Abandoned Prince Survival Guide

Hearing what he said, Meng Hong sat back and said, "Sir, please tell me."

Xiao Yu asked: "Brother Meng goes to the sea to fish for pearls every year?"

Meng Hong smiled wryly: "I'm a sinner, and I have to pay money every year. I'm used to it."

There are two kinds of local pearl people, one is voluntary choice, using pearls to pay taxes, and the other is exiled criminals like Meng Hong, who have to pay pearls every year, which is compulsory.

Xiao Yu said: "Pearl picking is not easy, right?" Without a diving suit and an oxygen cylinder, it is really difficult to go into the sea to fish for pearls without a diving suit and an oxygen cylinder.

Meng Hong sighed: "It's not easy, every time I go into the sea and come back alive, it's a fluke."

"Brother Meng has been picking pearls for many years, what's the trick?" Xiao Yu asked.

Meng Hong looked at him: "Your Majesty also wants to hand over the beads?"

Meng Hong was originally from a prominent family in Jiangling, but his family was in decline. He has studied and participated in the Nine-rank Zhongzheng appraisal, and was rated as the first in the lower middle rank. If there is no accident, he will be a small official.

When the results of the Pindi evaluation came out, the local government held a banquet to celebrate the selected scholars.At the banquet, Meng Hong drank a lot of wine, and returned home in an ox cart driven by another low-ranking scholar surnamed Fang.Unexpectedly, there was an accident on the way, and there was a quarrel with the scholar surnamed Fang. The two pushed and shoved on the bullock cart. Both fell off the cart, and the scholar surnamed Fang died unexpectedly.

Originally, it was the scholar Fang surnamed who provoked and attacked first, but the other party was already dead, and Meng Hong was manslaughter.Moreover, Fang's family is powerful, and the government removed his rank and exiled him to Yazhou, and he was not allowed to return him for life.

Although Meng Hong has been away from Zhongtu for many years, he also knows that the surname Xiao in the capital belongs to the royal family.

Xiao Yu waved his hand: "I'm lucky, I don't need to hand in beads. I'm just curious about picking pearls."

Meng Hong nodded clearly: "That's luck. When it comes to the secret of picking pearls, there is no one. Some places have a high chance of producing pearls, but these places are often picked almost. When I go to the sea, I pick the big ones. Take it, because the older the pearl oyster is, the more likely it is to grow pearls."

Xiao Yu said: "This time you went into the sea, can you give me some of the pearl shells you brought back, and try to pick those that you think don't have pearls. Of course, you can't take the ones that are too small."

Meng Hong looked at him: "Why does your lord want pearls?"

Xiao Yu said: "I once saw a record in a miscellaneous diary. Someone used pearls as eye drops. After the pearls were ground into powder, there was a grain of sand in the middle. I was thinking, how could the sand be in the pearls? How did it grow? Presumably, a foreign object was inadvertently inserted into the shell, and then it was wrapped with layers of material in the body, and it became a pearl, so its number is so rare, because the chance of its production is too accidental."

Meng Hong and Pei Rinzhi who was beside him were stunned when they heard this.

Meng Hong asked: "Is what Lang Jun said true?"

Xiao Yu nodded: "It's absolutely true!" Pearls are too precious in this era, and people will never cut them open to see the inner core. This kind of thing is no different from the Arabian Nights for the people of the world.

Pei Linzhi murmured, "Who would have thought that such precious jewels are actually made of sand?"

Xiao Yu said with a smile: "It should be said that even an insignificant piece of sand may become a treasure."

Hearing this, Pei Linzhi looked at Xiao Yu with bright eyes, the way Mr. Lang sees things is really special.

Meng Hong recovered from the shock: "Lang Jun wants pearl shells, what is his intention?"

Xiao Yu tapped his fingers on the table: "I have a bold idea, since pearls can be produced by sand entering shells, why don't we try adding sand to shells, and maybe pearls can also be produced." The success rate of artificially cultured pearls Not high, but definitely much more likely than natural pearls.

Hearing this shocking thought, Meng Hong's lips trembled with excitement: "Is it really possible?"

