Awaken Chapter 199

On the street.

As Xu Qingnian had just walked out of the marquis’ residence.

An unprecedented feeling came over him, the fear of the demon seed inside him.

And it wasn’t just fear that was simple.

It was submissiveness.

It was like an ordinary beast, meeting a tiger, that feeling of submission.

Turning his gaze to look away.

It was an old man in sackcloth.

The old man looked to be in his sixties or seventies, in his flowery years, and his gaze was kind as he looked at himself.

Sensing the old man’s gaze, Xu Qingnian nodded slightly, this terrifying pressure came from this old man.

“I’ve met the old man.”

Xu Qingnian bowed towards the other party.

For a moment, he didn’t know what to do.

“Little friend should be Xu Qingnian, right?”

The old man slowly walked up and looked at Xu Qingnian as he slowly spoke.

His gaze was tinged with a smile as he inquired thus.

“Back to the old man, yes.”

Although he didn’t know who the other party was, from the reaction of the devil seed inside him, this person was definitely not an idle person, and with a smile in his gaze, he was relatively kind, and at the very least, he gave himself a good first impression.

He should not be looking for trouble.

“En, not bad, not bad, young and talented, young and talented.”

The old man nodded, and his eyes were also filled with admiration, before he stretched out his hand and faintly grabbed Xu Qingnian’s arm.

In an instant, Xu Qingnian’s heart was a little hairy, after all, being suddenly grabbed by an old man’s hand, who wouldn’t be hairy at heart?

But the next moment.

Before Xu Qingnian could say anything, a wave of Qi instantly went through his entire body.

The martial true qi in his own body could not even be blocked, and he did not even have time to react.

And at that moment, the old man’s original smiling expression changed instantly.

At first, it was the demonic qi within his own body that leaked out somewhat, but he immediately retracted it, fearing that it would affect Xu Qingnian.

But the real change in his face was not because of this, it was normal for the demonic qi to leak out, he had too much of it built up in his body, and this was not the first time this had happened.

“Martial ……. Martial Dao fifth grade?”

“You’ve actually stepped into the Fifth Grade realm?”

“Hiss, there’s actually not a single impurity in your body, the martial dao realm is tamped down terribly, the foundation is unbreakable, there’s not a single flaw.”

“How long have you been practicing martial arts?”

Wu Ming looked at Xu Qingnian, astonishment written all over his old face.

As a first-grade martial artist, he could actually tell just by looking at a person’s qi how strong the other party’s realm was, it was just that there was something inside Xu Qingnian’s body that prevented others from peering in.

Wu Ming could have opened his Martial Heavenly Eyes to view Xu Qingnian’s realm strength, but thinking about it, there was no need to do so, and touching Xu Qingnian would also allow him to see clearly.

There was no need to make it too troublesome.

It was just that if he didn’t look, he would be shocked.

Wu Ming knew that Xu Qingnian was a newly promoted Marquis of the Great Wei, and was also a Confucian scholar of the fourth rank of Heaven and Earth.

What he did not expect was that Xu Qingnian would have such remarkable attainments in martial arts?

What was rare was that Xu Qingnian could still be a fifth-ranked martial artist despite being a fourth-ranked Confucian, and what was even rarer was that Xu Qingnian was flawless in every realm.

A twenty-year-old fifth-grade martial artist would not have surprised him in the slightest.

Even a ten-year-old fifth-grade martial artist, Wu Ming wouldn’t be too surprised.

But to be flawless in every realm was truly terrifying. As a First Grade Martial Artist, it was difficult for him to be flawless in every realm.

There were more or less minor flaws.

He could not say that if there were flaws, he would necessarily be unable to become a First Grade Martial Artist, but the more likely he was to be promoted without flaws, this was clear to him.

And before becoming a First Grade, Wu Ming had paid a great price to make up for all his previous cultivation flaws.

But Xu Qingnian was clearly a Confucian scholar, so how could he cultivate the martial arts to such perfection?

Thinking of this, Wu Ming grabbed Xu Qingnian’s arm in a deadly grip and frantically probed the situation within Xu Qingnian’s body.

Soon, an even more shocking piece of information emerged.

By but checking the martial true qi in Xu Qingnian’s body, Wu Ming discovered that Xu Qingnian had cultivated her qi within a year.

Other people might not be able to find out, but as a First Grade Martial Artist, Wu Ming could naturally find out when Xu Qingnian had entered the grade.

A year.

No, not even a year.

“This can’t be.”

“A year to enter the fifth rank and every rank realm is flawless, this is absolutely impossible.”

Wu Ming grabbed Xu Qingnian’s hand and checked it back and forth three or four times, but the Fey Magic Demon Seed had surprisingly been much more honest under his enquiries and did not reveal itself.

“Old sir.”

