"Zhang San, do you know what this means?" Fang Xuanling asked after calming down.
Hearing Fang Xuanling's question, Zhang San also realized that although he had overestimated the value of potatoes, he still seemed to have underestimated it.
Zhang San, who has never experienced hunger, cannot understand the ancients' persistence and emphasis on a full stomach.
So Zhang San said: "After my nephew got this thing, he didn't really believe it, so he planted it in the yard and wanted to wait for it to be harvested. You also know that my nephew is a farmer and is very interested in these fresh crops.
It’s curiosity.”
"At first, it was just a way to ensure that I and my little sister could survive. Later, when my family no longer had to worry about food and clothing, I thought that when I could grow enough potatoes, I would promote them in the village so that everyone could have enough to eat. Finally,
With the demonstration effect of Zhangjiacun, it will be gradually promoted nationwide."
"Although my nephew believes that potatoes can provide food and clothing for the people, land is very important to the people. We must not easily believe in these crops that we are not familiar with." After Zhang San finished speaking, he quietly looked at the house.
Xuanling's reaction.
"You are right. Getting the people of the Tang Dynasty to accept this emerging crop will not happen overnight." Fang Xuanling agreed with Zhang San's views.
"Let's go to your house and take a look at those potatoes." Fang Xuanling took Zhang San and asked his servants to prepare the car, ready to go and see if it was really what Zhang San said.
"Father, why don't you go after eating? Zhang San was invited..."
Before Fang Yiai could finish her sentence, she was interrupted by Fang Xuanling: "Eat, eat, eat. What else can you do besides fooling around all day long?"
Fang Yiai opened her mouth to refute, but she didn't have the courage, so she had to hang her head and remain silent.
Zhang San was also confused by Fang Xuanling. He didn't even eat. Is he in such a hurry? Zhang San complained in his heart, but he didn't dare to say more and followed Fang Xuanling out.
Zhang San and Fang Yiai sat in Fang Xuanling's carriage together, while Zhang Fugui drove the carriage with everyone in Fang Mansion to Zhangjiacun.
On the way, Fang Xuanling asked Zhang San again about some details about planting potatoes. Zhang San replied ambiguously: "I heard from the foreign alchemist that potatoes are usually planted in February and March and harvested in May and June; one can also be planted in July and August.
The stubble can be harvested again around the end of November.”
"My nephew is going to plant all those potatoes in the ground in July and August. I think we can have a good harvest in winter."
"Zhang San, if it's really what you said, then the value of these potatoes is huge."
Fang Xuanling still didn't believe it in her heart at this time, but she was also thinking that if it was really as Zhang San said, then she must strictly keep the secret and send people to protect it to prevent it from falling into the hands of someone with intentions.
There are many elaborate works of other countries in Chang'an, especially when the Turks in the north are eyeing it. Whether it is true or false, this matter cannot be taken lightly.
Thinking of this, Fang Xuanling said to Fang Yiai who was beside him: "Don't go with us. Now rush to the palace, report this matter to the emperor, and ask the emperor to send troops to Zhangjiacun.
"
"There's no need to mobilize so many troops." Zhang San was surprised to hear that Fang Xuanling wanted to alert Li Shimin to send troops.
"Yes, father, should we take a look first and then wait until Xiaosan has confirmed planting another crop of potatoes before..."
Fang Yiai also felt that her father was making a fuss today, so she said.
"What do you know? I'll just go when I ask you to. Why is there all this nonsense?" Fang Xuanling interrupted before Fang Yiai could finish.
Fang Yiai had no choice but to get out of the car, take the reins from a soldier, and ride towards the palace.
"My dear nephew, if potatoes are really so magical, then you have made a great contribution, and the entire Tang Dynasty will benefit from it."
Fang Xuanling said to Zhang San earnestly.
"I don't deserve the credit, as long as it is beneficial to the Tang Dynasty, that's fine."
Seeing that Zhang San was not arrogant or impetuous, Fang Xuanling secretly thought: "I don't know where this boy learned from. Judging from his various performances, he must not have been trained by a mere peasant family."
At the end of the story, Fang Yiai came to the palace to clarify his purpose. A eunuch asked Fang Yiai to wait at the entrance of the palace and went to report to the eunuch on duty. About a quarter of an hour later, the young eunuch appeared to lead Fang Yiai.
The lost love enters the palace.
At this time, Li Shimin had just finished handling the affairs of the court and was resting at Queen Changsun's place. He heard the eunuch coming to report that the second son of the prime minister wanted to see the emperor on the order of the prime minister.
Li Shimin was very surprised by this.
"The prime minister and I just finished discussing things in the Zichen Palace in the morning. I don't know what happened now." Li Shimin said to Queen Changsun who was sitting beside him.
"I don't know, my concubine. I think it must be something important. I just don't know why the prime minister didn't come." Queen Changsun replied.
"I'll take a look and come back to accompany you later." Li Shimin stood up and said to Queen Changsun.
"Your Majesty has been working very hard in dealing with government affairs in recent days. The longan and lotus seed soup cooked by my concubine will be ready soon. Your Majesty, remember to come and eat it." Empress Changsun stood up and said to Li Shimin.
"Thank you for your hard work, Queen. I'll go take a look and come back if nothing happens." Li Shimin replied.
Not long after, Li Shimin saw Fang Yiai in the Zichen Palace and said, "I haven't seen you for a long time, why did Fang Xiang call you here?"
Fang Yiai saluted and replied: "To inform the emperor, my father went to Zhangjiacun with the men from Zhang County to see a crop called potatoes. He ordered his subordinates to come and ask the emperor to send troops to Zhangjiacun."
Hearing Fang Yiai say this and hearing him mention Zhang San, he was very surprised: "What is the military station and what are potatoes?"
So Fang Yiai told Li Shimin everything about Zhang San's invitation to Fang Xiang's house today and the potatoes he had brought.
"What? Are there really such crops?" Li Shimin also asked in surprise.
"I think so. The potato minister and my father both tasted it. It is indeed delicious, but the yield is small. I don't know whether it is genuine or not. My father was also very surprised by this, so he went to check it out with Mr. Zhang County." Fang Yi
Love answered truthfully.
Li Shimin was very curious about Zhang San, and secretly sent people to investigate Zhang San's experience, but nothing useful was found. Li Shimin didn't believe that Zhang San was as simple as he appeared. There must be some expert guidance behind it, otherwise a person
How can a farmer's family cultivate such talents?
The poem about travel difficulties last time, as well as the subsequent disaster relief plan, were not written by a small farmer. It is not that Li Shimin looked down on farmers, but that in this era when aristocratic families monopolized education, the common people still had trouble literate and hyphenated.
It’s easy, and it’s good if you can fill your stomach every day.
"How much do you know about Zhang San?" Li Shimin suddenly asked.
Fang Yiai was a little confused when she heard it, so she told Li Shimin how she and Zhang San got acquainted. Li Shimin didn't get any valuable information from Fang Yiai, so he stopped dwelling on the matter.
Out of his trust in Fang Xuanling, Li Shimin ordered a team of Jinwu Guards to be sent outside Zhangjiacun to wait for orders, and was strictly prohibited from disturbing the people.
When Fang Yiai saw that the words had been brought, she was ready to leave. In front of Li Shimin, Fang Yiai felt uncomfortable all over.
"Wait a minute, I will go with you to Zhangjiacun to have a look." Li Shimin said suddenly.
Although Fang Yiai didn't want to agree, he didn't have the courage. So Li Shimin asked Jin Wuwei to go first, and he changed into regular clothes and went to Zhangjiacun with several attendants and Fang Yiai.
