In the past few days, the news about the development of Jiangnan spread quickly in the Tang Dynasty. The whole Tang Dynasty was shocked by it. Some people agreed that once Jiangnan was developed, the wealth and national power of the Tang Dynasty would be flourishing. Some people disagreed that it was too extravagant and overly ambitious, which would repeat the tragedy of the Grand Canal. The prosperity of Jiangnan would probably depend on the efforts of the people of Jiangnan.
At dawn, the East Gate of Chang 'an City had just been opened. A knight galloped over from the East, looking travel-worn.
As soon as the knight entered Chang 'an City, he immediately changed and went straight to the Mo Mansion.
Within Modun's residence, Modun was currently accompanying the potbellied Princess Changle for a stroll. Princess Changle's pregnancy was already quite far along. Madam Zhang had advised Princess Changle to walk more often, as it would be beneficial for her to give birth. As a result, every morning stroll was an essential activity for Modun and Princess Changle.
"The development of Jiangnan is indeed a good plan for the country and the people. However, you didn't discuss it with the Jiangnan family and directly made it public. I'm afraid that it will arouse their disgust! They think that you are being selfish. "Princess Changle couldn't help frowning.
Meton shook his head and said, "Aristocratic families value interests the most, especially their own interests. If I discuss it with the Jiangnan family, I'm afraid that the Jiangnan family will make a secret deal with the Five Families and Seven Hopes. Now everything is out in the open. I'm afraid that even if the Jiangnan family agrees, the people of Jiangnan won't."
Princess Changle couldn't help laughing and said, "You are so naughty!"
"This time, I have to thank you, my wife. Otherwise, the Mo Family's Village couldn't find a way to solve the problem." Meton was relieved.
Princess Changle rolled her eyes at Meton and said, "Then how are you going to thank me?"
"Don't worry. I have already prepared a gift for you from Jiangnan. It's about time!" Meton laughed and said.
"A gift from Jiangnan?" Princess Changle's heart stirred. This made her somewhat curious.
Suddenly, the sound of hurried horse hooves could be heard from outside the Mo clan. Following a hurried neigh, Mo Er walked in, covered in dust.
"Replying to Young Master and Madam, Mo Jiazi did not disappoint you." Mo Er waved his hand and two Mo Jiazi brothers carried the bundle that had just been unloaded from the horse's back.
"Madam, please!" Meton waved his hand.
"This is the gift you were talking about?" Princess Changle reached out to touch it, and immediately felt a chill in her hand.
Meton nodded and said, "Madam, you will know when you open it."
Princess Changle couldn't help but be curious. She opened the package expectantly and saw that there was a thin layer of ice on top of the package. When the layer of ice was removed, fruits the size of eggs were revealed.
"Lychee!" Princess Changle exclaimed in surprise.
Meton was stunned. He looked at Princess Changle in surprise and said, "Madam, you know them?"
Princess Changle nodded and said, "A few years ago, Lingnan's Feng family offered a batch of lychees to Chang 'an City. Father gave me some for me to taste. They were indeed very delicious. Unfortunately, because of the long journey, it required a fast horse to deliver them. It was too taxing on the people and money, so he banned the offering of lychees."
Meton finally understood. He nodded and said, "Madam is pregnant and has no appetite. I heard that lychees are very delicious, so I asked people to bring some back from Jiangnan for Madam to taste."
After Princess Changle became pregnant, she liked fruits very much. Now that the Lingnan lychees were ripe, Meton sent people to bring back a batch.
"My husband knows me best?" Princess Changle couldn't wait to pick up a lychee. She peeled off the shell and revealed the fresh flesh inside.
"This lychee seems to be more delicious than the ones I ate before." Princess Changle quickly swallowed the lychee. Princess Changle's eyes lit up.
Meton nodded and said, "Lychees are very difficult to preserve. One day, their color will change. Two days, their fragrance will change. Three days, their taste will change. After four or five days, their color and fragrance will disappear. However, as soon as I plucked the lychees from the branches, I immediately used saltpeter to make ice to freeze them. Along the way, I kept adding ice to ensure that they were kept fresh. From Lingnan to Chang 'an City, the lychees tasted as fresh as if they had just been plucked from a tree. "
"Ah! You are so extravagant. If this were to spread, wouldn't I be said to be extravagant? Wouldn't that damage the image of the mistress of the Mo family? " Hearing that such an insignificant lychee had been expended so much energy, Princess Changle could not help but jump in fright. At present, the Mo family was already in a precarious situation. If she were to spread unfavorable rumors, wouldn't that be adding hail to snow?
Meton smiled and comforted her, "Don't worry, my wife. This is the way I specially designed to preserve the freshness of the lychees. It won't be long before a large batch of lychees is shipped from Lingnan to Chang 'an City. My wife is just tasting the freshness first. How can you say it is extravagant?"
"A large batch of lychees will really be shipped from Lingnan." Princess Changle was pleasantly surprised.
Meton nodded and said, "Of course. I have placed a large order with Lingnan. In half a month at most, a large batch of lychees will be shipped from Lingnan to Chang 'an City."
"But what if the Five Families and Seven Kingdoms sabotage it?" Princess Changle was worried.
Meton said slyly, "Then I will have to borrow your reputation. I wonder if Your Highness is willing to make a sacrifice for the people of Lingnan."
Princess Changle couldn't help but stuff another lychee into her mouth and said helplessly, "Even a princess can't escape from this!"
Modun laughed heartily. He took out a pen and paper and started writing:
"Looking back at Chang 'an, thousands of doors open on the mountaintop.
Riding on a red-dust princess, no one knows it is the lychees. "
Princess Changle looked at the poem Meton wrote and helplessly covered her face, "For the sake of eating lychees, my reputation is ruined."
The first batch of lychees cost a lot. She was the first to taste them. No matter what, she couldn't explain it.
Meton laughed and said, "How can I let my wife bear this bad reputation alone? Since it is so, you and I, husband and wife, will share the honor and disgrace."
Meton changed the paper and wrote again without hesitation,
"Four seasons of spring under Luofu Mountain, Luju and bayberry are new.
Eating three hundred lychees a day, I will not refuse to be a Lingnan person. "
"Eating three hundred lychees a day, this time, you and I, husband and wife, will never be able to wash away our bad reputation of liking lychees." Princess Changle peeled a lychee and stuffed it into Meton's mouth.
Meton tasted the familiar delicacy and couldn't help but nod in satisfaction. The lychees from Lingnan were the results of his special show to the Jiangnan family.
Speaking of which, seeing is believing. No matter how much he advertised in Mo Jiazi, it was far less moving than the actual benefits of the lychees. Moreover, Mo Jiazi could even keep the lychees in the south fresh and transport them to Chang 'an, not to mention other fruits.
Now that he had paved the way for Jiangnan, the benefits visible to the naked eye were within reach. He didn't believe that the Jiangnan family wouldn't be tempted.
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