Great Ming Dynasty Wen Chao Gong

Chapter 187 Zhang Xiao’s Pastoral Visit

"It's true that these foreign monks from the West, before the Ming Dynasty had time to teach them, they came all the way and wanted to pass on their teachings," the princess said with emotion.

"Yes, but it is only because of these foreign monks that the power of Europe can expand so fast. After all, wherever these foreign monks go, they will know the details." Zhang Xiao said.

"Are these foreign monks here to find out the details of the Ming Dynasty? Are we going to drive them away?"

"There is no need to drive them away. Just keep an eye on them and let these Western countries know the strength of the Ming Dynasty, so that they can position themselves correctly. When the Fo Langji people first came, they also sent troops to follow the Guangdong and Fujian provinces. There was a conflict between the navy officers and soldiers of the province. At that time, the Francois regarded the Ming Dynasty as a barbarian country like the Aztecs and the Incas. Only after they started fighting did they realize how powerful the Ming Dynasty had been overseas in recent years. It’s true that the sense of presence is a little low, no wonder people are not afraid of Daming, so now that the missionaries are here, Daming can tell them some news and let them pass it on to the people who should tell it.”

"So that's it. Prince-in-law, did you deal with that Matteo Ricci before for this reason?"

"Yes, after all, although Matteo Ricci is not an official envoy, he is also a pawn used by the Christian Pope to ask questions. Since Matteo Ricci has worked hard to come to the capital, he must give others a chance to show himself."

"If that's the case, Prince Consort, I think you can also let Matteo Ricci paint and try out his style. If he doesn't paint for you, there are still so many people from the West who arrived in the Ming Dynasty, and they can always find someone who can paint. The person who painted it must have seen the world,” the princess suggested.

"Princess, what you said makes sense. Even if there is nothing in front of me, I can also pay them to bring people from other places. There are so many painters in Europe who have no talent. If they knew that they were lucky enough to serve the Ming Dynasty, they would definitely They will also flock to it. By the way, princess, is there anything else in your dowry besides a mansion?"

"There are also some Zhuangzi, Yuanzi, etc. I don't know where they are. You can ask the housekeeper or the palace."

"It doesn't matter, just lead the way." Zhang Xiao said.

"Those who can grow will achieve great results. Village owner, please take me to see where there is breeding in this village." Zhang Xiao looked at the village owner and said.

Lifting the curtain of the carriage, what came into view was a patch of green wheat seedlings. When they arrived at Zhuangzi, the owner of the village was already waiting respectfully.

"Why did the consort come to the farm in person? The farm here is really a bit messy and it's not easy to entertain distinguished guests." The owner of the farm quickly said to please Zhang Xiao when he saw him.

The old farmer glanced at Zhang Xiao doubtfully, and then at the village owner.

"After all, the food in the mansion depends on Zhuangzi's production, so I feel more at ease if I go and take a look." Zhang Xiao explained.

"It's still grown, but you can't eat too much of these sweet potatoes. If you eat too much, your stomach will be very bloated. You can eat these potatoes casually. You will still have strength after eating them. They are a good thing. By the way, we also grow some corn in the field. But it’s okay to eat this corn when it’s young. If you pick it when it’s old, it won’t be convenient to eat, so we feed it to the chickens in the village.”

Now it is spring, and after the severe cold of winter, the wheat has finally begun to grow again, and it is green.

"Old Liangtou, this is the Prince Consort. Our Zhuangzi pays tribute to the princess, and this is the princess's husband." The owner of the village reminded quickly.

"I came to Zhuangzi this time to see how the crops are growing and how things are going in Zhuangzi. Just take me around, I want to see for myself. The farm is just busy as usual, and someone can lead the way. "

"Of course you can, but what are you going to see in Zhuangzi, consort? You can also see the scenery in the garden. What is there to see in Zhuangzi?" the princess asked curiously.

……

"In addition to growing wheat, does Zhuangzi grow anything else?" Zhang Xiao then asked.

"Hello, Prince Consort, the crops are growing well this year, and the wheat is growing well. Even in the spring this year, there will be less rain and snow than last year. I am afraid that there will be a drought by then, which will affect the harvest." The old farmer replied road.

"In that case, I want to visit Princess Garden and Zhuangzi. Is this convenient?"

