweet potatoes are not considered sweet potatoes. Serious staple food, in terms of taste, ordinary people may prefer rice and wheat. If you eat too much, you will feel heartburn, and it is not as good as rice and wheat for hunger resistance. But it is drought-resistant and barren, and it is easy to feed. It does not pick the soil quality and has a high yield. Two crops per year, one mu of land can harvest three to five thousand catties, and good fields can reach six thousand catties. If farmers plant some in front of the house and eat it with decent grain, it will be very good. In a disaster year , Sweet potatoes can save lives.”

Prince Zhongshun was overjoyed when he heard this, and said with a smile: "With these advantages, that's enough! Do you know how much grain is harvested in Huangzhuang under the Ministry of Internal Affairs? Let me tell you, the yield of rice grown in the upper field is two shi, and even more in the middle field and the lower field." Less! If it is wheat, you can only harvest more than one stone! Of course, there will be some miscellaneous grains and beans interplanted in the fields. Ordinary farmers, even in normal years, can’t let go of their stomachs. Living with miscellaneous grains, life can still be maintained. But if there is a famine year when the wind is not smooth and the rain is not smooth, there are many people who sell their fields, land, and their own children. Worry about this! If the result of the experiment is as you said, Lin Mingan, no one can say anything about our contribution!"

"If you don't have a full stomach, you can eat as much as you can. Anyway, it has a high yield. What does it matter about taste?" Prince Zhongshun said indifferently: "When there is no food, who cares about these things?" He said coldly His words: "It's better than eating weed bark and Guanyin soil, and it's better than being starved!"

Hearing these words, Lin Mingan felt a chill.He calculated in his mind, two shi, that is three hundred catties, but the output of ancient grain was very low.And these three hundred catties are not all peasants', and they have to pay land tax, land rent, keep seeds, and wear and tear. How much of it really falls into the hands of peasants?Needless to say, in the previous life, Gusu is a wealthy place in this life. The Lin family is not considered rich, and their life is well-off. He has never seen such a situation.

Lin Ming'an couldn't help sighing: "How difficult the people's livelihood is!", suddenly feeling heavy.It turned out that all his actions were for himself and his family.At this time, a desire to do something for the country and the people spontaneously arose.Although he has a cold nature, he always has a heart of compassion. As a man, he also wants to make contributions and be famous in history!

Prince Zhongshun also sighed: "Brother Huang has seen the suffering of the people, and he wants to do something real. In the past two years, he plans to improve water conservancy, strengthen dykes and dams everywhere, and then build roads and so on. There were several floods during the reign of the Supreme Emperor, and the tragic scene," he was silent for a moment unprecedentedly: "My brother and I have been ordered to rescue disasters, and we have seen it with our own eyes!"

"So," Prince Zhongshun said solemnly, "I hope this sweet potato is really as you said, and it will be a great thing for the people of Daqing!" Of course, he still has his own selfishness in it. The original emperor was not close to the Supreme Emperor, but now But it's my own royal brother, and my future depends on him, so naturally I have to take care of it!

"Hehe, this country belongs to the emperor now, so I naturally have to care a little bit." Prince Zhongshun laughed at himself, "It's just that the imperial court may not be able to spend much money now. So, Lin Ming'an, you have to think more about it." The way to make money is to earn some money for the imperial court, and the Ministry of Industry will have more rice to cook, so my Ministry of Internal Affairs can also be a bit more generous. Well, our two families can live better, right! "

Lin Mingan thought for a moment when he heard the words, and there was one thing that he didn't intend to take out right now.But at this time, he was touched and determined to do something beneficial for the people.

"My lord, in fact, I have recently been thinking about making a strong and cheap material that can be used to build walls, dams, and roads. I named this material: cement."

"Cement?" Prince Zhongshun repeated the word, and then hurriedly asked: "What is this? Is it a brick? It sounds like it is used for bonding. Nowadays, glutinous rice lime mortar is used to build walls. Cement is mixed with cement." How does it compare?

"It should be about the same." Lin Ming'an replied, "But I'm going to grind and mix the cement with limestone, clay, and iron ore powder in proportion, then calcinate it, and then grind it with gypsum and mix it in proportion. In terms of cost Come on, it must be lower than glutinous rice lime slurry."

