"Where did all this grain come from?" he asked a grain merchant.

"Your Majesty, they are all local grains," the grain merchant replied. "This year's harvest is good; with the imperial court's assistance in repairing irrigation canals and draining floodwaters, the yield is much better than in previous years!"

"Oh? Tell me quickly."

It turns out that the Daliang area was frequently plagued by floods in previous years. This year, the government organized manpower to dredge the waterways and build new drainage canals. With easier irrigation for the farmland, the harvest naturally improved.

"Your Majesty," Feng Quji said, seizing the opportunity, "we've also built a new dike outside the city. Would you like to go and take a look?"

"Alright!" Ying Zheng nodded. "It's a good opportunity to take a look at the farmland as well."

Outside the city, the fields were a sea of ​​gold, the rice stalks heavy with ripe grain. Farmers were busy harvesting, their faces beaming with the joy of a bountiful harvest.

"This river..." Ying Zheng looked at the river flowing past the fields, "was it often prone to flooding?"

“Yes,” Feng Quji replied, “it used to flood every rainy season. Now it’s much better, with new dikes and dredged waterways. Next year we plan to build another branch canal to divert water to the dry land to the south…”

"Approved!" Ying Zheng said without hesitation. "The court will fully support these projects."

Turning to Meng Tian, ​​he said, "Write this down and have all regions follow suit. We must let the people taste the benefits of unification!"

On the way back to the city, Ying Zheng visited the artisan workshop. Daliang was famous for its bronze ware, and now the bronze craftsmen had not only resumed production but were also researching new techniques.

“Your Majesty, look!” An old coppersmith presented a beautifully crafted tool. “This is a new piece we made; it is both sturdy and resistant to rust.”

"Excellent craftsmanship!" Ying Zheng exclaimed. "These skills must not be lost. Issue an order that the artisans' workshops be exempt from taxes for three years!"

Ying Zheng did not return to the palace until evening, and he was very satisfied with the reconstruction of Daliang.

"Meng Tian," he suddenly spoke, "tell me, what is the most important thing in this world?"

"This..." Meng Tian pondered, "is it the will of the people?"

"That's right." Ying Zheng nodded. "The six states have been at war for hundreds of years. How much suffering have the people endured? Now that the world is unified, the most important thing is to let them live a good life."

Meng Tian seemed to be deep in thought: "Your Majesty means..."

"Pass down the order," Ying Zheng said solemnly. "Order all prefectures and counties to prioritize the people's livelihood. Repair water conservancy projects, build roads, and promote industry and commerce, so that the people can live and work in peace and contentment. Only in this way will unification have any meaning!"

"Your Majesty is wise!"

The next morning, Ying Zheng set off for his next destination.

Before leaving, he took one last stroll through the city of Daliang. Looking at the bustling streets, listening to the vendors' shouts, and smelling the aroma of grain, he knew that his wicked husband had been right.

Unification is not the end, but the beginning.

Only when the people are truly prosperous can the country enjoy lasting peace and stability.