Chapter 602: Scheme
After busying about for an entire day, Li Jinghua was in a daze, extremely exhausted. When she returned to the Palace of Earthly Tranquility and heard that the Eldest Prince had been schemed against, she was instantly furious.
The undergarment that had been given to Little Treasure was taken for examination by the imperial doctor. Spring and Rain’s hands were covered in red spots that were as itchy and painful as if they were being pricked by spikes. Looking at their hands and then at the unbearable expressions on their faces, the fury within Li Jinghua intensified.
If the two adults were already in such a state, how could her son endure this itch?
“Where is she?” Li Jinghua gritted her teeth and asked.
“Your Highness, she’s being held in the side hall. I’ve asked someone to keep an eye on her. Do you want to interrogate her?” Aunt Bai took a step forward.
A cold glint flashed across Li Jinghua’s eyes as she said, “Leave it to the Office of Punishment first.”
Aunt Bai shivered and hurriedly bowed.
Li Jinghua said to Wen Cui with a dark expression, “His Majesty and I are the only two masters in the palace now. If we can’t control the servants now, what will happen to us when there are more new additions to the harem in the future? Previously, we always thought that we had more time, but now it seems that many people are unwilling to wait for His Majesty to take the initiative to take in concubines.”
Wen Cui shivered and lowered her head. “Your Highness, I know what to do.” Her eyes turned cold. She would definitely create an iron-like shield around the Palace of Earthly Tranquility and the Eldest Prince’s sides that no one could even think of extending a hand in.
Li Jinghua nodded with a dark expression. “Where’s Fourth Madam?”
“Fourth Madam is still waiting in the side hall with the Eldest Prince and Third Young Master.”
Li Jinghua’s expression softened. “Let’s go and take a look.”
After she held Little Treasure’s hand, Li Jinghua asked Mu Yangling to bring Little Treasure back. She said apologetically, “I’ve really troubled you today. You can bring Spring and Rain back too.”
Mu Yangling heaved a sigh of relief and hurriedly asked Spring and Rain to kowtow to Li Jinghua.
Li Jinghua said with a smile, “You and I can dispense with such formalities. I know they’re your confidants. It’s not easy for people like us to have one or two considerate people serving us.”
She wanted to maintain her current relationship with Mu Yangling, so she naturally wouldn’t sacrifice her servant girl.
“Thank you, Sister-in-law,” Mu Yangling thanked her sincerely.
If the Empress did not give orders, Spring and Rain would definitely be investigated by the Office of Punishment.
Mu Yangling knew that there would definitely be a period of chaos in the harem, so she did not enter the palace for the next few days. Instead, she asked Wang Quan and Zhu Liang to come over.
She had previously ordered Wang Quan to stay behind to manage the Harvest Grain Store. Now, her grain stores already had a presence in the entire Jiangnan, and even part of the central region. It sounded impressive, but in fact, there were only six shops including the main store.
One store per prefectural capital. Next, she planned to open a grain store in the county below the prefectural capital. In order not to cause any operational flaws because of the rapid speed of expansion, Mu Yangling asked Wang Quan to slow down. Their focus this year was on the harvest of corn in the early winter. “Pay attention to everyone’s acreage yield and see if there are any better farming methods. Also, pay attention to see if there are any new varieties.”
This was the first autumn corn planting this year. After all, corn could not be planted for two seasons in the north. In the south, the gentry who had gotten their hands on corn seeds preferred to plant rice rather than corn for the second season, so she did not have the exact data.
“Fourth Madam, someone told the assistant shopkeeper of the grain store that many insects have appeared in their fields…”
After listening attentively, Mu Yangling said, “Record the problem and get the farmstead workers to make a trip there later to see if there’s a way to resolve the issue. At the same time, think about whether we can prevent it. Considering we’re planting a lot of this, it’s expected that there will be pests. If they can think of a way to resolve it, I’ll reward them with 20 taels of silver as said previously. Even if they can’t think of a way to completely resolve it, as long as their ideas have merit, I’ll reward them appropriately.”
Mu Yangling paused before continuing, “This method also applies to others. We can post an announcement and let everyone brainstorm the issue together.”
Zhu Liang and Wang Quan were secretly speechless, feeling that Fourth Madam was too generous. It seemed that whenever farming matters were involved, she would give quite a generous reward.
“After you experiment, if the method works, write the details down in a booklet and send it to the Ministry of Revenue. Get them to distribute the booklets to the various counties and towns.”
Wang Quan hesitated for a moment and said, “Fourth Madam, we’d be suffering a great loss if we teach others the method for free.”
Mu Yangling had planted corn in the northern farms for many years and had deep experience in the pests and planting methods of corn. This knowledge could bring riches. Ignoring everything else, with this knowledge alone, Mu Yangling could harvest more good-quality corn than the gentry in the south, producing a far superior yield per acre.
However, Mu Yangling wanted to organize the knowledge about the seeds, arable land, planting, pests, irrigation, harvest, and so on into a booklet and hand it to the Ministry of Revenue, spreading it to the world. Doing so would cause them to lose this advantage.
Initially, Wang Quan wanted to use the booklet to get more farmers to work with them. They would provide technical guidance, and the farmers would sell the corn they harvested to them; it was a win-win situation. Alas, Fourth Madam stopped him.
Wang Quan felt that Fourth Madam was not doing business at all, but distributing her assets.
Now, Mu Yangling was offering silver to try to solve the newly-arised pest issue, but the results she wanted to give away to the world for free. In that case, why should they suffer and gather such information?
Wang Quan could not see what benefits it would bring for the grain store.
Seeing this, Mu Yangling sighed and said, “You guys are still too narrow-minded. If you think this way, if the harvest of corn is increased in general, our grain store will be able to buy up more grains. Our business will naturally expand.”
“But Fourth Madam, considering we’re not the only grain store, the farmers will also sell it to other grain stores. Rather than sharing the knowledge with so many parties, if we have exclusive access to the technology, we can reach an agreement with the farmers who come to buy seeds. We’ll provide the technology, and in return they have to commit to selling to us the corn they later harvest.” Wang Quan paused and said, “I can’t guarantee that we’ll have absolute pricing power, but at least there’s a lot of room for us to fight for it.”
Mu Yangling smiled, not at all angry. She knew that he was thinking from the perspective of a businessman. She thought for a moment and said, “You can only do this once. Since there are so many farmers in the world, you can’t possibly keep an eye on all of them at all times. Farming is unlike other matters. Experienced farmers can easily figure out the know-how after squatting in the fields and observing for a day. Otherwise, farmers who have learned the technology can also teach their fellow villagers upon returning. In spite of your efforts, you won’t be able to gate-keep the technology. Instead, you will upset the farmers because of the restrictions you impose upon them. At that time, other than those who are bound by the rules, no one else will be willing to sell their grains to you. What will you do then?”
Wang Quan pondered for a moment and said, “If Fourth Madam trusts me, I can set stricter rules…”
Mu Yangling shook her head. “My original intention is not to only expand the grain store and benefit myself, but to create a win-win situation. I hope that I will benefit, but I also hope that everyone in the world will benefit, too. If you’re worried, why don’t you organize some farming experts to go around each village and household to help those farmers answer their farming problems? Before leaving, get them to mention to the farmers, ‘If you want to sell your grains, you can look for the Harvest Grain Store.’ Let’s see how many people will take the initiative to send their grains over come winter harvest.”
Mu Yangling said, “Only when I treat others with sincerity can they treat me with sincerity. If I tempt them with benefits, they will definitely be calculative in turn.”
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