Jia Yan entered officialdom and began to distinguish himself.
After entering the Hanlin Academy, Shen Jiayan always kept in mind the teachings of his ancestors, working diligently and conscientiously, never becoming arrogant or complacent because he was the top scholar in the imperial examination. He knew that the Hanlin Academy was a place for cultivating talents, and only by constantly learning could he live up to the trust of the court and the expectations of his family.
Every morning, he was the first to arrive at the Hanlin Academy, organizing documents and studying classical texts. At night, he often studied late into the night, learning the ways of governing the country and analyzing the rise and fall of dynasties. He not only consulted with his seniors at the Hanlin Academy but also used his spare time to go among the common people, visiting them to understand their living conditions and true needs. He recorded the people's hardships one by one, compiled them into memorials, and truthfully reported them to the court.
Soon after, a severe snowstorm struck northern Dajing. Months of heavy snow blocked roads, buried farmland, reduced grain production, and plunged the people into hardship, with many even displaced. When the news reached the imperial court, the ministers debated the matter extensively but could not come up with an effective solution.
Upon learning of the situation, Shen Jiayan was extremely anxious. He personally went to the disaster-stricken areas in the north to investigate and was deeply saddened to see the people suffering from hunger and lack of clothing. After returning to the Hanlin Academy, he drafted a memorial to the emperor overnight, proposing three suggestions: first, to urgently allocate grain and clothing from the national treasury to relieve the disaster victims; second, to reduce or exempt taxes in the disaster areas to alleviate the burden on the people; and third, to organize the people to build water conservancy projects, store grain, and promote the cultivation of cold-resistant crops to prevent further disasters in the following year.
After the memorial was submitted, the emperor took it very seriously and immediately summoned his ministers to discuss it. Some worried that allocating large amounts of grain would deplete the national treasury, while others argued that the massive water conservancy projects would be ineffective in the short term. Shen Jiayan argued forcefully, elaborating on the feasibility and urgency of each suggestion: "Your Majesty, the people are the foundation of the nation. Now that the people are in dire straits, if we do not provide timely relief, we fear there may be a popular uprising. Although allocating grain and clothing will deplete the national treasury, it will save lives and stabilize public morale; although the water conservancy projects and the promotion of cold-resistant crops are massive undertakings, they can fundamentally solve the snow disaster problem in the north and benefit future generations."
The emperor found Shen Jiayan's words reasonable and ultimately adopted his suggestion, ordering that his plan be implemented. Shen Jiayan also volunteered to go to the disaster-stricken areas in the north to assist local officials in providing relief to the people and organizing the construction of water conservancy projects.
Upon arriving in the disaster area, Shen Jiayan led by example, eating, living, and working alongside the people. He personally supervised the distribution of food and clothing, ensuring that every item reached the people. He led the people in surveying the terrain, developing water conservancy construction plans, and personally participated in digging, carrying water, and building dams. The people were deeply moved by this top scholar's lack of official airs and genuine dedication to serving them, and they actively participated in disaster relief and water conservancy construction.
Thanks to Shen Jiayan's efforts, the disaster situation in the northern disaster area was effectively controlled, and people's lives gradually returned to normal. Water conservancy projects were also successfully completed, and the promotion of cold-resistant crops achieved remarkable results, providing a guarantee for agricultural production in the coming year. The people were very grateful to Shen Jiayan, praising him as a young, promising, and people-oriented official.
Shen Nian'an and Shen Chengze were filled with joy upon learning of their son's performance. They knew that their son had inherited the fine traditions of the Shen family and become a responsible and capable official, putting into practice the belief of "wholeheartedly protecting the country" through his actions.
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