Great Ming Dynasty Wen Chao Gong

Chapter 193 The Emperor’s Recall
On the outskirts of Kaifeng City, Zhang Xiao was outside with a group of people from Prince Zhou's Mansion.

At this time, the wheat in the farmland was already lush and lush.

"Zhang Prince Consort, this large area is my king's fiefdom. Of course, it cannot all be said to be my king's. Since our ancestors were granted the title, there are many branches of the Zhou king's family that have relied on this large field to support themselves."

"The land in Henan is indeed rich. I wonder what the approximate rent of this land is?"

"One acre of land costs roughly four or five taels of silver. There have been disasters in the past two years, and the rent for this field is still in arrears. I can't remember this much. Sun Changshi, do you remember how much the rent for this field is?" King Zhou asked Sun Changshi.

"It's roughly the same four or five coins, and there will be some fluctuations every year." Sun Changshi replied.

"Zhang Prince Consort, the food crops you recommended still have some effect. Especially the potatoes and sweet potatoes, which can produce some yields during droughts, unlike wheat, which will be harvested once there is a drought. But these things Can you also tell me about the cooking method? Now that the seeds are distributed, people don’t like to plant them. They are worried that they will be poisonous. Even if they are not poisonous, they don’t know how to eat them. It is too troublesome." King Zhou asked Zhang Xiao. .

"Your Majesty, the best thing to cook among these things is this potato, but I don't know if there is a cooking place in the palace for me to show off."

"Oh? Prince Consort Zhang, you still cook yourself?" King Zhou was a little surprised.

"I used to live a normal life, but now I sometimes want to eat the flavors I want and cook. After all, I cook it myself, so I don't have to be picky about what I eat." Zhang Xiao explained.

"For snacks, there are just these two, blueberry mashed potatoes, and French fries." Zhang Xiao introduced the dishes and snacks.

I don’t know how long it took before one dish after another was cooked.

"Okay, then I'm going to have a good taste." King Zhou picked up the chopsticks and tasted them one by one.

"Nowadays, the Luzon Kingdom is occupied by the Folangji people. The Folangji people's cavalry is quite famous, but the Folangji people's garrison in Luzon is still mainly infantry, and more importantly, the Folangji people The robot's navy actually didn't have that many troops on the road, but the artillery of the Folang robot was really powerful, especially the artillery on the ship, which was the island where my family was stationed that day. The gunboats of the Fo Langji suddenly attacked, and they couldn't resist it at all."

"Okay, since Prince Consort Zhang wants to cook in person, I also want to observe it in person." King Zhou also became interested.

"The imperial system is such that I, the king, can only leave the palace today to see this pastoral scene in the name of spring plowing." King Zhou explained.

"Prince-in-law Zhang, you said you wanted to use these potatoes to cook. What kind of dish are you going to make?"

"This Franconian has also traveled far enough. He had never heard of the name of Franconian country in the early years, but now he has come to the Ming Dynasty."

Zhang Xiao followed King Zhou and walked side by side, while the others kept their positions to guard the two of them.

"In the past few years as an official, I have traveled a few times, so I have developed my horse riding skills."

"Guests are welcome to host. Since Zhou Wang Yao has returned, Zhang is too embarrassed to stay here, so he naturally wants to go back together." The prince is polite, Zhang Xiao will not really stay here as a conspicuous bag, and the pastoral That’s what happens when you see too much scenery.

"Of course there are cavalry, but the number is relatively small, and the cavalry is not necessarily horses. There are elephant soldiers in Myanmar and Siam. But on some small islands, there are no decent cavalry. After all, the islands are too If you're young, it's useless to keep cavalry in vain, it's a waste of money."

"Does Luzon have any cavalry?"

"Since you, Prince Consort Zhang, want to cook, there is no problem with me here. If you need anything, just tell Sun Changshi and he will provide it. It just so happened that I came out for a while, and I, Prince Consort Zhang, was about to return home. Do you want to hang out here again? ”

"Prince Consort Zhang's riding skills are pretty good."

"Going back so soon?" Zhang Xiao was a little surprised.

"It's just a few simple home-cooked dishes and snacks. I'll make a detailed list later, and I'll just ask the house to help me get the necessary ingredients together."

"I heard that Prince Consort Zhang came from Nanyang. Do the countries in Nanyang have cavalry?"

"Yes, it's just that the Franji people don't have many soldiers and horses in Nanyang, otherwise they will really dominate Nanyang."

