Chapter 226: Great Merit in the Court

Emperor Hongzhi was a person who truly cared about the common people of the world, which was why he placed such great importance on food.

Now that the sweet potato had appeared and could play such a huge role, how could he not be excited?

Suddenly, he burst into loud laughter, his dragon face beaming with joy!

With this sweet potato, he no longer feared natural disasters. Even if a disaster came, the food production would increase by at least ten times, if not thirty times.

Moreover, when Fang Jifan mentioned that this sweet potato could also be grown in the mountains, Emperor Hongzhi’s eyes lit up even more.

That meant land suitable for growing food could still be used for that purpose, while previously unusable land or ordinary poor fields could now be planted with the sweet potato.

No one understood the value of this better than Emperor Hongzhi.

The potato leaves could be eaten as vegetables, the tubers could satisfy hunger, and they could even be used to feed livestock. However, ordinary small households did not dare to raise livestock, because feeding animals required as much food as feeding several people.

Suddenly, the sharp disputes between the emperor and his ministers disappeared completely.

The arguments between the Ministry of War and Ministry of Revenue over food, the urgent transport of grain to the capital from various provinces—these matters, which originally seemed hugely important, now became insignificant because of this small sweet potato. At least for now, as long as the population didn’t grow rapidly, everything became very small matters.

At that moment, Emperor Hongzhi straightened his expression, pointed at the sweet potato, and said decisively: “Issue an edict: the sweet potato shall be listed as a tribute item. Order the Western Hills to send five thousand jin to the palace every year.”

Hoo…

The ministers were in an uproar.

His Majesty’s attitude made it clear—the sweet potato must taste good, and the Emperor liked it very much.

“Can this thing… be widely promoted?” Emperor Hongzhi stared intently at Fang Jifan.

Fang Jifan said resolutely: “Originally… it could not…”

This sentence made Emperor Hongzhi feel like hitting someone. Why did he stop halfway? Was he looking for death?

Fang Jifan continued: “At least it was very difficult originally. My expectation was that without ten or twenty years of effort, it would be very hard to promote it. However… thanks to Deputy Hundred-Household Commander Zhang Xin, Chief Banner Officers Yang Da and Zhang Biao, Xiao Qi Officers Zhu Zheng, Zeng Jian, and Chen Xin, Commandants Wang Yan and Deng Jie… Enlisted Soldiers Chen Tao and Zhou Wu…”

Fang Jifan spoke slowly and steadily, reciting name after name. There were seventy-three people in the Baihu Station, and he remembered every single one. With his good memory, he hardly missed anyone: “With their joint efforts, I can guarantee that there will be absolutely no problems. The Military Agricultural Colony will do its best to assist local governments in promotion and trial planting.”

Emperor Hongzhi listened very patiently, his face flushed with excitement, while also secretly memorizing each name.

He looked up again and saw Zhang Xin and the others in ragged clothes.

How could Zhang Xin and the others not understand? This was Fang Jifan deliberately seeking merit for them. If Fang Jifan wanted to claim all the credit for himself, no one would have objected. Wasn’t that the rule in the Great Ming officialdom? No matter how much you sweated or bled, no matter how hard you tried, the credit wasn’t rightfully yours anyway. If a superior official left you a few crumbs from their fingernails, that was already considered kind.

But Fang Jifan had named each of them in front of His Majesty. This clearly showed that the Bai Hu was deliberately seeking merit for them before the Emperor.

What “without them, it couldn’t be promoted in ten or twenty years”—others might not know, but everyone in the Military Agricultural Colony knew very well that even without them, others could have succeeded. They were just lucky to have followed the Bai Hu.

Seeing Emperor Hongzhi look at them, Zhang Xin and the others grew so excited they didn’t know what to do. They all knelt and said: “Your Majesty, this is all Fang Bai Hu’s merit. We humble subjects dare not claim credit.”

Liu Jian stood to the side, feeling astonished. He stared at Fang Jifan, puzzled. This guy… actually had decent morals? Wasn’t he said to be lacking in virtue before?

Duke of Ying, Zhang Mao, watched this scene, his heart surging with tidal waves of shock. He gave Fang Jifan a deep look and saw that Fang Jifan still had that same insufferable look—very punchable! However, although he wore the same expression, Zhang Mao faintly felt that Fang Jifan seemed to have a halo of saintly light above his head.

Decent!

Emperor Hongzhi was already overjoyed inside. Honestly, even if he started dancing wildly right now, it would seem perfectly normal!

Struggling to restrain his inner excitement, Emperor Hongzhi gave Fang Jifan a meaningful look and said: “So, they are the ones with the primary merit?”

“I am an honest person, so they truly are the ones with the primary merit. As for your humble servant, I didn’t contribute much effort in the planting and cultivation of the sweet potato.”

If it were someone else, they would of course be eager to exaggerate their own merit to the Emperor. But Fang Jifan clearly understood that this merit was huge enough to share with everyone. Since that was the case, why not display this young lord’s personal charm?

Naturally, what Fang Jifan said wasn’t entirely without reason. Without Zhang Xin and the others putting in the effort, the sweet potato truly couldn’t have been presented today.

“Hoo…” Emperor Hongzhi stood up, clasped his hands behind his back, and paced back and forth. Suddenly, he said excitedly: “The ancestors are protecting us!”

