Lonely non-good minister

He did what he wanted to do in advance, and Song Yuan couldn't help but feel grateful: "Thank you very much. If it doesn't work, I will have to go to Shanggu in person."

"Okay." Zhou Ye didn't ask any more questions: "I'll give Wei Yan the address and ask him to remember it."

Song Yuan thanked him and went back to work.

It was already the winter month after hurriedly and slowly negotiating with all the northwest prefectures and lieutenants to make all arrangements before next May. Song Yuan did not dare to delay any longer. After bidding farewell to Song Fu, he immediately set off back to Jingzhao.

After the autumn harvest, the weather became cooler day by day. Raindrops like catkins floated down from the gloomy sky, and everything was damp. Song Yuan was taking a nap in the car, and the small quilt covering her body was shaking on the bumpy road. She slipped to the side on the way and felt cold on her body, and then she woke up from her groggy sleep.

After pulling the quilt back, Song Yuan was stunned for a while before he picked up the small wooden stick at hand and knocked on the car window. Wei Yan immediately said outside: "Your Highness is awake. We have just left Jincheng County, and there is a caravan on the road. There are a few cars stuck on the road, so go slower."

"It's raining. You all put on your raincoats. You'll catch a cold if you get wet." Song Yuan yawned, opened the rattan box and took out a pack of dried meat and candies and handed them out through the car window: "Isn't that right? Is it already past dinner time?”

Wei Yan took the things away: "We've already passed. It's inconvenient to stop, so I haven't prepared anything to eat. There are some snacks in the rattan box. Your Highness, please give me a cushion first."

Song Yuan took a piece of pea yellow and bit it in his mouth. He saw a few official documents on the small table. He took it over and flipped through it. He noticed four words at a glance: "Change rice to mulberry? Wei Yan, come in."

The carriage stopped for a moment, and Wei Yan got in before starting to walk again. He squatted in front of the door to prevent his raincoat from getting wet in the car. He took off his bamboo hat and waited for Song Yuan to speak.

"When did it arrive?"

"When I was about to leave Jincheng County, the Lord County Magistrate sent someone on horseback. He said it was the news he had just received."

Song Yuan closed the official document: "Exchanging looms for wheat happened many years ago. At that time, merchants took the drawings to the south. I haven't heard any big news in these years. I thought my plan at that time was in vain. , I didn’t expect it to work now.”

"My subordinates have just inquired with the traveling merchants. They said that the loom was expensive. Although they made a few looms at first, not many textile mills were willing to buy them. Until three years ago, the emperor of the small southern gentry country came to the throne. The beauty loved silk so much that the supply of silk exceeded the demand. Then many textile mills began to purchase large quantities. Some nobles in the south followed suit. The price of silk was so high that the sericulture industry in the south also flourished. The change from rice to mulberry was proposed at the beginning of the year. The political agenda was only decided last month.”

Song Yuan was overjoyed: "Okay, it's great to change the rice into mulberry."

In the past, the southern gentry relied on their superior grain production to control the Wei Dynasty. Now that the Wei Dynasty develops mulberry farming on its own, they are rushing to convert rice into mulberry. In less than two years, the status of the two parties may be reversed. By then, the Wei Dynasty will Relying on its high grain output and firearms, Wei could just go south and devour them all in one fell swoop.

Song Yuan happily found a bag of dried meat and came out. Seeing that she was in a good mood, Wei Yan hesitated for a moment before continuing: "The proposal to change rice to mulberry was also mentioned in the court a few days ago."

"." Song Yuan almost choked: "Which idiot is going crazy? In order to increase the grain production of the Wei Dynasty and let the people have enough to eat, I am going to die of hardship. I am so full that I come up with such a bad idea? His ancestor's grave was blown up. ?" He can still curse, which means he's not really angry.

Wei Yan said: "It was proposed by several royal families. They are close to the south. They are jealous of the high price of silk and want to get a share of it."

"I'm really full." Song Yuan rolled his eyes: "If you want to farm in your spare time, why don't you come to the northwest to grow cotton? In the Wei Dynasty, they only had a few fertile fields and waterlands occupied by them. Instead of growing food honestly, they thought of changing it to rice. For Sang’s sake, we really should cut off their salaries and let them starve for nine meals in three days.”

Wei Yan did not dare to follow her in scolding these people. Seeing that she had no other instructions, he quickly got out of the carriage.

Affected by the weather, they didn't walk very fast. By the time they arrived in Jingzhao, heavy snow had fallen for several days, and the wedding day was still a few days away. From the moment they entered the city gate, they could feel that Jingzhao City was cooler than before. lively.

After the end of the year debriefing and the prince's wedding, the emperor's relatives and local dignitaries gathered in Jingzhao. Along the way into the city, he saw many carriages. Song Yuan had no intention of saying hello to them, so he simply asked Wei Yan to pick up the sign on the carriage and pick it up. Take the quiet path back to your hometown.

It was not too late yet. After changing clothes, Song Yuan took the time to go to the East Palace. Song Chun already knew that she was back and was waiting for her.

The charcoal basin in the hall was burning hot, and Song Wei and Song Ce were also there. Song Yuan sat around with them, chatted for a few words, and then immediately asked about business: "Why has eldest brother lost so much weight? Are you feeling unwell?" "

"It's been a few months. It doesn't matter. The imperial doctor is already taking care of her." Song Chun looked at her carefully: "This year's northwest harvest is good, and the cotton supplied to the army is 16 jins more than last year. This is a great achievement. Is there anything wrong with the government? The young minister has come forward to ask for merit for you. The Sikong Mansion will review your performance at the end of the year and it will be found that your performance is excellent."

Song Yuan smiled and said: "How can this be the result of my own efforts? It must be the result of the concerted efforts of officials at all levels in the northwest and the people's willingness to contribute. Without their cooperation, even if I have a lot of ideas, it will be useless."

"It's natural. Officials in the northwest are also at the forefront of performance evaluation." Song Chun smiled and said, "These are all due to your good leadership."

"Brother, I will be embarrassed if you say that." Song Yuan laughed and said, "By the way, brother, I heard that the small country of the southern gentry has just made a national policy of changing rice to mulberry? Is this true or false?"

When talking about government affairs, Song Chun became more serious: "Of course it is true. They had previously intended to purchase cotton from the Wei Dynasty because they wanted to use cotton to compete with the high-priced silk. However, silk was expensive, and the annual tax was too much for the court. A huge amount of income, so the southern dignitaries tried their best to prevent the entry of cotton, and continued to drive up the price of silk, which attracted the common people to follow suit. Now the national policy of changing rice to mulberry is probably something that has been planned for many years."

"The fact that they converted rice into mulberry is a good thing for the Wei Dynasty. However, some places in the south of the Wei Dynasty must not be dazzled by small profits. The national conditions of the two countries are different. How are the people in the south doing? I can’t control it, but the people of the Wei Dynasty have not yet completely solved the problem of food and clothing. If the national policy is changed in pursuit of small profits from silk at this time, the pressure on other parts of the Wei Dynasty will be great." Song Yuan tried to speak as tactfully as possible.

Song Chun twitched the corners of his lips: "Do you know that some people in the Great Wei Dynasty also changed rice into mulberry?"

"I'm surprised that such a stupid idea was proposed." Song Yuan looked helpless.