The Ming Dynasty started with caution

Tongzhou Granary is under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Household Affairs. Without the decree of the Ministry of Household Affairs, the warehouse officials will not open the warehouse.

Han Wen saw the handwriting and wondered: "Why did Yan Chengjin go to Tongzhoucang?"

"Sir, the corn from Hainan has returned. Sir Yan, please go to Tongzhou." The official who reported the news said.

Han Wen had many sparse memorials to deal with, and a trip to Tongzhou would take at least an hour. He was not interested in things like corn.

"Tell him that I have no time and ask him to go and see for himself."

The yamen servant hesitated and said: "Sir Yan said that this is a great achievement. If not, please give it to Mr. Mou, the Jin Yiwei."

great merit?

Han Wen opened Tongzhoucang's account books suspiciously. The corn that came from Hainan today was only two stones...

After thinking about it, he left the government office and followed the government officials to the outside of the city.

Yan Chengjin was waiting here. When he saw the soldiers and horses of the Yamen and Jin Yiwei, Han Wen was so frightened that the corner of his mouth twitched: "Why are you bringing so many soldiers and horses?"

"To be honest, Xiaguan has been under surveillance by the Jinyi Guards. The Liangxiang government officials are the ones under Xiaguan's supervision," Yan Chengjin said.

"...That's it, let's go."

Han Wen was secretly stunned.

After being bumped over by Zhu Houzhao once, Yan Chengjin invited Wang Shouren, the best master in the capital, to learn how to ride. After practicing many times, Yan Chengjin's riding skills are now better than before.

An hour later, the two arrived at Tongzhou Granary.

Han Wen ordered the warehouse officials to carry out the corn, which was only two stones in total.

According to the report, a total of three stones of corn were harvested and one stone was planted in Hainan.

Han Wen bit into one, almost breaking his teeth, and threw it back into the basket with some disgust: "Can you eat such a hard thing?"

Raw corn cannot be stored for a long time, and it will sprout after being transported by sea for more than a month.

Yan Chengjin mentioned in the letter that the corn should be dried and sent back to the capital.

“Take these corns and grind them into powder, as fine as white flour.”

The warehouseman sent the corn, and after a while, half a bag of golden flour came back.

Yan Chengjin took it to the restaurant, asked the chef to cook it, told him how to make it, and sent a Yamen servant to monitor the whole process.

"Two officers, this is the corn porridge you asked for." The shopkeeper brought the porridge tremblingly. He didn't know what corn was. The golden porridge looked very delicious.

"Master Han, please go first."

Han Wen scooped up half the bowl, blew and drank it into his mouth. The slightly sweet and thick juice slid into his mouth, delicate and pink like tofu, and went down his tongue into his throat. It was indescribably delicious.

"Does it taste good?" Yan Chengjin asked.

"It smells so good!"

As soon as Han Wen finished eating, the shopkeeper brought another corn bun. He took a bite and it tasted so good that he ate three in a row.

"This thing can be used as food. Your Majesty will definitely be very happy. Let's go to the palace to announce the good news!"

"It takes an hour to return to Beijing from Tongzhou. If you don't say anything about disturbing your Majesty, I'm afraid your Majesty won't be able to sleep tonight after hearing this. It's better to report tomorrow." Yan Chengjin said.

"You! You are so cautious again!" Han Wen pulled him with the half sack of corn meal on his back, like an old farmer abducting his son into the city.

Yan Chengjin pushed his hand away: "There are only four million hectares of cultivated land in the world. Have you ever thought about how to promote corn?"

"this……"

"If your majesty asks, how much is the yield per acre, when should we sow, when should we harvest, and how many crops are there in a year, can you give me an answer?"

"Well……"

"If your Majesty asks again, how many ways can you eat this thing? How should you answer?"

"I know that there are two kinds, one is corn paste and the other is corn buns."

Yan Chengjin shook his head: "There are also popcorn, roasted corn, corn meat..."

Near evening, the two returned to the capital. Han Wen carried half a sack on his back, did a routine inspection at the Meridian Gate, and hurried to Dongnuan Pavilion.

…

Forbidden City, Dong Nuan Pavilion.

Han Wen arrived carrying half a sack of cornmeal on his back.

"Your Majesty, Master Han would like to see you."

Emperor Hongzhi put down his memorial and saw Han Wen coming in carrying something on his back, so he asked, "What is Han Qing's family carrying?"

"Your Majesty, this is corn flour." Han Wen said.

When the corn was transported back to Tongzhou Cang, he heard about it. Emperor Hongzhi said: "I only planted three stones. They are as hard as stones. How can I make food?"

"That's because Your Majesty doesn't know what to do!" Han Wen realized that saying this was a bit rash, and quickly changed his words: "I heard that the Empress Dowager has always had a bad appetite, I can guarantee it! The Empress Dowager must like to eat this food, otherwise, I will let you do whatever you want Your Majesty handles it!”

