Chapter 60: Good Things Come in Threes, Sweet Potatoes and Cotton

Chapter 60: A Cascade of Good News, Sweet Potatoes

The world’s first auction successfully concluded on the soil of Great Qin, with the final suit of armor ultimately falling into the hands of the Northern Di King.

The total revenue of the entire auction approached two hundred and fifty million. The prairie tribes primarily traded in cattle, sheep, horses, medicinal herbs, and animal pelts. Great Qin acquired hundreds of thousands of cattle, sheep, and horses, substantially bolstering its national strength.

Simultaneously, this event forged tighter bonds within the alliance, and the inclusion of the Western Qiang tribe once again amplified the alliance's influence. Putting aside the hidden motives of the member states for the moment, the more frequently they interacted with Great Qin, the deeper the influence Great Qin exerted over them.

The sale of armaments subtly fanned the ambitions of the various member states, luring them into an obsession with warfare and plunder, thereby draining their tribes' military potential.

Moreover, the influx of weapons indirectly undermined the stability among the tribes, inciting conflicts that suited Great Qin’s strategy of manipulation from behind the scenes.

"Grand Tutor, His Majesty summons you to the palace!"

An imperial attendant hurried down the street, calling out respectfully.

"Oh, did His Majesty mention what this is about?"

Yang Zimo laid down the newspaper in his hand and looked at the attendant with curiosity.

"Replying to the Grand Tutor, His Majesty merely urged the Grand Tutor to enter the palace as quickly as possible."

"Very well, let us go then!"

"Your subject pays respects to His Majesty!"

Upon arriving at the Qilin Hall, Yang Zimo saw that Ying Zheng was in a rather pleasant mood and stepped forward to bow.

"Grand Tutor, rise!"

"Your Majesty, what matter has made you so joyous?"

Today, Ying Zheng was exceptionally excited, pacing back and forth across the hall.

"Grand Tutor, the Shadow Secret Guard has reported that the sweet potatoes are about to arrive in Xianyang City. I have already sent people to meet them. Haha!"

"Congratulations, Your Majesty!"

"The Grand Tutor deserves the highest credit!"

The two began their customary mutual flattery in the grand hall while awaiting the arrival of the sweet potatoes.

An hour later, the attendant led a group of sun-tanned, weathered men into the Qilin Hall.

"Your subject, Zhang Hu, pays respects to His Majesty! May the Emperor live for ten thousand years! May Great Qin endure for ten thousand years!"

"You are Zhang Hu?"

Standing to the side, Yang Zimo stared in utter astonishment at the men in the hall. They were dressed in rags like beggars, their hastily tidied long hair tied up in disarray. Their originally yellow skin had turned pitch-black, and their emaciated, skin-and-bone bodies looked as though a sudden gust of wind could blow them over.

Had strict identity verification not been mandatory before entering the palace, Yang Zimo would have suspected that a band of refugees had arrived.

"Grand Tutor, this general is indeed Zhang Hu," Zhang Hu said with a helpless expression. He could not have anticipated that months of grueling treks would alter his appearance so drastically; he could only attribute it to the fact that the environment of Great Qin was far too nourishing.

"You have worked hard, beloved subject!"

"For Great Qin!"

"This subject has fortunately not failed his mission; I have brought the sweet potatoes back," Zhang Hu quickly brought up the main point.

"Where are they? Take Me to see them!"

Outside the side hall adjacent to the Qilin Hall, a dilapidated carriage sat quietly, surrounded within a radius of thirty paces by vigilant soldiers.

"Your Majesty, these are the sweet potatoes the Grand Tutor spoke of. They are all inside the carriage."

Zhang Hu pulled a spindle-shaped plant from a sack on the carriage and introduced it.

"Is this object truly the sweet potato? Grand Tutor, take a look."

Ying Zheng was not entirely certain whether this was the genuine article and could only ask Yang Zimo to inspect it.

Yang Zimo rolled up his sleeves, reached into the sack, and pulled out several of the objects, instantly recognizing them as sweet potatoes—though they were white and yellow; purple sweet potatoes were nowhere to be seen.

