Thank you to Nora7 for the ko-fi~ ♡⸜(˶˃ ᵕ ˂˶)⸝♡
“Is this the Bai Die from Liangzhou?” Liang Feng’s eyes lit up as he looked at the carefully presented potted plant.
In the exquisitely carved flowerpot before him, a peculiar plant grew. It had a straight stem, broad leaves, and on top were several fluffy, white fruits, pruned to look quite adorable.
“Indeed, Your Majesty, this is the one. Unfortunately, it’s not the right season now, so we can only enjoy the fruits. By next summer, the Bai Die will bloom, initially in pure white, later turning deep red. It will be truly beautiful,” the envoy from Liangzhou immediately reported.
“Admiring the flowers?” Liang Feng raised an eyebrow, plucked a white fruit, and squeezed it in his hand. It was soft and fluffy but with quite a few seeds, a bit prickly. Nevertheless, even so, this was cotton!
Since the beginning of this spring, the campaign to conquer Qin County had unfolded. This time, it was to thoroughly eliminate the remnants of the Xiongnu, so the battle was naturally not going to be easy. However, with simultaneous advances in land and water, the transportation of supplies and troops became much more efficient. With further consolidation in Guanzhong, the frontline push was exceptionally smooth. In just half a year of capturing cities and territories, the Xiongnu were already pressed against Longxi. Surrender or annihilation was only a matter of time.
The transfer of Yong and Qin provinces also stirred up the neighboring Liangzhou.
At the time of Liang Feng’s ascension, the Governor of Liangzhou was still Zhang Gui. He was a descendant of Prince Jing of Changshan in the Western Han, and his family was also a prominent clan in Yong County. When he was young, he gained immense fame and extraordinary knowledge, and he was appointed to govern Liangzhou. Under his rule, Liangzhou was cleared of bandits in just a few years, and the people lived in peace. Zhang Gui’s reputation spread throughout Hexi. Because of this, during years of unrest, people from Yong and neighboring provinces sought refuge in Liangzhou, flourishing this corner of the Western Region.
This person was also extremely loyal to the Jin Dynasty, contributing not only tributes during the chaos of the Eight Princes but also dispatching troops multiple times to aid the crown and resolve crises. Therefore, when Liang Feng established himself, Liangzhou did not swear allegiance to the Great Zhao but instead honored Sima Rui of Jiangdong.
However, two years ago, Zhang Gui passed away, and things began to change. First, the North gradually stabilized, the equal-field system was implemented, and refugees from various places began to migrate to the Zhao Dynasty. Liangzhou lost its available manpower and faced threats from the Xiongnu and Xianbei. Second, the situation became unstable, with the remaining Prince of Sima within the region leading a rebellion, almost seizing the Zhang family’s political power.
Enduring this for several years, with the Xiongnu retreating step by step, and seeing the imminent change in Yong and Qin, the current Governor Zhang Shi, who succeeded his father’s position, began to contemplate. Great Zhao naturally wouldn’t miss the opportunity, immediately promoting Zhang Shi and offering the sweet incentive of “reviving the Silk Road.”
Liangzhou relied on trade routes, and the Hexi Corridor flourished even more due to the prosperity of the Silk Road. However, continuous wars had left the once-thriving Silk Road desolate and far from its former glory. Now, with the North about to be unified, the temptation of reopening the Silk Road became significant.
After some hesitation, Zhang Shi finally accepted the rewards from the Zhao Dynasty, taking charge as the Commissioner, overseeing all military matters in Liangzhou, being appointed as the Governor of Liangzhou, and leading the title of Protector of the Qiang.
With full military and political authority in Zhang Shi’s hands, he naturally wanted to make a gesture. Not only did he send his son to Luoyang to study in the Chongwen Hall, but he also prepared a pile of local specialties for tribute, including the Bai Die specifically requested by the Great Zhao Emperor.
However, for Liang Feng, these dozen or so cotton plants were much more valuable than several boxes of gold and silver.