“Old sir, the pinch hurts, it hurts.”

Xu Qingnian shouted, it definitely didn’t hurt, but Xu Qingnian still had to say something, this old man came up and grabbed his hand, and was chanting some information.

Instant insight into one’s martial realm, including some details were clearly stated.

How could this not surprise Xu Qingnian.

“Oh, it’s old me who’s in a hurry.”

Hearing Xu Qingnian cry out in pain, Wu Ming immediately drew back his hand, he looked at Xu Qingnian, then looked up and down, not knowing what things he was thinking about.

“Old man, Xu Mou has some important business to attend to, I have to leave first.”

Xu Qingnian also did not know where the other party was coming from, yet the other party saw through him at once, and was still subconsciously full of wariness and caution, so he took the initiative to excuse himself and go to the Household Department first.

However, Wu Ming did not say anything, he just quietly looked at Xu Qingnian as thought after thought flashed through his mind.

Fourth-grade Confucianism.

The Fifth Grade Martial Dao.

All of them arrived within a year. He did not mention the fourth grade of Confucianism, he understood in his heart how difficult it was, but the fifth grade of Martial Dao, plus the Flawless Realm, then there was a possibility.

Xu Qingnian was one of the Martial Dao legends, the Flawless Body.

Yes, a flawless body.

Only this kind of physique could achieve every realm of flawlessness, otherwise, how could Xu Qingnian possibly pay attention to every detail when she was practicing Confucianism, martial arts, and was also in the middle of dynastic affairs?

Even if you really want to cultivate every realm to perfection, you can’t do it, and it’s useless for a high ranking person to guide you, because there are many details that you don’t know yourself.

Unless there was a First Grade Martial Artist behind Xu Qingnian, and even if there was a First Grade Martial Artist, he could only point out what was wrong with Xu Qingnian, it was still up to Xu Qingnian himself whether he could solve the problem.

In that case, there was only one possibility.

Xu Qingnian possessed the legendary Flawless Physique, cultivating the martial dao, and at every realm, she would naturally become flawless.

There weren’t many of this kind of physique in the past and present ah.

As long as Xu Qingnian didn’t die and cultivated normally, he would become a First Grade martial artist in his lifetime, so a Flawless Body would mean another First Grade martial artist in the future.

Moreover, there is a legend that when a Flawless Body achieves the First Grade, it has a certain chance of touching the realm beyond the First Grade.

No one knew what the realm after the First Grade was, and it was not even clearly recorded in books, because no one had ever cultivated to that realm, and whether or not it was real was a legend.

As a First Grade martial artist, he could clearly perceive that after the First Grade, there should be no new realm.

For there was no direction of breakthrough.

But according to the projections of the sages, the reason why First Grade martial artists could not perceive the later realms was not because of a problem of qualification or environment, but because of a problem of physique.

The only way to comprehend something new is to be perfect and flawless in every realm and to gather a flawless body.

But this is only a projection and a hypothesis; whether it is or not, no one just knows.

And now, he had actually met a Flawless Body, how could he not be excited about this?

Only when he heard Xu Qingnian wanted to leave, Wu Ming directly pulled Xu Qingnian back.

“Little friend, I see that you have clear bones and excellent qualifications, I would like to take you as my disciple, are you willing?”

Wu Ming spoke out.

His eyes were a little straight.

A flawless body, he really didn’t think he would one day be able to meet a martial artist with a flawless body.

This was really a treasure that he had picked up.

No, it was a great treasure that he had found.

Flawless bones? Excellent qualifications?

Xu Qingnian forcibly drew back his hand and looked at Wu Ming with a bitter smile.

“Senior, please forget about accepting disciples, I am a scholar, I am not interested in martial arts, martial arts is just a casual practice, a defense technique.”

Xu Qingnian did not agree, not because he looked down on the other party, but because he felt that this person was probably not small and his martial arts realm was definitely not bad, otherwise, how could he easily suppress himself?

If this kind of person was beside her, Xu Qingnian would not agree to it.

He was a person who had practiced a different art. If he was detected by someone else, he would probably kill himself with a slap, and he would not even be able to run away.

Therefore, Xu Qingnian refused directly.

However, when he heard Xu Qingnian’s refusal, Wu Ming did not have any hint of surprise.

There was nothing to be surprised about, he had suddenly appeared and directly wanted to take Xu Qingnian as his disciple, it would be a hell if Xu Qingnian agreed.

However, Wu Ming did not rush, instead he looked at Xu Qingnian and said with an incomparably serious expression.

“Xu Qingnian.”

“Originally, I came to look for you because I heard that you have done many good deeds for Great Wei, and I wanted to help you to remove your hair and cleanse your marrow, so that you can get rid of all diseases and prolong your life.”

