The grass in the factory should be plucked

Chapter 383 Plan

After Shen Muchun left, Cui Ai was depressed for a few days, but soon recovered.

Ji Feng went back and forth diligently every day. Shen Muchun wrote three letters home a day, reporting to his wife in detail even about the weather and what was eaten for each meal.

Being able to know news about her husband at any time, Cui Ai's nerves, which were tense due to worry, finally relaxed a little.

Jiang Li complained, "You two should give Ji Feng a big red envelope. We send you letters every day and Ji Feng is so tired that he has become thinner!"

Cui Ai felt very embarrassed, so he ordered Zhuangzi to send a lot of pheasants and rabbits to reward Ji Feng.

Jiang Li couldn't help but think of the little eagle. He wondered if it was having a smooth journey in pursuing his wife.

"Brother Changan, how is Chengfeng?"

Xie Changan smiled and said, "It's going well. Maybe it won't be long before it can bring its wife and children back."

"Really? That's great!" Jiang Li was very happy, "Please tell Chengfeng to keep going. I hope he'll come back soon."

"Okay." Xie Changan smiled.

He added, "I heard that Yin Twelve's fleet is about to arrive. When will you start your plan?"

Jiang Li thought of the half-written petition and said with a bitter face, "It's time to start work again. I really don't want to go to the government office."

Xie Changan smiled slightly: "I also heard that Lord Shen is about to retire and return home, and the emperor intends to let you join the cabinet."

"No——" Jiang Li sighed.

To serve as a prime minister is the ultimate dream of officials in the Great Chu State, but for her, it means getting up early and attending court every day!

She wanted to run away again.

Seeing her eyes rolling around, Xie Changan chuckled, "If you don't want to be the first female prime minister in history, your husband has a solution."

"Really? Tell me about it." Jiang Li's eyes lit up.

Xie Changan stretched out his hand and took her into his arms, with a slight smile on his face: "Will your husband work harder so that our worry-free life can come sooner?"

"Hate it! Are you done yet?" Jiang Li clenched her fist and hit him, "If you want to give birth, do it yourself!"

Xie Changan smiled and hugged her tightly, feeling filled with emotion.

Not long after the Chinese New Year, it was the Flower Festival, and the little cat was already nineteen years old.

Four years ago, she was still a minor noblewoman imprisoned in the cold palace; and his future life trajectory had already been drawn - to succeed his adoptive father, take charge of the East Factory, live a lonely life, and become a feared and hated existence.

Unexpectedly, after meeting her, his life changed dramatically. He became the commander-in-chief of the three armies, achieved great success, and now has a wife and a son.

Xie Changan's heart was filled with happiness and sweetness.

"Little raccoon slave, I'm lucky to have you."

He hugged her tightly and kissed her deeply.

After a while, Jiang Li panted and pushed him away: "Stop it, I haven't finished writing that article yet."

Xie Changan said with a smile: "You don't want to join the cabinet, why do you have to be so diligent?"

Jiang Li smiled slyly: "According to my plan, we will probably have to go on a business trip again."

Xie Changan held his forehead with his hand. Just a few days of peace and quiet, this little cat was getting restless again and wanted to run away!

The next day, Jiang Li took the petition she had written and went to the palace to meet Nangong Qinghe.

"Your Majesty, Zhu Shu will soon arrive in Beijing. We can put the negotiations with the Mongolian Jurchen on the agenda."

Nangong Qinghe smiled slightly: "Does A-li have any rules?"

Jiang Li presented the proposal she had written.

Nangong Qinghe unfolded it and felt a little surprised. Daxinganling and Changbai Mountain?

He read it carefully and couldn't help but applaud.

"Good! This way, we can subtly influence the enemy and defeat them without fighting!"

Jiang Li bowed and said, "If the negotiations go smoothly, I will go and supervise the Mountain God Temple and the Dragon King Temple."

