Rewards
This matter had nothing to do with Liu Hongyu and his group, Gong Cheng sent them back to their rooms.
The group entered Zhao Ruxi's office and, after sitting down, Gong Cheng said, "His Majesty wishes to ask how Lord Zhao intends to promote these new agricultural tools? Will you open an agricultural tool workshop to manufacture the new tools and sell them to various places, or is there some other method?"
Zhao Ruxi quickly said, "No, no, no, since these farm tools have been presented to the imperial court, they belong to the court. I suggest that the blueprints for the farm tools be drawn up and sent to the provincial capitals, and then from the provincial capitals to the prefectures and counties, where the government offices will manufacture them for cultivation. As for the farmers finding them useful, they can have them made by blacksmiths after they have finished cultivating the land; that is their prerogative."
She doesn't lack that kind of money, and she certainly doesn't want to make money in this kind of way.
Xiao Ge summoned Gong Cheng to ask her if she wanted to open a farm tool workshop. She didn't know if Xiao Ge was testing whether she had the awareness of a royal wife, or if he thought she was greedy and wanted her to profit from it.
However, since he sent Xiao Lingyan and Gong Cheng to inquire, at least his intentions were good.
Gong Cheng was very Gao Xing to hear this. However, he did not speak again, but turned to Xiao Lingyan.
Xiao Lingyan nodded in agreement. "You did the right thing; that's how it should be done."
Xiao Ge could guess what she was thinking. He felt that Zhao Ruxi's inventions of safes and spinning machines had brought her substantial profits. Now that she had developed new agricultural tools, it seemed unfair for him to simply take them for the court's use. He worried that Zhao Ruxi would be Gao Xing and stop developing new things in the future. That's why he wanted to test her thinking.
Anyway, everyone who came was one of their own. Lord Shi was obsessed with inventions and creations and didn't care about worldly affairs. He was also on good terms with Gong Cheng, so he wouldn't say anything out of line.
Even if Zhao Ruxi's idea is flawed, with them around, nothing will go wrong.
However, in ancient times, when "all land under heaven belongs to the king, and all people within the realm are his subjects," any invention a subject made should be presented to the emperor, who would then reward him with a gift, rather than allowing the subject to profit from it.
Zhao Ruxi's plan to set up an agricultural tool workshop would inevitably draw criticism from the ministers. The method she has chosen now could not have been more appropriate.
As expected of the woman he loves, she is always so intelligent and wise.
Xiao Lingyan and Gong Cheng, along with their entourage, were hosted by Zhao Ruxi and accompanied by Liu Hongyu and others. They had lunch at the Added Fortune Pavilion before returning to the capital. Throughout the entire trip, Xiao Lingyan was merely a bystander and didn't even exchange a single word with Zhao Ruxi.
Upon returning to the palace, Gong Cheng reported the matter, Xiao Ge was overjoyed, becoming even more satisfied with Zhao Ruxi.
He asked Xiao Lingyan, "What do you think I should give your wife as a reward?"
Xiao Lingyan didn't stand on ceremony. "Manors, small shops, whatever you have on hand, Father, please bestow upon me."
Even if Xiao Lingyan didn't say anything, Xiao Ge also planned to reward them, knowing that Zhao Ruxi liked these things.
It just so happens that not long ago, the Crown Prince and the Third Prince's trusted subordinates were arrested, and the homes of several ministers who helped them amass wealth were confiscated. They owned quite a few estates and shops, and Zhang Changshen was specifically instructed to keep a few good ones.
"There's a farm in Beining with 400 mu of land, and another in Nanyang with 800 mu of land. Ask her which one she wants," Xiao Ge said.
Nanyang has fertile land and is not far from the capital. Many people who cannot buy land in Beining will go to Nanyang to buy land. Now that they have just seized an estate in Nanyang, and considering that Zhao Ruxi is now an official in Nanyang and the estate is large, Xiao Ge asked about it.
Without a second thought, Xiao Lingyan said directly, "I want the estate in Nanyang."
Xiao Ge asked with a smile, "Aren't you going to send someone to inquire? Even if the area is half the size, many people still prefer the estate in Beining. Little Five, you mustn't disrespect Zhiwei. There's only one woman in the world as talented as her. If she's Gao Xing to marry you, I won't force her."
Xiao Lingyan scratched his head, feigning embarrassment, "It's not that I'm disrespectful, it's just that I know she definitely likes the estate in Nanyang. As far as I know, she's discovered that the glutinous rice produced in Nanyang is excellent, and she's working on brewing wine. She said that if she brews good wine, she'd like to partner with you, Father, to start a wine business. Therefore, she wants to buy an estate in Nanyang to grow glutinous rice, with the court's permission, to avoid having her raw materials blocked. Your gift of this estate is exactly what she wants."
Upon hearing that Zhao Ruxi was tinkering with something new again and even planned to do business with him, Xiao Ge Gao Xing.
Zhiwei's brain is inexplicably sharper and more agile than others. Whatever she sets her mind to, she succeeds, and often surpasses others in skill. Take agricultural tools, for example. So many officials in the Ministry of Works have spent years researching and trying to improve agricultural tools, yet they haven't come up with any results. Zhao Ruxi, on the other hand, has only been in Nanyang for half a year, and she has already created two extremely ingenious agricultural tools, leaving everyone in awe.
"Hahaha, very good." Xiao Ge laughed and exclaimed repeatedly, "There are two estates in Nanyang, one 800 mu and the other 500 mu. The larger one will be given to Zhiwei, and the smaller one will be given to you. As for whether you want to give it to Zhiwei, that's a matter for you two. I've approved the planting of glutinous rice; you can plant it as you like. I'll issue an imperial decree right now. Zhiwei wants to research anything or needs anything, just come and ask me."
Since the advent of sweet potatoes and potatoes, two high-yield crops, the people of the land have basically stopped going hungry. Zhao Ruxi has developed two new farming tools, which will have a great impact on agriculture throughout the Great Jin. Not to mention that they will make daily field work less strenuous for farmers, the annual land reclamation organized by the imperial court will also result in a significant increase in farmland area.
Rewarding Zhao Ruxi with an 800-mu estate, along with some gold, silver, jewels, and silk, would be in line with the court's standards for rewards. Giving him more would cause objections among the court officials, and breaking the standards would not be conducive to his future rewards.
However, in Xiao Ge's view, such a reward was far from sufficient for Zhao Ruxi's contribution.
Now, granting the Prince of Prince of Qi an estate and issuing an edict allowing Zhao Ruxi to grow glutinous rice is in accordance with the rules, so Xiao Ge won't be in a difficult position, and Zhao Ruxi will likely be pleased.
Xiao Lingyan was also very Gao Xing and bowed, saying, "Your subject thanks Your Majesty for the generous reward on behalf of Zhiwei."
"Seeing how devoted you are to Zhiwei, I am relieved. You must treat Zhiwei well and not let her down," Xiao Ge instructed.
In Xiao Ge's eyes, Zhao Ruxi was becoming more and more like a national treasure, someone who needed to be cherished and valued. If Xiao Lingyan treated her badly, it would be the Great Jin that would suffer, so Xiao Ge couldn't help but give her a few more words of advice.
"Yes, Father, rest assured, I will certainly treat Zhiwei well."
The next morning at court, the Minister of Ministry of Works stepped forward and reported on the effectiveness of the two new farming tools. Xiao Ge was immediately overjoyed and personally announced the reward for Zhao Ruxi.
It is said that Zhao Zhiwei was granted an estate in Nanyang, and was allowed to grow glutinous rice on her estate. As expected, the court officials did not raise any objections.