“However, today I found you to be an extraordinary person, extremely suitable for the path of martial arts, so I felt a sense of love for you.”

“Of course, it is normal for you to be a little wary of me, and I can understand that, but I will tell you now who I really am.”

“I am the First Grade Martial Artist of Great Wei, Wu Ming.”

Wu Ming spoke out, as he informed Xu Qingnian of his true identity.

“Great Wei First Grade?”

Xu Qingnian was somewhat stunned as he looked at Wu Ming, and his first reaction was to believe.

Yes, complete belief.

The first thing that matched in age, and the second thing was that the other party’s strength, was very, very strong, and even without showing it, just the means to view the situation inside his body could not be an idle person.

If one were to say an ordinary fourth-grade or third-grade, one should not be able to do such absolute suppression.

If one were to say the first rank, Xu Qingnian would believe it.

Besides, what was the point of the other party lying to themselves? There were only two first-rate officials in the Great Wei Dynasty, and if others didn’t know them, didn’t the empress know them? If you ask the empress, you will know.

No one would dare to impersonate a First Grade, especially someone who was not inferior in strength, to impersonate a First Grade would be to seek death.

Therefore, Xu Qingnian believed it straight away.

But after learning that the other party was a First Grade, Xu Qingnian finally understood why the Fey Magic Demon Seed inside her body had a sense of fearful submission.

It was because the other party was a First Grade.

Martial Dao First Grade.

A Human Martial Emperor.

Thinking of this, Xu Qingnian barely hesitated and spoke directly.

“Xu Qingnian, pay my respects to senior.”

“However, please forgive me, senior, Qingnian is a scholar, and as I said just now, learning martial arts is just to strengthen my body and for defence purposes, not that I want to take this path.”

“Please forgive me, senior.”

Xu Qingnian opened his mouth, he refused outright, not knowing that the other party was a First Grade, Xu Qingnian could still continue to chat for a while, but after learning that the other party was a First Grade, Xu Qingnian was even less inclined to stay and chat.

“Senior, Xu Mou really has something to do and has to go to the Ministry of the Household, so I won’t bother senior.”

After saying this, Xu Qingnian turned around and left.

He did not give Wu Ming half a chance either.

Looking at Xu Qingnian who left, Wu Ming was a little dazed.

As a First Grade Martial Artist of the Great Wei and a Human Martial Emperor, it was reasonable to a*sume that wherever he went, after revealing his identity, the other party would treat him with respect, right?

Although Xu Qingnian was respectful, his words seemed to be filled with a hint of distrust and, more importantly, some intentional evasion?

What does this mean?

Did he suspect himself of telling lies? Or was it that he didn’t trust himself?

“Little friend Xu, don’t worry, I’m not lying to you, this way, I’ll take you to see His Majesty, after meeting Him, you’ll know everything.”

For Wu Ming, he was not angry with Xu Qingnian’s refusal, because he subconsciously thought that Xu Qingnian was just purely distrustful of himself.

So he planned to take Xu Qingnian on a trip to the imperial palace to meet the empress, who would inform Xu Qingnian of what his identity really was.

Otherwise, a first-rate martial artist would take you as a disciple, and you would actually refuse?

That would be somewhat outrageous.

Ever since he had arrived at the First Grade, no one had dared to reject him, no matter who it was.

It was just that after hearing these words, Xu Qingnian was still crying and laughing.

Looking at the person blocking his way, Xu Qingnian said helplessly.

“Senior.”

“Xu Mou believes, Xu Mou believes that you are a first rank ah, it’s just that the Ministry of Household really has important matters waiting for junior to deal with.”

“Matters of state trump those of junior, furthermore, junior does not like to practice martial arts.”

Xu Qingnian spoke out.

The more the other party was like this, the more he believed ah, but the more he believed, the more impossible it was for Xu Qingnian to agree, and he had to hurry and bolt.

If he was being watched by a First Grade Martial Artist, sooner or later, he would have to come up with something big.

Even if he knew there were benefits, Xu Qingnian wouldn’t dare to agree to it.

At that moment, without allowing Wu Ming to say more, Xu Qingnian was already walking quickly towards the Household Department, even speeding up her pace, unwilling to talk to herself.

This time, Wu Ming was really a bit confused.

“No, I’ll have to make a trip to His Majesty, I must take Xu Qingnian as my disciple.”

“Flawless Body, ah, the third first-grade martial artist in Great Wei, such a good seedling, if that old man snatches it away, won’t he be laughed to death in the future.”

Wu Ming did not continue to hara*s Xu Qingnian anymore.

He still thought that Xu Qingnian didn’t believe him at all, so he planned to go forward to the imperial palace and have a proper talk with the empress.

And so it was.

Wu Ming’s figure disappeared from the spot.

