Chapter 1005: Ye Zi

After reaching a consensus, the two returned to the main hall.

Chen Bu had also drafted a specific agreement with the Xiqu delegation and asked the two to review it.

The two of them looked at it and found basically no major problems.

Once you are sure there are no problems, sign the agreement.

There are just some places that need some simple supplementation.

Yun Zheng thought for a moment, then said to Su Zan with a smile, "Prime Minister, since we want to start a trade, I think we can open an official market in Sawtooth Ridge to exchange what we have and what we don't! This way, we can greatly reduce the distance that merchants from both sides have to travel. What do you think?"

"Your Majesty is very thoughtful. I admire you!"

Su Zan smiled and said, "Then let's do as the prince says!"

He knew that Yun Zheng was organizing this official market in order to buy food!

However, isn’t it up to them to decide whether or not grain can be sold there?

If Yun Zheng wants to buy a small amount of food, that’s fine.

But wanting to purchase large quantities of food from them is nothing but a pipe dream!

"Then add the item of opening an official collection!"

Yun Zheng immediately ordered Chen Bu to redraft the agreement.

After confirming that the agreement was correct, both parties signed the agreement readily.

Afterwards, Su Zan personally drafted a supplementary agreement, giving Yun Zheng 600,000 dan of grain, to be delivered in two installments as a gesture of friendship.

Yun Zheng was in a good mood and immediately invited Su Zan and the Xiqu delegation to his palace for a drink.

Su Zan guessed that Yun Zheng had bad intentions, and immediately shook his head to refuse: "I was hungover last night, and I feel a little uncomfortable. I really can't drink anymore! Besides, I have to go back to Xiqu to report to the Holy King, so I will leave today! I bid farewell to the prince and everyone here!"

"Is that so?"

Yun Zheng frowned, "Don't worry, Prime Minister. Your country has given me so many gifts this time. Based on the principle of reciprocity, I should also prepare a gift for Saint King Sangjie. Please stay for one more day, Prime Minister!"

Su Zan thought for a moment and said with a smile, "Since the prince has said so, we will stay one more day!"

Gift?

He wanted to see what gift Yun Zheng could give them.

The gift that King Jingbei gave to the Holy King couldn't be that bad, right?

Accepting a gift from him can at least make up for the loss of this trip.

"Then I will prepare it right away!"

Yun Zheng laughed and instructed Chen Bu: "You can take the Prime Minister and the envoys to the city for a tour. In the evening, I will come to greet the Prime Minister and the envoys!"

"Subordinate to obey!"

Chen Bu gladly accepted the order.

After saying goodbye to Su Zan and the others, Yun Zheng returned to the palace happily.

As soon as I entered the door, I saw Shen Nianci and Qi Yan kneeling on the snow. Mrs. Shen was standing beside them with a dark face and a small stick in her hand.

Seeing Yun Zheng, Shen Nianci quickly looked at him for help.

"Mother-in-law, what happened to the two of them?"

Yun Zheng asked Mrs. Shen with a smile.

Madam Shen replied, "They don't study hard, and they openly contradict and humiliate you! If you can't teach them a lesson, then I will do it!"

"That really deserves a beating!"

Yun Zheng nodded, glared at the two and said, "Remember the lesson today. If you dare to do this again, even if you have been punished, your uncle will have to teach you a lesson again!"

In the past, Wei Shuang was the one who taught them to read and write.

Now that Wei Shuang is in charge of the Suzaku Guard, he doesn't have much time to teach them to read and write, so he specially hired a teacher to teach them.

They don't even have basic respect for the teacher. If they are not taught a lesson, they will definitely cause chaos in the future!

"Nianci (Qiyan) please remember..."

The two of them pursed their lips, lowered their heads, and knelt obediently in the snow.

Yun Zheng did not stop Mrs. Shen from disciplining them. He chatted with Mrs. Shen briefly. After learning that Shen Luoyan and the others were in the back hall, he walked towards the back hall.

