I traveled with them to the Northern Song Dynasty

Chapter 347 Zhang Chun Wants a Slice of Cake
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Upon learning that Zhang Chun had something important to discuss with them, Ma Xiaojiao and Yuan Qingcheng ended their argument and went to Zhang Chun's palace together.

When Ma Xiaojiao and Yuan Qingcheng arrived at Zhang Chun's palace, Zhang Chun and Li Lin were already there; only Ye Shiyun had not yet arrived.

Zhang Chun led Li Lin, Ma Xiaojiao, and Yuan Qingcheng to her secret room, and then had palace servants bring them tea, fruit, and dried fruit.

After Li Shishi left with her entourage, Yuan Qingcheng asked Zhang Chun, "What made you gather us all here so solemnly?"

Unexpectedly, Zhang Chun kept everyone in suspense, saying, "No rush, we'll talk about it when Shiyun arrives."

After saying that, Zhang Chun picked up the teacup and began to drink the tea slowly and calmly.

Recently, Zhang Chun has been in high spirits. Her son, Zhao Cheng, has repeatedly made meritorious contributions on the front lines and has become the prince with the most merits among all the princes.

Not only Zhao Cheng, but Zhang Chun's second son, Zhao Kai, has also begun to show his talent on the front lines. His battle record is close to that of Zhao Cheng, Zhao Di, Zhao Qing, Zhao Shou, and other capable princes, and he is quietly squeezing into the first tier.

With her son's help, Zhang Chun has recently become arrogant again, somewhat reminiscent of when she wanted to be the eldest of the five women.

In fact, the reason why the women's sons were so good at fighting was not only because they were well-educated, but also because the people they assigned to protect their sons were capable.

Take Zhao Cheng as an example.

The person who protected Zhao Cheng on the battlefield was Yue Fei. If he couldn't achieve such a record, then there would be a problem.

It's important to understand that Yue Fei, historically, was a brilliant military strategist. He could defeat superior numbers with fewer troops, using infantry to break through cavalry, achieving miracles in battles like Yancheng and Yingchang. He was also adept at overall strategy, constructing a strategic layout connecting Hebei, leading the Jin army to lament, "It's easier to shake a mountain than to shake Yue Fei's army." His tactics were flexible and varied, employing surprise attacks or defensive maneuvers, always accurately exploiting the enemy's weaknesses and firmly grasping the initiative on the battlefield. In terms of military discipline, he was iron-fisted, enforcing the rule that "it's better to freeze to death than dismantle a house, better to starve to death than loot," making Yue Fei's army a "righteous and benevolent army" in the hearts of the people. This cohesion far surpassed that of ordinary armies; soldiers were willing to die for him, naturally resulting in far superior combat effectiveness.

Throughout Chinese history, there are very few individuals who possess top-notch tactics, strict military discipline, and lofty ideals, and Yue Fei is one of them.

With Yue Fei helping Zhao Cheng fight, what's so strange about Zhao Cheng being able to achieve great feats on the front lines?

Not only Zhao Cheng, but also the sons of his five daughters, and even all of Zhao Yu's sons, who went to the battlefield, were protected by capable generals. Among them were future famous generals such as Yue Fei, Liu Qi, Yang Yizhong, Niu Gao, and Zhang Xian.

Li Lin, who had a better understanding of the army and the front-line battles, knew that although Zhao Yu's sons all seemed to be performing well, most of them (including Zhao Tang and Zhao Kai) were actually only at the level of ordinary upper-class generals. The reason they achieved more outstanding results than their peers was mainly because the people assisting them were capable.

What was there to be proud of in Li Lin's proud and arrogant eyes?
So, Li Lin ignored Zhang Chun, who was trying to get cocky again, and instead said directly to Ma Xiaojiao and Yuan Qingcheng, "We've discovered a new continent! We've brought back rubber, corn, potatoes, sweet potatoes, chili peppers, and sunflowers."

Ma Xiaojiao and Yuan Qingcheng were overjoyed!

The rubber tree played a revolutionary role in driving the Industrial Revolution.

The most obvious value of rubber lies in its natural advantages of elasticity and sealing properties. In the operation of industrial machinery, the connection of transmission devices and the sealing of pipe interfaces have long relied on leather or metal. The former is prone to wear and the latter is difficult to adapt, which has always been a bottleneck restricting the efficiency of machines.

Rubber products, whether drive belts or sealing gaskets, can withstand the friction of high-speed mechanical operation and fit tightly to interfaces of different specifications, which can significantly reduce the failure rate of machines and allow core equipment such as steam engines and textile machines to operate stably and for a long time, improving efficiency by more than several times.

