Chapter 249: The Great Joy of Heaven

Deng Jian’s jaw dropped as he looked at this Natsubara Yoshi in front of him, who was arching his hand towards him in a salute.

This Xia Yuanji, even in front of Zhang Anshi, had never been this polite.

In Deng Jian’s memory, only Xia Yuanji looked this terrified when he met the Crown Prince.

This Deng Jian had begun to get a bit overwhelmed.

After all, away from the court life too long, and all his life is to serve people, say good point called eunuchs, say bad point, then even people do not count.

Natsubaruyoshi was excited to see the salute.

That Yang Rong and Hu Guang also grabbed up with them and said, “Greetings to Eunuch Deng.”

Teng Jian hurriedly said, “Ah …… no need …… no need to be like this, we have met Duke Yang, Duke Hu, and Duke Xia.”

Not waiting for him to finish, Xia Yuanji had already pulled him in an intimate manner, and there were even a few hints of flattery on his face.

“Eunuch Teng, I have some words that I would like to ask for advice.”

“Don’t dare, don’t dare.” Teng Jian reddened his face, not knowing if it was excitement or a few moments of shyness.

Natsubara Yoshi said seriously, “These potatoes, can they be popularized?”

“Of course!” Teng Jian said, “We are preparing to select and breed good seeds from these potatoes, and plan to open dozens of acres of land to continue cultivation. But …… at first, the potato seeds brought from overseas are limited, inevitably good and bad, now there is an acre of land, there is much more surplus, the selected potato seeds, must be the best of the best.”

Xia Yuanji was ecstatic as he said hoarsely, “This is what Eunuch Deng brought back from overseas?”

“Exactly.”

Xia Yuanji crossed his thumbs and did not mince words of praise, “I heard that Eunuch Deng’s trip to the sea, the sailors and Lux that he brought with him, nine deaths and more than two years of trials and tribulations ……”

When he said this, Deng Jian’s eyes involuntarily turned a little red.

It was a painful memory buried deep within Ken Deng’s heart.

But since the return from the sea, got some reward, then sent here to cultivate, the former things, as if the dust is sealed.

Almost everyone, and no one else, remembers the group of people who stepped out into the ocean with him in the first place, hoisted their sails, and headed for that vast no man’s land.

No one remembers or cares.

After all, even if someone mentions going to the West, most of the time people associate it with his godfather Zheng He.

But even his godfather has received mixed reviews, at least in the court, people at best praised his godfather’s courage, but they all agreed that it was useless, but a product of the good and the good, the result of His Majesty’s pat on the head.

As for as small as Deng Jian, no one has long been willing to remember.

Countless nights, Deng Jian was even feeling unworthy of the people who had followed him in the beginning.

Those people …… are mostly ordinary sons and daughters, who have no choice but to go to sea, but because of following him, how many people are buried in the belly of the fish, and how many people are enduring torture as if they were lynched.

More than two years, more than two years, and even for those who survived, most of them were no longer human.

Who would deliberately mention it, except for a small reward?

But at this very moment, the hall of the Ministry of household minister Xia Yuanji personally mentioned, and praised, Deng Jian’s tears will be a little unable to stop.

He was busy wiping away his tears, he was not a man, but at this time, he could not wimp out, but his choked voice still betrayed him.

He trembled his voice: “When …… everyone did eat a lot of suffering, suffered a lot of crime, many of them, we are now dreaming, still can dream of them, but many people, can only see in the dream. There is a child, only fourteen years old, he is a generation of military households, his father was born sick, he took the place of his father in the service, halfway through the disease, like hysteria in general, on the boat howling and shouting all night long father and mother, and then could not stand it, taking advantage of the attention of everyone not to pay attention to, he flopped himself, jumped into the sea and died.”

Ken Dunn reddened and sniffled.

Xia Yuanji couldn’t help but be touched at this moment, and said with emotion, “Hey, it’s not easy, it’s not easy.”

The value of human beings lies in this, people always judge the hero by the result, if there is no result, even if they give their lives, people will not care about it.

But now …… after listening to Deng Jian s words, Xia Yuanji three people, also can not help but slightly red eyes.

