Five Hundred and Fiftieth Eight Chapters Fallen

On the twentieth day of the twelfth lunar month, there was a sweet potato feast in the palace.

All concubines with high grades got a bowl of sweet potato rice.

For concubines who are used to eating delicacies from mountains and seas, sweet potato rice is not necessarily delicious, but it is fresh and decent.

Decent is the most important thing.

Is the sweet potato rice rewarded by Emperor Wende not decent?

The concubines got a bowl of sweet potato rice, but Weiyang Palace held a sweet potato feast.

Steaming and roasting, various cooking methods, the best royal chefs have played tricks on the little sweet potatoes.

"Sure enough!"

Emperor Wende felt full after eating a roasted sweet potato. The dishes next to it can't be eaten anymore.

Empress Pei personally packed a bowl of soup and put it in the hand of Emperor Wende, "Your Majesty, drink the soup to eliminate food. The concubine wants to congratulate Your Majesty for obtaining a high yield of sweet potatoes, and no longer have to worry about the famine of the people."

Emperor Wende drank half a bowl of soup, wiped the corners of his mouth, and said, "It's too early to draw conclusions on this matter."

Empress Pei paused, "Does your Majesty not believe Gu Jiu?"

"I naturally believe her. She doesn't have the guts to lie about such a big event. But food is a matter of national economy and people's livelihood, so I must treat it carefully. When spring starts, I will let Huangzhuang plant sweet potatoes. When the autumn harvest, the production capacity per mu will reach seven or eight hundred catties. Without having to produce thousands of pounds per mu, I ordered the government to promote the cultivation of sweet potatoes."

"Your Majesty is still thoughtful, and the concubines are inferior. If the sweet potato cannot reach seven or eight hundred catties per mu, and rashly promote it, wouldn't it damage the prestige of the imperial court." Queen Pei said softly.

Emperor Wende nodded, "That's the reason."

Empress Pei was happy to see Emperor Wende, so she smiled and said, "Gu Jiu has made a great contribution this time. She is really a lucky star."

For the sake of her son Liu Zhao, Empress Pei didn't mind saying more good things about Gu Jiu in front of Emperor Wen De.

Liu Zhao and Liu Yi are both her sons.

Let's talk for the sons first.

Emperor Wende laughed, "Don't worry, I will reward her. As long as the sweet potato is promoted, I will reward her heavily."

"Chen and concubine first thank your majesty for the eldest daughter-in-law." Empress Pei smiled happily.

she thought,

When Gu Jiu was rewarded, Liu Zhao would follow suit. This is a good thing.

At this moment, Liu Zhao dipped in his wife's light and stayed in the palace to eat sweet potato rice.

Gu Jiu was with him.

Gu Jiu whispered, "I feel that I have done something wrong, so I will stay in the palace to eat sweet potato rice."

She was tired of sweet potato rice, she wanted to eat hard vegetables, but Emperor Wende rewarded her with a bowl of sweet potato rice.

Hey!

She can't stop eating.

Liu Zhao silently picked up Gu Jiu's bowl of sweet potato rice, poured it all into his bowl, and he ate it for her.

Gu Jiu smiled happily, "Guess what the royal father will reward me?"

Liu Zhao shook his head, "Not sure."

Emperor Wende had been on the throne for two years, and he seldom rewarded people. Even if there are rewards, they are all worthless bits and pieces, let alone.

Gu Jiu asked again: "Guess, what will the emperor ask later?"

They are husband and wife, eating in the side hall of Weiyang Palace. It's decent.

But both of them knew that Emperor Wende left them to eat in the side hall, and they would have something to ask later.

Liu Zhao finished two bowls of sweet potato rice in one go, took out a handkerchief and wiped the corners of his mouth, and said, "Maybe it's about the cement road, you're ready to prepare."

Gu Jiu put down his chopsticks.

If Emperor Wende asked about the cement road for a while, how would she answer?

Liu Zhao said bluntly: "Offer the cement cube, provide the engineering team, and help the court build roads."

This was his suggestion to Gu Jiu.

The cement road was destined to be impossible for Gu Jiu to continue to build.

It is related to people's livelihood and financial power, and the court will not let it go.

Although the capital was in the cement of Luozhou, because of the heavy snow, the essence of the gold-devouring beast has not yet been revealed. But it does not hinder, the court wants to hold this weapon in its own hands.

Gu Jiu nodded, "I understand."

From the very beginning, she did not expect to be a road repair expert, nor did she expect to build concrete roads one by one.

The cement road is a new source of revenue for the court, and it is also a project to benefit the people. Sooner or later, it will be handed over.

Gu Jiu was very satisfied that he had won the right to charge the cement road from Beijing to Luozhou for 40 years.

She is not greedy.

If she wants to make money, she has a way.

There is no need to fight against the imperial court and against Emperor Wende.

Sure enough, just after dinner, the maid invited the husband and wife to speak in the main hall.

Emperor Wende and Empress Pei, the emperor and the empress both sat on the Luohan couch, each occupying half of the seat.

The couple bowed in greeting.

"No gift! Is sweet potato rice delicious?"

Emperor Wende asked with a smile.

Liu Zhao was cold-hearted and said with a blank face: "I'm very hungry. If it can be extended to the border, the problem of military rations can be greatly alleviated."

