Chapter 1054: It’s the feeling of heartbeat

Minister of Industry Yan Lide became more and more excited as he watched. He turned to look in Lin Lang's direction with admiration on his face: "The Emperor's design may seem simple, but it is actually full of ingenuity. It uses the power of the water to the fullest!"

"With this improved waterwheel design, we won't have to worry about insufficient water during droughts or useless waterwheels during floods when irrigating Guanzhong in the future. This is a great thing that benefits both the country and the people!"

The ministers around were already curious, and after hearing Yan Lide's high praise, they all came forward to take a closer look.

After seeing the exquisite details on the blueprint, they couldn't help but marvel: "That's right, this structure is much better than the old waterwheel!"

"The Emperor of Shanghai not only brought rare delicacies, but also possessed such ingenious ideas for governing the country and maintaining peace. This is truly a blessing for our Tang Dynasty!"

"With the improved new waterwheel, people can save a lot of effort when farming, and grain production will definitely increase significantly!"

For a moment, the hall was filled with exclamations of praise. Li Zhi looked at the scene before him, his face filled with delight. He laughed out loud and said, "Excellent! My dear brother, you have such an ingenious idea to improve the waterwheel. You are truly a man of astonishing talent!"

"Your Majesty, you are too kind!" Lin Lang smiled modestly.

Li Zhi ordered, "Lord Yan, I will leave this matter to your Ministry of Works. Produce a trial according to the design as soon as possible so that this new waterwheel can benefit the people as soon as possible!"

"I obey your command!" Yan Lide held the blueprint and accepted the order solemnly, his eyes full of eagerness to show his skills.

Helan Minyue was delighted to see Lin Lang's talent and how he stole the limelight in front of the ministers and Li Zhi, and her admiration for Lin Lang increased even more.

While eating the sweet and sour strawberries, Helan Minyue watched Lin Lang talking in the hall. Before he even got married, she was already proud of her husband.

Then, Lin Lang took out a book on improving papermaking techniques, which detailed methods for improving paper quality and production. He said, "Nowadays, Tang culture is spreading rapidly, and the demand for paper is increasing."

"This book records improved methods for papermaking, which can produce higher-quality paper with higher yields. It will greatly benefit the dissemination of Tang culture and the preservation of ancient books."

Li Zhi was so excited after hearing this that he suddenly stood up from the dragon throne and waved his hands repeatedly: "Quick! Present it to me!"

The eunuch did not dare to delay and hurriedly held the book on improving papermaking technology in both hands and quickly handed it to Li Zhi.

Li Zhi took it and opened it impatiently. His fingers ran across the words and pictures on the pages. His eyes became brighter and brighter, and even his breathing became rapid.

"Okay! Okay!"

Li Zhi saw the key point and slammed his hand on the table, his voice filled with unconcealed excitement. "This improved method can make paper stronger, reduce costs, and greatly shorten working hours! My dear brother, your idea is truly ingenious!"

Lin Lang smiled and took out a book on improving ancient papermaking techniques from his personal space. He walked up to the Minister of Industry, Yan Lide, and handed it to him: "Lord Yan is an expert, you might as well take a look."

Yan Lide could no longer contain his excitement. He took the book in his hands and looked at it closely as if it were a treasure.

The more he watched, the more excited he became. His brows relaxed, his eyes sparkled, and finally he couldn't help but slap his thigh and exclaimed, "Wonderful! Wonderful!"

"The Emperor of Shanghai's new papermaking technique actually uses wood ash to soak and remove impurities, and even improves the bamboo screen used for papermaking!"

"In this way, not only will the paper texture be more uniform and the output increased by at least 30%, but the raw materials used will be more diverse, and ordinary straw can be used."

"If this new papermaking technique were to spread, the books and classics of the Tang Dynasty would surely spread throughout the world, and the cost of literacy for the people would be greatly reduced!"

The ministers around were already curious, and after hearing what Yan Lide said, they came forward and began to praise him:

"The emperor's wisdom is truly a blessing to the Tang Dynasty!"

"With this improved method, we won't have to worry about paper shortages when compiling history books or spreading knowledge in the future!"

"Such a pioneering effort that benefits both the country and the people should be recorded as a great achievement!"

Li Zhi looked at the lively scene before him, his smile widening. He immediately said, "Let Minister Yan take the lead on this matter. Together with the Ministry of Works and the Imperial College, we must quickly conduct trial production and promote this method. We must ensure that this excellent method benefits the entire nation as soon as possible!"

