Although the July in Chang'an City is already a bit autumn.

In the morning and evening, it is no longer so hot.

But when the sun rises into the air, standing under the scorching sun, you can still feel a burst of heat.

All the civil and military officials in the court were in no mood to hold a court meeting today.

Even Kong Yingda seemed to have nothing happened, and it was rare that he didn't talk about anything while pulling his hair and cutting it.

So after the court meeting was over, everyone headed towards the potato field of the Chu Palace.

"Father, do you think this potato is really as magical as the second brother said. Just plant it simply to produce a thousand kilograms per mu? You should know that this year, Guanzhong suffered from drought and then was affected by locust plague.

According to the statistics of the Ministry of Revenue, the rice yield in Guanzhong area in the first half of the year was cut in half, and the harvest was terrible. At this time, even if the potatoes were originally produced in a million kilograms per mu, they should not have that many after being affected by these, right?"

Li Zhi and Li Shimin were riding in the same luxury Mercedes-Benz four-wheeled carriage and slowly heading towards the fields of the Chu King's Mansion.

"How much potato yield is? I have to be dug out today and confirmed it. But Kuan'er was so confident yesterday. I think even if there is no one kilogram per mu, it should be nowhere short."

Li Shimin sat on the whale leather sofa with anticipation, half-collapsed there, looking very comfortable.

Today's luxury Mercedes-Benz four-wheeled carriages are equipped with leaf spring devices to absorb shocks, and the comfort of riding has been greatly improved.

"If the yield is really so high, then the significance of this potato to the Tang Dynasty is very important. As long as there is such a kind of crop, it can solve the food problem of our people in the Tang Dynasty."

Li Zhi naively expressed his thoughts.

However, it is obviously not recognized by Li Shimin.

"The pheasant, a country as big as our Tang Dynasty, cannot and should not have only one kind of crop. If the people of the Tang Dynasty planted potatoes, then once potato-related pests and diseases occur, resulting in a sharp reduction in the potato harvest, or even no harvest, there will be chaos.

So look at Nanyang rice, although the yield is much higher than that of corn, the imperial court still supports the people in many places in the Tang Dynasty to grow corn."

"It is true, and the tastes of people in each place are different. Some people like to eat corn, some people like to grow wheat, and some places are popular for growing rice."

Li Zhi naturally would not argue with Li Shimin.

No matter whether what Li Shimin said makes sense or does not make sense, he will not argue.

This is also an experience he summarized after becoming the prince.

"However, potatoes have great significance, which is absolutely undeniable. Suddenly, I have more expectations for the corn and sweet potatoes mentioned earlier. If the imperial court had several high-yield crops to choose from, the risk I just mentioned would be greatly reduced.

By then, the Tang Dynasty will really be able to solve the food problem of the people, which is a problem that countless dynasties have not fundamentally solved.”

When Li Shimin said this, he couldn't help but feel a little excited on his face.

Since Li Shimin came to power through the Xuanwu Gate Incident, it can be said that his ascension to the throne was not very glorious.

So he cared more about his reputation than any emperor, and whether the people's lives were better than other dynasties under his rule.

"Yes, I don't know when the 'Yang Benman' of the 'Yang Benman' will be able to return to Chang'an City. This is the first time I miss this strange-named sea ship in so many years."

"I'll be back, I'm very confident about it."

"The evil words confuse the crowd Yang Ben is a man of the name" is a veteran on the sea.

Over the years, every time a new type of sea boat goes into the sea, it will be named "Yang Benman".

As for the previous ship, it was given a new name.

So to a certain extent, "Yang Benman, the Yang Benman" represents the highest shipbuilding technology in the Tang Dynasty.

...

"Ito-kun, do you think the potatoes in the Chu Prince's Mansion are possible to sell them to us? Even if they are sold to us at a high price."

Kubota Shiro followed Ito Hiroyuki in a four-wheeled carriage and headed towards the potato field of the Chu Palace.

It is not only the people of the Tang Dynasty who can see the benefits of potatoes.

Any agricultural country cannot be willing to miss a high-yield crop like potatoes.

So today, those who came to see the potato excavation ceremony were not only Japanese envoys, Silla, Baekje, and Tubo envoys, but also all of them were on the scene.

"It is still hard to say whether it will be sold in the future. But this year, I think it is unlikely to sell it. Yesterday I just asked in Chang'an City and there are countless people who want potato seeds.

Although people arranged for people to plant a lot of potatoes in the King of Chu Palace, they definitely could not meet the needs of so many people. Besides, based on my understanding of His Royal Highness of Chu, things like high-yield grain seeds, if the Tang Dynasty's own needs were not met, it would be impossible for him to be exported to other countries."

Ito Hiroyuki arrived in Chang'an City on the first day, and he still has a clear understanding of the situation he is facing.