Xiao Yu sighed: "I can't guarantee it, I can only try it. And it will take a long time. It will take several years for pearls to grow to a size that can be collected."

Tears flashed in Meng Hong's eyes: "If pearls can be grown in this way, it will be worth it for a few years. In the future, we pearl hunters will not have to go to the deep sea to fish for pearls."

Picking pearls is not a one-year or two-year event. For him, it will be a lifetime event. Not only him, but also his son and grandson cannot escape this fate, unless the heavenly family changes and he is pardoned, but He didn't dare to think about such outrageous things.If pearls can be cultivated, it will be a great thing that will benefit all generations and immeasurable merits for all pearl divers.

Xiao Yu frowned: "Pearls have to be raised in the sea, so they are ownerless."

"Don't be afraid if you don't have an owner. Anyone can pick it up." Meng Hong has suffered a lot from pearl picking, and he knows that other pearl pickers have the same hardships as himself.

Xiao Yu was very surprised by his selfless attitude, and he seemed to be a man with a big heart: "I am not afraid that others will pick the pearls, but I am worried that the pearls will be picked before they grow. In vain."

Meng Hong was taken aback for a moment: "Your Majesty's words are very true. We must find a way to prevent everyone from going to that sea area to fish for pearls."

Xiao Yu nodded: "It should be like this, but it's not easy to do. Is there a way to set aside a piece of sea to raise pearls, and others are not allowed to pick them?"

Meng Hong shook his head and sighed: "There is no owner of the sea, so we can't do it."

Pei Linzhi interrupted suddenly: "Then only the government can do it."

Xiao Yu turned to look at Pei Linzhi: "Do you think Xue Zhao can agree?" Xue Zhao is the governor of Yazhou.

Pei Linzhi raised his good-looking eyebrows: "Why doesn't he agree? When the imperial court issues a task, he has to offer all the pearls. If the quantity is not enough, it won't help if many pearl people die. The imperial court will only blame him for his ineffectiveness. Besides, it doesn't cost much to raise pearls." Whatever happens to him, he only needs to issue a decree to prohibit pearl divers from entering that sea area to fish for pearls. I'm afraid not many will go against the government."

Xiao Yu nodded: "Rinzhi's words are very true."

Meng Hong hesitated for a moment, but still said what was in his heart: "If the government raises pearls, can we really be exempted from corvee?"

Pei Linzhi turned to look at him: "Total exemption is impossible, at least you don't need to pick pearls anymore. But I'm afraid you have to provide the shells for raising pearls."

Meng Hong gritted his teeth: "That's better than picking pearls." There are always more shells than pearls.

Xiao Yu thought of the complete industrial chain of seawater cultured pearls in the later generations. The whole process from birth to pearl planting of mother oysters was done manually, which was much less worrying than now.Under the current conditions, it is impossible to achieve such a complete industrial chain. We can only take one step at a time. He will try his best to restore the pearl cultivation of later generations.

Xiao Yu said: "When Big Brother Meng comes back from picking pearls, let's try to see if it works. If it works, can Lin Zhi go talk to the governor?"

"Okay." Pei Linzhi agreed. The crown prince was demoted to a commoner, but he himself was not deposed. Although he voluntarily gave up his privileges, the title of Lord Protector is still there. Xue Zhao, governor of Yazhou, had to sell him save face.

Hearing what they said, Meng Hong was even more convinced that their identities were unusual, not everyone could call the governor by his name directly, and see them immediately.

Xiao Yu also explained some matters to Meng Hong, such as the shells should not stay out of the water for too long to ensure their freshness.

Xiao Yu mentioned another matter: "Brother Meng, have you ever seen a giant clam?"

Meng Hong said: "A piece of giant clam shell was picked before, it was as big as a basket, and one person couldn't lift it up, and several people had to carry it."

Tridacna is a huge shell that grows in tropical seas and grows extremely slowly. It is also a rare treasure in this era. Thousands of years of excessive collection and marine pollution have caused many species of giant clam to become extinct in later generations.

