Chapter 340: Food is the Weapon, and the Most Powerful Weapon!
The Empress gazed upon this golden field of rice, her eyes filled with hope. With this batch of high-yield Taiping Rice, her Great Wu’s prosperity was bound to endure. The people of Great Wu would surely have enough to eat and drink, live in peace and happiness, and her realm would be tranquil and blissful.
The Empress turned her head, looking at Lin Beifan, the man behind all of this, “Minister, you’ve worked hard over the past two years! For the sake of the nation’s prosperity and the well-being of the people, you’ve researched and developed this rice that will stabilize and strengthen the country!”
Lin Beifan shook his head slightly, “It can’t be considered hard work, as I stand on the shoulders of giants! With giants leading the way, clearing the path, I was able to develop this miraculous rice! Compared to them, I fall far short.”
The Empress smiled and shook her head, playfully reprimanding, “Minister, you’re too modest! Over the past two years, you’ve taken charge of the research on Taiping Rice. I don’t know how much criticism and misunderstanding you’ve faced, but you’ve endured it all! In my eyes, you are that giant! With your shoulders, you’ve upheld the skies of Great Wu!”
Inwardly, Lin Beifan wryly smiled, refraining from explaining further since they wouldn’t understand even if he did.
“To be honest, your research on the Taiping Rice that secures the nation is no less significant than expanding our borders and territories. You’ve blessed millions of common people! Yet you hold the position of Prime Minister, and you’re Great Wu’s loyal and brave duke, superior to ten thousand others. I don’t know what kind of reward is suitable for you! Tell me what you want, and I will grant it to you!” The Empress declared loudly.
For a moment, the envious and jealous gazes of the officials turned towards them. This promise was truly enticing!
Lin Beifan clasped his hands and said, “Thank you, Your Majesty! However, as I already hold the office of Prime Minister, with a high status and authority, and my livelihood secure, it seems I don’t need much more.”
The Empress exclaimed, “Meritorious deeds should not go unrewarded. You can’t leave with nothing!”
“In that case, I only hope that the court could allocate an annual budget of ten million taels for me to continue researching Taiping Rice, developing even higher-yield crops, enabling more common people to have enough to eat!”
The Empress trembled slightly, “You only want money to continue researching Taiping Rice?”
“Yes, that’s my aspiration!” Lin Beifan’s eyes lit up, “Your Majesty, think about it. We’ve already developed Taiping Rice that increases both production and yield. This direction has proven to be feasible. Why not continue this research?”
“Currently, it’s the first generation, which increases production by forty to fifty percent! By the second generation, it might increase by fifty to sixty percent! What about the third and fourth generations? If we keep researching, we might even develop super rice that yields a thousand jin per mu!”
“A thousand jin per mu of super rice!!!” Everyone gasped in astonishment.
Keep in mind that currently, the usual rice yield is about two hundred jin per mu. A yield of two hundred and fifty jin per mu is already considered a bountiful harvest. What Lin Beifan had developed, the Taiping Rice, increased the yield by forty to fifty percent on this foundation, an increase of nearly a hundred jin, which was already terrifying.
And now, he was actually claiming to develop super rice that could yield a thousand jin per mu!
This…
Although it might be a bit exaggerated, it was incredibly thrilling to hear!
The Empress urgently asked, “Minister, can this really be achieved?”
“Your Majesty, where there’s a will, there’s a way!” Lin Beifan smiled, “We’ve already developed Taiping Rice that yields three hundred jin per mu. Is it really that far-fetched to achieve a thousand jin per mu? Even if we can’t reach a thousand jin, achieving four hundred or five hundred jin per mu is still hopeful. That would already solve the food problem for many people!”
“That’s true!” The Empress readily agreed, looking at Lin Beifan with deep emotion, “Minister, you’ve achieved great merits once again. Yet, you decline rewards and still concern yourself with the people’s food. Our Great Wu needs talents like you as pillars! With you, Great Wu is fortunate, I am fortunate, and our nation is fortunate!”
Lin Beifan was truly moved; the Empress’s words were exceptionally touching.
He is doing this for Great Wu, for the common people! Absolutely not for greed! My personality is so great that even saints would kneel in front of me when they see me!
At this moment, the Empress turned to the Minister of Revenue and said, “Minister Qian, starting from this year, set aside a budget of ten million taels annually for Lin Beifan’s rice research!”
“Supporting Prime Minister’s continued research on Taiping Rice, I’m in complete agreement! But allocating ten million taels each year… isn’t that a bit too much?” Qian Yuanshen expressed some reluctance, “I think three or four million taels should be enough. I feel like we don’t need that much money. It’s more than enough.”
“Shut up! You’re a layman giving advice to an expert!” Lin Beifan shouted, “You think three or four million taels will be enough to research Taiping Rice? That’s just wishful thinking! Try giving someone else three or four million taels and see if they can research Taiping Rice!”
Qian Yuanshen was rendered speechless by the scolding. “I… I just…”
Lin Beifan rebuked with disdain, “Let me tell you, if it weren’t for me investing money, even ten million taels wouldn’t have been sufficient! And yet, you wanted to cut corners, hinder rice research, and prevent the people from eating well. You’re nothing but a heartless person! You lack humanity!”
Qian Yuanshen’s face was full of grievances. “I just said a few words.”
I can’t believe I got scolded like this. He even said I lack humanity!
Fine, I won’t offer my opinions anymore; it’s not my money anyway!
