Chapter 104 The Storm is Coming
"As we can see from this recent uprising, water can carry a boat, but it can also capsize it. Therefore, I believe that if the imperial court's policies are to truly benefit the nation and the people, they must ensure that there are oversight and corrective measures in place when they are implemented at the local level."
"Wang Ning's actions are just the tip of the iceberg. Similar actions have occurred in Pengcheng in the northern border, and they will surely be seen elsewhere."
"First, we should review the price reduction systems in various places. I have heard in Pengcheng that the market price of a piece of silk is ten dan of millet, yet Wang Ning is forcing a collection of fifty dan of millet. Once this order is implemented, government granaries will be empty and the people's fields will be barren."
Ji Xun picked up the policy paper and read it quietly until he reached this point. He looked up, puzzled, "Teacher, why would forcibly collecting 50 dan of millet harm the people?"
Xie Tingyu pointed at this point and explained in a low voice, "If a household originally only had to pay ten dan of millet to pay taxes, now they have to pay fifty. One household has to pay an additional forty dan, and a hundred households have to pay four thousand dan. To raise the taxes, the people have no choice but to sell their land and borrow money to make ends meet, eventually leading to bankruptcy and exile. The court has gained no real benefits, and has lost the people's support. Isn't this a great disaster?"
Ji Xun nodded in sudden realization, his eyes twinkling as he stared at Xie Tingyu. "Teacher, you're amazing! The other day, the Grand Tutor was teaching us that emperors often go out into the fields and have heartfelt conversations with the people, rather than simply assuming peace is upon the basis of memorials."
She put her little hand on Xie Tingyu's arm and said, "I often hear people say that you are a master of martial arts and will achieve great things in the Sirong Mansion. But I feel that you are both civil and military, and what is even more rare is that you come from a noble family, but you truly sympathize with the people's suffering."
Xie Tingyu smiled faintly, "Because I have seen it before."
Her real biological mother had to sell her to Yuan Tianluan in order to collect a few stones of tax grain, so that she could barely make up for the government's extortion and supplement the family income.
"I have always known that there are many officials in the court. Some serve the people, while others serve themselves. Teacher, among the people I know, is one of the few good officials who serves the people and does practical things. I hope that Teacher can stay in the court forever, accompany me, and teach me."
Xie Tingyu smiled but said nothing.
Ji Xun picked up the policy paper again and continued reading.
"Now, refugees from the north are not only gathering outside Jiankang City, but also throughout the northern border, with some even wandering south. Among them are undoubtedly many corrupt individuals like Wang Ning. Although the national treasury is currently well-off, the long-term plan for the Northern Expedition is..."
Seeing that there was no further follow-up, Ji Xun looked up and asked, "Teacher, why didn't you write anymore?"
Xie Tingyu withdrew his essay, "because I find it difficult to write. My mother, Grand Tutor Xie, previously established the system of overseas counties to appease the refugees, but it had little effect. I think it was due to the lax implementation of the system by the lower levels."
She tapped her knuckles on the table for a moment, then pondered, "If it were up to me, I would abolish the counties and prefectures established for immigrants, and all immigrants, regardless of whether they were new or old, would be registered according to their current place of residence. That way, there would be no distinction between yellow and white registers; all would be registered citizens, paying taxes and serving in the military."
Ji Xun listened in confusion for a moment, seemingly understanding something, but he could also sense something unusual. "Then doesn't the teacher's political views contradict the Grand Tutor's?"
"Indeed."
Xie Tingyu smiled gently, "So this matter must be discussed with mother first, so that we can gain support in Fengge and implement it smoothly."
The two of them whispered to each other, keeping their voices down so as not to disturb Ji Lian's deep sleep. Occasionally, he would frown and purse his lips, unconsciously nudging Xie Tingyu's legs and nudging her belly a little closer, making her sleep look even more peaceful.
Ji Xun discussed with Xie Tingyu for a while, then stood up and said goodbye, saying that it was too late to return to the palace and he was afraid that his father would be worried.
Xie Tingyu supported his chin with one hand while carefully combing Ji Lian's black hair with the other, stroking it slowly from root to tip. Her long hair was as smooth as satin, with a shimmering sheen. It was indeed a head of beautiful black hair.
In her dream, Ji Lian vaguely felt a slightly cool but greedy hand, which not only played with her hair, but also quietly reached into her clothes, lingered on the toad sand on her lower abdomen for a few circles, and after massaging it well, it moved to the side of her waist and pinched it lightly, and then slipped to the back of her waist, as if teasing and kneading the waist that she loved so much.
