The East Wind Prevails over the West Wind

"Water turns into meat!"

"This is simply unbelievable!"

"Is it really good to take so many pills?"

Wei Qing had some good news to announce, but after returning to the Marquis of Pingyang's residence, Wei Qing felt that his good news was not worth mentioning.

He made a special trip to the palace, and the new emperor, who was staying there, also rushed over.

Besides witnessing the soy milk in the cauldron turn into white meat, he also saw the boys who, having eaten so much that their bellies were bulging, could only lie on their sides against the wall.

These teenagers didn't even follow the rule of going home after dark, staying even though they would be beaten if they got home.

For the boys, this was an endless supply of meat.

There's meat so tender it slides down your throat at the slightest touch, meat that's neither too soft nor too firm, and meat that's thick and substantial.

After being mixed with oil, many people enjoyed a satisfying meal of meat that they hadn't had in a long time.

"Lord Marquis?"

After a brief discussion, Wei Qing also asked the new emperor, who had changed his clothes.

Having worked as a Wei Qing for several years, Wei Qing was very familiar with these beans. It was indeed incredible that the beans used to feed horses had turned into meat, but Wei Qing instantly realized their importance.

For some people, once they have control over the means, their first thought is to hoard rare goods and seek profit.

After a series of transformations using two and a half taels of beans, it's not uncommon for the resulting braised pork to sell for thousands of half taels in Chang'an City. This business is booming, and as long as you simply set up a meat stall, it's practically a business with no upfront costs.

For another group of people, they might publish the recipe, but before doing so, they will inevitably buy up large quantities of beans to profit from the high and low prices of beans.

In the act of entering and exiting, that is the greatest wealth and honor.

However, the fact that Zhang Xuezhou was able to set up the furnace at the Marquis of Pingyang's residence leaves no doubt about the object he intended to display.

Wei Qing felt that Zhang Xuezhou's character was so noble as to be unbelievable.

"You don't understand Dongfang Shuo; things might not be as good as you think!"

Wei Qing saw Dongfang Shuo as dazzlingly brilliant, but the new emperor knew Zhang Xuezhou's character very well and understood that this was simply the other party's way of admonishing and reporting. As for the twists and turns involved, he would have to decide and handle them himself.

The new emperor didn't need to think to know that this white meat was not Zhang Xuezhou's Pill Formula, but most likely came from another source.

Food is the most important thing for people. If Sang Hongyang were here, he could use this Pill Formula to create wealth that rivals that of a country.

If the Pill Formula came from elsewhere, Zhang Xuezhou's contribution to the imperial court would inevitably block their path to wealth.

The new emperor could already guess the possible source of Zhang Xuezhou's complete lack of interest in this matter.

"For better or worse, the horse feed will definitely turn into meat," Wei Qing said in a low voice. "This will allow many people to eat meat!"

This isn't real meat!

The new emperor picked up the bowl in his hand and slowly savored the tender white meat.

For the new emperor, who needed to abstain from certain foods for thirty-six days, this white meat was like a pillow that had come to him when he was sleepy.

In terms of taste, the new emperor felt that this was far superior to any other meat, even the best beef and lamb could not compare to its tenderness.

This is indeed not meat, and the new emperor did not want to classify it as meat, thus breaking the rule of the mourning ceremony.

But this is too similar to meat-based foods. The appearance of a white dish in the traditionally green vegetarian diet is enough to change the structure of one's diet.

More importantly, it's inexpensive; even if you don't have beans at home, growing a season of beans isn't difficult.

While enjoying the finest living conditions of the Great Han Dynasty, the new emperor also saw the poor people outside the city and knew exactly what they ate and drank.

If the area outside the capital city is like this, then those remote places must be even more harsh and cold, and this kind of cheap food can make up for the lack.

Who obtained this Pill Formula first?

After downing two bowls of boiled pork, the new emperor finally approached Zhang Xuezhou was constantly testing various ways to prepare the pork.

