Chapter 472 They really know how to give gifts.

The four words "Great achievements in a prosperous era" suddenly made the emperor's eyes light up with excitement, and even the plain silk in front of him seemed to become a rare treasure.

His hand gently traced the delicate yet sharp characters on the plain silk, and the pride in his heart could no longer be contained. He had always known that he could not compare with the exceptional talents of the previous emperors, and his abilities were not outstanding. The reason he had been able to maintain the family's legacy over the years was simply due to his "diligence".

But as an emperor, who is willing to be just a ruler who maintains the status quo? Who doesn't hope that under their rule, they can achieve great things and surpass the previous generations, ushering in an unprecedented golden age?

Jiang Yu saw the emperor's excitement and silently breathed a sigh of relief. Her efforts throughout the night had finally paid off. She stepped forward again: "Your Majesty, what do you see?"

With his fingertips resting on the line of words at the end of the plain silk, Jiang Yu's tone was as firm as a rock: "The grand vision I envision for a prosperous era will extend far beyond what we have now. To the north, we will encompass the northern grasslands, so that the cattle and sheep pastures there can provide meat and furs for the Central Plains, and there will be no more border troubles."

To the west, we must connect with the thirty-six kingdoms of the Western Regions, reopen the ancient Silk Road, and allow the jade and spices of the Western Regions to flow freely with the silk and porcelain of the Central Plains, with trade routes stretching for thousands of miles; to the south, we must pacify Lingnan and conquer Qiongya, ensuring that the rice, grains and fruits there will be bountiful harvests year after year, benefiting the coastal people.

To the east, we must control the islands of the East China Sea, leveraging the fishing resources and navigation advantages of these islands to allow coastal merchants to set sail and exchange goods; even the permafrost of the far north and the towering mountains of the southwest can be connected via post stations and official roads, ensuring that government orders reach all corners of the land and that the people of the border regions benefit.

She paused, then looked firmly at the emperor and said, “Within this territory, there is not a cold land conquered by war, but a peaceful land where people submit. The nomads of the northern deserts no longer need to migrate with the water and grass, but can use agricultural tools from the Central Plains to cultivate the land. Merchants from the Western Regions no longer need to fear bandits along the way, as there are official post stations to protect them. Fishermen along the coast no longer need to fear the wind and waves, as there are official ships to escort them. In this way, wherever the territory expands, there will be a land where people live in abundance. This is the true meaning of what I mean by ‘a prosperous era of great undertakings’.”

Every word Jiang Yu spoke seemed to strike the emperor's heart. He strode to the massive map that covered the entire wall, his voice trembling with excitement: "Minister Jiang, tell me more about it!"

"Yes." Jiang Yu quickly followed, glanced at the huge map, turned around and brought over a chair, then asked the emperor with a slightly embarrassed expression, "Your Majesty, may I stand on the chair to explain?"

The emperor paused for a moment, then laughed loudly: "Very well."

As he spoke, he stretched out his arm, as if to help her up. Jiang Yu quickly bowed and thanked him, then placed one hand on the emperor's arm and used the other to lift her robe and step onto the chair. The emperor waved his hand again, and Zhao Fuquan immediately rushed over to hand him a smooth sandalwood staff. This was the one the emperor used when looking at maps.

"Thank you, Your Majesty." Jiang Yu took the wooden pole and pointed to the northernmost point of the map: "Your Majesty, this is the current border of our Great Gan, and in the future, our border will extend to this point..."

Previously, Jiang Yu's verbal explanation had already stirred the emperor's emotions. Now, with a concrete explanation of the map, his blood was boiling even more.

"Minister Jiang, you... you will be an unparalleled minister in my great cause!" The emperor's voice was exceptionally loud.

Zhao Fuquan then stepped forward and carefully helped Jiang Yu down from the chair. Jiang Yu bowed and thanked him, saying humbly, "I am truly unworthy of such praise as an unparalleled minister."

The emperor laughed heartily: "Minister Jiang, there's no need for such modesty! If you cannot bear this title, then no one in the entire court can." With a smile on his face, he walked back to his desk, his gaze returning to the plain silk: "But Minister Jiang, how will the prosperous era you speak of be achieved step by step?"

Jiang Yu walked to the table and pointed to the words at the very front of the plain silk: "The reform of money shops and merchant houses has now been basically completed, which has laid the financial foundation for a prosperous era."

Her finger then moved to the left, pointing to another passage: "Next, we should advance reforms that are crucial to people's livelihoods. We should encourage farmers to reclaim wasteland for cultivation, improve agricultural tools and seeds, and ensure that people have enough to eat and wear; then we should build water conservancy projects and dredge waterways to eliminate the threat of floods and droughts..."

