Zhurou

Zhao Mingzhi naturally didn't know that there were so many things going on behind him.

As soon as she returned to the palace, she learned the news of the turmoil in the city.

Mu Xiang stood at the side, waiting for the person who came to report to leave, and couldn't wait for the order for a long time, so she couldn't help but shouted: "Your Highness..."

Zhao Mingzhi was still holding the map of the distribution of unclaimed fields in the west of the city sent by the government office of the capital, and he pressed the paper to the point of imprinting. He slowly raised his head and asked, "What is it?"

Mu Xiang first glanced at the sky outside, then looked at the album in Zhao Mingzhi's hand, and said, "It's getting late, do you want to eat first, Your Highness?"

Zhao Mingzhi put the album back on the table, looked at Mu Xiang's expression again, and said, "If you have anything to say, just say it."

Mu Xiang quickly shook her head, lowered her head and said: "I don't have much knowledge, my mind is full of random thoughts, it's important that Your Highness is busy with serious business, so don't talk to me."

Zhao Mingzhi's expression showed exhaustion that could not be concealed, but it was more gentle, and said: "Why do you say such things, it seems very natural."

Mu Xiang clenched her hands, her face turned red for a while, and she didn't care about the so-called fastidiousness of advancing and retreating, she looked at the field album and said honestly: "The city is so noisy, and the current situation is like this, Your Highness really doesn't need to find someone to ask ? Although I haven’t been in Beijing for a long time, but looking at the actions and appearance of the government office in Kyoto, I always feel that there are many lazy and incompetent people, and few serious and hardworking people.”

Zhao Mingzhi sighed, and said: "The matter just happened, the government office is busy cleaning up the mess, besides, Lu Xianzhang just came to take over the matter, and the subordinates are all unfamiliar, with a lot of clues, and there is nothing else to do, I am calling people now If you come to ask questions, you will only ask him to continue to do reminders, such a rush to the doctor, it may not be able to cope with it, and it will make the situation worse."

He also said: "If the siege of Xuzhou is incomprehensible, and the Di people do not retreat but advance, and go south again, there will only be more and more chaos like this in Beijing--today is just the beginning, no matter how anxious I am, I will not let it go." You can't just add to the chaos..."

The turmoil is not just because of food prices.

Di Ren's pressing every step of the way, the Great Jin retreating from time to time, countless officers and soldiers abandoning the city, and the people desperately fleeing for their lives but unable to survive, are all heavy burdens that crush the hearts of the people.

If it was in peacetime, how could the matter of grains and grains have reached the point where it is today.

"If Your Highness is in a hurry, why don't you call Pei Jiedu to ask..." Mu Xiang glanced at the palace servants standing beside her, and said cautiously, not even daring to speak louder, "Didn't you say the day before yesterday that the public security in Beijing was controlled by Jiedu?" Don’t take over at a high speed, it’s not easy for others to ask, for fear of being thought of as duress, so you’re not afraid to ask this one?”

Zhao Mingzhi laughed for a while, and didn't bother to hide it in front of the palace people, and said bluntly: "Jiedu will only be busier than others, today is the time for the handover between the two sides, wait two more days, if things still don't stop, It's not too late for me to ask..."

After she finished speaking, she pointed to the picture album in front of her again, and said, "It's just right, you guys are here to help choose a field, and report it to the Kyoto government office today, and when I plant it, I will let you taste my millet."

Everyone in the hall was very positive when they heard the words, and hurriedly gathered around, talking about the album, some said that it is better to be a place, that one said it is better to be close to the water source, and some said it is better to be far away. The main road is close, in case the carriage cannot go in in the future, His Highness will have to walk for a while and so on.

In the midst of the quarrel, someone suddenly asked: "Your Highness, can the maidservants agree with each other?"

As soon as these words came out, there was a burst of harmony.

Zhao Mingzhi smiled and nodded.

Most of the maids who came this time were former members of King Jia's Mansion. The feudal domain has always rarely used families to have children, and they often take in refugees and victims in disaster years. Speaking of it now, there are quite a few who did farm work when they were young, although they are not as good as serious farmers. If you are familiar with it, you can still catch up with a few words.

Seeing everyone chattering away, Zhao Mingzhi finally heaved a sigh of relief secretly, but he still couldn't think about it.

There was turmoil in the city, and it was rumored that the rioters were all refugees. Originally, the people in Beijing had great opinions on outsiders. If they cannot be resolved properly today, the conflict between the two sides may become more intensified, and it will be difficult to ease it.

Especially Lu Xianzhang himself has not yet had time to take over, Pei Yong is new here, he still has the most important matter of city defense, right now it is difficult for Zhao Mingzhi to sort out which one is more important.

She suppressed the anxiety in her heart, knowing that the more calm she had to be at this time.

The so-called suspects don't need it, not to mention that even if they stand up now, they are just talking to themselves, and they are not more capable than the people who do things at the moment. Besides, this kind of overstepping will not only mess up the original arrangement of the yamen, but also restrain one's energy.

What can be done is naturally done, what should not be done, it is better not to reach out.

Thinking of this, she no longer hesitated, and immediately summoned two agricultural officials into the palace.