And almost instantly, Xu Qingnian sensed that the pressure had disappeared, and at that moment, he could not help but exhale a long breath.

The pace also gradually slowed down a little.

But in his eyes, there was curiosity and surprise.

First cla*s.

This was a word heavier than Tarzan, and it meant so much. Xu Qingnian had no sense of how strong a First Grade martial artist was, but through many words and descriptions.

Xu Qingnian probably knew that for any matter, as long as the First Grade stepped in, then these matters would not be a matter.

It could be said that the First Grade was the last card of each giant power, and when the First Grade was used, it meant the final showdown.

In the Great Wei Dynasty, the strongest reserve is either the economic system or the five major military camps, or the presence of two First Grade martial artists.

A First Grade martial artist does not need to salute to meet the emperor, and sits on an equal footing with the emperor. However, no First Grade martial artist will covet the throne, this is a natural rule of heaven and earth, and after becoming a First Grade, they possess martial artist qi.

A martial artist’s qi, on the other hand, cannot be fused with the emperor’s luck, otherwise it will backfire on him or her.

So there was never any need to suspect that a First Grade martial artist would rebel. Of course, the other party could choose to a*sist another person and inherit the throne, and this was possible.

What Xu Qingnian did not expect was that he had met a First Grade Martial Artist, and that the other party had set his eyes on him.

Although the first aim, was to take himself as a disciple, Xu Qingnian just resisted a little.

Cultivating a foreign art under the nose of a First Grade Martial Artist? Wasn’t that seeking death?

Don’t let the Great Wei Palace investigate and find out that you are practicing a supernatural art, but if they find out that you have attracted a first-grade martial artist, then it would be embarra*sing.

If you don’t want to die, you’ll have to die.

The first-grade martial artist of the Great Wei, in particular, is in the suppression of the Devil’s Cave every year, the best time, all dedicated to the Devil’s Qi, if they learn that they are practicing the supernatural arts, it is estimated that they will turn their faces upside down and kill themselves with a slash.

So.

No matter what, you absolutely cannot touch it.

You must not touch it.

This was Xu Qingnian’s inner thought.

Not long afterwards.

Xu Qingnian also arrived at the Household Department.

“Marquis Xu, Minister Gu has been waiting for you in his room for a long time.”

The guard outside the Household Department, upon seeing Xu Qingnian’s arrival, immediately came forward respectfully and said.

“Good.”

Xu Qingnian nodded, and then quickly walked into the Household Department’s Minister’s room.

At this moment, Gu Yan, the Minister of the Household Department, and the left and right retainers of the Household Department were all sitting in the middle, the three of them holding a copy of the dossier in their hands, beaming with joy and smiling a bit foolishly.

“Shang Shu Gu.”

Pushing open the door of the room, Xu Qingnian saluted towards Gu Yan.

“Marquis Xu is here.”

“Marquis Xu is well.”

When the left and right Servants saw Xu Qingnian, they immediately rose and saluted, Xu Qingnian was on equal level with the two men in terms of position, although they were both Servants, Xu Qingnian was now enthroned as a Marquis, so naturally they could not get along on equal level.

But Gu Yan is different, he is the Minister of the Sixth Ministry, not too formal occasions, also do not need to call Xu Qingnian marquis, that would be the opposite of rusty.

“Shouren, you’re finally here.”

“Come, come, take a look, this is the grain production dossier of Pingwang County.”

“Hahahahaha, Pingwang County, the poorest of the ten provinces, Changchun Province, in the first quarter of this year, there is a full one million and two hundred thousand stones of grain ah, this is simply a great harvest, a great harvest, it is close to four times more than last year.”

Gu Yan said with unbridled excitement.

He excitedly took out a dossier and handed it to Xu Qingnian to read.

In the past, the Changchun Province was the poorest and most miserable part of Pingwang County, producing 300,000 quintals of grain in a season, which had to be handed in at 40%, while each region kept 10%, and only handed in 30%, or 90,000 quintals of grain.

Although it is called a prefecture, it is actually no better than some of the larger counties.

Now that the grain has quadrupled for such poor people, you can imagine how horrible the benefits of the waterwheel project are.

What is the concept of this quadrupling of grain? The empress had already waived the grain tax for three years, so these people had four times more harvest, which, when converted into money, could completely improve their lives.

Not to mention buying new clothes, at least they could have enough to eat and drink, right? It was no problem at all to improve the food.

Gu Yan was happy, not because he cared how much tax he could collect, but because he could already see the quality of life of the people through this figure.

“The overall harvest of Pingwang County, three times more than 20%, but there are twice as many grain fields, so overall it’s not bad.”

Xu Qingnian took a glance at the data, the harvest was more, and its main reason was still because a large number of barren fields had been turned into grain fields, as naturally quite a few barren fields could be reactivated when the water source was resolved.

