Prince Bei Jing of the Red Chamber, starting from saving Qin Keqing

The once peaceful and prosperous Fengtian Hall was disrupted by the vulgar provocations and arrogant threats from the Tatar and Oirat envoys.

The music inside the hall abruptly stopped, the dancers retreated, and the atmosphere instantly became as cold as iron, filled with only oppressive silence.

The envoys from various countries whispered amongst themselves, their expressions filled with surprise and doubt, while the ministers of the six ministries and the senior cabinet officials exchanged bewildered glances.

All eyes were fixed on the two rough, dark brown wild fruits in Shui Rong's hand, fruits they had never seen before, filled with confusion and solemnity.

Since the founding of the Great Yin Dynasty, agriculture and sericulture have been based on the five grains: rice, wheat, millet, sorghum, and beans, interspersed with mulberry trees, hemp, vegetables, and fruits.

Throughout the court and among the farmers of the land, not a single person had ever heard of the names "sweet potato" or "potato."

Little did they know that these two crops could grow wildly on barren grasslands and save nomadic tribes from their life-or-death predicament.

Shui Rong gripped the cracked sweet potato tightly in her fingertips, her fingertips rubbing its rough skin. Her heart was in turmoil, but her expression remained calm.

When he angrily denounced the barbarians, he was stern and confident, but as someone who had traveled from another time, he knew better than anyone the importance of these two crops.

According to the original timeline, high-yield crops like sweet potatoes, potatoes, and corn would have taken at least another ten years to be introduced to the Central Plains via Southeast Asia.

But now, a "goddess" who appeared out of nowhere has abruptly disrupted the course of history, taking away this grain that could change the world's格局 (geju, a concept encompassing the overall situation, the overall structure, and the overall context).

It was delivered to the Tatars and Oirats, their sworn enemies.

If the grasslands truly solve their food shortage and consolidate their power through this, a powerful regime that rivals the Great Yin will inevitably rise in the north, posing a catastrophic threat hanging over their heads.

Zhu Yiheng, seated on the throne, had a somber expression. He lightly tapped the armrest of the dragon throne with his fingertips. The dull sound was particularly clear in the silent hall, breaking the tense atmosphere.

He glanced up and swept his gaze across the apprehensive assembled officials and the foreign guests with their varied expressions, his tone calm yet carrying an undeniable authority:

"Musicians, please stop playing for now. Su Wenyuan, you stay and continue to discuss trade, tributary relations, and other matters with the envoys from various countries. There's no need to disrupt the established order."

He paused, his gaze falling on Shui Rong, then sweeping over Grand Secretary Zhang Shi'an and Minister of War Qin Zhongxun, his voice deepening:

"Shui Rong, come with me to the Imperial Study; Zhang Shi'an and Qin Zhongxun, you two come together, I have important matters to discuss with you in private."

"Your Majesty, we obey." The three bowed in unison, their expressions becoming solemn.

Qin Zhongxun quickly stepped forward and gently helped the older Zhang Shi'an, the two of them following closely behind Shui Rong.

Following Zhu Yiheng's imperial carriage, they passed through the palace corridors and headed towards the Imperial Study in the inner court.

Outside the hall, the cold wind swept past the eaves, carrying lingering snow, which mingled with the oppressive atmosphere inside, adding to the somber mood.

As soon as you step into the Imperial Study, the rich and mellow scent of ambergris wafts over, dispelling the chill outside. Inside, the charcoal fire burns brightly, warm as spring, yet it cannot dispel the tension that permeates the room.

Zhu Yiheng walked straight to the main seat and sat down. The hem of his dragon robe swept across the table, but he did not speak immediately.

He merely raised a hand to rub his temples, the composure he had feigned in the palace gradually fading, his eyes swirling with anxiety, apprehension, and confusion—he had reigned for decades, balancing the imperial clan and pacifying border troubles.

He had seen all kinds of storms, but the sudden appearance of a goddess, the unheard-of high-yield crops, and the menacing grassland tribes still weighed heavily on his mind.

After a long silence, he looked up at the three people below the steps, his voice calm yet tinged with barely suppressed melancholy, and slowly began to speak:

"The three of you are all my trusted confidants, and you have all seen what happened in the hall."

"Now that there are no outsiders present, who can tell me the truth? Who is this so-called 'goddess' of the Mongolian grasslands, a demon from some powerful force?"

"And these sweet potatoes and potatoes! My Great Yin is a vast and resource-rich land, with countless agricultural books and records, yet there is not a single record of them, and not a single person has ever seen them in person?"

He tapped his fingertips lightly on the imperial desk, his voice carrying a barely perceptible hint of weariness:

"I am long past the age of getting angry easily. Getting angry solves nothing. What I need now is the truth and a solution."

Shui Rong stepped forward, gently placed the two sweet potatoes and potatoes on the imperial desk with both hands, bowed respectfully, and spoke in a calm and resolute tone:

"Your Majesty, two years ago, I had a casual conversation with the captain of a Portuguese merchant ship and obtained a travelogue diary from him."

"That diary recorded two root crops grown in the barbarian lands overseas. They were drought-resistant, tolerant of poor soil, and undemanding in terms of land, with yields far exceeding those of rice and wheat. These were the sweet potatoes and potatoes that the barbarians spoke of."

"But today, I noticed that none of the people from the Portuguese have ever seen this crop before, so I wonder if the Portuguese found it somewhere else."

"Moreover, at that time, my brother had only seen written records and had never seen the actual object. So he organized the diary and submitted it to the cabinet for archiving, suggesting that people be sent to search for and introduce the species. However, at that time, the border situation was turbulent, so the matter was put on hold."

