Li Shimin's face suddenly darkened. He had just issued an edict to ban auspicious signs, but Meton and Su Lingnong actually dared to go against his wishes.
"Let them come over. I want to see what tricks Mo Jiazi is trying to play!"
Li Shimin did not mention Su Lingnong at all. Su Lingnong had been immersed in agriculture all his life, so naturally, he would not be able to think of such tricks. It must be Meton's idea. In Li Shimin's mind, if Meton did not come up with some tricks, then he would not be Mo Jiazi.
"Congratulations, Your Majesty! Congratulations, Your Majesty!" Meton immediately said as soon as he saw Li Shimin.
"What's there to congratulate? Did the two of you find a Kirin Phoenix?" Li Shimin said with an unkind expression.
Meton's face was immediately filled with embarrassment. He said flatteringly, "A Kirin Phoenix is a celestial object. How could I find it? However, I have come here today to present something more precious than a Kirin Phoenix."
"More precious than a celestial object!" Li Shimin said in disbelief.
Meton nodded solemnly and said, "Celestial objects are useless to the country and the people. However, this thing can benefit the people of the world."
After Meton finished speaking, Su Lingnong immediately presented a flower pot.
The flower pot was covered with thick snow. On the white snow, a few tender green leaves were particularly dazzling.
"Your Majesty, the spinach trial was successful," Su Lingnong said with a trembling voice.
Li Shimin suddenly stood up and looked at the spinach seed with surprise. He was even more excited than when he saw a peerless treasure. This was probably the most satisfying auspicious sign he had received since he ascended the throne.
"This vegetable can actually survive in the snow!" Li Shimin said in disbelief.
Although he knew that spinach could grow in the winter, when he saw with his own eyes that spinach could still grow in the snow, he was extremely shocked.
"It can survive the heavy snow. This dish will definitely be popularized in the northern part of the Tang dynasty. From now on, the northern part of the Tang dynasty will no longer have to worry about vegetables in winter," Su Lingnong said firmly.
Li Shimin gently heaved a sigh of relief. In this era, not to mention the common people, even the nobles couldn't eat vegetables in winter. Being able to eat dried vegetables and pickled vegetables was already considered to be a high-class family.
Although there were some hot springs in the royal family that could cultivate some vegetables, there were still too many monks and too little porridge. It was simply not enough for everyone in the palace.
Li Shimin looked at the jade-green spinach and suddenly felt an urge to eat it. He couldn't help but swallow a mouthful of saliva. "Is this edible? I wonder how it tastes."
When Meton heard this, he immediately beamed with joy and said, "Your Majesty, you can rest assured. This is a rare delicacy. Whether it's in hot pot or fried with eggs, it's a first-class delicacy …"
Meton was speaking to his heart's content when he suddenly felt that the atmosphere wasn't right. He saw Su Lingnong looking at him with an angry gaze. Su Lingnong gnashed his teeth and said, "When did you eat spinach? Do you know that this is the hope of the common people in winter?"
Su Lingnong attached great importance to spinach. He clearly knew how many spinach there were in the Mo Estate. As far as he knew, the number of spinach hadn't decreased. How could this brat Meton take advantage of a loophole?
Meton immediately knew that he had exposed himself. He hurriedly explained, "Lord Su, rest assured. This brat only plucked a leaf from each spinach. It won't affect the growth of the spinach."
Winter had arrived. How could the Mo Estate have any vegetables to eat? Meton, who came from the future, found it even more unbearable to live without vegetables. He secretly ate a few times to satisfy his craving.
"That still won't do!" Su Lingnong angrily said.
"Alright, alright. Beloved Minister Su, although this brat Meton is naughty and mischievous, he still knows his limits. Plucking a leaf won't harm the spinach's foundation." Li Shimin tried to smooth things over while secretly giving Meton a meaningful glance.
Meton immediately sighed and helplessly nodded. In the future, when he plucked spinach leaves, he would probably have to give a portion to Li Shimin.
The Emperor's family also lacked vegetables!
"Aside from the spinach, the Minister and the others have another matter. The cotton seeds have already been transported to the Mo Estate!" Merton said.
"Cotton seeds!" Li Shimin's heart tightened.
The arrival of the cotton seeds meant that cotton could be planted next year. Li Shimin had a love-hate relationship with cotton. The benefits of cotton to the Tang Dynasty were too great. However, it also had an impact on the Tang Dynasty's monetary system. If he was not careful, it would definitely lead to a disaster.
"Your Majesty, once the cotton seeds are planted, cotton will definitely spread rapidly in the Tang Dynasty. As for the silk, Your Majesty, please make early plans." Su Lingnong said worriedly.
Li Shimin nodded solemnly and said, "The brick road from Chang 'an City to Longyou is about to be built. The first purpose of building the brick road is to defeat the Tuyuhun. The second is for the silk."
Meton nodded. Once the brick road was built, the road to the Western Region would definitely be several times more convenient. The amount of silk trade would definitely increase by several times.
In this way, the impact of cotton on silk would definitely be much lighter than expected.
… … …
Heavy snow fluttered in the air.
The first snow in seven years of Zhen Guan was extraordinarily heavy. Heavy snow fell continuously for three consecutive days. The snow on the roof was at least a foot thick.
On the fourth day, the heavy snow had just stopped.
"Birds fly in a thousand mountains, people disappear on ten thousand paths, a man in a straw hat in a lone boat, fishing alone in the cold river and snow."
Because of the heavy snowfall, the Imperial College had already stopped classes. Modun had nothing to do. When he woke up, the sky was already bright. He pushed open the door and saw the courtyard full of snow. He was in the mood to write poetry.
"Good poem! You are in a good mood!" Su Lingnong's hearty voice came as expected.
"Oh!" So it's Lord Su! "Meton immediately said with flagging interest.
Since Meton admitted that he had secretly picked the spinach leaves, Su Lingnong often came to the Mo Mansion. As a result, Meton was watched as if he was a thief in his own house.
"But your poem doesn't suit the occasion." Su Lingnong suddenly shook his head and said.
"Then tell me, which part of the poem doesn't suit the occasion?" Doesn't suit the occasion! Meton immediately became angry. He had specially copied the famous poem, but Su Lingnong dared to say that it didn't suit the occasion.
"If it was before, it would be reasonable if people disappeared on ten thousand paths. But it's different now. The Old Man heard that the brick road in the south of the city is still full of traveling merchants and pedestrians even though it's snowing heavily!" Su Lingnong joked.
The heavy snow made Chang 'an completely see the advantages of the brick road. The traffic in the entire Guanzhong area was blocked by the heavy snow. However, there was one place that was particularly eye-catching, and that was the official road in the south of the city.
Every one mile, the Mo Family would hire a few nearby villagers to clear the snow. After three days of heavy snow, the official road in the south of the city was still smooth and unimpeded.
"Losing a good poem can make the people travel without worries. That's not a loss." Meton laughed.
Su Lingnong nodded and sighed, "The brick road is indeed eye-opening. Ordinary official roads can't be opened without ten days or half a month. But the brick road is different. As long as the snow is cleared, it will be smooth and unimpeded. "
The heavy snow made everyone in Chang 'an, from the imperial court to the common people, realize the advantages of the brick road. They all admired Meton's foresight.
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