These two people have already heard that the imperial court wants to conscript the common people to plow the fields, and the current princess is personally involved in this matter, so they have somewhat guessed why they are entering the palace today. Staring at the preparations for plowing the fields under the princess's name, she didn't want to enter the palace door, and after saluting, she was given two pieces of drawing paper in front of her.

Zhao Mingzhi sent someone to show them a seat, and said, "I wonder if the two officials have seen the grain in this painting?"

The two held the paper and looked at it for a long time, and discussed with each other for a while, before one of them stepped forward and said, "Reporting to Your Highness, the shape of the rice seeds on this paper is slender, and the cross-section is elliptical and flat, and the color is said to be translucent and white. It's the indica rice from the south."

Zhao Mingzhi leaned forward, repeated it, and said, "Indica rice?"

After a short pause, she asked again: "I heard people say that there are two types of rice: japonica rice and indica rice. Japonica rice is hard and tough when it is born, short and wide. no?"

Although it was just a few simple words, it distinguished the two types of rice, and the tone was very familiar, unlike a girl who doesn't care about crops in her boudoir.

The two agricultural officials looked at each other in surprise, and then nodded in agreement.

Zhao Mingzhi then asked: "If I want to find the rice seeds in this picture, where can I find them?"

One of them stepped forward and said, "I don't know why Your Highness is looking for this kind of rice? It's probably not easy to find in Beijing, and you have to go south."

"I want His Highness to know that indica rice is made for rice. It is different from japonica rice. After being cooked, japonica rice seems to have oil on the surface. The rice grains are rich and fat, and the taste may be soft or glutinous." Another person quickly added, "Indica rice is more The rice is either red or white, and when it is boiled and eaten, it has little rice fragrance. No matter how much water is added to it, and how it is cooked, the rice tastes bad and dry, and the taste is extremely bad. People don't like it. Few farmers are willing to To plant, firstly, it is difficult to get a price, and secondly, no one is willing to eat or reap..."

Zhao Mingzhi nodded and said: "I have also heard that indica rice is very poor in quality, but it has disadvantages, and it can be widely known, and it must also have its own advantages. It is said that indica rice may be resistant to water, heat and drought, and can be planted later. And the early-maturing ones, once they encounter floods or severe droughts in a certain place, they can be alleviated and the corresponding grain seeds can be planted urgently, so that they can grab some grains and return them, so that the grains will not fail."

She pointed to the drawing with her hand and said: "This rice is called 'Jincheng rice', which was mentioned by a businessman who went south to Fujian by chance when I was in Caizhou. Zhancheng rice' was later combined with local rice species to produce a new product. Although the taste is not good, it is more drought-tolerant. There are not many local paddy fields. After getting this rice species, many fields that could not be cultivated before have been used..."

After finishing speaking, he looked at the two people on the seat and said: "I invite you two to come here today. First, I want to know whether Jincheng rice can be planted in Beijing because of its characteristics. Second, if not, can it be planted in Fujian, Suzhou and Hangzhou? By extension, if there is a field that is difficult to plow and grow japonica rice, people will be asked to plant this indica rice."

"I read the memorandum sent by Qin Tianjian. It only said that there might be a drought this year. If this drought-tolerant indica rice can be cultivated, no matter how bad the taste is-not to mention the year of disaster, it is just now, compared with bark and Guanyin rice. So what about the soil? It will not cause people to starve."

The two agricultural officials looked at each other, and they didn't speak for a while, before someone said: "His Royal Highness, farming is the foundation of the country, and this kind of new species has rarely been planted before. It's probably inappropriate."

Zhao Mingzhi said: "I would like to invite the two of you to discuss this matter."

When she said this, her originally gentle tone gradually became serious, and she said with a heavy tone: "In addition to this Jincheng rice, there is another kind of rice called Huanglong rice. I heard that it is a kind of rice that is very edible. I wonder if it was just now If possible, you can harvest more grains for the type of 'indica rice' you two mentioned, so as to be prepared for any danger."

"This is a follow-up, please both of you first inquire in Beijing whether there are 'Jincheng Rice' and 'Huang Yi Rice' stored."

As a matter of fact, there were three severe droughts and two floods in the south of Dajin this year, and countless people died of starvation. However, in order to fight against Dibing, the imperial court had to continue to pay heavy taxes.

If there is any light in this dark fog, there must be only the memorial on the Minzhou General Judgment on Jiangnan West Road.

It is not uncommon for Fujian to encounter drought all year round. It was also a severe drought that year, but it was rare to have a bumper harvest. The reason is that officials in the middle of the state distributed a rice seed called Jincheng rice in the previous year, which was quite effective. The local farmers After people encountered drought, they had to change their crops. As a result, the rice growers were able to harvest normally.

After this time, the reputation of Jincheng Rice Seeds spread in a small area.

In the following year, there was a severe drought, and those who saved the seeds passed on the rice seeds. Sure enough, the buyers replanted their own rice, and they all got a harvest.

In this way, the imperial court had to rely on the two grains for a while.

