Two years ago, Lao Zhu received the news that Han Du had led a lone naval force deep into the vast sea in order to pursue the rebels, and had not been heard from since. He seemed to have aged ten years in an instant, and even avoided the sun for a day.
This was an unprecedented move since the founding of the country by Lao Zhu. Even when Xu Da, the leader of the founding heroes, passed away, Lao Zhu did not avoid it. Although Lao Zhu personally buried Xu Da when he died to express his sadness, he listed Xu Da as one of the
As the first contributor to the founding of the People's Republic of China, Xu Da was posthumously named King of Zhongshan, with the posthumous title "Wuning", and was given the title of king for three generations. He was buried in the shadow of Zhongshan, and had Shinto inscriptions made. All the mourning and honors were enough to demonstrate Lao Zhu's love for Xu Da.
of grief.
However, after Lao Zhu learned that Han Du went to the vast sea to chase the rebels and was never heard from again, he said nothing and just avoided the court for a day without seeing anyone. Then on the third day, he went to court as usual to listen to the government.
In the eyes of ordinary people, they may not think there is anything wrong with this. But in the eyes of people who know Lao Zhu, this favor is really too heavy.
Sure enough, after Lao Zhu returned to the court, he issued several edicts. One of them was to expel Zhang Chao. Although everyone knew that Zhang Chao was wronged, who told him not to stop Han Du at that time? Of course.
, he is an earl, and he cannot stop him even if he wants to. It is his fault that he did not stop Han Du and allowed Han Du to risk going deep into the sea. Now that the emperor wants to investigate his crimes, no one dares to intercede for him.
Fortunately, Lao Zhu still had a sliver of reason, and in view of his past achievements, he was only expelled from the rank, but not executed.
No one in the civil and military circles of the dynasty stood up to speak for Zhang Chao. This was the embarrassment of having no one in the dynasty.
The second was to order those distinguished gentlemen from the academy to be summoned to serve as officials in the court. Lao Zhu knew that the academy had entrusted Han Du's hard work, and perhaps he did not want Han Du's hard work to go to waste.
After receiving the order, Xue Xiang immediately summoned those who had the title of Jinshi in the academy. Originally, they did not disdain to become officials in the court, but Xue Xiang told them that in the past, they could disdain to be officials, but not now. Because Han Du was there in the past.
The front shelters the academy from wind and rain, so that the academy and people like them can have a peaceful life and study whatever they like.
But now it's no longer possible. Han Du's life or death is uncertain. If no one in the court speaks for the academy, sooner or later the academy will be ostracized, or even disappear.
Therefore, in order for the academy to survive, Xue Xiang stood up and proactively begged the gentlemen to obey the emperor's will and become officials in the court. In the past, Han Du was protecting them, and these gentlemen could teach according to their own preferences and did not like to be officials. But now
No way, without Han Du's protection, they have to think about themselves, the academy, and the future students of the academy.
If they don't go to court, no one will say a word for the academy if it encounters trouble. Although the academy has never thought of confusing right and wrong, at least it can't be bullied.
So, half of the gentlemen put down their rulers, put on their official uniforms and walked into the court hall.
One day, Lao Zhu was reviewing the memorial with his eyebrows. He didn't know what the content of the memorial was, but Lao Zhu's eyes widened and he frowned angrily.
Just when Lao Zhu was about to bully Zhu Pi, the old eunuch stumbled in from outside the palace gate. While running, he shouted: "Your Majesty, Your Majesty"
Lao Zhu threw Zhu Pi down angrily, and shot the old eunuch with his gaze like a sword. Just as he was about to scold him, he suddenly saw that the old eunuch's feet were unsteady, and he fell to the ground and rolled twice.
Lao Zhu suddenly turned his anger into a smile and couldn't help but scolded: "You are an old man, but you are still as frizzy as a young man. Walk slower, be careful that your old bones will fall apart."
After saying that, Lao Zhu leaned back lazily, stretched out his hand to pick up the tea and took a sip, "Tell me, what exactly happened?"
