SFS Chapter 207: Increased Grain Production
Chapter 207: Increased Grain Production
Chapter 207 Increased Grain Production
When Wei Zhu found Liang Jiugong and his master and told them about the prince's coming, Liang Jiugong secretly admired him in his heart. The prince had found the right time. During this period of time, even the emperor would not have any doubts, because the time in between was too short. Even he, who was the first to know about it, had been under the emperor's nose and had never left the Qianqing Palace.
And it was precisely this coincidence that made the emperor more convinced of the prince's loyalty, so that his attitude towards the prince became more and more gentle, and they got along more like a father and son than a monarch and his subject.
This is no small problem. In the royal family, everyone is a king, a father, and a son. No matter what your status is, when you get along with the emperor, the first thing that comes before you is the status of king and subject. Maybe when the princes were young and ignorant, the emperor really loved them as a father, but at this time, when the princes have grown up and have their own power, it is not easy to get the emperor's true love as a father.
Liang Jiugong did not hesitate for a moment, but returned to the inner hall and walked gently to the emperor's side: "Your Majesty, Prince Chenyuan requests an audience."
When he felt sleepy, there was a pillow for him. Kangxi immediately asked Liang Jiugong to welcome Yinreng in.
Yinreng: "Your son pays his respects to the Emperor, and may the Emperor live long and healthy."
Kangxi: "Okay, okay, get up quickly. Don't be so polite in front of me. Baocheng, come here quickly. I haven't seen you for a while. I even heard from the Ministry of Personnel that you took leave. What have you been doing these days?"
Yinreng did not show any hesitation or refusal. He walked naturally to the seat designated by Kangxi and sat down. Then he looked embarrassed. He didn't believe that the emperor didn't know what he had been doing these days. However, thinking of the purpose of coming here today, he had to force himself to act again.
Yinreng said, "Father Your Majesty, I have been truly amazed these past few days. The crops on Fourth Brother's farm are truly amazing. To understand their specific growth cycles and development methods, Fourth Brother and I stayed there for several days. Finally, we couldn't resist and went hunting in the mountains behind. I've come here today to personally deliver the game I've left for you and to congratulate Your Majesty on the birth of a great general."
Kangxi narrowed his eyes slightly and said, "Oh, where does your joy come from? You are so thoughtful in giving me the prey. I am indeed happy."
Yinreng: "Hahaha, it's an honor for us to be liked by the Emperor. Besides, being filial to the Emperor is a matter of course. We don't deserve your praise for this kind of thing. But my fourth brother does need your affirmation and praise."
Kangxi: "Oh, now that you mention that, I'm even more curious. Is it related to the crops you mentioned? Could it be that the yield has increased?" Kangxi couldn't help but guess.
Yinreng's eyes widened instantly: "The Emperor is really amazing, he guessed it right at once."
Others may guess what new species it is, but crops like corn, potatoes, and sweet potatoes, as we all know, had already been introduced into the Central Plains during the Ming Dynasty. According to statistics, the population of the Qing Dynasty increased from 100 million to 400 million, of which the above three crops only accounted for 7%. The most important crops were rice and wheat, of which rice accounted for 70%, and the rest was attributed to wheat.
Yinreng: "My fourth brother's farm has been conducting experiments non-stop over the years, and finally developed a high-yield rice last year. The yield per mu was increased from 500 kilograms to 800 kilograms. This year, we conducted another test with grain seeds, and this time we are even more confident that the new rice seeds will yield more than 800 kilograms per mu. If the fields are well tended, this upper limit may be further increased.
Isn't it because of this good news that I have come here eagerly to report to you?"
Kangxi stood up involuntarily after hearing this. He had been paying attention to his sons' movements, but the focus was on the communication between them and the court officials. He had really ignored things like planting crops. However, he did not expect to get such a big harvest today. It was a pleasant surprise.
Kangxi: "Where is the grain? Take me there quickly to see it. This great thing that benefits the country and the people cannot wait."
Yinreng smiled and tried to stop the emperor: "Father, please don't panic. Listen to me. The grain won't run away. It's all on Fourth Brother's farm, and he's guarding it personally. I believe no one would be so bold as to steal it."
Seeing Yinreng's confident expression, Kangxi calmed down a bit. However, the surge of emotion in his chest constantly reminded him that if this was true, then he would truly be remembered in history and in the eyes of future generations, far surpassing his ancestors before him. Only the founding emperor, Emperor Taizong, could compare to him. Apart from anything else, if he truly passed away one day in the future, then the fate of the Holy Ancestor would be undeniable.
Thinking of this, Kangxi had to suppress the passion in his heart and patiently listen to what Yinreng said next.
Kangxi: "If you have anything else to say, please tell me now. I just want to see the new seeds you and the fourth brother have made."
Yinreng knew that the emperor was impatient at the moment, so he didn't delay any longer: "The reason why I came here alone today is for another matter, which is also for your request and concern. You know that your fourth brother dislikes power.
He prefers to grow crops, study crops, and indulge in the mountains and fields rather than stay in the Imperial Household Department, so this time he is also thinking about whether he can use the credit of the new grain to ask the emperor to transfer him to a department under the Ministry of Revenue to do agricultural research.
Kangxi's eyes flickered slightly: "Was this the Fourth Brother's decision?"
Yinreng: "Of course, my fourth brother has said it more than once before. There is a piece of open space in his house that is used for planting. Moreover, when he has time, he will go to the temple to discuss Buddhism with the master. This has never changed over the years.
The Emperor is also aware of this. If I hadn't forced him to go to the Imperial Household Department, he would have quit long ago. Moreover, his contributions over the years are not low among his brothers. In my opinion, even giving him the title of Prince is well deserved."
Of course, Kangxi knew very well what kind of person his fourth son was. He was quite naughty when he was young, but he had a pure heart. Later, because of the affairs between his cousin and Concubine De, and his own comment that he was "moody", he went too far and made him enter maturity early. From then on, he did things in a rigid and inflexible manner.
Overall, he is the one among all his sons that he feels most at ease with, except for Baocheng of course. Now this son wants to go to the Ministry of Revenue, which must be his own idea.
Thinking of the Imperial Household Department, the recent activity of the Eighth Brother, and the predicament he was facing, Kangxi nodded and said, "Okay, I agree. However, I will personally ask Yinzhen about this matter later. If he really wants to do so, then I will grant his wish."
After the conversation between the father and son, they did not stop and drove the carriage directly out of the palace after Liang Jiugong was ready.
This time, no one was informed, including Yinzhen who was still at the farm. So when Kangxi saw this fourth son, he almost didn't recognize him. It was really because Yinzhen's appearance at this time was too different from the past. If it weren't for his fair skin and unusual temperament, Yinzhen at this time would be no different from the old farmer working next to him.
Yinzhen was seen wearing shorts, his trouser legs tied tightly, a straw hat, and holding a sickle, harvesting rice with a group of strong men. The neat movements and the fast speed were so smooth that even Yinreng, who knew about it in advance, was stunned when he saw it, but then his eyes smiled, this was a sure thing.
Sure enough, after seeing the fourth son like this, Kangxi's smile was firmly welded on his face. His mouth had been grinning since he saw Yinzhen, and it didn't close for a long time.
Yinreng asked his servants to call Yinzhen over. When Yinzhen came closer, he was surprised to find that his royal father and second brother had come together.
Seeing the genuine surprise on Yinzhen's face, Kangxi nodded inwardly. This was the fourth prince's style, meticulous and never false.
Thinking of this, Kangxi asked directly: "Fourth Brother, which department do you want to go to?"