Fu glanced at the experimental field and said, "Since it has no value, why does His Majesty still wish to cultivate this thing?"
The yield was not high, the environmental requirements were more stringent than the previous two varieties. If it were him, he would have given up directly, but although the Little Emperor looked somewhat disappointed now, he did not seem to intend to give up on this thing.
Zhu Ci explained patiently, "Because the nutrition in this thing—that is, the nutrients humans need—is sufficient."
“To be healthy, people certainly need more than just being full and warm; they also need to absorb various nutrients just like plants do. The nutrients in grain are too singular; many things still need to be obtained from meat and vegetables. However, for many ordinary people, their vegetable intake is quite limited, meat is even harder to obtain. Since potatoes contain most of the nutrients the human body requires, they are still very valuable.”
Anyway, before Zhu Ci traveled through time, the popular science he had heard was that the nutrition in potatoes is very comprehensive; its content might not be that high, but it contains at least everything.
To increase the production of pork and chicken, feed is indispensable.
In later generations, most animal feed comes from soybeans and corn. Setting aside the fact that corn is still in such a pathetic state, even soybeans are not enough to feed everyone; how could they possibly be used on a large scale for feed?
Of course, the cultivation of soybeans must also be put on the agenda, but the knowledge required for this aspect is truly beyond the current scope.
Zhu Ci also didn't know how to cultivate them; at this moment, he could only resent himself for not having learned enough back then.
Fu followed alongside without saying much; he also hadn't expected the Little Emperor to have already taken a step from caring about the people's food and warmth to caring about their health.
This.. it's not that it's impossible, it's just that I wonder if it's a bit too early to start worrying about it now?
However, he thought about the current state of potatoes again and compared it to what the Little Emperor had said, feeling that it might not be too late to start now.
After the two of them came out of the heated greenhouse, Zhu Ci said, "Since you're already here, I might as well let you taste some sweet potato and potato."
He paused for a moment before saying, "Wheat-maize.. it really isn't very edible."
The current corn is more similar to things like green beans; if you only eat the fruit, ten stalks might not yield even a few grains, the yield from the current experimental field might not even be enough for two people to eat.
Fu responded, thus he also had the chance to try something new along with the Emperor.
In summary.. well, it might be good as a reserve food source, but as long as there is other grain to eat, he certainly wouldn't choose these two things.
Never mind the potatoes; they can't even serve as grain reserves right now. As for their nutritional value, let's set that aside for now; it's not something that needs to be considered at this moment.
However, the texture of the potato was decent, at least much better than the sweet potato. That sweet potato was truly coarse and choking; even Fu could not bring himself to say anything untruthful to coax the Little Emperor.
On the other hand, Zhu Ci couldn't stop laughing as he watched him frown while eating the sweet potato.
Fu watched his complete lack of table manners and finally let out a sigh.
Forget it, let Zhu Ci do whatever he wants; after all, there is no one else here.
He felt that his standards were truly being lowered step by step. Who would have thought that back then, even if the Little Emperor's posture was incorrect while walking, he would still give him a reminder?
Thinking back on it now, perhaps he was holding Zhu Ci to the standard of how an emperor should behave in his imagination.
As it turned out, the Son of Heaven did not necessarily have to be dignified at all times, whether or not his mannerisms were refined did not affect his ability to be a good emperor.
After laughing his fill, Zhu Ci said, "This variety is indeed not good; in the future, there will be varieties that are both sweet and soft."
Sigh, thinking of the sweet potato made him crave it, but unfortunately, craving it was of no use.
While Zhu Ci was still laughing, Fu received a message, his expression instantly turned solemn.
Seeing his expression turn solemn, Zhu Ci couldn't help but gradually suppress the smile on his face and asked, "What happened?"
Fu said in a heavy voice, "The Weilaite Batur Khunbul Khos and Duoheqin are dead, their eldest son, Chorsos Chechen, is engaged in a battle for the throne against Chorsos Zhottebaatur and Chorsos Sengge."
