Deposed? I couldn't be happier! I wouldn't even be a dog to the crown prince.

[Congratulations, host! You have received a revolutionary, god-level reward: 100,000 jin (50,000 kg) of super-improved cold-resistant cotton seeds and accompanying textile technology blueprints!]

The system's mechanical voice echoed in Li Chengqian's mind.

Li Chengqian suddenly sat up from the soft bed.

The sudden movement startled Wu Zetian, who was looking down at an abacus.

"Your Highness, what's wrong?" The little girl blinked her big eyes and leaned closer with some concern. "Did you have a nightmare? Or did Minister Dai come to collect debts yesterday and upset you?"

"Debt collection? How many guts does Dai Zhou have to come to the Eastern Palace to collect debts?"

Li Chengqian gave a perfunctory reply, his mind completely absorbed in the system space.

100,000 jin of cotton seeds!

It's a super-improved version produced by the system, resistant to cold and drought, and with extremely high yield!

For the early Tang Dynasty, this thing was far more significant than the piles of gold ingots that Dai Zhou had just reported.

You should know, what do the people of the Tang Dynasty mainly rely on to keep warm in winter?

Aside from nobles who could afford expensive fox fur coats, ordinary people wore tattered rags stuffed with cattail fluff or scraps of hemp.

Those clothes were heavy and not warm at all. In winter, countless homeless refugees would freeze to death outside Chang'an.

Now we have cotton.

This is a strategic resource that can truly change the entire landscape of people's lives in the Tang Dynasty!

"Meiniang, go and invite Father Emperor to the East Palace." Li Chengqian threw off his fine fox fur quilt, not even bothering to put on his shoes, and ran barefoot to the study.

Tell him that I have a treasure more valuable than a mountain of gold to offer him!

After the time it takes for an incense stick to burn.

Li Shimin didn't even have time to change out of his dragon robe; dressed in ordinary clothes, he rushed into the study of the Eastern Palace, panting.

"Chengqian! What treasure? Did you acquire some divine weapon again?"

Li Shimin's eyes lit up.

Since returning from the western expedition, this Tang emperor had become a complete "son-obsessed" son, filled with fervent anticipation for anything Li Chengqian brought out.

Li Chengqian pointed to the middle of the study, where a dozen or so huge sacks had appeared out of nowhere.

"Father, see for yourself."

Li Shimin walked forward suspiciously and unsealed one of the sacks.

Inside, it was filled with white, fluffy, cloud-like soft things, with black seeds on top.

"This is... white pine nuts?"

Li Shimin frowned in disappointment.

He had seen this plant before; it was grown in the Gaochang Kingdom, but the yield was extremely low. In the Tang Dynasty, only those pretentious nobles would plant a few in their gardens for ornamental purposes.

"The treasure you're talking about, more valuable than a mountain of gold, is it these ornamental flowers and plants?"

"Father, aren't you being quite uninformed?"

Li Chengqian casually grabbed a handful of cotton and tugged at it forcefully.

The extremely resilient fiber stretched into a long white line in his hand.

"This is no ordinary white cotton; it's super cotton that has been secretly improved by the Mo family (the system's scapegoat)."

Li Chengqian's tone became more serious than ever before, and his eyes gleamed with a profound light that seemed to see through the limitations of the times.

"This stuff can be grown on a large scale not only in Guanzhong and the Western Regions, but also has an extremely high yield."

"Most importantly, its warmth retention is far superior to that of linen and cattail fluff!"

Li Shimin was slightly taken aback, seemingly still not quite understanding: "Warmth? Even if it can keep you warm, can it compare to my mink cloak?"

"A sable cloak is nice, but how many ordinary people in the Tang Dynasty could afford it?"

Li Chengqian's words left Li Shimin speechless.

"But this cotton is different."

"It can be spun into cotton thread and woven into soft and warm cotton fabric; it can also be stuffed directly into clothes and quilts to make cotton-padded jackets and quilts."

"As long as this super cotton is fully promoted in the Tang Dynasty."

Li Chengqian looked directly into Li Shimin's eyes and said, word by word:

"I dare to guarantee that within three years, no one in the Tang Dynasty will freeze to death in the streets because they have no warm clothing!"

"boom--"

These words struck Li Shimin like a heavy hammer blow to the heart.

As a great ruler of his generation.

Li Shimin dreamed of creating a prosperous era where the seas were calm, the rivers were clear, and the people lived in peace and contentment.

The phrase "frozen corpses on the road" has always been the most painful thorn in his heart, a source of deep-seated anxiety as an emperor.

With trembling hands, he picked up the handful of white cotton again.

My fingers gently caressed the soft fibers, feeling the slight warmth emanating from my fingertips.

Li Shimin's eyes instantly reddened.

"Is this really true?"

The Emperor of Tang's voice was tinged with an undisguised sob.

"More real than real gold."

Li Chengqian nodded, then dropped an even bigger bombshell.

"Moreover, this cotton can be used for more than just keeping warm."

"Father, do you still remember the gunpowder used in the Red-Clad Cannons?"

Li Chengqian lowered his voice, a dangerous glint of madness flashing in his eyes.

"After being treated with a special acid solution, this cotton can be made into an explosive called 'guncotton'."

"Its power is more than three times that of modern gunpowder! And it produces no smoke when burned!"

Li Shimin's pupils suddenly contracted, and his breathing stopped for a moment.

It would not only save all the people in the world from freezing to death, but also raise the military strength of the Tang army to a terrifying level.

What kind of plant is this?

This is clearly a supreme divine artifact bestowed upon the Tang Dynasty by Heaven!

"An auspicious omen...this is an incredibly auspicious omen!"

Li Shimin suddenly clutched the cotton tightly to his chest, his whole body trembling with excitement.

He looked up at the carved coffered ceiling of the East Palace study, and tears finally welled up in his eyes.

"Our ancestors are above! With this divine weapon, how can the Tang Dynasty not last for a thousand generations!"

Li Shimin suddenly turned around, grabbed Li Chengqian's shoulder with such force that Li Chengqian frowned slightly.

"Chengqian! Convey my decree!"

Li Shimin's voice was somewhat hoarse due to extreme excitement.

"Order the Ministry of Revenue and the Ministry of Works to immediately mobilize all manpower and resources! Reclaim vast areas of wasteland in Guanzhong and the newly recovered Western Regions!"

"I will let this auspicious white omen bloom across every inch of the Tang Dynasty!"

"Anyone who dares to obstruct the promotion of this cotton will have their entire family executed!"

At this moment, the Tang emperor displayed unprecedented decisiveness and efficiency.

Because he saw a true, peaceful world, where no one froze to death, beckoning to him.

"Alright, alright, Father, please let go. You're crushing my bones."

Li Chengqian reluctantly broke free from his father's clutches and rubbed his shoulders.

"I have already asked Wu Meiniang to arrange this matter. The climate in the Western Regions is most suitable for growing this stuff. We just captured tens of thousands of idle prisoners of war, so it would be perfect for them to farm."

Hearing that Li Chengqian had already arranged everything.

Li Shimin then took a deep breath and tried to calm his emotions, which were about to explode with excitement.

"Good! Good son! I am so happy today!"

Li Shimin wiped away the tears from the corner of his eyes, and suddenly waved his hand with great heroic spirit.

"Issue the imperial decree! A banquet will be held tonight at the Taiji Palace! I wish to celebrate this auspicious omen with all my ministers!"

"Bring out all those top-quality grape wines that were sent as tribute from the Western Regions! Tonight, I'm going to drink to my heart's content!"