But it is one of the best materials for making the core of sea pearls. Xiao Yu knew that his request was a bit too high, so he put it another way: "I am worried that the possibility of success is small for sand to make the core of pearls. I want to use sand to make pearl cores." I used polished shellfish to make the inner core. Then I thought of clams. If there are no clams, other shells are also fine, and the shells should be thicker so that they can be polished into beads."

Meng Hong said in great embarrassment: "There is no giant clam, because giant clam is also a tribute collected by the government. Maybe other shells can do it. I will find a way."

"Then there will be Brother Lao Meng." Xiao Yu cupped his hands.

Meng Hong quickly waved his hands: "If you can't do it, you can't do it. Mr. Lang is helping us solve the difficulties. Mr. Lao Lang has taken care of everything. If you can solve such a big problem, it will be like the reborn parents of our Zhu people." After speaking, he turned towards Xiao Yu bowed deeply.

Xiao Yu's voice was choked up when he heard his words, and he hurriedly said: "Brother Meng, don't be in a hurry to thank me, this is just an idea, I don't know if it will work or not."

"Whether it's possible or not, I must thank Mr. Lang for his kindness for us." Meng Hong said sincerely.

After Meng Hong left, Xiao Yu was about to put away the bowls and chopsticks on the table, but found that Ji Hai brothers and sisters had already cleaned them up.

Seeing Meng Hong leave, Ji Hai looked at Xiao Yu with bright eyes: "Your Excellency can raise pearls?"

Ji Hai stayed with them for a long time, and finally he was willing to speak the official language, and it was obvious that he was very excited.

Xiao Yu said: "No, it's just an idea, you have to try it to know."

Ji Hai said with great certainty: "Your Majesty can do it."

Xiao Yu smiled and raised his hand to touch his head: "Thank you for trusting me so much." This is probably his number one fan.

Pei Linzhi said: "I also believe that Mr. Lang can do it."

Xiao Yu turned to look at Pei Linzhi and scratched his head. Could it be that this is also his loyal fan?

When the two were alone together, Pei Linzhi said: "If raising pearls can be successful, this great achievement will be given to Yazhou governor for nothing, which is equivalent to handing over a golden mountain to others. Wouldn't it be a pity for you, sir?"

Xiao Yu smiled slightly: "It's a pity, but this is to solve the problems of the people of Yazhou. And I'm not qualified to bargain with the government now. I'm new here, and it's not a good thing to show off too much. I understand." He didn't dare to forget his identity, and he didn't dare to accumulate wealth wantonly.

Pei Linzhi said: "If my lord can trust me, why don't I come forward to bargain? This pearl is not only wanted by the imperial court, but who doesn't want it?"

Xiao Yu smiled: "If Linzhi can do it, how can I disagree." Pei Linzhi gave up everything for him, almost risking his life, he just wanted a few pearls, why not give them.In Xiao Yu's eyes, pearls are really not priceless treasures, they are too commonplace.

Compared with raising pearls artificially, Xiao Yu has more important things to do, the roof of that house is repairing.If it is not repaired, I am afraid that the next rain will come.

"Tomorrow the master will come to repair the house, and I won't be able to leave. Rinzhi will help me go to the blacksmith's shop to order a set of tools." To raise pearls artificially, it is not easy to talk about, you have to prepare a set Tools will do.

"Does your lord know what kind of tool you want?" To be honest, Pei Linzhi was at a loss for artificial cultivation of pearls, and he didn't know what kind of magic method his highness had.

"I will give you the picture, and you can ask the blacksmith to do it. Things must be finely crafted." At this stage, it is actually best to use silverware, but his little possessions are not enough to make a set of silverware. If you have cooperated with the government, you can ask the government to provide it.

"Lang Jun, just give orders." Pei Linzhi said respectfully.

When Pei Linzhi got the sample picture painted on the leaves, he admired Xiao Yu so much, His Highness is too smart to think of such an exquisite tool.

Xiao Yu didn't dare to take the credit, it was all developed by later generations.When he was drawing on the leaves, he remembered a very important thing, it was time to make some paper.