"The villain will personally lead the way for the Prince Consort." the housekeeper said quickly.

"Most of the land is still planted with wheat, but some wasteland that was previously short of water and drought has relatively short and flat slopes. Potatoes, sweet potatoes, and some vegetables are also planted. Pigs, chickens and ducks are also raised in the village. , and also raise a few cows for milking. Of course, we also need to grow fruits and vegetables.”

"Will it be possible to grow these potatoes and sweet potatoes?"

"Old man, how are the crops growing this year?" Zhang Xiao asked an old farmer in the field who was taking a break from his busy work.

As soon as he said it, Zhang Xiao, under the leadership of the housekeeper, first visited several small gardens, and then went to a larger farm.

"Prince-in-law, please follow me here."

After coming out of Zhuangzi, Zhang Xiao still felt that there was something unfinished. He simply called the court for instructions and obtained permission to go to Caihu Camp.

But when Zhang Xiao got off the sedan, he saw an old acquaintance.

"Changwen, aren't you in charge of promoting new crops in Liaodong? When did you return to the capital? If I hadn't come to Caihuying today, I really don't know when you returned to the capital." Zhang Xiao felt a little emotional. After all, It's true that I haven't seen Chen Shu for a long time. When I met him in Liaodong before, I just nodded in a hurry and didn't have time to slowly exchange greetings.

"Thanks to Mr. Zhang, my promotion of corn, sweet potatoes and potatoes in Liaodong was successful. Governor Li was very satisfied with me. So when Governor Li went to work as an official elsewhere, he vented his anger to the capital and promoted it to the capital. I have been transferred back to the capital. Now I am the clerk of the Jiashu Department, and I am also in charge of the Caihu Camp."

"That's fine. Your whole family is in the capital, so you can take care of your family when you return to the capital."

"I still have to thank Mr. Zhang. This young man has received a reward from the court and an official position. During the holidays, he will have face when he worships his ancestors."

"That's good. How is Caihu camp doing now?"

"The Caihu Camp looks inconspicuous, but in fact, except for the ornamental crops, the seeds that tribute from various countries are all placed in the Caihu Camp. I also specially recorded the crops and seeds in the Caihu Camp one by one, and also Some of the seeds are given to people nearby to plant."

“Are the common people willing to plant it?”

"Most of them are still willing to plant it. Farmers nearby say that after planting potatoes, sweet potatoes, and corn, you will get more or less harvests. It is good to eat them as cereals, at least they can fill their stomachs. But the people just don't like peppers. kind."

"Why is this? Doesn't this chili pepper keep away the cold?"

"An old lady told me that I really can't get used to eating this chili pepper, and although it is indeed spicy enough to make me sweat, but if I really want to stay warm, I might as well drink a pot of hot noodle soup and finish it. It's really warm. This chili can only be used for a while to refresh yourself. You will freeze to death just eating chili." Chen Shu explained.

"It seems I didn't think it through well." "No, no, no, it's just that the people are not used to eating it. When I was in Liaodong, the Liaodong military camp still liked peppers very much. The army would take as many as they could grow."

"Changwen, you said before that you wrote down all the fruits and vegetables in Caihu Camp? Can you show me the records?"

"Of course it's okay. But I don't have it with me right now. Please wait a moment and I'll go back and get it for you right away." Chen Shu quickly agreed.

"It's okay, then you go and do your work first, and I'll look around later." Zhang Xiao replied.

Zhang Xiao then visited and wandered around Caihu Camp until Chen Shu appeared again with his notes.

"Changwen, did you record it so carefully?" Zhang Xiao sighed while flipping through Chen Shu's notes.

"Because there are so many types of fruits and vegetables in Caihuying, and the imperial court discovered from Caihuying that potatoes and sweet potatoes have been introduced into our country, so I have to find out the family background of Caihuying these days."

"This is quite a difficult thing to do. Which of the fruits and vegetables are edible and which are not edible has to be tested. But I have one more suggestion. I have already memorized this note so thickly, why not make it into one? What about this book? Most people in the world are farming, so writing a book like this can be regarded as a benefit to the present and future generations. If it is made into a book, the content will still be the same. The main thing is to draw these fruits and vegetables. "Changwen, although it is difficult for the court now, the book you want to publish is so close to people's livelihood, I think the court will allocate money and people to help you complete it." Zhang Xiao. suggested.