“What a shame to die at such a young age.”

Deng Jian shook his head and said: “No, he died well, at that time we and the boat is still alive, see him jump, you know what we and they are thinking? Thinking …… really good, at least less suffered so many sins, we have many times, also do not want to live, is in the end, can not bear the heart.”

Xia Yuanji lamented, “Those people ……… old man remembered that the court carried out a pension.”

Ken Dunn said, “There are pensions.”

“Too little.” Yang Rong frowned up, on the side of the road, “That edict, I know, was drawn up by me, each family to give silver dozens of two …… but now it seems that it is too little.”

Xia Yuanji said, “These things, to be played again, Deng Gonggong …… this matter is important, I ask again, really can be pushed to the wide range?”

Deng Jian nodded his head with certainty, “How it was planted in the first place, it can be continued how it was planted.”

Natsubara Yoshi took a deep breath, “You know about this planting method?”

Ken Deng nodded again.

Xia Yuanji said, “Good, there is no time to lose, Duke Hu, Duke Yang, let’s quickly return to the palace and meet the Holy …… Emperor.”

He raised his eyes and looked around, relieved to see that there were many guards here.

Then he looked at Teng Jian, kindly said, “Eunuch Teng first stay here for a while, the three of us go to go and still have to come …… even if it is late, we will definitely come back. The guards here …… have the An Nan Hou in, they should be able to rest assured, Eunuch Deng, you rest first.”

After saying that, he arched his hand again, and then without further ado, in a windy manner, he left with Yang Rong and Hu Guang at a fast pace.

Ken Deng looked at their distant backs woodenly.

Zhang Anshi several but touched his belly, Zhang Anshi could not help but say, “Fang just cared about Yang Gong they eat potatoes, we ourselves are hungry, come on people, prepare some wine and food for us, not allowed to eat potatoes …… this potato … . it is more precious, give us to kill a lamb …… and then kill a chicken, chicken and lamb is cheaper.”

With that, Zhang Anshi greeted Deng Jian, “Eunuch Deng, come, come, eat together later.”

Deng Jian fiercely began to realize what, he looked deeply at Zhang Anshi, but said, “We are full, you eat, we …… have to hurry to let people store this potato, after all, we have to stay to do the seed it.”

Zhang Anshi then said, “Then I’ll work hard for you.”

…………

Zhu Di was in the Wen Building at this time, and he met Zhao Kan, the scholar-in-waiting of the Hanlin Academy.

Zhao Kan was regarded as a scholar-in-waiting, and was occasionally required to accompany the emperor to his left and right, in case His Majesty asked about political matters at any time.

Speaking of the disaster, Zhao Kan shed tears and said, “Your Majesty, ah, I heard that now everywhere is again the stragglers, is the people fleeing the famine, the starving corpses countless …… really …… hey… …”

Zhu Di heard, and then hard heart, at this time also can not help but sigh up, sighed: “Secretary does not have to grieve, the court will provide relief in the past.”

Zhao Kan said quietly, “Hey, people’s livelihoods are withering to this point, and there are many demonic rumors in the streets, your majesty …… I thought …… that it should be exempted from the endowment.”

When Zhu Di heard about the exemption, he had a hesitant look on his face.

Now the court’s main food and fodder, are derived from Jiangnan, now, the treasury is empty, if the food and fodder is reduced, how to maintain the court in the future?

Only to see Zhao Kan then said: “the court these years, scrimping and saving, it is not impossible to maintain, but the people can not hold on ah, and so on, I am afraid that all over the place to rise civil unrest.”

Zhu Di said, “If it is exempted from the tax …… court will not be even less able to provide relief?”

Zhao Kan said, “But the reason why the people have no surplus food is precisely because of the heavy taxes.”

Zhu Di said, “the time of the high emperor of the great ancestor, the tax set is not high, although less than the high ancestor of Han when the thirty tax one, but also will not bring too much burden to the people, as far as I know, the reason why the people are taxed to overwhelm, precisely because …… there is a local government, collusion with the local gentry, to fire consumption and other wear and tear in the name of deception, the result of concealment.”