“Hmm…”
Ji Lian's eyelids fluttered a few times before she slowly opened them. She grabbed the wrist and muttered, "Don't keep playing with me like this."
He straightened his clothes and suddenly saw three teacups on the table, and his sleepiness disappeared instantly.
"Did anyone come here just now?" There was a hint of anger in his surprised expression.
Ji Lian's lips drooped slightly, and a faint light flashed in her eyes. "You actually let people see me sleeping on your legs. Do you still want my reputation?"
"This is your Imperial Palace. How could your personal attendant let anyone in so casually?" Xie Tingyu gently pushed the hair out from between his collars. "It's Ji Xun."
Ji Lian's ears immediately turned red. "Last time she caught us kissing, and this time she even saw me holding you while sleeping. How can I act like an elder in front of her from now on?"
Xie Tingyu pondered for a moment, a mischievous smile flashing in his eyes, "That's better than being caught by her halfway through."
"Hate!"
Ji Lian glared at her angrily and was about to stand, but she quickly grabbed his wrist and yanked him away. His legs buckled, and he fell onto the wooden floor. With his shoulders firmly pinned, Xie Tingyu leaned forward, a few strands of her long black hair falling, partially obscuring their faces, creating a private space between them.
"The military report and the policy paper are almost finished. I should go back to Xie Garden to discuss some things with my mother."
Xie Tingyu gently lifted Ji Lian's chin with his index finger and said, "Before I leave, can I have a kiss from my beauty?"
"Only one. Is this your style, Xie Tingyu? I wouldn't mind having more."
The sun shone down obliquely, and the shadows of the two people kissing passionately were projected onto the screen inch by inch.
When Xie Tingyu was about to get up, her two arms nimbly wrapped around her, and her calves hooked around hers. Ji Lian's eyes flushed red, and she pleaded with him, "Kiss me a little longer, okay?"
Xie Tingyu chuckled softly and leaned over to kiss his lips again. As their breaths blended, their fingers intertwined tightly, and the pulses between their wrists resonated like drums.
With her breath disordered, Ji Lian panted softly, "The window of my bedroom will not be closed, you can come whenever you want. Now that we are not in the palace, we can..." The words came to her lips, but she hesitated for a moment and couldn't find the right words.
Xie Tingyu sucked his lips lightly and whispered, "Lianlian, don't forget what you promised me."
"good."
Ji Lian pursed her lips, her eyes moist, but she was still reluctant to let go, begging softly, "I want to kiss you again."
But the longer they kissed, the tighter he wanted to stick to her, and he didn't want to be apart from her for even a moment.
But she also has important things to do.
Ji Lian hardened her heart and pushed Xie Tingyu away, turning her head away and not looking at her. "Go out by climbing over the wall. Walk quickly, don't let anyone see you."
Xie Tingyu poked his slightly bulging cheek with his finger, then climbed out the window without any hesitation.
——
Xie Yuan.
"Master, it's the young lady who has arrived."
Wei Fenghua gave a reminder from the corridor, and when he saw Xie Qingyan nod his chin slightly, he led Xie Tingyu in.
Xie Tingyu turned the corner of the corridor and saw Xie Qingyan sitting cross-legged on a bamboo couch amidst the shadows of a bamboo forest. A pot of clear tea sat on a small rosewood table, with white mist curling up from the pot's mouth.
Xie Qingyan sipped his tea, gently fanning himself with a jade-handled bamboo fan, facing a clear pond where several koi fish swam leisurely.
"Mother."
Xie Tingyu also sat cross-legged opposite Xie Qingyan and placed the military newspaper and policy paper in his arms on the small table.
Xie Qingyan didn't even read the military report. He just unfolded the policy paper and scanned a few lines. "Why haven't you finished it yet?"
"Some things need to be discussed with my mother, and I can only put pen to paper after getting her approval."
Xie Qingyan paused for a moment, his posture solemn, "There's no need for those false formalities between you and me. Let's just be frank."
"Before I returned to Jiankang, Mother was already busy caring for these refugees from the north. Not only did she register them as white-listed, she also exempted them from corvée and taxes. I believe your intention was to show your generosity, win their hearts, and strengthen the foundation of the Great Zhou. Unfortunately, there are many greedy people in the world who, driven by their own selfish interests, have dissipated much of the power that your kind actions could inspire."