"Your Majesty, it's a great joy, Your Majesty, the Marquis of Zhenhai is back."
Lao Zhu suddenly stood up, and the teacup in his hand fell down immediately as he couldn't hold it. The full cup of tea spilled all over the dragon robe. Completely ignoring the wet dragon robe, Lao Zhu walked down in three steps and stood up in two steps.
The old eunuch asked sharply: "Are you telling the truth? Where is Han Du?"
The old eunuch was so happy that tears flowed from the corners of his eyes, and he quickly replied: "The news that was sent urgently from Babaili in Shanghai County said that yesterday morning, someone discovered that the flag of the Marquis of Zhenhai had entered the Yangtze River with several giant ships.
I'm afraid we've reached the dock outside Beicheng now."
The look on Lao Zhu's face swept away the gloom of the past, and he laughed happily. Even the anger just now was completely forgotten in an instant.
"Okay, this bastard has been gone for two years, and he finally came back."
Lao Zhu sighed deeply. Thinking of losing the news about Han Du, he was very sad. The key was that he had to face An Qing's lonely eyes. Every time An Qing entered the palace, Lao Zhu couldn't help but feel deeply.
I blame myself.
"Quick, pass the order immediately and ask Han Du to come to see you immediately."
"Yes, slave, go right away." The old eunuch replied, and quickly turned around to go out and make arrangements.
But Lao Zhu stood there and thought for a moment, then raised his hand to stop the old eunuch and said: "Forget it, just drive away.
I’m going to Beicheng Pier.”
The old eunuch glanced at the emperor in surprise. The emperor personally went out of the city to greet him. This was the kind of treatment a general would receive when he returned home in triumph. Han Du didn't go to fight, he just came back alive. Is this kind of courtesy too much?
When Lao Zhu saw the old eunuch frozen in place without moving, he glared at him suddenly and said, "Why don't you hurry up and get ready for the ride?"
"Yes, I'll go right away." Seeing the emperor's insistence, the old eunuch didn't say anything and quickly agreed.
Naturally, Lao Zhu couldn't be the only one out of the city. Hearing that the emperor was about to leave the city, although he didn't know what was going on, all the six ministers of the imperial court and various big shots came.
The guards and imperial troops were dispatched immediately, and the streets that Lao Zhu was going to pass were tightly guarded in an instant. The people on the streets immediately retreated to both sides of the streets. Some people who wanted to witness the grand occasion of the emperor's trip stayed on both sides of the streets and waited for the emperor to come.
When they arrived, they just knelt down and kowtowed. People who were in urgent need left the alleys on both sides of the street to avoid the emperor's path.
With Lao Zhu's royal chariot in front and the official's sedan chair behind, the group headed out of the North City in a mighty manner.
Since Lao Zhu did not inform the officials about his trip, when they saw the emperor's chariot leaving the Shence Gate, all of them had surprise in their eyes. They didn't understand why the emperor suddenly wanted to come outside Beicheng.
.
However, before the officials could be confused for too long, they saw the emperor's chariot stopped at the pier.
The Imperial Guards had already cleared out the entire dock and drove the boats floating on the river to a point below.
Lao Zhu sat on the imperial chariot, looking at the empty dock, waiting quietly.
"Master Qin, is the Emperor waiting for someone?"
"Master Yang is asking me, who am I asking? If Master Yang is brave, why not go forward and ask the emperor."
There is no one who can become a minister but is not a cunning fox. How could he actually go up and question the emperor after hearing someone else's words?
Everyone knows that if the emperor wanted to tell them, he must have told them long ago. Now that the emperor has not said it, it means that the emperor has not thought about letting them know, at least he does not have the patience to explain to them.
Several big guys whispered a few words, but no one came forward to ask Lao Zhu. After a while, they even lost interest in whispering, and just stood motionless behind Lao Zhu's chariot, waiting quietly.