“But fire consumption and attrition is an ancient thing!” Zhao Kan intoned.

Zhu Di frowned, “It’s already existed in ancient times? The ancient you’re talking about is from the Yuan Dynasty, right?”

“Exactly.”

Zhu Di frowned and said, “But the Yuan Dynasty thus died, Daming also continued his this ancient has been into the law, the Secretary is not that I Daming and Yuan Dynasty, only a hundred years of statehood?”

“This ……” Zhao Kan said, “Your Majesty …… The death of the Yuan Dynasty lies in tyranny, the result of the Yuan court’s lack of compassion for the people and its desire for greatness, not the ……”

Zhu Di’s frown deepened and he mouthed, “Alright, alright, that’s enough.”

Zhao Kan saw that Zhu Di revealed a displeased color and felt emotion in his heart, but he had to be silenced.

Just can’t help but think in my heart, the son of heaven can’t follow good advice, this country has such a disaster, it’s only a matter of time, the so-called natural disaster, man-made disaster, natural disaster in front, man-made disaster in the back ah.

But these words, he did not dare to say, after all, the current Yongle Emperor, is a ruthless man, he really dare to kill.

Zhu Di reveals a sorrowful look and is depressed in his heart.

Taxes are not collected much, but there are many places to provide relief, the treasury is insufficient, but also to deal with many things in the world, but everyone teaches him to be merciful, merciful, but the problem is that mercy can not be changed into grain.

How difficult it is to rule this world.

At this time, a eunuch hurriedly came in and said, “Your Majesty …… Duke Yang, Duke Hu, and Duke Xia are seeking an audience.”

Zhu Di was in a bad mood, he frowned and said, “Didn’t I hear that they went to beg for food?”

The word “food begging” is a hard word to say.

A minister, isn’t this begging?

Of course, the most displeasing to Zhu Di is that this discussion of the merchant bank high price ordering grain, after all, the loss is still me ah.

Although this time, the merchant bank out a little grain to relief, it is not wrong, but in the end, it is still uncomfortable.

In the beginning, it was said that the state treasury was the state treasury and the internal coffers were the internal coffers.

Whenever there is any shortfall in the internal coffers, if you want the Treasury to give a little, this Ministry of Revenue will wail as if it has died like a mother.

Now it’s good, the expedition to use the domestic money, armament also a lot of domestic money, relief also need domestic money, up and down, all counting on me!

Zhu Di the more he thought, the more angry, so he tensed his face and said, “I do not see, they delayed so much time, go and deal with the official business at hand.”

Seeing Zhu’s displeased color.

This eunuch didn’t dare to talk too much, so he obediently went.

But after a while, this eunuch came back with a hard head and said, “Your Majesty, they said …… that …… there is a big matter to be played, and they must see it.”

Zhu Di was enraged and huffed, “How dare they not follow the edict? Reverse them.”

Originally nested a belly of fire, Zhu Di began to curse, haphazardly greeted a variety of women, ultimately …… he still patiently said, “Call in.”

A few moments later, Zhu Di saw Natsubara Yoshi almost jumping in.

It is really bouncing, belonging to the kind of pawing the toes, like a toad, a poke and a bounce like, people like a spring, this side of the toes to the ground, and then was bounced up.

Zhu raised an eyebrow.

Natsubara Yoshi is getting unruly.

As a matter of fact, the ministers should enter in a row, it should be Hu Guang who enters the temple first, after that it is Yang Rong, and then Xia Yuanji, and the ministers should salute as the ritual ……

You want me to teach you something like this?

“I have met Your Majesty.” Xia Yuanji’s voice was hoarse and tired, but at the same time, it was full of vigor.

Zhu Di held back his fire and nodded his head with a faint expression, “What is it?”

“This matter, Your Majesty, begins with the descent into the West ……”

After all, Zhu Di still can’t help it, he violently burst into a rage: “Into his mother’s, down to the West this are a few years, you as the Ministry of Household Secretary, do not properly act in their own ministries, all the time idle, this deficit in the national treasury, you can skim the relationship?”

