Renzi Scroll, Section 62: The House Leaks in the Night Rain (1)
Chai Ke lived near the outer courtyard. When Feng Ziying went to visit, a guest happened to be visiting Chai Ke, so he had to wait for a while.
It seems that he should be an acquaintance of Chai Ke. From the time Chai Ke kept talking to the other party until he finally sent him out, Feng Ziying did not go to the window to see who it was. That was too rude, but the other party's voice still sounded a bit... Sounds familiar, but I can't remember who it is.
"Ziying, come on." When Chai Ke greeted Feng Ziying, his face was a little gloomy and he felt that he was not in a good mood. Feng Ziying came out of the waiting room with a smile and cupped her hands: "I have met Mr. Chai."
"Well, how long have you been here?" Chai Ke called Feng Ziying into the room and motioned for Feng Ziying to take a seat. Feng Ziying responded: "It's just two cups of tea. Seeing that your Excellency has guests, I just read here for a while. Your Excellency is quite leisurely." , you can also bring books with you when you come here.”
Feng Ziying was quite surprised by the books Chai Ke read. They were "Principles of Geometry" and "Taiwan Water Method" translated by Xu Guangqi. One was a monograph on mathematics, another was a monograph on water conservancy, and another was "Sweet Potato Drying". , which is a monograph introducing crops introduced from the West such as sweet potatoes and potatoes, and I actually saw them all in this waiting room.
This waiting room is actually where Chai Ke usually studies in the past few days. Feng Ziying can come in because Chai Ke's servants have always known that Feng Ziying is familiar with his master and have not noticed anything, so they introduced him. Ordinary guests naturally come in. You can't go in.
"Well, these books by Zi Xian (characterized by Xu Guangqi) are quite troublesome. The book "Principles of Geometry" made me dizzy and confused, but the book "Taishi Water Method" is quite interesting. You should read it carefully, it is quite insightful, and "Sweet Potato Shu" is also quite innovative. By the way, Jun Yu is said to have promoted sweet potatoes and potatoes on a large scale in Yongping. It is said that you laid the foundation for it. After you came to Shuntianfu, you also Tongzhou, Yutian, and Fengrun several counties have also worked hard. Why, you and Jun Yu both think these two crops are more suitable for the North than corn?"
Chai Ke didn't mind if Feng Ziying read the book he brought. Xu Guangqi's reputation in the court was very subtle. On the one hand, he was indeed quite talented. Ye Xianggao, Fang Congzhe, Qi Yongtai and others all thought highly of him. But on the other hand, he was very talented. On the other hand, he believed in Catholicism, which was an outlier among civil servants in the DPRK. However, the DPRK was relatively open to Western religions. Although the princes in the DPRK did not approve of it, they were not too hostile. He was not welcome but still Without resolutely rejecting and hostile...
"Sir, in terms of yield alone, sweet potatoes and potatoes far exceed that of corn. Of course, in terms of meeting people's tastes, sweet potatoes and potatoes are much inferior to corn. But I think this is not a matter of taste, but a matter of habit. As long as If you eat it for a long time, you can gradually adapt to this texture and taste. Besides, if the weather is not good, sweet potatoes and potatoes are drought-resistant and barren. When people are starving to death, it is self-evident to choose such crops to grow.”
Feng Ziying said calmly and honestly.
"I read in Zi Xian's book that the yield of potatoes and sweet potatoes is more than five shi per mu, and can even reach seven to eight shi, and its yield can be five to six times that of corn. Although there is a reason for the moisture content of potatoes and sweet potatoes, but even so
, the yields per acre of potatoes and sweet potatoes have also greatly exceeded that of corn. If this is the case, wouldn’t it be possible to grow all potatoes and sweet potatoes in the North?”
Chai Ke was extremely interested.
"Sir, although the yield of potatoes and sweet potatoes is indeed several times that of corn, it also has several unavoidable weaknesses. One is that it is a wet material and cannot be stored well, and will become perishable over time. The other is that its taste is inferior to that of rice.
Wheat is very different, and it is still difficult for the majority of people to adapt to it; third, its original species are prone to degradation after several harvests, and the yield declines rapidly, which is far less stable than corn..."
Feng Ziying introduced everything she knew one by one.
"Well, let's see. Zi Xian mentioned it in the book, but didn't say much." Chai Ke nodded, "Someone came to see me earlier, do you know who it was?"
"Who is it?" Feng Ziying was also curious. She heard it familiar just now, but now she can't think of the name.
"It's Ming Zhong (Wu Liang's descendant)." Chai Ke said with a smile: "Are you familiar with it? They were the ones who went to Jiangnan with you back then..."
"Is it Mr. Wu?" Feng Ziying was really a little surprised, but she immediately came to her senses. No wonder he sounded familiar. He had worked with him for several months, but he hadn't been in contact with him in the past two years, so he couldn't remember it for a while.
Wu Liangsi is now a member of the Ministry of Household Affairs and has no direct working relationship with Chai Ke. However, Wu Liangsi is from Wuxue, Huguang, and is from the same hometown as Chai Ke, who is also from Qianjiang, Huguang. Therefore, it is normal for him to visit, but
It was obviously impossible for Wu Liangsi to be summoned by Emperor Yonglong, but to come to Chai Ke to talk about something at this time was probably not a pleasant thing.
"Well, do you know what Ming Zhong is talking about?" A bunch of dark clouds appeared on Chai Ke's face, and his tone became more and more indifferent.
"Students don't know." Feng Ziying shook her head honestly.
"Come here for the grain." A hint of gloom passed through Chai Ke's eyes, and he sighed: "The replenishment of the second warehouse in Jingtong is very slow, and it has not yet replenished 70%. It is said that the price of grain in Huguang has risen, and it will be transmitted soon.
I'm very worried when I go to Jiangnan and Beijing."
Feng Ziying's thoughts turned quickly. Chai Ke was the left minister of the Ministry of Personnel, but he was so concerned about the affairs of the Ministry of Household Affairs. The situation must be very bad to make Chai Ke act like this. He couldn't help but ask: "But outside Jingtong Ercang
Are there also problems with other water warehouses?"
Chai Ke looked at Feng Ziying: "Ziying, do you think there is a problem with the secondary warehouse in Linqingshui, your hometown?"
Feng Ziying hesitated for a moment, wondering which secondary warehouse would have no problems? The Jingtong Second Warehouse, which is the terminal of the grain transport, had such a big problem. How could the secondary warehouse as a transit warehouse not have problems? It was nothing more than a matter of degree.
Unlike Jingtong Ercang, which is still under the jurisdiction of Shuntian Prefecture, Shuicicang is completely under the jurisdiction of water transportation. The local government has no right to intervene. Even though the Ministry of Household Affairs can intervene, the supervisors are still the governor of water transportation and the inspector.
The Yushi, that is, the Water Transport Yamen, and the Ministry of Revenue have no direct jurisdiction. As long as the water transport can ensure the quality and quantity of the grain transported to Jingtong Ercang every year, then other matters are under the jurisdiction of the Water Transport Yamen, and the Ministry of Revenue has no right to directly intervene.
"Sir, where is the problem in the Shuici warehouse?" Feng Ziying's heart tightened. She was originally worried about the problem of replenishing the grain supply in the second warehouse of Jingtong. Now there is also a problem in the Shuici warehouse. It looks like this and the problem is not serious.
Small, otherwise Chai Ke, the left minister of the Ministry of Civil Affairs, who should not have intervened, was so anxious, so the matter must be very difficult.