Chapter 250.

Chapter Two Hundred and Fifty:

Zhu was relieved to see Qiu Song gone.

And then, gazing at Zhang Anshi, he said, “Where is that thing?”

“Received in the barn.”

“Show me.”

Zhu Di was thunderous and did not dawdle with Zhang Anshi.

Zhang Anshi then led Zhu towards the cellar.

Zhu Di personally went down and looked at a thing that seemed to be like a lump of earth, while revealing a color of suspicion.

Turning back to Zhang Anshi, he said, “How is this thing …… like a lump of earth?”

Zhang Anshi rightfully said, “That’s why it’s called potato, and dirt, and beans.”

Zhu was actually speechless.

He turned back to Natsubara Yoshi, “This is the yield of one acre?”

“Back to Your Majesty.” Natsubara Yoshi said, “Precisely.”

Zhu thoughtfully said, “Can I eat it?”

“Can.” Natsubara Yoshi said directly.

Zhu Di then said, “Take a few, cook them, and give me a taste to see.”

Zhang Anshi didn’t hesitate and ordered a few potatoes to get food.

Of course, the ones given to pick are growing a little crooked, and the fat potatoes can be saved for seed.

A few moments later, a plate of steamed potato cakes was delivered to Zhu.

Zhu Di took it and ate it, tasting the flavor as he did so, saying, “It tastes alright.”

Zhang Anshi smiled and didn’t say anything.

Zhu Di, on the other hand, gazed at Zhang Anshi again and said, “Minister Zhang seems to have something to say?”

Zhang Anshi said, “Your Majesty’s words, let me …… minister …… forget it, I do not say it.”

“Say what you have to say.” Zhu frowned, “I will not be blamed.”

Zhang Anshi said, “a few days ago, there are Jiujiang Province stragglers, strayed to Qixia, the minister side, has just managed to settle …… not as …… well as the minister to invite two to come.”

Seeing that he was selling out again, Zhu was interested.

He was actually trying to suppress his inner passion right now, so his face looked extraordinarily calm.

At that moment, the crowd walked out of the cellar.

Zhang Anshi welcomed Zhu to the hall in the manor.

After another two incense sticks, two ragged men were timidly ‘invited’.

As soon as they entered, they cried out, “Mercy, mercy, we have committed no crime …… we are wronged ……”

Zhang Anshi stepped forward and said, “Who said you committed a crime?”

“Isn’t it a crime for the officials to take me?”

That statement actually makes sense.

Zhang Anshi smiled and said, “Old cousin, it’s not a guilty arrest, it’s a treat for you to have a good meal.”

These two were pudgy and trembling, but they didn’t dare to agree hastily.

Zhang Anshi then asked someone to reheat the cakes while inquiring, “Did you escape from Jiujiang Prefecture? Were you a farmer before?”

“Yes, it is …… farming for a living.” A more talkative some, vaguely said in a country accent, “The family has two acres of land, but unfortunately …… suffered a disaster, there is no rice, I see the situation is not good, early ran out, if it is delayed a step, I do not know what will happen.”

Looks like this one is still a doomsday expert.

It is not easy to realize that it is not easy to get a person to see the wind at his back and leave his home immediately.

There’s a lot of determination to be had here.

And they were actually trembling because they were vagrants, and the government treated them like criminals.

In general, though, there’s no way to bind one to the other in times of catastrophe, so you have to turn a blind eye.

But after all, that’s how the law works, and who can guarantee that there aren’t officials who deliberately bully people and go up to make things difficult in the name of this?

Zhang Anshi said, “In this way, you are clever.”

“Not smart.” The man said with a bitter face, “In the genealogy, my Great Ancestor was starved to death by famine, my High Ancestor and Great Ancestor were also starved to death by catastrophe, my mother was also starved to death the year before last, and my ancestors, for eighteen generations, starved to death their forefathers not one hundred but sixty or seventy, and when it comes to me, how could I not know the power of this?”

Zhang Anshi: “……”

When Zhu Di heard this, he felt both pathetic and ridiculous.