"Well... Your Majesty, this is an oath made by Mr. Han alone, can you not count him as a minister?" Yan Chengjin said.

"..." Korean.

Emperor Hongzhi led Yan Chengjin and two others to Renshou Palace.

The Queen Mother was delighted to see Emperor Hongzhi: "The Emperor is here to have a vegetarian meal with the Ai family today? It's because the companion around him is too talkative, saying that the Ai family has a bad appetite, so you invite your Majesty to come?"

"The emperor's grandson got something by chance and wanted his grandmother to try it." Emperor Hongzhi smiled.

"The Ai family is now eating fast and chanting Buddha's name, as long as they don't starve to death. By the way, that censor, what is your name? The Ai family seems to have seen you before." The Queen Mother said.

amnesia?

Yan Chengjin said: "The lower official, Yan Chengjin, is the censor of the capital, Youqian of the Metropolitan Procuratorate."

"The Ai family has eaten today. The Emperor will come back tomorrow."

This... just now the eunuch reported to Emperor Hongzhi that the Queen Mother had not eaten yet and had no appetite, but now she has eaten again.

Yan Chengjin thinks there are two possibilities.

Suffering from amnesia?

Or was he deliberately looking for excuses because he was afraid that Emperor Hongzhi would spend too much energy on her?

Han Wen's face was green, and he finally got a chance. How could the Queen Mother not eat?

"Your Majesty, the royal meal is ready."

Huang Baoshan personally served the corn porridge. Although it was porridge, there was not a grain of rice in it. It looked like golden nectar.

Emperor Hongzhi had a great appetite, and all the royal dishes that came out of the Shangshan Prison had been poisoned.

"Royal Grandmother, do you want to try it?"

Han Wen was a little uneasy, so Wu Sha Mao put all his money on the half bowl of porridge.

The Queen Mother took a spoonful, and the delicate honey juice slid down her dry throat. It was slightly sweet and had an extremely delicate taste. Her eyes lit up: "Well, it tastes great."

After drinking half the bowl, the Queen Mother presented another half bowl.

Upon seeing this, Emperor Hongzhi ordered: "Give me a bowl too."

It was already Xu time when I came out of the palace.

Yan Chengjin returned to his home. He hadn't eaten polenta for a long time, so he asked the cook to cook a small pot.

A quarter of an hour later, the cook brought the pot together.

"Hurry up and help me have a taste."

He Neng happily took the bowl, took half a spoonful, and drank it in one gulp: "Master, it's not poisonous. Can I have another bowl?"

"Wait a moment and drink half a bowl."

"Okay."

The next morning at court, Emperor Hongzhi was delighted and sat on his throne with a glowing face.

"The corn from Hainan has been transported to Tongzhou. I have decided to plant corn in the dry land of Jiangnan. What do you think?"

Liu Jian and Li Dongyang looked at each other.

They have seen corn, but they don't know if it can be eaten.

"Your Majesty, the land in the south of the Yangtze River is fertile. Most of the dry land planted is mulberry trees and cotton, which will be replaced by corn. Next summer tax, the harvest of raw silk and cotton may be reduced..." Liu Jian was worried.

"It doesn't matter, this thing can be used as a staple food, filled with rice and noodles, and jointly included in the national treasury."

"Excuse me, can you first see how to eat corn?" Liu Jian asked.

Emperor Hongzhi was heartbroken. Six thousand people went to Hainan and worked hard for nearly half a year. They only managed to plant two stones, which were still used as grain seeds. Only half a bag was left in the palace.

Huang Baoshan was holding a brocade plate, and there was half a pot of porridge in the earthenware pot, which was golden yellow.

"There isn't much cornmeal in the palace, so don't blame me for being stingy."

After Liu Jian and others looked at it, they nodded.

Li Dongyang asked: "Your Majesty, how many times can this plant be planted in a year? What is the yield per mu? Is it suitable for planting in the south or the north, in paddy fields or dry land?"

"Yan Chengjin, you discovered this thing, please tell me." Emperor Hongzhi said.

There was silence in the hall for a moment.

An unhurried voice sounded: "There are two species of this plant every year. The yield is more than one stone per acre. It can be grown in both north and south. It is suitable for dry land."

Liu Jian, Li Dongyang and others were shocked. This man had always only said 10%. If he added 20%, wouldn't it be three stones?

The yield per acre of good farmland is only about two dan!

"This thing... has an yield of three stones per mu?"

Yan Chengjin was confused. When did I say three stones? I said one stone!

"Master Liu, it's one stone! One, stone!" Yan Chengjin opened it up to avoid hearing him clearly.

Emperor Hongzhi angrily said: "It's at least two stones. Don't make excuses anymore."

"..." Yan Chengjin.