He asked in a low voice, and Zhang Xuezhou immediately leaned in to listen.

"I have a good friend named Lei Bei in Shouchun City. He saw how this kind of white meat was made at the Prince's Palace and came all the way to Chang'an City to tell me about it!"

Zhang Xuezhou made up a story without batting an eye.

"Why would he tell you something like this?" the new emperor pressed.

"He's a gambler," Zhang Xuezhou said. "He owes me a debt!"

"Is this for paying off a debt?"

"Right!"

In his brief introduction, Zhang Xuezhou not only explained the origin of the Pill Formula but also reminded the new emperor who was the first to possess this technology.

This made the new emperor's heart leap.

As fate would have it, the most renowned of the princes of the Great Han Dynasty is Liu An, the King of Huainan, and the most skilled in martial arts is Liu Fei, the Prince of Jiangdu. If the new emperor dies, either of them may rebel.

While the Empress Dowager was alive, she was able to keep the King of Huainan and others in check. After her death, these people were undoubtedly less restrained.

Without the Red Empyrean Sword, such a rebellion would have been openly committed, just like the rebellion of the vassal kings during Emperor Jing Jing's reign.

The fact that the King of Huainan's Household obtained white meat is a big problem. If the imperial court doesn't have it but the local authorities do, it will undoubtedly add fuel to the fire on the other side's already restless mind.

"The Pill Formula of external alchemy transforming into internal alchemy is very rare," Zhang Xuezhou cautioned. "It's practically impossible for them to overlap!"

After learning how gypsum water can be used to conjure soybean milk, Zhang Xuezhou could easily repeat this Pill Formula. He could even analyze the principle with instruments after returning to reality, but this was an extremely rare occurrence.

Beans have existed for thousands of years, and billions of people have come into contact with them, but the probability of a bean turning into white meat is only one in ten.

The probability of discovering that white meat adulterated with gypsum powder is edible is even lower.

It's no exaggeration to say that this ingredient is an isolated incident in a thousand-year history.

Low-probability events cannot coincide; it's impossible for the King of Huainan to be secretly brewing white meat while the imperial court suddenly promotes the popularization of white meat production techniques.

A rash move would only make the King of Huainan suspect that the new emperor was monitoring him, thus becoming the fuse for conflict between them.

"What do you think is the safest course of action for this?" the new emperor asked in a low voice.

"Your Majesty can complain, threaten, explain the pros and cons, or arrange for people to buy up large quantities of beans. Perhaps you can get what you need by doing so indirectly," Zhang Xuezhou said, pursing his lips.

Only an emperor can rival the King of Huainan, and only a new emperor can evade the King of Huainan's pursuit.

If the new emperor handles this properly, it could even lead the Prince of King of Huainan to voluntarily hand over the Pill Formula for brewing white meat. How things proceed depends on the new emperor's decision.

You mean Changxin Palace...?

"If you make this decision, the people will only remember you!"

The new emperor was about to bring up the Empress Dowager's strategy when Zhang Xuezhou reminded him, which made his eyes narrow sharply.

Unlike the King of King of Huainan, who cherished his own possessions, he had no selfish motives and was able to truly promote his ideas throughout the Great Han Dynasty.

The new emperor had accomplished little for several years, but if he could accomplish this one thing, he would be worthy of being called a wise ruler and would gain the support of countless people.

This could even change the landscape of the Great Han Dynasty, reducing the number of people who resent the court and increasing the number of people who gravitate towards it, and even leading to a continuous emergence of people loyal to it.

This would mean that he would inevitably disrupt the King of Huainan's plans, leading to a confrontation where their strategies would be revealed.

This did not coincide with the time Emperor Jing had instructed for the confrontation, but the die was cast and could not be cast.

It's either the East Wind prevailing over the West Wind, or the West Wind prevailing over the East Wind.

If he can't win this game, how can he possibly keep going?