Yan Lide held the book in his hands and accepted the order solemnly: "I will definitely fulfill my mission!"

Then, Li Zhi looked at Lin Lang with admiration and laughed loudly, "My dear brother, you have given me a great gift!"

Upon hearing this, Lin Lang's expression straightened and he said loudly: "Brother, as I said before, a strong Tang Dynasty means a strong Shanghai. I wish to always work together with the Tang Dynasty."

Li Zhi was overjoyed after hearing this. He slapped the armrest of the throne and said with a smile, "Well said! Well said! With your words, I feel relieved!"

"I hereby decree that the King of Shanghai, Lin Lang, be granted the golden seal of 'Special Friend of the Tang Dynasty' and an official document, clearly declaring him the Tang Dynasty's most honorable ally. From now on, he may freely enter and exit Chang'an, and may appear before the Emperor in the palace without notification!"

"I will grant you another thousand acres of fertile land in the suburbs of Chang'an, and let you manage it as you please!"

"Allot another hundred of the Emperor's personal guards to be stationed at the residence I bestow upon the Lord of Shanghai, to protect him!"

"In addition, you are allowed to use the Royal Workshop to customize your artifacts and enjoy the convenience of royal specifications!"

As soon as the decree was issued, everyone in the hall was amazed. This reward was far beyond ordinary, which showed how much Li Zhi valued his brother Lin Lang.

Lin Lang bowed and accepted the order, saying loudly, "Your Majesty, I will always remember your great grace. Shanghai and the Tang Dynasty will surely maintain a prosperous era together."

Li Zhi looked at Lin Lang, his eyes filled with satisfaction. He waved his hand and said, "My dear brother, there's no need to be so polite. From now on, you and I, brothers, will be united in purpose. The two countries will surely be able to maintain their stability forever."

All the ministers in the hall began to flatter him and spoke words of congratulations and praise.

When Helan Minyue saw this scene, she was secretly very happy and became more and more convinced that her arranged marriage with Lin Lang was a good one.

The way she looked at Lin Lang became more and more gentle, and she couldn't wait to marry Lin Lang and enter the bridal chamber today.

At this time, Empress Wu also smiled and said: "The things you presented, whether it is the special fruits and vegetables of Shanghai Country or the books on the improvement of water wheels and papermaking, are all of great significance to the Tang Dynasty."

All the ministers echoed and praised Lin Lang for his generous help and wisdom.

For a moment, the atmosphere in the Linde Hall was lively, and everyone was full of hope that the Tang Dynasty would flourish in the future because of these new things.

Li Zhi said excitedly, "Indeed, the friendship between the Tang Dynasty and the Kingdom of Shanghai is profound. We must support each other and prosper together. Today is such a happy occasion. Let us all raise our glasses and drink this cup together!"

All the ministers raised their glasses and drank it all in one gulp. The Linde Hall was filled with a cheerful and harmonious atmosphere.

Lin Lang drank the wine in the glass in one gulp. When he put the glass down, he took out a few round onions wrapped in thin skin from his personal space and handed them to the eunuch beside him: "Present them to Your Majesty."

Li Zhi saw that the fruit had a purple-red skin and was round in shape. He had never seen it before and asked curiously, "Brother, what kind of exotic fruit is this?"

Lin Lang smiled and shook his head: "Brother, this is called onion, but it's not a fruit, it's a vegetable. The taste is similar to scallions. It's a bit spicy when eaten raw, but becomes soft and sweet when cooked."

He paused, then continued, "These onions have many benefits. Not only can they replenish your energy, but they can also stimulate your appetite."

"It's also very durable in storage. It doesn't require much care after planting, and it still yields a lot. Throwing a few leaves into a stir-fry, whether it's scrambled eggs, stir-fried lamb, or stewed with other dishes, will enhance the flavor and aroma. It has many uses."

When Li Zhi heard the word "high yield", he immediately became excited and asked, "Brother, how much can these onions produce per mu?"

It is worth mentioning that one mu of land in the Tang Dynasty is approximately equal to 0.8 mu in modern times.

Lin Lang gestured with his palm: "If you take good care of it, a yield of a thousand kilograms per mu is not a problem. If the soil is more fertile, it is not uncommon to harvest even more."

"Wow!" A low exclamation suddenly sounded in the hall.

