Ch.267Knowledge (8)

The peanut’s place of origin was the Brazil region of South America.

If asked how such an item could exist now in the Great Capital, it would be difficult to give a precise answer.

This was because these weren’t actually peanuts from South America, but ordinary beans.

The reason they were called “ground beans” was due to the Mongols’ perspective—they called them ground beans because the beans grew from the ground.

Mongols, or more precisely nomads, had no experience with farming.

As a result, they tended to add the word “ground” to most things harvested from beneath their horses.

So they called beans brought from the Mashriq region “ground beans.”

The problem arose because they didn’t know that beans originally came from Northeast Asia.

In any case, the true identity of what the Mongols called ground beans was actually chickpeas.

These chickpeas were commonly eaten by Arabs, so they were also called Arab beans or Egyptian beans.

However, the Mongols renamed them ground beans, and everyone followed the ruling class’s decision.

“Ground bean oil… how unique.”

Yelu Chucai said this while looking at the oil.

Western Liao extracted most of their oils from animal sources, so this was his first time seeing vegetable oil.

“I also found it strange at first, Your Excellency. I had heard about extracting oil from rapeseed in the Song Dynasty, but this was the first I’d heard of ground bean oil.”

The Song Dynasty was a wealthy nation.

Behind that wealth was overwhelming productivity.

In short, they had enough population to continue labor-intensive agriculture even when growing crops.

Thanks to this, the Song Dynasty could grow rapeseed on a large scale.

Rapeseed was a plant with yellow flowers.

Since an enormous amount of oil could be obtained by lightly roasting and then pressing rapeseed, the Song Dynasty cultivated it extensively.

“Rapeseed. It seems like a good crop to introduce to the Ulus.”

“I think so too. However, I’ve heard that rapeseed requires a lot of water and good soil.”

“It would be difficult to cultivate in the North China Plain where most farmland has been devastated.”

The official nodded at Yelu Chucai’s words.

Since the Ulus had severed relations with the Song Dynasty, they had been paying close attention to food supplies.

This was because they had obtained most of their food from the Song Dynasty.

Therefore, under Gurkhan’s leadership, a food self-sufficiency plan was being implemented.

This self-sufficiency plan included maintaining agricultural productivity in North China while simultaneously restoring soil fertility.

According to this plan, the North China region had entered a double-cropping system of barley and rice.

This double-cropping system wasn’t actually good for restoring soil fertility.

However, it could be used as a means to maintain productivity while minimizing soil depletion.

In such a situation, planting rapeseed, which consumed a lot of soil nutrients, was nonsensical.

“Then are there no problems with these ground beans?”

“That’s correct. In fact, they’re actually helpful.”

“Helpful?”

“When crops grow during cultivation, they deplete the soil’s vitality.”

Yelu Chucai knew about agriculture to some extent from his work as an official.

So he had no trouble understanding the man’s words.

“Land that has grown crops not only becomes lower in quality but also develops acidity.”

“Acidity… does high acidity adversely affect crops?”

“Exactly. When acidity is high, crops don’t grow properly, and the yield decreases.”

“And you’re saying ground beans actually help with this?”

“That’s right. Ground beans not only lower acidity but also help restore soil fertility.”

“Hmm…”

Yelu Chucai seemed lost in thought as he crossed his arms.

Seeing this, the official made a puzzled expression and carefully spoke.

“Perhaps the meal isn’t to your liking…”

“That’s not it. I was just thinking there might be ways to utilize ground beans’ ability to restore soil fertility.”

“By utilizing their soil restoration properties, you mean…?”

In response to the official’s question, Yelu Chucai adjusted his posture.

Then, looking at him, he continued.

“If ground beans help restore soil fertility, wouldn’t other similar crops be possible as well?”

* * *

“I believe it’s entirely possible.”

“We’ll need detailed analysis on this matter, but it seems quite feasible.”

Yelu Chucai nodded at the scholars’ responses from the House of Wisdom.

“Thank you for your assistance.”

“Not at all. We’re glad to be of help to Your Excellency.”

“Please let us know whenever you need assistance.”

“We’ll gather people immediately to discuss this matter.”

The scholars were burning with academic enthusiasm.

This was because their recent interests also involved cultivation matters.

Ever since Gurkhan had issued an edict on increasing agricultural productivity within the Ulus.

“If we publish research related to agriculture that the Khagan is interested in, we could receive more funding.”

“With that funding, we could buy more Buroktan and exercise equipment.”

“More muscles can promote more research!”

