The official position of participating in politics belongs to the household department among the six departments, which is responsible for agricultural affairs.
After Mr. Jin, the Right Councilor, received the emperor's permission, he stepped forward and took out the entire quilt. As soon as he touched the quilt surface with his hand, he felt the difference. Moreover, the quilt was very heavy and required two hands to fully pick it up. , this is definitely not silk.
He said: "Eunuch Ming, please help open the quilt."
The openings and closings of the quilt were sewn in the dark, and it was gently opened to reveal a white quilt core. No one present had ever seen this thing before.
The queen and her concubines also gathered around.
The concubines chattered among themselves.
"This quilt looks very warm, but it's too heavy. It's hard to breathe under the pressure."
"The Sui'an people are peasant women and may not be able to afford silk, so they made this heavy quilt. In any case, it is considered thoughtful."
"The core of this quilt looks like kapok. It's something only found in the hot south. The people of Sui'an probably spent a lot of effort to collect so much kapok."
Master Jin shook his head: "No, this is not kapok."
He is in charge of farming and pays attention to the management of mulberry crops. When various kinds of cloth are placed in front of him, he can tell the difference at a glance.
Kapok is a product of hot areas, with extremely low yields. The south brings some to the capital as tribute every year. Kapok looks similar to cotton, but its texture is lighter and softer. It is also a rare thing that can only be used by nobles.
Mr. Ming was about to pick up the set of inner clothes in the box, but then he noticed that there was also a folding book in the box, and he quickly presented it to him.
The emperor opened the folder and saw that it was densely packed with words and numbers. He narrowed his eyes and handed the folder to Eunuch Ming: "Come and read it for all my beloved lords."
"My wife, Zhao Chengshi, begins to report: Today the weather is good and the world is safe. Regenerated rice has saved countless people from hunger. However, every winter, the weather is cold and the ground is freezing, and countless people freeze to death in their humble homes... I am the great emperor of Dayu. Our country has a vast territory and rich resources, and the things given by the earth must have their own wonderful uses... Only the things that are suitable for the cold weather in the north grow only in the south, so that for so many years, millions of people have suffered from the severe cold... …”
"My wife was shocked to hear that there were kapok trees in the south. They loved the heat and would die when transplanted, so she gave up... Later, she accidentally discovered Baidiezi. This thing is an ornamental thing in the south, which is equivalent to plum blossoms, orchids, bamboos and chrysanthemums... After testing, Baidiezi Son... everyone in Dahe Village is accustomed to calling it cotton... Cotton can be grown in various areas, including hot places in the south, cold places in the north, desolate places in the northwest, and plateaus in the south-west... If we extrapolate If it spreads widely, it will be a blessing to the common people."
Next, there is a series of data comparing the economic benefits of sericulture and cotton cultivation.
Although the numbers are complicated, there is a conclusion in the end: the economic benefits of cotton cultivation for the people at the bottom are at least five times that of sericulture.
The brochure also mentioned the disadvantages of growing cotton. For example, when cotton is promoted, the number of farmers raising silkworms will inevitably decrease, and the price of silk will also be raised. This is not good news for the rich.
After the Zhezi was recited, there was a moment of silence in the Imperial Garden.
The people present were all upper-class people. They didn’t know what it felt like to be hungry, let alone how painful it was to be cold.
But they know that if the data in the brochure are true, then after the cotton is promoted, the people will definitely benefit, and the Daewoo Dynasty will be more stable.
Only when there are people can there be a country, and only when there is a country can there be them.
In the face of major issues of right and wrong, no one dares to raise objections.
Taifu Lin cupped his hands and said loudly: "On the occasion of the emperor's fortieth birthday, the people of Sui'an presented this good plan to benefit the country and the people. This is a blessing for the people of our Dayu Dynasty! I sincerely request the emperor to promote this thing as soon as possible. In line with the will of heaven, I am here to reassure the people and ensure that our country, country, country, country, and country are worry-free!"
Mr. Jin then spoke: "Your Majesty, this matter should come sooner rather than later. I beg your Majesty to make a decision as soon as possible!"
Immediately afterwards, a large group of courtiers spoke up to second their opinions.