"Your Majesty, here are the dishes, stewed pork ribs with potatoes, braised beef with potatoes, three delicacies, and fried shredded potatoes."

By the Ming Dynasty, cooking technology was actually quite mature, and the necessary cooking tools and seasonings were basically complete. Especially in the palace, everything was available. Zhang Xiao also showed his cooking skills and ordered the palace's subordinates The cook cut the potatoes into shreds and cubes, and finished processing the remaining side dishes, before Zhang Xiao started cooking one dish after another.

"Zhang Consort, you should also taste it together. If you look at it like this, if it reaches the ears of His Majesty, I can't bear it." King Zhou said to Zhang Xiao who was watching from the side.

"Then Zhang is welcome." Zhang Xiao also sat down and started eating together.

Zhang Xiao's cooking skills can only be said to be passable, but King Zhou still ate happily. Zhang Xiao didn't know whether it was out of politeness or because he had never tried such a dish before.

"I just think that these potatoes can only be eaten as a staple food, and the taste is just that. I really didn't expect that these potatoes can also be used for cooking and making snacks. I don't know if the cooks in my palace have learned how to do it. If so, I don't know how. The king can finally try some new dishes." King Zhou said.

"Zhang's cooking skills can still satisfy the prince."

"Zhang Consort's cooking skills are indeed good, and he also knows these dishes. Are the methods of these dishes available in Nanyang?"

"There are some dishes that are native to Nanyang, and there are some dishes that Zhang himself came up with."

"These potatoes are good for cooking, but to make such a dish, ordinary people probably can't afford to eat them a few times. Just like these French fries, it takes so much oil to fry. If ordinary farmers, I'm afraid they can't make it It’s not a dish like this.”

"If you want to eat potatoes as a staple food, the easiest way is to boil them in water. If you want them to be cooked faster, cut them into slices and put them in. You can also simmer the potatoes in plant ash and cook them. They taste delicious. But for potatoes It needs to be cooked thoroughly, and sprouted potatoes cannot be eaten.”

"I've also read about this in the newspaper, but since potatoes can be eaten as vegetables, there must be no big problem in eating them. But now I suggest to the tenant farmers to use some not so good land, or even sloping land, to grow potatoes. These tenant farmers don’t dare to plant it, and they don’t know if it will taste bad. Sometimes I am a little angry, but I kindly give the seeds to them for free,” King Zhou complained.

"Your Majesty, farmers depend on the weather. If the harvest is not good in a year, they will not be able to pay taxes and the whole family will be hungry. Therefore, it is understandable that you have concerns about planting new crops. If your Majesty wants to quickly promote potatoes, etc. I have a few ideas for new crops.”

"Oh? Please tell me."

"Since the seeds are given to the people for free and they still refuse to take them, why not do the opposite and say that there are not enough potato seeds? Your Majesty, you will plant them yourself, and you must take good care of the potato seedlings planted. In this way, the people Then you will be curious, you will think that this potato is a good thing, and you will find a way to get potato seedlings to plant them.”

"There are also people who are unwilling to grow potatoes because they have doubts about whether they can be eaten and whether they are delicious. If potatoes are often eaten in the palace, it will become a trend and the people will learn to eat them instead. I don’t dare to take this step.” “Another way is to find a way to praise the origin of this potato. For example, you can say that potatoes are tribute from foreign countries and have not been grown in other places. Not only are they not poisonous when eaten, Moreover, he is still full and full of strength. He can even make up some stories about foreign monarchs eating potatoes every day, and foreign military officers eating potatoes every day, something like this." Zhang Xiao explained.

"That's feasible. I also have a suggestion. If you write a novel next time, Prince Consort Zhang, you can also write about the main character in it who loves potatoes. I'm afraid it will be of some use." King Zhou also made his own suggestion.

"Your Majesty, this is a good idea. I will consider it. It just so happens that I also wrote some cooking methods in the novel. It would be better if the people would remember it." Zhang Xiao also thinks this is a good idea.

In the following days, Zhang Xiao did not continue to wander around. After all, he had discovered too many problems. Zhang Xiao still understood the principle of going too far and not doing enough. During the following period, Zhang Xiao stayed in Kaifeng City and went to Prince Zhou's Mansion from time to time. Turn around.

King Zhou obviously welcomed Zhang Xiao's visit. Zhang Xiao also told King Zhou some interesting things about the capital, and King Zhou just listened with amusement.