With such harshness, any other minister would know that he had offended the face of heaven and should immediately give thanks for his offense.

But Xia Yuanji very calmly continued: “Your Majesty …… and listen to the minister to finish, this down to the West, there is a eunuch, said Deng Jian, Deng Jian from overseas brought back the foreign species, after that, this Deng Jian in the Qixia farming …… Your Majesty, your guess What?”

Chu: “……”

Zhu felt that things had gotten out of hand.

Very often, one of his eyes, the ministers should seem to be tamed, obediently bowed to the ear, but today this Xia Yuanji …… is very unlike.

Even Yang Rong and Hu Guang seemed to be quite devoid of courtier etiquette at this point; they both raised their heads and stared fixedly at him, where was this like a courtier?

Zhu Di said in a bad mood, “People plowing is plowing, it’s none of your business?”

“This is not only related to the minister, this is related to the Great Ming, related to your majesty, related to the world’s life ah!” Xia Yuanji excitedly said, “Your Majesty ah …… this brought back a foreign species, now has been plowed out, the name is potato …… this thing …… is really God! Its taste is no less than that of wheat and rice, and it can satiate the stomach, and that’s not all …… Your Majesty …… Its mu yield can be 1,300 pounds …… 1,300 pounds ah! ……”

Xia Yuanji laughed and laughed, suddenly his eyes reddened and cried: “Ordinary people, an acre of dry land, can grow three hundred pounds of wheat, it has been good, but this potato, but can grow thirteen hundred pounds, four times as many as the wheat field, your majesty …… If the original, an acre of land can feed a male, then now …… An acre of land can feed four people …… this …… this …… is really something you can’t even think of! …… Your Majesty ah ……”

Said, Xia Yuanji bowed down, kowtowed: “My Daming …… has its own heavenly blessing, this name is the thing called potato, if it is not the ancestors show their spirit, if it is not your majesty’s generous virtue, how can it be manifested on earth …… natural …… This is that eunuch Deng Jian, after going down to the sea, after all the hard work to get, if it is not the original …… Your Majesty’s good and great …… No, not right … …”

“If not at the beginning, His Majesty’s wisdom, the decree of the West, how can we get this treasure? With this thing, if you start to promote, in less than ten years, my Ming, within two hundred years, there is no longer a shortage of food, even if there is a great disaster, but also enough to the court to cope with …….”

Zhu first heard Deng Jian.

Just thought the name sounded familiar.

With great effort, I remembered that this was a eunuch from the Eastern Palace, who was also very close to that Zhang Anshi guy.

He had even seen this man when he came back from the sea and had given him some reward!

Zhang Anshi even made a bet with him.

Of course, the details of the bet were long forgotten by Zhu to Java.

But thereafter heard the mu yield of one thousand three hundred pounds, Zhu Di direct mouth open to close.

His eyes rested frozen in their sockets with a sleepwalking feeling.

Seeing that Zhu Di did not say anything for a long time, Xia Yuanji said uncertainly, “Your Majesty, Your Majesty ……”

“Well.” Zhu Di did not curse or get excited, but very calmly and steadily sat behind the imperial case.

At this point, he became incredibly svelte.

“Thirteen hundred pounds per acre?”

“It’s thirteen hundred pounds per acre.” Natsubara Yoshi threw in his voice.

Zhu Di said, “Is it auspicious?”

“Not auspicious.” Xia Yuanji very seriously said, “is the real acres of production, I have personally gone to explore, and even harvesting, cleaning, weighing, commutation, I and Duke Hu and Duke Yang have gone through the hands, can be said to be a thousand pounds, it is really one thousand three hundred pounds.”

Zhu stood up and stared dead at Xia Yuanji, “How in the world can there be such a thing?”

“This ……” Xia Yuanji a little answer, finally he said: “Annan Hou seems to this, a little knowledge, when he said the origin, but the minister was dizzy, some things, and did not understand. ”

Zhu said, “Zhang Anshi ……”

After thinking about it, Zhu suddenly said, “Are you sure this is edible?”

