Drive to the Tang Dynasty, where supplies are refreshed daily!

Chapter 90 Sun Simiao analyzes sweet potatoes!

Li Lizhi had read many books, but she had never heard of this name before and found it very strange.

"Carbon monoxide?"

Li Lizhi recognized each character individually, but couldn't understand them when put together.

"It's a gas, colorless and odorless. Just make sure there's ventilation when using it, Fifth Sister, don't worry about it." Xiao Ran really didn't know how to explain it to Li Lizhi.

It's hard to explain. These things are easy for modern people to understand, but they are too difficult for people in the Tang Dynasty to comprehend.

Li Lizhi nodded, feeling that Xiao Ran knew a lot.

The two looked around casually and didn't stay long.

Thinking about the coal washing technology, Li Lizhi was in a good mood.

Although she hasn't received it yet, Li Lizhi believes that Xiao Ran will give it to her.

The royal family would naturally provide compensation.

"Young master, why can't you talk about the meat from before?" Li Lizhi hadn't forgotten about this matter either.

"That's pork!"

Li Lizhi was suddenly startled, "Pork?"

"Ok!"

“Everyone says pork isn’t tasty, but it was so delicious before!” Li Lizhi frowned.

I found it hard to believe.

There was some resistance.

Many people believe that pork is cheap.

Eating pork is even seen as a means of punishing others.

"Different farming methods and breeds result in different meats!" Xiao Ran smiled. "I quite like it; I think it tastes better than mutton. Mutton is too gamey!"

“That’s true. The meat we had before was much tastier than mutton.” Li Lizhi quickly adjusted her mindset.

The two returned home, and Empress Zhangsun and Princess Yuzhang also prepared to leave.

Empress Zhangsun no longer needs to come, but the princesses still need to come to collect the persimmon frost.

"Mother, I just chatted with the young master. He said that coal can be used after some processing, and he even invited me to mine it together." Li Lizhi told Empress Zhangsun about the coal.

"Can coal be used?" Empress Zhangsun naturally knew about coal. Dividing it into these parts was not important; the key was whether it could be used.

Li Lizhi nodded repeatedly, "What the young master says must be true."

“It certainly works. The young master and the others have already started using it,” Princess Yuzhang said from the side.

"Sixth Sister, did you see it?" Li Lizhi had no idea.

"The stove in the kitchen burns coal, which produces no thick smoke or pungent odor, burns very vigorously, and lasts longer than charcoal."

Princess Yuzhang hadn't mentioned it before, but now she finally had the chance.

From Li Lizhi's words, it's clear that Xiao Ran's method for handling coal wasn't discovered by chance, but rather that he genuinely understood it.

Empress Zhangsun had no idea what sulfides or carbon monoxide were.

But I feel that Xiao Ran understands.

Princess Yuzhang's firsthand observation of the coal-burning stove in the kitchen confirmed that Li Lizhi's statement was likely correct.

“I checked some books before, and there is quite a lot of coal in the Tang Dynasty. If we can use all of this, it will not only solve the problem of high charcoal prices in winter, but also add a considerable amount of revenue to the national treasury.” Li Lizhi was overjoyed.

"That's true. Even if we don't share the profits, we should still help." These benefits are considerable, but they can't compare to the method of dealing with coal.

Back at the Lizheng Hall, Princess Yuzhang, Li Lizhi, told Li Shimin about the coal.

This matter is very important to the Tang Dynasty.

Li Shimin suddenly realized that the telescope in his hand was no longer appealing.

I used to think I got a good deal, but now I realize that Xiao Ran didn't lose out either.

"Well, not everyone can earn this money; it's his skill." Li Shimin didn't dwell on the matter.

"Knowing how to share profits, you're not confused." Li Shimin smiled.

In the Tang Dynasty, rural society was based on clan and neighborhood ties, and the people were far more sensitive to "shared benefits" than they are today.

Coal mining requires the use of village land, relies on local manpower, and may even involve the use of public resources such as water sources and roads.

If Xiao Ran were to monopolize all the benefits, even with the backing of royal cooperation, it would inevitably provoke resistance from the villagers—at best, they would become passive and obstructive, and at worst, they would be exploited by those with ulterior motives to create conflict and make it difficult for the project to move forward.

Distributing profits to villagers is equivalent to binding the entire village together with benefits, turning them from "bystanders" into "participants." This not only mobilizes the villagers' enthusiasm but also leverages their strength to resolve potential local resistance and reduce management costs.

Xiao Ran's core advantage lies in technology, not simply in the possession of resources.

What is needed is a stable environment to implement the technology and expand the scale, rather than short-term "profit monopoly".

Taking 20% ​​of the profits may seem like a small profit, but it earned the trust and support of the villagers, which is equivalent to buying "stability insurance" for the project.

Especially in the power structure of this era, popular prestige and local roots can often serve as a buffer against uncertainty—even if there are setbacks in subsequent cooperation with the royal family, the support of the villagers can reduce the risk of being easily replaced or suppressed.

