kingnovel Chapter 1348 Shen Hou Again?
Chapter 1348 Shen Hou Again?
A day later, the news that "new crops have been harvested in the sandy land of the Ministry of Revenue, with a yield of over 10,000 jin per mu" spread throughout the imperial court.
Very few people believed this news.
Some even say that "the emperor was also present on the day of the harvest, and personally watched as the agricultural officials weighed the new crop, and named it 'sweet potato'."
However, no one believed this news anymore.
Putting aside the question of how the emperor could possibly end up in the Ministry of Revenue's public fields, the terms "sandy land" and "yield of 10,000 catties per mu" are completely unrelated.
Furthermore, for crops in the sandy areas of Northwest China, a yield of over 100 kilograms per mu is already considered a blessing from heaven.
As for a yield of over 10,000 jin per mu?
That's utter nonsense.
Before the morning court session that day, the man that Prime Minister Cui had sent to gather information returned.
The scout only said, "Your Excellency, the Ministry of Revenue is keeping a tight rein on things, but there have indeed been unusual movements at Jiahe Garden these past two days. However, the guards outside the garden are very strict, and I am incompetent to sneak in and find out the real information."
At this point, Prime Minister Cui understood.
Given Ji Benchang's personality, if he had truly grown a crop that yielded 10,000 jin per mu, wouldn't he have announced it to the world with fanfare? Why would he be as quiet as a sawed-mouth gourd as he is now?
“Ji Benchang is deceiving me,” Cui Xiang said with certainty.
Ji Benchang spread these false rumors to delay the reclamation of Shazhou.
......
At dawn, in the Golden Palace.
"Speak if you have something to report, otherwise the court may adjourn."
As Eunuch Hong's shrill voice rang out, Prime Minister Cui secretly observed the Emperor's expression—neither sad nor happy, and even showing signs of weariness in his eyes.
He smiled.
really......
"Your Majesty, veteran, I have something to report!" he said.
The emperor glanced at Xu Zhijie secretly, then asked, "What is it?"
Cui Xiangci stepped forward and said, "This old minister humbly requests Your Majesty to issue an edict to select virtuous men to go to Shazhou to reclaim wasteland."
The officials whispered among themselves.
They had heard most of the news about the changes in Shazhou yesterday, and combined with Lan Youguang's early return to Beijing, they thought that the situation in Shazhou was indeed not optimistic.
Two officials stepped forward and said, "Your Majesty, we second that proposal."
Lan Youguang also stepped forward: "Yes, Your Majesty, the people of Shazhou have always lived in hardship, and now... I humbly request Your Majesty to issue an edict to give the people of Shazhou a glimmer of hope."
The emperor's lips curled slightly as he asked Prime Minister Cui, "Minister Cui, do you have anyone to recommend?"
Minister Cui immediately shook his head: "Your Majesty, this old minister is ashamed. I am not knowledgeable about agriculture. The selection of people for land reclamation will probably require the deliberation of the officials in the Ministry of Revenue."
"You have no one to recommend, Minister Cui?" The Emperor looked slightly surprised, but he knew the truth in his heart.
This old fellow is always cautious in his actions. Even if he has someone he wants to recommend, he will not push them out directly. Instead, he will secretly plan and guide that person step by step to slowly embark on the road to Shazhou.
Thinking it over, the emperor looked at Ji Benchang and asked, "What about you, Minister Ji? Has anyone recommended you?"
Upon hearing this, Ji Benchang knew that the real show was about to begin.
“Your Majesty, this old minister believes that there is no need to reclaim wasteland in Shazhou.” He stepped forward, holding up his scepter, his words revealing a strong disdain for the land of Shazhou: “Shazhou is mostly sandy land. Even if the court sends tens of thousands of people there, it will not be able to turn the sandy land into paddy fields. No matter how much wasteland is reclaimed, it will only be a futile effort.”
Wasted effort?!
All the officials were shocked.
Judging from Ji Benchang's words, it seems he wants to... give up Shazhou?
Some officials shook their heads in disagreement, and Lan Youguang looked furious.