But finally one day, Zhang Xiao's life of fishing came to an end, because the eunuch who delivered the order from the palace came, and he was Zhang Xiao's old acquaintance, Eunuch Gao of Gaohuai.

However, after Emperor Gao Gonggong's decree was read out, Zhang Xiao was a little confused.

"Eunuch Gao, is this the imperial edict?" Zhang Xiao respectfully listened to Gao Huai's announcement and couldn't help but ask after receiving the imperial edict.

"Consort Zhang, these are indeed the imperial decrees." Gao Huai replied.

"Does His Majesty have a separate oral message?"

"Indeed, there is not. If there is, our family will definitely tell you, Prince Consort Zhang. How dare our family deceive His Majesty? This crime of deceiving the emperor is a serious crime."

"Zhang didn't doubt Eunuch Gao's intention. But His Majesty didn't have any other instructions. He just asked me to return to Beijing quickly?"

"Consort Zhang, don't have any doubts. This is indeed your Majesty's will."

"Eunuch Gao, I'm afraid I have to give Zhang a little time. Can you give me two days? I still need to take care of things. This time I went out to inspect Henan, and there were some results. I have to bring some supporting evidence back to Beijing."

"Prince-in-law Zhang, please hurry up and clean up. After all, His Majesty's decree is that you don't have to stay and return to the capital as soon as possible. If the delay is too long, it will be bad if His Majesty blames you."

"Zhang understands."

However, when Zhang Xiao hurried back to Beijing and prepared to report in detail the problems discovered at home, news came from the palace, asking Zhang Xiao to enter the palace immediately.

In the imperial study room, Zhang Xiao held the first draft of the memorial in his hand. Just when he was about to say something, the emperor waved his hand, and Zhang Xiao had to shut his mouth silently.

"Zhang Xiao, do you know what is in this big basket?" the emperor asked, pointing to a bamboo basket piled with memorials next to him.

"Your Majesty, this basket contains memorials."

"It is indeed a memorial, but these memorials are all memorials to impeach you. I did a rough calculation, and some said that you disturbed the place, some said that you were partial when inspecting the place, and some said that you had a personal relationship with the vassal king."

"I am really unjust." Zhang Xiao was silent for a moment and couldn't help but say.

"I know. But what have you done in Henan to make so many people want to impeach you?"

"I just took stock of the granaries and treasury, and also took stock of some accounts since the disaster relief, and looked at some dams, canals, and bridges. The previous memorial to His Majesty only dealt with a small part of the problem, and there are still many questions that I have not yet answered. There’s still time to take stock.”

"That's it for now."

"I obey the decree." Zhang Xiao agreed.

"Zhang Xiao, why don't you argue?"

"Your Majesty asked me to inspect the place, so I went. Your Majesty said there was no need to investigate, so I stopped investigating. Everything is based on your Majesty's will. Since your Majesty said so, your Majesty naturally has your reasons."

"That's all, I know you are not happy in your heart. After all, you have stayed well in the capital. I asked you to go to other provinces for so long. Now that you have achieved results, I asked you to ignore it."

"I don't dare."

"The place where you took the exam this time has been quite successful. I have already chosen your Prince Consort's Mansion. You can go and have a look another day. I specially asked someone to do a feng shui survey. It is always more auspicious. . Go and see if there’s anything missing, and I’ll buy it later.”

"I would like to thank Your Majesty for your kindness."

"Don't keep the problems you discovered when you went to inspect Henan. Transfer them all to the Metropolitan Procuratorate. Let the Metropolitan Procuratorate deal with them. You don't have to worry about this anymore."

"I understand."

Zhang Xiao wanted to say something else, but the words couldn't come out. In the end, these four words were the only ones that really came out of his mouth.

After coming out of the palace, Zhang Xiao returned to the princess mansion.

"Your Majesty, you are finally back. This Henan Province is not far from the capital. Why have you been gone so long? And you have been gone for so long and you haven't written a few letters to me. Every time you write, you still write like this Short." The princess was a little unhappy.

"Princess, I am really busy with official duties,"

"That's all, did your father ask you to do anything else?"

"No more. Now I have no official position and a light body."

"Why are you so humble without an official position? You've been here for so long, consort, so you can't accomplish anything. That's not good."

"I saw a lot, but it's no longer under my control now." Zhang Xiao was a little uninterested.

(End of this chapter)