Chapter 113: Rumor-Mongering

Because Yan Ning and Yan Ze had dismissed so many officials in the past few days, the atmosphere in the Court was very low, and they did not need to worry about losing their heads or being exiled.

But they were worried that if they did not do their jobs well, they would also be dismissed!

At this time, there were still people in the Court trying to plead for mercy, saying they knew they were wrong and that they should be given a chance.

Yan Ning proposed that from now on, local officials and capital officials should have an assessment at the end of each year; those who did not meet the standards would be dismissed, to avoid the atmosphere of officials shielding one another in the Court.

The civil and military officials of the entire Court flushed red; how could a person be so ruthless!

Yan Ning and her father played the roles of the good cop and the bad cop.

Yan Ze stated: "There is no need to be so harsh, but if one is truly slacking off in their position, it will not be too late to dismiss them then."

Yan Ning sighed, "Then we shall not dismiss them easily; we will give them a few more chances."

Hearing Yan Ning say this, the ministers were all somewhat fearful.

Many ministers were on the verge of tears.

The Emperor was a good emperor, and the Crown Princess was also a good crown princess, but they were just too strict.

But then again, Yan Ze had spoken of a one-year probationary period, and since the probationary period had not yet passed, many ministers did not dare to defy Yan Ze.

They were afraid he would throw in the towel and quit.

Then again, although Yan Ze was very strict, he was truly beyond reproach as an emperor.

The father and daughter were truly bold; they dared to think of anything.

Many of the things the Crown Princess proposed were good ideas, but they were difficult to implement.

The ministers could only sigh.

Yan Ze and Yan Ning pretended not to see.

Just as the atmosphere in the Court was listless, before the morning assembly had adjourned, a soldier who had come on horseback returned to deliver news.

"Your Majesty, after having the explosives, our Northern Frontier Army forced them back, and the city has been stable for a long time. General Zhu's idea is to take advantage of the power of the explosives to take them down in one fell swoop!"

This news caused an uproar in the Court; in the past, the warriors of the Northern Frontier were chased and beaten by the Xiongnu, and several times they were nearly breached at the city gates.

Repelling the Northern Rong was something they did not even dare to imagine.

The hearts of those in the Court were stirred.

Yan Ning, however, raised a question: "It is just that the grain and fodder are insufficient; there is not even enough for people to eat, so how can we feed the warhorses? If there is an emergency, what will happen if the soldiers at the border lose their lives?"

The man continued: "His Highness, General Zhu's meaning is that even if there are some losses, it is worth it."

Yan Ning asked: "Is the General Zhu you speak of Zhu Heng?"

The man nodded.

Yan Ning:?

No, how could Zhu Heng say that some losses were worth it?

Seeing the confusion in Yan Ning's eyes, he explained: "General Zhu did not originally want to be so aggressive, but they severely wounded one of General Zhu's subordinates; that man lost an arm and only managed to save his life with great difficulty."

Yan Ning said: "Do not be in a hurry; we will eventually fight back. Let us wait until the grain and fodder are prepared and ensure the safety of the soldiers as much as possible."

The Potato, Sweet Potato, and Corn would be ready to harvest in two months.

There was no need to rush these few months.

Yan Ze was of the same mind.

He knew that war would lead to death, but he still had to minimize casualties as much as possible.

Yan Ning was thinking of promoting high-yield crops in the shortest possible time; this way, tax revenue would increase, and it would also allow the soldiers at the frontier to repel the Northern Rong as soon as possible.

But on this day, Yan Ning received a message by carrier pigeon.

The one hundred people she had sent to the regions to deliver the high-yield crops had all returned after ensuring that the local high-yield crops had been planted.

There were still more than ten people who had not returned, which meant there were still Seeds that had not been planted.

Yan Ning opened the letter and frowned at the words written on it.

【Your Highness, there are rumors in Yun City saying that it is impossible to have such perfect Seeds, and that these Seeds cannot be grown at all. If the Seeds are planted this year, the harvest next year will be dismal, and tax revenue will be a major problem.

Your subordinate has investigated; it was spread by the Prefect who was dismissed in Yun City.】

Yan Ning frowned.

This was no longer just slacking off; they were actually spreading rumors to delay Yan Ning's affairs.

They must be given some punishment to serve as a warning to others.

Yan Ning replied to the letter, telling him to bring the Prefect back.

Two days later, Yan Ning received another carrier pigeon message, the same as the previous one, all saying that after being dismissed, the Prefect had secretly had people spread rumors that the high-yield Seeds could not be planted.

Yan Ning and Yan Ze were both furious.

They had the people captured and brought back.

Yan Ning said deliberately: "These people have obstructed official business and should be beheaded as a public example."

Yan Ze nodded: "Indeed, they should be taught a lesson."

Grand Tutor Chen said hurriedly: "Your Majesty, beheading is truly a bit excessive; these people..."

Yan Ze interrupted impatiently: "How many people starve to death every year? How many more will lose their lives because they delayed the planting of high-yield crops?"

The few of them stopped speaking.

Every winter, there were always a few people who starved or froze to death.

Yan Ning thought for a moment and said to her father: "Forget it, their crimes do not warrant death; give them a few dozen strokes and lock them in Tianlao."

Yan Ze agreed.

The father and daughter sang in harmony, and there were no more dissenting voices among the ministers in the Court.

This was not the end; Yan Ning ordered the dozen or so people who had not returned to continue ordering the planting of the high-yield Seeds.

The common people were all wailing in misery.

The common people do not fight with officials, so they could only hold their noses and plant them.

Many villagers complained incessantly; many had already planted Wheat and Rice, and to plant high-yield crops, they had to clear a small field themselves.

Fortunately, although the process was somewhat difficult, they basically all planted them.

A village in Yun City, Liu Family Village.

The people in the village also heard that they could not plant the high-yield Seed.

It was said that planting this Seed was especially difficult, time-consuming, and laborious, yet the results were not much.

But under the coercion of the bailiffs, they could only clear a piece of land to plant the Seed.

As for things like composting, they were too lazy to do it; anyway, they had planted the Seed, so whether it could grow was a matter for later.

However, at the home of Liu Dazhu in the village, when planting the Sweet Potato, he secretly kept one.

Liu Dazhu's wife washed the Sweet Potato clean, then put it in a pot to steam; before long, a sweet, fresh fragrance wafted from the pot.

After waiting for a long time, Liu Dazhu's wife finally took the Sweet Potato out and divided it among the children in the family.

Many people followed the fragrance and came over, asking Liu Dazhu: "What is this thing you have? Why is it so fragrant?"

Liu Dazhu pinched a small piece of Sweet Potato and said with a smile: "This is the Sweet Potato brought to us by that lord; I secretly kept one. This taste is quite good, so I must apply more fertilizer; come next year, there will be plenty of Sweet Potato to eat."

What Liu Dazhu said made everyone hesitate.

Is this free Sweet Potato really this good?

But they were reluctant to eat it; if it were really that good, these Seeds would all have to be planted.

Someone in the crowd also whispered: "Actually, the Corn is also very sweet; I kept a small piece and steamed it in the pot, and the taste is truly not bad. I also have to go back and compost."

Others also couldn't help but try the Corn and Sweet Potato, and the taste was indeed not bad.

As for the Potato, the taste was a bit bland, but it was filling.

People who were originally too lazy to farm all started preparing intensively in an instant.

They also wanted to see if these high-yield crops could really be grown.