More importantly, the insulating properties of rubber laid the foundation for the arrival of the electric era.

Previously, the development of electrical appliances in the Song Dynasty was hampered by the limitations of conductive materials. Electric lights and telegraphs had already been invented, but due to the problem of electrical wires, they were never put to great use.

The non-conductive nature of rubber makes it an ideal material for wrapping electrical wires, avoiding the safety hazards of current leakage and allowing electricity to be transmitted over long distances through cables. This will inevitably drive electric motors to replace steam engines and become the new core power source for industrial production.

Furthermore, the plasticity of rubber will give rise to countless new industrial components. From shock-absorbing tires to precision seals, from wear-resistant conveyor belts to flexible hoses, these rubber-based parts will make machines more sophisticated in structure and run more smoothly, greatly expanding the application scenarios of industrial equipment.

To put it simply, from small wooden bicycles, rickshaws, bicycles, and spinning machines in textile factories to large cars and trains, the addition of rubber parts can significantly improve their performance.

It can be said that the emergence of rubber was like a "buffer" and "lubricant" for the Industrial Revolution, allowing this technological revolution, which was bound to sweep the world, to move forward more smoothly and deeply.

For Ma Xiaojiao, a key figure in the Industrial Revolution, obtaining rubber was like a timely rain for parched land, finally giving a foundation to her many long-held industrial plans.

Ma Xiaojiao said excitedly, "With rubber, the locomotive's braking system can be upgraded to another level, and the shock absorption device of the carriage can be completely revamped, doubling the train's speed and capacity. And the electrical wires can finally say goodbye to being wrapped in multiple layers of natural resin and linen..."

Ma Xiaojiao rattled off dozens of uses for rubber in one breath, speaking fluently and eloquently.

It's clear how happy Ma Xiaojiao was to receive the rubber.

Yuan Qingcheng was also very happy. Although the grain output of the Song Dynasty had increased several times under her efforts and the fruits and vegetables had become more abundant, the introduction of corn, potatoes and sweet potatoes still had a disruptive significance for the food security and social stability of the Song Dynasty.

These three crops are drought-resistant and can thrive in poor soil, with adaptability far exceeding that of traditional rice and wheat. They can take root in the dry lands and mountains of the north, as well as in the hilly and barren areas of the south, greatly expanding the boundaries of arable land. Furthermore, in years of famine, rice and wheat may suffer complete crop failure due to drought or flood, while potatoes and sweet potatoes, buried underground, possess extremely strong disaster resistance, making them a potential "lifeline" for the people. Their high-yield characteristics can directly increase the total grain production. Trial planting calculations show that the yield of one acre of sweet potatoes can be several times that of rice and wheat, meaning that the same amount of land can feed a larger population, fundamentally alleviating the contradiction between population growth and food shortages in the Song Dynasty, reducing the number of refugees, stabilizing household registration, and providing a more abundant labor force for social production. The value of chili peppers and sunflowers lies in improving people's livelihoods and supplementing the economy.

Chili peppers not only enrich the flavor of food, but their easy storage and transportability also make them a popular seasoning ingredient in remote areas. Furthermore, through pickling and drying, they can become a delicious side dish in winter, improving the quality of people's diets.

The introduction of sunflowers not only added a cash crop for farmers—the seeds could be pressed for oil, filling the gap in the supply of edible oil in the Song Dynasty, and the flower heads and stalks could be used as feed, helping the development of the livestock industry; its salt-alkali and drought-resistant characteristics also allowed it to be planted on marginal land without competing with staple crops for land, forming a diversified planting structure of "grain + economy", making farmers' income more stable and indirectly promoting the vitality of the rural economy.

In short, the arrival of these crops not only supplemented agricultural production in the Song Dynasty, but also reshaped the foundation of society: ample grain reserves gave the court more confidence to deal with disasters, population growth provided labor support for handicrafts and commerce, and the abundance of food and cash crops improved people's sense of well-being, injecting profound impetus into the long-term stability and sustainable development of the Song Dynasty.

Of course, the corn, potatoes, sweet potatoes, peppers, and sunflowers of today are certainly not the high-yield, drought-resistant, and barren-tolerant varieties of later generations. They need continuous breeding and improvement in order to realize their full potential.

This is precisely Yuan Qingcheng's opportunity to showcase her talents.

When Ye Shiyun arrived, she saw Ma Xiaojiao and Yuan Qingcheng excitedly discussing the various possibilities of the new crops. Their eyes sparkled with excitement, as if they could already see the future prosperity of the Song Dynasty driven by these crops.

Ye Shiyun asked, "What are you two talking about so enthusiastically? You look so excited, is there some good news?"