…

“Pass the decree!” After mentioning the ancestors’ protection, Emperor Hongzhi said resolutely: “The Imperial Forest Guard Tuntian Hundred-Household Office shall be promoted to a Colony Thousand Households Office. Fang Jifan shall be the Qian Hu, and Zhang Xin shall be his deputy. All others shall be exceptionally promoted by one rank. Zhang Xin assisted Fang Jifan with great merit—this merit is no less than killing bandits. He is hereby appointed as Viscount of Fengcheng. Chief Banner Officers Yang Da and Zhang Biao are appointed as Hereditary Commanders of a Thousand Households. The others shall also be rewarded according to precedent. Among these people, those who have wives shall be granted appropriate honors and decrees. Furthermore, a stone memorial arch shall be built in the Western Hills to commemorate their achievements!”

Zhang Xin was stunned.

Even he hadn’t expected that he would be directly enfeoffed as a Viscount.

This was a hereditary title that could be passed down through generations, lasting forever. He was the youngest son of Duke of Yingguo. Normally, he couldn’t inherit the title. Although he could become an official through his father’s influence, after a few generations, it would mean nothing.

Farming… actually brought him an Earldom. If someone had said this before, no one would have believed it no matter how hard they tried.

Zhang Xin was extremely excited inside. All the hardships he had endured seemed to be rewarded at once. He knelt directly and said with a choked voice: “Your servant… thanks His Majesty for this grace.”

The others also knelt one after another. Some even cried outright. During these days, they had suffered greatly. Originally, they thought being sent to the Western Hills was a stroke of bad luck. Who would have thought that in the blink of an eye, everyone was promoted and ennobled, and even their descendants would have protection.

Zhang Mao was even more overjoyed. His family now had another Viscount. The Zhang Family… was fortunate! It felt as if the heavy burden that had weighed on his heart for so many years suddenly vanished.

He looked at Fang Jifan with gratitude. How could he not understand now? Without Fang Jifan, his son probably wouldn’t have achieved any great success in his lifetime.

At that moment, Emperor Hongzhi looked at Fang Jifan and said: “Fang Jifan, whatever reward you want, just say it. I will grant you anything.”

… What did I want?

I want to be enfeoffed as a Prince, but I don’t dare say it…

Fang Jifan kept his true thoughts to himself, feeling very uncomfortable. He coughed once before saying: “Your Majesty, my family has received the state’s favor for generations. I have already been appointed as Qian Hu and am endlessly grateful. Your heavenly grace is vast and mighty—how dare I ask for more rewards?”

These words were somewhat insincere, so his heart… hurt a little.

“Oh.” Emperor Hongzhi clasped his hands behind his back and said: “Since you are so noble and virtuous, then pass another decree from me: a stone memorial arch shall also be erected for Fang Jifan, narrating and glorifying his achievements, so that his good name may be passed down for ten thousand generations.”

…

Stone… stone memorial arch.

Fang Jifan cried.

The so-called stone memorial arch was actually similar to a chastity arch. Generally, if a woman maintained her chastity and became widely known, the imperial court or local government would often issue a decree to build an arch for commemoration. This arch was bright and magnificent, standing in the most prominent place in front of the home, with inscriptions describing how the woman upheld her chastity, encouraging everyone to learn from her.

As for the stone memorial arch, it was for men, like Fang Jifan. The imperial court would specially order Hanlin Academicians to write a commemorative article, then build a large plaque on the facade of the Fang Family—certainly dazzling and eye-catching, making all passersby exclaim in praise.

Fang Jifan could even imagine the topics people would praise: “This is that fool who didn’t want rewards, was noble and virtuous, and thus was specially commended by the imperial court.”

Fang Jifan looked up and couldn’t help giving Emperor Hongzhi a resentful look.

Emperor Hongzhi looked at him meaningfully, then said: “Let’s put your matter aside for now. How could I treat you unfairly?”

Fang Jifan then relaxed. Your Majesty, you must be decent.

But at that moment, someone said: “Your servant… congratulates Your Majesty, rejoices for Your Majesty. What your servant should congratulate even more are the countless common people of the world. With this sweet potato, the soldiers and civilians of the world are blessed…”

Then… came the sound of loud weeping.

Everyone looked.

Wasn’t that Liu Daxia, who had just reprimanded Duke of Yingguo, Zhang Mao?

Liu Daxia was a Noble Person, so he first offered congratulations, then mentioned the common people, followed immediately by a great cry. Countless tears fell sincerely. Instantly… everyone regarded him with deep respect!

Although Liu Daxia was only a Director in the Ministry of War’s Bureau of Operations, his moral character was so high and pure, and his care for the common people was truly beyond compare.

Truly worthy of being a Noble Person.

But as he wept, Fang Jifan couldn’t help feeling a bit disgusted.

How to put it? Showing off wasn’t a big deal, but constantly dragging out the poor common people, then crying and wailing—the common people were already poor and miserable. You, an official, they didn’t even eat your rice, yet you mentioned them every day. This wasn’t truly caring for the soldiers and civilians; this was hanging them up with your words and whipping their corpses every day.

The brothers in the Military Agricultural Colony, for the sake of the sweet potato, all worked from dawn to dusk, exhausting themselves. But did they show off like this every day?

Noble Person… I spit!

Fang Jifan narrowed his eyes and sneered inwardly…

If I don’t destroy this hypocrite today, I won’t be surnamed Fang!