Chapter 19: Have You No Shame Left?

When Old Zhu emerged from the great hall, he clutched his chest, fearful that anyone might hear the shattering sound of his heart breaking. Last time, Qin Feng had emptied his secret treasury, and now he had set fire to the entire fifty thousand mu of the Shanglin Garden. At this rate, with Qin Feng wreaking havoc like this, not only would the flourishing age be out of reach, even the foundation of the Hongwu reign would be completely squandered in just a few years. What made it worse was that Old Zhu had to speak up for Qin Feng at court; otherwise, he would be slapping his own face. Now, Old Zhu felt his heart ached more than his pride. That wretched Qin Feng! Emptying my secret treasury was one thing, but now he wouldn’t even spare the freshly built Shanglin Garden! What on earth was he trying to do?

Wang Jinghong looked at Old Zhu anxiously and asked, “Your Majesty, are you alright?” Old Zhu clutched his chest, took a deep breath, and ordered, “Prepare a carriage for me! I will personally ask Qin Feng what he’s up to.”

The fire in Shanglin Garden raged for three days and nights before finally dying down. The lush, verdant imperial garden was now reduced to ashes, leveled to the ground. But to Qin Feng, this was only the beginning. The tens of thousands of mu of land hidden beneath the vegetation appeared fertile. Now, with the soil mixed with wood ash from the fire, the earth was richer than ever. If he planted crops in such fertile soil, increasing grain output would be a cinch. Moreover, the superior seedlings he had obtained from Old Zhu’s treasury meant that with some effort and cultivation, producing hybrid rice was only a matter of time. When the fifty thousand mu of Shanglin Garden yielded an astronomical harvest, it would surely shock Old Zhu.

With over half a year until spring planting, Qin Feng planned to devote his time to cultivating superior hybrid rice varieties. Among the black-clad men who had joined Qin Feng, the leader was a man named Daniu. Daniu approached the commander Zhou Huang and whispered, “Commander, why would our official burn such a fine imperial garden?” Zhou Huang replied coldly, “Ask fewer questions. Just do what Qin Grand Tutor orders.” Daniu obediently shut his mouth, sighing inwardly: such a beautiful forest, destroyed on a whim.

Suddenly, a formidable force of thousands of imperial guards marched towards Shanglin Garden. Zhou Huang’s face turned grim as he hurriedly warned Qin Feng, “Grand Tutor Qin, those are the Emperor’s personal guards!” What? The fire in the imperial garden had alarmed the Emperor himself?

The black-clad men led by Daniu grew fearful. They were all offenders in the eyes of the court, and the Emperor was coming personally. Qin Feng rolled his eyes and said, “Why run? With me here, what’s there to fear? I’ll speak to His Majesty on your behalf, spare your lives for now, and let you redeem yourselves by merit.” Daniu’s legs turned weak as he whimpered, “But that’s the Emperor!” “So what? He won’t eat you. Get back to work! There’s plenty of wild game that perished in the fire. Hurry and gather it with your men.” Daniu understood at once and rushed with his comrades into the ashes of Shanglin Garden.

Qin Feng stood before the garden’s official residence, grinning as he awaited Old Zhu’s arrival. When Old Zhu stepped down from his sedan chair, everyone knelt. “His Majesty’s esteemed presence graces us; Qin Feng is unworthy of such honor.” Seeing Qin Feng, Old Zhu’s anger flared, and he raised his leg to kick him. “You wretched boy! This destruction is your doing! My imperial garden—ruined by your hand!” The sight of the burnt Shanglin Garden made Old Zhu’s heart bleed.

Qin Feng held his head apologetically. “Your Majesty, this was to secure grain supplies. Otherwise, how could I dare?” Old Zhu’s fury boiled over, eyes blazing, “You’d better explain yourself clearly, or I will have you beaten to death.” Inside the garden’s official residence, Old Zhu sat in the grand council chair, his face darkening with each glance at Qin Feng. Qin Feng’s position at court was so exalted he might well be called the most favored minister of the Ming Dynasty. Many courtiers hoped to see Old Zhu crush Qin Feng, but he had steadfastly protected him. If he didn’t cherish such favor, not even immortals could save him.

“Your Majesty, please restrain your anger! When you first tasked me with securing grain, I remembered the ten thousand mu of arable land in Shanglin Garden and thought to borrow it for use.” Old Zhu bellowed, “Ten thousand mu of farmland in Shanglin Garden? Isn’t it all—” Suddenly, he stopped mid-sentence, sensing something. He rushed out of the residence and, seeing the garden’s current state, was stunned. At last, he grasped Qin Feng’s true intention behind burning the forest. “You intend to use slash-and-burn agriculture?” Qin Feng smiled, “Your Majesty’s insight is sharp. To boost grain yields, this is the only way.” “You wretched boy, I almost misunderstood you. You may all leave; I want to speak with Grand Tutor Qin alone.” With that, Old Zhu dismissed the onlookers.

“Are people still starving six hundred years hence?” Over these days, Old Zhu had gradually accepted Qin Feng’s identity as a man from the future. “In six hundred years, people will no longer worry about food. Grain yields start at a thousand jin per mu.” Old Zhu’s eyes lit up with excitement as he asked, “Can this ten thousand mu of farmland really produce a thousand jin per mu?” “I want to try. With over half a year before next spring’s planting, I’ll focus on cultivating superior seedlings.” “Qin Feng! If you can truly achieve a thousand jin per mu, you will be the greatest hero of Ming! Then the people will no longer starve.” Qin Feng thought privately: Who wants to be a hero? What if you chop me down one day?

“No, no, if I do succeed, it will be Your Majesty’s merit.” “You provided me with high-quality seedlings and even contributed Shanglin Garden as farmland.” “Such a benefit to the nation and the people will surely cause the populace to praise Your Majesty.” Old Zhu beamed at Qin Feng. “Qin Feng, since I have entrusted you with this task, you must do well and not disappoint me!” “The Crown Prince and I will do everything in court to protect you; you only need to handle the grain procurement.” “When you produce grain yielding a thousand jin per mu, that will silence the critics.” Qin Feng said, “Your Majesty, there is something I must report.” “What is it?” “Someone sent a group of desperados to assassinate me. Fortunately, three thousand infantry protected me; otherwise, you might never see me again.” Old Zhu’s face darkened in anger, “In broad daylight, under the clear sky—who dares attempt to assassinate you?” “However, I have subdued these desperados and plan to have them farm the land to redeem themselves.” Old Zhu was dumbfounded, speechless, “You… you want a band of desperados to farm the land?” Qin Feng rubbed his hands, grinning mischievously, “Heh heh, supporting hundreds of people requires some funds. Could Your Majesty grant me some silver?” Old Zhu was momentarily stunned but replied expressionlessly, “Begone!” My secret treasury has already been emptied by you! And now you shamelessly ask me for money? Have you no shame?