From a son-in-law to a favorite of the empress

Chapter 303

"What is a potato?"

Empress Zhaojing was full of confusion. She naturally didn't understand this basic crop. Moreover, in this era, potatoes were not planted on a large scale. Only in a few areas, people secretly planted them.

Zhou Yuan said in a deep voice: "A new type of grain, which was introduced from Nanyang not long ago. At present, the court has banned its planting."

"This grain is irregularly spherical, as small as an egg and as large as a bowl. It is cold-resistant and dry. It can be planted in the north. The yield is extremely high and the calories are high. It can relieve hunger and is more suitable for dealing with the current situation than wheat and rice."

Empress Zhaojing looked at Zhou Yuan, blinked, tilted her head and said nothing.

Zhou Yuan continued, "In addition to potatoes, the more important thing is sweet potatoes, which are also new crops. At present, some people in Guangdong, Fujian and Haikou have secretly planted them. This kind of food has a higher yield and lower soil requirements. The key is drought resistance."

"The growth cycle is also short. It can be planted in March and April and harvested in June and July. It has a sweet taste and can be eaten after cooking. No salt is needed."

"Although it is not very cold-resistant, it can be planted in most parts of our Jin Dynasty. As long as the Ministry of Households cooperates and introduces corresponding policies to increase farmers' participation and enthusiasm, this year will definitely be a bumper year."

"With these two kinds of food, I can take mountains and seas of food and throw them all into the Central Plains, holding tens of millions of refugees in my hands. Zhang Bailong will open a pseudo-dynasty, so there is no need to worry."

Zhao Jingnu still tilted her head, with a glimmer in her eyes, looking at Zhou Yuan curiously.

Zhou Yuan stopped his excitement and asked in confusion: "Big sister, why don't you speak?"

Empress Zhao Jing said: "I don't understand what you are saying."

"Food!"

Zhou Yuan hurriedly said: "It's sweet and delicious, you can eat it after cooking, or even eat it raw. The yield is huge and it can keep you hungry. Good things like sweet potatoes can't be banned!"

"Big sister, this is not an exaggeration. One acre can produce dozens of stones, which is twenty times that of rice."

Empress Zhao Jing smiled and suddenly stretched out her hand to pinch Zhou Yuan's face.

Zhou Yuan was stunned.

He glared and said: "I am talking to you seriously now! Serious matters that can affect the world and make people no longer hungry!"

Empress Zhao Jing said: "But I really don't understand! I just think you are very cute at this moment."

Fuck me!

Zhou Yuan took a deep breath and said, "Sister, I didn't say it in vain, did I?"

Empress Zhao Jing smiled and said, "Of course not. Go find Liu Jing tomorrow. He has been in charge of Qiangu for many years and has studied it deeply. He will understand what you said."

At this point, she paused slightly and said, "If there is such good grain that can solve the great grain plan of the Jin Dynasty, then you, my junior brother, will help me go down in history!"

Zhou Yuan said, "Sister, you have to stand up and support me. Grain planting is the foundation of the world. Liu Jing, as the Minister of Revenue, can't change the original grain planting based on my words, because once something goes wrong, the world will be directly destroyed."

Empress Zhao Jing said, "Junior brother, why do you understand all this? Why do I feel like you know everything?"

This is the common sense of the endless amount of information accumulated in modern times. Of course, grain planting is not common sense, but I have worked my way up from the grassroots level!

Zhou Yuan paused for a moment before saying in a deep voice: "A country is based on its people, and people depend on food for their survival. Agriculture is the foundation of the world. How can those with ambition not notice this?"

Empress Zhao Jing blinked, then reached out and pinched Zhou Yuan's face.

This time Zhou Yuan directly held her hand and said in a low voice: "Big sister, the world is so corrupt. If you want to wake up from the terminal illness and restore the peak posture, you must have the determination to change the world."

