Chapter 80
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A locust plague occurred in the northern region of Great Heng. The Emperor wanted to cancel the Longevity Festival, but everything that needed preparation had already been prepared. The envoys from the outer court had arrived in the capital. Whether for the sake of face or substance, the courtiers took turns persuading that the festival must go on as usual.
The news of Gu Yuanbai dispatching troops and supplies to the northern frontier couldn’t be concealed from the foreign envoys who had already arrived in the capital. He straightforwardly invited the envoys to the scene to personally witness Great Heng’s troops marching off to war.
These envoys were brought to the top of the city walls. As they watched the countless soldiers and horses below, they couldn’t help but feel a chill creeping up their spines.
From above, the number of military horses seemed endless. The soldiers and supplies marched forward in an orderly manner, with banners blocking out the sun, exuding a majestic aura.
Great Heng hadn’t waged war for many years. Although it remained vast and powerful, neighboring countries could see signs of its gradual decline. The rulers of Great Heng had become timid, allowing nomadic tribes to ravage the borders. Consequently, neighboring countries began to harbor intentions of bullying the big brother.
But now…
As these envoys looked at the densely packed soldiers of Great Heng beneath their feet, and at the soldiers’ excellent equipment and robust physique, they couldn’t believe it: how could Great Heng’s soldiers be so spirited?
Their horses were strong, and their soldiers were full of vitality. Looking at the continuous stream of food carts, did the Great Heng’s Emperor empty all the grain from the granaries?!
Were they not afraid that by emptying all this food now, the entire Great Heng would be ruined if any natural disasters or man-made calamities occurred afterward?
The envoys were perplexed.
No matter how much they thought about it, and how much they didn’t want to believe it, they couldn’t help but etch this shocking scene into their minds. Their scalps tingled, and their legs stiffened, unable to move at all.
It wasn’t until the troops disappeared from sight that the eunuchs accompanying them reminded the envoys, who had been watching the scene of soldiers departing, to come to their senses.
A nearby military officer smiled twice and modestly said, “These soldiers are just a small part of the Imperial Guards. Please forgive us for any shortcomings.”
The translators from the Ministry of Rites also stood nearby, smiling humbly as they translated the officer’s words to the envoys from various countries.
The expressions of the foreign envoys were strange. Was this humility? Or was it a display of strength!
Among these foreign envoys, there was no trace of the Xixia envoy. They were still confined in the Mingsheng Relay Station, learning the rules of Great Heng. Until they completed their studies, they couldn’t leave.
These envoys didn’t bother to inquire about the whereabouts of the Xixia envoy.
Before witnessing today’s scene, the envoys of other countries knew that Great Heng had some small schemes in mind after the locust plague. But after seeing today’s scene, they were disheartened.
Even with such a large locust plague, the food was enough to sustain the soldiers for three months, even if they starved themselves. The locust plague in the north did not pose any threat to Great Heng. Moreover, seeing the officials and people in the capital confidently celebrating the Emperor’s birthday, they couldn’t help but feel that they hadn’t reached the point of food shortage.
The envoys racked their brains trying to find evidence of Great Heng exaggerating their strength. But no matter how they looked, all they saw was the joyous atmosphere because of the upcoming Longevity Festival.
The Emperor of Great Heng was not a robber; he didn’t use this as a reason to ask the envoys of other countries to help with the locust plague in the north. Instead, after demonstrating the strength of his fist, he courteously let them go, even sending eloquent officials to accompany them on a tour of the capital.
While strolling through the capital, the envoys occasionally pointed to the wooden structures guarded by officials on the roadside and asked, “What is this?”
The officials glanced at them and casually replied, “Oh, that’s a pedal-powered winnowing machine.”
“A pedal-powered winnowing machine?”
The envoys inquired further, “Is it different from the previous winnowing machine?”
“There’s no difference from the previous winnowing machine,” the official said, “it’s just that instead of being hand-cranked, it’s now pedal-powered, making it easier and more powerful, able to clean the chaff and dust from the grain more thoroughly.”
The envoys took a closer look and saw people queuing up in front of the winnowing machines. After each cleaning, they would pay a small portion of the grain as a usage fee, or hand over the separated chaff.
The quantity was indeed small. Even the poorest households had the ability to come and clean the grain. In addition to those on the roadside, there were also groups of people pushing larger winnowing machines, sweating profusely as they pushed them into the distance.
“This is a large-sized winnowing machine,” the official explained proactively, “usually kept in government offices. If the common people need it, based on the community system, they can go to the government office together to sign a lease for the winnowing machine.”
One envoy asserted, “That must be very expensive.”