“Is this plant only used for ornamental purposes in Liangzhou? Isn’t anyone using it to weave fabric?” Liang Feng curiously asked.
The envoy was a bit embarrassed and replied, “Your Majesty, the fibers of this plant are very short, and there are many seeds. It’s not suitable for spinning. It is mostly grown in courtyards for decoration, which is quite symbolic.”
Bai Die had many seeds, symbolizing prosperity, making it a good symbol no matter where it was placed.
Liang Feng couldn’t help but chuckle, then pulled at the cotton peach in his hand. It seemed that this was not a long-fiber variety. However, even so, it was necessary to start cultivating it!
“In the southern regions, there is a fabric called ‘Ji Bei,’ woven from kapok. It is white and skillfully crafted, and I quite like it. Now, this Liangzhou Bai Die has a similar texture. If it can be woven into fabric, it should be an excellent product. Issue a decree to let General Zhang find more Bai Die seeds. I will send the Agricultural and Political Office to Liangzhou to cultivate new varieties,” Liang Feng ordered.
Whether kapok could be woven into fabric, Liang Feng was not sure, but cotton certainly could. Even if it was coarse cotton, it could still produce cotton, suitable for making cotton clothes. However, a solution needed to be found for separating the seeds. Hand-picking seeds was highly unfavorable for widespread adoption. This thing was meant for the common people, and once a reliable cultivation method was developed, it could be grown in large quantities in Henan and Shandang. In recent years, there has been a trend of cooling weather. Growing such crops might save many lives.
The emperor gave the order, and who dared not comply? The envoy quickly knelt to receive the command. Gan Bao on the side was not idle either, swiftly jotting down a note in the daily records. The longer he accompanied the emperor, the more accustomed he became to these sudden whims. Previously, the emperor had ordered the rotation of planting taro in the Jianghuai region to increase the people’s food supply.
Taro, with its lack of fragrance and scarcity in the north, perhaps only the current emperor would think of it as a fruit preserve for the common people. Just like the Bai Die in front of him, clearly a flower, yet intended for spinning fabric – quite an imaginative idea.
Slightly losing focus, Gan Bao shook off the distraction and concentrated on his records. In no time, after the morning court, he followed along toward the Chuigong Hall.
The emperor did not like to ride in carriages. If the weather was good, he preferred walking in the palace for his daily activities. It took some time to walk from the court to the Chuigong Hall. Doing this every day, even someone like Gan Bao, a recording attendant, could navigate it with closed eyes. As for the guards from the Imperial Forest and Longxiang Guards posted along the way, they were practically invisible.
They had seen enough!
Since General Yi changed into new attire, the inner guards’ uniforms seemed to have inexplicably changed too. Sleeves and trousers tightened, waists narrowed; it looked quite neat when worn. However, when the emperor passed by, the eager looks in their eyes were hard to conceal. They wished they could lift their chests to the sky, tuck their abdomens into their backs, and not even have a single stray beard beneath their chins. They hoped their robust figures and handsome faces could attract the emperor’s gaze for a moment longer.
These days, they had become increasingly flamboyant. Some soldiers’ armor could shine from three feet away. There was no choice; after all, General Yi had been out on campaigns and was not in the palace.
As a recording attendant, Gan Bao had seen General Yi accompanying the emperor countless times. Although the daily records did not involve palace affairs, Gan Bao knew that General Yi’s overnight stays in the palace were probably not few. It was common for emperors to have a few favorites, and what made this one unusual was that this favor had not faded after many years.
Could it be that the emperor favored General Yi’s appearance so much? Or was it because of the “I am sick” excuse, making him more appreciative of his physical appearance? One should know that the current emperor’s appearance was unparalleled in the court, and even though he was nearing his forties, his beauty remained captivating, evoking admiration. If one could win the emperor’s favor, it would be like reaching the heavens!
However, regardless of the speculation below, in all these years, no one had been added to the emperor’s bed. This left many guards, even officials from the previous dynasty, feeling regretful.
Now that General Yi was not around, it was feared that someone else would be eyeing the opportunity for favor.
