The Ming Dynasty: The most ruthless imperial grandson, Old Zhu begged me not to kill him.

Chapter 14: Shocked Queen Ma
How could Zhu Xiong Ying's blatant attempt to 'change the subject' possibly escape Empress Ma's notice?

The usually gentle empress now had a serious expression and was ready to teach her grandson the ways of being a ruler.

Unexpectedly,

Just as Empress Ma was about to speak, she felt a soft, sweet aroma waft into her nose.

Upon closer inspection, one could see a small golden ball in the plate that Zhu Xiong Ying was holding, emitting wisps of hot white steam.

The aroma just now was also emitted by this item.

Empress Ma frowned, greatly surprised.

Although she was Guo Zixing's adopted daughter, she was not a pampered young lady raised in seclusion, incapable of physical labor or even basic agricultural knowledge. On the contrary, Empress Ma's emphasis on food was no less than Zhu Yuanzhang's!

"Ultimate, what is this thing? Why has Grandma never seen it before?"

Empress Ma's expression hardened, and she asked in a deep voice.

In the royal family, food was naturally highly valued.

It's not just about the taste; most importantly, it's about safety!

After saying this, Empress Ma took the plate from Zhu Xiong Ying's hand and examined it carefully.

Zhu Xiong Ying was naturally pleased to see that her grandmother's attention had been drawn, so she explained, "Grandmother, this is called a potato, and it is an imported grain."

“My grandson was very curious when he heard the teachers at the Great Hall say that there were foreigners with blond hair and blue eyes outside of our Great Ming.”

“They sent men to search for it, and they eventually bought it.”

"Because the foreigner from abroad didn't speak the language, they had someone plant an acre of land according to the foreigner's gestures. Now that the harvest is in, the imperial physicians from the Imperial Hospital diagnosed it, and after the death row inmates in the prison tasted it, my grandson also got to try it."

"Grandmother, please eat as much as you want. Your grandson still has over a thousand catties left!"

Upon hearing this, even Empress Ma nodded repeatedly in approval of Zhu Xiong Ying's caution.

Explore, seek knowledge, and after obtaining something, put it into practice, and then carefully verify whether these things are edible.

These excellent qualities are enough to prove the intelligence of their grandson.

Moreover, this new food is at the age where the grandson is at the age where he has a good appetite, so he quickly presented it to him, which is also a sign of filial piety!

"Ultimate Brother, there's only so much of this stuff. How could Grandmother possibly..."

Empress Ma smiled and was about to say something when she suddenly paused, her face showing shock!
One acre planted?
There are still about a thousand kilograms left?
this.
"Xiongying, what did you just say? You planted one acre of this, how many kilograms did you harvest?"

Empress Ma put the plate down abruptly, her eyes revealing a mixture of shock and delight!
Zhu Xiong Ying smiled and nodded, saying, "Not much, maybe a thousand catties per mu!"

Even Empress Ma, who had seen countless storms, could not hide the emotion on her face after hearing these words.

Shock, surprise, and tears streaming down my face!

What does a yield of 1,000 jin per mu mean?
During the Ming Dynasty, the rice produced in the paddy fields of the south yielded only 400 catties per mu, and this was considered fertile land.

A crop that yields a thousand catties per mu is enough to allow the Ming Dynasty's grain reserves to leapfrog to a new level!
Empress Ma accompanied Zhu Yuanzhang in battle and knew that the deepest fear in this fearless man's heart was not having enough to eat!
It wasn't just Zhu Yuanzhang or his family who were starving; he was also afraid that the people of the world wouldn't have enough to eat!
This is why officials' salaries were extremely low during the Hongwu era.

Old Zhu wanted to benefit the people.

However, the fact that the crop could yield a thousand catties per mu was enough to make even a wise empress like Empress Ma lose her composure: "Xiongying, is this thing really so?"

"This is the Wenhua Hall, and this item is of vital importance to the nation and its people. There must be no falsehoods whatsoever!"

Empress Ma rose, placed Zhu Xiong Ying on a chair, and asked in a deep voice. At this moment, she was not only Zhu Xiong Ying's grandmother, but also the Empress of the Ming Dynasty, the mother of the nation.

How hard will a mother try to ensure her child has enough to eat?
"Grandmother, this is still the result of not taking good care of it. I think that a yield of two or three thousand catties per mu is probably not a problem."

"If you don't believe me, then take it!"

Zhu Xiong Ying pursed her lips, then pointed to a small cloth bag in the corner of the table, which was full of potatoes.

Upon hearing this, Empress Ma felt a pang of heartache, raised her hand slightly, and then lowered it again.

What a spendthrift son!
Even though Empress Ma doted on Zhu Xiong Ying, she still wanted to beat this good-for-nothing son!
A divine grain that yields a thousand catties per mu, or even two or three thousand catties per mu, enough to feed all the people in the world, is just casually placed on the ground?
This thing is worth hundreds of millions of taels of silver! It can be used as an army of millions!
As long as the people have enough to eat and wear, they will not rebel! And the country will be secure forever!

"Somebody come!"

Empress Ma called out loudly, and immediately a member of the Imperial Guard entered the Wenhua Hall.

Since it wasn't ordered by their own prince, the people from the Western Depot were very clever and didn't come in.

Empress Ma took out two pieces of bright yellow cloth and placed them in a sandalwood box. Then she carefully took out a potato and put it in the box.

Immediately afterwards, he picked up a pen, wrote a short letter, and sealed it with wax.

"Deliver this letter and items to His Majesty as quickly as possible!"

"Remember, do not delay even for a moment!"

"Anyone who obstructs or delays will be considered a traitor and executed on the spot! Their entire clan will be held accountable afterwards!"

Empress Ma spoke in a deep voice.

These words startled even Zhu Xiong Ying!
He never expected that his kind and gentle grandmother, who would even pinch her own grandfather for no reason, would have such a murderous side!
And
Goodness, a fine sandalwood box, and bright yellow cloth symbolizing the Ming Dynasty imperial family—this potato has truly lived a life of 'no regrets,' getting such a good night's sleep!
"Yes!"

The Imperial Guardsmen's expressions hardened, and they accepted the offer.

He knew that he had received an extremely important imperial decree, and without any delay, he turned and left.

With each step, a murderous aura suddenly appeared.

Watching the Imperial Guards leave, Empress Ma lost all interest in teaching Zhu Xiong Ying the 'way of being a ruler,' and instead picked up the bag of potatoes: "Xiong Ying, this is of great importance. May I give it to your grandmother?"

Empress Ma's words, in which she began to refer to herself as "Grandma Empress," clearly demonstrate the importance of potatoes in her heart.

Zhu Xiong Ying looked at the virtuous empress before him, whose face was gentle but whose eyes were anxious and solemn, and nodded: "Grandmother, this matter concerns the well-being of all people, and your grandson is aware of it."

Seeing how sensible Zhu Xiong Ying was, Empress Ma was filled with joy and patted Zhu Xiong Ying's head: "Xiong Ying, good child."

After saying this, Empress Ma hurriedly left.

Watching her grandmother's departing figure, Zhu Xiong Ying's lips curled up slightly.

He had clearly seen the contents of the letter his grandmother had written.

They planted potatoes, demanded military tallies, and heavily guarded the imperial fields.

As soon as this military tally enters the palace...
Zhu Xiong Ying chuckled, knowing that even without actually mobilizing troops, his words were enough to intimidate the court officials.

Having a knife but not using it, and not having a knife at all, are worlds apart.

(End of this chapter)