Xie Qingyan placed the teacup on the table with a clear voice, "Continue."
"Even in Jiankang, some aristocratic families took advantage of the recent uprising to secretly take in refugees. These acts of hiding people are actually undermining the foundation of the imperial court."
"If this continues, the imperial court will lose countless human, financial, and material resources. As the saying goes, one penny a day is worth a thousand pennies a day. If these resources are nationalized, they will be of great benefit in the future northern expedition against the Xianbei."
Xie Qingyan carefully read the policy paper in his hand again. "You mean to include these refugees in the yellow register, so that they can share the same household registration as the indigenous people and bear the same tax responsibilities?"
"Exactly."
Xie Tingyu nodded, his tone growing more determined. "I will not only promote this in Jiankang, but also in all the counties. I will also penetrate the wealthy families and identify their hidden servants and tenants, bringing their names to the official register, shouldering taxes and labor service, and making them useful to the state."
"Mother, this action may harm the immediate interests of the nobles, but how can we abandon greater principles for the sake of small gains? If we allow the powerful to grow stronger and their greed to flourish, they will inevitably harbor evil intentions in the future."
"If we were still fighting among ourselves at that time, and the Xianbei took advantage of the situation and marched south to retake our cities and territory, how would we resist?"
"This move may seem to weaken the foundation of the aristocratic families, but in reality it provides long-term leverage for the Great Zhou. Only in this way can we increase our chances of victory in future wars against the barbarians."
Warfare, in fact, was a costly endeavor. Not to mention the food and supplies, even the arrows, slings, and other equipment used in sieges were all valuable tools. The reason the Great Zhou hesitated to go to war with the Xianbei was precisely because a protracted campaign would inevitably deplete the treasury, not to mention the risk of defeat.
If they were defeated, at best they would have to cede territory and pay compensation, severely damaging their vitality. At worst, the Xianbei cavalry would march straight in, trampling over the mountains and rivers, and the people of the Great Zhou and the Han civilization would be gradually annihilated under foreign rule.
Compared to Xie Tingyu, who focused more on the war that was very likely to break out in the future, Xie Qingyan's thoughts were broader.
Xie already commanded a powerful army and held considerable influence in military and political affairs. As Grand Tutor, she also held a significant position within the Fengge. The weight of the two, mother and daughter, in the officialdom was now far greater than before.
Moreover, what she read from this unfinished policy paper was not only Xie Tingyu's foresight, but also the Xie family's ambition to rise to higher positions in Jiankang and even in the entire Zhou Dynasty. If this policy paper was truly adopted by Ji Zhao, Xie Tingyu would naturally become the promoter of this policy, and the Xie family's prestige and power would rise to unprecedented heights!
However, the implementation of policies often affects the interests of others. In Jiankang, this is still possible, but what if we encounter strong obstruction or even assassination in the local areas?
Xie Qingyan frankly expressed his concern: "You are here to inspect, not to suppress. You can't lead the army there."
"Although I cannot bring a large army with me, if the emperor approves, I can bring a small group of personal escorts with me when I go out on inspections."
The two looked at each other and smiled knowingly.
Xie Qingyan handed the policy paper back to Xie Tingyu, tapping the corner of the envelope with his fingertips. "This matter will benefit both the country and the people, and the court will be the greatest beneficiary. Your Majesty, how could you not approve it? Please finish this policy paper quickly."
"Hearing your mother's words, your daughter feels at ease."
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The author has something to say: The content of the heroine's policy paper refers to the historical facts of the "Gengxu Tuduan" and "Yixi Tuduan" in the Eastern Jin Dynasty.
I also thought about whether to refer to others, but after checking a lot of information, I found that these two are more famous and easier to use as references for writing.
Writing this novel has given me a lot of insights. For example, the more historical facts you research, the better your results. I went off the track right from the start (I really went off the track. I misunderstood the definition of online literature and the audience's affinity for the female-dominant genre. I really have to learn from each book). It doesn't matter. Failure is the mother of success. After all, this book has almost 400,000 words, so it can be considered a growth experience.
I'm recommending two pre-collected books: "Three Treasures in One Birth, But Dragon is Born Proudly" and a new pre-collected book about a female superior. I'll finalize the copy and plot of the female superior as soon as possible after finishing the book. [Hug][Hug] If you accept my pre-collection, then we'll be good friends.
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