Dad, don't be greedy! My brother climbed into the emperor's bed, and I became famous overn

Pesticides work faster than anyone imagined.

On the afternoon of the day the first batch of pesticides was sprayed, Zhao Pucheng led his constables to inspect the fields.

Upon closer inspection, the soil was teeming with insect eggs, their shells all blackened and soft, crumbling at the slightest touch.

Zhao Pucheng squatted on the edge of the field, turning over and over in the soil, becoming more and more excited with each turn.

"The locusts are all dead! All dead! Not even the eggs were left!"

The situation in each village is almost the same.

The ducks are responsible for cleaning the ground, while the pesticides are responsible for killing the eggs underground.

Zhao Pucheng was extremely busy, coordinating with various counties to obtain pesticides while arranging manpower to guide the spraying process.

With a two-pronged approach, within five days, the locusts in all the fertile fields surrounding Anyang County were basically wiped out.

The people were overjoyed.

Things can finally be planted in the fields.

Although the crops that have been eaten away and left only stubble are beyond saving, as long as the insects are all dead, it is still not too late to replant a late crop.

The feedback from several surrounding counties was equally encouraging.

The effect of the emperor personally coming to provide disaster relief is truly remarkable!

The people are now deeply grateful to the emperor and wholeheartedly support Pujitang.

From now on, the Cui family will no longer be able to control their fate.

After the clouds part, the sun shines through, and the blue sky is finally revealed.

Gu Mingli slept soundly in bed for a full day and night.

When I woke up, the sun was already setting.

He sat up and stared blankly at the ceiling for a while.

"Young Master Gu! You're awake!" The young eunuch beside him quickly stepped forward. "Would you like some water or would you like to wash up first?"

Gu Mingli was still a little groggy from sleep. His mind slowly worked for a couple of seconds before he remembered where he was.

He said gently to the young eunuch, "Go wash up first."

"Alright! Please wait a moment, I'll fetch you some water right away."

Having said that, the young eunuch quickly went out.

There was a bowl of warm white porridge on the table, with a note next to it.

It's Xiao Ye's handwriting:

"The pesticides are already being used, and they're working very well. Once you're awake, eat something and get some rest. Don't worry about the locust control."

Gu Mingli relaxed and smiled slightly before quickly washing up.

He gulped down the white porridge in a few mouthfuls, then staggered out the door.

The sunlight in the backyard was so bright it made you squint.

When Yi Shi saw him come out, he quickly went to greet him.

"Young Master is awake? Miss and His Majesty are discussing matters in the front hall."

"it is good."

Gu Mingli walked slowly towards the front yard.

Before they even entered the room, they heard Zhao Pucheng's voice, which was clearly anxious.

"Your Majesty! Master Gu! Something terrible has happened!"

Zhao Pucheng stood in the hall, sweat beading on his forehead, clutching a piece of official document in his hand.

Gu Mingyue sat on the right, and Xiao Ye sat at the head of the table. Both of them had calm and composed expressions, showing no joy or anger.

"What's wrong?"

Gu Mingli walked in and bowed to Xiao Ye.

Xiao Ye raised his chin, gesturing for him to sit down and talk.

"Why didn't you sleep a little longer?"

"It's okay, I've had enough sleep."

Gu Mingli looked at Zhao Pucheng.

"Is something difficult happening again?"

Zhao Pucheng was so anxious that he could barely speak.

"All the grain stores in the city and the neighboring counties are closed today!"

"Close all the doors?" Gu Mingli was taken aback.

"It's just that...all the grain stores have posted notices saying they're short of grain and have suspended sales!"

Zhao Pucheng handed over the paper in his hand.

"Not just Anyang City! All grain shops throughout the entire Jizhou region have suspended sales starting this morning!"

Gu Mingli took it and looked at it.

The content is largely the same: Due to the locust plague, grain reserves are insufficient, and grain sales will be suspended immediately.

"How many grain stores are there in Jizhou in total?" Gu Mingyue asked.

"Forty-seven companies, large and small."

Zhao Pucheng frowned deeply.

"Thirty-nine of them are under the Cui family's name. The remaining eight also get their goods from the Cui family. If the Cui family doesn't release grain, they can't sell it either."

Xiao Ye remained calm, but his eyes were cold.

"The disaster relief food is almost sold out. What's the situation on the people's side?"

Zhao Pucheng looked distressed and somewhat anxious.

