"But even if this soap and toilet water can be sold for money, how can we appease the officials at the government office now?"

Huang Xigun was obviously a little moved, but he didn't say the value of these two things.

The practicality of this thing alone is particularly attractive to him.

"Master Gu, what do you think?" Zhu Yunfei smiled faintly, looked at Gu Yingqi and asked.

"If we have good stuff, we don't have to worry about not having buyers. If we bring the goods back, how can we not convince the government officials?"

Gu Yingqi was heartbroken and said in a deep voice.

"Thank you, Sir." Zhu Yunfei laughed loudly.

Huang Xigun suddenly realized that he was ashamed of his short-sightedness.

"Ten thousand pieces of soap and five thousand bottles of toilet water. I will arrange the manpower to deliver them to the government office tonight."

After Zhu Yunfei finished speaking, he got up to see Gu Yunqi off, and Huang Xigan went out, saying:

"Zeng Junmen also has a share in this business. It is not for personal gain or to exploit the people. It is just for the officials to get a piece of money to support their integrity."

The two people who were still worried at first were completely relieved after hearing Zhu Yunfei's words.

Isn't that right? Doing business legally and fairly and earning money to support one's integrity is not corruption, nor does it violate the laws of the court.

"Thank you for your hospitality, General Zhu. I'll take my leave." Seeing the two of them leaving in a carriage, Zhu Yunfei said calmly to Cao Ming beside him.

"Send someone to inform Wu Hanqi that the matter of asking for salary is over."

"As well as the management of soap and toilet water, he will be responsible for supervising the accounts and just ask Huang Xigun to come forward."

"I humbly obey my orders." Cao Ming bowed and retreated.

"Everyone in the world is here for profit." Zhu Yunfei returned with his hands behind his back.

In the world of the Ming Dynasty, Shandong seems to be calm now, but who knows, a storm is about to sweep across.

Four months have passed in the blink of an eye, and the autumn harvest is just around the corner. The weather in Denglai House has been going smoothly this year, and the government is well-connected and people-friendly. As far as the eye can see, there is a bumper harvest.

In Zhu Yunfei's Hengshan manor, one thousand acres of corn, one thousand acres of potatoes, and two thousand three hundred acres of sweet potatoes have also begun to enter the harvest season.

Although sweet potatoes and potatoes are not specific to the land, the harvest from a piece of good land is still different.

On the morning of September 16, the 15th year of Chongzhen reign in the Ming Dynasty, the weather was sunny.

Zhu Yunfei held a sickle opening ceremony at Hengshan Manor.

They offer sacrifices to the heaven, earth, mountains and rivers, as well as Hou Ji, the ancestor of Chinese humanity, praying for good weather in the coming year and placing their hopes for a good harvest.

More than 5,000 soldiers from Dengzhou Guard Station and more than 20,000 family members participated in this grand autumn harvest event.

Zeng Ying, the governor of Denglai, and Gu Yingqi, the prefect of Dengzhou, also came to the fields in person to witness the sweet potatoes planted by Zhu Yunfei and the potato harvest.

The maturity cycle of sweet potatoes and potatoes is longer than that of corn, and they grow in the soil. You can only know the harvest by digging them out.

Unlike corn, you can see the harvest, and the cycle is shorter. Harvesting begins as early as July and August.

Although it is the first year of planting, the harvest is still three stones and five buckets per mu, which is 30% higher than that of wheat and soybeans.

Moreover, it can be planted together with soybeans and cross-planted with each other, which greatly increases the grain yield.

As Zhu Yunfei dug out the first hoe, fist-sized sweet potatoes revealed their true colors from the soil.

"The surface is red and smooth, very good." Zhu Yunfei picked up the sweet potato, examined it, and shouted with great confidence: "Dig, remember to dig down as far as possible with the hoe, don't dig up the fruit."

"Is this a sweet potato? The fruit is quite vivid." Zeng Ying took the fist-sized, oval-shaped long sweet potato and looked at it curiously.

"General Zhu, we have seen that the corn yield is three stones and five bushels per mu."

Gu Yingqi looked at the sweet potatoes and said with some expectation: "If the yield of sweet potatoes can reach more than four stones per mu, it will be auspicious for our Ming Dynasty and good news for the people."

"What Mr. Gu said is true, I am also looking forward to it." Zeng Ying couldn't help but laugh at this moment.

Sweet potatoes are planted in April and May, just after the winter wheat harvest.

If sweet potatoes can be harvested with four stones, and winter wheat can be harvested with three stones, this means that one acre of land can be harvested with seven stones, which is gratifying to think about.

This agricultural income is reported to the Ministry of Household Affairs, which is definitely auspicious and a proper political achievement.

"Two adults, the time to witness the miracle is coming soon." Zhu Yunfei said with a confident smile.

After digging out a few sweet potatoes, he was basically certain that the yield of sweet potatoes per mu would be at least five dan, which was more than one dan more than the four dan he estimated.

Because the fruit produced by this sweet potato is basically more than one pound.

The number of plants planted in one acre of land is around 2,000.

This is also the case in the Ming Dynasty. If there was sufficient fertilizer in later generations, one acre of land could be planted with 3,000 baht, and the yield per acre would be at least 4,000 to 5,000 jin.

But because in this era, the land lacks fertilizer, planting two thousand plants in one acre can produce one pound of fruit per plant, and the yield per mu can reach two thousand pounds.

