Chapter 448: Sweet Potato Harvest

"You are right; the most powerful force in this world is indeed the human race!"

"However, the strength of the human race is established solely upon the foundation of its massive population base."

"The top-tier powerhouses of the human race are few. Only by uniting as one and striving unceasingly can the human race secure a place among the myriad races standing tall in the All Heavens and Myriad Realms!"

Ao Huang's words filled Liu Bian with deep emotion, and he could not help but sigh as he spoke to Ao Huang.

"By the way, what energy do you rely on to increase your strength in the future?"

Setting aside that topic, Liu Bian looked at Ao Huang and asked about his method for future cultivation.

Hearing this, Ao Huang said to Liu Bian:

"Master, if my strength is to increase, I must go to a world with Immortal Spiritual Energy. However, before reaching the Celestial Immortal Realm, as long as your cultivation improves, my strength will naturally be unsealed bit by bit!"

"Moreover, I can also cultivate by borrowing the National Fortune, and given your growth speed, Master, you will soon catch up to me."

Hearing this, Liu Bian nodded slowly.

Looking at it this way, there was no need to worry about Ao Huang's cultivation until reaching the Immortal Realm.

Furthermore, this fellow could cultivate using National Fortune, so once the Dynasty was established, he would be able to cultivate gradually.

After chatting with Ao Huang for a long time about cultivation, Ao Huang transformed into a streak of golden light and headed toward the Grand Hall of the Imperial Palace.

According to him, that was where the National Fortune was strongest, and he would cultivate better there.

This was a good thing for Liu Bian, as it saved him the trouble of finding a place for him. Moreover, the two of them shared a master-servant contract, so they could communicate directly using their minds as long as they were within the same realm.

……

Time passed like a white horse galloping past a crack in a wall, and in the blink of an eye, a short five days had flowed away like rushing water.

Today was once again the day for Liu Bian to summon his ministers and hold a grand court assembly.

Just as the east began to glow with the color of fish-bellies and the sky was still dim, the civil and military officials had already arrived outside the Grand Hall.

They wore magnificent official robes and looked solemn, either whispering to one another or lost in silent thought, all waiting for the court assembly to begin.

Not long after, a heavy creaking sound rang out, and the tightly shut doors of the Grand Hall were slowly pushed open.

The crowd looked up, only to see the Eunuch Chief Steward Li Liangcheng walking out at a steady, unhurried pace.

He first swept his gaze across the officials present.

Then, he took a deep breath, gathered his strength, and shouted loudly:

"His Majesty has an edict: Summon the officials to court!"

This voice was loud and long, as if it could pierce the clouds, echoing endlessly before the Grand Hall.

Hearing this shout, the officials immediately straightened their robes and caps, walking into the hall in an orderly fashion according to their rank.

After the officials entered the Grand Hall, they saw Liu Bian already wearing his dragon robe and imperial crown, sitting high upon the dragon throne.

After the officials stood in place, they knelt down in unison before Liu Bian and shouted in one voice:

"We pay our respects to Your Majesty! May Your Majesty live for ten thousand years!"

"Rise, my ministers!"

Liu Bian raised both hands slightly and said with majesty.

"We thank Your Majesty!"

After the crowd rose, Eunuch Chief Steward Li Liangcheng shouted loudly:

"If there are matters to report, speak; if not, the court is dismissed!"

"Your Majesty, this minister has a matter to report!"

Just as Li Liangcheng's voice fell, Xun Yu, the Minister of Personnel, immediately stepped out and said respectfully to Liu Bian.

"Speak!"

"Reporting to Your Majesty, the six Inspectors—Tian Feng, Cheng Yu, Xu Shu, and Ju Shou—departed five days ago to take up their posts in their respective provinces."

"As for the vacant positions of Magistrate of Henan and Magistrate of Jingzhao, the Ministry of Personnel has selected Liu Ye and Zhong Yao to fill them."

After speaking, Xun Yu looked respectfully at Liu Bian.

"I am very reassured by your work, Wenruo!"

"Let these two fill the positions of Magistrate of Henan and Magistrate of Jingzhao."

Liu Bian also approved of the two people Xun Yu had selected. After all, people chosen by Xun Yu rarely went wrong.

Hearing this, Xun Yu said gratefully to Liu Bian:

"This minister thanks Your Majesty for your trust; I will serve until death!"

"You speak too heavily, Wenruo. Does anyone else have a memorial to present?"

After Xun Yu finished his report, Liu Bian asked the others.

"Reporting to Your Majesty, this minister has a memorial!"

At this moment, Xi Zhong, the Minister of Revenue, stepped out and said respectfully to Liu Bian.

"Speak!"

"Reporting to Your Majesty, during this period, my Ministry of Revenue has recovered all the farmland occupied by the great clans in the three provinces of Sili, Liangzhou, and Bingzhou."

"At the same time, the farmland distributed to the common people has all been handed over to them."

"Moreover, the sweet potatoes planted by the common people in Luoyang and parts of Sili have finally ushered in their first harvest!"

At this moment, Xi Zhong said excitedly to Liu Bian and the civil and military officials.

"Oh, the first batch of sweet potatoes has been harvested? What is the yield?"

Hearing that the first batch of sweet potatoes had been harvested, Liu Bian asked immediately.

"Reporting to Your Majesty, according to the statistics from my Ministry of Revenue, the better-yielding sweet potatoes have reached a yield of about nine thousand catties per mu, and even the smaller ones have a yield of over six thousand catties per mu!"

"Hiss..."

"These sweet potatoes really have such a high yield!"

"In this way, will no one in our Great Han ever starve to death again?"

At this moment, the officials exploded into an uproar upon hearing the yield Xi Zhong reported.

Although they already knew that the yield of sweet potatoes was high, they did not expect it to be exactly as Liu Bian had said—nearly ten thousand catties per mu!

One must know that the grain planted in the Great Han at this time had no species with a yield exceeding one thousand catties per mu.

"Hahaha, good."

"In this way, there will be no more common people in our Great Han starving to death because of food!"

Liu Bian was quite satisfied after hearing this yield. One must know that this yield was achieved without the use of chemical fertilizers, which was quite impressive.

Immediately, he instructed Xi Zhong:

"Zhicai, aside from leaving enough for the common people to live on and plant, collect all the remaining sweet potatoes from the people in the name of the Imperial Court."

"Currently, only Sili has planted sweet potatoes. Distribute these sweet potatoes equally to the common people of other provinces according to their population."

"The common people of our Great Han Empire must all be treated equally!"

"Moreover, once the corn planted in Liangzhou is harvested, it must also be popularized in other provinces."

"This minister obeys the edict!"

Xi Zhong replied respectfully to Liu Bian.

Afterward, he retreated to his position.

Seeing that Xi Zhong had finished his report, Liu Bian asked the others with majesty:

"Does anyone else have a memorial?"

Xi Zhicai said respectfully to Liu Bian.

Afterward, he retreated to his position.

Seeing that Xi Zhicai had finished his report, Liu Bian asked the others with a majestic voice:

"Does anyone else have a memorial?"