amaotonovel Chapter 328: Rice seeds and textile machines belong to the court
Chapter 328: Rice seeds and textile machines belong to the court
Then you know that you seem to have fallen.
If the people don't have enough to eat, it's your problem. If the people don't have warm clothes, it's also your problem. You are no longer ashamed of the emperor above you, but the people below you.
How can that be comfortable?
As long as the people are not happy, you will not be happy either.
The Golden Palace, which was bustling with activity just a moment ago, was suddenly filled with the sound of sobbing from the people in the Ministry of Works.
The generals in the hall also changed from their previous disdain to silence.
Yue Zhenchuan wiped away his tears and looked up at the emperor.
"Your Majesty, I am so happy that I am crying. I am sorry to have embarrassed your Majesty and my colleagues..."
The emperor was also infected by them. He gritted his teeth and looked at the sky-blue cotton cloth beside him. He said to Eunuch Hong with determination:
"Hong Banban, please cut some of this cotton cloth and distribute it to the ministers in the Ministry of Works... This can be regarded as the first batch of cotton cloth in the world, and it should be given to the ministers in the Ministry of Works as a souvenir."
Eunuch Hong bowed and left the palace, and heard the emperor say in a low voice:
"Cut less, at least leave enough cloth for me and the queen to make clothes..."
Eunuch Hong gave him a reassuring look in return: "I'll save you some trouble."
Yue Zhenchuan climbed up the pole, fearing that the emperor would go back on his word, and he knelt down with everyone from the Ministry of Works.
"Thank you, Your Majesty, for your grace!"
In his excitement, he blew the snot hanging on his philtrum into a big bubble, and the emperor turned his eyes away in disgust.
"If the ministers of the Ministry of Works have had enough, please let everyone have a look, so that other ministers won't think I am biased."
Other beloved ones: "......"
Aren't you partial enough? They don't get any of the cotton cloth cut...
The Minister of Works handed over the tray reluctantly. Ji Benchang reached out and touched it again and again, marveling at it.
"It feels so comfortable to touch. When cotton cloth becomes widely available, I and my family will change our clothes to cotton cloth and enjoy it!"
A moment later, the black and red cotton cloth completed its mission and finally returned to the emperor's side.
The emperor caressed him with pity.
The good cotton cloth was turned into fuzz by these people's careless handling.
besides......
There is a big puddle of water on top, what is it?
He looked at Yue Zhenchuan suspiciously.
Yue Zhenchuan chuckled, the meaning of which was obvious:
"Your Majesty, if you despise my tears, why not give me this piece of cotton cloth as well?"
The emperor clenched his fist again and again.
This old bastard...could he have done it on purpose?
The more he looked at Yue Zhenchuan, the more annoyed he became. He turned his head and called out to Ji Benchang:
"Lord Ji, I will hand over these 1,200 kilograms of rice seeds to your Ministry of Revenue. Lord Shen also wrote down the characteristics of this rice in the letter. I will give you a copy after the court session. However... Lord Shen can grow more than 1,200 kilograms per mu in Tongan County. You, the Minister of Revenue..."
"Your Majesty, don't worry!"
Ji Benchang stepped out and said confidently:
"The rice seeds sent by Lord Shen are of high quality, and my Ministry of Revenue has the most generous public fields for trial planting in the whole Great Zhou. I will definitely find the most suitable place for planting high-yield rice! I dare not be arrogant, but I guarantee that the yield per mu of public fields in the autumn harvest next year will definitely not be lower than the yield per mu in Tong'an County this year!"
There is a reason why Ji Benchang is so confident.
His Ministry of Revenue collected all the soil suitable for planting in the world, as well as the most fertile fertilizer in the world.
Moreover, there are people guarding the public fields every day, so droughts and insect pests are impossible to occur in the public fields.
If this is the case, the per-acre yield of public land is still not as high as that of Tongan County. Then Ji Benchang will have no choice but to kill himself by hitting his head against the throne and die as a token of atonement!
The emperor chuckled.
"Mr. Shen sold rice seeds to local governments at a very low price. Next year, it will not be just you who will be trying to take the lead. Mr. Ji, you have to work harder."
Ji Benchang was full of fighting spirit, "I will not bring shame to the Ministry of Revenue!"
The emperor nodded, looking tired.
"Today, you have seen the rice seeds and touched the cotton cloth. I am a little tired, so I will leave the court now."