Xia Yuanji bite: “can, I have eaten, the taste is quite good, can satiate the stomach, I eat this at noon today, and now there is no sense of hunger. Annan Hou also said …… some benefits of this thing, but …… I …… can not remember.”

Of course, I can not remember, when eating, light think Zhang Anshi bragging, at that time, Zhang Anshi words, do not care about it!

Zhu Di took a deep breath, only to stabilize his mind and said, “Into his mother, Zhang Anshi this guy, how not to say early, I know early if ……”

Xia Yuanji said, “Your Majesty, I hope that now immediately issued a decree, contact with the Department of Justice, by the Minister to take the lead, and then go to a trip to Qixia, for one thing, to protect the grain seed, it is best to set up the forbidden guards, will be that the farms circled, there are not three to five thousand people, I am a little uneasy. Furthermore, is to ask that Duke Deng, teach the law of cultivation, to let the Ministry of household specially organize people ……”

Zhu Di raised his eyebrows and said, ”Arushi? What are you going to do there? There is Qixia, you want to clamor? But …… I still don’t believe …… it’s so unimaginable, four times the rations, isn’t this equivalent to adding four times the land to my Daming?”

It’s horrible, and it means that even if it carries four times the population, there’s no need to worry.

Zhu Di then said, “Out of the palace, out of the palace, I want to see for myself.”

On the side of Zhao Kan, only feel that this ruler and ministers are crazy, one incoherent, as for 1,300 pounds of grain, he is difficult to believe, but he did not say anything.

Now that he heard that His Majesty was going out of the palace, Zhao Kan took the opportunity to step forward and said, “I am only worried that someone is faking …… it.”

What he said is not unreasonable, a Zhang Anshi, a relative, a Deng Jian, a eunuch, how to see …… are not good birds.

Zhu grimly said, “Go, go ………”

There was confusion in the palace for a while, mainly because it was too hasty, but soon the Daming Gate opened, and Zhu Di and his accompanying ministers, plus hundreds of forbidden guards, flew out on horses in a hurry.

Zhu Di all the way there is both a kind of ecstasy, but then …… seems to be fooled by the lower head of the people afraid, but also feel that …… should not be happy too much.

Although Zhang Anshi was credible, what if Zhang Anshi was also fooled by that eunuch named Deng Jian?

All sorts of thoughts came and went along the way.

So much so that …… the Pegasus nearly charged a passerby who couldn t avoid it in time.

…………

Zhang Anshi several, at this time in the manor set up a table of food and wine.

Today is a celebration.

Although the celebration was for Ken Deng, who was not on the table because he had already had lunch. But it didn’t matter, so did Celebration Zhang Anshi.

Zhang Anshi drank a few glasses of wine and instructed Qusong not to drink too much.

Qiu Song said unhappily, “I’m not too young, big brother, at home, my father also let me drink a little.”

Zhang Anshi said meaningfully, “Drink elsewhere, not in my manor, you know.”

Chuson: “……”

He doesn’t get it.

Tender lamb meat in the mouth, Zhang Anshi could not help but say: “This lamb is good, fresh and not fishy, our Qixia’s land, feed people ah.”

Zhu Yong said, “Yes, in the future, when sister-in-law is pregnant, she will be taught to come here to Qixia to give birth, and in the coming year, she will give big brother a big nephew out of such a fine and tender body.”

Zhang Yoking said, “Nonsense, too fine and tender is not good, to be darker, more brown, this is like a man’s appearance, if not, is not the same as those theater actors?”

Qiu Song said, “When the time comes, I will make a big firecracker and blow it up here, so that even the Forbidden City can hear the ringing.”

Zhang Anshi held his forehead and lamented, “Hey …… sinning ah.”

“Brother, what have you done? It doesn’t matter. Which of our brothers and fathers didn’t kill people like crazy? To say that sins, they should have been born without asses, but you see, we are not all fine? See these bullshit words, are all lies.” Zhu Yong ingratiatingly said, “Big brother do not be afraid.”

Zhang Anshi: “……”

He decided not to eat or sleep, or else the continuation of the conversation was going to make him lose his appetite.

Deng Jian opened and warmed another pot of wine.

Zhang Anshi said, “Eunuch Deng, sit down and eat.”

