Chapter 507: Giving You Some Celestial Fertilizer
In Shaanxi Province, within the Governor's Yamen in Xi'an Prefecture.
Shaanxi Governor Wang Shunxing was anxiously scanning through reports arriving from various regions, a troubled frown etched on his face.
Good news was scarce, to say the least.
The pacification policy spearheaded by Yang He, the Supreme Commander of Shaanxi's three border regions, could only be described as a dismal failure.
Ever since the main rebel force had crossed the Yellow River into Shanxi, the largest remaining rebel faction within Shaanxi was that of the northern rebels, the Shen Yikui and Shen Yiyuan brothers.
Yang He had dispatched Ningzhou magistrate Zhou Riqiang and others to offer them amnesty and pacification.
After Shen Yikui agreed, on the ninth day of the third month, he sent over sixty leaders, including Sun Jiye and Ru Chengming, with their followers to Ningzhou to accept the pacification. They also returned Magistrate Jiang Yingchang of Heshui and the seal of Bao'an County. To publicize this event, Yang He ordered Zhou Riqiang to set up a dragon pavilion on the city wall. The "pacified" leaders were led to prostrate themselves before the pavilion, shouting "Long live the Emperor!" Then they proceeded to the yamen to pay respects to Yang He, and finally went together to the Guandi Temple to swear an oath.
After this elaborate spectacle, the pacification agreement was essentially reached. On the sixteenth, Shen Yikui personally traveled to Ningzhou to meet the Supreme Commander. Yang He, assuming a posture of both leniency and intimidation, first enumerated ten "crimes" committed by Shen Yikui, then declared an imperial pardon. He bestowed upon Shen Yikui a commission as a garrison commander and distributed "famine relief tickets" to the surrendered men, ordering them to disband and return to their hometowns.
Following Shen Yikui's pacification, other rebel leaders such as Shang Tianlong, Wang Laohu, Duxinglang, and Hao Lin'an also surrendered and accepted the amnesty.
But such peace was destined to be fleeting and useless. The rebels behaved docilely when accepting pacification, but once the "return home" phase began, a myriad of chaotic incidents erupted. They murdered, set fires, and robbed, filling the surrounding villages with complaints and grievances.
Yang He desperately tried to maintain the pacification of Shen Yikui, but other factions proved uncontrollable. The forces of Li Laochai and Duxinglang, who had only recently been pacified, rebelled again, capturing Zhongbu County (modern Huangling County, Shaanxi).
No sooner had one crisis been averted than another arose; Yang He's pacification efforts had become an unmanageable mess.
Shaanxi Governor Wang Shunxing finished reading the reports and let out a long sigh. "What are we to do?" he murmured.
Just then, a subordinate entered to announce, "The Judicial Commissioner of Xi'an, Shi Kefa, requests an audience."
Wang Shunxing's brow lifted. "Oh? Commissioner Shi? Show him in."
Soon, Shi Kefa entered. Curiously, as he came in, he held a handful of wheat stalks in his left hand and a dirty burlap sack in his right. These two items were utterly incongruous with his official robes.
Wang Shunxing blinked. "Commissioner Shi, what is the meaning of this?"
Shi Kefa's face glowed with excitement. "Governor, please look," he urged, "can you discern anything from this handful of wheat stalks?"
Wang Shunxing stared intently at it for a good while. "What about it?" he finally asked.
Shi Kefa paused, a flicker of exasperation crossing his face.
Alright, Shi Kefa conceded internally. The Governor, having spent so long in officialdom, was clearly out of touch with agriculture. He had no choice but to explain directly: "These wheat stalks are exceptionally lush. Just by looking at them, you can tell this year's yield will definitely double!"
"Oh!" Wang Shunxing finally understood. "Doubling grain yields? Now *that* would be quite remarkable."
Shi Kefa continued, his face alight with excitement. "This burlap sack in my hand holds the key to doubling grain yields! It's called celestial fertilizer. I'm told it's made from some kind of mineral treated with sulfuric acid – I haven't quite grasped the specifics. In any case, there are artisans who know how to produce it. With this celestial fertilizer, wheat grows as robustly as the stalks I'm holding!"