“…”

Yelu Chucai couldn’t say anything in response to the scholars’ fanatical words.

The House of Wisdom scholars were completely different from the scholars he had seen in his childhood.

Typically, researchers were often physically weak and small due to spending their lives studying.

Additionally, they tended to desire seeing the limits of knowledge.

But the Ulus scholars were different.

They did pursue the limits of knowledge, but there was something different, something alien mixed in.

That was exercise.

So it was hard to tell whether they exercised to research,

Or researched to exercise.

While feeling this sense of incongruity, a robust middle-aged man appeared behind Yelu Chucai.

“Excuse me. Are you the Prime Minister, Your Excellency?”

“Ah… yes. But… who are you…?”

“Haha. Pleased to meet you. I am Batur, chairman of the House of Wisdom.”

“Ah… could you be the one who created the muscle philosophy…?”

“I’m grateful that you recognize me, Your Excellency.”

The House of Wisdom was the Ulus’s top research facility.

As such, Batur’s position as its representative had a status similar to that of the Prime Minister.

At any rate, judging by his scholarly attire and neat hair, he was indeed a scholar.

However, looking at the impressive muscles beneath, he had a body more like a general who roamed battlefields.

Faced with this incongruous combination, Yelu Chucai couldn’t help but swallow hard.

Seeing this, Batur handed something to Yelu Chucai.

“What is this?”

“It’s Buroktan. You looked thirsty.”

“Ha… haha… no… I’m fine.”

“That’s good then. This was the last Buroktan I had.”

“May I ask what that means?”

“It’s a gesture of hospitality.”

“I’ll… I’ll drink it.”

“You don’t have to force yourself, Your Excellency.”

“No… it’s fine.”

Yelu Chucai was afraid of what might happen if he appeared to disregard the gesture.

So he closed his eyes tightly and drank the Buroktan Batur had handed him in one gulp.

“Phew…”

“Haha. It’s good to see you drink it well.”

“I’m… glad.”

“Now that the hospitality ritual is complete, I’ll begin the tour of the House of Wisdom.”

With these words, Batur led Yelu Chucai into the House of Wisdom.

“This area is for engineering and mathematics. Over there is architecture, administration, and…”

The House of Wisdom had different areas for different fields of knowledge.

Finding this interesting, Yelu Chucai asked Batur a question.

“Is there a reason for these separate areas?”

“There’s no particular reason… except that the books they mainly read are nearby.”

“If it’s because of books…”

“Many books in the House of Wisdom are old. So there’s a high probability of loss, which is why it’s better to read them nearby.”

“So scholars can move freely if they want?”

Batur nodded.

Then he pointed to a desk in the center of the House of Wisdom.

There, many scholars with bare upper bodies were engaged in Bokh wrestling or debates.

“They usually gather there to share their different knowledge.”

“…Through Bokh wrestling?”

“Since they know very different things, sometimes a manly solution is needed.”

Yelu Chucai nodded at Batur’s somewhat reasonable explanation.

Anyway, after touring most of the House of Wisdom’s interior, they finally reached their destination, the agricultural section.

“This area is where scholars dealing with agriculture, biology, herbology, and irrigation gather.”

“That’s fortunate. Could I meet the scholar who leads this section?”

“Of course.”

Batur nodded and informed another scholar of something.

That scholar then went inside and returned with two people.

An elderly scholar and a younger scholar who appeared to be his assistant bowed when they saw Yelu Chucai.

“It’s an honor to meet the Prime Minister of Western Liao. I am Alexis. And this is Yelu Chucai.”

At the elderly scholar’s words, the young scholar bowed.

When Yelu Chucai’s eyes met with the young scholar’s, he couldn’t help but look surprised.

“You have the same name as me. Are you perhaps a descendant of the Yelu clan?”

The imperial family of the Liao Dynasty was the Yelu clan.

So it was natural to wonder if they were from the same family.

“Yes. I am a descendant of Prince Tie Gong, the seventh-generation descendant of Shengwang.”

Shengwang referred to Emperor Shengzong, the sixth king of the Liao Dynasty.

Because he had many children, numerous Yelu clan branches emerged from Shengzong.

Yelu Chucai was from one of these branches and was originally a member of the imperial family.

However, with the Ulus invasion causing Western Liao’s downfall and the Yelu clan’s demotion from imperial family to ordinary noble family, Yelu Chucai, being from a branch family, had become a somewhat well-off middle-class commoner.

“I never expected to meet a relative here. It’s a pleasure.”

In response to Yelu Chucai’s greeting, Yelu Chucai replied with a bright smile.