“I’m not used to it.” Teng Jian said, “I just like serving the Prince.”

Zhang Anshi said, “What’s not to get used to? We are family.”

These words poked the soft underbelly of Teng Jian’s heart, and he was busy looking away from his head for a long time before he turned back over and said with a forced smile, “You guys eat.”

was talking.

There are fast horses arriving.

Someone stumbled in first, saying, “No good, no good, the palace is coming, there are many people …… coming.”

It was a lieutenant from the Inner Chitose who came in haste to report the news.

Zhang Anshi became furious and raised his hand to get ready to hit someone, “How is it bad when someone comes from the palace? You bastard, can you speak?”

The slap didn’t go down; after all, the lieutenant of the Inner Chitose was one of his own.

But the lieutenant had not yet made amends.

Then someone else came in in a hurry, shouting, “Marquis of Annan, Marquis of Annan, fetch the driver, quickly go fetch the driver.”

But it was also Lost Ha, who rushed in ahead of the others.

This time came so hastily that nothing was prepared, and Yilunha was worried that something had gone wrong, so he came to report first, in fact, he was worried that the farm side would not be able to respond in a timely manner.

Where did Zhang Anshi dare to hesitate, he immediately got up.

Ken Deng also panicked and busied himself in the corner.

Yiluoha’s eyes balked, then landed on Ken Deng.

And then, also lost ha revealed an intimate smile, a hand up to the front, at once grabbed Teng Jian’s hand, holding Teng Jian’s hand, as if many years of lost brothers can be reunited general, affable, “Duke Teng ……”

“Ah …… Grand Duke ……”

“Don’t call me Grand Eunuch, you’re being too formal, we’re all eunuchs, things that people don’t even count. So which is all the more reason to treat each other as family.”

Also Lostha smiled affectionately.

If this was in the past, if Deng Jian saluted Yiluoha, Yiluoha might not give Deng Jian a second glance.

Palace apprentices and grandchildren are too much, affinity is different, Deng Jian at first …… also lost ha also had attention, think he is resourceful, so transferred to the East Palace.

It is only a pity that …… later on, he went to the sea and went to farming, which made Yizhuoha realize that Deng Jian only has no future.

But what can be done, the people in the palace …… are like this …… many people you can t pay attention to, and it is impossible to worry about everything.

But now …… also lost ha but look extraordinarily intimate: “Let’s go, first go to see the driving.”

“Slave …… slave girl go too?”

“You should have gone.”

Also lost Ha began dusting the dust on Deng fitness, hate when their hands are rubbing boards, Deng Jian’s clothes rubbed again, joyfully laughed, and then looked at the side of the shape has been set up, ready to receive the driver Zhang Anshi a glance, lowered his voice and said: “You have this fortune …… Tsk, tsk, tsk. …… really met the nobleman which, this palace up and down, who have you this blessing? Later …… in front of the saint, what to say how to say, do not be afraid.”

Teng Jian heart beating wildly, in fact, he early in the morning, vaguely aware of these, just still can not believe it, but now …… the grand eunuch has said words such an understanding, he nodded deeply: “slave girl knows.”

……

“I, Zhang Anshi ……”

“Slave servant Ken Deng ……”

“Greetings, Your Majesty.”

Zhu has already fallen on the horse, first saw Zhang Anshi and Teng Jian, with a grave expression, and then …… with a sweep of his eyes, he saw Qusong.

He first nodded Qiu Song, could not care about letting Zhang Anshi and Deng Jian level, pointed at Qiu Song and said, “Fork this guy out first, fork as far away as possible, pass the decree, Qiu Song dares to step within a thousand paces of the square circle, break his legs …… No, break his legs and his father s legs.”

Chuson: “……”

Without saying a word, the messengers flew straight up and dragged Qusong away.

Chuson exclaimed, “Big brother ……”

Zhang Anshi immediately buried his head even lower, not daring to utter a single breath.

What else could he say?

Say a bird.

…………

The second chapter is delivered, asking for some monthly votes, the cold is much better, tomorrow resumes normal updates, thank you for your concern.