The emperor recruited Zhou Man back to Beijing, firstly because of Mr. Wei's illness, and secondly because of the new rice seeds.
He also knew that the Zhou family was Zhou Man's caller. If it was just a reward, it would be the same to issue an imperial decree and send her to Qingzhou. The reason why she was called back was to discuss the cultivation and purchase of rice seeds with the Ministry of Households and Sinong Temple.
The court meeting just ended, Zhou Man was thinking of leaving the palace to go home for a rest, but he was stopped by Gu Zhong when he left the palace gate.
He bent down and smiled, "Lord Zhou, His Majesty wants to see you."
But he didn't leave yet, but waited for a while, and when Yang Heshu came out, he said to him: "Master Yang, Your Majesty has summoned you."
The two looked at each other, nodded with Tang He who came out together, and went to the apse with Gu Zhong.
The emperor sat for almost a day. Although he took a break and went to the toilet, he was still very tired at the moment. He was walking around with his neck turned. When he turned his head and saw the prince sitting firmly on the chair, he pointed at him. Said: "You move too."
Prince: "... Father, my son and minister are not tired."
The emperor didn't believe it, and was about to tell him, when Yang, Shu and Zhou Man arrived.
The emperor asked people to come in and asked the two to sit down, "I haven't eaten lunch yet, I have asked people to prepare some meals and refreshments, let's talk while eating."
Zhou Man and Yang Heshu bowed down and sat down opposite the prince.
Both Zhou Man and Yang Heshu had the experience of eating at the same table with the emperor, so they were not nervous, just a little reserved.
The emperor was also tired today and didn't want to exchange pleasantries, so he said directly: "I have read the recorded data, and the two rice seeds that can be used now are only in your family. I will ask the Ministry of Households to purchase the seeds with you. Bo is in charge, Ziqian, as you know, the national treasury has spent a lot this year, and now there is not much money in the treasury..."
Zhou Man was stunned for a moment before realizing that the words were addressed to herself. The emperor seldom called her own name, and she was not used to it. She trembled and said hurriedly: "Your Majesty, don't say that, the price I can buy it at a lower price than the normal price, so as to share the worries of His Majesty."
Yang Heshu, who was sitting beside him, cleared his throat, and after attracting Zhou Man's attention, he asked, "Is this normal price the normal price of seeds, or the normal price of grain?"
The emperor also squinted his eyes and looked at Zhou Man with a smile.
Zhou Man: "... What does Your Majesty think?"
The emperor turned to look at the prince, "What does the prince think?"
Prince: ...
Yang Heshu moved his feet slightly, stepped on Zhou Man's toes with a little force, and Zhou Man said with a smile: "Of course it is based on the normal price of grain. Your Majesty is so kind, and the minister's family can't repay it..."
The emperor smiled and said: "I can't let you suffer too much, so let's charge it at the normal price. It doesn't have to be cheap, so that the Ministry of Household Affairs will not bully you in the future."
Yang Heshu: ... Isn't the household department still your household department
The big head gave way, and Zhou Man didn't care about the small head anymore, so he declined, insisting that this is what she should do, and she did it voluntarily.
The emperor was happy, so he pointed to a fish soup and asked Gu Zhong to fill her with two spoons, and said with a smile: "This fish soup is delicious."
Zhou Man took a bite, exhaled secretly, raised his head and smiled at the emperor, "It's delicious, Your Majesty, I have something to report."
"What's up?"
Zhou Man put down his spoon and said, "Qingzhou Medical Department has opened three hospitals, but it still cannot allow the people in Qingzhou to enjoy the benefits of the medical department, let alone other local medical departments."
"Medical offices in various places need a lot of doctors. In addition, there are also management and miscellaneous officials needed by the medical offices. They are all in short supply," Zhou Man said, "I would like to ask Your Majesty to expand the enrollment scope of the Imperial Medical Office, or to be admitted in the Imperial College examination." Add one item, when the time comes, the Supervisory Office will cooperate to train some talents for the Imperial Medical Office.”
This is not a small matter, although it is trivial, but it has far-reaching effects, the emperor also put down his chopsticks, the handkerchief wiped his mouth and asked, "Is there any more?"
Zhou Man just smiled and said: "There is also the matter of the reform of the prefectural and county medical bureaus. I have previously stated this matter."
The emperor looked at the prince, "I remember that you endorsed this earlier, can you agree?"
The prince said calmly: "Many people agree with this idea."
The emperor squinted his eyes at the prince, "What about those who disagree?"
The prince said: "Father, the students of the Imperial Medical Office are now playing a very important role in the army. In addition, the medicines produced by the Imperial Medical Office are not profitable, but they can cover a lot of expenses. I think this is okay."
Zhou Man nodded repeatedly and persuaded the emperor, "Your Majesty, don't think that the medical department is operating at a loss. After a long time, it will definitely make money. Even if it doesn't make money, it won't lose as much as it does now."
"And think about it, how many ordinary people can the medical department save? The money lost is also used on your people, and they are all your children..."
The emperor was drinking soup and choked on it.
The prince gave Zhou Man a dark look, and together with Gu Zhong, he helped his father wipe his clothes.
The emperor nodded at Zhou Man from a distance, feeling amused, but after a short pause, he said: "I heard that the Bai family also planted many new rice varieties in Longzhou, and the harvest is not bad at all compared to Qingzhou and Mianzhou."
Zhou Man was silent for a while, and finally gritted his teeth and said, "Okay, I'll give you the regular price."
The emperor emphasized: "It is a regular price for the Ministry of Households."
Zhou Man nodded perfunctorily, aren't they all the same
This meal, the host and guest enjoyed themselves, at least on the surface.
The emperor waited for Yang and Shu Zhouman to go far away, then sighed with the crown prince, "If only those old foxes in the court were as straightforward as Zhou Man."
The prince slandered, Ziqian when there is something to do, and Zhou Man when there is nothing to do.
But he still nodded and praised, "She is young after all, she doesn't take self-interest very seriously."
And Zhou Man, who was walking out of the palace with Yang Heshu, was pinching his fingers and doing mental calculations.
Yang Heshu glanced at her several times, and couldn't help asking, "What are you?"
Zhou Man: "I'll calculate how many years I have to plant the newly acquired land of the princess to get back the money I gave up today."
Yang Heshu couldn't help laughing after hearing this, "Then you must have earned it. It's not an honor, but if it's just the value of the fief, it won't take a few years to earn it back, and the fief is for a lifetime. You try to live to be eighty years old. Then there are still nearly sixty years to go, if the emperor's grace is great, your title can be taken by someone at that time, and you can leave some for future generations, it will be even more profitable."
When Zhou Man heard it, his heart stopped hurting immediately, and he nodded repeatedly: "Good idea."
Yang Heshu laughed out loud, and asked, "Isn't it much happier when you think about it this way?"
Zhou Man nodded. Seeing him smiling like this, he couldn't help saying: "Brother Yang, you cheated me with His Majesty just now."
Yang Heshu said: "I am in charge of the government. I am now a member of the Ministry of Accounting. I am a buyer and you are a seller. Naturally, I want to maximize the interests of the Ministry of Accounting."
Zhou Man thought about it, and skipped the matter, "Brother, my price is already very low, and your household department can't suppress my money by then."
Yang Heshu smiled and said, "Don't worry, I will definitely give you the exact amount on time."
Zhou Man felt relieved.