Drive to the Tang Dynasty, where supplies are refreshed daily!

Li Shimin squatted down, the hem of his long robe casually sweeping across the wet mud on the ridge of the field, but he was completely unaware.

He didn't care that his clothes were stained with mud; he was only focused on the work at hand.

Fingertips curled up, avoiding the nails, and gently inserted into the soil around the potato vines, as slowly as if disassembling a sophisticated mechanism.

They dug out the damp soil bit by bit.

When the light brown potato skin was revealed, he immediately stopped and gently brushed away the remaining dirt with his fingertips, even softening his breathing, as if afraid of hurting the precious potato with the slightest force.

Once the potatoes were completely removed from the soil, he carefully placed them into a bamboo basket lined with coarse cloth, being careful not to break the thin skin.

Fang Xuanling's sleeves were rolled up to his forearms, revealing a ring of mud on his wrists, but he didn't bother to wipe it off.

He squatted to the side, his gaze even more focused than when he was looking at documents, his fingers digging at the soil with the lightest touch, as if touching rice paper.

Before digging any more potatoes, I would first tentatively touch the surface to make sure there were none before daring to move on.

When he dug up a tiny potato the size of a thumb, a look of surprise flashed in his eyes.

Others reacted similarly.

Each of these potato plants needs to be separated.

We need to weigh them separately, then combine them and calculate to see if the previous ones were accurate.

There was only one plant before, which may be a special case.

After the weighing was almost done, and the scale was weighed again, Li Shimin quickly asked, "How is it?"

Fang Xuanling was in charge of the tallying. "Second Brother, it's about 1.5 jin per plant, no mistake!"

"Okay, okay, that's good!"

The potatoes were all piled together, and it looked like quite a lot.

There were people of all ages, and everyone's eyes were burning with desire.

“There are quite a lot of these. Would you like to try some?” Xiao Ran asked.

"Need not!"

Li Shimin, Fang Xuanling, and the others quickly refused, their attitudes very firm.

These are seeds; each one eaten reduces the remaining supply.

The little princess wanted to eat it, but she had to give up.

"Xiao Ran, can we collect these too?" Li Shimin pointed to the sweet potatoes next to him.

"Yes, that's about enough!"

When Li Shimin heard Xiao Ran say it was okay, he squatted down and started rummaging around.

We need to dig one up and weigh it first.

Li Jing held the scale, while Fang Xuanling recorded the data.

Others who wanted to help had no chance and could only watch helplessly.

Sweet potatoes are similar to potatoes, but they look and look quite different.

"This looks bigger than a potato, my dear nephew, what is this?" Yuchi Jingde leaned forward with all his might.

"Uncle, these are sweet potatoes," Xiao Ran said.

"Is this yield higher than that of potatoes?" Fang Xuanling quickly asked.

It's obvious that it's much bigger.

"Yeah, I think so!" Xiao Ran wasn't sure either. "We'll find out soon enough."

Li Shimin quickly cleaned himself up and excitedly said, "Weigh it quickly."

"Good!" Li Jing couldn't hide his smile. This one had a higher yield than potatoes. "Erlang, one plant weighs two and a half jin!"

Upon hearing Li Jing's words, the others gasped in shock.

Li Shimin and his companions had also eaten sweet potatoes.

The little princess picked one up, "Little Nang-jun~ This one's sweet~ So delicious~"

"Sizi, don't eat yet, we'll talk about it later." Li Shimin smiled, genuinely reluctant to part with it.

This stuff is really delicious.

"Hmmmm~"

Potato yields were already staggering, but now sweet potato yields are even higher.

Everyone was so excited.

"How do these sweet potatoes taste?" someone asked curiously, thinking that with such a high yield, they probably wouldn't taste good.

"It's very sweet and delicious!" Li Shimin said quickly. "I ate it before, and I still miss it!"

"Yes, yes~" the little princess wanted to eat.

"Xiao Ran, what are the advantages of potatoes compared to sweet potatoes?" Li Shimin asked.