Wang Shunxing, hearing this, couldn't help but let out an exclamation of surprise, his interest piqued. "This substance is so potent? Then it should be vigorously promoted! Mobilize artisans at once to produce it in large quantities!"
Shi Kefa was overjoyed. "The Governor has agreed?"
Suddenly, Wang Shunxing felt something was amiss. He slapped his forehead. "Wait a moment," he said, "producing this stuff requires a large number of artisans, right? Artisans need wages. And for its manufacture, what was it, sulfuric acid and some kind of mineral? Mining requires miners, and they need wages too."
Shi Kefa's excitement visibly deflated.
Wang Shunxing continued, "After this celestial fertilizer is produced, it must be distributed to farmers. They certainly won't trust it at first, so initially, it will have to be provided for free. Only after they've seen its effectiveness can we sell it to them. In other words, a huge sum of money is required for the initial investment."
Shi Kefa let out a long, weary sigh. "Indeed," he conceded.
Wang Shunxing spread his hands, a helpless shrug. "This official has no money!"
Shi Kefa pressed on, "We could petition the court, and ask the Emperor for—"
Wang Shunxing shook his head without a second thought. "Impossible! Shaanxi has long delayed submitting its taxes. Each time the Emperor demands taxes from us, this official claims there's nothing to collect, that the revenues aren't coming in. 'No money, just my life,' is my usual refrain. Tell me, under these circumstances, if we ask for money, what will the Emperor say?"
Shi Kefa was momentarily speechless. After a long moment, he said dejectedly, "The Emperor would likely adopt the same attitude: 'No money, just my life.'"
"Exactly," Wang Shunxing agreed. "That's precisely the situation."
Shi Kefa gritted his teeth. "Shouldn't we seize this incredible opportunity to double grain yields, and cling to it with all our might?"
Wang Shunxing sighed. "As a provincial governor, I certainly wish to improve agricultural production in my jurisdiction more than a judicial commissioner. But... there's truly nothing that can be done."
Just then, another subordinate rushed in from outside. "Magistrate Liang Shixian of Chengcheng County has sent a letter," he announced, "and requests the Governor's perusal."
Wang Shunxing exclaimed in surprise. "Chengcheng County Magistrate? Let me see."
Shi Kefa's spirits lifted. He had just come from Chengcheng County, and the things he had witnessed there would forever be etched in his memory. He was even more interested in Liang Shixian's letter than Wang Shunxing.
Moments later, the letter was delivered.
Wang Shunxing unfolded it and began to read, with Shi Kefa craning his neck, peering over his shoulder. Neither had expected what they saw; both were momentarily stunned. The letter, it turned out, was an offer of aid.
In the letter, Liang Shixian stated that Chengcheng County was also a part of Shaanxi, and could not bear to see the people of Shaanxi displaced and suffering. Therefore, they were willing to provide a large batch of celestial fertilizer to Shaanxi for free. They would even send instructors to teach the non-affected populace how to use it.
Of course, this free provision was limited to one year, as a trial. If the results were good and they wished to continue using it, then next year... ahem... they would have to purchase it themselves.
Wang Shunxing and Shi Kefa, of course, had no concept of the future marketing tactic of giving away free samples before selling a product. Upon reading this, they found the Chengcheng County Magistrate remarkably strange. He was actually willing to give away celestial fertilizer for free! What an incredibly benevolent soul!
Shi Kefa exclaimed, "Governor, this is a heaven-sent opportunity! We must immediately accept this batch of celestial fertilizer and distribute it to the farmers who haven't been affected by the disasters. Shaanxi's grain yields will undoubtedly skyrocket, and perhaps even alleviate the rebel unrest!"
Wang Shunxing's spirits also lifted. "Excellent!" he declared. "Commissioner Shi, since you've just returned from there, I'll trouble you to make another trip and bring this batch of celestial fertilizer back."
Shi Kefa bowed with clasped hands. "This official will certainly handle this matter flawlessly," he affirmed.
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