Only after the diplomatic mission entered the territory of the Shuobei Kingdom did the spies sent by the Ministry of War finally turn back and return home.
The Thunder Army stationed at the border maintained strict defenses, but even after the New Year passed, they found no trace of the stolen potatoes.
Gong Linjue waited in Ironclad City on the border of the Shuobei Kingdom for a month and a half before the people delivering the potatoes finally began to arrive in a slow, staggered trickle.
Hidden in the secret compartments of chests, mixed into sacks of grain... it took five merchant caravans to scrape together a single cartload of potatoes.
Gong Linjue picked up an egg-sized potato and examined it closely. This is the divine crop that can yield a thousand catties per acre?
A guard from the Li Residence, who had blended in with the caravan, took a piece of paper from his chest and handed it to Gong Linjue.
The method for planting the potatoes is written on here. We ask that Your Highness send an imperial physician to the Prince Qi Residence as soon as you return to Yandu.
After reading the planting instructions on the paper, Gong Linjue asked doubtfully, These potatoes are so small, how are we supposed to cut them into pieces? One isn't even enough for a single bite.
The guard replied, We brought small ones to make them easier to hide. Once they are grown, they won't be this small.
Gong Linjue folded the paper and tucked it into his robes. Once I return to Yandu, I will have the imperial physician set out immediately. He should arrive by the third or fourth month, at the start of spring.
Having received this guarantee, the guard's tense nerves finally relaxed. He turned and led the others back to report their success.
A month later, in Yandu, the capital of the Shuobei Kingdom.
Upon entering the city, Gong Linjue headed straight for the imperial palace to present the potatoes to the Emperor of Shuobei, He Mingyuan.
The young emperor, only twenty-three years old, wore an eerily bright red everyday dragon robe. Even the dragon's scales and eyes were crafted from red agate stones.
I didn't expect you to have such a harvest from your diplomatic mission this time. A yield of a thousand catties per acre—it truly is a monumental treasure.
His narrow eyes tilting up slightly, Gong Linjue said, This thing is not only high-yielding but also drought-resistant. It can be planted on the grasslands and in the mountains. If we use it to replace rice, it won't be long before our Shuobei Kingdom will no longer lack food.
He Mingyuan nodded and tossed the potato into a bamboo basket. It's just that there are a bit too few seeds. It will probably take some time if we want every household to plant them.
Gong Linjue deliberately lowered his voice. Dongzhao is only two years ahead of us. When they distribute them to their commoners to plant, this subject will take people to buy some more and bring them back.
He Mingyuan returned to his dragon throne and crossed his legs. His eyes were bottomless, surging with a dark, blood-red gleam.
I heard that at the Dongzhao Emperor's birthday banquet, you lost to a woman, and it was Dongzhao's County Princess Linghui?
During the time Gong Linjue stayed in Ironclad City and his return journey, rumors of the martial arts tournament at the birthday banquet had already reached Yandu. He Mingyuan had known about it for half a month.
Gong Linjue looked at the ground guiltily, and in the next second, he bent his knees and knelt down.
After consecutively defeating five of Dongzhao's generals, this subject faced Chu Liuyun. I had originally intended to cripple his hand, but Song Jinzhao ran out to stop me.
This woman possesses boundless strength and is extremely skilled in close-quarters combat. This subject also underestimated the enemy, which is why I lost to her.
He Mingyuan's tone was low and slow, yet it brought about a strong sense of suffocation.
So, the other military generals of Dongzhao are nothing to fear, and only this Song Jinzhao is someone you cannot defeat?
Gong Linjue gritted his teeth, recalling the scene of his duel with Song Jinzhao. Finally, he helplessly nodded and admitted, Although I underestimated her, this subject is indeed no match for her.
He Mingyuan smiled, but the smile didn't reach his eyes. I know how highly skilled your martial arts are. To be defeated at the hands of a woman, it seems she is truly formidable.
Being repeatedly reminded of his loss to Song Jinzhao, Gong Linjue's hands resting at his sides involuntarily clenched into fists.
Your Majesty need not take this matter too much to heart. No matter how formidable Song Jinzhao is, she is just a woman who doesn't know how to lead troops in battle. In the future, when we attack Dongzhao, it will definitely still be Chu Liuyun leading their army.
He Mingyuan spoke slowly and methodically, Just because she won't now doesn't mean she won't in the future.
Gong Linjue said, There is no precedent in the history books of a woman leading troops in battle. If they really let Song Jinzhao command the three armies, Dongzhao's military generals would be reduced to the laughingstock of the world. They will definitely oppose it.
He Mingyuan replied, The winner becomes king, and the loser is vilified; the strong are revered. When a true crisis arrives, even a ten-year-old child can be sent to the battlefield. What does a woman matter?
Gong Linjue furrowed his brows and blinked. Your Majesty means?
He Mingyuan said expressionlessly, Any threat must be eliminated. Song Jinzhao is in the capital and difficult to kill, so let us make her come to Yandu.
I hear she is not yet married, and my imperial harem happens to be lacking concubines. A marriage alliance to solidify diplomatic relations between our two countries is perfectly logical and reasonable.
... Gong Linjue's pupils shrank. After thinking it through, he felt that this method was extremely good.
As long as Song Jinzhao came to Yandu, her life and death would be in their hands.
There were tens of thousands of imperial guards in the palace. Song Jinzhao would be isolated and without help; killing her would be as easy as lifting a finger.
Given the Dongzhao Emperor's temperament, even if Song Jinzhao died, they wouldn't dare to start a war.
When the time came, they could just invent a random cause of death to gloss over the matter. This idea was simply brilliant.
