Chapter 117: The Fifth Princess Consort

Chapter 117: The Fifth Princess Consort

The disaster relief efforts in Shandong have made Emperor Kangxi and the entire court acutely aware of the importance of land reclamation and improving land utilization rates, especially in northern regions.

The southern regions have always been renowned as the granaries of the empire, with relatively fertile soil, abundant water sources, and favorable climate conditions for farming. However, despite having more arable land, the southern regions also have a high population density, making per capita grain production barely enough to sustain the populace. Even minor disasters can be overwhelming, let alone a major one like the one in Shandong.

Emperor Kangxi scrutinized the latest statistics on population growth and farmland submitted by the Ministry of Finance, his brows furrowed deeply. The conflict between population growth and available land had become increasingly severe, and if left unchecked, it would pose a significant threat to the empire.

He put down the memorial and looked at the ministers below him, asking, "What are your thoughts on this?"

The ministers exchanged glances, clearly at a loss for solutions.

Emperor Kangxi turned to Zhang Tingyu and directly addressed him, "Zhang Tingyu, you've spent several years at the Agricultural Administration Department. What do you think?"

Zhang Tingyu responded respectfully, "Your Majesty, I am ashamed that my knowledge is limited. I only have some humble suggestions, but I'm not sure if they are feasible."

Emperor Kangxi waved his hand, saying, "No matter, share your thoughts."

Zhang Tingyu organized his words and began, "Since the southern lands are already well-developed, we must focus on improving land utilization rates. However, the southern regions differ from the north due to their warm climate and longer growing seasons, which have led to the development of mature multiple cropping systems. This is something the Ministry of Finance and the Agricultural Administration Department are well aware of."

Many ministers nodded in agreement, recognizing that those who had served in the south were familiar with these issues.

In the south, double-cropping rice was common even in previous dynasties, and in some areas like Guangdong and Fujian, triple-cropping systems involving wheat, rice, and rapeseed were established, significantly increasing the cropping index.

This is why the southern regions have always been prosperous.

A minister beside him asked, puzzled, "If the southern lands are already highly utilized, where is there room for improvement? How can we further enhance land utilization?"

Others nodded in agreement, drawing Emperor Kangxi's attention.

Zhang Tingyu calmly explained, "We are referring to traditional agricultural areas in the south. However, there are still many mountainous, semi-mountainous, or hilly regions with poor soil that can be utilized. The Fifth Princess Consort once mentioned the concept of 'southernizing coarse grains' in class."

"Crops like corn and sweet potatoes require less demanding soil and yield high, which could temporarily alleviate food shortages."

Everyone pondered this, especially those who had experienced the disaster in Shandong. They realized that planting these crops in the less fertile southern regions could be a viable solution.

Seeing the ministers understood, Zhang Tingyu continued, "Regarding the northern lands, the yields from military farms in Heilongjiang are not impressive. We should focus on improving these areas."

Emperor Kangxi glanced at Zhang Tingyu, intrigued.

Heilongjiang's cold black soil is naturally fertile, but the region primarily relies on official farms cultivated by Eight Banner soldiers. Due to early frosts and inadequate farming techniques, the yields are insufficient, requiring grain supplies from Shengjing and Jilin.

However, if the vast lands could be fully utilized, self-sufficiency would be achievable, reducing the need for external grain supplies.

The main issue is the harsh climate and lack of effective solutions to frost damage, hindering crop yields.

Emperor Kangxi pondered for a moment and asked, "Do you have any suggestions?"

Zhang Tingyu shook his head, "Your Majesty, I apologize, but there are no precedents for this. My knowledge of farming is limited, and I lack the expertise to tackle such complex issues."

The person best suited for this task was clear to everyone—the Fifth Princess Consort!

Only she could pioneer such agricultural advancements.

Emperor Kangxi thought about Yinqi's memorial from yesterday, feeling uncertain.

After the council meeting, Emperor Kangxi retained Li Guangdi, Zhang Ying, and Ma Qi to discuss matters.

He directly presented a memorial from Mongolia, allowing them to read it.

The memorial was from An Qing's second brother, Sebten Dorji, who had been teaching agriculture across Mongolia. He requested permission to address the ecological degradation caused by improper land reclamation, particularly salinization.

With the growing population, improving degraded lands has become crucial. Salinization affects not only southern Mongolia but also northern and western Mongolia, as well as parts of Henan, the Yellow River basin, and northeastern regions.

If a solution could be found, it would greatly benefit the Great Qing.

However, Sebten Dorji noted that they needed assistance from agricultural experts.

Emperor Kangxi then handed over another memorial from Yinqi, proposing the establishment of an agricultural experimental field in Fengtianfu, accompanied by a detailed plan.

The plan was clear and comprehensive.

"Having read both memorials, what are your thoughts?" Emperor Kangxi asked.

Li Guangdi, Zhang Ying, and Ma Qi exchanged glances, hesitant to speak first.

They recognized that the Fifth Prince was planning to leave the capital, but were unsure of Emperor Kangxi's stance.

Emperor Kangxi waited patiently, watching them.

