Chapter 730 - 22: Restoring the Glory of the Gu Clan, A Great Transformation!

Lv Mengzheng and other officials were equally overwhelmed, exchanging glances laden with shock and delight.

They understood more than the common people what these numbers meant—this signified that the granaries of the Great Song would be fuller than ever before, capable of sustaining a larger population, providing solid assurance for the army provisions in the Northern Expedition to Liaodong, and laying the cornerstone of a prosperous era!

How could this not bring them joy?

In fact, for many ministers, their willingness to serve in the court was not just for wealth and honor.

Especially in the current hall of governance.

Now, many who followed under Gu Jin’s banner longed to once again create an extraordinary golden age with the Gu Clan.

If they were only after wealth and honor, they wouldn’t follow the Gu Clan, which prioritized governance.

The realm is divided...

Coupled with the current stalemate.

This originally made many feel that they could no longer pursue this ideal in their lifetime, but the emergence of corn has finally allowed many to see a glimmer of hope.

—Including Gu Jin.

At this moment, even his eyes were already red.

The burden of a nation lay on his shoulders.

The burden of the entire Gu Clan was the same.

Gu Jin understood his ability.

When he truly began to shoulder this burden, he gradually realized the gap between himself and the ancestors of past generations.

These changes naturally diminished his obsession with unifying the world by a few degrees.

And now... corn, to him, was also a ray of hope.

Perhaps in this life... he could still accomplish many things.

That day, Gu Jin ordered many corn cakes to be made and distributed to the populace.

He was using this to announce the value of corn to the people!

The effect was significant, beyond expectations.

In just one day, the entire Kaifeng City was abuzz with talk.

Despite the corn cake not having the best taste, its representative impact led it to be highly celebrated.

And its genuine yield truly shocked people.

Beyond that—

Whether it was the corn seedlings or the stripped corn cobs, everything quickly became hot topics in Kaifeng City, subtly fueling everyone’s desire to explore the ocean.

From court officials to street folk, no one was not talking about it.

Everyone anticipated when the Grand Tutor would promote this grain amongst the populace.

As the merchants in Kaifeng City gradually departed,

this news rapidly spread across the land.

—Kyushu was shaken by it.

This was entirely different from war news.

The people regard food as their heaven, and agriculture as their foundation.

Even though commerce in Kyushu might develop, the belief in agriculture as the foundation has never changed.

The yield of this corn and the myriad uses of its crop.

All deserve the attention of the people everywhere!

The entire Gu Clan’s reputation swiftly climbed to its peak, even evoking the glorious days of the Two Han Dynasties.

This acclaim didn’t come from the battlefield or the court.

But from the most primal fame.

It was the support of the people!

Even though Gu Jin had not thoroughly promoted these things, the atmosphere started rapidly spreading nationwide.

Not only within the Song’s territory.

But also in Liao and various fragmented forces!

Even if many amongst them wished to interfere, they couldn’t possibly stop this tide.

For a time, the world was in fervor.

Even the rituals near the Luoshui River became more frequent under these circumstances.

People everywhere almost unanimously focused their attention on Gu Jin.

Eager to know what he intended to do.

And amid this scenario, news from the trial fields everywhere finally came in.

Just as Gu Jin predicted.

There were notable differences in yield among regions.

The average yield of high-quality fields was around five shi per mu, while the output of less optimal lands steadily diminished.

But this in no way hindered this wave.

On the contrary, it was the opposite.

When this news spread, the corn wave grew even more intense!

At the least, the yield doubled.

This number had already made countless people fervent!

Messages continued arriving from all regions, with many ministers petitioning Gu Jin to swiftly promote this crop.

But amidst this heated atmosphere.

Gu Jin indeed calmed down.

He intended to promote this crop but could never unroll it entirely at once.

Leaving aside whether there were enough seeds for now.

The crux lay in, if it was entirely rolled out and any issue arose with the corn, the consequences would be unimaginable.

The food problem in the Great Song was already a challenge.

It concerned the nation, so Gu Jin couldn’t proceed rashly.

He could only promote corn gradually, based on the topography of each area, until it was fully rolled out.

This was bound to be a rather troublesome affair, and Gu Jin couldn’t make a decision in haste.

Gu Yi had been silently observing all this.

Watching the people’s veneration for the Gu family, feeling the world’s attention, he couldn’t help but be stirred once more.

A great transformation was truly coming.

This was indisputable.

Whether it was the leap in productivity, or the rise of exploration of the seas—when the people of Kyushu began to set foot in these fields and were willing to make huge sacrifices for them, the turning of the era was already fated.

Of course, Gu Yi also understood that everything still needed time to advance gradually, to slowly change.

Yet even so, it was already enough.

Do not forget, the Gu Clan has always led at the forefront!

——————

"In the fourth year of Tongyuan, Jin’s younger brother returned from overseas, offering a new grain from the Golden Valley, resembling jade grains, named ’corn’.

The time rumored that the Gu Clan had obtained a divine object from overseas, and all waited eagerly.

In the fifth spring, Jin chose quality fields on various routes to plant trials, and the world watched.

Initially, the seedlings flourished, yet by midsummer, the stalks and leaves grew slower than millet and wheat, leading to disregard in the court, some mockingly questioning its ’illusory reputation of divine object,’ or sarcastically implying ’Gu’s rare technique would eventually bear no real fruit.’

Upon the autumn harvest, the emperor and all officials came to view.

The crops in the field stood taller than a person, the ears hung heavy, appearing gilded.

Farmers harvested full baskets, weighing and counting three times over.

The Minister of Agriculture, with a trembling voice, reported: ’The yield per mu exceeded five shi and three dou!’ During those times, the yield of rice and millet per mu in Kyushu barely exceeded one shi, astonishing everyone.

Old elders looked toward the palace, wept, and hailed it "Grand Tutor’s sacred grain".

The emperor held Jin’s hand, sighing: ’Is this not a heavenly blessing?’

Jin thus ordered the baking of cakes for the people; though coarse, the multitude clamored for them, declaring they could sustain countless lives."

— "History of the Song, Biography of Gu Jin"