"Haha! Your Majesty, these are indeed sweet potatoes! Sweet potatoes! Great Qin’s foundation is secure!"

Holding the sweet potatoes in his hands, Yang Zimo leaped up and down with excitement on the floor!

Everyone around looked at him as if he had seen a ghost. They all knew the Grand Tutor possessed a free-spirited temperament, but they had never seen him act like a lunatic.

The only person present who understood the reason for Yang Zimo’s intense excitement was Ying Zheng. His own heart was filled with an identical surge of exhilaration; Great Qin could finally unleash its full potential.

*“Ding! Sweet potatoes have been introduced to the Central Plains one thousand eight hundred years ahead of schedule, accelerating the pace of civilization! Rewarded with ten thousand civilization points and partial unlocking of technological knowledge. Click here for details!”*

*“!”*

Temporarily ignoring the prompt from the ancestral artifact, Yang Zimo put down the sweet potatoes and continued rummaging through the carriage. According to Zhang Hu, during their expedition to Anxi, they had brought back nearly every seed, crop, and peculiar novelty available for purchase in that region.

Had it not been for the frequent natural disasters along the way—such as indigenous raiders, bandits, and sandstorms—Zhang Hu would have brought back even more.

"Ah! These are seeds!"

Yang Zimo’s exclamation caught Ying Zheng’s attention.

"Does the Grand Tutor have a new discovery?"

Ying Zheng had long since heard Yang Zimo mention that the lands west of Great Qin were abundantly rich in products, many of which Great Qin had never possessed, and all of which would immensely benefit the state.

Yang Zimo gripped a handful of strange seeds. They were oval-shaped, their black seed coats covered in a layer of white and grayish-white fuzz, with much of the fuzz having already fallen off, making them look somewhat like moldy fermented soybeans.

"Your Majesty, these are treasures!"

"This plant is native to subtropical regions. Its blossoms are milky white, turning deep red shortly after blooming before withering away, leaving behind a small green capsule known as a boll."

"When the boll matures, it splits open, revealing soft fibers. These fibers can be woven into various cotton textiles that are not only durable and wear-resistant, but also exceptionally warm and cold-resistant. It is the finest material for warding off winter chills."

"The crucial point is that, unlike wool, it can be cultivated on a massive scale. It is especially suited for cultivation in the Western Regions. Once mass cultivation begins, Great Qin will no longer need to worry about its common people freezing to death during winter."

Yang Zimo meticulously explained the utility of cotton to Ying Zheng. This was yet another pillar to propel Great Qin toward unprecedented prosperity.

Ying Zheng was equally stunned by this unassuming plant. If this proved true, countless lives could be saved in Great Qin every year. Furthermore, if soldiers throughout the army could wear garments made from this material, the armies of Great Qin could venture forth to explore even colder northern realms.

After searching for a long time, aside from various vegetable and fruit seeds, he found no other high-yield crops like potatoes or corn, prompting Yang Zimo to stop.

"Your Majesty, Zhang Hu and the others deserve immense credit for securing the sweet potatoes!"

Yang Zimo began petitioning for rewards on behalf of the men.

"Draft the imperial decree: Zhang Hu has rendered meritorious service in retrieving the divine sweet potato. He is hereby enfeoffed as the Baron of Changping County, bestowed with one hundred taels of gold, five horses, ten cattle, and one hundred sheep. All others shall be rewarded in accordance with their rank!"

"Your subject, Zhang Hu, thanks Your Majesty!"

He had actually been elevated to a baron! Zhang Hu and his companions were overwhelmed with emotion. None of them had imagined that this expedition to Anxi would yield such colossal rewards upon their return.

One must realize that although current noble ranks in Great Qin did not come with autonomous fiefs, the welfare and benefits attached to them were exceptionally generous, covering every conceivable aspect. They were far more attractive than the previous twenty-tier military merit system, serving as an even greater incentive for the common people of Great Qin.

The successful arrival of the sweet potatoes in Great Qin, alongside these unexpected agricultural treasures, signaled that the lands of Baiyue, the Western Regions, and beyond were soon to face the overwhelming tempest of Great Qin!