There is also the yellow rice, which was searched and cultivated by agricultural officials from Huguang and several places for many years, because there are many lakes in the two lakes and Jiangdong and Jiangxi, there are a lot of flooded fields, and there are floods from time to time. It is difficult for the species to survive, but only this yellow rice is so water-tolerant that it can be harvested.

At this time, half of the country and mountains in the north are in the hands of the enemy, and it is only possible to maintain a little by relying on the two kinds of rice and Jincheng rice.But also because there is no organization and scale, there are still many acres of vacant land, and more people have damaged the original seedlings due to drought and waterlogging, but they don’t know that there is such a powerful new plant, so they can only plant beans, and the harvest is natural. Very pitiful.

Now, once again, once he took a breather and settled down, Zhao Mingzhi focused on finding these two kinds of rice seeds first.

Too many people starved to death back then, but she was not willing to miss any chance.

The concerns of the agricultural officials were not unreasonable, but as long as they went down to the south and made an investigation, they would naturally know that she was not talking casually.

Among them, yellow rice is already well known to many people among the people, and officials in several small counties and towns have promoted planting.

There are a lot of refugees going south, and it is the time when there is nothing to do and no land to cultivate, so they are recruited to go to the flooded lakes to do reclamation first. Although reclamation of lakes and land reclamation is more likely to cause waterlogging, but in order to temporarily fill their stomachs, they can only make a choice first up.

As for Jincheng rice, although we don't know much about it, it doesn't mean that it will be widely spread. When the drought really occurs, the rice seedlings planted by farmers will die first. With no other choice, the resistance to implementation will be much smaller.

The most important thing is to have enough spare grains in hand.

When they heard Zhao Mingzhi mentioning Huang Xingdao, the two agricultural officials were even more astonished.

Why does this princess follow farming so closely, as if she really knows more than a thing or two.

The farmer is the most important thing in the country. It is not uncommon for the Tian family to personally ask about the crops. Many emperors have sent people to visit the famous species, and have them repeatedly test and cultivate them. .

But this is only dared to act on the premise of many trial plantings.

Even so, there are often new species that do not adapt to the soil and water, and eventually fail to harvest, or fail to survive. It is just because the name promoter is the emperor, and the subordinates dare not speak out, so they can only close their eyes and boast.

The two of them have low official positions, ordinary abilities, and no old contacts to leave, and they were finally forced to stay in the capital. Naturally, they don't know much about Zhao Mingzhi's character, skills, and actions along the way. , but they didn't take it seriously in their hearts, and when they were done with the matter, they all exited the hall.

After confirming that the servant leading the way had left, the two of them dared to let out a sigh of relief, complaining one after another.

"The land has never been planted before, and I don't know who said a few words, and dared to ask people to find grain seeds, but I don't know where the people came from, and who took the lead again. No matter what happens, there must be an order from Zhongshu before it can be carried out. Although the princess is dignified, it does not conform to the rules and regulations?"

"That's exactly what you said! After receiving such trouble today, I still somehow explained to Shangfeng when I went back. If some important matter is assigned in the middle, how can we shirk it? What else can I say--the princess has other matters to explain, for the time being Can't draw your hand? How can you say such a thing!"

"It's better for those who go south, follow the emperor, no matter how young you are, all the gentlemen are there, everything is done according to the formal process, only us..."

"Forget it, she probably called us here on a whim, and probably won't remember it until tomorrow." Another person said, "Go back to the yamen and send a servant to follow me. good."

He asked again: "I heard in the morning that Lao Wang reported Ding You and will leave Beijing in a few days. Is this news true or false?"

"Leaving the capital is true, but Na Dingyou is just an excuse. He has gone through someone's door in Caizhou, and the paperwork he handed over has been approved. No matter who leaves, the court always wins. Lao Wang's mother-in-law is not dead yet, and the letter only said that she was seriously ill—who knew that she was actually sick, but she was able to leave directly, which is really enviable."

"I'm not envious, let's not talk about whether his relationship is strong or not. Ding You, who returned to his hometown, went to Jianzhou. If you and I, Ding You, one went to Qingzhou and the other to Mizhou, it would be There is life to go, and no life to return..."

"It's up to fate, alas, let's not talk about this for now. Yesterday, Xiao Su and I took the opportunity to go to the east of the city to look at the fields to explore the way outside. If the current city defense is based on the current city defense, once Di Ren comes, not to mention three days, even one day." I'm afraid I can't stop it, Lao He, can you find someone to clear it up? Please let us know the news from the Yamen in the capital. Get out of the city in a mess, if you can save your life..."

Before the person could express his thanks, the person opposite had already sighed, and said, "If I had any acquaintances in the government office of the capital, why did I stay here for so long? I would have followed His Majesty to the south."

The two suddenly looked at each other with wry smiles, and they both sighed, and when they returned to the yamen, they had put Zhao Mingzhi's instructions behind them, and just asked an official to give them a few instructions and let it go.

After all, she is nothing more than a princess, and she has no real power in her body. To put it bluntly, today's order is actually very inappropriate, and it doesn't matter if you think about it. Maybe you will forget it the next day, and it doesn't matter if you don't forget it. Left and right can be perfunctory.