Peacock King looked at Su Wencheng with confusion after seeing the three new crop seedlings and seeds.
Su Wencheng picked up sweet potato and potato and explained, "Your Majesty, these sweet potatoes and potatoes, with a yield of over a thousand jin per mu, and corn exceeding five hundred jin, are already widely discussed in the Great Gan country. Liang Xiao and the official fields strictly control them, and the Peacock Dynasty can also promote them!"
"Where did you get them from?" the Peacock King asked in surprise.
On the same day, Qin Feng personally inspected the farmland and suddenly found a region that had clearly been harvested. He immediately asked the settlers, "Why is there no transplanting phenomenon in this area?"
"Reporting to Marquis! Lord Qin Xun said that you ordered him to cut a patch of seedlings, collect a few carts of seeds, and plant them in other settlements!"
The settlers' response caused Qin Feng's expression to change, and he immediately summoned Qin Xun.
"Where did you plant the seedlings you cut and the seeds you took?"
Qin Xun was stunned and chuckled, "I planted them for my hometown elders and folks, and let them have a taste of novelty. Didn't you say, Marquis, that they could be promoted nationwide after the autumn harvest this year?"
Qin Feng frowned, "Where did you have those elders and folks plant them? Take me to see."
Qin Xun stammered, unable to provide a clear answer.
Qin Feng recalled Qin Xun's suggestion at the time and couldn't hide his disappointment, "Zhuo Lingjun once told me that once this item begins to be promoted, with so many farmlands, it would be impossible to prevent enemy countries and powerful families from stealing it, and we could only seize the initiative. I guarded against the outside but forgot the inside. Go and pack your things, and you are no longer allowed to enter the Marquis of Zhenguo's mansion."
Qin Xun still wanted to argue, but Qin Feng was resolute and told him to pack his bags and leave.
After Qin Xun left, Qin Feng said to the guards beside him, "Send dark guards to strictly monitor his every move."
The guard asked in confusion, "Marquis, hasn't he been with you for several years, loyal and steadfast..."
Qin Feng shook his head, "Don't act on impulse. His actions have been increasingly strange recently, and he must be monitored."
On the other side, the Yan family members were also observing the newly planted crops in the farmland, filled with doubt. "Can these treasures brought by Qin Xun really yield thousands of jin per mu?"
When Mu Cheng learned of this, he was also quite enraged and ordered Qin Xun to be arrested and not released.
In the imperial study, Mu Cheng slammed the letter from Great Gan onto the table, furious.
"What a scoundrel! What 'Phoenix's demeanor'! A prince of a country making his own decisions to marry in Great Gan, what does that make the Son of Heaven of Great Gan?"
Qin Feng and several ministers read it carefully, and their brows furrowed.
Mu Xuan's intentions were obvious.
The newly appointed Right Prime Minister could not help but ask, "Your Majesty, I still dare to ask, is it truly worth treating the Marquis of Anguo of Great Gan so generously?"
"It is worth it both publicly and privately!" Mu Cheng replied without hesitation. "For Great Liang, treating Liang Xiao generously makes the people of both countries aware of the good relations between them. As long as our country maintains its current state and does not antagonize Great Gan, Great Gan will have no pretext, and we need not worry about Great Liang being annexed. For me, my health is deteriorating, and I am at the end of my rope."
After speaking, Mu Cheng coughed violently.
Although everyone was filled with doubt, they did not ask further and fully supported him.
Including Qin Feng, a total of four ministers were Mu Cheng's confidantes and had no background in powerful families.
A month and a half had passed since the seven princes of Great Liang moved into the capital of Great Gan.
During this period, Mu Xuan had suffered from diarrhea three more times. Since his own imperial physicians could not find the root cause, they attributed it to his own acclimatization.
As early summer arrived, Liang Xiao and Zhuo Zifang had begun to arrange for an envoy to Great Liang.
Luo Qingxue, Jian Qinwan, and Zhuo Xun were all confirmed to accompany them.
Zhuo Xun, of course, was there for her second sister, Zhuo Yun.
