My father, Li Shimin, please call me Crown Prince

Chapter 439 Li Chengqian's Dream, The Theory of Dongsheng Divine Continent
In early September, the rain stopped, the epidemic subsided, and Longyou also experienced a rain shower.

In Henan Province, disaster victims planted winter wheat on newly built river embankments, while in Longyou, new waterwheels were erected on the field ridges.

Although the Ministry of Revenue in Chang'an spent five million strings of cash on disaster relief, the tax revenue at the autumn harvest was not much less than in previous years because the disaster victims resumed farming as soon as possible and trade routes were not interrupted.

The morning market on Zhuque Street was bustling again. A vendor selling sesame cakes chatted with customers: "His Highness the Crown Prince's new policies are really effective. If this year of disaster had happened in the past, it would have been a complete mess by now!"

The guest nodded in agreement, pointing to the disaster relief details posted at the entrance of Huitong Company: "Look how clearly these accounts are kept. Every penny is spent on what, it's all written down. Now you know exactly what you're doing!"

The disaster struck Chang'an, and in the past, most disaster victims and refugees would rush to Chang'an.

But despite the magnitude of the disaster, no refugees came to Chang'an.

The reason why ordinary people could also know about it was because detailed information about the disaster had already been published in the Chang'an Gazette.

Li Chengqian didn't want to cover it up; he wanted more people to know the true extent of the disaster.

East Palace.

The reports sent from various places were laid out on the desk.

This natural disaster made the people truly understand the new policies.

It is not a cold set of rules, but a force that can protect your life and property in times of crisis.

It's not just empty talk in the imperial court; it's a bond that can unite the grain from Jiangnan, the medicine from Lingnan, and the money from Guanzhong into one.

The foundation of the new policies was truly laid into the soil of the Tang Dynasty only after this natural disaster.

This also means that, in terms of both power and prestige, Crown Prince Li Chengqian has reached the pinnacle.

"What is Your Highness still troubled about?"

Seeing Li Chengqian's slightly furrowed brows, Su Yu'er brought over the ginseng soup and asked softly.

Li Chengqian shook his head slightly, pointed to the report on the table, and said, "There is still too little grain."

Su Yu'er comforted him, "Your Highness has already done very well."

Li Chengqian did not answer.

He knew that in dynastic times, it was almost impossible for an agrarian civilization to ensure that everyone had enough to eat.

Even though the Tang Dynasty may seem prosperous now, there are actually many people who are starving.

Most people could barely survive.

Li Chengqian sighed inwardly.

It's a pity that potatoes didn't exist in this era.

It will certainly be able to support more people.

Potatoes were still in South America at this time.

It wasn't until the 16th century, when the Spanish conquered Peru, that potatoes were brought back to Europe.

Initially, potatoes were mainly grown in aristocratic gardens and were regarded as ornamental plants, not receiving widespread attention.

In the 18th century, many parts of Europe suffered from famine. People discovered that potatoes were drought-resistant, could withstand poor soil, had high yields, and had a short planting cycle and long shelf life, so they gradually began to be planted on a large scale.

In Ireland, because the fertile land was taken over by the British colonists, the locals could only grow potatoes on the barren land, making them the main food crop, and the population grew rapidly as a result.

The potato spread globally at the end of the 17th century, reaching India and Japan.

With colonial expansion and trade development, potatoes gradually spread to all parts of the world, becoming the world's fourth largest food crop after wheat, corn, and rice.

As for the Central Plains, it was introduced around the Wanli period of the Ming Dynasty, but the scale of cultivation was relatively small at that time.

Until the Qing Dynasty, the government encouraged the reclamation of wasteland, and potatoes, due to their strong adaptability and high yield, were widely planted throughout the country, becoming one of the important food crops.

The next day.

Court meeting.

The atmosphere today is different from usual.

Li Chengqian sat on the throne of the crown prince, his gaze sweeping over the officials below.

