Chapter 432: Your Majesty, Please Choose a Consort to Continue the Great Wu Bloodline!
“Very well!” The Empress was extremely excited. The land around the capital was fertile, with a mild climate, making it ideal for cultivation and a major source of high-yield crops.
Although the land was limited, nearly a tenth of the nation’s food supply came from the capital. Now, with the increased crop yields in the capital, how many people’s food problems could be solved?
As long as the issue of food was resolved, would the nation remain in turmoil?
The Empress couldn’t contain her excitement!
“How is the food situation in other regions?” The Empress inquired with concern.
“Um… Let Minister Qian from the Ministry of Revenue report on that!” Lin Beifan smiled and motioned for Minister Qian Yuanshen to step forward.
Minister Qian Yuanshen bowed to Lin Beifan, then turned to the Empress, visibly excited, and said, “Your Majesty, the food harvests in other regions of Great Wu… are beyond imagination!”
“Beyond imagination?” The Empress was puzzled.
“Yes, Your Majesty, truly beyond imagination. If not for my repeated verification, I wouldn’t dare believe it,” Minister Qian exclaimed. “For instance, in the Northern Jiang region, despite the previous plague of insects, it did not affect the food harvests. Compared to last year, our food production in Northern Jiang has increased by more than 60%!”
“More than 60%!”
Everyone gasped. While this growth rate couldn’t match the capital’s, Northern Jiang was significantly larger and had many suitable areas for cultivation. In previous years, nearly one-fifth of the food came from Northern Jiang. Now, with an increase of over 60%, that was a substantial amount of food!
“Your Majesty, Southern Jiang has always been our granary in Great Wu! In this planting season, Southern Jiang has not disappointed, with an increase of over 80%, nearly doubling the harvest!” Minister Qian continued.
“An 80% increase, nearly doubling the harvest!” The crowd was astonished. Southern Jiang was Great Wu’s granary, where cultivation was most suitable, and its food production accounted for one-third of the nation’s total. An 80% increase, nearly doubling the harvest, was remarkable!
The Empress and all the officials were left speechless. “What about the food production in the Northern Hebei?” the Empress urgently inquired.
“Your Majesty!” Minister Qian exclaimed excitedly, “Due to our Taiping rice, which can grow even in cold and arid regions, more than 90% of the seeds planted have thrived. Combined with favorable weather this year, abundant rainfall, the food production in the Northern Hebei has increased by over twice compared to previous years!”
“More than twice!” Everyone was astounded. Doubling food production was already impressive!
Now, not only had it doubled but even more than that. This…
It’s almost impossible to describe how incredible this is!
“But the most astonishing thing of all is the Wuxi region,” he continued.
“How does the Wuxi region compare?” the Empress asked eagerly.
“Your Majesty, in the past, the Wuxi region was known as the poorest region in Great Wu, suffering from water shortages. So, the food production there was typically less than one-tenth of the nation’s total. But this year, Prime Minister and the people have reclaimed land for cultivation in the Wuxi region, even in areas that were previously unsuitable for farming, thanks to the Taiping rice!”
“And with abundant rainfall, the food production in the Wuxi region has increased more than two-fold, more than five times, Your Majesty!” the Minister of Revenue reported loudly.
More than two-fold increase, more than five times!
Everyone was left astounded! They could hardly believe it was true!
Doubling or even tripling food production in other regions was acceptable, but when it came to the Wuxi region, not only did it double, but it increased more than five times, far surpassing the others!
This was quite an unexpected turn of events!
“Minister Qian, you’re not joking, are you? Wuxi has really… increased production by more than five times?” the Empress asked anxiously.
The Minister of Revenue replied with trepidation, “Your Majesty, this would be a grave offense to deceive you. I wouldn’t dare to make such a joke.”
“Very well, very well! This is truly wonderful!” the Empress laughed heartily.
The court officials were equally delighted!
The capital had more than doubled its production! Northern Jiang had increased by over 60%! Southern Jiang had seen an increase of nearly 80%! The Northern Hebei had more than doubled its production! And now, the Wuxi region had increased production by over five times!
When you added it all up, the entire Great Wu’s food production had nearly doubled!
What did this mean?
It meant that Great Wu’s food production this year could almost feed the population of two empires!
What a terrifying strength!
With so much food, who would fear unrest, rebellion, or the nation not prospering?
So, it was no wonder that the Empress and the officials were overjoyed!
The Empress waved her hand gracefully and declared, “Spread this news throughout the land, and prepare for the harvest celebrations! In addition, lift the curfew nationwide for a week. I want to celebrate with the people!”
“Yes, Your Majesty!” the officials replied.
And so, the news of the bountiful harvest in Great Wu quickly spread throughout the land.
“Our Great Wu has actually doubled its food production this year?”
“Wow, I knew when I saw the rice fields in front of my house that this year’s harvest would be good, but I didn’t expect it to be this much!”
People were elated and couldn’t believe their fortune!
