Chapter 479: Plant a Seed

Gao Yang gave him a glance, snuggled in his arms, and said softly, "You've been so concerned about those Potatoes for so long; when this batch grows, will there be enough seed grain?"

"Still far from enough," Chen Yan sighed, "but it's a fairly good start. When I first got that sole half‑Potato, I didn't really have confidence in reviving it."

"Perhaps Heaven took pity and let that sole half‑Potato take root and sprout."

"With these eight‑mu of Potatoes as seed grain, we can start large‑scale planting next year. If the Unflagged Cavalry proceeds smoothly, we can bring back a massive amount of Champa Rice seed grain; combined, the prosperous age will no longer be an empty boast."

In such an era, abundant food and a populace free from hunger constitute a truly great golden age.

"Actually I've always wanted to ask you, where did you get that original half‑Potato seed?" Gao Yang asked puzzledly. "Why don't you trace that half‑Potato further; you might find more Potatoes?"

"If you did, you could have started large‑scale planting long ago."

"Easier said than done," Chen Yan retorted. "If I could find it, would I still need you to say it?"

"That I managed to obtain the sole half‑Potato was already a tremendous luck; there simply isn't a second one, at least not on our land."

Gao Yang quickly seized the point in Chen Yan's words, "If it's not on our land, does that mean it's on other lands? Beyond the seas?"

"Right!" Chen Yan didn't deny. "The world is vast; not only the small states around the Tang Dynasty have many treasures, but beyond the seas lies an unimaginable trove—Japan's silver mines are the prime example."

"Moreover, a high‑yield food like the Potato isn't the only one; it just hadn't appeared here before."

Gao Yang pondered and nodded, "Is that why you insist on forming the Unflagged Cavalry? Besides Champa Rice and silver mines, you want to go even farther?"

Chen Yan said, "It depends on whether current shipbuilding can support sending people farther. If conditions allow, I will definitely try."

"But it can't be rushed; shipbuilding is at a bottleneck. To craft better vessels, many technologies need optimization, so take it slowly."

During the Ming Dynasty, Zheng He sailed west; now that the Tang has him, Li Chunfeng and Yuan Tiangang might also be able to sail west.

This is the real reason for forming the Unflagged Cavalry that he has never explained in detail to anyone.

If conditions permit, he even wants Li Chunfeng and Yuan Tiangang to go to the Americas; there are so many good things there that, even if many are currently useless to him, they could be brought back for future generations.

Of course, Chen Yan knows it's extremely difficult, almost impossible.

Unless Li Tai makes a breakthrough, building ships far beyond current tech, together with a resolute crew, nationwide support, and favorable destiny, there might be hope.

Given the present situation, Tang ships might reach Southeast Asia, or even cross the Indian Ocean using monsoons, but the Americas remain out of reach.

Chen Yan is not a professional; he's just a medical student, lacking such capability, and can only do what he can to pave the way for future generations.

Plant a seed, and when future generations come, it will take root, sprout, and grow robustly.

"......"

Gao Yang reached out to stroke his face, her eyes full of complexity, "Sometimes I really can't understand you. How do you know these things? Like the Potato—no one recognizes it, treating it as roadside trash, yet you treasure it."

"And your unique way of thinking, your astonishing knowledge, seems completely out of sync with us."

"Father Emperor and Mother Empress remain tacitly silent about this, never asking you, and we do the same. But today I really couldn't hold back."

"Imperial Physician says you're an 'Exiled Immortal' from the heavens; most people treat it as a joke, but the longer we interact, the more mysterious you appear. Chen Yan, you haven't even reached the age of crowning yet—will you one day leave me?"

"...... I think so!" Chen Yan's mouth twitched, then he sighed deeply, lowered his head to nuzzle her forehead, and in a low voice said, "We are ultimately not from the same world; being able to walk a part together is already wonderful. I don't dare hope for too much, and I hope you feel the same."

Gao Yang's eyes were soaked with tears; even while nestled in his arms, she felt that the people around her could depart at any moment, never to be found again.

At this moment, the fearless Princess Gao Yang was terrified like never before.

"I......"

"After all, I'm human and you're a dog; man and dog walk different paths!"

Gao Yang: "......"

"...... Eh"

She stared blankly for a while, blinked, was momentarily dazed, then realized, her face flushed red, and she angrily raised her fist, smashing it hard onto Chen Yan's chest.

"...... WTF!"

Chen Yan nearly choked; the blow was so fierce that, in a daze, he thought he saw his great‑grandmother.

"Bastard! I asked you seriously, and you mock me!" Gao Yang was truly angry, not joking at all.

She raised her fist again, intending to hit him hard once more!

"Wait, Bridge Bean Sack!"

Chen Yan panicked, hurriedly grabbed her arm and held her tightly, "Why can't you stop playing?"

"Clearly it's your brain that suddenly filled with water, asking me such a ridiculously stupid question. Isn't it just a joke?"

"Sss~" his chest ached faintly, he inhaled a cold breath, "Is it necessary to go this far? You almost smashed me to death!"

"Murdering my husband!"

She squeezed her own hand hard, found she couldn't pull it out, and said irritably, "I'll make you die of pain, who makes you go on without any decency every day!"

"Is it me who's indecent or you?" Chen Yan muttered, "Still believing Imperial Physician's talk, that damn Exiled Immortal—if I were an Exiled Immortal, could I even look at you?"

"Already went looking for a fairy!"

The words were coarse but not unreasonable; having long been accustomed to Chen Yan's manner, Gao Yang didn't feel angry, but relaxed instead.

Her man is still her man, for a lifetime!

After understanding this, Gao Yang saw Chen Yan grinding his teeth while rubbing his chest, felt pity, gently massaged him, and said warmly, "Does it hurt? Want me to apply some medicine?"

"Forget it!" Chen Yan said gloomily. "This is my fate—marrying a wretched thing like you, you keep giving me these sudden blows."

"When His Majesty arrives later, I need to ask if I can return it; I'm reaching my limit."

Gao Yang heard this, raised her willow‑shaped eyebrows, "Return, return, return—go return it! Better return Sister and Xiao Sui An all at once!"

"If you do that, your life will be fine!"

"Really let me return?" Chen Yan seemed somewhat stirred.

"Bastard!"

Gao Yang, furious, swung her fist like a thug, excitedly striking.

"......"