The impoverished scholar who passed the imperial examinations had enthusiasm for the new policies in his eyes, the veteran officials had their usual cautious expressions, and the Minister of Revenue, Dai Zhou, still held the autumn harvest report from Henan Province in his hand.

"My dear ministers, you must all be aware of the importance of food in dealing with the disaster situation recently."

Li Chengqian's voice echoed in the hall, carrying an unquestionable composure.

"Although the resumption of cultivation in Henan is progressing smoothly, the yield per mu is ultimately limited; the drought-resistant crops replanted in Longyou are also unlikely to yield as expected."

"Unable to sleep on a lonely night, I had a strange dream the other day."

All the officials looked up, and even Fang Xuanling, who had been resting with his eyes closed, opened them.

“In my dream, I saw my ancestors of the Great Tang Dynasty standing on the clouds, saying to me: ‘Beyond the East Sea, there is a great continent called Dongsheng Shenzhou. Its land is vast, its people are numerous and its food is plentiful. There is a crop called potato, which grows in the soil like taro. One acre can produce ten shi (a unit of dry measure). It is drought-resistant and can withstand poor soil. It can be eaten when steamed or ground into flour for storage. It can save the people from hunger and cold.’”

Li Chengqian stood up, his eyes burning: "Our ancestors warned us that grain is the foundation of the nation. If we obtain these beans, our Great Tang will no longer have to worry about floods, droughts, or famines!"

The hall was silent for a moment, then a murmur of discussion broke out.

Some people looked astonished, thinking that the crown prince was actually discussing politics based on a dream.

Curiosity gleamed in some eyes, after all, a yield of "ten bushels per mu" was simply a fantasy in the agricultural era.

Dai Zhou couldn't help but step forward: "Your Highness, the farthest reaches of the East China Sea are only Japan and Silla. I have never heard of 'Eastern Continent,' let alone the name 'Potato.' I'm afraid... I'm afraid it's all a hoax?"

Li Chengqian waved his hand: "Whether it's false or not, we'll know once we try it."

"Since our ancestors have shown us this omen, I believe it to be true. I hereby issue the decree of the Crown Prince, proclaiming to the world: Whoever can cross the Eastern Sea, find the Eastern Continent, and bring back potato seeds will be enfeoffed as a Marquis of Ten Thousand Households, rewarded with ten thousand catties of gold, a thousand acres of fertile land, and his descendants will inherit the title without fail, sharing the prosperity of the nation!"

"Hiss—" Gasps of cold air echoed throughout the hall.

A hereditary marquisate, ten thousand catties of gold, and a thousand acres of fertile land—such a reward is the largest since the founding of the Tang Dynasty.

The crown prince actually spent so much money on a "dream crop".

“Your Highness!” Minister of Rites Li Gang stepped forward to advise, “A long voyage across the sea is extremely dangerous. Not to mention whether the Eastern Continent still exists, the wind, waves and diseases alone are enough to wipe out even one-tenth of the fleet. Such a generous reward may attract people from all over the world to flock to it, which will only increase casualties!”

"Casualties?" Li Chengqian asked rhetorically, his gaze sweeping across the steps below: "How many disaster victims died from the plague in Henan? How many people resorted to cannibalism due to the severe drought in Longyou? If we can find the potatoes, we will save the lives of millions of people in future generations. I can bear this risk!"

After a pause, Li Chengqian looked at the naval commanders: "Issue my order: the navy shall immediately compile ocean nautical charts. For all those who wish to go to sea to find grain, the ships, grain, and sailors shall be provided by the court, with special funds from the Ministry of Revenue and the Ministry of Inspection responsible for registration and record-keeping. There shall be no errors!" When the court session ended, the news that "the Crown Prince dreamed of divine grain" had already spread like wildfire from the Taiji Palace, reaching all of Chang'an within half a day.

The Persian merchants in the West Market marveled at the notice, marveling at the Tang Dynasty Crown Prince's extraordinary courage.

The students from impoverished families at the Quanxueguan (a school for promoting education) were eager to learn, and some had already begun studying the old navigation charts of the navy.