The official replied calmly, “Not at all. Each household only needs to pay one hundred wen, and with such a large winnowing machine, it can clean the chaff in two or three days at most. If someone is diligent and thrifty, they might not eat or drink for a day, and it would take about a day’s work.”
One group comprised five households. A large-sized winnowing machine cost five hundred wen a day. Two days would be one or two taels of silver. After being divided among the people, they could afford the cost. One hundred wen per household per day was indeed not expensive.
The envoys had various thoughts in their minds. The officials quickly changed the topic, diverting their attention to the colorful paintings and bright fabrics on the streets.
***
After returning to the palace, Gu Yuanbai immediately ordered the writing of new edicts to elevate the ranks of the two Madams of the Xue family.
The ranks of the old Madam of the Xue family and Madam Xue were both raised. With all the men who could manage the Xue residence already gone, only a disreputable and inconsequential figure remained. Gu Yuanbai had to let others know that the Xue family was not to be trifled with.
After dealing with these trivial matters, Gu Yuanbai breathed a sigh of relief. He kicked the two wolves lying next to the desk with his foot, letting them crawl to the corner, and instructed the palace attendants, “Make sure they eat their fill every day, don’t let them starve and stare at me.”
Tian Fusheng advised, “Your Majesty, wolves are naturally ferocious. It’s not appropriate to keep them by your side.”
Gu Yuanbai raised his lips, “I like them.”
He had done many dangerous and thrilling things before, and truth be told, he had never kept two adult wolves by his side.
His nature began to stir, even though he knew it was dangerous, he couldn’t resist the itch in his heart.
Gu Yuanbai thought for a moment, “Go find some experts in animal training and let them see to what extent these two wolves have been tamed.”
Tian Fusheng complied and left to find someone.
“Wolves.” Gu Yuanbai repeated several times, and suddenly heard some gasps. Turning around, he saw that the two gray wolves lying in the corner had stood up upon hearing his voice and walked to his side.
Although their appearance was intimidating, at the moment they were whimpering softly, with an inviting demeanor.
Xue Yuan had indeed trained them well.
Gu Yuanbai reached out, and one of the wolves walked to his hand. The wolf rubbed its head against him, and its crimson tongue licked its sharp teeth and nose, brushing against Gu Yuanbai’s hand.
As he stroked the wolf, Gu Yuanbai took out the memorial that Kong Yilin had submitted to him a few days ago and slowly began to read it.
Kong Yilin’s memorial was over five thousand words long. If translated into vernacular Chinese, it would be about twenty thousand words. Gu Yuanbai read it slowly; only by taking his time could he fully grasp and understand the meaning, and then incorporate it into his own thoughts.
By the time he had read through most of the memorial, the sky outside had already darkened. Dinner was served on the table, and Gu Yuanbai sat down with the memorial, but after a few bites, he realized that there were still some characters in the text that were in vernacular script.
Vernacular script referred to simplified characters in ancient times. Chinese characters had been divided into simplified and traditional forms since ancient times. In his memorial, if Kong Yilin encountered characters with many strokes, he didn’t stick to tradition but instead used vernacular script for convenience.
Gu Yuanbai found these characters familiar and sometimes chuckled upon seeing them, feeling a sense of intimacy.
As the lamp flickered and the night grew deeper, before returning to his sleeping quarters, someone from the Supervision Bureau came to report.
“Your Majesty, the newly appointed county magistrate of Huangpu City has discovered a strange-looking fruit locally,” the person from the Supervision Bureau said, “this fruit is bright red all over and delicately petite, and the locals call it the Red Lantern fruit.”
Gu Yuanbai suddenly raised his head, his eyes shining.
“The county magistrate of Huangpu City felt it was auspicious for Your Majesty’s birthday and also thought of the anti-corruption matter, so he believed it to be a divine fruit sent from heaven and hurriedly sent it to the capital. However, this Red Lantern fruit is brightly colored and red as fire, so it is feared to be highly toxic.”
This thing should be tomatoes.
Tomatoes originated from South America, but in modern times, experts had discovered tomato seeds in a Han Dynasty tomb in 1983. However, no one could determine whether these tomato seeds had been passed down since the Han Dynasty or had accidentally fallen in during tomb robbing or transportation. Therefore, Gu Yuanbai didn’t hold out hope of eating tomatoes in this lifetime.
Now, suddenly hearing that tomatoes might have been found, Gu Yuanbai suppressed his excitement and immediately ordered, “Bring it to me for inspection.”
