For nearly an entire month, Yun Shu had been tirelessly seeking suitable instructors for Tian Sheng Academy.
So much so that even Emperor Xuanwu—who had originally handed the entire matter over to her without any intention of intervening—could not help but ask a question after morning court one day.
"We have heard from Grand Preceptor Ye that you have been distributing a book titled Fundamentals of Mathematics across the realm, urging the people to study it in earnest. Is this true?"
"That is correct," Yun Shu answered without hesitation. "Tian Sheng Academy will offer this course in the future, but few people truly understand it. For now, I can only cast a wide net and see which among them excels in their studies. When the Academy officially opens its doors, we'll have a better idea of who is fit to teach."
Her expression turned somewhat troubled.
"Mathematics is extremely important."
"Oh?" Emperor Xuanwu raised an eyebrow. "And how important is it?"
"I cannot say precisely how far it will take our dynasty," Yun Shu said, choosing her words with care, "but Your Daughter has already taken the time to study the entire 'Fundamentals of Mathematics' book. I discovered that it offers a remarkably simple and efficient way to solve many practical problems—be it dam construction, housing projects, or even weapon-making. All these require mathematical knowledge."
Her tone grew more impassioned as she continued.
"If we can continue developing this field, it will certainly prove invaluable. Perhaps... its potential has no limits."
"No limits?" The Emperor's brows rose slightly.
Such a lofty evaluation? Emperor Xuanwu fell into thoughtful silence, then gave a small nod.
"We skimmed through that 'Fundamentals of Mathematics' ourselves. Much of its content is indeed unlike anything we've ever seen. Where did you find this book?"
"The Liu family's trade caravan brought it back from overseas."
This excuse was proving exceedingly useful. Thankfully, the Liu family had their trade routes. Without them, Yun Shu truly would not have known how to explain where these things came from.
Relieved, she mentally praised her foresight, then earnestly began what she privately called her "reverse-parenting campaign."
"Father Emperor, while we remain unaware, those overseas nations are constantly evolving. I believe that if we do not strive to grow ourselves—while also learning from others—we will one day be left behind."
"...Hmm."
Overseas nations? Weren't they just small, insignificant places like Wa and Annam?
And yet, they possessed knowledge even Tian Sheng had never developed...
Emperor Xuanwu instinctively furrowed his brow, momentarily considering the matter from the perspective of a ruler.
But in the next instant, his expression relaxed.
What did it matter whether those countries were strong or not? One day, his child would unify them all.
Why worry?
Pushing the matter aside, Emperor Xuanwu turned to another subject.
"And what of this agricultural course? We are told you have been seeking out farmers whose yields far surpass the norm. Do you truly intend to have them instruct the common folk in their methods?"
"Well..." Yun Shu, who just moments ago had spoken so confidently about mathematics, now scratched her head awkwardly.
"Father Emperor, did you know that even flowers and trees are divided into male and female?"
Emperor Xuanwu: "?"
What in the world?
He paused for a moment, unsure of how to respond. Then, he suddenly asked:
"In the Erya, there is a passage that says, 'The mulberry petal bears fruit, the gardenia does not.' Could this be what you are referring to?"
"It very well could be!"
No need to rummage through ancient texts—Yun Shu eagerly nodded.
"Just think about it. When two people come together, the result may be a genius child, or a child born with defects. Horses too—some pairings produce excellent runners, while others do not. A horse and a donkey can even produce a mule!
So I started wondering... If plants also have male and female varieties, is it not possible that crossbreeding two specific strains of rice might produce an extraordinary seed, one capable of yielding harvests as abundant as Tudou or sweet potatoes—over a thousand jin per mu?"
Emperor Xuanwu: "..."
At first glance, it sounded absurd. But when one thought more carefully, it actually made a great deal of sense.
Of course, this was merely her hypothesis. Verifying it would take years of time and effort.
And if it failed in the end, her proposal to establish an agricultural department at Tian Sheng Academy could become a prime target for her opponents.
Perhaps it was wiser to...
[Simulation Life Selection System now active.]
[Please choose your next course of action:
A. Persuade Yun Shu to abandon the idea of founding an agricultural department and conducting related experiments.
B. Allow Yun Shu to proceed as she wishes.
C. During the upcoming spring plowing ceremony, bring Yun Shu to the imperial estate outside the capital.]
The sudden appearance of the glowing interface caused Emperor Xuanwu's heart to skip a beat.
Based on past experience, the presence of options always meant one thing: the guesses Xiao Wu had just made were likely to come true.
Without hesitation, Emperor Xuanwu immediately selected the first option.
As expected, the response confirmed his suspicions.
[You chose A. Yun Shu reluctantly obeys the order to halt her plans. It is not until she ascends the throne that she revisits the matter and orders the Academy to establish an agricultural department.
However, due to her duties as the reigning monarch, she is unable to oversee the project herself. It takes fifty years for the high-yield hybrid rice to be successfully developed.]
Next!
[You chose B. Yun Shu personally selects a group of skilled farmers and shares her ideas with them. She visits the fields multiple times to monitor progress and offer support.
Though some officials grumble about her involvement, with her unwavering backing, the hybrid rice is successfully developed within twenty years.]
Twenty years! A long time, perhaps—but the benefit would endure for generations.
Over a thousand jin per mu! And all the Ministry of Revenue had to do was finance it for twenty years.
That was nothing in comparison.
Eyes shining with excitement, Emperor Xuanwu turned to the third option.
[You chose C. Yun Shu encounters a true agricultural prodigy at the imperial estate. The hybrid rice is successfully developed in ten years.]
Ten years! Only ten years!
Were Yun Shu not still standing nearby, Emperor Xuanwu might have burst into jubilant laughter right then and there.
He stared at the final line with gleeful intensity, reading it again and again before eagerly closing the screen and awaiting the next round of choices.
[Please select the related future image you wish to view (note: only one may be chosen):
A. Image of the "Father of Hybrid Rice" resting under a rice stalk in another world, another timeline.
B. Comments from netizens in that alternate world regarding the "Father of Hybrid Rice."
C. Official summary of the "Father of Hybrid Rice's" achievements in that alternate world.]
===
"尔雅" Erya
The Erya is the oldest known Chinese dictionary or glossary, dating back to the Warring States period (475–221 BCE). It organizes words by categories such as animals, plants, kinship terms, etc. Many later scholars considered it a Confucian classic because of its role in explaining classical literature and ritual texts.
The Quotation:
"桑瓣有葚,栀."
桑 (sāng): Mulberry tree
瓣 (bàn): Petal or flower bract
葚 (rèn): The fruit of the mulberry tree (the mulberries)
栀 (zhī): Refers to the Zhī plant, most commonly interpreted as the gardenia (Gardenia jasminoides), a flowering plant that doesn't bear edible fruit
So the line can be interpreted as:
"The mulberry petal bears fruit, the gardenia does not."
This passage is often cited in ancient botanical texts to illustrate early observations of plant reproductive behavior. While not using modern biological terms like "male" and "female," it hints at the notion of functional fertility and sterility in different plants.
In classical interpretation:
Mulberry is fruit-bearing, thus viewed as "fertile."
Gardenia is flowering but not fruit-bearing, seen as "infertile."