In ancient times, I just wanted to be a salted fish

Chapter 193 Potatoes and Sweet Potatoes

After Chen Ruotong handed over the two human traffickers and eleven children to Zhen Yu, she no longer paid attention to the subsequent development of the case.

After all, she had already done what she was supposed to do, and this matter was under the jurisdiction of the government, so she had no right to interfere.

Besides, she has a lot of things to deal with!

Now that Xiao Liuzi is no longer following her, Chen Ruotong feels a lot more relaxed and in an especially good mood.

She could finally do things freely without having to worry about anyone watching her every move.

Chen Ruotong placed all the potatoes, sweet potato seeds, and various fruits and vegetables that she was going to present to the court in the courtyard of the fifth-floor house.

Then, she hired six more carriages and carefully sorted and loaded the items onto the carriages. After everything was arranged, Chen Ruotong personally led the carriages to the outside of the palace wall.

As an ordinary citizen, Chen Ruotong did not hold any official position, so she could not enter the imperial city at all.

She had no choice but to ask the soldiers guarding the city for help, asking them to pass the jade pendant in their hands to Xiao Lizi, who would then present the jade pendant to the emperor.

Emperor Xuanwu was discussing state affairs with his ministers in the court at this time. They were discussing issues such as taxation and corvee labor after this year's autumn harvest.

At this time, Xiao Lizi happily walked quietly to the side of Emperor Xuanwu, then leaned over to the emperor's ear and whispered:

"Your Majesty, Chen Guchuan sent six carts of potatoes and sweet potato seeds. I also saw big watermelons, your favorite chili sauce and canned food on the cart..."

Hearing this, Emperor Xuanwu's slightly frowned brows gradually relaxed and he revealed a hint of a smile.

He said to his ministers: "My dear ministers, today I will show you what potatoes and sweet potatoes, which are known as high-yield crops, look like."

The ministers below were talking to each other. Some of them had heard of it, but some had never heard of it. They couldn't help but ask curiously, "Are there high-yield crops called potatoes and sweet potatoes?"

The emperor looked at the ministers' surprised expressions and explained with a smile, "These potatoes and sweet potatoes were brought back from overseas by a commoner.

It is now being planted on a large scale in Pingyang Prefecture, and will be available nationwide next year. Xiao Lizi, go get some potatoes and sweet potatoes to open the eyes of the ministers."

Xiao Lizi then ordered the soldier to drive the six carriages into the imperial city, then check them carefully and drive them out of the palace after confirming that they were safe.

After paying the fare, Chen Ruotong told the six coachmen to wait outside the imperial city. After the carriages left the imperial city, they could drive the carriages away.

Chen Ruotong felt that she had completed her mission by delivering six carts of goods to the emperor, so she returned to Huicui Building.

Several soldiers drove six carriages to the outside of the hall, unloaded the cargo, and conducted a detailed inspection.

After confirming that there were no dangerous items, they sorted the various fruits and vegetables into different categories and placed them in a long line outside the hall, giving it a bit of a feel like a stall at a morning market.

Then several soldiers led the carriage out of the imperial city, and several more soldiers guarded the vegetables and fruits.

Xiao Lizi picked out two baskets of canned food, one filled with potatoes and the other with sweet potatoes, and asked two soldiers to carry them to the hall.

The emperor had eaten potatoes before, but he had never seen sweet potatoes, let alone what they tasted like.

But the sweet potato was fat and long, with a purple-red skin, which was a delight to look at.

Emperor Xuanwu said to everyone excitedly: "My dear ministers, come and have a look!

The yellowish lumps of earth are called potatoes, and the red-skinned ones are called sweet potatoes. I tasted potatoes last year, but I heard that sweet potatoes are also extremely delicious! "

After hearing the emperor's words, the ministers gathered around and looked at the two new things in front of them with curiosity.

Some ministers even couldn't help but reach out and pick up the potatoes and sweet potatoes, carefully looking at their appearance, and gently weighing them to feel their heavy weight.

When all the ministers had finished appreciating the food, Emperor Xuanwu smiled and said, "Don't you want to taste the potatoes and sweet potatoes?

"Xiao Lizi, send these to the imperial kitchen to be cooked, and then bring them to the palace. I want to share this delicious food with all of you, my dear ministers!"

Xiao Lizi took the two soldiers and carried two large baskets to the imperial kitchen.

While waiting to share the delicious food, the ministers began to discuss the topic of new breeds.

At this time, Zhen Yu stepped forward to report, "Your Majesty, as far as I know, during the autumn harvest season this year, farmer Chen Jichang's large farm produced more than 200,000 catties of potatoes and more than 60,000 catties of sweet potatoes.

Next year, Pingyang Prefecture will be used as a pilot for the new improved variety, where it will be planted on a large scale and then promoted throughout the country. This is a great thing that will benefit both the country and the people!"

The emperor stood up excitedly and said, "Last year, we didn't produce many potatoes, but this year we've produced over 200,000 kilograms, which is really a high yield!

Great! The people's food and clothing problems will be solved. Minister of Agriculture, I will give these seeds to you for safekeeping. Plant them in the government fields next spring."

Grand Minister of Agriculture Wang Tu stepped forward and said, "Old minister, obey your order!"

Emperor Xuanwu continued, "Last year, I conferred the title of Baron Linong on Chen Jichang. This year, he has made contributions to the court, so I will confer the title of Earl on him!"

For an old farmer who has made contributions to the country, being conferred the title of earl is just a title that improves his social status. It will not affect the official careers of the ministers and has nothing to do with them.

Therefore, the ministers already knew the emperor's intention, so they just went with the flow and agreed.

But the regent Liang Yachi was upset because he knew that Chen Jichang was Chen Guchuan's grandfather. Chen Jichang's status was improved, and Chen Guchuan would be even more difficult to deal with with the emperor's protection.

He wanted to bring down or kill the little emperor, who was a money-making rake. He was not happy about making money for the little emperor.

So, he came out to disrupt the situation at an inopportune time, "Your Majesty, he is just a small farmer, just give him some silver, how can he be granted a title?"

Emperor Xuanwu knew his intention and retorted, "Your Majesty, this is wrong. Since you have made contributions to the country and solved people's livelihood problems, then in order to encourage more people to actively share the worries of the court, you should be given appropriate rewards.

The title is to be conferred, and money is to be rewarded even more!"

Seeing that no ministers agreed with him, Liang Yachi stood aside awkwardly, glancing at his followers.

Liang Yachi's followers lowered their heads one after another. They also knew the current situation. The emperor often warned them, so they did not dare to go too far. Knowing that the emperor had made up his mind, they did not dare to speak out.

Half an hour later, two large wooden basins of potatoes and sweet potatoes were carried into the main hall.

My dear ministers, like students queuing for food, you pass by two wooden barrels, holding potatoes in one hand and sweet potatoes in the other.

It was just out of the pot and still hot, so I just kept chewing the potatoes and sweet potatoes...

The scene was so lively and beautiful!