I Am A Corrupt Official, Yet They Say I Am A Loyal Minister!

Chapter 340: Food is the Weapon, and the Most Powerful Weapon!

Chapter 340: Food is the Weapon, and the Most Powerful Weapon!

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The Empress gazed upon this golden field of rice, her eyes filled with hope. With this batch of high-yield Taiping Rice, her Great Wus prosperity was bound to endure. The people of Great Wu would surely have enough to eat and drink, live in peace and happiness, and her realm would be tranquil and blissful.

The Empress turned her head, looking at Lin Beifan, the man behind all of this, Minister, youve worked hard over the past two years! For the sake of the nations prosperity and the well-being of the people, youve researched and developed this rice that will stabilize and strengthen the country!

Lin Beifan shook his head slightly, It cant be considered hard work, as I stand on the shoulders of giants! With giants leading the way, clearing the path, I was able to develop this miraculous rice! Compared to them, I fall far short.

The Empress smiled and shook her head, playfully reprimanding, Minister, youre too modest! Over the past two years, youve taken charge of the research on Taiping Rice. I dont know how much criticism and misunderstanding youve faced, but youve endured it all! In my eyes, you are that giant! With your shoulders, youve upheld the skies of Great Wu!

Inwardly, Lin Beifan wryly smiled, refraining from explaining further since they wouldnt understand even if he did.

To be honest, your research on the Taiping Rice that secures the nation is no less significant than expanding our borders and territories. Youve blessed millions of common people! Yet you hold the position of Prime Minister, and youre Great Wus loyal and brave duke, superior to ten thousand others. I dont know what kind of reward is suitable for you! Tell me what you want, and I will grant it to you! The Empress declared loudly.

For a moment, the envious and jealous gazes of the officials turned towards them. This promise was truly enticing!

Lin Beifan clasped his hands and said, Thank you, Your Majesty! However, as I already hold the office of Prime Minister, with a high status and authority, and my livelihood secure, it seems I dont need much more.

The Empress exclaimed, Meritorious deeds should not go unrewarded. You cant leave with nothing!

In that case, I only hope that the court could allocate an annual budget of ten million taels for me to continue researching Taiping Rice, developing even higher-yield crops, enabling more common people to have enough to eat!

The Empress trembled slightly, You only want money to continue researching Taiping Rice?

Yes, thats my aspiration! Lin Beifans eyes lit up, Your Majesty, think about it. Weve already developed Taiping Rice that increases both production and yield. This direction has proven to be feasible. Why not continue this research?

Currently, its the first generation, which increases production by forty to fifty percent! By the second generation, it might increase by fifty to sixty percent! What about the third and fourth generations? If we keep researching, we might even develop super rice that yields a thousand jin per mu!

A thousand jin per mu of super rice!!! Everyone gasped in astonishment.

Keep in mind that currently, the usual rice yield is about two hundred jin per mu. A yield of two hundred and fifty jin per mu is already considered a bountiful harvest. What Lin Beifan had developed, the Taiping Rice, increased the yield by forty to fifty percent on this foundation, an increase of nearly a hundred jin, which was already terrifying.

And now, he was actually claiming to develop super rice that could yield a thousand jin per mu!

This

Although it might be a bit exaggerated, it was incredibly thrilling to hear!

The Empress urgently asked, Minister, can this really be achieved?

Your Majesty, where theres a will, theres a way! Lin Beifan smiled, Weve already developed Taiping Rice that yields three hundred jin per mu. Is it really that far-fetched to achieve a thousand jin per mu? Even if we cant reach a thousand jin, achieving four hundred or five hundred jin per mu is still hopeful. That would already solve the food problem for many people!

Thats true! The Empress readily agreed, looking at Lin Beifan with deep emotion, Minister, youve achieved great merits once again. Yet, you decline rewards and still concern yourself with the peoples food. Our Great Wu needs talents like you as pillars! With you, Great Wu is fortunate, I am fortunate, and our nation is fortunate!

Lin Beifan was truly moved; the Empresss words were exceptionally touching.

He is doing this for Great Wu, for the common people! Absolutely not for greed! My personality is so great that even saints would kneel in front of me when they see me!

At this moment, the Empress turned to the Minister of Revenue and said, Minister Qian, starting from this year, set aside a budget of ten million taels annually for Lin Beifans rice research!

Supporting Prime Ministers continued research on Taiping Rice, Im in complete agreement! But allocating ten million taels each year isnt that a bit too much? Qian Yuanshen expressed some reluctance, I think three or four million taels should be enough. I feel like we dont need that much money. Its more than enough.

Shut up! Youre a layman giving advice to an expert! Lin Beifan shouted, You think three or four million taels will be enough to research Taiping Rice? Thats just wishful thinking! Try giving someone else three or four million taels and see if they can research Taiping Rice!

Qian Yuanshen was rendered speechless by the scolding. I I just

Lin Beifan rebuked with disdain, Let me tell you, if it werent for me investing money, even ten million taels wouldnt have been sufficient! And yet, you wanted to cut corners, hinder rice research, and prevent the people from eating well. Youre nothing but a heartless person! You lack humanity!

Qian Yuanshens face was full of grievances. I just said a few words.

I cant believe I got scolded like this. He even said I lack humanity!

Fine, I wont offer my opinions anymore; its not my money anyway!

