Do You Know?: I, the Little Cabinet Elder, Regent of the World

Grand Chancellor Han Zhang!

"The Holy Body is not functioning properly, everyone turn around!"

"Don't say you didn't predict what you said!"

Han Zhang snorted coldly, and his calm words sent a chill down one's spine.

Throughout history, there have been similar rules regarding "not being able to look up at the emperor."

Of course, in societies where literary culture flourishes, even if similar regulations exist, their enforcement is not strict.

Disputes between rulers and their subjects were commonplace, let alone "looking up at the ruler."

However, this does not mean that subjects can openly watch their monarch make a fool of himself.

At the very least, unless you are a Grand Secretary of the Cabinet, it's best not to look at these things carelessly.

If things really don't go well, the emperor might actually launch a purge!

The officials were startled and quickly turned their backs.

"The emperor was so diligent in his duties that he fell ill. He was worried about the affairs of the state and never tired of making decisions in court."

Holding his tablet, Han Zhang slowly said, "I expect that with proper medical care from a renowned doctor, I can recover completely."

"What you say makes sense, my lord."

"The heir apparent has been secretly chosen!"

"That's very well said!"

Several Grand Secretaries of the Cabinet echoed this sentiment.

Regardless, at the very least, the news must be kept under wraps and people's hearts must be appeased.

After the senior officials spoke, many officials gradually echoed their sentiments.

The phrase "secretly designating an heir" does indeed offer some reassurance.

Of course, this does not mean that people's hearts are completely at ease.

The adoption of the imperial grandson and the sacrifice to Heaven were destined to be a case of starting strong but ending weak!

Bianjing, Jiying Lane.

The Sheng Mansion, Shou'an Hall.

"So, in full view of everyone, the Emperor actually suffered a stroke?" Old Madam Sheng's teacup trembled, quite astonished.

On the left, Sheng Hong stroked his beard and sighed, "This is certainly true. After the eulogy was read, His Majesty suddenly lost his balance. If it weren't for Her Majesty the Empress's quick reflexes, he would have fallen off the altar."

"this?"

Grandma Sheng's eyelids drooped slightly, unsure how to comment.

Ultimately, she was also a woman confined to her home.

Compared to other women confined to their homes, she simply had more experience, which broadened her horizons and knowledge.

The king's illness and loss of all dignity were beyond her comprehension.

After a few breaths, Old Madam Sheng sighed and shook her head: "These are turbulent times!"

"Now that Zhao Ge'er has been dismissed from his post and both families have declined, the Sheng family is a small and humble household, so it's best to keep a low profile," Old Madam Sheng advised.

In any case, keeping a low profile is never a bad thing.

"Mm." Sheng Hong nodded.

"Lord Gu has passed away, and Ming'er has already married him."

Grandma Sheng raised an eyebrow: "Remember to remind General Gu not to cause controversy out of nowhere."

This refers to matters related to mourning.

With Gu Yankai's death, Gu Tingye was undoubtedly required to observe three years of mourning.

Unfortunately, he also got married.

A man in his mid-twenties is full of vigor and blood. If he cannot control himself during the mourning period and his wife becomes pregnant, he may be dismissed from his post or exiled.

Sheng Hong nodded.

Prince Yan's Mansion.

Her slender waist swayed gracefully, and her lotus-like steps were elegant and graceful.

"Who do you think the emperor might appoint as his successor?"

The beautiful woman danced lightly, but the Prince of Yan had no interest in appreciating her.

Instead, he looked at his eldest son, Zhao Shiyi.

The establishment of sacrificial rites meant that the struggle for the throne continued into the generation of the "sacred grandson".

The generation of "princes" who fought each other in secret has completely become a thing of the past.

The key point is that, like father, like son, the King of Yan was very aware of his eldest son's abilities.

Can this thing compete with the others?

Zhao Shiyi pondered for a moment, then shook his head: "Anyway, it's unlikely to be me."

He was quite confident about the competition among the older generation.

His father, the Prince of Yan, was quite capable.

If he doesn't drag the team down, there's still a good chance of winning.

As a result, it has now become a struggle among the younger generation.

The most valuable quality in a person is self-awareness!

The King of Yan remained silent.

After a few moments, the Prince of Yan sighed deeply, "This is going to be difficult!"

"The heir apparent has been secretly chosen, and the Duke of England will command 100,000 imperial guards."

"They didn't even have the chance to rebel!"

“It’s not that there’s no way out,” Zhao Shiyi interjected. “When I entered the palace to study, the Duke of Lu taught me how to protect myself.”

"My son, you should try to protect yourself," Zhao Shiyi added, his head bowed in dejection.

"Self-protection?"

The Prince of Yan frowned, somewhat disbelieving: "How can you protect yourself?"

"Adjust your mindset and your position," Zhao Shiyi said earnestly.

"Scholarly nonsense!"