Observing the nose and contemplating the heart, Gan Bao silently followed the imperial carriage, heading towards the Chuigong Hall. Unexpectedly, just as they crossed the central courtyard, the emperor abruptly halted and looked to his side.
This sudden change prompted not only Gan Bao but everyone in the entourage to turn their gaze in that direction. At the spot where the emperor was looking, a member of the Longxiang Guards stood in the corridor. He appeared to be in his early twenties, with a majestic demeanor and striking features. Standing solemnly, he exuded an air of authority.
Gan Bao’s heart skipped a beat. Could it be that the emperor has taken notice of this person?
It was likely that many others were thinking the same. Several pairs of eyes immediately sharpened. The Longxiang Guard seemed to sense something was amiss but dared not make any casual movements, standing rigidly by the side with a slightly changed expression.
No one dared to speak out of turn, but the emperor chuckled lightly, “What’s your name?”
The Longxiang Guard immediately knelt on one knee, “Reporting to Your Majesty, this subordinate is Xu Ye, the nephew of General Xu Hua, the Guardian General of the Divine Martial Army.”
Whether it was Longxiang or Yulin, many were from prestigious families. The rank of Guardian General was a fourth-grade military title, presumably, this man belonged to a family with an outstanding background or exceptional talents. The Xu family didn’t seem to be a prominent name…
“Xu Hua…” Liang Feng pondered for a moment but couldn’t recall the man’s jurisdiction. He then said to Xu Ye, “Get up.”
Xu Ye slowly rose, tightly gripping the spear in his hand. The emperor’s gaze upon him was rather peculiar. Could it be… could he have caught the emperor’s eye?
Xu Ye wasn’t interested in relationships with men; he had a beautiful wife and concubines at home. However, the person before him was the emperor! If he were to be favored, how could he refuse? What if General Yi found out? Would he be in trouble?
His thoughts were in a mess, like tangled threads, yet in Xu Ye’s eyes, a glimmer of hope shone. He stared attentively at the emperor, hoping for more words. However, Liang Feng merely glanced at him once more, smiled, shook his head, and continued walking forward.
Xu Ye stood there dumbfounded. What did this mean?
Others were also puzzled, unable to fathom the situation. However, the emperor did not delve further into the matter, quickly forgetting about the person. After a few days, during the military report in the court, the generals recommended individuals with outstanding talents from the Longxiang Guards for promotion. The first name on the memorial was “Xu Ye”!
“Will you be on night duty at Shiqian Hall?” Liang Feng looked at the general in the hall with a seemingly amused expression. “Since your talents are exceptional, you should be placed in the military. Let him serve in the Shenwei Army.”
The Shenwei Army was also an imperial army directly under the emperor, originally reorganized from the Ferocious Wolf Army and considered the most elite. This assignment was not bad, but unfortunately, the cavalry was General Yi’s trusted force. Sending Xu Ye there, what did this mean?
The general in the hall was sweating on his forehead, repeatedly nodding in agreement. Liang Feng, on the other hand, found it amusing. The day he gave Xu Ye a second look was merely because the man bore some resemblance to his former self, not the “Liang Feng” of this era but the original shell. However, this man’s surname was Xu, not Liang, and it was unlikely to have any significant connection with his future self.
This whimsical thought led the people below to rack their brains. It couldn’t be blamed that there were many flatterers, skilled at “interpreting the imperial intentions.” The number of such people was truly countless.
Gan Bao, sitting beside him, expressionless, continued recording the daily events. However, his mind involuntarily began to weave a story. There was a dragon that liked the horses of Wusun, being affectionate with them all the time. When others offered ordinary horses, they would be devoured in a single gulp. People marveled at this… When he got home, he would carefully consider the words and record them in the book he wrote during his leisure time.
The author has something to say:
Hehe, Gan Bao is originally the court historian. He is not just a writer; writing novels is just a hobby.
Also, you’re overthinking it; the daily records do not involve the inner palace; they only record matters of the court.
