Except for Li Qinzai and Li Zhi, most of the people present were still unfamiliar with sweet potatoes.
I have heard before that the grandson of the British Duke got a few new grain seeds from nowhere, and the yield per acre was so great that the emperor took it seriously and sent thousands of guards to guard it day and night.
When the courtiers heard about it, they only agreed. Since the emperor said that the yield per mother was great, it must be great, but in their hearts they actually disagreed.
The court officials know better than anyone the approximate yields of the various types of grains in this world. Even if new grains are obtained, no matter how amazing their yields per mu are, they cannot escape the laws of nature.
It is acceptable to say that its yield per mu is one to two hundred pounds higher than ordinary wheat, rice, and millet, but it is a bit nonsense to say that its yield per mu is several times or even ten times more than the current grain.
It is impossible for gods to urinate and fertilize to achieve this effect. This is completely beyond the laws of nature. We are all rational people, how can we accept such nonsense?
The ceremony in front of him was very solemn. It was obviously just about harvesting a few sweet potatoes and digging up the ground with a hoe, but Li Zhi insisted on asking the monks to chant sutras and perform dances performed by great gods.
This is in line with Li Zhi's character. Even though Li Zhi is in his thirties, his character is still average.
If they disagree, they change their reign names. Each reign name is more embarrassing than the last. The official offices in the court are also often renamed. The good Censor's Office is not used, but they insist on calling it Dongtai or West Station. It makes it look like Mommy is running around in the box with the lady.
Same.
For the sweet potatoes, which are very important at present, there is a sickle opening ceremony before the official harvest. In addition, there are indeed some political factors involved in it.
For example, in addition to the real connection between sweet potatoes and today's world, Li Qinzai feels that another reason is that the soul of the second class in Li Zhi's heart has begun to burn brightly again.
It doesn't matter, you are the emperor and you have the final say, just be happy.
Li Qinzai knelt in front of Fanshu with his emperor and ministers indifferently, and he complained a lot in his heart.
He discovered the sweet potato and planted it in his family's land, but in the end he was asked to kneel down to the sweet potato. What's the difference between this and me kneeling down to my son?
After the harvest later, I must steal two secretly and bake them quietly at night.
The monarch and his ministers prayed devoutly for a long time, and the master dancers were probably tired from dancing, so after finishing their work, they knelt down in front of the sweet potato and looked up at the sky solemnly, holding something in their hands.
After a long time, the magic stick nodded to Li Zhi with a profound expression: "Your Majesty, the auspicious time has come."
Li Zhi was happy and nervous at the same time. He glanced at Li Qinzai and said, "This thing was discovered by Jing Chu. Why don't you work with me to see what the harvest is like?"
Of course, Li Qinzai didn't object. It would be better to do it himself. If he had the opportunity, he could steal two and bake them.
Li Qinzai took a hoe unceremoniously and dug a few times at the sweet potato leaves. He swung the hoe with great force. Li Zhi watched with fear and kept saying: "Slow down, be careful... don't hurt the roots."
"
Li Qinzai agreed verbally, but was still rude when he started.
The hoe dug a deep hole next to the sweet potato leaves. Li Qinzai threw down the hoe and dug a few times with his bare hands. Then he touched it with his hand and pulled hard, and he pulled out a bunch of black and red fruits from the ground.
Everyone present was stunned when they saw the large bunch of unknown fruits in Li Qinzai's hand. After roughly estimating the weight, everyone was shocked. Their contemptuous expressions now turned serious.
Shangguan Yi, who was kneeling in the crowd, stood up in disbelief and exclaimed: "Your Majesty, this thing... is really, really..."
Li Ji was also among the crowd, but his expression was extremely calm, except that his hand stroking his beard trembled slightly, and his seemingly muddy old eyes flashed with excitement.
Empress Wu stood behind Li Zhi, looking at the fruit in Li Qinzai's hand. She couldn't help but straighten her body, holding on to the corners of her clothes with both hands, trying to maintain a calm expression.
At this moment, Li Zhi was too lazy to maintain his imperial demeanor. He was so excited that he stuttered when he spoke: "This, this, this... is the sweet potato? I remember that when I planted it in the spring, there were only a few seeds, but now I have harvested so many?"
Li Qinzai did not answer, but bent down and groped for something in the ground. Then he reached deep into the soil with his hands, pulled hard, and pulled out a large bunch of sweet potato fruits.
The crowd gasped and then burst into screams.
"Please be patient, please, and..." Li Qinzai was the only person present who was not surprised.
He knows the true yield of sweet potatoes better than anyone else. This thing was an extremely high-yield grain in the previous life. How high-yield is it? In many rural areas, one or two acres must be planted every year. The income from one acre can basically guarantee a big family for the whole year. Don't go hungry.
Of course, no matter how high the output of this thing is, it is still a miscellaneous grain, not a staple food, and cannot be eaten as a meal. But in times of disaster, sweet potatoes can be a life-saving food.
At the beginning of spring, Li Qinzai remembered that he had planted several seedlings with leaves. He had just pulled them twice, but there were still many in the ground.
However, these two large bunches of sweet potato fruits have already made everyone present crazy.
"Your Majesty, would you like to try it yourself? Taste the joy of harvesting." Li Qinzai winked at Li Zhi and smiled.
Li Zhi took a few deep breaths excitedly, and then stepped forward. Regardless of whether it would stain his yellow robe, he followed Li Qinzai's example and put his hands into the soil, groping along the roots of the sweet potato leaves on the ground, and then dug and pulled , with a crash, Li Zhi also had a bunch of fruits in his hand.
The fruits vary in size, as big as a fist, and as small as a peach or plum. The dark red skin is covered with soil, exuding a delightful vitality.
At this time, even Li Ji became a little uneasy and subconsciously took two steps forward. At this time, the officials did not care about the loss of etiquette. They stepped forward to surround Li Qinzai and Li Zhi and took a closer look at the sweet potatoes in their hands.
Shangguan Yi stretched out his hand to weigh the weight of one of the sweet potatoes, and said excitedly: "The weight is so heavy that the yield per mu is probably not..."
Li Ji also stretched out his hand to weigh it, and said in a deep voice: "It is a good thing. The yield of five thousand catties per mu is probably too low. If you take good care of it, the yield of six to seven thousand catties per mu will not be a problem."
Although they were all civil servants and generals, the Tang Dynasty was based on farming. From the emperor to the courtiers, everyone had more or less understanding of farming.
Just by weighing the weight of a sweet potato, the two of them guessed its yield per acre.
Li Zhi raised the bunch of sweet potatoes in his hand and said with a proud smile: "Thanks to Li Jingchu's keen eyesight, he discovered this new grain. If it spreads throughout the world, it will benefit all people. Jingchu's move will give birth to Buddhas in thousands of families. There is no greater good."
Li Qinzai said hurriedly: "I dare not take the credit. Your Majesty supported me against all opinions. From the planting to the care, everything was arranged in advance by your Majesty with foresight, so that we can have today's happiness. I am just running errands for your Majesty. Your Majesty is the right one." A living Bodhisattva who has the grace to live for all people."