Flowers in full bloom

Chapter 738 Pei Jingxuan is scolded

If we continue to plant next year, we will probably be able to plant nearly 250 acres of land. Should we hand it over to the court? Part of it? Or all of it?

Hualei was a little undecided. After thinking carefully for a few days and discussing it with Rong Jin, Hualei decided to hand over half of the peanuts for planting.

So, he picked the peanuts again, trying to pick out large and plump ones, packed them carefully in a sack, and asked the guard to send it back.

At the same time, I wrote a letter and took it back with me, telling them how to obtain peanut seeds, how to plant them, and what points need to be paid attention to.

Rong Jin meant that he should let his grandfather send it to the Imperial Study and let Emperor Shengwu decide whether to try it for consumption or keep the seeds for planting.

Hua Lei also thought this method was good. When it was time to fight for the credit for the Zhenbei Marquis Mansion, she should spare no effort. If the Zhenbei Marquis Mansion was doing well, she would also be doing well.

So, more than half a month later, when the hybrid rice planting experiment of the Ministry of Households was going relatively smoothly, Emperor Shengwu received several sacks of peanuts sent by Marquis Pei.

Emperor Shengwu was filled with surprise and joy. Hua Aiqing was truly the lucky star of the Great Sheng Dynasty, giving him surprises from time to time.

A few years ago, peanuts were once considered precious gifts and were packed in rosewood boxes. An envoy from the State of Dachen once presented them as a gift, but the quantity was only three pounds, and they were fried before being presented.

The reason for the tribute was high-sounding, but in fact it was to prevent the Great Sheng Dynasty from leaving seeds. At that time, Emperor Shengwu had a smile on his face, but he was very angry in his heart. However, there was nothing he could do. He could not go to war with the State of Chen for peanut seeds.

Therefore, even though the peanuts at that time were really delicious, Emperor Shengwu could not taste them. Now seeing several sacks of peanuts that could be planted on the ground, Emperor Shengwu was of course surprised and delighted.

For the diligent and hardworking Emperor Shengwu, planting is definitely better than eating. However, in order to reward the flower buds and to give face to Lord Pei, Emperor Shengwu was still very "generous" and gave Lord Pei three pounds of peanuts to take back.

Of course, he himself was not greedy for the momentary desire for food, and only took three pounds of peanuts, fried them in oil, sprinkled some salt on them, and tasted them himself. He also gave small plates to the empress dowager and several high-ranking ladies.

Looking at the three catties of peanuts in his hand, Marquis Pei was somewhat speechless, but since Emperor Shengwu himself had only eaten three catties, he did not dare to say anything more. So, he took the three catties of peanuts back to the Marquis' Mansion.

Pei Jingxuan, who had just returned from his shift, became even more stingy after hearing that his father had received a reward of three pounds of peanuts. He suggested to Lord Pei that he fry a pound of peanuts and let each family taste them. The remaining peanuts could be used as seeds and planted on their own farm.

Because Lord Pei had left the imperial study for less than a quarter of an hour, Pei Jingyang and Minister Zhang were called to the imperial study by Emperor Shengwu again, and they were asked to start learning how to grow peanuts from now on and make sure that peanuts would flourish in the Great Sheng Dynasty as soon as possible.

In addition, I copied down several copies of the planting methods written by Hualei and gave them to them.

At present, peanuts are more valuable than corn. If we can grow more peanuts with the peanuts given by Emperor Shengwu, Emperor Shengwu will definitely be happier.

That might mean a bright future for the Marquis' Mansion and for him, the Minister of Revenue. After hearing what Pei Jingxuan said, Old Marquis Pei was a little angry.

Although he was not a greedy person and did not insist on eating all the peanuts, he felt that it was too much for his son to take away the three pounds of peanuts given by Emperor Shengwu.

Moreover, Pei Jingxuan's idea was too one-sided. These three pounds of peanuts were given to him by Emperor Shengwu as a reward. It had already been made public, so he had to eat them.

If Pei Jingxuan secretly kept two kilograms for seed, the nature of the matter would be different. To put it nicely, it was loyalty to the emperor and patriotism, but to put it bluntly, it was actually flattery.

If it is more serious, it is the crime of deceiving the emperor. Unfortunately, Pei Jingxuan only saw the surface and did not see the root of the matter. However, Lei'er, who was far away in Xichang, had already thought of this problem.

In fact, among the peanuts that Lei'er sent back, she also packed about five pounds of peanuts in a cloth bag and gave them to Old Marquis Pei, saying that she and Old Madam Pei would have a taste of them.

Moreover, he was told to eat it secretly and not to send it to other rooms. His memorial said that he sent 300 kilograms of peanuts, that is, 300 kilograms of peanuts, nothing else.

If you pick five kilograms of peanuts from hundreds of kilograms before they are exposed, it can be said that no one will notice. However, if you secretly keep two kilograms from three kilograms of peanuts that have already been exposed, there will be many problems.

What's more, if they plant it blatantly, wouldn't that create hidden dangers for the Marquis's Mansion?

He also knew how precious peanuts were and how hard it was to get Hua Lei. Even though he was greedy, he didn't want to leave any handle for Hua Lei that would affect her career.

Therefore, he did not keep the five pounds of peanuts that Hua Lei gave him, but sent all the peanuts to the imperial study.

However, Pei Jingxuan, the Minister of Revenue, did not even think of this, and even added unnecessary details and acted self-righteously. Lord Pei was very angry and called Pei Jingxuan to the study and scolded him.

Instead of listening to Pei Jingxuan's suggestion, he shelled three pounds of peanuts and fried them all. Except for Pei Jingxuan's room, he sent a plate of peanuts to the other rooms.

He and Madam Pei finished the rest of the peanuts while drinking some wine.

Pei Jingxuan, who was scolded by his father, sat in the study and thought hard for a long time, and finally understood the idea of ​​​​Mr. Pei to take precautions in advance.

The current Marquis' Mansion does not seek merit but only avoids mistakes. If one really wants to compete for merit, one must do so openly and honestly, without leaving any specious evidence for others.

Just like a flower bud, it grew corn, which was not available in the Great Sheng Dynasty, and now it grows even more precious peanuts. That is real achievement.

However, Hualei did not reveal a word before the rice was planted. She also did not guarantee that the trial planting of Youjia rice would work.

Even when it came to making various farm tools, she would make them herself first, and then test them herself. Only after she felt they were feasible would she take them out and show them to others.

Therefore, Hualei always leaves room for herself in many things, so that she can attack or defend. Compared with Hualei, my mentality is indeed a bit too eager for quick success.

Even if they secretly left two kilograms of peanuts this time and planted them, it would not be a credit to the imperial court. It was just copying others' ideas.

It seems that I still want to calm down and do things steadily. In this respect, I am not as good as Hualei.

Pei Jingxuan, who had figured it out, returned to his own courtyard. Even though he was unhappy that the old Marquis Pei had not sent him a single peanut, he did not dare to show it.