Chapter 65: Grain Seed Turmoil

Futai County Yamen

Ren Zilin said angrily, “There’s an official document from the Ministry of Revenue. Zhao Kingdom has increased the price of grain seeds again this year. One *jin* of wheat seed needs to be exchanged for ten *jin* of grain. The most infuriating thing is that only our Chu State needs to exchange ten *jin*, while Jin and Yan Kingdoms only need six *jin*!”

Ren Zilin was truly angry. If the other two countries had the same exchange rate as Chu State, it would be fine. But why was the exchange rate for Chu State particularly expensive?

Zhao and Chu were still related by marriage!

Their Chu State’s talented, young, and beautiful Eldest Princess had married far away to Zhao, becoming a consort of that old geezer!

The Eldest Princess was only 16 years old when she married!

But that tyrant of Zhao was already fifty!

The poor Eldest Princess had already suffered three miscarriages in these past few years.

Who knows what kind of torment she had endured.

Over the years, Wei Feng and the Crown Prince had broken into the Zhao Kingdom Imperial Palace many times, trying to rescue her. They almost lost their lives, but the Eldest Princess refused to leave.

Why? It was because she was afraid that Zhao Kingdom would use it as an excuse to wage war, and the people would suffer!

This was all the emperor’s fault. They should have fought back then. As a result, the emperor sent the Eldest Princess to marry and agreed to pay tribute every year.

Damn it, he wished they could fight!

The more they retreated, the more they were bullied!

Ren Zilin didn’t dare to mention the Eldest Princess in front of Chu Tiankuo. He said, “The Ministry of Revenue is urging county magistrates everywhere to quickly report the number of grain seeds needed, lest Zhao Kingdom goes back on their word again later. Damn it, it’s already late enough. It’s almost harvest time. This year, it’s so late. That tyrant of Zhao is doing this on purpose, deliberately bullying our Chu State! We don’t even know if the exchanged grain will arrive in time for autumn planting!”

Chu Tiankuo didn’t speak. He looked at the official document on the table, his face expressionless, but his whole body exuded an intimidating aura.

Whenever Zhao Kingdom was mentioned, he would think of his imperial sister.

Ren Zilin didn’t dare to say anything more. He quietly stared at his face and asked in a low voice, “So, how much grain seed will Futai County exchange for this year?”

His face was full of caution.

“Twenty thousand.” Chu Tiankuo replied lightly.

He thought of the corn.

This corn, with a maximum yield of nine hundred *jin* per *mu*, could only be planted next year.

Although the number of seeds from the Spirit Orb was limited and not enough for all the people of Chu State, as long as they could get through this year and another year, things would be much better.

Agriculture in Chu State was not very developed. The grain yield per *mu* in Chu State was only about three hundred *jin*. A yield close to four hundred *jin* was considered a bumper harvest and very rare.

Among the four kingdoms, Zhao Kingdom had the highest grain yield. In addition to fertile land, Zhao Kingdom also had a capable agricultural official. The rice yield per *mu* in Zhao Kingdom could reach over six hundred *jin*, and wheat could reach seven hundred *jin*. These rice and wheat seeds were cultivated by an agricultural official in Zhao Kingdom.

Therefore, every year, Zhao Kingdom would sell grain seeds to the four kingdoms in exchange for more grain.

Zhao Kingdom did not accept silver for grain seeds, only grain. One *jin* of grain seed needed to be exchanged for six to ten *jin* of grain.

Because of selling grain seeds, Zhao Kingdom had become the country with the most grain reserves and the lowest taxes among the four kingdoms.

Ren Zilin nodded, “That’s what I plan to do as well. I’ll write a letter back to the capital now.”

In the past, Futai County could not get this amount, as the imperial court could only exchange for a maximum of five or six hundred thousand *jin* of grain seed from Zhao Kingdom. Futai County could only get a maximum of ten thousand *jin* of grain seed before. Then, each household would get one *jin*, and the rest would be sold to the highest bidder.

But this year, with him as the county magistrate, getting an extra ten thousand *jin* should be possible.

However, he could only get an extra ten thousand *jin* at most. The harvest had not yet arrived, and Futai County did not have much grain in storage, not enough to exchange for grain seed.

The grain seed, however, required preparing the grain for Zhao Kingdom in advance, exchanging it early, and planting it immediately after the autumn harvest.