Li Shimin thought they were all delicious. Li Shimin liked sweet food, but actually he preferred sweet potatoes.

Sweet potatoes yield more than potatoes.

Xiao Ran pondered for a moment: "Uncle, they each have their own merits."

"Potatoes are great because they keep well. If you bury them in a dry cellar in winter, they won't spoil for six months."

"Even if the outer skin is a bit dry, the inside is still good. When there is a shortage of food, you can take it out and steam, boil, or roast it."

"When ground into powder, it can be mixed with wheat flour to make pancakes or porridge. Even if there are no other dishes, potatoes alone can fill your stomach."

"Moreover, it is drought-resistant. Except for being afraid of waterlogging, it can grow in arid areas like those in the Northwest as long as it is planted in a place that is not prone to waterlogging. It is not picky about fertilizer."

He paused, picked up a sweet potato, and wiped the mud off it:
"Sweet potatoes are sweet, you can eat them raw like fruit, and they are sweet whether roasted or steamed. Sizi has always loved them."

As he spoke, Xiao Ran patted the little princess's head.

Not only the little princess, but several others who tried it also liked it.

"Secondly, the vines can be used as fodder. They can be cut down to feed cattle and sheep, and cutting the vines does not affect the tuber formation underneath, so there is no waste."

"In addition, it is more resistant to poor soil than potatoes. Sweet potatoes can also take root in rocky, thin soil on slopes."

"It just doesn't store as well as potatoes. It tends to become 'thin' if left out for too long. But you can dry it into sweet potato chips. Once they're thoroughly dried, they can be stored for up to half a year. They're also sweet. You can carry a few with you when you're traveling to stave off hunger."

He glanced at the little princess beside him, who was staring longingly at the sweet potato, and added:
"If we're talking about emergency relief, potatoes are more useful; they last a long time and are filling."

"If we're talking about everyday meals and how to please children, sweet potatoes are more appealing. Their sweetness is endearing, and they can be prepared in many different ways. For example, you can steam them, mash them into a puree, mix in some sugar, and they make a delicious snack."

"These are all good things, these are all good things!" Li Shimin said, holding a potato in one hand and a sweet potato in the other.

Then he had the others dig out all the sweet potatoes as well.

On average, the yield of sweet potatoes is about two jin per plant, which is about six thousand jin per mu.

That's absolutely terrifying.

Now Li Shimin understood why he had summoned so many people.

Others wouldn't believe it unless they saw it with their own eyes.

"Xiao Ran!" Li Shimin pointed to the potatoes, sweet potatoes, and corn. "These are extremely important. You'll be able to store them properly here, won't you?"

"It should be fine. If it really doesn't work, Uncle, you can take it back!" Xiao Ran knew that Li Shimin would definitely guard it heavily.

Now that more people know about it, Xiao Ran is afraid that someone might cause trouble.

"I don't quite understand. You need to tell me how to preserve them properly." Li Shimin dared not be careless at all. These things could help the Tang Dynasty's golden age arrive sooner.

"Okay, that's no problem!"

Xiao Ran explained the preservation method and precautions to Li Shimin.

Although most of the people who know about the new grain are Emperor Li Shimin and his ministers and a few villagers, once the news of the "high-yield new grain" is leaked, it will become the target of covetousness from various forces.

Xiao Ran was merely a commoner, and his family lacked a strict system of secrecy. Unintentional gossip among villagers, neighborhood children, or his entourage could easily leak information to local powerful figures or even spies from enemy countries.

These seeds are worth far more than gold and silver.

For powerful families, stealing seeds meant they could plant them first and monopolize the profits from the new grain harvest in their region.

For enemy countries, destroying or stealing seeds could delay the development of the Tang Dynasty's people and weaken its national strength.

Xiao Ran's house has no high walls or deep courtyards, nor are there any guards. If someone with ulterior motives were to steal or rob him at night, he alone would be unable to protect these "strategic" seeds.