Nangong Qinghe pondered and said, "Mr. Shen has submitted a petition requesting to retire and return home. I intend to have you succeed him as the Grand Secretary of Wenhua Palace..."

"Your Majesty, you absolutely cannot do this!" Jiang Li turned pale.

"Why?" Nangong Qinghe smiled. Don't you just don't want to get up early to attend court? You'll get used to it slowly!

"Your Majesty, have you forgotten that I am only nineteen years old and I have no words... No, I am still young, how can I convince the public?"

Jiang Li was so anxious that she almost blurted out "He is a man of few words and cannot do things well".

Nangong Qinghe almost burst out laughing. Even if you are in your seventies or eighties, you can't grow a beard!

"Besides, building the Mountain God Temple and the Dragon King Temple in the heartland of Mongolia and Jurchen is a task that no one else can accomplish except me and Duke Dingguo."

Nangong Qinghe thought about it and realized that Jiang Li was indeed on good terms with the Eagle God, and Xie Changan was able to intimidate the Mongols and the Jurchens. Apart from these two people, no one else would dare to go deep into the heartland of Mongolia and the Jurchens.

In the proposal presented by Jiang Li, the condition for negotiating with Mongolia and Jurchen was to exchange red potatoes for the Greater Khingan Range and Changbai Mountain, and to build mountain god temples and dragon god temples on the mountains and hold grand sacrificial activities every year.

At first glance, this condition does not seem excessive. However, the Great Chu was able to use these two wedges deep into the heartland of the Mongols and Jurchens as bases and, through annual sacrificial activities, continuously erode and assimilate their people, gradually achieving "great harmony in the world."

The Mongols and Jurchens are not stupid either. When they realize this, they will try every possible means to sabotage and obstruct the construction of the Mountain God Temple and the Dragon King Temple. It would be most appropriate for Jiang Li and Xie Changan to supervise the process.

"Ari is right. Let's see the outcome of the negotiation first."

At the grand court meeting the next day, Nangong Qinghe ordered the Honglu Temple to send letters to Mongolia and Jurchen, inviting the two countries to send people to learn the planting methods of red yam together.

Let them witness how red potatoes produce thousands of kilograms per mu. Only with this irresistible bait can you catch these two big fish.

The Mongolian Khan and the Jurchen King were overjoyed when they received the letter from the Great Chu. The Great Chu really wanted to share this magical crop with them!

The Mongolian Khan laughed heartily: "When my Mongolian warriors are strong and powerful, I will march south to unify the Central Plains!"

The Jurchen king had the same idea.

As a result, both countries sent envoys.

The Mongolian Khan sent out the "old friend" of the Great Chu - the tenth prince Bater.

In the words of the Mongol Khan, Bater had been a prisoner of the Great Chu twice, and was an old acquaintance of the princess and Duke Dingguo of the Great Chu. It was easy to get things done with someone in the court, so it was most appropriate to send him as an envoy to the Great Chu.

The person sent by the Jurchens was the Second Prince, now Prince Rui, who was suspected to have had a personal relationship with General Su Chen.

The team heading to Southeast Asia, led by Yin Shier, finally landed in Tianjin. They arrived in the capital under the escort of the Dingguo Army sent by Xie Changan.

Not only did they successfully bring back red potatoes, they also brought back several large ships of spices and gems.

Nangong Qinghe was very pleased and rewarded the brave warriors who went to Southeast Asia. He would give more rewards after the red yam was successfully planted.

He allocated several imperial farms in the suburbs of Beijing to grow sweet potatoes.

He also appointed Yin Shier as Langzhong of the Ministry of Works' Tuntian Division, giving him full authority over the planting and promotion of red potatoes.

Yin Shier was promoted to the fifth rank official in the capital, and came happily to see Jiang Li and Xie Changan.

"I thank the prince and the duke for their cultivation!"

"Master Xu, you're too polite!" Jiang Li chuckled.

After Yin Shier became an official, he naturally restored his original name "Xu Jing".