In truth, this was the best solution in Jin Feng’s mind for solving the grain shortage.
Whether sweet potatoes, potatoes, maize, or pumpkins, all had extremely high yields and very strong adaptability. They could be grown anywhere in Dakang.
Unfortunately, America was simply too far away. With Jin Feng’s current abilities, reaching a place that distant was impossible.
“Is there really such miraculous stuff in the world?”
The Ninth Princess asked excitedly.
Herbs that could cure malaria, crops yielding over a thousand jin per mu…
Just thinking about it made her tremble with excitement.
If it were true, Dakang would never have to worry about famine again.
“The old gentleman would not lie to me,” Jin Feng said. “It is only a pity that I have no large ships capable of long voyages, nor do I know anyone skilled in that area.”
He looked at the Ninth Princess. “I wonder if Your Highness could dispatch ships for the journey?”
This was precisely why Jin Feng had mentioned America.
In an era of imperial power, the imperial family controlled the most resources.
He had no way himself and could only borrow the strength of the imperial house.
“No,” the Ninth Princess shook her head helplessly. “The Eastern Sea is too vast. Let alone a hundred thousand li, even Yingzhou, which is only a few thousand li away, is incredibly difficult to reach.
A few years ago, Dakang sent envoys to Yingzhou with twenty large ships. A year later only nine returned. The other eleven were all capsized by storms.”
Hearing this, Jin Feng’s heart immediately sank.
A trip to Yingzhou already cost more than half the fleet. Crossing the entire Pacific to America was simply unthinkable.
Jin Feng could only settle for the next best thing and asked, “Then does Your Highness know any shipbuilding experts?”
If Dakang had no ships capable of the voyage, could he not build them himself?
“The gentleman can build ships too?” the Ninth Princess asked in surprise.
“The old gentleman spoke of some methods. Whether I can actually build them, I dare not guarantee.”
In his previous life Jin Feng had interned at a shipyard and had specially studied large ships from every historical period, but Dakang’s industrial base was far too backward. He did not dare make bold claims.
“I do not know any shipbuilding experts, but I can help the gentleman find some!”
The Ninth Princess said, “As soon as I return I will write letters and have people handle this matter specially.”
“Then many thanks to Your Highness.”
Jin Feng clasped his fists towards the Ninth Princess.
Jin Feng had long felt that a person like the Ninth Princess, even after leaving the capital, would surely have kept some cards up her sleeve.
Now it seemed he had not been wrong.
“No, the gentleman is doing this for the rivers and mountains of the state. It is Wuyang who should thank the gentleman.”
The Ninth Princess hurriedly returned the courtesy.
“Very well, then we shall prepare on two fronts and advance together.”
Jin Feng also felt full of confidence.
Afterwards they chatted idly about a few more agricultural matters. When the rain stopped and night had nearly fallen, Jin Feng took the Ninth Princess and the others home.
None of them realised how enormous an impact their conversation that day would have on Dakang.
It would even leave a heavy mark in the history of this time and space, later called by historians the sprout of a new era.
As they passed the old house, the children had already eaten supper at the school and were walking home in twos and threes.
Seeing Jin Feng, all the children greeted him with cheerful smiles.
“Mu Lan, is this the free school you wrote about in your letters?”
The Ninth Princess asked with a smile. “There are quite a lot of girls. It seems the villagers of Xihewan are rather enlightened.”
Among the children coming and going, almost half were little girls.
This was unique across all of Dakang.
“It is not that the parents are enlightened, it is because the gentleman required them to do so.”
Qing Mu Lan said, “When the school was first established, everyone only sent boys. Most girls stayed home to help with chores.
Later the gentleman said that as long as the parents worked in the village, any child under twelve had to attend school, otherwise the parents’ wages would be docked. Only then did they have no choice but to send them.”
“Mu Lan, I really envy you!”
The Ninth Princess sighed. “Xihewan is probably the most wonderful place in the world, the most tolerant towards women.”
“Yes.”
Qing Mu Lan nodded. “This is all thanks to Mr Jin.”
“If you keep praising me I will start floating.”
Jin Feng said with a laugh.
In fact, the reason he had set up the school and forced villagers to send their children was for his future plans.
Some time ago there had been an incident where old escort guards and chamber-of-commerce clerks colluded to secretly pocket soap profits.
As the chamber of commerce and the escort agency grew larger, such things would only increase.
Xihewan was his base, the place where he had the people he trusted most.
Training the children now was also about cultivating reserve talent for the future chamber of commerce and escort agency.
When they reached the small courtyard, Run Niang had already prepared dinner and Guan Xiaorou was setting out the bowls and chopsticks.
“Your Highness, this is only a rustic place with nothing fine to eat. I hope Your Highness will not mind.”
Earlier Tang Xiaobei had used the excuse of urgent business to come back early and give Guan Xiaorou a crash course in etiquette.
Guan Xiaorou had finally learned to greet the Ninth Princess first and say a few polite words.
“It does not matter. I am disturbing the gentleman and his wife.”
The Ninth Princess smiled and waved her hand.
She felt another wave of emotion inside.
Nowadays many small landlords with only a few dozen mu of land kept a whole crowd of maidservants and even wanted the maids to feed them by hand.
Jin Feng’s status and wealth far exceeded those landlords, yet in the whole household there was only Run Niang, who could not even be called a proper servant.
Guan Xiaorou, as Jin Feng’s official first wife, still had to set the table herself.
This simple style made the Ninth Princess’s impression of Jin Feng even better.
“Yay, dinner!”
Little E had not eaten at school after classes. Nobody knew where she had gone to play wildly. She had only just returned now, covered in sweat.
The moment she came through the door her eyes locked onto the chicken drumstick on the table.
But seeing there were outsiders, Little E forcibly resisted the urge to grab it. She curtsied to the Ninth Princess and Qin’er. “Little E greets the two big sisters!”
The Ninth Princess smiled and nodded, giving Qin’er a wink.
Qin’er quickly took a golden hairpin from her bosom and offered it to Little E.
Little E reached out, then pulled her hand back and turned to look at Guan Xiaorou.
Guan Xiaorou in turn looked at Jin Feng.
“It is a reward from Her Highness. Accept it.”
Jin Feng nodded with a smile.
“Thank you, brother-in-law!”
Little E took the hairpin with a big grin and even forgot about the drumstick.
“It was not from me. Why thank me?”
“Mm, thank you, big sister!”
Only then did Little E come back to herself. Imitating the way Big Liu and the others usually did it, she clasped her fist and saluted the Ninth Princess, making her burst into laughter.
“A country child who knows no manners. I hope Your Highness can forgive her.”
Guan Xiaorou tapped Little E lightly. “Her Highness is an honoured guest. You cannot eat here today. Go to the back. Run Niang has prepared food for you.”
“Why do I have to eat in the back? We always eat here,” Little E asked. “Also, why are you all calling her Highness?”
“Because Her Highness is a princess, the daughter of His Majesty the Emperor.”
Jin Feng explained.
“But don’t you lot usually call the emperor a bastard?”
Little E tilted her head and asked, “If he’s a bastard, why is his daughter an honoured guest?”
The whole room instantly fell silent…