Once there were more fields, the harvest naturally increased.

This belongs to the category of working more and getting more, which is a good thing, but for Xu Qingnian, it is sort of expected.

“Shouren, there are currently seven counties that have submitted their grain production dossiers, and after I have done some calculations, the first quarter grain production harvest of this year’s Great Wei should be about three times more than previous years, with an up and down fluctuation of no more than 20%.”

“In other words, if the state tax is not exempted, it should receive 30,000,000 taels of silver, and its production is about 80,000,000 taels of silver in grain.”

“With five years of stability, there will be no hungry people in Great Wei.”

Gu Yan said with some cheer.

He went through the rolls of the seven counties and did the accounting, with deductions and additions, and determined that this year’s Great Wei grain production should be worth around eighty million taels.

Since the state tax was waived, the 80,000,000 taels would all belong to the people.

It would last for five years and would completely solve the problem of food and clothing.

And Xu Qingnian shook his head and said.

“There is no need for five years, in as little as two years, in as little as three years, there will be enough food in Great Wei to completely provide internally, and the people will have some money left over on hand.”

Xu Qingnian gave the answer that Gu Yan was still a bit conservative.

Five years was too long.

Two or three years would be about right.

“Is it really that fast?”

Gu Yan swallowed his saliva, five years is not conservative, but a better expectation, but I did not expect Xu Qingnian to say that two years soon, three years slowly, the Great Wei will be completely internal supply, the people will not only be able to eat and drink enough, there will also be some money on hand?

This is a bit ……. The people will not only have enough to eat, but they will also have money on hand.

“The first quarter of the year, after the results of the food production, the people who have already been liquidated, what will they be like now?”

Xu Qingnian asked.

“It should be happy, right?”

Gu Yan replied.

“No, not happy, but laughing so hard they can’t sleep.”

“Four or five times the harvest in the better places, but of course because of the inclusion of quite a few stragglers, plus twice the harvest in the more average places, the combined result is about three times the harvest.”

“Three times more harvest in one go, and with no state tax to pay, just some local taxes, not even half a percent.”

“That’s seven times more income for them from this year’s season than from last year’s first season’s grain production.”

“Seven times.”

“Can they not wake up laughing? Great Wei rice seeds, two seasons a year, earning three and a half years’ harvest in one breath, is that you, and you still sleep?”

“In that case, these people will go around and spread the word, and will also buy many new things, improve their food or buy things, and everything they do will be seen by the neighbours.”

“Those who have not yet started farming, are they in a hurry? I’m afraid that the next day they will have to go and open up their fields to earn silver.”

“Furthermore, after His Majesty promised tax exemptions, people everywhere have already responded positively by opening up their fields, so the second half of the year, and the first half of next year, will undergo an explosive growth.”

“In other words, in the first half of next year, there will be no barren fields available in Great Wei, and the Changchun Province, definitely more than one million two hundred thousand quintals of grain, at least five million quintals or more.”

Xu Qingnian carefully analysed.

The two courtiers listened with great interest and praised him repeatedly.

Indeed.

It is true that most of the people are now farming, but there are still many people who are not farming, whether they are doing some small business or doing something.

It’s not that they don’t want to farm, it’s just that they don’t make much money from farming, they’re not landlords, most of them just farm honestly and earn a living.

But now the court is exempt from tax for three years, plus there is a water tanker to solve the water problem, one mu for every family in the deserted fields, and you can buy them if you have money, but of course the price is not cheap.

After all, the reason Wei gave the people fields was to increase productivity, not to allow merchants to hoard and earn silver.

Therefore, the income from farming has doubled so many times, four or five times for those with less, and even eight or nine times for those with more, so who wouldn’t be jealous?

Who wouldn’t be jealous? In this way, they would all be eager to plough.

Xu Qingnian’s waterwheel solved this problem, and naturally, the barren fields were reused.

If, at a later stage, there were no more barren fields in Great Wei, then a super waterwheel would be built, and disciples of the Immortal Way would be invited to build it, so that it could reach a thousand miles and bring up all the dry land.

By that time, there would be no shortage of food in Wei.

Of course this plan must be something for later.

“Shouren, you’re really smart.”

Gu Yan couldn’t help but sigh with emotion.

But soon, Gu Yan thought about it and immediately spoke.

“If we follow Shouren’s words, we should step up the preparation of the barren fields.”

“The Ministry of the Household will have to issue an imperial decree to stop providing barren fields for free, and will stop providing barren fields without compensation after a month, which will in turn allow many strong men to go back and receive barren fields.”

“And after that, have someone inspect again, but anyone who is found to have received a field without ploughing it will have their grain fields confiscated.”

