The Prodigal Son of Zhenguan

I was in a good mood and remembered that I still had some important things to do this year.

Things about the Polo Association.

It was already spring, and the people under me were already busy. The polo players who had been preparing to make a splash in the new venue last year were already eager to try.

The day after the celebration banquet, Li Fu came to the palace to find Li Shimin.

Let alone other things, there were still things to discuss before returning to the manor.

Li Shimin had no time to immerse himself in his title of Heavenly Khan, and the complicated political affairs in the court followed one after another.

Originally, fighting was the top priority, but now that the war was over, the accumulated things had to be dealt with quickly.

Li Fu came to Liangyi Hall and saw Du Ruhui still alive and kicking and discussing political affairs with Li Shimin, and a smile appeared on his face.

Old Du was still alive, that was good.

Li Shimin also felt it was strange to see Li Fu coming.

"I thought that you would only come to me frequently when you were worried about your father-in-law during the war. Now that the celebration banquet is over, you are here again. What? Are you not in a hurry to go back to your farm?" Li Shimin asked jokingly.

Li Fu smiled, walked up to Li Shimin, and then looked at the eunuch next to him.

"What are you standing there for? Bring me a cushion." Li Fu said.

The eunuch looked at Li Fu with dry eyes, and then looked at Li Shimin.

"Go quickly." Li Shimin urged with a smile.

Then he looked at Li Fu again.

"You, the King of Jingyang, are really impressive." Li Shimin smiled.

He was not angry.

Because it was useless.

Li Fu did not refute.

The eunuch took the cushion and moved the chair over.

Li Fu sat on the cushion and leaned back in the chair.

Li Erfeng is just an emperor, and I am a prince. What's wrong with coming here to ask for a seat from the eunuch in the palace?

"Second brother, do you still remember what I told you about cotton last year or the year before last?" Li Fu asked.

"Yes, I remember that you planted cotton on your farm again this year." Li Shimin looked at Li Fu. Although he didn't know what he wanted to mention, he always felt that the three words "Heavenly Khan" made him feel cold and wanted to run away.

"What can I do with the cotton planted on my farm?" Li Fu said, "Not on the farm, but in a place suitable for growing cotton."

Li Fu winked at Li Shimin while speaking, hoping that Li Shimin could remember it himself.

"A place suitable for growing cotton." Li Shimin repeated this sentence in a low voice, then suddenly woke up, stared at Li Fu with wide eyes: "No."

"Yesterday in Taiji Hall, Ju Wentai was the leader to pay tribute to the Tang Dynasty. How come you miss him after one night?"

Li Fu shrugged.

"Is cotton useful?" Li Fu asked: "Quilts, mattresses, and cotton clothes and trousers. With the advancement of textile technology, there will even be cotton cloth, which can be used to make clothes. There are many uses."

"It is useful...but...people can't...at least..."

Li Shimin hesitated for a long time.

I am tempted, but it's not possible.

Ju Wentai is still in Chang'an City and has not left yet.

"The people of the Tang Dynasty are busy growing food now, so we definitely can't let them grow cotton. Cotton can't be sold at a high price. This thing should mainly benefit the people. The nobles and wealthy families don't look down on this thing." Li Fu said.

If you say that cotton has a good warming effect, no matter how good the warming effect is, can it be better than fur?

They are all real leather.

The people can't afford fur, and the warming effect of cotton is much better than reed fluff. Since it is to benefit the people, it must not be expensive.

Let the people grow food first, and then consider cash crops after the Tang Dynasty has enough food reserves.

Now that we can't even eat food, why consider cotton?

Eat a full meal first, then you have the energy to talk about other things.

Li Fu and Li Shimin were chatting enthusiastically, and Fang Xuanling, Du Ruhui and Zhangsun Wuji next to them looked at each other.

Cotton?

What the hell?

Is it the white flower that was planted in the palace garden?

I heard that a lot of them were planted in the farm in Jingyang County last year. I thought that King Jingyang just liked that thing because it looked nice.

After all, if you plant a large area and it blooms, it will be pure white, which is really good.

Now, listening to the meaning of this, is cotton still a good thing?

"Your Majesty, this cotton..." Changsun Wuji asked cautiously.

"How should I put it." Li Shimin showed some difficulty on his face and looked at Li Fu.

Li Fu turned around and looked at the eunuch standing behind him.

"Come here." Li FuHe waved at him.

The eunuch bowed and walked to Li Fu.

"Go to the East Palace and ask the Crown Prince for a cotton coat." Li Fu said, "Just tell him that it was asked by King Jingyang, and we will make him a few new ones next year."

"Yes." The eunuch responded.

"It's hard to explain it, just look at it directly." Li Fu said, "In fact, when it comes to cotton and Gaochang, I don't have to say that Gaochang's land should be included in the territory of our Tang Dynasty. After all, His Majesty said yesterday that each country should govern its own country well, and the emperor should not go back on his word."

"Gaochang didn't do anything wrong, and the Tang Dynasty couldn't send troops to attack them. It's not good to have no reason to do so." Li Fu smiled and said, "But this doesn't mean there is no other way."

"What way?" Li Shimin asked curiously.

"Let the people in Gaochang grow cotton. The Tang Dynasty will pay for it, and they will provide manpower and labor." Li Fu said.

"Then let the people of the Tang Dynasty plant the crops directly, and if the court needs it, can't it just pay to buy it?" Changsun Wuji asked.

"Now, does the Tang Dynasty still have grain reserves? We just finished the war and our family assets were emptied. In addition, there was no harvest in Guanzhong last year. The north purchased grain from the south. After the grain was transported from the south to the north, the south did not have much grain reserves. This year's crops have just been planted, and it is not yet time for the autumn harvest." Li Fu said: "Let the people of the Tang Dynasty plant crops and grow grain. First, increase the domestic grain reserves. The court will transfer grain from Hanjia Granary whenever it has something to do. Now that the world is peaceful, it must use grain to supplement Hanjia Granary, right?

If there is only outflow and no inflow, where can we transfer grain from if we encounter something in the future?"

To put it bluntly, it is now before the autumn harvest, and the entire Tang Dynasty is still in a state of food shortage.

In this case, large tracts of land are left unplanted with grain and cotton is planted? What's wrong with your brain?

"The Western Region, the whole area." Li Fu said: "The climate is suitable, the land is suitable, it is the most suitable place for cotton to grow."