Although Xiao Ran knew how to preserve things, he lacked professional storage facilities at the level of the government.

His home storage place is most likely the cellar or woodshed of an ordinary farmhouse.

Cellars may become damp due to water seepage during the rainy season, causing potatoes and sweet potatoes to mold and rot.

The woodshed may damage the germination rate of corn seeds due to the cold winter and the heat summer.

In contrast, government granaries have dedicated personnel to regulate temperature and humidity, and the cellars are reinforced to prevent moisture. The condition of the seeds is also checked regularly, which can minimize problems such as "dampness, mold, and insect infestation".

The quantity of these new grain seeds is already scarce, and even if only 10% are damaged, it will directly affect the scale of pilot planting next year and delay the pace of promoting new grains in the Tang Dynasty.

Without official security, Xiao Ran was powerless to resist potential extortion.

On the one hand, they may encounter the covetousness of local evil forces.

If some local powerful families learn that the seeds are with Xiao Ran, they might try to forcibly seize them under the guise of "borrowing seeds," or even threaten Xiao Ran's safety.

On the other hand, they may face sabotage by enemy spies.

If the Turks, Tibetans, and other powers knew the significance of the new grain to the Tang Dynasty, they would most likely send spies to infiltrate the region, either to steal the seeds or to burn down the storage sites, thereby undermining the foundation of the Tang Dynasty's livelihood.

Li Shimin was protected by the Imperial Guards, and the government's storage points were also guarded. The level of security was far superior to that of Xiao Ran's family, which could effectively resist these external attacks.

The core of these hidden dangers stems from Xiao Ran's "unofficial identity" and "non-professional storage environment".

Although he was close to the royal family, he lacked a "security system" to match the importance of the new grain.

These seeds carried the promise of sustenance for the people of the Tang Dynasty and laid the foundation for the dynasty's prosperity.

If any mishap occurs due to the aforementioned hidden dangers, the loss will not be just a few kilograms of seeds, but rather the "golden opportunity" for the Tang Dynasty to promote the development of people's livelihood.

Therefore, even though Li Shimin did not understand the preservation method, he insisted on asking about the details. In fact, he had already considered in his heart whether he should transfer the seeds to a safer place under the control of the government.

Li Shimin took everything with him, leaving nothing for Xiao Ran.

In the past, Li Shimin would definitely have come to freeload a meal, but this time he had no intention of doing so.

I just wanted to take it back as soon as possible.

We didn't go fast, afraid that the bumpy ride would damage the potatoes and sweet potatoes.

These things are my precious treasures.

Fang Xuanling clutched the booklet, which was already covered with writing, and repeatedly stroked the words "4,500 catties per mu for potatoes" and "6,000 catties per mu for sweet potatoes" with his fingertips.

His voice trembled slightly with barely concealed excitement: "Nowadays, corn stalks can feed warhorses, potatoes can be equivalent to twenty acres of millet, and sweet potatoes are sweet, glutinous, and highly productive."

"This isn't grain that grows in the ground!"

"This is clearly an auspicious omen bestowed by Heaven upon our Great Tang!"

"With these three grains, the people will no longer suffer from famine, and the national treasury will no longer worry about disaster relief. The foundation of the prosperous Zhenguan era can finally be considered truly solid today!"

"This is a blessing from Heaven upon His Majesty, and even more so a blessing upon the millions of people of the Great Tang!"

The person next to him added, "In the past, when the emperors Yao and Shun reigned, the people lived in peace and prosperity."

"With these three grains available today, the people not only live in peace but also have the energy to make a living. This is a scene of prosperity that far surpasses that of ancient times!"

"This is an omen of Heaven's favor upon the Tang Dynasty. It is our great fortune to witness it with our own eyes!"

Li Shimin was quite pleased with himself.

These are all flattering words, but they are also very true.

I don't think it's fake.