Li Guangdi stepped forward after a moment, bowing respectfully, "Your Majesty, I believe this proposal is feasible. The Fifth Prince and Fifth Princess Consort care deeply for the people, which is a blessing for the Great Qing and its citizens."

Emperor Kangxi was surprised; he expected Zhang Ying or Ma Qi to speak first, not the usually cautious Li Guangdi.

Moreover, Li Guangdi had only recently returned to the capital and had little interaction with the Fifth Prince. Why was he supporting him now?

Li Guangdi explained, "I dare not deceive Your Majesty. In my years managing the Yellow River, I have seen countless people suffer from natural disasters, struggling to survive..."

His words made everyone understand the implications.

Regardless of the specific tasks—salinity management, military farms, or the experimental field—if they succeed, it would be a tremendous boon for the Great Qing and its people.

This recent famine in Shandong is a perfect example.

Upon seeing this, Zhang Ying and Ma Qi also expressed their opinions candidly.

Initially, they were hesitant to openly support An Qing's agricultural school because their sons were students there, fearing it might create a conflict of interest. However, with Li Guangdi setting the tone, they felt more at ease to voice their support from different perspectives.

After everyone left, Kangxi sat on his dragon throne in deep thought for a long time before instructing someone to summon Beile Yinqi.

By the time Yinqi returned from the palace, it was already dark.

An Qing had just arranged dinner when he came in. She couldn't help but ask, "Why so late today? Was there an emergency at the office?"

Yinqi looked at her silently without speaking.

An Qing's expression tightened. "Did something happen?"

Seeing her misunderstanding, Yinqi quickly replied, "No, don't worry. Father Emperor summoned me earlier, and he agreed to let us build an agricultural experimental field in Fengtian."

Hearing this, An Qing was stunned. She exclaimed, "It's... settled?"

Wasn't she prepared for a serious confrontation with Kangxi? How could he have agreed so easily?

Besides, he hadn't even visited their farm yet!

"Why?" An Qing still looked incredulous.

Yinqi pondered for a moment and said, "I'm not entirely sure, but I know that Father Emperor summoned Li Guangdi, Zhang Ying, and Ma Qi before calling me."

Although he wasn't certain what they discussed, Yinqi guessed that their intervention likely influenced Father Emperor's decision, as he had previously been hesitant about the proposal.

An Qing was taken aback. Li Guangdi, Zhang Ying, and Ma Qi held high positions in the government and were known for staying out of factional disputes. They were among the officials Kangxi trusted most.

But why would they help her and Yinqi? As a prince, wouldn't Yinqi's involvement make them wary of appearing to side with him?

Yinqi glanced at An Qing and had a vague idea of the reason.

Over the years, due to An Qing's achievements in agriculture, many officials had developed a favorable impression of her. This was especially evident during the recent famine in Shandong.

Moreover, people had come to realize that her efforts were driven by genuine concern for the people rather than personal gain. Her selflessness earned her respect not only from officials but also among the princes.

Even his usually reserved fourth brother had mentioned several times that An Qing was a rare woman of great talent and virtue.

Yinqi believed that Li Guangdi and the others supported them for these reasons.

Indeed, Yinqi was partly right. Both Li Guangdi and the others stepped forward not for any ulterior motives but because they shared a common goal of alleviating the suffering of the people.

From a certain perspective, Kangxi shared this sentiment as well. As an emperor, his suspicions made him hesitant to send the fifth Beile away, but he also recognized the benefits for the people and the empire.

Thus, he consulted Li Guangdi and others before making his decision.

Regardless, An Qing was relieved and happy that Kangxi allowed them to leave the Imperial City. She was glad she didn't need to engage in a political battle with him, as she was far more comfortable with scientific research than political maneuvering.

Hehe~ In a way, she considered this a victory without a fight, An Qing thought cheekily.

With Kangxi's approval, preparations began for their departure.

Yinqi focused on handing over his official duties and arranging matters for his subordinates. For An Qing, the primary concern was the agricultural school.

In recent years, she had consciously trained several Agricultural Administration Department officials to take over teaching responsibilities. Since last year, she had gradually stepped back, and those officials were now fully capable of handling the classes independently. This aspect was relatively easy to manage.

Next was the household affairs. With her and Yinqi leaving, someone needed to oversee the Fifth Beile's residence. Yinqi would leave some of his trusted men behind, while An Qing intended to entrust the household management to Guaerjia.

After all, she and Guaerjia were the only legitimate mistresses in the household. Over the past two years, An Qing noticed that Guaerjia had the capability to handle household affairs. When An Qing was too busy with the agricultural school, Guaerjia had managed some household tasks competently and efficiently.

However, An Qing still wanted to seek Guaerjia's opinion.

She called Guaerjia over and explained their upcoming departure and her intention to leave the household management to her.

"If you prefer to join us, that's fine too. There's no pressure; it's entirely up to you."

Since they did not plan to return for a while, it was reasonable for Guaerjia, as Yinqi's Princess, to accompany them.

Guaerjia, however, showed no hesitation. She shook her head and replied, "Mistress, I will stay and look after our residence for you and Master."

