A few days later, Hou Junji hurried to Tai Chi Palace with a newspaper in his hand.
This time he did not see Li Shimin directly because he was blocked.
These days, Li Shimin has not been able to sleep well. Either this person or that person calls him every morning, which makes him exhausted mentally and physically, so he simply asks the guards to keep these people out unless something major happens.
It wasn't until the sun rose that Hou Junji saw Li Shimin.
He took the newspaper and said: "Your Majesty, the Sixth Prince has published random articles again!"
"What's wrong with him?"
Li Shimin asked curiously.
"He made a comment that if the Tang Dynasty wanted to be strong, it would be better to establish a defense budget, and he also made some unreasonable suggestions. What does he mean by dictating to the court like this? Does he think he is the emperor?"
"Let me see it!"
Li Shimin expressed his curiosity.
He murmured: "Defense budget, this word is interesting."
After finishing, I continued reading.
"This kid really knows how to say that if a defense budget is set and the country's annual income is invested in national defense, it would be a good thing. He really thinks about it! It's admirable!"
When Hou Junji saw Li Shimin like this, he felt unhappy.
This is not the result he wants.
What he wanted was for Li Min not to be able to dictate matters to the court.
But what about now?
Li Shimin actually listened to his wishes
"Your Majesty, this matter is not something he can handle alone!"
He was very unhappy.
So he said this.
Li Shimin didn't take it seriously.
"He is also for the good of the Tang Dynasty. Of course, what he said is very reasonable, isn't it? As the saying goes, if you listen to one side, you will be in darkness, and if you listen to both, you will be enlightened. I don't want to be an emperor who is in the dark!"
Hou Junji stayed there and said nothing.
Li Shimin added: "The defense budget and the like can be included in the plan for the coming year. From now on, the gross production value will be calculated every year, and then one-tenth of the total value will be allocated!"
That's ten percent.
This is an extremely high level.
In the newspaper, Li Min said that one-twentieth is better.
But Li Shimin wanted to spend a lot of money on border defense.
In the future, according to the views of the defense economics academic community, the proportion of the defense budget in GDP will be between 2% and 4%, which is a relatively safe range.
If Li Min knew about this, he would have to scold Li Shimin again.
It’s really a waste of money. Can’t we spend more money to make the people live a better life?
"His Majesty!"
"Okay, thank you for telling me this. I'm very happy! Pass the order and have all the civil and military officials come to discuss the defense budget!"
After Li Shi finished speaking, he excitedly wanted to talk to Queen Changsun about this matter.
But at this time, a guard returned.
"Your Majesty, according to the latest news, ten of the thousand people sent by the Sixth Prince have returned first!"
"Oh? Have you ever found out the result?"
"Never!"
"Then go and find out more quickly!"
Li Shimin looked very excited.
He wanted to know what Li Min was going to do.
At this time, among the Shengtang Group.
On top of the tenement building, ten people stood in front of Li Min, all of whom were already in rags.
Like a beggar.
At the same time, Jia Junyuan was also on the scene.
There is a big sack in front of him.
There are some things inside.
It seems to be something like seeds.
"Thank you for your hard work on this trip. Datang will be proud of you!"
Li Min said.
At this time, the ten people said one by one: "If you can work hard for Shengtang Group, this hard work is nothing!"
"Yes, we are here for the prosperity of the Tang Dynasty in the future."
"It's all worth it to be able to be Mr. Zili!"
…
"Very good. Each of you will receive one hundred thousand taels of silver and go back and have a good rest for a month. Shengtang Group welcomes your return at any time!"
When Li Min said this, everyone was overjoyed.
They all expressed their gratitude.
And Li Min suddenly remembered something again.
"By the way, do you know the whereabouts of the others?"
"Mr. Zili, we have no whereabouts of anyone else!"
"Okay then, go down!"
"yes!"
The group of ten people left.
At this time, Jia Junyuan walked towards the sack.
Looking at the sack in a daze.
he asked hurriedly.
"Mr. Zili, what is this? You seem to value this thing very much?"
"This is called cotton!"
Cotton was first introduced to China during the Northern and Southern Dynasties.
But it is only planted in the northwest, and there is no such thing near Chang'an.
Moreover, people at that time only used cotton to fill quilts, such as weaving cloth, and did not use it at all.
At the same time, cotton really flourished at the end of the Song Dynasty and the beginning of the Yuan Dynasty, when cotton was introduced to the mainland in large quantities. It was not until the early Ming Dynasty that Zhu Yuanzhang began to use coercive methods to promote cotton nationwide.
At that time, cotton was actually grown in large quantities throughout China.
Therefore, Li Min wanted to make a breakthrough and promote cotton directly in Chang'an.
Then someone will be sent to collect it elsewhere.
And it’s not just cotton, there are many more species collected.
When they brought the seeds back, Li Min used a browser to search and compared them with the seeds.
That's a perfect fit.
That's why I rewarded the ten people just now.
This trip cost one million taels of silver.
No one can afford so much money for this big bag of seeds.
But little did they know that this sack of seeds would directly change the future direction of the entire Tang Dynasty.
Cotton? Jia Junyuan is completely confused about what cotton is.
"What kind of flower is that? Does it look like fireworks? It doesn't look like it to me."
This may be the first understanding of the ancients.
In their opinion, these cottons should be the same as fireworks.
Because there is a flower.
Li Min said: "Cotton is cotton. After planting and harvesting, its flowers can be used to make clothes! It is more than a hundred times more comfortable than the clothes we wear now!"
Li Min introduced it as clearly as possible.
Jia Junyuan nodded to express understanding.
Then he handed Jia Junyuan another book.
Jia Junyuan took it and took a look.
"The Cultivation of Cotton"
"this……"
"You should study this book carefully. After all, growing cotton is different from the crops we usually grow. And this sack only weighs about two hundred kilograms. It would be best if all these seeds can germinate."
Li Min found out through browser data.
One acre of land requires about one kilogram of seeds.
If you have two hundred kilograms here, you can plant two hundred acres.
One acre can produce 600 kilograms of cotton and nearly 100 kilograms of seeds in one hundred days.
In just two seasons, the quantity can be produced a hundred times. In the third season, the entire Chang'an will be planted with cotton.
Next, he will give the seeds to farmers so that they can keep planting them.
And he recycles it at a high price.
In this way, farmers don't have to process it themselves at all, and farmers can provide themselves with a continuous supply of raw materials.
"That's great. With this book, I will be able to live up to Mr. Zili's hopes!"
Jia Junyuan said.
At this time, the hybridization of wheat and rice was in progress, so he was relatively free during this period. Therefore, Li Min asked him to participate in the planting of cotton.
"Okay, go and study it. I'll have these seeds delivered to you!"
"Yes! Then I'll leave first!"
Jia Junyuan then left, and as soon as he left, Ji Ruxue, Wu Jue and others walked in.