"Ah? Dead?" Zhu Ci immediately sat up straight.
-----------------------
Author's Note: Zhu Ci: Not tasty, right? It's right that it's not tasty; if it were truly delicious, people would have planted it long ago. [Cat pushing away a potato with disdain. jpg]
Next update at 12:00 PM
Chapter 225
Among all of Zhu Ci's predictions, Heduoheqin should be fine this time; after all, this man had to live long enough to lay a more solid foundation for Dzungar.
And now he is being told that the Batur Khunbul Khos of the Weilaite has died?
Zhu Ci asked, "How did he die?"
This death came at such an inopportune time.
Fu said, "It is said that the injuries were too severe to recover from, but I believe it was very likely the work of either Chorsos Chechen or Chorsos Zhottebaatur."
Zhu Ci asked, "Why do you say that?"
Because the Qing Court had previously sent people to contact Chorsos Chechen.
Zhu Ci immediately understood; if Great Ming could win over the Weilaite, then the Qing Court could certainly do the same.
As the heir, Chorsos Sengge was even more filial to his father, he already harbored a deep-seated hatred for the Qing Court for assassinating his father; now that his father was dead, he, who had long sought vengeance, might be even more relentless in his quest for retribution.
But Chorsos Chechen and Chorsos Zhottebaatur had long been dissatisfied with their father's arrangements.
All of them, who were capable of inheriting the position of Taiji, were concubine-born sons. Among them, Chorsos Chechen was the eldest son, yet his father had actually bypassed him to hand the Weilaite to the fifth son, Chorsos Sengge.
If he cannot become the Taiji, what he loses will be far more than just a little; it means all the family assets will no longer have anything to do with him.
The Qing Court might have seen value in this and sent someone to make contact with Chorsos Chechen.
For Chorsos Chechen to be able to stand on equal footing with Chorsos Sengge, he must have his own power base. However, if it was indeed Chorsos Chechen who took action, it would mean that the Qing Court's support for him was immense, at least to a degree that Chorsos Sengge could not withstand.
In fact, the Great Ming's support for the Weilaite was not much; it was mostly a mutually beneficial relationship between the two sides.
Zhu Ci said with some regret, "If I had known, I would have arranged for someone to get in contact with Chorsos Sengge."
Because he felt that Chorsos and Duoheqin could live for a while longer, since he also viewed the Weilaite as a major future threat, his attitude toward them was neither close nor willing to let them gain any advantage.
As a result, trouble has broken out now.
Hindsight is a treasure worth more than a thousand pieces of gold.
Fu hesitated for a moment before saying, "My previous merchant caravans had some contact with Sengge."
This time it wasn't intentional, but simply for the sake of doing business.
Sengge was, after all, the future Taiji of the Weilaite, so it was essential to establish a good relationship with him.
Zhu Ci's mind shifted. "Is it still in time to support him?"
Zhu Ci did not know what would happen in the Weilaite, but he knew that the one who would eventually inherit the position of Taiji was Galdan, who would also be granted the title of Borsaktu Khan, making him a heroic figure of his generation.
Based on this, whether it was Sengge or Chechen who failed to become the Taiji, it was possible they both perished together, or perhaps Chechen emerged victorious only to be killed by Galdan in the end.
After all, if Sengge had successfully ascended the throne, Galdan would have had no reason to kill him.
Fu said, "There is more support for Sengge within the Weilaite, currently, Sengge is not at a disadvantage."
“Find a way to ensure Chorsos Sengge emerges victorious. If he needs it, we can provide certain weapons, at the same time, send someone to Tibet to monitor an individual.”
“Who?”
Chorsos Galdan.
Fu asked, "Only surveillance?"
Zhu Ci pondered for a long while before saying, "If it is necessary, it would be better to kill him directly, but this person is highly valued by the fifth emperor of the Ming Dynasty and might not be easy to kill; a forced assassination would likely expose us."