The ministers looked at each other with surprise on their faces.

A yield of several hundred kilograms per mu of ordinary vegetables is already a high yield, but this onion can easily produce over a thousand kilograms. If it is promoted, the people's vegetable basket will be much more abundant, which is really a great thing.

Li Zhi couldn't help but open his eyes wide, holding the onion and looking at it over and over again, and said with a smile: "Another good thing! It seems that we have to ask the Shanglin Bureau to try to grow this vegetable in the future."

Chu Yiren saw that Lin Lang promoted the cultivation of onions, which were gradually introduced to Xia Kingdom after the Yuan Dynasty, to the Tang Dynasty in the Tang Dynasty. This was a great thing that benefited the country and the people and benefited future generations.

Helan Minyue's admiration for Lin Lang and her yearning for Shanghai made her heart flutter. She looked at her soon-to-be-married husband from afar, her face slightly flushed, her eyes full of affection. It was definitely a heart-pounding feeling!

Immediately afterwards, Lin Lang took out a few round potatoes from his personal space and handed them to the eunuch.

The eunuch quickly put the food on a tray and respectfully presented it to Li Zhi and Empress Wu.

Li Zhi looked at this gray, simple-looking creature with a delighted expression. He smiled and jokingly said, "My dear brother, you are truly unreserved about my Great Tang. What kind of specialty fruit or vegetable is this from Shanghai?"

Lin Lang smiled and said, "Brother, this is called potato, a vegetable."

Li Zhi asked curiously, "How should these potatoes be eaten?"

Lin Lang replied, "Potatoes can be eaten in more ways than onions. They can be steamed, boiled, and roasted. They're delicious when cut into cubes and stewed with meat, and they're also delicious when shredded and stir-fried. They can also be ground into starch and made into vermicelli noodles. Throw a handful into stews and they'll be extra tasty."

After hearing this, Li Zhi quickly asked, "Is it difficult to grow potatoes in the Tang Dynasty?"

Lin Lang smiled and replied, "These potatoes are very easy to grow. Whether it's on a mountain or a slope, they'll take root as soon as they touch the soil. They're drought-resistant and barren-resistant, so they don't require much care. The key is the yield, which is much higher than onions."

When Li Zhi heard the word "high productivity", his eyes suddenly lit up.

After all, food is the most important thing for people, and things that can fill people's stomachs are the most precious.

He quickly asked, "Brother, you said these potatoes are even more productive than the onions we just saw?"

"That's right," Lin Lang nodded. "If you plant carefully, you can easily yield a thousand kilograms per mu. If the soil is fertile, the harvest will be even more impressive."

Li Zhi stood up suddenly, his voice trembling. He held the potato in both hands and looked at it over and over again, as if he was holding some rare treasure.

"Great! Great! With high-yield fruits and vegetables like onions and potatoes, the people won't have to worry about food shortages!!"

Lin Lang said sternly, "On this trip, I have brought a large amount of potato and onion seeds to the Tang Dynasty. After the banquet, I will hand them over to the Sino-Agricultural Temple and provide them to the Forestry Bureau for trial planting."

Li Zhi was overjoyed after hearing this. He quickly walked down from the throne, put his arm around Lin Lang's shoulders and drank a glass of wine with him, showing their brotherly love.

The ministers in the hall were so happy that they couldn't stop laughing, and they started discussing:

"Shanghai has such delicious food! Potatoes, onions, strawberries, pineapples... I've never heard of or seen anything like it before!"

"Just hearing about the yield is astonishing enough. If all of this could be grown in the Tang Dynasty, the people's granaries would be overflowing with food!"

"Mr. Hu has taken out all the treasures he has kept. Our Tang Dynasty is truly blessed!"

"Today has really broadened my horizons. I never knew there were so many varieties of fruits and vegetables, and they can be so productive!"

Empress Wu also picked up a potato and looked at it carefully, her eyes full of admiration: "This potato may look insignificant, but it actually holds such great uses. Your kindness, my dear brother, is truly rare."

Lin Lang smiled and waved his hand: "The best place for these crops to go is to allow them to take root and bear fruit in the Tang Dynasty and benefit the people."

Li Zhi put his arm around Lin Lang's shoulders and said expectantly, "Brother, if you have any special fruits and vegetables from Shanghai, feel free to bring them out!"

"Royal brother, can you guess what this is?" Lin Lang took out a bright green zucchini from his personal space.