Chapter 19-We've Misunderstood the Duke
Fang Xuanling didn't disgrace his title as a minister. The next day, the common people of Chang 'an knew about the existence of potatoes.
Moreover, it did not seem like he did not believe it.
However, this way, Cheng Chuwen would benefit.
Fang Xuanling didn't hide the fact that Cheng Chuwen was the one who offered the potatoes, but he didn't publicize it either.
But this was enough for Cheng Chuwen.
The commoners of the Great Tang were the simplest of people. Their only request was to have a good meal.
If the potatoes were really as Fang Xuanling had said, producing a thousand catties per mu, it would definitely not be a problem for the people to eat.
Cheng Chuwen was the one who offered the potatoes, so it was normal for the people to thank him.
Last time, Cheng Chuwen had revealed the Imperial Roll and cured Empress Zhangsun's illness. It only showed that Cheng Chuwen was not so useless, but it could not change the image of Cheng Chuwen as a bastard in the eyes of the people of Chang 'an.
It was different this time.
The potatoes would help the people directly. When the people saw the yield of potatoes, they would change their opinion of Cheng Chuwen.
Soon, the time Li Shiming set for harvesting 100 mu of potatoes arrived.
Outside Chang 'an City, the 100 acres of land that originally belonged to the Zhou family in Lantian County had been surrounded by tens of thousands of people. They looked at the new grain on the ground and no one dared to go down. They just waited for Li Shiming's arrival.
However, the first to arrive was not Li Shimin, but Cheng Yaojin, Qin Shubao, and the other generals, as well as Cheng Chuwen.
When the commoners saw Cheng Chuwen appear, they immediately lost their composure.
"It's the Duke of the Little Kingdom. The Duke of the Little Kingdom has also come.”
"Do you think we misunderstood the little duke in the past? He might have done those things for our own good, but the little duke didn't like to be in the limelight, so he didn't say anything?”
"I think it's possible. When the Duke bought these 100 mu of land, he didn't let the Zhou family suffer a loss, right? And it's for planting potatoes."
"Isn't that so? I say that the Zhou family deserves to die, they actually dared to frame the small duke.”
"Indeed."
Hearing these words, Cheng Yaojin was instantly amused. He smiled at Cheng Chuwen and said,""Rascal, how much money did you give to bribe these people? They actually put in a good word for you?”
Cheng Chuwen did not mind and said lightly,"I conquered them with my character. I don't need to spend money at all.”
"Tsk ~~~"
Cheng Yaojin didn't believe it at all, but he didn't say anything.
Because Li Shi Min had also arrived.
Under the protection of a group of guards, Li Shi Min slowly walked to the side of the field. He looked at the tens of thousands of people and said loudly,"Fellow villagers, Cheng Chuwen has given a new type of grain to our Great Tang. This new grain can yield a thousand jin per mu.
However, as the old saying goes, seeing is believing. Therefore, today, I will put away the potatoes and let everyone see with their own eyes whether the new grain potatoes can produce a thousand catties per mu.”
As soon as the voice fell, the surrounding commoners immediately boiled over.
According to Li Shiming's intentions, he was going to personally farm, which was a rare sight.
Li Shiming ignored this and said to Fang Xuanling,""Are you ready?"
"Your Majesty, everything is ready." Fang Xuanling immediately cupped his hands.”
"Then let's begin!"
Li Shiming was the first to walk towards the field, followed by Fang Xuanling and a group of guards, and then Cheng Yaojin and the other generals.
However, Cheng Chuwen didn't go down. He went to the side and set up the stove with a few guards. Later, Li Shimin would put the potatoes into the stove to cook.
When Li Shiming pulled out the first potato and brought out five or six potatoes, the experienced farmers immediately knew that the legend was useless.
Then, under the watchful eyes of all the people, Li Shimin washed the potatoes and placed them in the pot prepared by Cheng Chuwen.
When potatoes were not cut open, they were difficult to cook, so after an hour, Cheng Chuwen scooped up the potatoes and peeled them in front of everyone.
After taking a bite, it still tasted the same.
Seeing that Cheng Chuwen had taken the first bite, Li Shimin followed suit and ate the second potato.
At this moment, the onlookers finally believed that potatoes were a kind of food and could be eaten.
After another four hours, the hundred mu of potatoes were finally harvested and weighed.
Fang Xuanling walked to Li Shimin's side and cupped his hands,"Your Majesty, a hundred mu of land has yielded a total of 119,000 catties of potatoes and 3,600 catties of sweet potatoes.”
Even though he already knew that this would be the result, when he heard that 100 mu of land could produce 110,000 grains, Li Shiming couldn't help but get excited.
However, Li Shimin knew that the number of people was not the total number, but the yield per mu. He quickly asked,"What is the average yield per mu?"
"This…"
"Because time was too tight, I haven't calculated it yet," Fang Xuanling said awkwardly.”
However, at this moment, Cheng Chuwen suddenly said,""The average yield per mu is 1190 jin.”
Immediately, Li Shimin and Fang Xuanling looked at Cheng Chuwen in disbelief and said in shock,"How did you figure it out so quickly?”
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