Onmyoji, a nobleman in Heian-kyo

Page 1338

After muttering a bitter complaint to himself, Kousaka Kyosuke tried his best to improve Onikiri's mental state.

Judging from Onikiri's current situation, he is definitely not thinking about revenge anymore, but is pursuing some so-called ideals.

The dialogue suggests that they hope for mutual understanding between humans and monsters.

He is a typical supporter of the "human-demon coexistence" concept, exactly the same as Seimei's.

Kousaka Kyosuke began to suspect that Seimei had once shared his ideas with Onikiri.

It's not impossible.

Seimei himself often mentioned the concept of "coexistence between humans and demons" to Kousaka Kyosuke, probably because Kousaka Kyosuke's manor did not exclude some yokai from entering.

Actually, this is related to Princess Goldfish.

After all, Princess Goldfish was one of his close companions, and he couldn't possibly exclude her fellow creatures.

Especially considering that her own kind, the water tribe, are a group of peaceful and unassuming monsters.

Moreover, a great war is coming soon, and the group of aquatic monsters led by the Lord of Arakawa are an ally that no other force can match.

Of course, Kyosuke Kousaka would never reveal his true intentions.

When they arrived at Kuro Seimei's residence, Kousaka Kyosuke finally breathed a sigh of relief—for the time being, he wouldn't have to be given any pep talks!

"Oh? So what if they're starting to build up an army in Kyoto? Are they trying to intimidate me? Hehehe..."

As soon as Kosaka Kyosuke finished recounting the events, Kuro Seimei gave a cold laugh.

Onikiri immediately said, "Kuro Seimei, I know you've always rejected humans, believing that humans and yokai cannot coexist with them. But under the current circumstances, isn't 'temporary coexistence' possible?"

"Hmph, humans are really fragile. When they lack strength, they only think of relying on external forces?"

“I understand that everything you do is for the future of the monsters, and that is why you should not refuse.”

"You should know just how arrogant the people of Kyoto, who rule the world, are, right? Come up with a suitable offer before you speak to me."

Kuro Seimei spoke with little interest.

Kousaka Kyosuke thought for a moment and said, "You still owe me food."

"..."

Kuro Seimei, who was still leisurely waving his folding fan, stiffened slightly.

The Great Tengu behind him couldn't hold back any longer: "Kyosuke, do you think Lord Kuro Seimei can't pay back the debt?"

The snow woman beside him didn't say anything, but the temperature around him was noticeably colder.

Oh no, the ground is frozen over.

"No, I'm just regaining my composure. Kuro Seimei, you've been too aggressive, so I have to put a blow to your arrogance. Have you ever heard the saying, 'Even a hero can be brought down by a penny'?"

"Even the most renowned heroes are helpless when they're broke. Well, so now... as the debtor, isn't it reasonable for me to ask you to be a little more polite?"

Kyosuke Kosaka spoke with a very serious demeanor.

Kuro Seimei's eyes twitched: "The matter of the debt won't be resolved so quickly, and I still need to borrow some more grain."

"Oh, right! I just remembered something—"

Kyosuke Kosaka suddenly thought of corn, and reflexively looked at Onikiri, but then thought for a moment and kept his mouth shut.

We still need to talk to Fujiwara no Michitsuna.

Otherwise, it would be inconvenient to have Onikiri relay the message to Minamoto no Yorimitsu so that he could spread the word and provide support, which might be more effective than the Taoist priest.

"Is there something you need?" Onikiri asked.

Kyosuke Kosaka said, "Wait a moment, the issue of food is definitely something that needs to be addressed first."

The corn is almost ready, and then the mature seeds will be ready as well.

Sowing them one by one as seeds in various places is the most valuable approach.

It has too many advantages at present - it has low requirements for the growing environment, high yield, fast maturity, and almost no disadvantages!

Therefore, it is indeed necessary to promote it as soon as possible.

"In some ways, your abilities are indeed irreplaceable," Kuro Seimei sighed, having vaguely discerned something.

Kousaka Kyosuke was speechless.

How can I still talk to him so naturally after shamelessly continuing to borrow money?