The Ministry of Personnel's duties were temporarily managed jointly by Wang Canghai, Huang Xing, and Gu Hong.
Yue Qingtian and a hundred members of the Desolate Tribe, as personal guards of the Qingtian Guard, along with the Heavenly Mountain chivalrous warriors, protected Liang Xiao's family.
In addition, there were six advisors to Liang Xiao, all holding the rank of sixth-grade Great Gan generals.
When Liang Xiao promoted these advisors exceptionally, he also had them undergo assessments at the Ministry of Personnel and the Ministry of War, gaining the trust of officials from both ministries.
He had calculated the time, and it would take about a month and a half to reach Jinling. During this time, he would wait for the Great Liang Emperor to receive the news and send an envoy to welcome him, which would be around autumn, so it would not be excessively hot.
In the West Palace Villa, Liang Xiao said goodbye to Xiao Qing, Kristy, and Yue Lian.
"Come back early..." Xiao Qing murmured.
He would miss his child's birthday, but he had to return before Great Liang entered summer to avoid any accidents with the envoy.
Seeing his wives looking reluctant, Liang Xiao kissed each of their foreheads and then kissed their children.
"Miss Daddy~" The children could already speak simple words, their voices milky.
Looking at the unusually well-behaved children, Liang Xiao smiled with relief.
Jiannan Feng also brought Chen Shaoling, Yu Qingchuan, and others from Heavenly Mountain to bid farewell to Liang Xiao.
Liang Qing and Luo Changfeng were worried in their hearts, but since the Great Liang Emperor had made such a promise and Liang Xiao was fully prepared, they could only support him.
Luo Qingxue and Jian Qinwan bid farewell to their relatives with tears in their eyes, giving their children numerous instructions before getting into the carriage with Liang Xiao.
On this day, thousands of people poured into the streets, and the common folk spontaneously gathered on the official road to see Liang Xiao off.
The seven princes, under the surveillance of the shadow guards, also came to see them off, with smiles on their faces but hatred in their hearts, praying that Liang Xiao would return to Great Gan soon so that they could return to Great Liang.
The convoy of thousands, everyone on horseback or in carriages, carrying a large amount of dry rations, set off for Jiangnan at the fastest speed.
In the carriage, Liang Xiao had women on both sides, and Zhuo Xun sat on his lap.
Liang Xiao teased, "Little monster, look at them. They used to call each other concubines and disciples, but now they are the closest sisters."
Luo Qingxue and Jian Qinwan pouted simultaneously, "Only when sisters unite can we avoid being bullied by you, you scoundrel, and have no power to fight back~"
Liang Xiao was speechless.
Except for a bit more motherly radiance, they were the same as the young girls of yesteryear, and they liked to tease him together in private.
In the Jiangnan region, three thousand shadow guards and ten thousand Great Gan town guards were already prepared.
Mu Cheng had sent people to meet them, and after confirming the personnel, he allowed these troops to accompany them to protect Liang Xiao.
The emperors of both countries had exchanged letters, promising peace, with similar agreements that were watertight, and the people of the world were watching.
Troops from all over the country were often sent to the capital and Yanzhou.
And the troops who arrived at the capital, after inspection, would be sent to nearby Zhongzhou army camps for training and could be dispatched to aid the entire country at any time.
Passing through Zhongzhou, one hundred thousand troops awaited.
During Liang Xiao's stay in the capital, he had inspected it several times, and he was satisfied. The soldiers were equally satisfied and filled with gratitude towards Liang Xiao and Xiao Qing.
It was they who gave the soldiers of Great Gan dignity and consolidated the soul of Great Gan's army: fearless of hardship and unblemished by the people.
Liang Xiao personally ascended the stage to review the troops. Looking at the hundred thousand mighty soldiers below, he said earnestly, "The safety of the country is entrusted to all you soldiers!"
Everyone below responded with excitement, "We will not disgrace our mission!"
Liang Xiao then reviewed the military authority of the generals in the barracks, confirming that Zhuo Wuliang and Mu Hong, who led the Ministry of War, had absolute supervisory power, and Xiao Qing had absolute command power, before he felt reassured to go to Jiangnan.