For Lan Youguang, Shazhou was already half his hometown. Hearing Ji Benchang say this, how could he hold back?
"Minister Ji! I know you're stingy, but the people of Shazhou are also subjects of my Great Zhou. How can you speak like this and abandon the people of Shazhou?" He glared fiercely at Ji Benchang. "Minister Ji, what goes around comes around. I advise you to be kind!"
"I'm not kind?" Ji Benchang pointed at his own nose, then knelt down with a thud, wailing to the emperor, "Your Majesty, this old minister is wronged! This old minister has devoted himself to the court, working tirelessly and selflessly. Under the leadership of Marquis Shen, we finally managed to grow grain in the sandy land with a yield of 10,000 catties per mu. Now, now General Lan is pointing his finger at me and scolding me. Your Majesty, this old minister is wronged!"
Upon hearing this, Lan Youguang's first reaction was: "When did I point my finger at you? It was clearly you who pointed at me!"
My second reaction was: "What?! Ten thousand catties of grain per mu in sandy land?! In broad daylight, what nonsense are you talking about!"
The officials also started picking their ears.
Several people even whispered to Ji Benchang, "Lord Ji, you mustn't speak recklessly in front of His Majesty out of a moment of anger..."
Ji Benchang sighed inwardly.
Does telling the truth have to be met with such skepticism?
He pulled a book from his robes and held it above his head: "This old minister has uttered not a single falsehood; I beg Your Majesty to investigate!"
After Eunuch Hong took the ledger from his hand, he continued, "Your Majesty, when Marquis Shen went to the capital this year to celebrate the Empress Dowager's birthday, he discovered a new crop along the way and brought it all back to the capital. At that time, Marquis Shen told this old minister that the crop had an astonishing yield per mu and asked me to plant it in the Ministry of Revenue's public fields..."
After a pause, he continued, "Although I do not know the exact amount of the 'amazing yield per mu' that Marquis Shen mentioned, I do know that Marquis Shen is not one to speak carelessly. Since she said so, I had no doubts. Therefore, I planted the crop in the public fields and sent several agricultural experts to carefully tend to it. Finally, yesterday, we reaped the harvest!"
After listening to his explanation, the officials were both surprised and astonished: "It's Marquis Shen again?"
So, does this matter... not entirely unbelievable?
Lan Youguang was completely bewildered and couldn't help but pull Lu Botang aside to ask, "General Lu, when did our Great Zhou have a marquis with the surname 'Shen'?"
Lu Botang frowned: "General Lan, you've been back in the capital for a day now, and you don't even know this news?"
"I truly didn't know." Lan Youguang shook his head, a hint of heartache flashing in his eyes. "I only learned about it yesterday when I returned home. Several months ago, my Xiaoyi was terribly bullied by that female official surnamed Shen. That vicious woman actually dared to send my Xiaoyi to the capital..."
As he was talking, he suddenly fell silent.
First, he discovered that the wicked woman who sent his beloved son to the Jingzhao Prefecture was actually surnamed "Shen".
Secondly, he felt that Lu Botang and General Lin were looking at him with ill intent.
"You guys..." Just to be on the safe side, he secretly took a half step back, quite cautiously: "Why are you all staring at me like that?"
Lu Botang clenched his fist: "General Lan, if I hear you being disrespectful to Marquis Shen again, don't blame me for being ruthless."
General Lin squinted and said, "Yun Hui, if it weren't for Marquis Shen, your son would probably still be being used as a pawn. Don't be ungrateful."
Were we used as pawns?
Lan Youguang, who always respected General Lin, quickly asked upon hearing this, "General, what do you mean by that...?"
"It really is a yield of tens of thousands of kilograms per mu?!"
A gasp came from the dragon throne, interrupting his questioning: "Minister Ji, grain is the foundation of the nation. Do you know that falsely reporting grain yield per mu is a grave crime?!"
Seeing the emperor so engrossed in his role, Ji Benchang secretly praised the emperor's acting skills and then hurriedly said, "Your Majesty, even if you gave me ten thousand lives, I would never dare to lie to you!"