“Also, the issue of grain, Great Wei needs to hoard grain, this time the people have grown so much grain, they are happy, but this grain price is bound to be suppressed by some treacherous merchants joining forces.”

“I have to give an order to the Great Wei Chamber of Commerce to regulate its price, it cannot be too low, and at the same time, all parts of Great Wei should also buy grain and store it, almost forty percent or so, to prepare for emergencies, all silver, from the state treasury.”

“It is also considered a multiplier.”

Gu Yan spoke out, and he immediately formulated several plans through what Xu Qingnian had said.

Each and every plan was very good.

Ginger, it was still old and spicy.

Using retreat as an advance, let the strong men idle in the counties and provinces rush home to produce food, after all, the deserted fields were there for free collection, most of the people liked to take advantage of it.

But the problem was that some of the young men had gone to other counties and counties, but they were afraid to go back and lose face, and there was no hope for them to go home.

The family was too lazy to care.

Now that Gu Yan has released the time limit order and the people are now having a good harvest, I am afraid that these wandering strong men will have to go back home.

Then go to collect food, stabilize the price of food, certainly lower than before, after all, more food, naturally the price should be cheaper, of course low can not be too low, or the people are not happy.

And then to prevent the merchants from getting into trouble in it, Gu Yan did not miss a beat, and indeed Xu Qingnian could not help but feel in his heart.

“Lord Gu is wise.”

Xu Qingnian opened his mouth and said with emotion from his heart.

“Shouren, if someone else had complimented me, I would have accepted it, but you complimented me, but I don’t have the face to accept it.”

“All right, today I called you to come here, just to let you see how the effect is, but looking at you, I feel that you have already expected it, on the contrary, I am a bit unseen in the world.”

“I won’t bother you anymore, you go back and rest well.”

Gu Yan spoke.

He called Xu Qingnian to come over just to have fun together, but he didn’t expect Xu Qingnian to look as if he had predicted it, which made him a bit helpless.

“Fine, then Lord Gu, I’ll leave first.”

Xu Qingnian nodded, the results of the food production came out, he was definitely happy, only this was sort of expected, so he wasn’t particularly happy.

“Marquis, take care.”

“Marquis Xu, take care.”

“En, go back and rest well.”

The left and right retainers and Gu Yan spoke.

And just after Xu Qingnian stepped out of the gate, abruptly, Xu Qingnian reversed his body and looked at Gu Yan and said.

“Lord Gu, there is something that you need to catch up on, have all places check the good fields, or when planting, to see if there are any peculiar characteristics of rice, and if there are any findings, report them to the court immediately.”

“No matter how big or small it is, any slightest abnormality found everywhere must be reported, and all information will be sent to me by the Ministry of Household Affairs, so I’ll be grateful to Lord Gu.”

Xu Qingnian mentioned.

Great Wei is now heading in a good direction, but even with all the barren fields being used, there is still a problem surrounding Great Wei.

The internal supply.

Most of the people are not currently eating millet, something like rice, which belongs to those whose families are not too bad off.

What most people eat is still a small chestnut grain, not very nutritious, but better because it is cheap and fills the stomach.

But Xu Qingnian’s first goal in developing productivity was to feed the people of Great Wei, either with small chestnut grains or with real rice.

If you have enough to eat, you will have the strength to work, and your body will be stronger, at least better than eating small chestnut grain, right?

When you are strong and healthy, the children you give birth to will not suffer from widespread malnutrition, and the rate of premature death will be greatly reduced.

In that case, it is called prosperity.

Population is the first criterion of productivity.

Two years.

This was Xu Qingnian’s conservative estimate, and she told Gu Yan that three years was because she was afraid that Gu Yan wouldn’t believe her.

Within two years, Xu Qingnian could guarantee to solve the current problem of feeding the people of Great Wei, but Xu Qingnian was definitely not looking at the present moment, but the future.

It was useless to feed the people of Great Wei at present, it was only useful if the people of Great Wei in the future could be fed.

Moreover, as more and more food becomes available and the people at the bottom have money on hand, things like desperate farming will gradually cool down sooner or later, and many will go into business.

This is a phenomenon that cannot be avoided.

So in the future, there will definitely be such situations as landowners, which cannot be eliminated, but whether it is landowners or people farming, at least the impact of food production will not fluctuate greatly.

The biggest problem is that in the future, newborn children.

As long as the people of Wei have enough to eat, there is nothing to do but make babies, and even as their families get better and better, they will have two babies if they have two mouthfuls of rice, and three babies if they have three mouthfuls of rice.

It is likely that after next year, the people of Great Wei will start to make babies in a big way.

After all, as life gets better day by day, they must have more babies.

Then once the fertility rate rises, the food deficit will instantly increase, and perfect internal supply cannot be achieved by just re-tilling the barren fields.