Yang Rong, Hu Guang, and Xia Yuan Ji, on the other hand, kept shaking their heads at the side.

Zhang Anshi laughed dryly, “A long time has passed, I understand this, has the family escaped?”

“All escaped, only a small child, on the road got sick and died.” This person s face, there is not much grief, after all, …… this ‘attrition’, for him, has been God blessed.

Zhang Anshi said, “How is the settlement here in Qixia?”

“It’s okay, daily Shi two porridge, porridge water is still thick, my eldest son now also find a foot work, can get some money …… is …… this is going to be in the fall, I’m afraid that by the time the sky is cold, I’m afraid that I won’t be able to make it through this winter. ”

Zhang Anshi atmospheric said:” This need not worry, live in the place, may not be able to immediately give you a proper placement, but …… freezing is not going to teach you to freeze, then I teach people to give you coal, and then give you a few more coats, find a way to add some bedding. ”

“Ah ……” The man was astonished, the sadness on his face, seven or eight points less.

Zhang Anshi said, “Come, come, the steamed cakes are here, come and eat.”

Hot, steamy pancakes were delivered to the duo.

But the man didn’t move.

Zhang Anshi said, “Eat, eat.”

Zhang Anshi willing for this person will be very hungry, see the food should also be unable to resist, but this person still did not move.

“Is it too hot?” Zhang Anshi took the back of his hand and pressed it against it, testing the temperature, but it wasn’t to the point where it was intolerable for a person.

At this time, I heard the man say hesitantly, “Sir, this cake of yours, it won’t be poisonous, will it?”

Hearing this, Zhang Anshi became furious and said, “What kind of words are these! What am I doing with the poison, do I look like that kind of person to you?”

“I don’t know, I always think …… there is no such good thing in the world, maybe there are some bad thoughts.”

He looked wary.

The other man swallowed hard, his eyes looking straight at the potato pancake, but he didn’t dare to reach for it.

Zhang Anshi sighed, ”Don’t think of me in this way, let’s put it in another perspective, if I want to get you killed, wouldn’t you have a hundred ways if you think about it carefully? Why do you still have to go through all the trouble to poison yourself? You can insult my character, but you can’t insult my intelligence.”

The man’s body carried a peasant-like cunning, a way of survival that was nonetheless honed after life and death over and over again.

But anyone who is stupid and a teacher would have starved to death long ago. Even if they didn’t starve to death, they would probably have been screwed to death long ago.

If Zhang Anshi talked to him about benevolence and morality, he really didn’t dare to eat it.

But Zhang Anshi’s words, when he thought about it carefully, he felt that it was right, so he carefully picked up a cake and stuffed it directly into his mouth.

Immediately afterward, it was placed in the mouth and chewed desperately.

The other, too, began to nibble.

Everyone looked at the duo.

Zhang Anshi said with a smile, “What is it, is it good?”

The man still kept chewing, seemingly unable to swallow immediately.

It was only after half a day that he finally swallowed the cake completely and licked his mouth unreservedly before saying, “It’s too delicious.”

Another chimed in, “Yummy, yummy ……”

Zhu Di roughly understand Zhang Anshi’s meaning, clearly a sentence can say things, he preferred to sell a big secret.

But when you think about it, it makes sense.

The diet of emperors and princes was already rich, and with or without these potatoes, it didn’t really make any difference.

This stuff, from the beginning, was never intended for the kings and grandchildren.

Zhu stared at the hanyou with both eyes, as if he wanted to continue observing the man’s words and behavior.

Zhang Anshi, on the other hand, continued to ask, “Tell me honestly, is it really this delicious?”

“Of course it’s delicious!” This hanyou said with a retrospective look on his face, “This taste can be the same as fine grains.”

The so-called fine grains, in fact, white rice and white flour, and the average person, all year round, is not able to eat a few meals of white rice and white flour, the latter may eat fine grains to eat the habit, but the pursuit of the so-called coarse grains.

And in this day and age, fine grains themselves are luxuries, and people’s imaginations of great wealth and prosperity are roughly the same as being able to eat fine grains every day.

