Chapter 640 Liu Jian’s Insight

When the traveling convoy completely disappeared from sight and turned into a vague black dot on the horizon, Xiaoman finally gently broke free from Xiao Yan's warm and solid embrace.

He didn't say anything, but just looked up at Xiao Yan with eyes full of tears.

Xiao Yan squatted down, smoothed out the wrinkles on his clothes, and patted his shoulder again, his voice low and gentle, "Go back."

He wanted to watch Xiaoman leave first.

He couldn't let Xiaoman watch them alone.

Even if this separation will end in one or two months at most.

He also couldn't bear the heartache of that moment to happen again.

Xiaoman nodded vigorously, hugged his sword tightly, took two steps out, and couldn't help but look back at the mountain-like figure still standing there.

He pursed his lips, took two more steps, and once again resisted the urge to look back. Finally, as if he had made some kind of decision, he hugged the sword, spread his legs, and ran quickly. His small figure soon disappeared around the corner of the street.

Only when he could no longer see the small figure did Xiao Yan slowly stand up, jump on his horse, whip it, and gallop towards the direction where the convoy disappeared, his horse's hooves raising a cloud of dust along the way.

wilderness.

The wind howled, stirring up dry dust.

San Ya and Liu Jian rode side by side, their horses' hooves making dull sounds as they stepped on the solid ground.

After riding for a long time, the two men tied their horses under a gnarled old tree to rest for a while.

San Ya flexed her wrists, looked at the silent Liu Jian beside her, and couldn't help asking, "Why don't you leave?"

"My mother told me to take Zhang Heyao back with me."

Liu Jian thought, how great it would be if Zhang Heyao never returned to Beijing.

But that's impossible.

Zhang Heyao was just putting on an act.

But just delay it, it will take as many days as it takes.

San Ya gets annoyed when she hears the name Zhang Heyao.

"Sister, can I still come to see you after I go back?" Liu Jian asked nervously.

"Why did you come to see me? You're the prince, you're so busy, I don't give you much time!"

Even if he is idle, he is still very busy.

"Is there no difficulty here, sister?"

"Difficulties? You mean the Northwest Army? That would be a lot more difficult."

The war was won, but the trauma it caused will take a long time and a lot of resources to heal.

In particular, the issue of compensation for the injured and dead soldiers and their families weighed on her heart like a huge rock.

"If you can help, please ask the Emperor to allocate some money to provide more compensation for the wounded soldiers and their families."

Because she was once one of them, although it was finally proved that the title was not worthy of it, but San Ya experienced the difficulties personally and was deeply touched by it.

She is now doing what her father did.

While San Ya was proud of herself, she also deeply felt the difficulties Xiao Yan had gone through back then.

He argued with the court and even had to bow his head and smooth things over. He always tried every possible way to get the pensions that the soldiers who followed him deserved.

Although the imperial court has acknowledged the debt, the treasury is empty and it can only issue IOUs.

IOUs cannot be eaten. Many families who have lost their breadwinners, especially the elderly, cannot survive the cold winter while waiting.

Right now, this huge funding gap is the root cause of San Ya's anxiety.

Arya's financial resources have long been exhausted, and compared to the huge needs of the entire army, it is just a drop in the bucket.

Ultimately, it will be up to the court to resolve the issue.

Liu Jian said seriously, "Sister, don't worry. I will tell my father about this matter as soon as I return."

It must be resolved as soon as possible.

"I know it's not easy for the emperor, and there are holes everywhere. But no matter how difficult it is, it's better than those people who are waiting for money to fill their stomachs and save their lives."

Liu Jian nodded vigorously.

My sister is right.

"If you just go to the emperor, it won't be of much use. Isn't Zhang Heyao very powerful? You can go back to the capital with him, ask him some questions on the way, and ask him to work with you to find a solution." San Ya gave Liu Jian advice.

"I have an idea."

"Hmm?" Sanya was a little unconvinced. "What can you do?"

"Selling official positions."

Sanya: "...What a good idea."

Are you dissatisfied with the dragon throne under your father's butt being too stable?

"They only give you empty titles and official uniforms, but no real power," Liu Jian said. "I heard from my second sister that many wealthy businessmen in Guangzhou are eager to get this job."

Then why not fulfill their wish?

All they want is fame.

They are willing to pay a lot of money in exchange for fame, so why not help them?

Anyway, some people have too much money to spend, so it's like robbing the rich to help the poor.

"But this can only provide a temporary solution," Liu Jian continued, his thoughts clear. "For the long term, I want to persuade my father to lift the maritime ban again. Set aside 20% of the profits and taxes from maritime trade as military subsidies, earmarked for the designated purpose. With this constant flow of funds, pensions and military supplies can be guaranteed in the long term."

San Ya looked at him with new eyes, "You really are the prince, you are amazing!"

Such a comprehensive idea.

Liu Jian was flattered by her praise.

But he knew his limits and didn't continue showing off.

In fact, there are many other ways.

Although there are indeed a lot of things to do, Liu Jian never gets bothered by them.

Just take it slow.

"My mother wanted Zhang Heyao to continue as prime minister because she wanted to promote reform."

Liu Jian told San Ya that the queen had a lot of ideas.

In addition to promoting women to serve as officials in the court and encouraging women to go out of the house and participate in the economy, there are many other ideas to be implemented.

For example, re-measure and redistribute the land so that the lower-class people who have no permanent property can have something to rely on.

For example, restricting the expansion and merger of the gentry, and so on.

Liu Jian also has his own ideas about these.

"Although the Queen Mother did indeed work for the country, the suffering she could see and imagine was ultimately limited."

"So what are you going to do?"

San Ya suddenly realized that she seemed to have never seen Liu Jian's serious side before.

"I'm planning to go experience it," Liu Jian said. "I used to go to your house all the time. I know a little about the docks and the canal transportation. But the world is so vast, and people's lives are so difficult. What I know is just a drop in the bucket."

After becoming a prince, it is actually very difficult to come into contact with the reality of the world.

But the same thing goes, you can’t not do it just because it’s not easy.

"Thank you for your hard work."

"Sister, you're working so hard to protect the territory in the northwest," Liu Jian said, looking at her with a bright and clear smile. "I can't fall too far behind."

He never mentioned their relationship and future again.

Let sister fly freely.

He muttered to himself.

If one day he could break free from the shackles of this identity and gain the freedom to choose, he would definitely follow her direction and run towards her with all his strength.

Even though the road ahead is long and difficult, he always firmly believes that where there is sincerity, there is a way.

On the way back to Beijing, Lu Qiniang saw the devastation left by the war and was deeply moved.

When a country prospers, the people suffer.

When a country dies, the people suffer.

Although they kept a low profile along the way, local officials basically came out to entertain them wherever they went.

Xiao Yan basically declined all of them and was very low-key.

When they arrived in Luoyang, Xiao Yan accepted the invitation from the local prefect and prepared to attend the banquet with his family.

"Why do you want to take this away?" Lu Qiniang asked while looking for clothes.

As a couple for many years, she could feel that Xiao Yan was in high spirits.

"My mentor is in Luoyang." Xiao Yan said, "I haven't seen him for many years. He is now a martial arts master in the home of the Luoyang prefect."

It turned out that he was doing it to save face for his mentor.

"Then we have to go."

The words "respect teachers and honor learning" are ingrained in Lu Qiniang's bones.

"I've never heard you mention this before." Lu Qiniang said, "If I had known earlier, we should have given gifts to Master during festivals."

Once a teacher, always a teacher.

"My mentor's personality is a little different from others." Xiao Yan hesitated to speak.