"That's right. I just don't know if sweet potatoes can be grown in the arid regions of the northwest."

Gu Jiu said in a low voice, "Shaofu and the Ministry of Household work together, and sooner or later, sweet potato seeds that can adapt to the climate and soil of the northwest will be cultivated, and the yield per mu may catch up with the south, reaching a yield of 1000 kilograms per mu."

Emperor Wende liked to hear this, so he laughed out loud, "That's very good. The Shaofu and the Ministry of Household have the best old farmers in the world, and they will be able to successfully cultivate seeds."

After speaking, Emperor Wende's eyes swept across the two's faces one by one.

When he was in Xingqing Palace before, Emperor Wende didn't mention a word in the cement, just to guard against the Ministry of Household.

The Ministry of Household is crazy, and wants to get involved in any project that can get money.

However, Emperor Wende intends to incorporate the cement road project into Shaofu. Shaofu presided over the construction of cement roads to prevent toll collectors from collecting tolls.

To put it bluntly, Emperor Wende just wanted to leave the household aside.

So he chose to discuss the matter at the Weiyang Palace.

"The cement road from Beijing to Luozhou is well built!"

Sure enough, it's a cement road.

Gu Jiu said very well, "It's all thanks to the father and the emperor that the cement road from the capital to Luozhou can be completed on schedule and the toll can be collected smoothly."

Emperor Wende laughed, "I heard that in October, 7,000 taels of toll was charged."

Gu Jiu answered honestly, "Exactly."

Wen Dedi also said: "In October, it started to snow in many places, the weather was freezing cold, and businessmen did not go out. In addition, many people didn't know that the cement road was fully connected at the time. That's it, the first month it opened. To be able to charge 7,000 taels of toll is amazing.

When spring comes and the weather is warm, the merchants go out one after another, and it is estimated that the monthly toll can reach tens of thousands of taels. "

Gu Jiu said: "My daughter-in-law thinks the same way. When the new year opens, the toll station should see a wave of significant growth."

Gu Jiu wouldn't be called poor anymore.

Generous and frank, he was praised by Emperor Wende.

November, the twelfth month, is even colder than October.

The tolls collected by toll booths have dropped significantly compared to October.

However, the two toll stations in Beijing and Luozhou did not drop but rose.

Beijing, Luozhou, one of the world's largest cities.

Near the end of the year, visit relatives and friends, travel for business, and deliver goods. Don't be too busy.

There are fewer foreign merchants, but local merchants are very active.

In November, the tolls at these two toll stations alone add up to more than 4,000 taels. ,

Including the other 18 toll stations, the toll at all toll stations in November barely exceeded 6,000 taels.

Some earn!

It's just that the opening time has not been selected, and it is in time for winter. Not as big as expected.

But wait until spring starts and the weather warms up.

On the road from Beijing to Luozhou, the mountain bandit road tyrant was vigorously attacked. In the second year of Wende, more people will come out to do business.

Emperor Wen De smiled, "The toll station looks inconspicuous, but it is better than a long stream of water, and it can also benefit people's livelihood."

The key is also the role of the military.

Of course, there is no need to say this.

Gu Jiu made a decisive decision, "Daughter-in-law wants to present a cement recipe, please accept it with a smile from the royal father."

Emperor Wende was overjoyed, it was rare, Gu Jiu was too knowledgeable today.

But he said, "How dare I ask for your cement recipe."

Gu Jiu felt disgusted for a while, how hypocritical!

On the face, she had to say respectfully: "My daughter-in-law is not strong enough to build cement roads in the world. Only the imperial court, only the father, has this courage. Please, the father must laugh at the cement recipe."

Liu Zhao also said: "This is a filial piety between the son and Xiaojiu, please accept the father with a smile."

Queen Pei also said, "Your Majesty will accept the filial piety of the children."

Emperor Wende said cheerfully, "Since you have shown filial piety, it is not easy for me to refuse, so I will accept it."

Gu Jiu took the opportunity to give Emperor Wende a money-making idea, "Cement can not only be used to build roads, but also to build houses, plaster walls, and plaster the ground. Especially plastering the ground, you don't have to worry about rainy days and the ground is yellow. Mud. At the price of the capital, ten cents per load, this business is also promising."

"Oh?"

Emperor Wende asked curiously, "Aren't you going to do such a good business?"

Gu Jiu said, "My daughter-in-law begged my father to allow my daughter-in-law to send someone to Jiangnan to build a cement workshop and sell cement in Jiangnan."

In other words, Gu Jiu ceded the northern market to Emperor Wende, and she went to the south to open up new markets and made the front line.

Emperor Wende laughed, "You are shrewd. Well, I allow you to set up a cement workshop in Jiangnan. If one day, Shaofu also enters Jiangnan, you can help."

"Father, don't worry, the Sihai Commercial Bank under the daughter-in-law's name is like a brother to the young mansion. The young mansion is the eldest brother, and the four seas are the younger brother. The younger brother must always look up to the eldest brother."

Nonsence!

Gu Jiu was overwhelmed by her brazenness.

Is this her?

Yes, this is her.

She has fallen!

Hey!

No, she is not a degenerate, she is a hero in keeping with the current affairs.