Lao Zhu, who was sitting behind General Yu Chu, heard the movement clearly in his ears. During this time, he couldn't help but put a smile on his face. He didn't know what Lao Zhu was thinking.
About half an hour later, just when all the officials felt that the sun above their heads was too strong for them to bear, a sharp-eyed man suddenly pointed at the river and said: "Look, there is a boat, it's the navy."
warship."
Navy warships. Could it be that the emperor came here with such great force just to wait for a few navy warships?
Some people didn't know why, but some people suddenly thought of something and couldn't help showing a surprised expression on their faces.
Could it be that that person is really back?
Lao Zhu naturally also saw the naval warships on the river, and his eyes were more careful than others.
What can I say about the three warships in front of me? Just letting Lao Zhu take a look, Lao Zhu felt that these three warships seemed to have experienced many things, and every plank seemed to be telling people what it had experienced.
s story.
Lao Zhu opened the curtain, stepped off the chariot, stood on the ground and looked up at the approaching warship, with a smile on his face.
Standing on the bow of the ship, Han Du saw Lao Zhu's bright yellow imperial weapon from a distance through the telescope. He was surprised and said to Fang Xiaoru beside him: "The emperor is here?"
Fang Xiaoru also saw the imperial chariot, and turned back to look at Han Du. The two looked at each other, not knowing what was going on.
Lao Zhu actually went out of the city to greet him. He couldn't bear such a great gift.
Well, that's not necessarily the case. Han Du suddenly took a deep breath twice. He had suffered so much along the way, so what's wrong with being treated so politely by Lao Zhu?
Han Du's flagship sailed into the dock first. Han Du took Fang Xiaoru and Jiang Ming away and quickly got off the ship. He went directly to Lao Zhu and knelt down: "Your Majesty Han Du."
"The minister is a filial piety"
"Chen Jiang Ming"
"Meet the Emperor!"
"Pingshen." Lao Zhu smiled with a smile on his face and raised his hand to gesture to the three of them.
"Thank you, Your Majesty~" The three of them said all the courtesy before standing up from the ground.
Lao Zhu looked at Han Du standing in front of him and saw that his face was dark. He couldn't help but sigh: "You have suffered a lot in the past two years, but it would be nice to come back."
, just come back."
When Lao Zhu was sighing, he suddenly sniffed his nose subconsciously and felt that he was enveloped by a strange smell. He frowned and asked, "What is this smell?"
When Lao Zhu realized that the source of the strange smell was Han Du and others, he asked in confusion: "What's wrong with you?"
Other officials had already smelled the peculiar smell on Han Du's body, but because it was difficult to show it in front of the emperor, they just held their breath and endured it, which made them extremely uncomfortable.
Now when the emperor mentioned it, everyone had secretly relieved expressions on their faces, and they quietly took two steps back and stayed away from Han Du.
Of course the flavor comes from the pickling. It’s impossible to stay with those potatoes all day without being pickled.
Han Du raised his arm and smelled it carefully, but he couldn't smell anything. ??
Sure enough, after living in an abalone shop for a long time, I didn't smell the smell. I couldn't even smell the smell at all. If I hadn't been reminded by Lao Zhu, I wouldn't have noticed anything was wrong.
Lao Zhu was born as a farmer, so he naturally knew what this smell was like. Since he had been exposed to it as a child, he could barely tolerate it, but the expression on his face gradually became unhappy.
Han Du deliberately played a trick and said to Lao Zhu: "Your Majesty, I encountered three kinds of auspiciousness when I went to sea this time, and I brought them back."
"Auspicious? Or three types? Are you kidding me? Or, you put gold pieces on something and want to offer it to me as a unicorn?" Lao Zhu's tone was full of ridicule, because
This is what the officials who used to offer auspicious omen to Lao Zhu did in the past.
After hearing this, all the officials laughed heartily. They had seen such jokes too many times and did not believe that there really was any unicorn in the world.
Han Du didn't explain too much. He bowed to Lao Zhu and said, "The emperor will know it as soon as he sees it."