"That's the same, but can we find a way to get some potato seeds in private and let someone try to grow one in China to see if this potato is suitable for the soil and climate of our Japan?"

Kubota Shiro obviously didn't give up.

For him, it is very important to confirm whether potatoes are suitable for Japan.

And, if you make this confirmation, you don't necessarily need a lot of potatoes.

As long as you can plant a few acres of land, it is enough.

Even if you have one acre of land, you can complete this confirmation.

"Kubota, I wonder if you have heard something from Silla envoys?"

Hiroyuki Ito did not directly answer Kubota Shiro's question, but told him other things.

"What's the matter?"

"A few years ago, the Silla people secretly built some seed mulberry trees and silkworm farmers from the Tang Dynasty and went back, and then prepared to plant mulberry trees on a large scale and raise silkworms outside Jincheng. They wanted to weave silk that belonged to the Silla people themselves. As a result, last year, all the mulberry trees, all the related farmers and craftsmen died in a bad life.

Although the Tang Dynasty officials did not say that they did this, someone saw the hot air balloon and used sulphur bombs on the spot. Who else can do this except the Tang Dynasty?”

When Ito Hiroyuki said this, a feeling of sadness surged in his heart.

Compared with Nobuichi Kujo, he is definitely a loyal Japanese envoy, who is determined to seek development and benefits for Japan.

But the situation is so cruel.

If the potato seeds were brought back to Japan without the permission of the Tang Dynasty, they would sooner or later be discovered by the Tang Dynasty.

Because today's Namba Tsu is almost Namba Tsu of the Tang Dynasty.

Even in Nara, the capital of Japan, the Tang Dynasty had a very strong influence.

Not to mention the areas near Shijian Yinshan, they almost became the sphere of influence of the Tang Dynasty.

To be honest, Japan is now a semi-colonial and semi-feudal country.

As long as the Tang Dynasty was willing, there was a way to make it a colony or even a Taoist in the Tang Dynasty.

In this case, how could Ito Hiroyuki be careful when he beats potatoes in private?

Otherwise, it would be not difficult to secretly dig a few potatoes from the potato field.

Or when the potatoes are harvested and the seeds are sold to other people, it is not very difficult to arrange for people to buy, steal or rob.

However, Koyuki Ito dared not!

"Ito-kun, is Datang really so domineering?"

After Kubota Shiro was silent for a moment, a faint sentence appeared.

"Do you really think that the officials in the Tang Dynasty are like Kong Yingda? If this is the case, our lives will not be so sad?"

"But the Tang Dynasty is so harsh on us. Why do the nobles in China still hold the Tang Dynasty's thighs tightly? Whether it is control or clothes, they are imitating the Tang Dynasty in almost all aspects.

I heard that Nara Castle and Nambatzu are almost the same as a prefecture in the Tang Dynasty. If you don’t talk, you won’t feel the difference from the Tang Dynasty.”

I don’t know if I should be happy or unhappy, but Kubota Shiro was very moved.

The Tang Dynasty was powerful, and the Tang Dynasty was prosperous.

If Japan can become strong and prosperous after learning from the Tang Dynasty in full, Kubota Shiro would naturally be very happy.

However, he felt a little happy.

Is Japan, which has no characteristics, still its own?

"This world is the world of the strong. Our country of Japan is just an island country. If you want to grow and grow, you must hold others' thighs. Today's Tang Dynasty is the most powerful, so we naturally have to hold the Tang Dynasty's thighs tightly. They ask us to go east, but we will never go west; they ask us to go south, but we will never go north."

Ito Hiroyuki saw this thoroughly.

Because part of this situation in our country was caused by his continuous advice.

"It's a pity that although we are dedicated to the Tang Dynasty, places like Guanshishan Academy still do not allow our Tang envoys to study. So far, only Jiujo Xingxiang has successfully entered Guanshishan Academy, but there is no Japan in her heart at all."

"The changes that the science and technology taught by Guanshishan Academy can bring are huge. Even if our Tang envoys do not enter Guanshishan Academy to study, they can still learn a lot.

Especially in the Imperial College, we are now starting to imitate Guanshishan Academy to set up some research institutes. By then, our people will definitely be able to learn more or less of the news about these research institutes, which is enough.

The Tang Dynasty would not allow us to learn the most core things, and this will not change even in a few decades."

"Well, I understand!"

...

"Fang Yiai, after the potato excavation ceremony is over, remember to ask the second brother for more potato seeds."

In a decorated four-wheeled carriage, Princess Gaoyang is giving Fang Yiai an idea.

Gao Yang, who spent money like flowing water, naturally did not mind that Fangfu's income became more.

Especially Fang Xuanling's body was gradually deteriorating, and he might not be able to continue to serve as the Minister of Shangshu Zuo Pushe, so the Fang family's status in Chang'an City immediately came to a higher level.
To be continued...