"Why did Your Majesty not mention this person before?" Fu could not help but ask.
Although he knew he shouldn't ask, that as a subject, he only needed to carry out the Emperor's orders—provided they weren't irrational commands—his relationship with Zhu Ci was simply too casual, gradually, he began to act more and more recklessly.
Zhu Ci indeed did not mind, only saying, "Galdan, staying in Tibet, poses no great threat, at least for now, but once he returns to the Weilaite, the threat will be immense."
Fu immediately understood: "Then it becomes much simpler. As long as Galdan does not leave Tibet, he won't be touched for the time being; once he leaves, we will find a way to assassinate him."
Zhu Ci nodded upon hearing this and said, "That works too."
In truth, if it had been the him of the past, he would have certainly killed the person without a second thought to eliminate any future troubles.
However, nowadays he has no choice but to consider several things. Given the current situation in Weilaite, if necessary, he would truly rather let Galdan succeed to the throne than let Chorsos Chechen.
Once Chorsos Chechen ascends the throne, the Qing Court will effectively gain another arm, the previous pressure on the Eastern Mongols will vanish.
Galdan was indeed terrifying, but that was a matter for the future.
Wait, Zhu Ci suddenly realized something: has Galdan.. been born yet?
He remembered having watched a drama in the future; in the drama, when Galdan forced Kangxi to repeatedly compromise, it seemed that Kangxi was already middle-aged.
Nowadays, Shunzhi was only ten years old, Kangxi was still unknown; by rough estimation, it would be at least several decades before Galdan could establish the Dzungar Khanate.
Otherwise, before he is even born, even with all of Fu's immense abilities, he won't be able to find him.
Zhu Ci said hurriedly, "Before we start surveillance, let's first find out if this person exists within the Dzungar Mongols."
Fu looked at Zhu Ci with some surprise. "Of course he exists. Does His Majesty wish to see news regarding him?"
Setting aside other matters, Heduoheqin has several sons, which of those sons were outstanding had been investigated long ago; if it weren't for this person, he naturally would not have agreed.
Zhu Ci was slightly stunned. "Are there?"
Fu immediately ordered someone to bring all the information regarding Heduoheqin's son. Zhu Ci took a glance and found that not only was it there, but it also recorded the birth date as the first year of Chongzhen.
He is twenty years old this year and went to Tibet to study when he was thirteen.
But.. this doesn't seem right. If you calculate it this way, by the middle of Kangxi's reign, this person would be at least fifty or sixty years old.
He remembered that Galdan wasn't even this old when he died.
Zhu Ci was somewhat bewildered and really wanted to ask Fu if it was possible that he had made a mistake, such as having the same name or something similar.
However, on second thought, his surname was Chorsos, his name was Galdan, he was Heduoheqin's son; with so many conditions filtered down, it was basically impossible for there to be a mistake.
Zhu Ci struggled with the thought for a moment before deciding to stop thinking about it altogether. After all, he was traveling through a book, many of the plots were fabricated; even if Galdan's age suddenly changed, it wouldn't be a problem, right?
Zhu Ci couldn't help but sigh as he left the Imperial Farm, wishing that the great affairs of the world were as simple as playing a video game.
However, when playing games, he had a god's-eye view and knew that all intelligence only needed to be dealt with as events occurred.
Not anymore. Now, the difficulty of gathering intelligence has skyrocketed; if it weren't for Fu's caravans being all over the world, the Great Ming might find itself in a very passive position.
Thinking of this, Zhu Ci suddenly sighed and said, "What would I do without you?"
Fu froze for a moment after hearing this, even forgetting what he was doing and what he wanted to say, as his mind was filled with nothing but those words.
-----------------------
Author's Note: Zhu Ci: Although I said I wanted to take out Galdan, I didn't expect that he actually exists at this time. Cat resting chin on hands. jpg