Chapter 578: The unsung heroes
With only a small portion left behind, everything else was swiftly carried off to the palace and sent to the food storage before it could be loaded and taken away. Earlier in the day, the minister for agriculture and a few officials who worked in that department had been invited to give their opinions on the new improved seeds and also discuss which parts of the empire needed them more than others. Chi Lian had not been invited to this meeting as she did not seek recognition or a reward for the cultivation of the seeds.
The invited officials, together with other members of the royal family were the first to taste the corn which was boiled and roasted.
"It’s good, your majesty, and the size is standard." the minister commented. "If the quality for all the seeds can be similar to this then the corn can be grown for exportation."
The grand emperor shook his head, agreeing with the minister. "It’s a bit lacking in taste to what we usually eat though." he said.
"Is there another breed that is different from this?" the minister asked curiously.
"There is." the emperor confirmed, "But the yield is too small and further attempts to increase the yield result in rotting." He gave the answer Chi Lian had once given to him.
"That’s too bad." the minister sighed and he said, "There is no lack for wealthy people who would pay top coin for good quality ingredients. I thought we would have the opportunity to exploit that angle. But, your majesty, will we have the opportunity to meet the researchers behind the improved seed breed?"
Pretending to think about it for a seconds, the emperor shook his head and replied slowly, as if he was thinking about deeply, "This team wishes to remain anonymous and I will allow it to stay that way. Exposing them might attract the wrong the wrong kind of attention."
Brilliant scientists in varying nations were always being poached or killed off accidentally. Chi Lian was a valuable asset to their royal family, she had to be protected tightly. "Anyway, have you prepared a list of the regions which need these seeds more urgently than others? The North should come first, most of the central and south is thriving so they can wait."