“When the production doubles, how much food is that?”
“Haha! I don’t know how much, but I’ll be eating well for the next two years with this year’s harvest!”
“My harvest this year is also bountiful! No need to say more, Great Wu is mighty!”
“Great Wu is mighty!”
As they say, when you hold power, you don’t worry in your heart. After everyone learned that Great Wu’s food production had doubled, they cheered with great joy. At the same time, their patriotism reached unprecedented heights!
You see, in the past year, the Great Wu court had done everything for them. They witnessed the implementation of policies for recovery and relief, helping the people survive a once-in-a-century ice disaster. The promotion of Taiping rice had increased food production.
Until the moment of harvest, their patriotism had been ignited!
“I’m proud to be born in this country!”
“Great Wu is a nation that truly cares for its people!”
“I love Great Wu! Great Wu is mighty!”
The courts of other nations looked on with envy. After experiencing the once-in-a-century ice disaster, they had not fully recovered. Now, with turmoil and chaos affecting their production, they would be content if this year’s food harvest didn’t decrease.
Little did they expect that Great Wu was defying the odds and achieving unprecedented success, which left them feeling sour. Even Princess Ziyue, who was leading a revolution in Dayue, was sour.
However, her bitterness wasn’t about Great Wu’s bountiful food harvest; it was about the Empress.
“What’s so impressive about it? Isn’t it all because of the Military Advisor? Without the Military Advisor, would you have Taiping rice? Could you manage Great Wu? Not being annihilated by other nations would be an achievement!”
She had made up her mind. After the revival of the Slanted Moon Dynasty, she would do whatever it took to make the Military Advisor her husband.
This guy was too exceptional; he could lead armies into battle and bring peace to a nation. One person could replace an entire dynasty! As long as he was there, her Slanted Moon Dynasty had a chance to develop into an empire. And then, she planned to have 10, no, 8 children with him to bind him tightly.
“Military Advisor, you can’t escape from my grasp!”
The bountiful harvest in Great Wu had an unprecedented impact!
First and foremost, it ignited the patriotism of the Great Wu citizens, making them spontaneously support the court!
With the people’s hearts united, they were of one mind!
With the people’s hearts united, the nation’s strength skyrocketed, shaking the world.
Furthermore, the appeal of Great Wu for the citizens of other nations was too great to resist.
Other countries were currently in chaos, struggling even to put food on the table. Only Great Wu stood stable and prosperous, not only maintaining stability but also achieving remarkable food production growth. This made other nations envious.
As the saying goes, “Water flows downhill, and people go where the opportunities are.” They wanted to come to Great Wu for a more prosperous life.
As a result, more refugees headed towards Great Wu.
Regarding this, Lin Beifan’s opinion was straightforward: if you’re young and skilled, you’re welcome. The more, the merrier. Since Great Wu had an abundance of food, it could feed them all. The Empress shared the same sentiment. The newcomers would become part of Great Wu’s strength, enhancing the nation’s power.
With the bountiful harvest, there was much less government work to be done. The Empress was relaxed, sitting in the court, enjoying the flattery and compliments of the officials.
“Your Majesty, due to this year’s bountiful harvest, the people of the Northern Hebei are extremely grateful for Your Majesty’s benevolence. They spontaneously organized a gathering on Tianwang Mountain to pray for Your Majesty, and the event attracted a million people!” an official reported.
The Empress nodded happily, “Very good!”
“Your Majesty, the people of Southern Jiang are grateful to Your Majesty and are preparing to raise funds to construct an Emperor’s statue that will be as tall as thirty-three zhang. They seek Your Majesty’s permission,” another official reported.
The Empress nodded again with delight, “Very well! However, a thirty-three zhang statue might be too extravagant. Let’s keep it to three zhang; the intention matters.”
“Yes, Your Majesty, I will convey your instructions.”
“Your Majesty, tonight the capital will host a grand dragon dance performance with thousands of participants. This performance is dedicated to Your Majesty! We hope you can attend,” another official suggested.
The Empress agreed enthusiastically, “Certainly! I will definitely attend!”
“Your Majesty…”
With one flattery after another, the Empress was feeling rather elated, filled with a sense of achievement. Great Wu had finally risen under her leadership, with the people’s hearts and the world bending to her rule. She had achieved her lifelong dream in just three short years!
At this moment, the Minister of Rites stepped forward and said, “Your Majesty, there is another important matter.”
The Empress, in high spirits, said, “Minister, please go ahead and speak.”
The Minister of Rites declared loudly, “Your Majesty, with prosperity among the people and peace throughout the land, it is time for Your Majesty to consider your lifelong matter. As the reigning monarch, you cannot leave no heirs, or else the court and the nation will be unstable. We invite Your Majesty to choose a consort to continue the Great Wu bloodline.”
The officials all chimed in, “Please choose a consort, Your Majesty, to continue the Great Wu bloodline.”
The Empress was left speechless.