"The people started to panic. Long queues formed outside the Pujitang grain store early in the morning, only to find out that Pujitang was also short of food... Many people burst into tears on the spot."

"Now people are already reselling their stored grain at high prices on the streets. A dou (a unit of dry measure) of rice has gone from twenty wen to fifty wen. And it's still going up."

Gu Mingli and Gu Mingyue exchanged a glance.

The Cui family did indeed make their move.

The locust plague had just been brought under control when the food shortage struck.

That's exactly the timing.

The people had no harvest in their fields and no grain in their hands, so they had to rely on buying grain to make a living.

If the Cui family cuts off supplies at this time, the entire Ji Province will be thrown into chaos.

Gu Mingyue looked at Zhao Pucheng.

"How much grain does Pujitang have left in its Anyang store?"

Zhao Pucheng frowned.

"Master Gu, the Pujitang grain shop has been selling grain at a fair price to provide disaster relief these past few days. The stock is running low; we can only hold on for three more days at most."

If there is no new source of grain in three days, the Cui family will completely control the price of rice in the entire Ji Province.

At that time, let alone fifty coins a bushel, people will dare to sell it for one hundred coins.

The Cui family is openly challenging them.

Gu Mingyue stood up and walked into the hall.

"Magistrate Zhao".

"exist!"

"Pujitang Grain Shop will be stocking a new batch of goods tomorrow. You can encourage the people to come and buy them."

Zhao Pucheng was stunned. "What goods are you exchanging them for?"

Gu Mingyue looked at Yi Wu beside her.

Yi Wu understood, turned around and went out the door, and returned a moment later with two assistants.

Each person was carrying a burlap sack.

The sack landed on the ground with a "thud".

Yi Wu opened the bag, reached inside and took out two items, placing them on the table.

A round, brown lump covered in dirt.

A long, reddish tuber.

Zhao Pucheng leaned over and looked at it for a long time, looking completely bewildered.

"Isn't this what we recruited people to dig up a while ago?"

"Yes, these two crops are called potatoes and sweet potatoes."

Gu Mingyue pointed to the two items.

"They are all edible."

"Edible?!"

Zhao Pucheng was pleasantly surprised. He reached out and picked up the potato, examining it from all angles.

"How do you eat it?"

"You can boil it, steam it, bake it, slice it and stir-fry it, or grind it into powder to make pancakes."

"If planted in the ground, it can yield about 2,000 catties per mu, and can be harvested in more than three months. It is not picky about the land; it can be planted in dry land, sloping land, and sandy land."

Zhao Pucheng almost dropped the potato in his hand.

"How much...how many can it produce?"

"Two thousand catties."

Zhao Pucheng was dumbfounded.

Even the best fields in Jizhou only yield about 300 to 400 catties of wheat per mu.

Can this thing produce two thousand catties?

"Mr. Gu, are you sure you're not mistaken?"

Zhao Pucheng's voice was trembling.

If what Master Gu said is true, this thing could save lives in the future!

"That's right."

Gu Mingyue took a planting instruction sheet that Yi Wu had written in advance from Yi Wu.

"After the locust plague is cleared, if we plant according to this method, we will not run out of food in winter."

Zhao Pucheng held the document as if it were a treasure bestowed by a deity.

Gu Mingyue looked at Xiao Ye.

Xiao Ye nodded, leaving the arrangements entirely to her.

Gu Mingyue instructed: "Starting tomorrow, Pujitang Grain Shop will switch to selling potatoes and sweet potatoes."

"Five coins per pound. We also offer free training to people on how to plant by cutting buds."

"As long as there is a small plot of land at home, you can harvest your own grain after three months."

Zhao Pucheng nodded excitedly.

"Yes, sir! I'll take care of it right away!"

"Master Gu...you have shown me such great kindness...I thank you on behalf of the people!"

After saying this, he bowed to the emperor again and jogged away.

Gu Mingli leaned back in his chair, watching Zhao Pucheng's departing figure, and stretched.

"The Cui family did this on purpose."

Gu Mingyue nodded.

"Potatoes and sweet potatoes can solve the immediate problem, but the Cui family's food shortage this time is clearly not aimed at Jizhou."

"That's right."

Xiao Ye frowned slightly and looked at Gu Mingyue.

"He's here for the imperial court. Master Gu, the grain price war we simulated before is probably about to begin."

"Let's make arrangements for the final stages of the disaster relief efforts as soon as possible, then we'll prepare to return to Beijing."