In fact, he was not tired and was in good spirits. He just wanted to leave the court quickly, bring the cotton cloth to the queen to see, discuss what kind of clothes to make, and then finish reading Shen Qing's letter.
After reading the letter, he will have another reason to wake up the officials when he goes to court tomorrow.
——When you go to court, how can you just be a minister and give advice to the emperor every day? There must be give and take, only then can it be called harmony between the monarch and his subjects.
"I will take my leave."
All the officials breathed a sigh of relief. Their moods had been very up and down today and they urgently needed to go home and recuperate.
But...I always feel like I forgot something?
Never mind. Since they have forgotten, it must have nothing to do with them.
Yue Zhenchuan politely reminded the person beside him: "Sir Liu, you are not leaving? His Majesty has ordered the court to be dismissed."
Liu Hongzhi, who was called by him, frowned and looked at him, seemingly dissatisfied.
Yue Zhenchuan was confused by his gaze, "Go to court, Lord Liu. Why do you hate me for no reason?"
"Humph--"
Liu Hongzhi pulled up his sleeves, bowed and said to the emperor: "Your Majesty, I still have a doubt."
The emperor frowned, "We'll discuss this tomorrow."
"His Majesty!"
Liu Hongzhi insisted, "What I want to say is closely related to rice seeds and cotton cloth. I beg Your Majesty to ask the officials of the Ministry of Works and the Ministry of Revenue to help me solve my doubts!"
The emperor took a breath and closed his eyes, as if he had guessed what he was going to say.
Good words can't persuade a damn ghost.
Liu Hongzhi took his consent, lifted his robe and knelt down, turning to look at Ji Benchang and Yue Zhenchuan who had stopped:
"My Lords, I would like to ask you, how will you two handle the rice seeds and textile machines that have been screened out in Tongan County?"
"what?"
"what?"
Ji Benchang and Yue Zhenchuan said in unison, "How should our Ministry of Industry and Ministry of Revenue deal with this? Sir Liu, are you so happy that you are confused? The rice seeds and textile machines are in Tong'an County?"
Liu Hongzhi's eyes suddenly widened. How come these two people have no ambition at all!
He instigated, "My Lords, whether it is high-yield rice seeds or cotton looms, they are closely related to the livelihood of the people of our Great Zhou. They should be handed over to the court for distribution. How can you two do nothing?"
"What do you mean?"
Ji Benchang trotted forward and touched his forehead with the back of his hand.
"How is it?" Yue Zhenchuan tilted his head and asked, "Do you have a fever?"
Ji Benchang frowned and shook his head. "No, why are you talking in your sleep in broad daylight? Your Majesty, Your Majesty, I beg Your Majesty to call the imperial physician to take a good look at Lord Liu. Is he possessed by evil spirits?"
The emperor pursed his lips and raised his hand, "Banban Hong, summon Imperial Physician Gu to the palace. We cannot let Liu Qing cause any trouble in my throne room."
“Hmm——”
Eunuch Hong, who had just returned, had not even had time to catch his breath before he trotted away again.
Liu Hongzhi, who was accused of being sick, looked at the emperor, then at Ji Benchang and Yue Zhenchuan.
Your Majesty teamed up with the two of them to play a trick on him? !
He was dissatisfied and fell to the ground, shouting: "Your Majesty! My Lords! I am thinking about the country of Great Zhou!"
He put justice first and spoke sincerely.
"Your Majesty, the high-yield rice seeds and cotton looms that appeared in our Great Zhou are enough to prove that they are originally from our Great Zhou! Such extraordinary things should belong to the court and be under the jurisdiction of the court. It is reasonable! How can we follow that Lord Shen and only care about Tong'an County? Tong'an County has taken on too much responsibility. How can we succeed in this way!"
Seeing that the emperor looked unhappy, Liu Hongzhi realized that giving face to Lord Shen was giving face to His Majesty.
He quickly said, "As for that Lady Shen, she has also made great achievements. Why don't you call her back to the capital and let her be the princesses' teacher? This will not waste her knowledge!"
In his opinion, it is obvious who is more important, a small county magistrate or the princess's teacher.
The only disadvantage of being a princess's teacher is that you have an official title but no jurisdiction.
Ji Benchang rolled his eyes after hearing his fart.
If he didn't know something, I would have believed his lies.