Zhang Anshi said, “What if, in the future, we eat this day after day?”

“Eat this?” This man’s eyes opened, expectation flashed in his eyes, and he said, “There is still such a good thing in the world, if someone gives me food day after day, that would be the Bodhisattva who saves the suffering.”

The other nodded his head like a chicken pecking, deep in thought.

Zhang Anshi smiled and said, “Not bad, not bad, alright, you guys can go.”

The two were as if they had been pardoned and scrambled away.

Zhu Di only stood up at this time, said, “This grain …… can be planted 1,300 pounds in the future?”

Zhang Anshi said, “I …… not, Deng Gonggong is now in breeding it, this year planted a mixed bag of good and bad grain seeds, if the next year, to strive for the yield can also increase some, after a few times to select the seed, Deng Gonggong side, the efforts to be able to do to have an acre yield of two thousand pounds.”

Two thousand pounds ……

If previously, Zhang Anshi had said something like this, people might have thought the guy was bragging.

But if …… he says it now, everyone is convinced.

Zhu couldn’t help but murmur, “Two thousand pounds per acre, or dry land, that is, seven times the unusual dry land …… good …… very good …… good very good ……”

Said, he looked thoughtful, mouth subconsciously said, “In that case, within a few decades, there is no more food shortage, I …… I ……”

He paced, hands behind his back, lost in hard thought.

In ancient times, the so-called heyday was the population, and the larger the population, the more prosperous the dynasty proved to be.

But in reality, this population growth, when it reaches its limit, often means the beginning of dynastic weakness.

Because the carrying capacity of land, after all, is limited, and as land is annexed, it catalyzes the process even more.

But once the production has increased greatly, then the trend will be curbed in an instant.

At that time, I am afraid that the population of the world, are going to increase greatly. At least for Daming, there is no harm in a big increase in population, because now …… Zhu Di is still a little short of people.

Let’s say that the Luzon and Annam side are now pressing for the exile of some criminals and prisoners there, for the simple reason that their need for manpower is too great.

Zhu Di said, “Eunuch Deng?”

Zhang Anshi said, “Your Majesty, have you forgotten again? It’s ……”

“I remember, where is that Mr. Deng?”

Teng Jian had previously been standing in the corner, he has always been not too eye-catching, at this time heard the word Mr., startled, hastily stood out, bowed down, groveling, “Slave servant …… slave servant deserves to die, slave servant can not afford to be what Mr. … …The slave servant is a eunuch ……”

Zhu Di gazed at Deng Jian, he vaguely remembered that when he came back from the sea, Deng Jian was also this down and out, he didn’t expect that this meeting, this Deng Jian was even more down and out than when he came back from the sea.

Zhu Di couldn’t help but sigh with emotion, “What a strong man, a great man should be like this.”

Ken Dunn: “……”

For anyone else, you saying something about a great man in front of a eunuch is almost tantamount to cursing.

But Teng Jian this sentence is to hear and understand, this is praise, and still the emperor and when praise.

He was busy bowing excitedly and tearfully said, “Slave girl …… slave girl ……”

Zhu Di, however, went forward and personally helped him up, gazed carefully at Teng Jian, and then said to the left and right: “The grain seed was brought back by him in nine deaths, and the grain was also planted by him. I would like to ask all the ministers, under the sky, the universal favor of the world’s living people, who can be comparable to him in terms of merit?”

This instantly, but it was difficult for Hu Guang and the others.

Xia Yuanji was very excited and said, “Your Majesty, according to my opinion, Guan Zhong can ……”

Zhang Anshi, however, said, “Shennong.”

Upon hearing Shennong, Hu Guang has something to say, into your mother Zhang Anshi, in the Confucian system, Shennong is the level of the three emperors and five emperors, okay!

Hu Guang immediately said, “I am shallow, but did not perceive that throughout the dynasties, someone can be classified Mr. Deng.”

Zhu Di thought hard, seems to have not thought of it, then said, “It also makes sense, such a merit, I see …… to be heavily rewarded.”

Zhu Di to meritorious people is so dry, have merit to award!