Ma Xiaojiao immediately told Ye Shiyun about her discovery of the new continent.

Upon hearing this, Ye Shiyun exclaimed with delight, "So, does that mean I can eat California red abalone, bluefin tuna, and vanilla beans?"

The other four girls rolled their eyes, thinking to themselves, 'This glutton!'

Ye Shiyun clutched the Song Dynasty's money pouch, especially Zhao Yu's money pouch. Only Ye Shiyun knew exactly how much money Zhao Yu had; even Huang Jingchen's knowledge was incomplete.

Not only was Ye Shiyun someone Zhang Chun dared not offend, but she also had to curry favor with her, since she might need Ye Shiyun's help for money in the future.

So, despite her disdain for Ye Shiyun, she still said immediately, "We don't know if they brought back California red abalone, bluefin tuna, or vanilla beans this time, but as long as they find a new continent, just let them know, and they will definitely collect these top-quality ingredients for you."

Li Lin warned Ye Shiyun: "Take it easy. Don't be like Yang Guifei, who caused a waste of money and resources just to eat some lychees. Although our Great Song Dynasty has some savings, these funds must be used wisely, such as for industrial development, agricultural improvement, and people's livelihood. We can't afford to squander them on your gluttony."

Ye Shiyun said dismissively, "Don't make a big deal out of it. I don't eat lychees all the time, so how much money could it cost? Besides, Yang Guifei was just being pretentious, insisting on eating fresh lychees. What I want, they can just bring back some for me. How much trouble and expense could it cause? If it really doesn't work, I can just buy them from them myself. That should be fine, right?"

Then, Ye Shiyun said confidently, "Where there is demand, there is a market. When we have a demand for the products of the New World, people will be willing to explore, transport, and trade them. Once this chain is in motion, won't the shipping, warehousing, and markets along the way all come alive?"

Ye Shiyun's words also make sense.

Just like the development of Huazhu by the Song Dynasty, if it weren't for people like Ye Shiyun who liked to eat Australian lobsters, and the Song people's continuous demand for local specialties such as kangaroo jerky, eucalyptus honey, and pearl oysters, the development of Huazhu by the Song Dynasty might not have made such solid progress.

These demands fostered a stable trade chain: the Song Dynasty exchanged silk, porcelain, glass, tea, salt, and various light and heavy industrial products for gold, silver, gems, timber, ores, lobsters, dried meat, honey, pearls, and other goods from Huazhu.

It can be said that it was these demand-driven trade exchanges that led to a mutually beneficial economic relationship between the Song Dynasty and Huazhu. The Song Dynasty obtained special products and resources that it did not have or had relatively few of, while the people living and working in Huazhu improved their productivity and living standards through trade. The cohesion generated by this economic bond was far more solid and lasting than mere occupation.

After the five women chatted for a while, Ye Shiyun asked Zhang Chun, "You called us all here not just to tell us you've found a new continent, right?"

Zhang Chun nodded and said bluntly, "The Crown Prince has performed admirably on the front lines, not much less than our son. Judging from this, it's unlikely that our son will replace the Crown Prince, so there's no place for our son here. Therefore, I think we need to consider the matter of enfeoffment. Fortunately, Australia and Southeast Asia can already be used as fiefdoms. Now that the New World has been discovered, shouldn't we discuss how to divide the spoils?"

"Cake cutting?!"

Li Lin, Ye Shiyun, Ma Xiaojiao, and Yuan Qingcheng were all taken aback. They all thought in unison, 'What? Cutting the cake?'

Seeing the four women's confusion, Zhang Chunqing cleared his throat, sounding somewhat like a certain art student from history, and said, "Here's what I'm thinking: there are seven continents in this world, right? After all, the Emperor is our man, and it wouldn't be right not to leave him one continent. So let's give him Asia; and how about we divide the remaining six continents among the five of us?"

After hearing Zhang Chun's boastful words, the four women were all dumbfounded. They never expected that Zhang Chun could say such arrogant things.

Emperor Zhao Yu of the Song Dynasty is still quite far from unifying Asia, and it's uncertain whether he will even be able to accomplish it in his lifetime. And these five women in his harem are supposed to be divided among six continents?!

The four women really wanted to ask Zhang Chun, 'Who gave you the courage to say such boastful things? Was it Liang Jingru?'

Ma Xiaojiao and Yuan Qingcheng exchanged a glance. They could see in each other's eyes, 'She's up to something again. If the secret that the official family is also a time traveler were revealed, she'd be terrified of her own actions. It seems keeping this secret is the right thing to do…'

……

(End of this chapter)