With the prime minister in charge of governance, the country is prosperous and the people are at peace.
After Shen Qingci became prime minister, he did not become complacent with his achievements. Instead, he became even more cautious in his words and deeds. He knew that the peaceful and prosperous times were hard-won. Every day, he would go to the Secretariat before dawn and return to his residence late at night, putting the concept of "the people are the foundation of the country, and when the foundation is firm, the country is at peace" into every aspect of his administration.
In reforming officialdom, he continued the previous performance evaluation system and added a "people's livelihood observation" indicator, requiring local officials to go deep into the countryside every month to record the people's hardships and demands. He set up a "reporting box" in the Ministry of Personnel to encourage the people to expose corrupt officials, and anyone found guilty would be severely punished. When the prefect of Qingzhou embezzled disaster relief funds and was reported by the people, Shen Qingci immediately ordered his dismissal and investigation, confiscating his property for disaster relief. For a time, the atmosphere in the court became solemn, and officials all restrained their words and deeds and diligently governed.
In terms of economic development, Shen Qingci focused on "agriculture and sericulture as the foundation, and commerce as a supplement." He petitioned the emperor to reduce national taxes for three years and encouraged people to cultivate wasteland. He also dispatched agricultural officials to the south to promote double-cropping rice cultivation and to the north to guide people in planting drought-resistant crops. As a result, the grain output of Dajing increased year by year, the national treasury was full, and the people's granaries were prosperous. In response to the problem of obstructed trade routes, he ordered the repair of official roads throughout the country, established border markets, and allowed Dajing to trade freely with the grassland tribes. This not only promoted economic circulation but also resolved potential border conflicts. For a time, "merchants traveled endlessly on the roads, and goods gathered in the markets."
In terms of cultural education, Shen Qingci petitioned the emperor to build academies in various prefectures and cities across the country, selecting students from impoverished families to enroll, with the court allocating salaries to hire learned scholars to teach. He also oversaw the revision of the "Da Jing Code," incorporating "propriety, righteousness, integrity, and a sense of shame" into the legal provisions to educate the people on right and wrong. Within a few short years, Da Jing flourished in literature and art, academies across the country produced numerous talented individuals, the proportion of students from impoverished families in the imperial examinations increased year by year, and a group of upright and capable new officials emerged in the imperial court.
At the same time, Shen Qingci always paid attention to the details of people's livelihood. He discovered that the people of the capital had difficulty getting drinking water, so he petitioned to dig a canal to bring spring water from the Western Hills into the city; when he learned that plagues were frequent in remote areas, he set up "Huimin Pharmacy" to provide medicine and medical treatment to the people free of charge; when he saw that the elderly living alone were helpless, he ordered the construction of "almshouses" in various prefectures to ensure the basic living conditions of vulnerable groups.
Under his meticulous governance, Dajing presented an unprecedented scene of prosperity: fields stretched for miles, and the harvests were plentiful; the markets were bustling, and doors were left unlocked at night; lost items were not picked up on the road, and the people were simple and honest. People from all over spontaneously built shrines in Shen Qingci's honor to commemorate his achievements. The emperor trusted him even more, entrusting him with all the power of the court, and once remarked at a court assembly: "With Prime Minister Shen's assistance, I feel as if I have gained my left and right arms. The peace and prosperity of Dajing are all thanks to Prime Minister Shen!"
Whenever Shen Qingci heard this, he would always bow and apologize: "Your Majesty is too kind. The peace and prosperity of the country is not the achievement of this humble servant alone, but rather the result of Your Majesty's wisdom, the diligence of the officials, and the unity of the people. I can only repay Your Majesty's trust and the people's expectations by devoting myself to the cause until my dying breath."
After court that day, Shen Qingci strolled through the Imperial Garden, gazing at the vibrant spring scenery, yet his heart remained untroubled. He knew that even in times of prosperity, vigilance was paramount; matters concerning governance, the economy, and people's livelihoods required meticulous and cautious progress. Behind him, at the Shen residence, Su Yunqing and Shen Nianqing awaited his return. The food on the table was still warm—a comforting reminder of the simple joys of life that he cherished regardless of his high position, and an inexhaustible source of motivation for his continued progress.
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