Also lost ha then looked at Zhu Di with a smile, rushed forward and said, “Your Majesty, Shang Cuisine Supervisor palm print, out of the vacancy ……”

Zhu Di did not even look at also lost Ha, but said: “Such a meritorious minister, the twelve supervisors of the inner court, where is the qualification to be placed? Among my ministers, there are physiognomists and monks, can’t they accommodate a Teng Jian?”

The crowd looked at each other in disbelief at these words.

But …… is surprisingly unopposed.

Even Yang Rong and Hu Guang actually felt that they deserved it.

Xia Yuanji said, “Why don’t …… you come to the Ministry of Household ……”

But more unexpectedly, Zhu Di murmured, “Seal the marquis ……”

Violently pause for a moment, Zhu Di only then said: “No, seal the Shihou, give cognac five thousand households, commission, hang a household minister title, responsible for agricultural affairs, this farm, but also can not be separated from Mr. Deng …… let him recruit stragglers here, continue to introduce the new grain. There are also with him together in this test planting of the Zhuang household, each person to give silver one thousand taels ……”

Saying that, Zhu Di glanced back at Yang Rong and Hu Guang, then added: “This is my meaning, the court council discussion. There won’t be any objections from the court council, right?”

Yang Rong and Hu Guang didn’t have much hesitation, this Yang Rong said, “I can make a guarantee!”

Zhu nodded.

Teng Jian, however, was shocked at what he heard on the sidelines, and directly froze in place, not daring to utter a single breath.

It’s a good thing you’re here!

Isn’t that the same as Zhang Anshi?

And also hung a Ministry of Household title, the Ming never had eunuchs knighthood and the record of officials in the dynasty, really unheard of.

His body trembled, and for a moment, he actually didn’t know how to respond.

It was worth it to get the eunuch to where he was.

Even when Yizhuoha stood by, he couldn’t help but drool.

“Nun servant …… Nun servant ……,” Teng Jian choked, and all of a sudden fell down at Zhu Di’s feet, “Nun servant thanked your majesty for the grace. ”

Zhu Di but cold face, solemnly said: “In the future, you can no longer call the slave girl, to call yourself a minister, to be a minister should have to be a minister of the appearance. Do you have a son?”

Deng Jian said, “Nu ……鑷�……鑷� has a nephew.”

Zhu Di did not think about it, said, “I give the decree, the succession …… since then, it is your son, to leave you a fragrance.”

Ken Deng sniffled and gratefully said, “Yes, yes ……”

Zhu Di was very cautious again, “This place, to be well protected …… Zhang Anshi ……”

Zhang Anshi immediately said, “I am here.”

Zhu Di commanded: “Your Annan Wei, and then increase three hundred posts, set up a thousand households it, half of them …… day and night hoarding stationed here, specializing in guarding this manor, this manor, but there are any idle people mixed in, I take you to be asked.”

Zhang Anshi hurriedly said, “Your Majesty, aren’t six hundred men less?”

That’s actually a very inappropriate thing to say.

On the edge of the capital, over 600 private guards, you still don’t think it’s enough, what is this trying to do?

But at this moment, Zhang Anshi, with a bitter smile on his face, said, “Why don’t we make up a whole and give eight hundred?”

Zhu, however, was magnificent: “Eight hundred then.”

Zhang Anshi face to keep calm, but in the heart has been beautiful to start calculating, in addition to three hundred people stationed here, and two hundred more, his mansion, and a few more points of security.

Zhu Di then said, “Tomorrow, make the crown prince to the Xiaoling mausoleum sacrifice mausoleum, this matter, to tell the Great Ancestor Gao Emperor …… Duke of Wei Xu Huizu, Wen Yuan Pavilion University scholar Hu Guang accompanied.”

It’s a good thing to sue your ancestors for sure.

In fact, has always been, Zhu Di himself is not quite dare to go to the ancestor worship, in addition to the success of the Jingdan, hard to go, other times, are to let the crown prince or some ministers to go.

He was afraid that Emperor Taizu Gao really was in heaven and climbed up to whack him.