So!

It is still necessary to find the right seeds, either four-season rice, which doubles the grain yield.

Either that or something like hybrid rice, where one such rice plant is worth twice or even three times the normal.

Only then could we cope with the future swelling of the population, or else it would be all over the place again by then.

Xu Qingnian had thought about it.

As long as he found this kind of rice and could adapt it perfectly to production, he dared the empress to issue an imperial decree.

Encourage full fertility in Great Wei, with prizes for the birth of children, regardless of gender, and food subsidies until the age of ten, with parents only needing to take a little out to ensure that the children have no worries about food and drink until they are ten.

Reduce the pressure of childcare for the people of Great Wei, and when the development gets better and better later on, how many taels of silver can a little food cost?

Of course, this is just an idea, everything still has to wait until we find out.

Just.

Just as Xu Qingnian walked out of the Household Ministry and arrived outside the Marquis’ residence, Li Xian’s figure came running from not far away.

“Marquis Xu, Marquis Xu.”

“His Majesty’s oracle has summoned you to the palace.”

As Li Xian spoke, Xu Qingnian was a little surprised, but soon he somehow guessed something.

“Did someone go to the palace and see His Majesty? Is it an old man?”

Xu Qingnian asked.

“Yes, yes, Marquis Xu, you really do anticipate things like a god.”

Li Xian spoke directly.

“Ugh.”

With a long sigh, Xu Qingnian didn’t say anything more and walked directly towards the palace.

He originally wanted to directly ask for sick leave, but after thinking about it, right, you ask for sick leave in front of someone else’s first grade martial artist, that would be somewhat treating people like fools.

But Xu Qingnian was a bit depressed.

Was this First Grade Martial Artist sick?

Why did he have to stare at himself? Although it’s true that I have a clear bone, there are many martial arts geniuses under the sky, right?

He was a good student, and he had said that he would not be a teacher, so why did he have to do this?

He was a bit depressed, but he couldn’t hit people in the face, so Xu Qingnian could only go over honestly, the big deal was to waste some more breath.

And at this moment.

In the palace.

The first thing you need to do is to get a good idea of what you’re doing.

The empress sat on the dragon chair with a smile on her face as she looked at the First Grade martial artist at her highness.

She was also a little curious, as soon as Wu Ming arrived at the Palace of the Nurtured Heart, the first thing he said was that he wanted to meet Xu Qingnian.

Although she did not know what had happened, she still ordered the eunuch to invite Xu Qingnian to come.

She was relieved to learn that this first-rate martial artist had taken a fancy to Xu Qingnian and wanted to take him as his disciple, as long as it was not a bad thing anyway.

It was just that the wait was a bit long.

The empress thought for a moment, then spoke out.

“Sir, the matter of the demon unrest in the Chen Kingdom is rather tricky, I wonder if ……. Could sir take the time to go there?”

The empress respected Wu Ming as sir, and her attitude was extremely peaceful in tone, not commanding but asking.

“Your Majesty, forgive me for not having the time and not being able to spare it.”

Hearing this, Wu Ming refused outright, in fact it had to be said that he had time, but now he wanted to devote all his time to Xu Qingnian, so he refused outright.

Great Wei should be able to solve the matter of the Chen Kingdom, and stepping in himself would just be the fastest way to solve it.

However, at his level, he could not just step in, and it was best not to do so as much as possible.

Hearing Wu Ming’s voice of refusal, the empress did not say anything, just nodded, nor was she angry in any way, it was just a slight sigh in her heart, she could only think of another way again.

Now in the Chen Kingdom, the demon turmoil was much trickier than expected, the Tai Shang Immortal Sect and the Tai Cang Rune Sect had sent people over, just not to much effect, not that the two great clans were not able to.

Rather, they have somewhat underestimated the determination of the demons this time, and are currently re-sending people, but need to wait for some time.

This has led to things getting progressively more troublesome and tricky.

This is what happens when you tear your face off from the Great Wei Wen Palace. If you hadn’t torn your face off, there would still be demons, but definitely not so many, otherwise you would have sent three Great Confucians of Heaven and Earth and twenty Great Confucians in person.

What demons and devils, all of them can wait for death.

But the situation at hand, naturally, could not find the Zhu Sheng lineage, which made her a little helpless ah.

It was at this moment.

A voice rang out.

“The Marquis of Ping Chaos has an audience.”

As the voice rang out.

Xu Qingnian’s figure slowly appeared in the main hall.

“I, Xu Qingnian, have met Your Majesty.”

With the appearance of Xu Qingnian’s figure.

The Empress’ first reaction was some joy, but as soon as she saw Xu Qingnian, she inexplicably thought of Xu Qingnian’s stay overnight some days ago.

All of a sudden, her face became somewhat clear and cold.