Although this dream is absurd, it would be completely different if it were the Crown Prince's dream.

This is the work of Prince Nongze Shengrui, with his curved plow and triple-harvest rice, which enabled countless people to survive.

It is quite common for ancestors to appear in dreams nowadays.

In the side hall of the East Palace.

Li Chengqian was intently calculating in front of a huge nautical chart.

On the table were writing brushes, ink sticks, and counting rods, as well as several copies of "Records of Ocean Travels" sent by the navy, which contained scattered notes such as "Beyond the East China Sea there is the Kuroshio Current, which allows one to travel ten thousand miles downstream" and "A certain island produces a strange fruit that is shaped like a melon and tastes sweet."

When Su Yu'er brought in the late-night snack, she saw him drawing arcs on the map with a vermilion pen. Starting from Mingzhou Port, he first drew a dotted line to the east, marking "following the Kuroshio Current, it will take about a month to reach a certain archipelago." Then, he extended southeast from the archipelago, writing "there should be a warm current here, the wind direction needs to be measured, and it is estimated that it will take two months to reach Dongsheng Shenzhou."

"Is Your Highness drawing the road to Dongsheng Shenzhou?" Su Yu'er asked softly.

Li Chengqian looked up and rubbed his temples, his fingertip pointing to a blank space on the map: "According to the location in the dream, Dongsheng Shenzhou should be in the far east, even further than Japan and Ryukyu."

"The navy said that every winter and spring, the Kuroshio Current flows from south to north in the East China Sea. Following it can save a lot of effort. But the real difficulty is the route after crossing the ocean. There are no navigation marks or ports there. You can only rely on the sun, moon and stars to determine the direction and you also have to calculate the speed of the ocean currents."

Li Chengqian picked up the counting rods and began to calculate on the paper: "The Great Tang's sea falcon ships are twelve zhang long and can carry three hundred shi of grain. If fully loaded with food and fresh water, they can travel a hundred li per day. It would take about forty days to reach the easternmost known island from Mingzhou. From there, heading southeast, based on the speed of ocean currents, it would take at least three months to reach Dongsheng Shenzhou."

"How many storms and reefs we will have to go through along the way, and whether we can avoid the barbarians on the deserted island, are all unknowns."

Su Yu'er looked at the dark circles under his eyes and said with heartache, "Your Highness, why bother so much? The bounty has been issued, and there will be daring merchants and sailors to try it. Your Highness just needs to wait for news."

"We can't wait." Li Chengqian put down his counting rods, a barely perceptible sigh in his voice.

Li Chengqian picked up his pen again and marked "supply points" and "danger zones" on the map: "I want to draw out all the possible routes so that those who go out to sea can take this map with them, at least they can avoid some detours and have a better chance of survival."

He recalled the records of potato spread in later historical books.

It took hundreds of years to travel from South America to Europe and then to Asia.

Even if it meant using the pretense of "dream revelation," even if it meant offering a huge reward, even if it meant risking the loss of his boat and his life, he was determined to "invite" this crop to the Tang Dynasty ahead of schedule.

“Look here.” Li Chengqian pointed to a confluence of ocean currents on the map: “The navy says that seabirds often gather here, which means there are islands nearby that can serve as a stopover point.”

"And here, according to astrological calculations, around the winter solstice, the sun is at its highest point, at its lowest. Sailing south from there, as long as the sun is due south, you can keep heading towards the Eastern Continent..."

As Li Chengqian spoke, he added details to the map: "Tell the people going out to sea that the potatoes are buried in the soil, and they should be careful when digging them up so as not to damage the tubers."

As night deepened, the candlelight in the Eastern Palace burned until dawn. The nautical chart on the table was densely marked with vermilion ink, detailing everything from shipping routes, ocean currents, and supply points to the shape of potatoes and planting precautions.

This blueprint, which embodies the memories of later generations and the maritime experience of the Tang Dynasty, will soon be spread throughout the coastal ports along with the bounty notice.

