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Having enough to eat and being well-clothed, with a little extra money each year, is the most important thing for the people. In the past, no matter how hard they tried, they couldn’t achieve this. But in the past two years, some of the people have begun to experience this kind of life, while the rest are still waiting.
Now, with two to three million catties of grain seeds for corn, wheat, and rice, it is entirely feasible to spread this across the entire Xuan Empire.
When the Emperor announces the yield per mu for corn and wheat, many people will cry, because this is a day they never dared to dream of.
Wang Jinhe couldn’t help but think of her grandmother’s days in the past, which were quite similar to the present. With this in mind, Wang Jinhe seemed to understand why they were so moved to tears.
“I understand.”
“Xiao He, what is the yield per mu for wheat? I will write a letter to my brother, and I will also ask the local officials if they have planted wheat and corn. If not, all the grain seeds will be sent back.”
“In total, there are over 570,000 catties, with an average yield of over 1,100 catties per mu.”
“Darling, you are amazing,” even though Su Yu was mentally prepared, he still found the yield unbelievable.
“I will send the news back immediately.”
When Xuan Feiran received the news, he was in the Empress Dowager’s palace. Upon seeing the wheat yield, even Xuan Feiran, the ruler of the country, couldn’t help but feel his eyes welling up.
The Empress Dowager, seeing her son’s reaction, asked, “What’s the matter?”
“Mother, the yield per mu for Xiao He’s wheat has been announced. It’s over 1,100 catties per mu, with a total of over 570,000 catties of seeds. This year, we will be able to spread all the high-yield grain seeds to every part of the Xuan Kingdom.”
The Empress Dowager was overjoyed upon hearing this. “That’s wonderful, truly wonderful. After the court session tomorrow, announce the news and send it to the northern regions as quickly as possible, so that the people in the north can also rejoice.”
“Understood.”
The next day, during the court session, Xuan Feiran announced the yield per mu for both corn and wheat.
“Just yesterday, I received a report from Fu’an County regarding the yield per mu for wheat and corn. A few days ago, the wheat harvested by the Princess of Fu’an County was stored. From five hundred mu of land, there was a harvest of 570,000 catties of seeds, with an average yield of over 1,100 catties per mu. The corn, from five hundred mu of land, yielded a total of 610,000 catties, with an average yield of 1,200 catties per mu.”
The court was in an uproar at this news, and the senior officials looked at the Emperor with excitement. “Is this true, Your Majesty?”
“It is true. The grain seeds will be transported back in batches.”
“This is wonderful, Your Majesty. The Princess of Fu’an has once again made a great contribution. She should be rewarded with more land. No, the land she has now is too meager. She should be granted an entire county to truly honor her achievements.”
“Exactly.”
This time, without Xuan Feiran’s initiation, the ministers had already taken the initiative to request a land grant for Wang Jinhe.
This time, who would dare to say that Wang Jinhe did not deserve an additional land grant as a reward? The doubling of grain production was an achievement that few could match.
Those who had been at odds with Su Yu before now dared not say a word. They were well aware that what Wang Jinhe had accomplished was not something everyone could achieve.
“Very well, then let’s grant the neighboring Ningshui County and Ning’an County to Xiao He as her new fief,” Xuan Feiran said after considering for a moment.
Some of the ministers felt that this decision was excessive, while others thought it was only fitting.
“Long live the Emperor.”
After the court session that day, an imperial decree appeared on the announcement board.
“The Emperor has issued an imperial decree again. What’s the news this time?” They remembered the last time the Emperor issued an announcement was when the County Princess achieved a rice yield of 1,800 catties per mu.
What could it be this time?
“Does anyone here know how to read? Come and read what it says.”
“Let me see.”
“The Emperor says that the County Princess has planted five hundred mu of corn and five hundred mu of wheat this year. The yield per mu is over 1,200 catties for corn and over 1,100 catties for wheat,” he said, even feeling dumbfounded as he finished reading it.
The people nearby looked at each other in disbelief. Someone asked in a state of urgency, “Is this… is this real?”
“It’s real. The Emperor has already issued the imperial decree. It’s all true.”
This news spread quickly throughout the entire capital city, and soon, all the people knew about it. Many of those who had suffered hardships covered their faces and cried. “This is wonderful. The people of the Xuan Empire will never lack food again.”
They no longer had to worry about going hungry or causing trouble for the Emperor in the future. This was the sentiment of all the people.
An urgent decree was sent to the north, covering a distance of eight hundred miles.
Half a month later, the gates of the Prefectural Yamen in the north were knocked open.
“Notify all the Governor to come here, as quickly as possible.”
The messenger waited there for three days before all the Governor arrived. When they learned that this year’s wheat and corn seeds would yield a high harvest, they were all stunned.
In the past, only rice had such high yields, and they had long been disappointed, thinking that they couldn’t grow rice in their area. They never expected that this year, high-yield wheat and corn would emerge.
Some people were happy for the people, while others began to calculate their own interests. The messenger’s gaze fell on those individuals, and upon seeing their expressions, he snorted coldly. “If you are genuinely concerned for the people, that’s good. But if you intend to exploit these high-yield seeds, you should consider whether your heads are secure enough on your shoulders.”
“The amount of wheat and corn seeds, the land they can cover, and the expected harvest next year have all been reported to the Emperor by the Princess of Fu’an. Before the year’s end, the seeds will be directly transported here, and none of these seeds will fall into your hands. You will only assist the officials who come to distribute the seeds directly to the people.”
“The Emperor has already decreed that anyone who dares to have any designs on the seeds will be executed on the spot. You will be held accountable for your actions.” The messenger said coldly.
The officials who genuinely cared for the people didn’t feel threatened, but those with ulterior motives were suddenly filled with fear.
“How could anyone do such a thing? The messenger is overthinking it,” they said.
The messenger responded coldly, “I fear that I may be thinking too little. The Emperor’s decree is that upon receiving this imperial decree, all of you must spread this news as quickly as possible, ensuring that all the people are aware of this matter.”
“Understood.”
After delivering the message, the messenger left. In the eyes of those officials, he had indeed left, but in reality, he had not. Instead, he dispersed the people he had brought with him to monitor all the officials, to see who was genuinely concerned for the people and who was simply looking to exploit the situation.
This investigation did uncover quite a few things. Seven Governor had failed to spread the news and had even obstructed the transmission of information from other areas. In addition to the Governor, there were also some county magistrates who had not followed the requirements. The messenger made a record of all these findings.
Once the investigation of all personnel was completed, the areas where the news had not been spread were promptly notified by the messenger.