The new year arrives silently.

The Qin Dynasty regarded the first day of October as New Year's Day, or Spring Festival, and from that day onwards the next year began.

Compared with later generations, the Spring Festival is regarded as the most grand and lively day for bidding farewell to the old and welcoming the new, and for family happiness.

Nowadays, the Qin people believe that the Spring Festival is an unlucky day.

Therefore, on this day, people will hold Nuo dances, exorcise ghosts and evil spirits, sweep the house, have banquets, and worship their ancestors, praying for a good harvest and peace in the coming year.

On this day, as the emperor, Ying Zheng also had to offer sacrifices to heaven and pray for good weather and good harvests in the coming year for the Qin Dynasty.

"A Zheng, are you going to Mount Tai to offer sacrifices to the heavens?"

Chu Yuening yawned and looked at Ying Zheng, who was dressed in formal attire, with some curiosity.

Few emperors in history have ever been able to offer sacrifices to the gods at Mount Tai.

"Of course not. Mount Tai is a thousand miles away from Xianyang."

Ying Zheng put on the crown and walked to the bedside to tuck in the quilt for his wife.

"Where are we going?"

Chu Yuening, who was not good at geography, used the quilt to cover her face in embarrassment, leaving only a pair of round eyes exposed.

"In the western suburbs of Xianyang, on the rooftop terrace of Shanglin Garden."

Shangtiantai is a palace complex built by the Qin State in Shanglinyuan during the Warring States Period, with a high-rise building as its core.

Kings of all dynasties offered sacrifices to heaven here every year.

When people in later generations talked about the Shangtiantai, most of them thought it was an annex building of the Afang Palace. In fact, the construction of the Tiantai was much earlier.

"Oh~ Then A Zheng, go quickly, don't delay."

Chu Yuening actually wanted to witness the ancient ceremony of offering sacrifices to heaven, which must be very solemn and shocking.

Unfortunately, she was close to her due date and it was inconvenient for her to go out.

After Ying Zheng left, Chu Yuening began to think about what to do in spring.

Spring plowing is not coming soon, and the most important thing now is the construction of large-scale fortifications.

Originally, October was the month when the people of Daqin performed corvee labor.

Because of Chu Yuening’s policy last year, there is expected to be a labor shortage this year, so she is considering recruiting workers.

Although corvee labor was paid in previous years, the wages were approximately between 6 and 8 cents.

But if the government did not force it, who would be willing to do this kind of hard labor with little pay and much work?

Exempting from corvee labor was a step Chu Yuening took to win over the people, and naturally she also considered subsequent solutions.

With food and lodging provided and a salary of 20 cents per day, she didn't believe that the people would not be tempted by such a generous reward.

As for the country's financial problems, Xuezhi alone has earned a lot of wealth from the upper class.

And she also has a plan to get the money back later.

At night, Chu Yuening informed Ying Zheng about the recruitment.

"There are many prisoners in the Qin Dynasty, but this is barely enough."

Ying Zheng was a little confused.

Why are they suddenly asking for a large sum of money to recruit workers?

In this life, he did not build those magnificent palaces. His labor was mainly spent on building basic fortifications such as the Great Wall, canals, and highways.

"A Zheng, the Great Qin Academy has not yet been built."

"Besides, only circulating wealth can create value; otherwise it is just a pile of useless dead stuff."

Chu Yuening knew very well that the role of money lies not in itself, but in the transactions and economy it represents.

A country needs not only productivity but also consumption power.

If all wealth is concentrated in the hands of a few people and does not circulate to create value, then society will always stagnate.

"People have desires. If you only give them enough food every day, they will just repeat the same work day after day without any change."

"If you give him money, he can eat better and dress better, then he will have endless motivation to move forward."

"Before I came here, had there been any significant changes in Daqin and the Qin State? Were there any developments in economy, agriculture, or technology?"

These simple yet philosophical words deeply impacted Ying Zheng's inherent ideas.

The imperial strategy he accepted was to keep the people ignorant.

As long as the people have enough food to eat, they will be content and he can also secure his rule over the world.

Now someone tells him that this is wrong.

Ying Zheng's expression changed from anger to calm, and he finally spoke slowly.

"Yuening's words make sense."

Thinking of the extravagant nobles, the emaciated common people, and the lifeless country...

There is no difference between Daqin and the Qin State.

He thought again of the hope and vitality brought by Yue Ning, and his phoenix eyes became even deeper.

Maybe it's time to make a change.

Three days later, at the notice board in the outer city of Xianyang.

"We are hiring workers to build a palace in the eastern suburbs of Xianyang. 20 yuan a day, food and lodging provided. Please apply as soon as possible."

Because of the exemption of corvee labor, people from some nearby villages came to the city to find work, hoping to make some quick money before the spring plowing.

"Hey, this job pays so much, it won't be very tiring, right?"

"I estimate that this is worth nearly three times the wages of other construction work."

"It's okay if I'm tired, as long as I can make money."

The people were overwhelmed by such high-paying jobs and were skeptical.

After reading the notice, Oishi was the first to drag his friends to sign up.

Since joining the kang construction team last year, he earned a lot of money that winter, so the whole family had fat meat to eat and new clothes to wear.

Having tasted the sweetness, he believed that the job notice was true.

At the same time, he was full of energy. When he made enough money, he would buy some malt candy for his children to try.

Inside the Qinian Palace.

Chu Yuening leaned back on the sofa.

"Mr. Mo, would you be willing to preside over the construction of the academy?"

Mo Ju, who was standing aside, was in disbelief when he heard this.

"Empress, are you willing to entrust such an important matter to me?"

"Of course, I believe in Mr. Mo's ability."

"I will definitely live up to the trust placed in me by the Empress."

Mo Ju's eyes suddenly filled with tears and he was deeply moved.

He never thought that one day he would be able to personally design and preside over the construction of the Great Qin Academy.

My dear, there is more to this chapter. Please click on the next page to continue reading. It will be even more exciting later!