In the short term, taking 20% ​​did mean Xiao Ran received less profit, but in the long term, he gained manpower support, local stability, social trust, and goodwill from the higher-ups in exchange for 20% of the profits. These are "invisible assets" that cannot be measured in monetary terms and are far more important than the extra 20% he earned in the short term.

"How exactly did they do it?"

Li Shimin was also thinking about ways to deal with coal, as the Tang Dynasty had many coal mines.

Giving Xiao Ran two is no problem, as long as the others are in my own hands.

"Ananda, immediately send men out to reclaim the coalfields; these are all valuable resources," Li Shimin instructed.

Land with coal is very cheap now, and even if it's not in the hands of the imperial court, it's easy to buy it back.

"It's your Majesty!"

Li Shimin smiled, pondering how to make a deal with Xiao Ran and obtain a solution for disposing of the coal in a dignified manner.

Li Shimin believed that Xiao Ran's value was far greater than what he had gained by using his power to intimidate others.

The relationship cannot be allowed to deteriorate further.

At the very least, Xiao Ran has to feel it's suitable before there can be any further cooperation.

Li Shimin was very satisfied with the repeated surprises.

The amount of money given to Xiao Ran before was considerable, but compared to the profits from these coals, it was nothing.

The next day, Li Lizhi brought several princesses to continue scraping the persimmon frost.

I went to the kitchen specifically to check on the coal.

It wasn't that I didn't trust Xiao Ran and Princess Yuzhang; I just wanted to see the results.

The kitchen stove and chimney were connected to a kang (a heated brick bed), so it wouldn't be cold in winter.

Even sitting by the stove, I didn't notice any smell.

Li Lizhi also confirmed that even without the stove, it would be the same in the brazier.

Xiao Ran also specifically mentioned the uses and benefits of clay.

"very impressive!"

"Just lucky!" Xiao Ran also roasted a few sweet potatoes for him; the ones roasted with charcoal are a little different from those roasted with wood charcoal.

The three little girls were the happiest when they saw the sweet potatoes.

I love this sweet and chewy treat.

Sun Simiao looked surprised when he ate the sweet potato, asking, "What is this?"

“Old sir, this is a sweet potato. No one else has it except for the young master,” Princess Yuzhang said with a smile.

"Sweet potato!" Sun Simiao savored it carefully. This new ingredient needed to be recorded. It was his first time eating it, and he found it very sweet and delicious.

"Grandpa, what do you think?" Xiao Ran wanted to know what Sun Simiao would say.

This is the King of Medicine!

Sun Simiao took a small bite and tasted it again. "It tastes sweet and smooth, with no dryness at all, clearly indicating that it is a neutral substance."

Start with the properties and flavors; this is the foundation of TCM's identification of substances.

"Sweet flavors enter the spleen, and the spleen is responsible for digestion and transformation. Foods like this that are soft, glutinous, and easy to digest are the best for nourishing the spleen and stomach. In ordinary households, many people suffer from weak spleen and stomach, poor appetite, and loose stools. If they can eat this regularly, it is probably more reliable than taking some tonics."

This move shocked Xiao Ran, Li Lizhi, and the others.

Although I don't quite understand it, I think it's amazing.

Li Lizhi, Princess Yuzhang, Zhang Jinhe, and the others all looked at Xiao Ran, assuming that Xiao Ran knew.

In fact, Xiao Ran really didn't know any of this.

Sun Simiao wasn't talking nonsense; he was a true genius!

"I don't understand these things," Xiao Ran said honestly.

Sun Simiao sat down at his desk, picked up his brush, and wrote: 'Sweet potatoes are sweet and neutral in nature, nourish the spleen, replenish deficiencies, strengthen the spleen and stomach, and can be used as a dietary therapy.'

Xiao Ran also read Sun Simiao's records and gave a brief description of the appearance of sweet potatoes.

Sun Simiao's contributions should surpass those of many emperors!

The achievements of emperors are mostly in terms of territory, systems, and finances—whether it is expanding territory, reforming the bureaucracy, or enriching the country and strengthening the army. These are certainly important, but they are often accompanied by conquest and corvée labor, and what benefits them is the stability of the "dynasty".

But Sun Simiao was different; he dedicated his life to one thing: helping people live longer and suffer less.

His book, "Essential Prescriptions Worth a Thousand Pieces of Gold," begins with the statement, "Human life is of utmost importance, more precious than a thousand pieces of gold," valuing the life of every ordinary person more than gold.

It contains not only prescriptions, but also instructions on how to deliver babies, how to feed infants, how to prevent epidemics, and even the most basic hygiene habits such as "don't spit anywhere" and "wash your hands before meals".

These things may be “trivial matters” to emperors, but for ordinary people, they are the key to saving lives.

The achievements of many emperors have become mere words in history books with the fall of dynasties, but Sun Simiao's prescriptions have transcended a thousand years and are still protecting people today.

"Old man, you're really amazing!" Xiao Ran said sincerely.

Sun Simiao picked up a sweet potato and took another bite. "I have to thank you, young master, otherwise I wouldn't have known this existed. Do you know how to grow it?"

"I know a little!"

Xiao Ran told Sun Simiao what he knew.