Li Chengqian knew that this move was extremely risky, and there might be no news for several years, or the fleet he sent might never return.

But he had no choice. In this era of agrarian civilization, food was the lifeline, and potatoes were the hope that could make the lifeline of the Tang Dynasty more resilient.

"Whether it's Dongsheng Shenzhou or potatoes."

Li Chengqian gazed at the pale dawn breaking outside the window and murmured to himself, "Even if there's only a one in ten thousand chance, I'll take this gamble."

If the gamble is won, it will lay the foundation for a prosperous era where everyone is well-fed.

If you lose a bet, then keep betting.

Today, the Tang Dynasty had fewer than 20 million people, but in the late Qing Dynasty, sweet potatoes and potatoes fed 400 million people.

Although most people still cannot meet their basic needs, can 20 million people be compared to 400 million?

The next day.

The morning mist over Chang'an had not yet dissipated, but the wine flags in the West Market were already fluttering in the breeze.

Zhang Cheng squeezed into the crowd in front of the bulletin board, craning his neck and staring intently at the notice stamped with the Crown Prince's Regent Seal.

The words on the notice, "There is a rare potato in Dongsheng Shenzhou, which can yield a thousand catties per mu. Whoever finds it will be rewarded with a thousand bolts of brocade and a hundred mu of fertile land," were blurred by the morning dew, but they exploded in his mind like a thunderclap.

"His Highness the Crown Prince himself said that the Eastern Continent of Divine Victory is 30,000 miles beyond the East Sea, with immortal mountains floating in the sky and gold nuggets everywhere that can fill one's stomach!"

Beside him, a scholar carrying a satchel was reciting aloud, swaying his head, the bronze fish-shaped pouch hanging from his waist jingling with each movement.

No sooner had he finished speaking than a burst of snickers came from the crowd.

"Is Zhang Laosan going crazy?"

Butcher Wang, who sells meat, grimaced as he held his boning knife, his shiny apron still stained with blood.

"Your Highness, do you really believe what you're saying? Let alone the Divine Continent 30,000 miles away, who has ever actually seen Penglai Island in the East Sea?"

Zhang Cheng clenched his fist tightly, but stubbornly refused to retort.

The clamor in the tavern suddenly subsided slightly as a courier in a green robe stood before the counter, loudly proclaiming the Crown Prince's decree.

Just as Zhang Cheng was about to listen more closely, several men dressed as salt merchants at the next table burst into laughter.

"Have you heard? That Zhang Cheng is going to sell his family fortune to search for some divine continent!"

The merchant with the goatee took a sip of wine, the copper coins jingling between his fingers: "I think he's gone mad with poverty. He should sell his wife and children to buy a boat ticket, so he won't end up as fish food at sea!"

Amidst the uproarious laughter of the entire room, Zhang Cheng slammed the rough earthenware bowl in his hand onto the table with a loud crash, completely unaware that wine had splashed onto his lapel.

He thought of the fifty bolts of Shu brocade in his backyard and the three hundred strings of copper coins hidden in the chest in the east wing. These were the savings accumulated by three generations, but now they felt like branding irons being heated over a raging fire, making him restless.

"Has Sanlang gone mad?" His wife, holding their one-year-old son, watched Zhang Cheng directing the workers to load the Shu brocade onto the carriage, her eyes red with anxiety.

"The East China Sea stretches for thousands of miles, and countless merchant ships have gone there and never returned. How can you gamble with your entire family's lives?"

The neighbors gathered at the gate, pointing and gossiping. Granny Li from next door sighed, leaning on her cane, "This child has no good family fortune to give up and insists on chasing after the clouds in the sky. He must be bewitched."

Zhang Cheng stopped in his tracks, his voice firm and excited, and said to his wife, "If His Highness the Crown Prince says there is an Eastern Continent, then it must exist. If he says there are potato crops, then it's absolutely true!"

"Once I bring back the seeds, our son will be able to eat white rice every day in the future!"

(End of this chapter)