After the order was given, the army of Great Liang quickly began to move, with large waves of troops heading towards the two locations.
However, this commotion did not cause any ripples. Instead, attention was focused on the harvest season, and it was finally time to harvest the new batch of potatoes.
Although not many people received potato seeds, there were many people curious about potatoes. As they watched some families harvesting potatoes, they all gathered around to watch.
When the fist-sized potato was dug out, the people in the south were instantly excited, realizing that the legend of the potato was actually true.
"No wonder people in the north always say that one acre of potatoes can feed a whole family. This stuff is really high-yielding; one plant can produce five or six potatoes, which is enough for a family's meal!"
"Good heavens, no wonder some people call it a divine seed; this thing could feed so many people!"
"I heard there are extra seeds this year, and the Emperor will distribute them to the people for free. We can plant potatoes in the second half of the year, that's wonderful!"
"You only heard half of it. While potatoes can be a staple food, they still can't compare to rice. His Majesty has found a super rice variety, and I'm going to plant that in the fields this year, and some potatoes on the hillsides."
The people were all beaming with health, showing no signs of the post-war despondency. The dynastic transition from Great Ning to Great Liang had been completed quietly, without causing them much harm.
On the contrary, the strong rise of Great Liang brought them hope.
The people of Great Liang were overjoyed, which made people in some neighboring countries extremely envious, and many secretly came to check on the situation.
Looking at those round, plump potatoes, they were filled with envy, but unfortunately, they were powerless to do anything about it.
A merchant with a bruised and swollen face couldn't help but sigh bitterly, saying, "The Emperor of Great Liang is good in every way, except he's too stingy. He simply won't sell these seeds to people from other countries."
He had previously paid money to buy seeds to grow in his own country, but as soon as he made this request, he was surrounded and beaten by a group of people from Great Liang.
That wasn't all; later, the city patrol also arrived and arrested them, taking them to the yamen (government office).
If they weren't actually businessmen, they'd probably be dead here by now.
"Ah, this thing is so valuable, no wonder Great Liang won't let it pass!" The merchant next to him couldn't help but say with some regret.
The seeds of the Great Liang are not open to outsiders. Anyone who buys, sells, or trades them with other races without authorization will be severely punished. This is no joke, and he didn't want to offend the Great Liang.
In contrast to the sadness of these foreigners, Zhang Wanhao and the others on the other side had stiff expressions.
Watching the potatoes being harvested one after another, Old Zhang couldn't help but shed sad tears, and said wistfully, "Alas, I also had thousands of acres of potatoes in the south, but now they all belong to the emperor!"
"Nonsense, I own over ten thousand acres in Jiangling, and they belong to the emperor now." Liu Kun rolled his eyes at the two of them and said irritably.
Why!
Everyone sighed; it was truly heartbreaking. They had been working for the Emperor for nothing.
Wang Hui rolled his eyes at the group and said irritably, "Alright, these are just material possessions, what do they matter? The Emperor spared our lives, that's more important than anything!"
If someone's already dead, what's the point of having so many potatoes? It's just a waste.
"Damn, you're really optimistic. You even have your nephew," Zhang Wanhao said with a hint of envy.
Although the Wang Clan also suffered huge losses, Wang Clan still have Wang Yunze, who previously sided with the emperor. He is currently the only one still in the middle ranks of the Great Liang, and he has more hope than the rest of them.
Wang Hui rolled his eyes at him and said irritably, "He's just a governor-general. If His Majesty wants to replace him..."
"Huh?"
Before he could finish speaking, he saw a familiar person walking over, and his eyes lit up. It was actually a member of the Zhang Clan in the north.
Judging from the situation, they're coming this way.
Zhang Wanhao and the others also saw them, and their eyes narrowed immediately, each looking at the people from the Northern Aristocratic Family with hostility.
The wheel of fortune turns. In the past, the Southern aristocratic families were the mainstream, but now, after being massacred by Li Anlan and his wife, they have become the remnants, while the North has become the mainstream.
This is so awkward!
Seeing them heading straight for him, Zhang Wanhao said coldly, " Zhang Ruohai, what do you want? Are you here to laugh at us?"
"Haha, how could that be!"
Looking at the wary Zhang Wanhao and the others, Zhang Ruohai couldn't help but smile wryly, explaining, "Although you have suffered huge losses, you pose no threat to the Emperor. On the contrary, our lives are getting harder!"
Ugh, this is so painful!
They thought their northern aristocratic family could rise to power, completely suppress the southern aristocratic families, and then gain absolute power to control the situation in Great Liang. However, the " Aristocratic Clan Administration Law " was directly introduced, leaving them completely bewildered.
This is not beneficial at all; it's like having a thorn in your side.
"This?"
Wang Hui and the others were taken aback at first, then burst into laughter. This made it more acceptable that their southern aristocratic families had fallen into decline, since the northern aristocratic families had been the ones who suffered the most severe suppression this time.
Liu Kun, however, showed no schadenfreude. He merely sighed, "The current emperor is sweeping across the All Under Heaven, and the role your northern aristocratic families played was less than adding icing on the cake. Naturally, you didn't gain much benefit. It's already a miracle that the emperor hasn't purged you!"
The fact that the emperor didn't kill this fat sheep only shows how kind he was.
"Although there hasn't been a reckoning, I feel like I'm sitting on pins and needles, like I could be killed at any moment," Song Yuming said with a wry smile.
The current emperor is too powerful. The aristocratic families are just tools in his hands; he can kill them at will. It makes me feel very insecure.
Everyone sighed, lamenting how difficult these days were.
Cough cough!
Zhang Wanhao coughed twice and said irritably, "Whether you're sad or not is one thing, but why are you looking for us?"
"Hmph, do you think I wanted to see you? I'm here to inform you that Ministry of Rites Cao Cao has invited all the major families to a meeting, and everyone must attend!" Zhang Ruoyun glanced at him and said irritably.
Cao Cao invited him to a meeting!
Everyone's pupils contracted; the thing they feared had finally happened—the aristocratic families were about to be dealt with.
Zhang Wanhao and the others, who had been somewhat relaxed, suddenly stiffened. Now, their lives or deaths were about to be decided, which was truly heart-wrenching.
Taking a deep breath, Wang Hui said in a deep voice, "Now that things have come to this, there's no way to avoid it. The fact that the Emperor hasn't killed us means we're still useful. Let's go see how Cao Cao plans to deal with the aristocratic families!"
Let's go!
Everyone nodded in agreement; Wang Hui was absolutely right, and there was no time to worry about that now.
Without the Emperor of Great Liang's approval, all other paths lead to dead ends; only the path of a noble family recognized by the Emperor offers a way out!