“This planting method is quite unique,” ​​Sun Simiao said as he wrote furiously.

Li Lizhi and Princess Yuzhang also heard this and now understood why Xiao Ran had planted it so early.

"Young master, do you know what the yield per mu is?"

"Grandpa, there's no way to say. It should be better than the current millet, but I don't know the specifics." Since he genuinely didn't know, Xiao Ran wanted to leave some suspense.

Sun Simiao nodded.

Xiao Ran added, "You can't eat too much, it'll make you bloated!"

Upon hearing this, Sun Simiao stopped writing, looked up at Xiao Ran, and instead of being surprised, his eyes showed a hint of approval: "Young master's words have reminded this old man."

He stroked his beard and pondered for a moment, his fingertips pausing next to the three characters "strengthen the spleen and stomach" that he had just written, and said, "That's right, everything has its limits. Even good medicine will be harmful if overdone, let alone food ingredients."

As he spoke, he picked up his pen and added to the previous record: "Its nature is sticky and easy to digest, but excessive consumption will hinder the spleen and stomach's digestive function, causing stagnation in the middle and resulting in abdominal distension. Therefore, it should be consumed in moderation. For ordinary people, it is advisable to consume no more than two or three times per meal. Those with weak spleen and poor digestive function should be even more cautious."

After finishing writing, Sun Simiao put down his pen and explained to Xiao Ran, "When I said it 'strengthens the spleen and stomach,' I meant that its sweet and mild nature and soft and glutinous texture can replenish the spleen and stomach and aid digestion. That is its essence."

"But the spleen and stomach are like a millstone. If the grains in the millstone are in the right amount, they are easy to grind. If there are too many grains, they will become sluggish. Although sweet potatoes are good, they are still tangible things. If you eat too much, your spleen and stomach will not be able to handle it and you will naturally feel bloated."

Xiao Ran couldn't help but wonder: Who exactly is the time traveler?
My understanding of sweet potatoes is not as good as that of Sun Simiao, who ate them for the first time.

Li Lizhi and Princess Yuzhang listened attentively.

You can learn something from Sun Simiao.

“Sir, the baby is still young, is it alright for him to eat one?” Li Lizhi asked.

“One is fine. This is indeed delicious, and it’s only natural that the young lady likes it.” Sun Simiao looked at the three little girls eating sweet potatoes not far away, his eyes full of affection.

Sun Simiao put down his pen. "There shouldn't be many people coming today. Let's go to Zhongnan Mountain."

This is to gather herbs and replenish our inventory.

“Grandpa, I’ll go with you,” Xiao Ran said quickly.

"also!"

"Sir, shall we venture deeper into the jungle?" Li Lizhi also had her own thoughts.

"No need, we can find the necessary medicinal herbs outside."

Hearing Sun Simiao say this, Li Lizhi and the others also wanted to go and see.

Sun Simiao's little donkey was also brought over.

The tools for gathering herbs are also prepared.

Li Wu and Cheng Tiehuan will definitely go to protect the safety of the princesses.

Zhang Jinhe and Zhang Erya also wanted to join in the fun, but someone had to stay home to watch over things and couldn't leave.

Xiao Ran returned to his room to prepare, and took out three telescopes, three compound bows, and a number of arrows.

Upon seeing these items, Li Lizhi, Princess Yuzhang, Cheng Tiehuan, and the others were dumbfounded.

They assumed Xiao Ran no longer had a telescope, and only had one compound bow.

Now you've taken out so many all at once.

"Young master, do you have three more telescopes?" Li Lizhi had always thought that Xiao Ran only had one telescope.

"Well, I guess so!" Xiao Ran handed the compound bow to Li Wu and Cheng Tiehuan. "Fifth Uncle, Tiehuan, try to get some game back when you have the chance."

"Good!" Li Wu had tried it before and liked the compound bow.

Cheng Tiehuan liked it even more, "Young master, don't worry!"

Their eyes lit up when they saw the compound bow.

Xiao Ran kept a composite bow for himself, and also carried the Truth at his waist.

We don't know if there are large animals in Zhongnan Mountain, so it's better to bring them along for safety.

If you don't go too deep into the outer area, a horse-drawn carriage can also pass through.

We need Zhang Jinhe and Zhang Erya's help with the persimmon frost issue.

Both little princesses went, and Third Sister also wanted to go play, along with Little Black.

The horse that Li Lizhi gave us before has also come in handy.

Princess Yuzhang sat in the carriage, looking around with binoculars in hand.

Xiao Ran's wealth far exceeded expectations.

The small donkey carries tools, but it is generally not ridden.

The other horse was given to Sun Simiao.

Li Wu, Cheng Tiehuan, and Sun Simiao were all quite skilled, and Xiao Ran's skills were also passable.

He is not as good as Sun Simiao and Li Wu, but better than Cheng Tiehuan.
The three little girls were very happy to know they were going out to play.

Third Sister was very excited as she rode in such a luxurious carriage for the first time.

Li Lizhi took the telescope from Princess Yuzhang. She had previously felt that her father had stolen someone else's love, but now she no longer thought so.

(End of this chapter)