Seeing no reluctance in her, An Qing nodded gently. "Very well. If you change your mind before we leave, feel free to let me know."

Guaerjia did not argue and nodded in agreement, though she knew she would not change her mind.

This was a chance to repay her mistress, and she intended to do her best.

Moreover, she had long understood Beile's intentions and accepted her role. She had planned to remain invisible in the household, but now that her mistress and Beile were leaving, someone needed to watch over the residence. She would take on that responsibility.

After settling this matter, An Qing brought up another topic. "I want to bring Buyantai with us, but considering his age, if your family has other plans, he can continue working at the agricultural school. Discuss this with Buyantai and your mother."

Over the years, Buyantai had been learning from An Qing and showed great talent in agriculture. He was diligent and had thoroughly studied agricultural texts under her guidance.

An Qing intended to take him along to groom him as a formal disciple.

Of course, this depended on his and his family's wishes, as he was the only male heir in Guaerjia's family and nearing marriageable age. It would be understandable if they wanted him to stay in the Imperial City.

Hearing that An Qing wanted to take her brother, Guaerjia's eyes flashed with joy. She knew this was a significant opportunity and appreciated her mistress's consideration.

But in her heart, Guerjia had secretly made a decision. This time, she was determined to persuade her mother and brother.

That afternoon, she obtained a waist token from An Qing to leave the residence and returned to her maternal home.

To her surprise, as soon as she entered the courtyard, she saw Buyantai kneeling before her mother, pleading for something, with her grandfather and uncle present.

"What's going on?" she asked, somewhat bewildered.

Everyone turned their heads at her words. "Elder Sister/Moon, why did you suddenly come back?"

Seeing this scene, Guerjia didn't mention her purpose right away. "Nothing much. I just came to help the Empress Dowager with something and happened to pass by, so I thought I'd drop in."

After saying that, she looked at Buyantai, who was kneeling, with a questioning gaze.

Before Buyantai could say anything, Guerjia's mother, Suochuoluo, spoke first. "He wants to leave the capital with the Fifth Empress Dowager and is asking for my permission. He even brought your grandfather and uncle here to persuade me."

She then glared at Buyantai, clearly disapproving of his actions. "You're doing well at the agricultural school and are already a minor official. Why do you need to cause more trouble?"

But Buyantai shook his head. "Mother, you know how I got this position, don't you? It was because the Fifth Empress Dowager wanted me to study at the agricultural school but also considered our family's situation, so she arranged for me to have a paid position."

Suochuoluo knew this, but in her view, the agricultural school was a government institution under the Agricultural Administration Department. Being a minor official there was already a good position. Why stir up more trouble?

Buyantai continued, "Mother, the Fifth Empress Dowager is going to manage poor-quality land and establish an agricultural experimental field. These are significant matters that benefit the country and its people. I want to go with her and see if I can contribute."

When An Qing arranged matters at the agricultural school, she had mentioned her upcoming plans. At that time, Buyantai wanted to speak up, but he knew his mother wouldn't agree, so he decided to seek the help of his grandfather and uncle.

Once he convinced his mother, he planned to ask the Empress Dowager for permission. He didn't ask for much; even helping out would be enough.

After all, learning from the Empress Dowager would be far more valuable than studying at the agricultural school.

Guerjia's grandfather and uncle supported Buyantai's decision and joined in the persuasion, especially her uncle, who worked outside and had a broader perspective.

"Little Sister, let Buyantai go. The Fifth Empress Dowager is remarkable. You must have heard about the recent famine in Shandong. Without her, countless lives would have been lost."

Hearing his uncle mention this, Buyantai nodded vigorously in agreement.

Indeed, the news had spread throughout the agricultural school, and he knew more about it than his uncle did. The impact was significant.

As the Fifth Empress Dowager had said in class, as agriculturalists, they carry a natural mission: to ensure more people have food and save lives during disasters.

At first, he didn't fully understand these ideas, thinking they were too grand. They were just farmers, not government officials. But after this incident, Buyantai felt a sense of purpose. He wanted to do something for the people, no matter how small.

After hearing Buyantai's words, everyone in the courtyard fell silent.

Guerjia's grandfather patted his grandson's shoulder proudly and then looked at his daughter. "Let the child go."

Suochuoluo was moved but hesitated. "But what about Buyantai's marriage? I was planning to arrange a match for him soon."

This trip out of the capital might take a long time, and he was already of age. His marriage shouldn't be delayed.

Buyantai quickly responded, "Mother, I'm still young. There's no rush for marriage."

Then, as if remembering something, he added softly, "Besides, a man should establish himself before getting married. Otherwise, how can he provide a good life for his wife?"

Suochuoluo sighed silently, knowing her son was thinking of his incompetent father. "Fine, you're grown now. Do as you wish."

Seeing his mother relent, Buyantai jumped up happily.

Suochuoluo scolded him, "Don't get too excited. The Fifth Empress Dowager might not even want you. If she rejects you, you'll come back and let me arrange a match!"

Guerjia stood up quietly and said, "Mother, this is also why I came today. The Empress Dowager wants me to ask if you're willing to let Buyantai accompany her out of the capital."

Suochuoluo was speechless.