Wei Zheng frowned slightly, and after the praises from the officials subsided, he stepped forward:
"Your Majesty, what the ministers say is absolutely right. These three kinds of grains are indeed a blessing from heaven, relieving the people's hunger and strengthening the border defenses. Their merit will last for generations."

"However, in my opinion, if it is not promoted properly or if it is not carefully considered, I fear that three problems may arise. Your Majesty must treat it with caution so as not to waste this opportunity bestowed by Heaven."

Li Shimin knew that Wei Zheng wouldn't speak without reason, so he said, "Tell me what you have to say."

"Firstly, there is a risk of 'single crop variety'."

"Millet, wheat, and rice are the foundation of our Great Tang's food supply. The people have cultivated them for generations, know their habits, and know how to cope with them. They can even complement each other in years of drought and flood."

"If people abandon old crops and grow potatoes, sweet potatoes, and corn instead because of the high yield of new grain, what if the new grain is affected by unknown pests and diseases in the future?"

"If a natural disaster strikes and the new grain crop fails, and the old grain is not stored due to the scarcity of planting, it may lead to a great famine, even worse than in the past."

"In my opinion, new grain should be rotated with old grain, rather than replaced. Only by ensuring the diversity of grain varieties can we resist risks and stabilize people's livelihoods."

Li Shimin nodded, signaling Wei Zheng to continue.

"Secondly, it may exacerbate the problem of land annexation."

“The yield of these three grains per mu far exceeds that of the old grains, and their value is comparable to gold and silver. Local powerful families already have a lot of land to annex. Now that they see the high profits from the new grains, they will surely use the pretext of ‘borrowing seeds’ or ‘substitute planting’ to forcibly seize the poor land of the people.”

“If the people refuse, they may be coerced; if they comply, after a year of hard work, most of the harvest will go to the powerful and wealthy, and they themselves will still struggle to feed themselves.”

“In the past, due to the low profit margins of millet and wheat, land annexation could still be controlled. Now that the new grain has arrived, the greed of powerful families is even more intense. If we do not strictly restrain them, it may lead to a resurgence of displaced people, which will destabilize the grassroots and contradict Your Majesty’s original intention of ‘relieving the people’s suffering’.”

Li Shimin nodded. These problems do exist, and human nature is indeed like that.

"Thirdly, there is a risk of 'technological misguidance'."

“The new grain has different growing habits than the old grain. The farmers themselves do not know how to plant it. The people still plant it using the old grain methods. At best, the yield will be reduced, and at worst, there will be no harvest at all.”

"When the people are unable to obtain the grain they are hoping for, they will resent the government for 'falsely claiming high yields' and lose the people's support."

Wei Zheng spoke at length, telling Li Shimin what he thought might be the problems that might arise.

“I do not dare to pour cold water on this, but these three grains are related to the foundation of the Tang Dynasty for a hundred years. The more prosperous it is, the more careful we must be.” Wei Zheng bowed.

After careful consideration, all the ministers agreed:

New grain is like a sharp blade; if used properly, it can cut through hunger and cold, but if used improperly, it can harm oneself. Wei Zheng's concern is precisely the key to ensuring that this "divine blessing" can be firmly implemented.

“Your Majesty, although all these seeds have been taken away, the young master is not safe either!” Cheng Yaojin said, “The young master can cultivate them once, and he can cultivate them a second time.”

Cheng Yaojin feared that someone with ulterior motives would target Xiao Ran.

“That’s not wrong!” Li Shimin noted this down, realizing that the dynasty had overlooked this issue before.

Li Shimin had to send men to lie in ambush around Kaolao Village to secretly protect Xiao Ran and his family.

Xiao Ran has made a great contribution this time.

Li Shimin was also troubled, unsure of what to give Xiao Ran appropriately.

Xiao Ran is not short of money now, and has no interest in becoming an official in the imperial court.

"We've taken the goods. Such a great achievement! What kind of reward should we give to Xiao Ran and those involved?" Li Shimin looked at everyone. (End of Chapter)