The person from the Supervision Bureau brought forth four or five Red Lantern fruits. Gu Yuanbai recognized them at a glance as tomatoes. A palace attendant put on gloves for him, and Gu Yuanbai picked up one of the tomatoes and felt it. These fruits had been carefully selected, with smooth skins and vibrant red colors. He had someone bring a bowl, and with a little force, the tomato burst open, revealing tender flesh and a sweet-sour juice that was fragrant and slightly tangy, making one’s mouth water involuntarily.
These tomatoes were slightly smaller than modern ones, but their taste seemed unchanged.
Gu Yuanbai put down the tomato and had the gloves removed from his hands. “Half of these Red Lantern fruits will be kept as seeds for planting, and the other half will be sent to the Imperial Hospital for toxicity testing. Once it’s confirmed to be safe for consumption, come and report to me immediately.”
The person from the Supervision Bureau nodded in agreement.
Gu Yuanbai washed his hands and looked at the broken tomato and tomato juice in the bowl, sighing softly, “Dispose of these.”
This was truly the biggest surprise he had received in these days.
Although he couldn’t eat it for safety reasons now, Gu Yuanbai knew in his heart that this thing was most likely harmless. Once it was confirmed to be safe, this sweet and sour, delicious thing could be made into soup or dishes, and as long as the production volume could keep up, it would soon be on the tables of the common people.
Tomatoes were truly the biggest gift he had received for his birthday this year.
***
While His Majesty received the auspicious fruits, Heqin Wang received a special gift from the Xixia envoy two days later at noon.
A Xixia beauty.
Women from Xixia were beautiful, and their beauty had been written into many articles and poems. The one brought to Heqin Wang’s residence was particularly beautiful, with delicate makeup and rosy cheeks, surpassing even the most charming flowers.
This woman was brought by a retainer of Heqin Wang’s residence named Mr. Wang. Mr. Wang said, “The Xixia envoy said this is a gift for Heqin Wang.”
Heqin Wang’s face was somber as he sat in his high seat.
The Xixia woman noted his appearance, bowed, and got up, her waist soft.
“A gift for this Wang?” Heqin Wang said, “Why would he give me a gift?”
Mr. Wang whispered, “It is said that the Xixia envoy had previously offended Heqin Wang, so out of concern, he specially came to offer this apology gift.”
Upon hearing this, Heqin Wang furrowed his brows.
How come he didn’t know that the Xixia envoy had previously offended him?
“Take her back. I’m not interested,” Heqin Wang stood up, his tone irritable, “Tell those Xixia envoys not to entertain any inappropriate thoughts. By bribing me with a woman, what does he want me to do?”
“If he really did offend me, then he should bring gifts and personally come to explain the reason to me,” Heqin Wang sneered, “Hiding behind a woman, what kind of hero is that? Dismissed. Mr. Wang, you better wake up and stop agreeing to everything and bringing all sorts of people to me. If you can’t resist the allure of a beauty, then you can enjoy her yourself!”
With that, Heqin Wang waved his sleeve and strode out of the hall.
Mr. Wang remained unchanged in expression. He smiled faintly, then turned to the Xixia woman and said, “Please leave.”
***
The Xixia envoys finally learned the etiquette of Great Heng today and could come and go freely at the Mingsheng Relay Station. However, in the evening, the Xixia woman who had just been sent out was sent back empty-handed. For the proud Xixia people who had always boasted of their women’s beauty, this was more humiliating than learning the rules of Great Heng.
Li Angshun sat at the table, his expression dark and uncertain. “Heqin Wang kept me here for more than ten days, and now he has completely forgotten about me?”
The Xixia woman lowered her head, afraid to speak.
The more Li Angshun thought about it, the more unpleasant his expression became. He clenched his fist and sneered, “Do you remember what Heqin Wang looks like?”
The Xixia woman said, “Heqin Wang has a handsome and very distinguished appearance.”
Li Angshun’s expression changed slightly. “Very distinguished?”
He recalled the half-chin he saw in the carriage that day, and the fingers that lifted the curtain. Could that appearance be described as “handsome” and “very distinguished”?
If it was just handsome, he might believe it, but listening to the woman’s words, he only heard arrogance, nothing else.
During the days he had spent studying the rules at the Mingsheng Relay Station, whenever he felt irritated, he would repeatedly think of the condescending attitude of the person in the carriage. As long as he thought of it, he could endure the impatience and humiliation and continue to learn the rules.
Whenever he couldn’t stand it, he would think about how to humiliate Heqin Wang after leaving. Who would have thought that Heqin Wang would completely forget about him!
Under the candlelight, the Xixia prince’s face darkened. “He asked me to personally offer gifts as an apology, so I’ll go personally tomorrow.”
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