"So, if the cement can be manufactured, the savings will be too much!" Prince Zhongshun clapped his hands excitedly, and couldn't help but look forward to the future.Whether it is public or private, it is an excellent one.Not to mention that dams can be built, but only to build walls and pave roads. How big is the demand?If it is used by the people again, no matter the national treasury or the internal treasury, it will be a very rich income!

"Ming An, then you put other things aside and concentrate on studying this cement!" Prince Zhongshun was eager in his heart, and hastily urged: "I will send an old farmer who is proficient in farming to plant sweet potatoes, and we will see you in four or five months. I got it. With these two things as a base, Brother Huang will feel at ease!"

"You should go all out!" Lin Mingan saluted solemnly.

"Good, good, good!" Emperor Yongjia was overjoyed after hearing Prince Zhongshun's introduction.He stood up, walked around the study several times very excitedly, calmed down his emotions, and happily said, "Lao Liu, very good! If you can do this, you will be of great help to me!"

"If this sweet potato is successfully planted, it will benefit thousands of years and benefit all the people. And if I spread this crop to the world, so that the people will not suffer from hunger and hunger, it will be recorded in the history books. Future generations will understand my painstaking efforts, and my reputation will be judged by itself!" Emperor Yongjia promised: "I will be rewarded for my meritorious service! I promise to allow you, the prince, to be hereditary and last until death Grandchildren. Lin Ming'an, I may be a marquis who can be passed on to his descendants, and promotion and rewards are no problem."

"Thank you, brother!" Prince Zhongshun thanked him with joy.He is not worried about whether the sweet potatoes can be successfully planted or whether they are really high-yielding.Lin Mingan has always been reliable, and he has done everything he said.He also introduced the method of planting, invited the most experienced old farmers to come, gave them the best treatment, and then watched them personally.For the sake of his unalterable throne, and for the sake of future generations, no matter what!

"There is one more thing, let me tell you, you have to know something in your heart." Emperor Yongjia suddenly sneered: "The imperial physician order came to tell me yesterday that the Supreme Emperor has been in poor health recently. In order to prolong his life, he secretly found some wild Taoist priests I came to ask for medicine to make alchemy, and took a lot of pills. The imperial physician's order was useless to persuade, and I was worried, afraid of taking responsibility, so I hurriedly came to tell."

"I have heard that most of those elixirs used mercury, lead, cinnabar, etc., and the serious Taoists thought it was a crooked way. If you take too much, you will be poisoned! Is the emperor confused now? ?” Prince Zhongshun said so, without any worry on his face, on the contrary, he was gloating.

"If I stop it, it's not that I've cut off the Supreme Emperor's path to longevity, that's not filial!" Emperor Yongjia sneered, "Those Taoist priests followed the way of Concubine Zhen, so the Supreme Emperor listened to their words."

"Speaking of Concubine Zhen," Prince Zhongshun's voice sank, "Shouldn't Lin Ruhai's collection of crimes against the Zhen family come in handy?"

"Don't worry, just wait a little longer." Emperor Yongjia's face was gloomy: "If the Taishang Emperor's body goes wrong because of this, the two crimes will be punished together, and the Zhen family must not stand up! No one can absolve him of his guilt!"

"There are also four kings and eight princes, all of whom are a bunch of greedy beetles, who suck the blood of the court and the people. What use do I have for such ministers and family slaves?" Emperor Yongjia said in disgust.

"However, some of them don't have much power anymore, so there's no need to worry too much about them. If such people keep their own place, I might as well let them go. The gentleman's luster will be cut for three generations. They will fend for themselves, and there is no need for me to let them go. Let's do it." Emperor Yongjia thought for a while, and said lightly: "In this way, others will not talk about my private revenge, and let the loyal veterans of the Supreme Emperor all have a good end."

"If I am lenient, I can let them go. If I tighten my hands, I will crush these people to death, just like crushing ants! Naturally, it depends on their own choice. If they do their own crimes, they will not live!" Emperor Yongjia Shen Sheng said.