Two thousand kilograms is equivalent to a yield of thirteen shi per mu.

Just now he said that the yield per mu was three to four stones, but he just wanted to keep a low profile.

After all, it was his first time planting this thing. If something went wrong, he would be exaggerated and he would be the one who would be embarrassed.

On the contrary, to say the least, when the harvest exceeds expectations, it will be a surprise.

Just as Zhu Yunfei expected, the excavation work of five acres of land was soon completed.

The five acres of land were weighed in public, and Zhu Yunfei, Zeng Ying, and Gu Yingqi personally supervised the weighing.

There is no fraud at all. The harvest from each mu of five acres of land is more than five dan. The lowest one is six dan and five dou per acre, and the highest one is seven shi and three dou.

"This, is this true?" When they saw the figure of seven stones and three bushels per mu, not to mention Gu Yingqi, even Zeng Ying, who was used to seeing grain harvests, had expressions of disbelief on their faces.

How much does thirteen stones and five buckets weigh? Converted into kilograms, that is 2025 kilograms. The grain income per mu exceeds two thousand kilograms. This was definitely an unprecedented harvest in the Ming Dynasty.

"This is auspicious, God bless the Ming Dynasty, God bless the Ming Dynasty." Gu Yingqi even knelt down on the ground with excitement, tears streaming down her face.

"Sweet potato, sweet potato, you really did not disappoint." Zhu Yunfei couldn't help but sigh to himself.

In his previous life, Zhu Yunfei saw someone claiming that sweet potatoes, potatoes, and corn were the root causes of China's population boom. As a rural person, Zhu Yunfei did not believe this.

The skyrocketing population of China was due to the introduction of Champa rice in the Song Dynasty, but this Champa rice was only suitable for planting south of the Yangtze River.

But it was the introduction of Champa rice that contributed to the population explosion in Jiangnan.

The introduction of sweet potatoes, potatoes, and corn has stabilized this growth.

The harvest of sweet potatoes is indeed high, but it cannot be used as a staple food, so it can be said that the growth has been stable.

Just like the thirteen stone and five buckets of sweet potatoes in front of you, this is a fresh, wet fruit that has just been dug out. If it is stored in a dry place, its weight will shrink greatly.

And it cannot be eaten for a long time as it may lead to indigestion.

But if there is a famine year and there is not enough food to eat, this thing can obviously survive.

Soon, the potato yield per mu was also confirmed.

It is much less than sweet potatoes, but it still reaches an average yield of more than five stones per mu.

Because this is the first time to plant, Zhu Yunfei is also crossing the river by feeling the stones.

Zhu Yunfei believes that with this year's experience, if we plant next year, the yield per mu will increase by 10 to 20%, which will definitely be no problem.

"Yunfei, this harvest is enough to shine in the annals of history. When I go back today, I will write a letter to the Ministry of Revenue and His Majesty to ask for your credit."

Zeng Ying looked at Zhu Yunfei, who was wearing a short coat and was all tanned by the sun, and sighed sincerely.

Gu Yingqi also echoed: "What Mr. Zeng said is true. General Zhu personally experimented with planting and did a great job for the country and the people. It is really worthy of our generation to learn from."

"Hahaha..." Zhu Yunfei waved his hands and laughed and said: "You two adults are so complimentary. This is the joint achievement of our colleagues in Denglai, as well as the military and civilians. It is not the result of Zhu Yunfei alone."

"I think, Mr. Zeng, in your memorial, you can write this: The people of Dengzhou have contributed a lot to planting new crops this year. Can you please take credit for the people and ask your Majesty to reduce the taxes of the people this year?"

"I would also like to request that planting be promoted in Dengzhou, Laizhou, Qingzhou, Yanzhou, and Jinan in the coming year. In this way, not only will there be a bumper harvest in Shandong next year, but there will definitely be no more famine."

"This is the blessing for all people!"

Zhu Yunfei's heartfelt words were not selfish at all. Everyone present was moved when they heard his words.

"Yunfei's loyalty, righteousness and kindness are admirable." Zeng Ying and Gu Yingqi both said sincerely.

Zhu Yunfei planted sweet potatoes and received good news of a bumper harvest, which has not yet reached the capital.

Emperor Chongzhen in the Fengtian Hall of the Forbidden City received an urgent military report.

"Your Majesty, your Majesty is in serious trouble. Jizhou and Miyun have fallen. He has built an army of 100,000 slaves, invaded the pass on a large scale, and is heading towards the capital to kill."

Wang Mingyue, the doctor in the Ministry of War, almost ran all the way into the court hall.

Looking at Wang Mingyue who had barged in without any etiquette and fell to his knees on the ground, no one in the court paid any attention to his lack of etiquette.

Including Chongzhen Emperor Zhu Youjian on the Dragon Throne.

At this moment, everyone was shocked by the news reported by Wang Mingyue.

In a brief panic, Chen Xinjia, Minister of War, stepped out to receive the military report, quickly read it, and presented it to the emperor with both hands.

"Your Majesty, Miyun Commander-in-Chief Bai Tengjiao fled, and Jizhou Commander-in-Chief Bai Guangen failed to defend the city and should be executed."

After Chen Xinjia read the battle report, his heart felt cold, he gritted his teeth and fell to his knees.
Chapter completed!