The King of Yan did not believe it at all.

Prince Yong's Mansion.

The Prince of Yong and his son were also unusually silent.

If you have to choose just one of these five options, no one dares to say they can win!

Chapter 163 After the deed is done, I will grant you a fifth-rank official position!

Golden rice paddies blanket the fields, their fragrance filling the air.

In the rice paddies, farmers carry bamboo baskets on their backs and hold sickles in their hands.

With a single wave, a handful of rice is produced.

"call!"

Holding a bunch of golden rice, Jiang Zhao rubbed it and blew on it.

"Two, four, six"

Two hundred and thirteen!

Pick up a piece, put it in your mouth, and chew and savor it carefully.

unexpectedly

"Ok?"

Jiang Zhao was surprised and somewhat disbelieving, so he picked up two pills and put them in his mouth at once.

After chewing two pills, Jiang Zhao frowned slightly: "No wonder scholars mainly belittle others."

"This rice was introduced by the barbarians of Jiaozhi. The grains are small and the aroma is weak. It does not stick when cooked and has little flavor. It is even slightly astringent. Scholars and poets naturally disdain to eat it."

The speaker wore a folded headscarf, had a long beard, and wore a green robe with a right-fastening front and wide sleeves. He appeared to be about forty or fifty years old.

This person was He Zhen, the local official in charge, a seventh-rank magistrate of Jiangdu County.

Besides the county magistrate, there were also some minor officials and clerks wearing green robes or without official robes, all with smiles on their faces, following closely behind.

"Which scholar or writer isn't quite wealthy, owning considerable land?"

Jiang Zhao shook his head and sighed slightly: "In that case, I would not deign to eat it."

County Magistrate He Zhen nodded in agreement: "When the late emperor ascended the throne, this rice was introduced to Fujian Circuit, but it was not valued. In the fourth year of Dazhong Xiangfu (1011), the paddy fields in the Jianghuai and Liangzhe areas failed to yield a harvest. Fortunately, this rice is drought-resistant and early-maturing, so it was promoted for planting in order to provide disaster relief."

However, this rice tasted terrible and was not accepted by scholars or the common people. Once the drought was over, they switched back to planting japonica rice. Even the late emperor's handwritten "Ode to Champa Rice" could not change the situation.

Even today, it is only cultivated to a limited extent in the Huainan and Liangzhe areas, and this is not without reason.

The advantages of Champa rice are obvious.

Short growth cycle, tolerant of poor soil, drought, and waterlogging!

Champa rice and japonica rice have different farming patterns.

The growth cycle of japonica rice is 180 days. It is generally sown in March, harvested in September, and followed by winter wheat in October, and harvested again in May of the following year.

Two harvests, totaling one year and two months.

This results in a cycle of more than one year for the combination of rice and wheat.

To continue farming, one basically has to wait until August to plant soybeans and harvest them in October, and then wait until March of the following year to plant japonica rice.

In this way, a "land-nurturing rotation" model is achieved, which involves harvesting rice, wheat, and soybeans every two years.

Alternatively, one could simply plant glutinous rice in March, harvest it in September, and then supplement it with other grains like millet, sorghum, and buckwheat in October.

The growing period of miscellaneous grains is only about two months, and they are cold-resistant, so they can be harvested in December.

This means that the farming can be carried out within a one-year cycle, and two harvests of glutinous rice and two harvests of miscellaneous grains can be made in two years.

In contrast, Champa rice can be harvested in the Jianghuai region in less than 100 days, and can be harvested twice from May to the end of October, followed by winter wheat, which is harvested the following May.

This process, in theory, can achieve three harvests a year.

Of course, this is a theoretical result.

In reality, some farmers, considering the profitability of their crops, may prefer to allow wheat to have more fertile soil for growth.

In this way, it is possible to set aside 100 days to allow the soil to become more fertile, so that the wheat can grow better and there is a hope for a bumper wheat harvest.

This means that there are two harvests a year, namely "two harvests of rice and wheat".

Rice can be harvested twice and wheat twice in two years.

In terms of yield, a single Champa rice plant is not as good as japonica rice, but its growth cycle is shorter.

Planting japonica rice allows for two harvests of japonica rice and two harvests of miscellaneous grains every two years, or one harvest of japonica rice, one harvest of wheat, and one harvest of soybeans.

Champa rice can be harvested twice a year, yielding rice and wheat twice a year.

The yield of one mu of japonica rice and Champa rice may differ by a hundred or so jin, but the yield of wheat and miscellaneous grains differs by more than a little.

Two wheat harvests are enough to make up for the difference in rice production.

In terms of long-term crop yield, Champa rice is definitely superior.

Moreover, Champa rice is drought-resistant, flood-resistant, and tolerant of poor soil, and is not affected by the seasons!

The saying "no need to seek water in drought, no need to abandon farming in floods" refers to Champa rice.