“I didn’t expect you to invest so much. You’ve really worked hard!” The Empress expressed her pity, “Minister Qian, don’t argue anymore. It will be ten million taels! Even loyal ministers shouldn’t suffer, nor should capable officials be exhausted!”
“Thank you, Your Majesty, for your understanding!” Lin Beifan was extremely grateful, on the verge of tears.
In the future, he’ll have an embezzlement fund of ten million taels annually. He’ll be living the good life!
However, the officials seemed particularly discontented!
He’s a loyal minister? He’s a good official?
Humph!
Among the civil and military officials, anyone you pull out at random is more reliable than him!
“But Your Majesty, although Taiping Rice is highly adaptable and has a high yield, it’s not without flaws!” Lin Beifan continued.
The Empress furrowed her brows, “Minister, what flaws does it have?”
Lin Beifan reported, “The first flaw is that its taste might not be very good. It lacks the aromatic flavor of the original rice.”
The Empress’s brows relaxed, and she smiled, “That’s not a major flaw. As long as it can feed people, that’s enough. When it comes to filling one’s stomach, things like taste are not that important.”
“You’re absolutely right, Your Majesty! The second flaw is… Taiping Rice cannot be used for seed saving!”
Everyone was shocked, “Cannot be used for seed saving? This…”
Lin Beifan explained calmly, “Because the principle behind Taiping Rice is to leverage the hybrid advantages of the parents. The offspring produced after hybridization inherit the favorable characteristics of both sides, resulting in high yield and strong adaptability. However, its genes are heterozygous, which leads to gene separation in the next generation, resulting in inconsistent phenotypes.”
The officials looked perplexed, “What does that mean?”
“In simple terms, the first generation of Taiping Rice can increase yield by forty to fifty percent. By the second generation, the yield will drop significantly, only increasing by about twenty percent. By the third generation, it’s essentially the same as ordinary rice. Therefore, Taiping Rice requires human intervention each year. We must cultivate it ourselves to ensure high yields.”
The people’s faces turned worried, “Ah? Is that so?”
“Isn’t there a permanent solution?” The Empress persistently asked.
“There’s a solution! Only through multiple generations of cultivation and selection can we eventually develop stable rice traits. However, this requires a significant amount of time, ranging from five to six years at the shortest, and as long as thirty to forty years! That’s why I’ve applied for special funds to conduct research in this area!” Lin Beifan once again sought funds for himself, weaving a plausible excuse.
The Empress exclaimed, “We must continue the research! Even if it only increases the yield by a few pounds, it’s a tremendous progress!”
“You’re absolutely right, Your Majesty!” Lin Beifan smiled, “In fact, the inability to save seeds for Taiping Rice is currently a good thing!”
The Empress was puzzled, “Minister, why do you say that?”
“Your Majesty, in fact, food is also a weapon, and the most powerful one at that!” Lin Beifan’s tone was profound, “Taiping Rice yields high and everyone wants to have it! However, to obtain Taiping Rice, they can only get it from our court. In this way, can they not support the rule of our court? Can they not follow the orders of our court? In the future, it won’t be so easy for Great Wu to split apart!”
The Empress’s eyes lit up, and the officials’ eyes lit up!
… …
Just as Lin Beifan said, food is indeed the most formidable weapon! With it, the people of the entire nation will undoubtedly support the court!
Whoever disobeys, won’t have food!
Excited, the Empress exclaimed, “Very well! Taiping Rice is truly a remarkable thing. I like it very much! With it, we can not only ensure the stability of the nation but also maintain the rule of the court. The whole world will come together! Haha!”
“Your Majesty’s words are absolutely true!” The officials echoed in unison.
“Minister Lin, since you’ve researched and developed Taiping Rice, you shall be responsible for its nationwide promotion, allowing people throughout the country to have access to food! Additionally, the method for population growth and recuperation shall also be under your supervision! Strive to rejuvenate Great Wu within three years!”
“Your will shall be followed, Your Majesty!” Lin Beifan declared.
After receiving the Empress’s command, Lin Beifan immediately set to work. He convened the civil and military officials and, according to each department’s responsibilities, began implementing the method for population growth and recuperation.
The policies were great, but the key was to put them into action.
No matter how good the policies were, they wouldn’t matter if those on the ground didn’t follow them properly.
Therefore, Lin Beifan made a direct statement.
He would make irregular inspections across various regions, and if he found any instances of inadequate implementation, he would immediately hold local officials accountable.
Not only would he hold them accountable, but he would also confiscate their property.
For more severe cases, he would even execute them. He’d decide what to do based on the situation.
The officials remained silent, responding in agreement.
They were now somewhat more afraid of Lin Beifan than the Empress.
They weren’t afraid of the Empress; rather, they were afraid of Lin Beifan.
The Empress might speak about reason, considering the imperial dignity and upholding court laws, but Lin Beifan didn’t care about principles or sentimentality.
He genuinely confiscated property, and he did it thoroughly!
No matter where your gold, silver, and jewels were hidden, he could find them.
For those with unclear origins, he’d confiscate them outright.
Corrupt officials weren’t afraid of honest officials; they were most afraid of officials who were even more corrupt than them!
Officials who were more corrupt, held more power, and didn’t care about personal relationships or sentiment were the most terrifying!
Therefore, the implementation of the method for population growth and recuperation went smoothly.
Similarly, there were no hindrances in promoting Taiping Rice.
Southern Jiang, Wuxi, and Northern Hebei were all suffering from a lack of food. The court now provided rice seeds for free. Who wouldn’t want them?
Both civil and military officials witnessed the high yield of this rice and even wanted to ask Lin Beifan for some seeds themselves.
