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Outside the princely estate, Fiji and Pang Yukun walked side by side.
Fiji, who had been severely reprimanded, said dejectedly, “Alas, His Highness’s temper is truly unfathomable. Was what I said wrong just now? From ancient times to the present, every dynasty has treated foreign vassal states this way.”
“Elder Fiji, whether right or wrong, at least with His Highness, it was wrong. However, if we think carefully, what His Highness said doesn’t seem to be wrong either. For example, the Sanmyo Kingdom, if we still treated it with the old methods, it would certainly fall into the hands of Japanese pirates within a few days. And once Japanese pirates have ample food supplies, they will inevitably invade. At that time, our benevolence would be cruelty to the common people of Great Yu Empire. If that’s the case, His Highness’s thoughts are entirely correct.”
“What you said makes some sense,” Fiji seemed to realize, “But what about the Great Yu Empire’s reputation?”
“Can reputation fill your stomach?” Pang Yukun quoted one of Xiao Ming’s frequent sayings.
Fiji opened his mouth, then sighed deeply, “It seems I need to go to Bowen Academy and read more. Perhaps I can understand His Highness’s thoughts.”
As the two were talking, they suddenly saw Li Kaiyuan carrying a basket of something with two men, walking towards the princely estate.
Pang Yukun stopped him and asked, “What is this?”
“Sweet potatoes,” Li Kaiyuan said, wiping his sweat. This batch of sweet potatoes had just been unloaded from the merchant ship, and he immediately sent them over.
Pang Yukun’s eyes widened. “These are sweet potatoes?”
“Yes, the Dutch merchant ship delivered them to Dengzhou, and I quickly had them transported back,” Li Kaiyuan said, motioning for his men to leave.
Fiji looked at the somewhat dazed Pang Yukun and asked, “Chief Grand Secretary Pang, why are you so excited?”
“Because this thing is even higher yielding than potatoes,” Pang Yukun said, tears welling up in his eyes. “It seems that from now on, no one in the Great Yu Empire will starve to death.”
“Higher yielding than potatoes?” Fiji was also shocked, his mouth agape. He looked at the contents of the basket, but Li Kaiyuan had already left with his men.
Entering the princely estate, Li Kaiyuan went directly to Xiao Ming.
“Your Highness, these are the sweet potatoes sent by the Dutch,” Li Kaiyuan said, pointing to the sweet potatoes piled in the bamboo basket.
“The sweet potatoes are here!” Xiao Ming was feeling depressed, but at the sight of the sweet potatoes, his spirits instantly lifted.
“They arrived in Dengzhou three days ago. As soon as they docked, I had them sent over. Your Highness, can this really yield thirty shi per mu?” Li Kaiyuan was still a bit disbelieving.
“Of course, how could that be false? Potatoes have already proven themselves, and now I will let sweet potatoes prove themselves too.” Xiao Ming said happily. In his opinion, sweet potatoes were even more valuable than potatoes.
The preservation of potatoes was still an issue, but sweet potatoes could be completely sliced and dried into sweet potato chips. When he was young, he often ate sweet potato chips, and the old people at that time said that they also ate them when they were young, and even ate steamed buns made from sweet potato leaves.
Li Kaiyuan nodded, “If that’s the case, with both potatoes and sweet potatoes, the state’s food problem will be solved.”
“It’s not that simple; we still have to wait until they are widely adopted,” Xiao Ming said with a smile. Abundant food meant population growth.
During the Age of Exploration, the West experienced a population explosion, and he could not fall behind. In his view, after the Great Yu Empire’s civil war ended, there would inevitably be a large-scale decline in population. With abundant food, he could encourage childbirth.
Looking at the sweet potatoes in the basket, Xiao Ming was happy but also a little envious. It had been a long time since he had eaten roasted sweet potatoes. Just then, Ziyuan passed by outside the main hall. Xiao Ming quickly called her over and asked her to take the sweet potatoes to the kitchen to be roasted.
“Your Highness, these are sweet potatoes?” Ziyuan’s eyes darted around.
Xiao Ming knew what the girl was thinking. He had told them about the deliciousness of sweet potatoes on weekdays, so he said, “There are many sweet potatoes. You can take a few to eat then.”
“Thank you, Your Highness,” Ziyuan said happily.
After delivering the sweet potatoes, Li Kaiyuan had nothing else to do and left the princely estate after excusing himself.
At this moment, Xiao Ming also returned to his bedchamber with a smiling face.
At this time, Fei Yuer was reading a book. Seeing Xiao Ming so happy, Fei Yuer smiled and said, “What makes Your Highness so happy?”
“Li Kaiyuan sent sweet potatoes, and the Sanmyo Kingdom will also send grain soon. Now, the state’s grain is about to be harvested, and potatoes will also be harvested in autumn. In this way, the state will have abundant food.” The more Xiao Ming thought about it, the happier he became. Food is the paramount concern of the people. With this grain, he wouldn’t have to fear anything.
Fei Yuer was also happy for Xiao Ming upon hearing this. When she first came to Qingzhou, she thought she would live a hard life, but she never expected life in Qingzhou to be more comfortable than in Chang’an.
“Congratulations, Your Highness,” Fei Yuer smiled.
Xiao Ming felt a surge of pride upon hearing this. The state’s construction was progressing steadily, and his heart felt increasingly secure.
…
While the two were talking, the kitchen was already in a chaotic state. The aroma of roasted sweet potatoes attracted Lu Luo and Xiao Huan as well.
After learning that these were the sweet potatoes Xiao Ming had spoken of, the two maids immediately grew eager to eat them, swarming to grab them. Ziyuan looked helpless, but she couldn’t be bothered to manage them, because she had already taken a large sweet potato beforehand. With a giggle, she took a light bite, and immediately a sweet and fragrant taste spread in her mouth. The taste was much better than boiled potatoes, and at this time, Lu Luo and Xiao Huan were also eating with relish.
“Your Highness is truly capable, to be able to get such delicious things,” Ziyuan ate several bites in a row, then sighed contentedly.
Lu Luo ate the fastest. After finishing what was in her mouth, she squinted her eyes in enjoyment, then looked at the sweet potato in Ziyuan’s hand and said unwillingly, “Sister Ziyuan, can you finish such a big sweet potato? Let me help you eat it.”
“Oh, you!” Ziyuan rolled her eyes at Lu Luo and gave her a portion. “Your Highness was right, you’re just a little foodie.”
Lu Luo didn’t care; she was happy as long as she had food.
Roasted sweet potatoes were naturally sent to Xiao Ming as well. Xiao Ming wasn’t particularly surprised to see the sweet potatoes on the plate. After all, he had eaten plenty of them in modern times. Fei Yuer, however, was different; she excitedly picked one up and stuffed it into her mouth.
Xiao Ming snatched it away empty-handed and said, “Peel it before you eat it.” Saying so, he peeled the sweet potato and gave it to Fei Yuer.
Fei Yuer took it with a giggle, took a small bite, and chewed gently, mumbling, “Mmm, it’s really delicious!”
Xiao Ming also picked up a sweet potato and ate it. Sweet potatoes, like potatoes, were a great tool for solving famine. After food became abundant, they would not be considered a staple food. Potatoes could be cooked, while sweet potatoes would become ingredients for snacks.
After eating half, Fei Yuer felt choked and quickly drank a few sips of water. It was her first time eating it, and she naturally found it very delicious, but sweet potatoes, like potatoes, were quite dry when eaten plain and could be choking. However, it had to be said that these sweet potatoes were truly delicious.