Forget it, I'll go ask Fujiwara no Michitsuna now.

"You flatter me," said Kyosuke Kosaka. "Then you can continue communicating with Onikiri for now, and I'll go and take care of the food matters."

Even if the corn is not yet ripe for planting, it is still necessary to prepare the planting conditions in advance.

In that case, we can immediately plant, produce, and store more food to prepare for the future... Hmm, maybe Fujiwara no Michitsuna is already making preparations.

We can't forget, can we?

It seems he didn't consider things enough.

Perhaps even Su Yi, Jing Zi, and other partners have thought of this, but promotion is not such an easy thing.

Ultimately, it was a feudal era, and people's fear and distrust of new and unknown things were genetic instincts that were not so easy to overcome.

It wouldn't be surprising if people simply threw away the corn seeds.

"..."

Onikiri, Kuro Seimei, and his two shikigami watched Kousaka Kyosuke leave in silence for a long time.

Until, the Great Tengu broke the silence: "...Although she is frivolous, she has never disappointed people in many things."

After saying that, he silently added in his mind, "It's just that his hobbies are unusual."

Similarly, Yuki-onna, who is also a shikigami of Kuro Seimei, like Ōtengu, thought the same thing.

It's just that I didn't say it because of my personality.

the other side.

Without stopping, Kousaka Kyosuke rushed from the Yokai Market to Fujiwara Michitsuna's residence and successfully met and talked with him.

"Is it ripe already?" Fujiwara Michitsuna simply asked.

Kousaka Kyosuke observed Fujiwara Michitsuna's expression: "It's almost time. What should we do then?"

"The Taoist priest said I should take charge, and I was planning to discuss this with Lord Lai Guang—but is the corn really going to taste good? If it doesn't taste good, it might be worse than having no food at all."

Fujiwara no Michitsuna said with a half-smile.

Kyosuke Kosaka affirmed, "There's absolutely no problem. At least it tastes sweet, except that it's a bit difficult to chew."

"Just to be on the safe side, I'll go and try it myself. Don't think this is unimportant; you need to understand that feeding people random food could incite a riot."

"Okay, this will also help ripen the corn a bit. Go and try some."

372. The Challenges of Corn Promotion / Kuro Seimei's Interest Rates / Human Touch

Kyosuke Kosaka and Michitsuna Fujiwara are very proactive.

After saying he was going to check on the corn, he did it without any hesitation.

Upon arriving at the manor, Kyosuke Kosaka led Michitsuna Fujiwara to see it.

After asking the guards about the situation, I started picking one.

"The color is pleasing, and if it were sweet, not many people would dislike it."

Fujiwara no Michitsuna made no attempt to hide his thoughts.

"Take one first," Kyosuke Kousaka said.

As he spoke, he peeled off the leaves, took out a kernel of corn, and then handed it to Fujiwara Michitsuna.

Fujiwara no Michitsuna took it and put it in his mouth without thinking, chewing it lightly without any change in expression.

"It does have a sweet taste, but it also has quite a bit of astringency. It would probably taste better if it were cooked. The outer membrane is a bit hard, and eating too much of it can easily make your teeth feel uncomfortable."

After taking a bite, Fujiwara no Michitsuna gave a very objective evaluation.

Kyosuke Kosaka added, "It can also be preserved by drying, and it shouldn't have any major problems for more than a year."

"The taste will become just average, and it will be even more unpalatable. Perhaps it will be better after soaking in water..."

Fujiwara no Michitsuna still evaluates based on taste and texture.

Kyosuke Kosaka said, "Production is the key. If a real crisis comes, we'll probably be able to eat dirt."

"That's true, but now we need to consider the contradictions that arise after mass production. For example, people who could have eaten rice are forced to eat this corn, and the corn doesn't even taste very good. Their loyalty will inevitably be shaken."

Fujiwara no Michitsuna explained slowly and methodically.

Kyosuke Kosaka muttered to himself, "Just as I thought..."

In fact, there is not much to say.

With enough food (corn) produced, the so-called big capitalists, namely the nobles and aristocrats, would certainly consider using this corn as a stipend for their other retainers and vassals.

And the original rice was thus replaced.