"Food is the foundation. This is the first step to change. Next are the laws, the administration, the military system, the business system, and the maritime system. If you want to renovate this old and devastated house, you must start from the foundation. Otherwise, even if the appearance is beautiful, the foundation will not last long, and it will collapse sooner or later."

Her hands were a little cold, smooth and tender, and it felt very comfortable to touch.

But Empress Zhaojing suddenly leaned over and kissed Zhou Yuan on the cheek, her face flushed and her eyes seemed to be filled with tears.

"Big sister, you..."

Zhou Yuan was stunned.

Empress Zhaojing smiled slightly, a little shy, but still said softly: "Among the civil and military officials in the court, there are few who are like you, who are really helping me and saving this aging court."

"Junior brother, you are showing your talent and charm every moment, I am very pleased and moved."

Zhou Yuan rolled his eyes and counted on his fingers: "Sweet potatoes and potatoes, two kinds of food, at least two kisses."

Empress Zhaojing covered her mouth and laughed"You, you are still the same lustful person..."

After she finished speaking, she blushed and slowly approached Zhou Yuan, but suddenly stopped.

"How can I pay the full amount when things haven't been done yet?"

She tilted her head and said, "Do you have any suggestions on official administration and law?"

Zhou Yuan's face became serious, and he said in a deep voice, "There are many. I want to use the Central Plains as a breakthrough for reform and create a brand new world."

Empress Zhao Jing said, "Why the Central Plains?"

Zhou Yuan said, "Because the refugees and the pseudo-dynasty have almost broken the rules over there. We have not encountered much resistance in rebuilding from the broken."

"I have many ideas about official administration, business system, military system, and maritime system, but they are not It will be explained in a short time."

"But I think that if it can be put into practice, it will surely promote the leapfrog progress of Dajin."

Empress Zhaojing narrowed her eyes and said, "But that will harm the interests of many people, and they will not agree."

Zhou Yuan's eyes flashed with murderous intent, and he said coldly, "If the disease is terminal, it is natural to scrape the bone to heal the wound. How can it be done without bleeding?"

"Big sister, do you know the outside world? The Portuguese are far away on the other side of the ocean. Compared with the vast territory of Dajin, they are just a tiny country with few people. "

"But their ships Just stop at Haojing! They can invade Xiangzhou with just a few thousand people and beat us without any chance of fighting back.

"Our Fujian Navy has more than 40,000 people and more than 30 large ships, but we can't beat their five ships."

"Because our ships are made of wood, and their ships are made of iron sheets."

"Our cannons weigh several thousand pounds, but can only hold less than half a bucket of gunpowder, with low power, short range, low accuracy, and high cost. But their cannons can shoot farther, with greater power and higher accuracy, so they can gallop across the sea and be invincible."

"Our muskets are cumbersome to load with gunpowder, and the power is small. Small, short range, easy to explode, and can't be used on rainy days. "

"And the Portuguese already have a firearm, which completely crushes us in all aspects."

"That's why they can occupy our land of Haojing and invade Xiangzhou with only four or five thousand people."

Speaking of this, Zhou Yuan sighed deeply and said with emotion: "Big sister, we are already far behind the world in some aspects."

"And the world trend is so great that if you can't follow it, you can only go against it and perish."

Empress Zhao Jing was really silent this time.

She frowned and thought for a long time before she said in a deep voice: "I don't agree with all of what you said, because I don't think the Great Jin has reached such a point."

"But Junior Brother, I believe in your judgment."

"Fourteen years ago, a Mongolian cavalry squad quietly crossed the Great Wall and entered the country from Xuanfu. There were more than a hundred people in total, but they killed our three thousand cavalrymen."

"They were very powerful, but they were all killed by the five hundred fire gun teams of the Shenji Camp."

"From then on, I knew that firearms could create miracles."

At this point, Empress Zhaojing said softly: "Junior Brother, as long as the eldest sister is in power for one day, she will definitely support you to change the world."

"You and I, hand in hand, make this world as solid as a rock!"