At this point, Jiang Yu paused briefly, her fingertips landing on two exceptionally large characters on the plain silk—"Lingnan." She looked up at the emperor: "However, the most urgent matter right now is to resolve the hidden dangers in Lingnan. Only by eliminating this thorn in our side can we confidently advance our subsequent plans and fully dedicate ourselves to developing our national strength."

The emperor clenched his fist and nodded solemnly: "What you say is absolutely right, my dear minister."

His sharp gaze lingered on the words "Lingnan" for a moment, then he said, "The Duke of Wei and his army are heading to Lingnan. It should take them another month to arrive."

"Yes." Jiang Yu's tone was filled with worry: "When an army marches, it has to carry both provisions and weapons. Unlike light cavalry, the speed is inherently slower. And the King of Lingnan will not sit idly by and wait for death. He will definitely cause trouble in the next month."

“I was prepared for this.” The emperor sneered, his words carrying a murderous intent: “They are simply hoping something will happen to me so that the crown prince can ascend the throne sooner.”

Hearing this, Jiang Yu breathed a sigh of relief. With the Emperor on guard, the enemy's plot would be less likely to succeed easily.

Just then, a young eunuch bowed and entered the hall to report: "Your Majesty, His Highness Prince Rui requests an audience."

The emperor paused for a moment, then gestured to Zhao Fuquan: "Put away the plain silk on the table first." After Zhao Fuquan had properly put away the items, the emperor said: "Let him in."

As soon as he finished speaking, the Third Prince, Prince Rui, entered carrying an exquisite sandalwood box. He first bowed to the Emperor, and when his gaze fell on Jiang Yu, he smiled and nodded: "The Duke of Chu is also here."

Jiang Yu quickly bowed and greeted him: "Your Highness Prince Rui."

Prince Rui nodded slightly, then held the sandalwood box in front of him with both hands, his tone respectful yet affectionate: "I recently acquired a piece of fine jade, which I personally polished into a paperweight, and I have come today to present it to Father Emperor."

A hint of affection flickered in the Emperor's eyes, and he gestured for Zhao Fuquan to take the box. Zhao Fuquan quickly stepped forward, took it from Prince Rui, and presented it to the Emperor. The Emperor opened the box, and inside lay a piece of green jade paperweight.

The jade is lustrous and translucent, reflecting a person's image. It is carved with a coiled tortoise, the shell pattern is delicate and intricate, and the edges are decorated with a few wisps of flowing cloud patterns. The tortoise's head is slightly raised, its eyes are gentle yet spirited, and even the patterns on its feet are polished smooth without any sharp edges.

The sacred tortoise is an ancient auspicious symbol, signifying "a stable foundation and a long-lasting national fortune." The emperor had just heard Jiang Yu's description of "a prosperous and thriving era," and now, seeing that the paperweight's symbolism perfectly matched, he was even more delighted. He couldn't help but laugh loudly and looked at Prince Rui, saying, "This paperweight of yours is cleverly made and has a good meaning."

Prince Rui quickly bowed and expressed his gratitude: "Thank you for your praise, Father."

The Emperor picked up the paperweight and examined it closely. Jiang Yu's gaze lingered on it for a moment, and she thought to herself: "This Prince Rui certainly knows how to give gifts." The Emperor's art of checks and balances was also masterful. He clearly favored Prince An, yet he deliberately brought Prince Rui along to maintain balance, ensuring that the court remained firmly in his grasp.

Just then, a palace maid came forward with a tray containing a steaming jade bowl and said softly, "Your Majesty, it's time to take your tonic."

Upon seeing this, Prince Rui immediately cupped his hands and said, "Your subject is willing to test the medicine for Your Majesty."

The emperor's lips curled slightly, and he was about to speak when Jiang Yu's voice rang out first: "Your Majesty, it is inconvenient for me to stay here any longer. I shall take my leave now."

The emperor also noticed the faint dark circles under Jiang Yu's eyes, which were obviously caused by staying up late. He quickly waved his hand and said, "Very well, Minister Jiang, you should go back and rest. You have been working hard for days and you should take care of your health."

"Thank you, Your Majesty." Jiang Yu bowed and turned to leave, his gaze meeting Zhao Fuquan's for a fleeting moment before he steadily walked out of the imperial study.

She had barely left when she heard Zhao Fuquan's voice: "Oh dear, Your Highness! Testing medicine for the Emperor is my job, how can I trouble Your Highness to do it personally? Let me do it!"

Immediately following, the emperor spoke in a gentle yet authoritative tone: "I know of your filial piety, but matters like testing medicine can be handled by servants; you don't need to worry about it."