I didnt expect you to invest so much. Youve really worked hard! The Empress expressed her pity, Minister Qian, dont argue anymore. It will be ten million taels! Even loyal ministers shouldnt suffer, nor should capable officials be exhausted!

Thank you, Your Majesty, for your understanding! Lin Beifan was extremely grateful, on the verge of tears.

In the future, hell have an embezzlement fund of ten million taels annually. Hell be living the good life!

However, the officials seemed particularly discontented!

Hes a loyal minister? Hes a good official?

Humph!

Among the civil and military officials, anyone you pull out at random is more reliable than him!

But Your Majesty, although Taiping Rice is highly adaptable and has a high yield, its not without flaws! Lin Beifan continued.

The Empress furrowed her brows, Minister, what flaws does it have?

Lin Beifan reported, The first flaw is that its taste might not be very good. It lacks the aromatic flavor of the original rice.

The Empresss brows relaxed, and she smiled, Thats not a major flaw. As long as it can feed people, thats enough. When it comes to filling ones stomach, things like taste are not that important.

Youre absolutely right, Your Majesty! The second flaw is Taiping Rice cannot be used for seed saving!

Everyone was shocked, Cannot be used for seed saving? This

Lin Beifan explained calmly, Because the principle behind Taiping Rice is to leverage the hybrid advantages of the parents. The offspring produced after hybridization inherit the favorable characteristics of both sides, resulting in high yield and strong adaptability. However, its genes are heterozygous, which leads to gene separation in the next generation, resulting in inconsistent phenotypes.

The officials looked perplexed, What does that mean?

In simple terms, the first generation of Taiping Rice can increase yield by forty to fifty percent. By the second generation, the yield will drop significantly, only increasing by about twenty percent. By the third generation, its essentially the same as ordinary rice. Therefore, Taiping Rice requires human intervention each year. We must cultivate it ourselves to ensure high yields.

The peoples faces turned worried, Ah? Is that so?

Isnt there a permanent solution? The Empress persistently asked.

Theres a solution! Only through multiple generations of cultivation and selection can we eventually develop stable rice traits. However, this requires a significant amount of time, ranging from five to six years at the shortest, and as long as thirty to forty years! Thats why Ive applied for special funds to conduct research in this area! Lin Beifan once again sought funds for himself, weaving a plausible excuse.

The Empress exclaimed, We must continue the research! Even if it only increases the yield by a few pounds, its a tremendous progress!

Youre absolutely right, Your Majesty! Lin Beifan smiled, In fact, the inability to save seeds for Taiping Rice is currently a good thing!

The Empress was puzzled, Minister, why do you say that?

Your Majesty, in fact, food is also a weapon, and the most powerful one at that! Lin Beifans tone was profound, Taiping Rice yields high and everyone wants to have it! However, to obtain Taiping Rice, they can only get it from our court. In this way, can they not support the rule of our court? Can they not follow the orders of our court? In the future, it wont be so easy for Great Wu to split apart!

The Empresss eyes lit up, and the officials eyes lit up!

Just as Lin Beifan said, food is indeed the most formidable weapon! With it, the people of the entire nation will undoubtedly support the court!

Whoever disobeys, wont have food!

Excited, the Empress exclaimed, Very well! Taiping Rice is truly a remarkable thing. I like it very much! With it, we can not only ensure the stability of the nation but also maintain the rule of the court. The whole world will come together! Haha!

Your Majestys words are absolutely true! The officials echoed in unison.

Minister Lin, since youve researched and developed Taiping Rice, you shall be responsible for its nationwide promotion, allowing people throughout the country to have access to food! Additionally, the method for population growth and recuperation shall also be under your supervision! Strive to rejuvenate Great Wu within three years!

Your will shall be followed, Your Majesty! Lin Beifan declared.

After receiving the Empresss command, Lin Beifan immediately set to work. He convened the civil and military officials and, according to each departments responsibilities, began implementing the method for population growth and recuperation.

The policies were great, but the key was to put them into action.

No matter how good the policies were, they wouldnt matter if those on the ground didnt follow them properly.

Therefore, Lin Beifan made a direct statement.

He would make irregular inspections across various regions, and if he found any instances of inadequate implementation, he would immediately hold local officials accountable.

Not only would he hold them accountable, but he would also confiscate their property.

For more severe cases, he would even execute them. Hed decide what to do based on the situation.

The officials remained silent, responding in agreement.

They were now somewhat more afraid of Lin Beifan than the Empress.

They werent afraid of the Empress; rather, they were afraid of Lin Beifan.

The Empress might speak about reason, considering the imperial dignity and upholding court laws, but Lin Beifan didnt care about principles or sentimentality.

He genuinely confiscated property, and he did it thoroughly!

No matter where your gold, silver, and jewels were hidden, he could find them.

For those with unclear origins, hed confiscate them outright.

Corrupt officials werent afraid of honest officials; they were most afraid of officials who were even more corrupt than them!

Officials who were more corrupt, held more power, and didnt care about personal relationships or sentiment were the most terrifying!

Therefore, the implementation of the method for population growth and recuperation went smoothly.

Similarly, there were no hindrances in promoting Taiping Rice.

Southern Jiang, Wuxi, and Northern Hebei were all suffering from a lack of food. The court now provided rice seeds for free. Who wouldnt want them?

Both civil and military officials witnessed the high yield of this rice and even wanted to ask Lin Beifan for some seeds themselves.