The Emperor Has An Illness CH 36-61 (END)

Chapter 44

There were mountains of potatoes at the front of the potato test field.

Each potato was bigger than a goose egg.

Emperor Jing Li and Empress Dowager looked at Liao Qing Qing in amazement.

Liao Qing Qing had worked very hard to make changes to the "umbrella flowers". She did not miss out on any stage of their growth in order to maximise the yield of the potatoes.

She knew she would succeed. But she was still astonished when she saw it with her own eyes.

She looked towards the Empress Dowager and then at Emperor Jing Li. Her face was filled with joy. She said, "Empress Dowager and Your Majesty, the potatoes have really grown."

Empress Dowager finally revealed a faint smile, different from his usual cold and distant self.

Emperor Jing Li nodded. "Let's go and have a look."

Liao Qing Qing supported Empress Dowager as she entered.

The Minister of Revenue and the Bureau Chief of the Department of Agricultural Products, who were personally raking the potatoes, turned their heads to look at Emperor Jing Li, Liao Qing Qing and Empress Dowager.

Without waiting for Fu Sheng to announce their arrival, they hurriedly dropped the potatoes and patted away the soil on their hands. Then, they pushed down their sleeves and quickly approached the three of them and paid their respects.

"You may rise." Emperor Jing Li said.

"Yes." The two of them stood up.

Emperor Jing Li looked out over the vast potato test field. It was once a tender green field, but now it had a faded pale green and beneath it lay an abundance of fruit and infinite hope.

Emperor Jing Li asked, "How is the harvest?"

The Minister of Revenue said excitedly, "Thanks to Your Majesty's and the Empress Dowager's blessing, the harvest was extremely pleasing under Lady Xi of Bright Countenance's guidance!"

"What is the yield?"

"The yield is about one thousand catties (500 kg/1102 pounds) per mu."[1]

One thousand catties! (500 kg/1102 pounds)

It's really one thousand catties! (500 kg/1102 pounds)

Ever since the founding of the Great Wei Dynasty, great importance has been placed on agriculture. Both Emperor Jing Li and Empress Dowager were very knowledgeable about agriculture.

What did one thousand catties signify?

One had to know that the Great Wei planted rice, wheat, grain, soybeans, etc. When the year was good, the yield per mu was only about three hundred catties.

The yields of potatoes actually reached a thousand catties per mu.

It was more than three times that of other grains!

Both Emperor Jing Li and Empress Dowager gasped inwardly as their hearts were in turmoil. Their ancestors and the late Emperor had always wanted the people to be well fed and clothed, which may soon come true.

This was all thanks to Liao Qing Qing.

Emperor Jing Li and Empress Dowager looked at Liao Qing Qing simultaneously.

Liao Qing Qing smiled and said, "Your Majesty and Empress Dowager, one mu of land can yield a thousand catties of potatoes. Previously, this imperial concubine[2] and the Bureau Chief of the Department of Agricultural Products had done many experiments on potatoes. Other than mouldy and sprouted potatoes, which are inedible, potatoes can be steamed, boiled, fried, baked, etc. It can be used as the main food source and can also be fried, made into soup or all kinds of food. This can solve the problem of eating and drinking for many people at once."