But today …… he is in the middle of it.

I’m afraid of a bird, the emperor is not as good as me, this is called the blue is better than the blue, the emperor has the spirit of the emperor is well in the sky to enjoy the blessings, to see how I give him a long face to increase the glory.

Seeing that Ken Deng was still frozen motionless.

Zhu Di said, “Secretary Deng, is there anything else you wish to say?”

Teng Jian’s body trembled and snapped back to his senses, which made him say, “Nu ……鑷� ……鑷� …… can not be such a great merit. ”

Zhu frowned slightly, “Huh?”

Deng Jian said, “When going out to sea, it is the minister’s son …… No, it is the authorization of the Annan Hou, the sea charts, and the route, are also formulated by the Annan Hou, the minister is just the Xiao rules and regulations.”

“It is the cultivation of this grain …… is also the Annan Marquis taught me to do so, I am really confused, I at first also misunderstood him, thought …… that I offended him, and the heart still have resentment and anger, and always feel that he is not like the former as a pro, it is …… intentionally want to teach the minister …… to teach the minister embarrassment, I think daily is, is not from the past to do what unpleasant things, so that he …… make… …But now I realize that the original An Nan Hou took great pains to …… him this is …… this is ……”

With that said, Ken Deng howled in shame.

This time, it really vented all the grievances from before.

After the tears fell like rain, Deng Jian said, “I still go back to the East Palace as a slave girl, this credit is not my …… I also do not dare to accept …… I am now, eat so much suffering, can have today, has been contented, other …… also dare not hope ……”

Only those who have truly experienced suffering can give birth to such a mind, and these are the heartfelt words of Deng Jian.

Zhu Di glanced at Zhang Anshi.

Zhang Anshi busy said, “Your Majesty, he is wrongly accused! I …… did tell him about some overseas messages and also about this grain seed, but I actually only heard about it from hearsay, and what I said was also incoherent!”

“He can have today, the minister himself is also very surprised, he said he did not have a big credit, but the minister dared to ask, the minister these words, if it is said to any person, this person is willing to put his head on the waistband of his pants, nine deaths, live these years of life is worse than death, in exchange for today? Under this sky, I’m afraid there are only a few people who can do it.”

Zhu Di heard, constantly nodding: “Yes, easy to move the mouth, but to do things, but difficult. Of course, it is not to say that the advice is not important, when the Jingdan, Yao Guangxiao and Jin Gong a few, but also for me to plan, but that said, this Jingdan of which the hardships, and how many people know it?”

“Zhang Qing said, very much in my heart, Deng Qingjia, you do not have to be modest again, my intention has been decided, you also want to resist the decree not?”

After a pause, Zhu Di added: “But Zhang Qing …… really also merit is not small, to people, reward him 100,000 ……”

Zhang Anshi smiled and said, “Your Majesty, forget it, I serve Your Majesty as I should, this is nothing. When I think about it, Your Majesty and I made a bet, and I didn’t take it to heart ……”

“Have I ever made a bet?” Zhu glared at him.

Zhang Anshi hastily shook his head, “Maybe I remembered wrongly, I am too stupid, I always forget things lately, ten thousand deaths, ten thousand deaths.”

Zhu Di laughed and said: “I certainly remember, just now is to try you just, your credit is not small, I am naturally willing to gamble to admit defeat. This matter, also want to add into the court discussion.”

Hu Guang and Yang Rong glanced at each other, but both said, “Obey the decree.”

This is so big today that honestly, sealing out a little bit of a title really means nothing.

Zhu Di at this time his eyes fell on Teng Jian’s body again, said, “Come on, Secretary Deng, you come to tell me, this potato, how to grow it?”

Teng Jian slowly calmed down, he is after all the palace eunuchs origin, naturally know how to serve the emperor, so led Zhu Di, will be outside of this Zhuangzi experimental field, collectively all patrol.

“An Nan Hou said, we do this, in fact, is constantly trial and error, so …… what Chen did, is to take the seeds, respectively, in different lands, and then according to the different soil quality and the degree of irrigation, to cultivate. And then finally, through the fall harvest, to determine which method is correct.”