After saying that, he raised his hand to signal the soldiers to move the crops and potatoes from the boat along with the wooden boxes.
A box of potatoes and a box of potatoes were placed in front of the emperor.
Lao Zhu looked at the auspiciousness that Han Du pointed to, and it was a little different from what he thought. Instead, he had some expectations for the auspiciousness that Han Du mentioned.
"This is the auspiciousness you are talking about. It doesn't look like it. But this thing of yours looks rare and I have never seen it before." Lao Zhu looked at the leaves growing in the wooden box and said with some curiosity.
The potatoes and potatoes are already fully mature, so the originally green and lush vines are a little withered, lying softly on the soil, not energetic at all, and have no sense of beauty at all.
Han Du didn't even explain. He stretched out his hand and completely removed the vine leaves from a seedling, revealing a rhizome growing out of the soil.
Ignoring the marquis robe on his body, Han Du dug hard at the soil on both sides of the root with both hands. Then he suddenly dug up the entire piece of soil. As Han Du's hands continued to shake, the loose soil fell back into the wooden box.
Inside, six or seven one-meter-long ones were revealed in Han Du's hand.
These are a bit larger than those planted by the Zhaiyuan people, but it is reasonable. How can the intensive farming of the Zhaiyuan people be compared with that of the people of the Ming Dynasty? Most of the navy soldiers are from ordinary people, and they are waiting for them.
Growing crops is an instinct woven into their blood. When it comes to taking care of crops, they are all equally good at it.
Han Du pulled off one, broke it into two pieces with both hands, and took a bite of the clean flesh under Lao Zhu's stunned eyes.
As Handu chews, the crunching sound is clear and sweet.
While eating, Han Du grinned at Lao Zhu and said, "Your Majesty, this is a kind of food."
Lao Zhu was immediately startled, reached out and took the other half from Han Du's hand, and took a bite of the pulp just like Han Du did. After just tasting it for a moment, he couldn't help but say: "It's actually sweet?
"
Han Du smiled and nodded.
Lao Zhu's eyes fell on the one placed on the soil by Han Du. There were still six left there, all of them almost the same size.
Lao Zhu reached out and grabbed it. As soon as he caught it, his expression changed.
The other officials were not fools. When they heard Han Du say that he had brought back a kind of food, they all showed surprise. They knew very well what a kind of food meant to the Ming Dynasty.
As the natural head of the six departments of the Ministry of Personnel, Shangshu Zhan Hui quickly stepped forward and raised his hands to Lao Zhu and said: "Your Majesty, I don't know what kind of food it is. Can I let my ministers taste it?"
Lao Zhu raised his hand and handed it to Zhan Hui and said, "You all should have a taste."
Several ministers immediately followed the same example and broke it off with their hands to taste the taste.
"Okay, it is indeed very sweet. It is really a good food." Zhao Mian, the Minister of the Ministry of Revenue, was the most excited. The Ministry of Revenue is in charge of the world's taxation, so it is natural that it is extremely concerned about food.
Han Du smiled reservedly, pretending to be amazed and said: "Of course you can grow good food. This thing
Not only is it drought-resistant, but it doesn’t have to be picky about the field, and it can be grown even on low-grade dry land. The most important thing is that it has a high yield.”
Hearing Han Du say that the output was very large, Lao Zhu suddenly came back to his senses and realized that he had forgotten something. When he held a few in his hands just now, he felt something was wrong. Now after hearing Han Du's reminder, he finally
It's in retrospect.
The thing in his hand just now weighs at least four or five kilograms. One plant can grow four or five kilograms of grain. So if it is planted on one acre of land, how much will it produce?
Lao Zhu quickly turned around, ignoring the dirt on the soil, and directly removed the vine seedlings and started digging.
Soon, Lao Zhu dug out a plant. As expected, it was similar to the one dug out by Han Du. It also had six or seven fruits.
Lao Zhu was still not satisfied after the first one, so he continued to dig the second one.
