The fake daughter married into the mountains and had meat to eat every day during the famine

Song Yuntang nodded.

"A few years ago, the people in my shop bought the sweet potatoes from a caravan. I thought they were sweet, soft, and filling, so I asked the people on the farm to try growing them. I didn't expect the yield to be even higher than rice, and the soil and environment requirements were lower than rice."

"My uncle happened to be in the Western Regions. Thinking they needed food and fodder, I sent a few carts there at the beginning of the year. I asked him to lead the soldiers to try planting some crops there. If they succeed, the Western Regions will be self-sufficient in food and fodder, and it will also reduce the burden on the court."

Li Junyao looked at her, as if he could see through her.

Although she has a face similar to Qinxue's, she has not had any other thoughts for such a long time. Instead, she has been using her actions to do what she can.

"Since sweet potatoes have low requirements for land and environment, can they be grown in all parts of Daxia?"

Even in places like the Western Regions where the soil is relatively poor and the climate is harsh, there can be a good harvest. If it is moved to other places, the yield will only be higher.

If the planting can be promoted, the people's food and clothing will be guaranteed.

Only when the people live and work in peace and contentment, tax revenue is stable, the treasury is full, the national strength is strong, and no one dares to invade the border can the country be peaceful and the people be safe.

Song Yuntang shook his head.

"I've never grown sweet potatoes elsewhere, and I don't know if other places besides the Western Territory and Yingshan City can produce a good harvest. However, if they can be grown in the Western Territory, the rest of the country shouldn't be any different. I've stockpiled quite a bit of sweet potatoes on the farm these past two years. If Your Majesty wishes to try and promote them in more areas, I can provide you with the sweet potato seeds and techniques."

Li Junyao smiled.

"Is there anything you would like? I will do my best to satisfy your request."

Song Yuntang is blessed.

"Now that my family is harmonious and I have no worries about food and clothing, I have nothing else to ask for."

As she spoke, she took out a blueprint from her arms.

Li Junyao looked at her.

"What is this?"

Song Yuntang handed the drawing in his hand towards Fan Chihai.

"Your Majesty, the fireworks you saw last time at Wangxu Villa were something I saw in a travelogue. I asked my servants to try to make them. They said that the proportions of these fireworks must be strictly controlled. If the proportions are wrong, the power after they are ignited will be so great that it can even break rocks."

"The war in the western border is intense right now. I had a sudden thought that this kind of gunpowder might be useful in warfare, so I drew the formula and diagram. If Your Majesty wishes to try it, it will also be convenient for the officials in the Ministry of Works to test it. However, you must go to an open area with few people to avoid accidental injuries."

Li Junyao's eyes lit up and he hurriedly took the drawing from Fan Chihai and took a look at it.

After a moment, he slammed the table.

"Princess Le'an is truly the lucky star of Great Xia! If the gunpowder test is successful, I will definitely reward you handsomely! However, since you have given me the formula, you cannot reveal it to anyone else."

It's a typical case of painting a rosy picture first and then giving a warning.

Song Yuntang is blessed.

"Please be at ease, Your Majesty. Since I have given you this recipe, I will not give it to anyone else. However, if the recipe leaks out somewhere else, it is not my fault."

If it wasn't related to Wencheng, she wouldn't give the recipe away so easily.

Since ancient times, kings have been very cautious.

Now that she has offered this recipe to him, he will definitely take notice.

This is also the reason why she did not develop the bomb herself, but handed the method over to the Ministry of Industry for testing.

If what she handed over today was a bomb, it would be hard to say whether she could get out of here.

The Xu brothers are one civil and one military. She has explosives, silver and food in her hands, and any king would be wary of her.

Li Junyao nodded, said a few words to Song Yuntang, and then asked Fan Chihai to send her away.

When Fan Chihai returned to the imperial study, Li Junyao looked at him.

"What position should I place this Princess Le'an in?"

Fan Chihai bowed and saluted.

"I don't understand what your Majesty means."

Li Junyao tapped the table lightly with his fingertips, a look of contemplation flashing in his eyes.

"If she hadn't married and had no children yet, I could easily make arrangements for her, but now that she's a wife and a mother, it really puts me in a difficult position."

Fan Chihai was shocked and looked up at him.

"Your Majesty, Lord Xu and his wife are now your advisors, one providing you with money and food. If you can win them over, wouldn't they also be able to serve you?"

Li Junyao shook his head.

"Never test human nature. Once people have power, they will become greedy. The King of Zhenbei and Prime Minister Zhuang are the best examples."

"When I was young, I fought alongside the King of Zhenbei on the battlefield. At that time, he didn't know my identity. When he risked his life to save me from the enemy's sword, I treated him as a brother. Now, the greater the power I hold, the greater my heart."

"If even brothers who fought on the battlefield are like this, what about the ministers in the court?"

Fan Chihai frowned.

"But in this situation, if you give up any of them, it will be a great loss for Daxia."

Li Junyao lowered his eyes and looked at the drawings on the table, as if with some determination.

"Don't worry, there will definitely be a better way. If you don't give up both of them, you can still use them for your benefit."

……

After returning home, Song Yuntang continued to make pills, with Jinshu and Xia Ning helping him.

Jiang knew that she was preparing something for her second son, so she and Xu Yongwang took Hao Ting to play with building blocks, trying their best to prevent him from disturbing Song Yuntang.

Most of the toys that Xu Haoting plays with are made by Xu Yongwang and the servants in the mansion according to the drawings drawn by Song Yuntang. Each one is polished smooth and flat, for fear that the burrs on the wood will scratch the child's delicate skin.

Three days later, Song Yuntang sent the prepared medicine, two sets of cold-resistant clothes and two pairs of leather boots sewn by Jiang to the western border.

After the Chinese New Year, Xu Qingye started to get busy.

Because he was promoted to the position of lecturer in the Hanlin Academy and was highly regarded by the emperor, in addition to court affairs, he also had to deal with the flattery of officials.

As they were both in the officialdom, he could not completely refuse people's repeated invitations. After work, he would occasionally go out for social events with his colleagues.

But he also has his own principles and never goes to any brothels.

In order to invite him out, these officials naturally agreed to his request. In addition to brothels and mansions, there were also teahouses, restaurants and pleasure boats in the capital.

Song Yuntang often waited in her room until midnight during this period. Sometimes Xu Qingye had not yet returned home, and she could not hold on any longer and fell asleep. When she woke up the next day, he had already left to attend the morning court.

Rumors began to spread in the capital that Lord Xu was in cahoots with other ministers in the court and was spending his days in debauchery.

Many people in the capital had heard about how much Lord Xu cared about his family. The ladies from various mansions were envious of him, and many even compared him with their own husbands.

Now that this matter has spread, many people are adding fuel to the fire and hiding behind the scenes to make fun of Song Yuntang.

When the servants in the mansion heard the rumors and thought about their masters' recent actions, they watched them closely and did not dare to say a single wrong word, for fear that Song Yuntang would hear the rumors and make trouble with Xu Qingye.