The exchange between the two countries also took a lot of time. If they didn’t exchange it in advance, it would delay planting.

He thought the previous county magistrate had already submitted a request for the grain seed. He didn’t expect it to be so late.

At this moment, Li Yong rushed in, “Sir, there’s an official document from the capital!”

Chu Tiankuo extended his hand, “Give it to me.”

Li Yong knew that this advisor was highly trusted by the county magistrate, so he gave the official document to Chu Tiankuo and tactfully retreated.

Chu Tiankuo opened the urgent document and glanced at it. Then he said, “No need to send a letter.”

Ren Zilin paused his writing, “What’s wrong?”

✿✿✿

Chu Tiankuo handed him the letter.

Ren Zilin took it and glanced at it. The main content of the official document was: The Ministry of Revenue had completed the exchange for grain seed with Zhao Kingdom, and the grain seed was already on its way back. Now, the Ministry of Revenue was notifying all local yamen to prepare grain and go to the capital to exchange for grain seed. Counties that had not submitted their requests in time did not need to prepare grain and go to the capital. This year, the imperial court had only exchanged for four hundred thousand *jin* of grain seed from Zhao Kingdom, and there was no extra grain seed.

Ren Zilin was stunned for a moment, not understanding, “Didn’t the official document from the Ministry of Revenue asking counties to report their needs just arrive? Why is there another official document so soon asking counties to prepare grain and go to the capital to exchange for grain seed?”

There was a time difference of more than ten days between these two official documents, right? They shouldn’t have arrived on the same day!

Chu Tiankuo didn’t speak.

Ren Zilin instantly understood!

He couldn’t help but kick the leg of the desk, “That son of a bitch, the Minister of Revenue!”

The Minister of Revenue was one of the Second Prince’s faction.

It must be the Liang family. They knew he was the county magistrate here, so they deliberately delayed the issuance of the first official document. Now, the two official documents arrived one after the other on the same day. This was intentional mockery!

He had only been in office for a few days. Although he knew about the annual request for grain seed exchange, he thought the previous county magistrate had already submitted it.

After all, it was almost harvest time when he took office.

Mocking him was one thing, but how could they joke about the food supply of the people in the county? This could lead to deaths!

He looked at Chu Tiankuo, “What should we do now?”

Without high-yielding grain seed for the people, there would be a disaster!

Chu Tiankuo held the silver bead in his hand and said calmly, “What do you think?”

Ren Zilin: “How about I ask my father to get some?”

Otherwise, when every other county had high-yielding grain seed to provide to the people, and their Futai County didn’t, there would be a major problem.

He had only been the county magistrate for a few days, and he hadn’t done anything good yet. He hadn’t even done well with the first thing he should have done for the people.

The Liang family would definitely take this opportunity to impeach him in front of the emperor. He might not even be able to keep his position as county magistrate.

They hadn’t even finished investigating the matters they were supposed to investigate.

Of course, the most important thing was that he had to get some high-yielding grain seed for the people under his jurisdiction!

Chu Tiankuo shook his head, “No need.”

Ren Zilin was stunned, “What do you mean ‘no need’?”

Were they going to ignore this?

This was a major issue that concerned whether most of the poor people would have food to eat for the next year!

The imperial farm was planted entirely with high-yielding grain seed. His father led soldiers to cultivate the imperial farm every year. It shouldn’t be a problem to spare some.

Chu Tiankuo said coldly, “Since Prime Minister Liang has made his move, he will naturally have a backup plan. There’s no need to give the Censorate a reason to target General Ren.”

“Then how about I ask my father to borrow some from other counties in the capital?”

“No!”

General Ren could naturally borrow grain seed, but this would not cover up their negligence in this matter.

Although the Ministry of Revenue sent the official document late, there could be many reasons for the delay. Spring plowing, autumn harvest, and autumn planting were all major events. As the county magistrate, he should have taken the initiative to submit a request to the Ministry of Revenue in advance for the grain seed exchange, just in case.

A mistake was a mistake. Borrowing grain seed from other counties was just making others share his mistake.

Not advisable.

“Then what do you say we should do?”

Chu Tiankuo stood up, “Find grain seed.”

Ren Zilin: “…”

Wasn’t that obvious? Wasn’t everything he just said about finding grain seed?

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