Even several ministers couldn't help but stepped forward and started digging when they saw it.
After everyone dug out ten plants, several ministers, including Lao Zhu, looked up to the sky and roared, regardless of the mud and dark hands.
"The sky has eyes, the sky has eyes," Lao Zhu said with a smile on his face, but tears fell from the corners of his eyes.
Although Lao Zhu is now rich and wealthy, he still can't forget the scene when his parents and brother were starved to death. When he came back from his dream at midnight, he didn't know how many times he had dreamed about the scene where his brother put the last wild vegetable dumpling into his mouth.
.
If it weren't for the wild vegetable dumpling his brother gave him, Zhu Yuanzhang would have starved to death. But when his elder brother gave him the wild vegetable dumpling, he died.
That was a lifelong shadow in Lao Zhu's heart. Whenever there was a famine somewhere, what Lao Zhu was most concerned about was whether the people had food to eat.
He had experienced it himself and knew clearly that if the people had no food to eat, the world would be turned upside down.
Lao Zhu has always attached great importance to the people's food rations. Unfortunately, he is only the emperor, not God. He cannot make the world smooth every year.
But even so, Lao Zhu was sparing no effort to ensure that the people of the world had food to eat. To this end, Lao Zhu also set up grain chiefs because he was afraid that local officials would expropriate the people. Since these grain chiefs were from the local
He was elected among the common people and was from the same village as the local people. There was no way he could oppress the common people.
But Lao Zhu didn't understand human nature and took it too much for granted. He thought that the grain chiefs were selected from among the common people and would think about the people. However, he didn't know that these people had completely changed their minds from the moment they became grain chiefs.
They have separated themselves from the category of the common people and will no longer be of the same class as the common people. Not only are they not kind to the common people, but they also bully the common people. There are many grain chiefs everywhere.
Lao Zhu even formulated a grain depot system. He wanted to allow people to store excess grain in the county's grain depot during good years, so that they could take it back during famine years to spend their time.
Bad years.
It can be said that the original intention of Lao Zhu's measures was good. However, when it came to the local level, it almost completely changed its taste. Originally, the people were allowed to voluntarily save food, but when they arrived in the county, it became mandatory to distribute food. Originally, the people were in
In times of famine, you can take back all the grain stored in the grain depot. But when it comes to the county government, you can only take away 70% of it, because the grain depot managed by the county government will be lost.
After only one year of saving, 30% of the food was missing, and the people were naturally full of complaints.
Now Lao Zhu suddenly saw the grain that could withstand drought and have a high yield, and he suddenly became excited and couldn't calm down for a long time.
If such food had appeared forty years earlier, his parents and brothers would not have died of starvation.
Lao Zhu looked at the green seedlings in another wooden box. He had never seen such a thing before. He pointed at it and asked Han Du: "Is this also growing food?"
Han Du nodded, started digging the soil, and said, "Yes."
Lao Zhu quickly asked: "What about the output?"
Han Du dug out a potato the size of a goose egg and handed it to Lao Zhu, saying: "The drought tolerance and yield of these two are similar, but the taste of these two things is different."
Hearing that the two grains tasted different, Lao Zhu opened his mouth curiously, wanting to taste the taste.
Han Du was shocked when he saw it. He quickly stretched out his hand to stop it. Facing Lao Zhu's confused eyes, he explained: "Your Majesty, this cannot be eaten raw."
Potatoes seem to be poisonous when eaten raw, right? Han Du vaguely remembered, and the toxicity seemed to be quite high.
Since it can't be eaten raw, Lao Zhu angrily gave up his plan to taste it and asked doubtfully: "Oh? How should I eat this thing?"
Han Du quickly said: "It can be eaten boiled, stir-fried as a vegetable, or grilled."
"This thing can still be used as food?" Lao Zhu said in surprise. In his eyes, food is food and food is food. How can there be something that can be used as both food and food?
"Of course, this thing is both food and food." Han Du immediately replied.