As the leader of the Dayu Dynasty, the emperor saw it more clearly. He had been waiting for the ministers to second their opinions. After the atmosphere was almost up, he said: "It's accurate."
The Queen laughed: "If the people of Sui'an make meritorious service to our court again, your Majesty, won't you give me a reward?"
Upon hearing this, all the courtiers below immediately raised alarm bells.
It has only been a while since I was promoted last time, and now I will be promoted again. At this rate, I will become a first-class wife in two or three years.
For a peasant woman to become a high-ranking royal wife, how can these scholar-bureaucrats, noble ladies, and young ladies lose their face...
Mr. He cupped his hands and said: "Your Majesty, I believe that before these data in the book are confirmed, the people of Sui'an should not be promoted rashly... If there are mistakes in the cotton planting next year, by that time, the people of Sui'an will be able to do whatever they want. Pointed..."
A member of his He family was killed at the hands of someone from Sui'an, and he really didn't want this woman to continue to be promoted.
The emperor nodded: "What He Aiqing said is very true. After the cotton is officially promoted, it will not be too late to promote the people of Sui'an. However, this move of the people of Sui'an makes me feel very relieved. If there are more like this in our dynasty, A smart woman or man like the people of Sui'an will surely be passed down from generation to generation in the Dayu Dynasty...Mr. Ming!"
Eunuch Ming immediately stepped forward: "My servant is here."
"People from Sui'an have made meritorious service to the country. They can be exempted from promotion, but they must receive rewards. You go and draw up the list and show it to the queen in person."
"yes!"
After this incident, the longevity banquet officially began.
There was great singing and dancing and it was very lively.
Snowflakes were flying and falling, and Dahe Village ushered in the first snow of the year.
Being in an area that is neither south nor north, sometimes the snow comes early and sometimes it comes late, but in any case it’s good as long as it snows. The auspicious snow heralds a good year. However, because of last year’s snow disaster, the villagers are still worried about how heavy the snow will fall. I went to the city to prepare New Year's goods.
Entering the twelfth lunar month, the weather was getting colder and colder. Cheng Wanwan did not dare to sit in the yard anymore, but nestled on the kang.
She flipped through the account book and ordered things in an orderly manner: "The workshop will be on vacation for more than ten days. Before the break, I will prepare the New Year's goods for everyone. The profit of the workshop is good this year, and everyone is working hard. According to each I’ll give you two taels of silver and prepare some New Year’s goods.”
Mrs. Qi nodded: "It's An Ren. I go and talk to shopkeeper Yan."
After Cheng Wanwan finished explaining the matter, she looked out the window. The snow stopped and the maid at home was playing in the snow in the yard.
When she was young, she would have gone to have snowball fights and build snowmen, but now, she is too afraid of the cold and dare not touch the snow with her hands.
She put on a fur cloak and got up and walked outside. Mrs. Zhao happened to come over, carrying a wooden bucket in her hand, with fish in the bucket jumping around.
Today, Dahe Village collectively raised the river, and a large net was brought back and forth to catch a lot of fish, which were collected by each household on a per capita basis.
"You're just not in a hurry. If you go late, there will only be small fish." Old Mrs. Zhao poured the fish in the barrel into the water tank in the yard. "Look, it's so fresh. Keep it first, for the Chinese New Year." Eat later."
There are also fish in Cheng Wanwan's lotus pond. In order to make it easier to dig lotus roots, she picked them all up and took them to the market to sell, so she is not particularly greedy for fish, but it is really good to eat fresh fish in the winter.
"I also marinated some bacon. The marinade this time is particularly delicious. I will bring some to you later." Mrs. Zhao started to sigh as she spoke, "Who would have thought that this year would suddenly become richer... In the morning When I went to the city to buy New Year goods, I felt very uncomfortable when I saw people begging on the roadside. When life was difficult in the past, I also thought about taking a bowl and going to the street to beg for rice..."
Cheng Wanwan also sighed.
Even in modern society, there are many beggars on the street, let alone ancient feudal society.
She looked at the lotus root pond in the distance, where less than 1% of the lotus root pond had been dug, and then at the quilt shop in the market that was not doing very well, and she suddenly had an idea in her mind.