Upon hearing this, Grand Secretary Zhang Shian immediately stroked his beard, bowed, and took over the conversation, his tone tinged with regret and self-reflection:

"Your Majesty, everything the Prince said is true. I have indeed read that overseas diary and personally ordered the Ministry of Revenue and the Ministry of Agriculture to jointly send people to search for these two crops along the trade routes of Southeast Asia and the West."

"The search took a year, and the people sent out either disappeared without a trace or reported back that they had never seen it."

"In addition, there were many other matters such as floods in Jiangnan and military training in Liaodong, so this matter was gradually suppressed. It was due to my incompetence that I failed to persevere to the end."

Zhu Yiheng waved his hand, indicating that he did not need to blame himself: "There was a reason for this. It's not your fault. I didn't take this foreign treasure seriously at the time, which is why we are in such a passive position now."

Seeing this, Shui Rong spoke again, his tone calm, analyzing the situation meticulously, attempting to soothe Zhu Yiheng's worries:

"Your Majesty need not be overly anxious. Even if the Tatars and Oirats do obtain crop seeds and begin large-scale planting, establishing a nation and becoming a hegemon will not be achieved overnight."

"The Tatars and Oirats have been fighting for a century, neither willing to submit to the other. Their current alliance is merely a temporary one due to food supplies. However, once they establish their own states, the question of who will be the ruler and who will command the army will inevitably lead to endless infighting."

"Moreover, the so-called 'goddess' is a woman who leads the tribe. The men of the grasslands have always revered strength and respected blood ties. How could they willingly be controlled by a woman of unknown origin?"

"Internal suspicion and factional strife are enough to slow them down."

"In my opinion, it will take them at least five to six years to go from planting and stockpiling grain to consolidating their power and establishing a state. This window of opportunity is a good chance for our Great Yin to lay out its plans and prepare for war."

As Zhu Yiheng listened to this analysis, his tightly furrowed brows gradually relaxed, and most of the anxiety in his eyes dissipated. He nodded slightly.

"Your words, my brother, hit the nail on the head. I am blinded by my own situation and have forgotten that the tribes of the grasslands have always been divided and unable to unite as one."

Seeing this, Zhang Shi'an stepped forward, bowed, and presented his strategy for trade, his words meticulous and taking into account both the advantages and disadvantages:

"Your Majesty, the Prince's analysis is absolutely correct. As for the trade requests made by the Tatars and Oirats, I believe that not only should we not refuse them, but we should actively facilitate them."

"Our Great Yin's ironware, silk, porcelain, and cloth are all scarce resources on the grasslands. We can use these as bargaining chips to propose exchanging ironware and farm tools for sweet potato and potato seeds and planting methods."

"If they agree, our dynasty can introduce these two crops to the barren lands of the Northwest and Liaodong, greatly increasing grain production and population."

"At that time, our national strength will be even greater, and we will have nothing to fear from the northern barbarians."

"If they refuse, we will bribe the minor chiefs and herdsmen in the tribes with a large sum of money. With such a reward, there will surely be brave men who can get their hands on the seeds and techniques."

"Brilliant! Minister Zhang's plan kills two birds with one stone!"

Zhu Yiheng slammed his hand on the table, the worry on his face vanishing almost entirely, and approval flashed in his eyes:

"It not only solves the food shortage but also allows us to understand the situation on the grasslands, which is much better than simply engaging in a hardline confrontation."

Having said that, he turned to look at Qin Zhongxun, the Minister of War, his expression becoming solemn again, his tone serious:

"Minister Qin, you have been in charge of the Ministry of War for many years. You know best the troop deployment and food reserves of the nine border garrisons."

"Let me ask you this: if the Tatars and Oirats break their word and indeed launch an invasion southward next spring, can our border defenses withstand the first wave of attacks?"

Qin Zhongxun bowed respectfully, his tone firm and resolute, his vows sincere and without a trace of pretense:

"Your Majesty, the nine important border towns are all formidable passes and strategic strongholds that have been repaired and maintained by previous dynasties and our dynasty. They are fortified with high walls, deep moats, and tight defenses."

"Each town has a permanent garrison of no less than 50,000 border troops, plus the military households and able-bodied men who cultivate the land in the city. Once the war starts, more than 100,000 defensive troops can be mobilized immediately."

"The nine towns are mutually supportive, their beacon fires connected, and they can support each other. Even if the barbarian cavalry is fierce, it is absolutely impossible for them to break through the pass easily."

Zhu Yiheng slowly stood up, paced around the imperial study a few times, his expression shifting from solemn to resolute. Finally, he stopped in his tracks, raised his eyes, and gave the order, his tone firm and powerful:

"Good! Qin Zhongxun, I order you to immediately draft a secret edict and send it to the nine border towns by express courier."

"Instruct the generals of each town to enjoy the New Year in peace, to reorganize their troops, repair their weapons, and remain on high alert, without the slightest slackening."

"I hereby issue an order to the Ministry of Revenue to immediately inventory the national treasury's grain and silver reserves and to mobilize grain transport vessels."

"Send grain and supplies to key towns such as Liaodong, Jizhou, and Xuanfu in batches to prepare for the major battle!"

He turned to look at the three of them, his gaze gentle and full of satisfaction, his tone one of genuine praise:

"If it weren't for the three of you today, I'm afraid I would still be trapped in worries and lose my composure."

"The three of you are truly my trusted and loyal ministers, the pillars of the Great Yin Dynasty. With you here, what do I have to worry about in the face of border troubles, or about the stability of the nation?"

Shui Rong, Zhang Shi'an, and Qin Zhongxun bowed in unison, their voices in unison: "We are honored by Your Majesty's trust and will do our utmost to protect the Great Yin Dynasty and ensure Your Majesty's safety."

But nobody knows how many of those statements were truly sincere.

A plan was devised, and all decisions were finalized within the Imperial Study.