When I arrived at the back hall, I saw Shen Luoyan, Ye Zi and Miaoyin gathered together discussing something, while Xin Sheng and another maid from the mansion were serving them.

"I have met His Highness."

Seeing Yun Zheng come in, Xin Sheng and the maid hurriedly bowed.

"No gift!"

Yun Zheng waved his hand and walked towards Shen Luoyan and the others with a smile, "What are you doing?"

"What else can you do?"

Ye Zi pointed to the book on the table and said, "Spring ploughing will begin soon. The progress of land reclamation in various places has been reported. It is estimated that 250,000 mu of arable land can be added this year..."

"Good thing!"

Yun Zheng smiled and said, "If all 250,000 mu of arable land were planted with potatoes, we would be able to harvest millions more dan of grain!"

"It's not as easy as you think!"

Ye Zibai glanced at him and said, "All the land we have reclaimed needs to be cultivated. Just cultivating the land is a hassle..."

"Isn't this simple?"

Yun Zheng smiled, "Can't manure and wood ash be used to nourish the soil?"

"You talk like everyone knows that!"

Shen Luoyan chuckled, "At first I thought that manure and wood ash were everywhere, but when I saw the booklets presented to me, I realized that this matter is not that simple..."

Whether it is manure or wood ash, many people spread it on their own fields.

It is impossible to obtain so much manure and wood ash from the reclaimed land.

There was plenty of horse manure in the army, but it was all dried and used as fuel.

Even if it is not used as fuel, it is impossible to transport it long distances to those newly reclaimed lands.

Otherwise, the transportation cost would be so high!

"That seems to be the case!"

Yun Zheng touched his chin and said, "Then let's grow it slowly! The land has already blossomed, are you still worried that it won't grow well?"

"That's all it can do."

Ye Zi smiled and asked again: "Looking at you like this, did you get food from Su Zan?"

"Ok!"

Yun Zheng nodded and smiled, holding up three fingers.

"Three million dan?"

Shen Luoyan and Miaoyin screamed at the same time and looked at Yun Zheng in disbelief.

"..."

Yun Zheng was speechless, "What are you thinking? We should deliver 300,000 dan first, and then after they harvest this season, we will make up another 300,000 dan!"

Return three million dan?

They really treated Su Zan as a sucker!

"what?"

Miaoyin was stunned, then curled her lips, "Seeing you so happy, I thought it was three million dan! With your temper, it's only 600,000 dan of grain, and it's not all given in one go, are you satisfied?"

"No matter how small a mosquito is, it's still meat!"

Yun Zheng gently poked Miaoyin's forehead and said, "People must learn to be content!"

"You don't seem like a content person." Miaoyin slapped Yun Zheng's claws away in embarrassment. "I guess you must have dug other traps for Su Zan and the others, right?"

“Yes!”

Yun Zheng nodded and smiled, "But there's no guarantee that they will be fooled!"

He asked Chen Bu to take the Xiqu delegation around the city. Wasn't that just setting a trap for the Xiqu delegation?

But whether it will succeed or not depends on the performance of the Xiqu delegation.

Jiang Taigong fishes, and those who are willing to take the bait will do so!

Ye Zi asked Yun Zheng to sit down and said with a smile: "If they don't fall for it, I have a way. Maybe I can get more food from Xiqu!"

"Ok?"

Yun Zheng was curious, "What method?"

"Detain Suzan!"

Ye Zi's eyes flashed with brilliance, "Let Xiqu bring food to redeem the people!"

"Isn't this... bad?"

Shen Luoyan was stunned. "We have always abided by the rule that when two countries are at war, we will not kill envoys. If we break this rule, I am afraid that in the future..."

"What does it have to do with us if it's seized by the court?"

Ye Zi blinked, "Yun Zheng is only the governor of Shuobei! Doesn't the Northwest Protectorate still belong to the imperial court in name?"