"If Mr. Zhang is in charge, I will definitely finish the writing of this book myself." Zhang Xiao said.

"Thank you very much, Mr. Zhang."

A month later, in Kunning Palace, the newly married princess came back to Ning again and chatted with her mother and queen again.

"My dear, the prince-in-law didn't bully you, nor did he say anything strange. If he dares to do this, tell your mother immediately, and she will deal with it later."

"No, really not. The prince-in-law has always been polite. Although he said that there is no need to follow the old rules, the prince-in-law has never minded this matter. He still consults me first for everything."

"That's good. My dear, you have to remember that Zhang Xiao is alone in Beijing. His family is scattered. You can't bully him with the power of the princess," the queen reminded.

"I know, how can I dare to train him? He keeps running out these days, trying to grow his own vegetables, and even bought fish fry and put them in the rivers and lakes."

"The prince-in-law reclaimed the land to grow vegetables by himself? He also raised fish?" The queen was a little surprised.

"Yes, he said he wanted to experience the hard work of farming. He also said that there are no fish in the pond now, so he was going to put it in. He said he would fish it out for me and add vegetables."

"This is nothing. Emperor Taizu and Empress Xiaocigao were growing vegetables in the palace garden before. Now that he is doing this, it can be regarded as restoring the ancestral system."

"Mother, although it can be regarded as following the ancestral system, what should he do if he has always been so homeless? The majestic prince-in-law has to work personally. Those who don't know it think that the princess won't feed him." The princess was a little unhappy.

"It doesn't matter. I think the prince-in-law has been busy with office work and writing too many official documents over the years. Now he is taking advantage of the opportunity to be lazy. He should be back to normal after a few days."

"Mother, is this really the case?"

"It's okay. A man's hobby is just a gust of wind. He still has to go home. He only got the permission to stay in the Princess Mansion forever after boldly admonishing him in front of His Majesty. He can't bear to leave the Princess Mansion."

In Princess Yongning's mansion, the maid Xiaoqing is happily sharing gossip with Princess Yongning.

"Princess, I have heard that Zhang Minglue was in love with Princess Rongchang. Instead of staying at the princess's mansion, he went to the farm and Caihu Camp. Now he is cultivating the land himself and studying fish farming. "Xiao Qing said.

"Yes. It would be great if my consort had such a figure, but it's a pity that I haven't met him a few times since I got married, and I will never see him again." Princess Yongning sighed.

"Princess, I didn't mean to say this." Xiao Qing, who knew she had made a mistake, quickly apologized.

"It's okay, Xiaoqing, I didn't mean to blame you, I just felt it. At that time, I felt like the sky was falling, and I didn't know how to live the rest of my life. But for so many days, you and I, the master and the servant, just Come here."

"Yes, princess, life goes by pretty fast."

"It's better if life goes by faster. If it goes by slowly, it means life is uncomfortable. Xiaoqing, go and help me take out the dress I got married. I want to see it."

"Princess, do you really want to see it?" Xiao Qing hesitated.

"It's okay, bring it over."

Xiaoqing nodded and hurried away.

After a while, Xiaoqing ordered his servant to bring in a box.

The box was slowly opened by Princess Yongning. The princess gently stroked the red bridal dress. Although her expression was calm, the sadness in her eyes had exposed the princess's inner thoughts.

"Put it away. I've seen enough for today." The princess ordered with waning interest.

The box was closed again and hastily taken away.

"Xiao Qing, I have thought about what my husband would be like before, but I never thought that my husband would have such a short relationship with me."

"Princess, don't be sad. Life has to go on." Xiao Qing comforted her.

"I have no interest in reading or writing these days. There are still so many days ahead, how are we going to get through them?" Princess Yongning sighed.

"Princess, if you don't want to write a book, you don't want to write a book. It's good for us to be female celebrities together. It's quite interesting to do some new tricks."

"Xiao Qing, how about we run a school? There are so many schools in the world, and even Zhang Minglue opened a new Tongwen School. Why can't we also open a school for girls? Then go Wouldn't it be nice to give a lecture?" the princess said on a whim.

(End of this chapter)