“Marquis of Ping Chaos, please excuse me.”

The empress opened her mouth, and instead of addressing Xu Aiqing, she addressed the Marquis of Ping Chaos, purposely so, just to make Xu Qingnian realize her mistake.

But Xu Qingnian did not react at all, glancing at himself as usual, and then at Wu Ming.

“Little friend Xu, you can now ask His Majesty who the old man is.”

When Xu Qingnian appeared, Wu Ming’s face was filled with a smile, while glancing at the empress, before landing his gaze on Xu Qingnian and saying so with a smile.

Xu Qingnian had indeed guessed correctly, Wu Ming still thought he didn’t believe him.

“Senior.”

“Senior believes that you are a Great Wei First Grade Martial Artist.”

“It’s just that junior really doesn’t like martial dao.”

Xu Qingnian bowed towards Wu Ming and said with an incomparably serious attitude.

The moment this was said.

Wu Ming was instantly frozen.

He did think that Xu Qingnian did not believe in himself, so he had purposely asked the empress to call him over.

But what he did not expect was this.

Xu Qingnian indeed did not suspect his identity.

“Little friend Xu, I am a First Grade Martial Artist of Great Wei, if you were to worship me as your teacher, the benefits would be endless.”

Wu Ming really could not help but speak up.

He was a First Grade Martial Artist, where had he ever been rejected by anyone?

If an ordinary person refused him, he wouldn’t be angry, at most he would just ignore him.

But Xu Qingnian was different.

A flawless body.

If he was the only one in Wei, Wu Ming wouldn’t have cared, and Xu Qingnian could be proud.

But the problem was that there was a second First Grade in Great Wei. When he woke up and found Xu Qingnian, he was guaranteed to do everything he could to trick Xu Qingnian away.

Therefore, there was absolutely no way he would let the other party snatch Xu Qingnian away.

He had to teach himself, and it might really be possible to teach a martial artist above the first rank.

To him, this was a new goal and ideal in life.

Otherwise, there would really be no meaning to his life.

“Senior.”

“Xu Mou still reiterates, Xu Mou really doesn’t like martial arts, so you should let junior go, junior really has something to do.”

Xu Qingnian bowed towards Wu Ming, his attitude was also sincere, not the impatient kind.

“First rank, ah.”

“Little friend, old man is a First Grade martial artist.”

Wu Ming emphasized once again that he was a First Grade.

“Junior knows, it is junior’s problem, please forgive me senior.”

“Your Majesty, I will first take my leave.”

Xu Qingnian didn’t want to stay any longer, he had to hurry up and leave, he wouldn’t be able to stay with this First Grade anyway.

After saying this, Xu Qingnian directly left.

Leaving behind a somewhat confused Wu Ming.

There was also the female emperor who was slightly unsure of what to say anymore.

What a good guy, a First Grade Martial Artist was actually rejected for accepting a disciple?

While inside the hall, Wu Ming couldn’t help but frown as he looked at Xu Qingnian’s back and was really a little curious.

It didn’t make sense for Xu Qingnian to reject himself.

Who would refuse a first-ranked person in a hall?

But why, would Xu Qingnian refuse?

Wu Ming frowned tightly.

After some contemplation.

Suddenly, Wu Ming thought of the only possibility.

Xu Qingnian had practiced Confucianism and was now of the fourth rank, having felt the strength of a first-rank saint. He had invited the holy will, so he felt that the martial path was inferior to Confucianism.

He had not felt the power of a first-grade martial artist.

After all, it was unlikely that a first-grade martial artist would show his face, let alone his hand, within Kyoto, and if he did, the whole of Kyoto would be gone.

That’s why he wanted to practise Confucianism without fear.

But he did not know that he was more talented in martial arts.

Thinking of this, Wu Ming looked at the empress and said.

“Your Majesty, the demon rebellion, is it in the Kingdom of Chen?”

Wu Ming’s sudden enquiry caused the Empress to be a little stunned, but still answered quickly.

“Yes.”

As the empress finished her answer.

Without saying a word, Wu Ming directly turned around and left, appearing in front of Xu Qingnian.

And at this moment, Xu Qingnian had only just descended the Heavenly Staircase and was about to run towards the outside of the palace when she was suddenly pulled by Wu Ming.

“Senior, what are you doing?”

Xu Qingnian was a little surprised, while her heart was extremely speechless ah.

“Go.”

Wu Ming’s voice was calm.

“Go? Where to go?”

Xu Qingnian asked.

“To let you see how powerful the First Grade is.”

Wu Ming’s voice became even calmer.

“Is it okay if I don’t go?”

Xu Qingnian asked.

“No.”

Wu Ming’s voice was firm and full of dominance.

In an instant, Xu Qingniang cried.