“Nowadays, I collected the fall grain, intend to this potato, take out a batch of them, and strive to hurry up to raise seedlings, these days will be planted, now just early fall, perhaps before the winter comes, see if you can plant a cooked …… again.”

“Two ripe years?” Zhu’s eyes widened in surprise again.

Deng Jian then with a few conservative said: “Now is not sure, mainly late in the spring plowing, but I think, this potato is not as delicate as rice, for irrigation and timing …… is not so much to pay attention to, two ripe a year, it should be easier than rice. ”

Zhu Di is another joy, joyfully laughed: “If you can two ripe a year, I can really rest on my laurels. You this farm …… although for the Ministry of households under the jurisdiction of the Ministry, can be too important, in the future, if you have any zhengshu, can be reported at any time.”

Said, fiercely looked at also lost ha dao, cautious: “also lost ha …… you write down, Deng Qingjia have played, to be sent to my desk in a timely manner.”

Yiluoha couldn’t help but glance enviously at Teng Jian and said, “The slave servant obeys the decree.”

Zhu Di also said, “This manor, to expand, Deng Qingjia, how much land do you want, but tube said,”

Deng Jian said, “I here, there are a variety of seeds brought back from overseas, there are several, try to plant some, but failed, but …… always left some remaining seeds, so I intend to, in addition to potatoes to continue to rotate, constantly breeding, other seeds. The next year in the spring, but also to be planted, this land …… might as well add a few hundred acres, in order to prepare for future emergencies.”

Zhang Anshi said at the side: “Your Majesty …… Marquis Deng is embarrassed, he means that …… there is a lot of land needed in the future, and he is afraid that in the future …… many crops, because there is no land, not good to play.”

Zhu Di smiled, “Then again and 10,000 acres of land, to this farm, hanging in the name of Qixia, if you need silver, from me here to ask for, do not be afraid that I can not afford to spend silver, I have money in the internal coffers.”

Ken Deng said, “Yes.”

Zhu Di is in a very good mood, his mind imagined, after the future harvest, the grain production of the Ming Dynasty climbed higher and higher good days.

After returning to the lobby of the farmhouse, take your seat.

Zhang Anshi said, “Your Majesty, I still have something to report.”

Zhu Di glanced at Zhang Anshi, “Speak.”

“Your Majesty …… these grain seeds, all from overseas, see this overseas abundance, I do not know how many treasures, Marquis Deng only take some, for the world to solve the big problem, therefore, the outside world is always said, this down to the Western Ocean, is a good and great, but in my opinion, is Your Majesty, you are far-sighted initiatives. Since this is the case, then I suggest, this down to the Western Ocean naturally still have to go on as usual, but to the four seas of the pioneering, as when the Marquis Deng general, is also a very important thing, I thought that the merchant bank can fund the pioneering fleet, funding them to go down to the sea, so that they go to the world’s various oceans ……”

Zhang Anshi has not yet finished, Zhu Di has understood the meaning of Zhang Anshi, he was red, after all …… this is proof that Zhu Di is never good, he nodded and said, “so very good, the merchant bank of the matter, you to open up, do not have to report to me.”

Zhu Di said, looking toward Hu Guang, Yang Rong, and Xia Yuanji: “The ministers don’t have any opinions, do they?”

Natsuhara Yoshi was the first to say, “Your Majesty, I have no objections.”

Zhang Anshi said: ”Also, is the Annan side …… Jiangzhe side of the disaster, I have let people in Annan a large acquisition of food …… Now the merchant bank in Annan and Luzon and other places … … to find ways to collect grain, the grain production over there are very bountiful, although can not completely fill the vacancy of the Jiangzhe side, but at least …… can also alleviate some of the disaster. Only, although the food is not less, but need to ship, now Zheng Gonggong has led the flotilla down to the Western Ocean, the court should requisition all the sea ships that can be used, to Annan and Luzon, a steady stream of food will be transported in, so …… the immediate immediate need can also be alleviated.”